Camille Botello

Bears walk along Skilak Lake Road on Monday, June 14, 2021 near Skilak Lake, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bears and dogs don’t mix

The best way to enjoy bear country with pups is by keeping them close.

Bears walk along Skilak Lake Road on Monday, June 14, 2021 near Skilak Lake, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna is now offering COVID-19 vaccines with no appointment necessary. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘A choice between getting COVID or getting the vaccine’

Officials encourage vaccines as cases climb and more die of the virus

A clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna is now offering COVID-19 vaccines with no appointment necessary. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A fisher holds a reel on the Kenai River near Soldotna on June 30, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai and Kasilof kings limited to catch and release

Kings are passing through the Kenai River at a lower rate than needed to attain the escapement goal.

A fisher holds a reel on the Kenai River near Soldotna on June 30, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A dipnetter wrangles a salmon North Kenai Beach on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

It’s that time again

Weekend rain didn’t stop dipnetters

A dipnetter wrangles a salmon North Kenai Beach on Saturday, July 10, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Gus Reimer crosses the finish line in front of Adam Reimer and Julie Laker during the first race of the Salmon Run Series at Skyview Middle School on Wednesday, July 7, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

On your mark, get set, Salmon Run

The Kenai Watershed Forum’s five-week Salmon Run Series kicked off Wednesday

Gus Reimer crosses the finish line in front of Adam Reimer and Julie Laker during the first race of the Salmon Run Series at Skyview Middle School on Wednesday, July 7, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Fishers dipnet on the North Kenai Beach on July 17, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion/file)

Dipnet fishery opens Saturday on the Kenai

Dipnetting is only available to Alaska residents with a current Upper Cook Inlet personal-use permit and a sport fishing license.

Fishers dipnet on the North Kenai Beach on July 17, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion/file)
A bouquet of yellow roses is seen at the Triumvirate Theatre on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, in Nikiski, Alaska. The building burned in a fire on Feb. 20. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Country, a cappella artists perform benefit concert in Ninilchik

The Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik is hosting a benefit concert for the Triumvirate Theater this Friday, featuring an a cappella group and a Grammy… Continue reading

A bouquet of yellow roses is seen at the Triumvirate Theatre on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, in Nikiski, Alaska. The building burned in a fire on Feb. 20. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Rock’n the Ranch spectators listen to live music at the festival in 2017. (Photo courtesy of Carlos Pereira Jr.)

Rock’n the Ranch music festival to make noise this weekend

The annual festival raises funds for a sober living house.

Rock’n the Ranch spectators listen to live music at the festival in 2017. (Photo courtesy of Carlos Pereira Jr.)
Ranger Meredith Baker helps Fredrick Bryant decorate a fish mobile at the Kenai Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center on July 6, 2021 for Fish Week. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

‘Family fishy fun’

Kids turn out for a week of tying, casting and reeling.

Ranger Meredith Baker helps Fredrick Bryant decorate a fish mobile at the Kenai Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center on July 6, 2021 for Fish Week. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
A sign directing people to the Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management walk-in clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, May 14, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

3 new COVID deaths reported; officials encourage vaccines as delta variant spreads

On Friday, the state announced another 108 COVID cases, which included seven on the Kenai Peninsula.

A sign directing people to the Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management walk-in clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, May 14, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Community members affiliated with local organizations participate in Kenai’s annual Fourth of July parade on July 4, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Independence on display

Community celebrates the 4th with parade, candy, celebration

Community members affiliated with local organizations participate in Kenai’s annual Fourth of July parade on July 4, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Brew 602 in Soldotna hosts one of the pieces of the Kenai River Quilt Tour on July 2, 2021. The tour will take place throughout the month of July. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Patchwork tour

Soldotna businesses showcase quilts during annual event

Brew 602 in Soldotna hosts one of the pieces of the Kenai River Quilt Tour on July 2, 2021. The tour will take place throughout the month of July. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
John Hakla from Eagle River heads back into the water while dipnetting on the North Kenai Beach on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Dipnet area expanded; limits increased on the Kasilof

Dipnetting is only allowed for Alaska residents with personal-use permits.

John Hakla from Eagle River heads back into the water while dipnetting on the North Kenai Beach on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
A letter from the Alaska Broadcasters Association was sent to Alaska House Rep. Ron Gillham, R-Kenai-Soldotna, on July 1, 2021, condemning a post he shared on Facebook that compared journalists and medical professionals who disseminate information about COVID-19 to Nazis executed for war crimes. (Letter provided by the Alaska Broadcasters Association)
Alaska House Rep. Ron Gillham. (Courtesy Ron Gillham)

Broadcasters group decries lawmaker’s Facebook post

House Rep. Ron Gillham, who represents the Kenai-Soldotna area, posted a meme comparing journalists, medics to Nazis.

A letter from the Alaska Broadcasters Association was sent to Alaska House Rep. Ron Gillham, R-Kenai-Soldotna, on July 1, 2021, condemning a post he shared on Facebook that compared journalists and medical professionals who disseminate information about COVID-19 to Nazis executed for war crimes. (Letter provided by the Alaska Broadcasters Association)
Alaska House Rep. Ron Gillham. (Courtesy Ron Gillham)
Fireworks are displayed during the 2016 Christmas Comes to Kenai celebration. (Kat Sorensen/Clarion file)

Reminder: Fireworks banned in Kenai Peninsula Borough

Although a popular Independence Day tradition, the use of fireworks is banned in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. According to the borough code of ordinances, the… Continue reading

Fireworks are displayed during the 2016 Christmas Comes to Kenai celebration. (Kat Sorensen/Clarion file)
Seward SeaLife Center officials examine a recently admitted harbor seal pup on June 22, 2021. (Kaiti Chritz / Seward SeaLife Center)

SeaLife Center admits 2 more seal pups

The total number of seal pup patients at the center is now six.

Seward SeaLife Center officials examine a recently admitted harbor seal pup on June 22, 2021. (Kaiti Chritz / Seward SeaLife Center)
Pottery is on display on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, at the Kenai Art Center, which is reopening on Thursday for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘The more we get together’

Kenai Art Center celebrates reopening with work from Potters’ Guild

Pottery is on display on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, at the Kenai Art Center, which is reopening on Thursday for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Logo for Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles (doa.alaska.gov)

Seward DMV reopens

The DMV closed earlier this year after its two employees resigned.

Logo for Alaska Department of Motor Vehicles (doa.alaska.gov)
A fisherman walks along the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Sept. 8, 2018. (Clarion file)

Sockeye limits increased on Russian and Upper Kenai rivers

The limits are being increased to six per day and 12 in possession on Russian and Upper Kenai rivers.

A fisherman walks along the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Sept. 8, 2018. (Clarion file)
Anglers fish on the Kenai River on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Watershed Forum awarded nearly $100,000 grant

The funds will be used to sample the water quality in the Kenai River.

Anglers fish on the Kenai River on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)