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A sticker given out at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic hosted by the Kenai Fire Department in Kenai, Alaska, is seen on March 13, 2021. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Peninsula lagging in percentage vaccinated

The peninsula generally ranks in the bottom third of all Alaskan geographies, but higher than geographies of similar population sizes.

A sticker given out at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic hosted by the Kenai Fire Department in Kenai, Alaska, is seen on March 13, 2021. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Public health to offer vaccines on demand starting Monday

People who are homebound or groups of at least three people can request a COVID-19 vaccine administrator come to them.

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Department of Health and Social Services data shows that Alaska’s COVID-19 test positivity rate is increasing. (Screenshot)

Statewide positivity rate increasing

As of Friday, the statewide positivity rate was about 3%.

Department of Health and Social Services data shows that Alaska’s COVID-19 test positivity rate is increasing. (Screenshot)
Kenai Parks and Recreation Laborer Charlotte Thurman dresses up as a rabbit at an Easter event at Kenai Municipal Park on Friday, April 2, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Egg-stra special: Community turns out for Kenai Easter event

The egg hunt for children 5 years and younger was held in a cleared-off area, while older kids went on a “QR Code-Breaker Hunt.”

Kenai Parks and Recreation Laborer Charlotte Thurman dresses up as a rabbit at an Easter event at Kenai Municipal Park on Friday, April 2, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

State to receive 160,000 pairs of vaccine for April

State health officials announced during a press conference on Thursday that the state will receive at least 160,010 pairs of vaccine for the month of… Continue reading

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Photo by Katelyn Engebretsen / Homer High Yearbook
Zoe Adkins and Emmet Wilkinson prepare pretzels in a high school food and nutrition class at Homer High School.

Homer High teacher resurrects nutrition program

The high school hasn’t had a foods and nutrition teacher for a number of years.

Photo by Katelyn Engebretsen / Homer High Yearbook
Zoe Adkins and Emmet Wilkinson prepare pretzels in a high school food and nutrition class at Homer High School.
The banner at the center of a U.S. Supreme Court case on display at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. The banner’s owner was unable to find it a home in Juneau, and it’s been sent to the First Amendment Museum in Maine. (Wikicommons)

Banner at center of Supreme Court case leaves Juneau

The banner had been on display at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., but that museum recently closed.

The banner at the center of a U.S. Supreme Court case on display at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. The banner’s owner was unable to find it a home in Juneau, and it’s been sent to the First Amendment Museum in Maine. (Wikicommons)
dnr.alaska.gov

209 land parcels up for bid in state auction

The auction opened March 31 at 10 a.m. and will close on Sept. 28 at 4:30 p.m.

dnr.alaska.gov
Timm Johnson stands inside a chicken house at Diamond M Ranch on Thursday, April 1, 2021, off Kalifornsky Beach Road near Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘People want to be part of the solution’

Community composting program feeds chickens and supports local climate change efforts.

Timm Johnson stands inside a chicken house at Diamond M Ranch on Thursday, April 1, 2021, off Kalifornsky Beach Road near Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

12 new peninsula cases, 232 statewide

The borough is considered to be at intermediate risk level.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Birthed by circumstance’: SoHi takes on COVID-19 in spring play

Soldotna High School students will share their COVID-19 experiences beginning on April 8 during a three-day in-person performance of “Pandemic: A Retrospective.” Director Sara Erfurth,… Continue reading

Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
House lawmakers are hoping to see at least some cruise ship passengers like these seen in this Sept. 2017 file photo, and passed a resolution urging Congress and the president to take action on behalf of Alaska's tourist sector. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

House OKs resolution urging federal action on cruises

Juneau’s lawmakers say tourism needed for Southeast.

House lawmakers are hoping to see at least some cruise ship passengers like these seen in this Sept. 2017 file photo, and passed a resolution urging Congress and the president to take action on behalf of Alaska's tourist sector. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meet on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough has over $1 million in leftover CARES money

Nearly half of the leftover funds come from CAR13, the project aimed at retrofitting borough facilities.

Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meet on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, speaks at a town hall meeting on Monday, March 29, 2021, at Captain’s Coffee in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

‘Sip with Sarah’ at coffee shop covers topics from budget to pandemic response

Vance affirms support for rural DMV offices, opposes emergency declaration

Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, speaks at a town hall meeting on Monday, March 29, 2021, at Captain’s Coffee in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
A person holds their thumb over a fingerprint sensor to log into an application. Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday introduced a bill that would make companies that collect and sell private information have to receive user’s consent first. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

New bill would allow Alaskans to know when data is collected

Governor introduced Consumer Data Privacy Act on Wednesday.

A person holds their thumb over a fingerprint sensor to log into an application. Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday introduced a bill that would make companies that collect and sell private information have to receive user’s consent first. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Former Speaker of the House Gail Phillips is shown in this undated photo from the early 1990s taken in Homer, Alaska. (Homer News file photo)

Longtime Kenai Peninsula politican Gail Phillips remembered

Phillips honored for role as mentor, leader and volunteer

Former Speaker of the House Gail Phillips is shown in this undated photo from the early 1990s taken in Homer, Alaska. (Homer News file photo)
Image via pfd.alaska.gov

PFD deadline Wednesday at midnight

The deadline to file is 11:59 p.m. on March 31.

Image via pfd.alaska.gov
The Kasilof River can be seen in June 2019. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources will acquire 309 acres of habitat along the river with funding from a federal conservation grant. (Clarion file)

State to acquire Kasilof wetlands for preservation project

The project in Kasilof will protect 283 acres of coastal wetland habitat in the Kasilof River Flats.

The Kasilof River can be seen in June 2019. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources will acquire 309 acres of habitat along the river with funding from a federal conservation grant. (Clarion file)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Tracy Silta administers a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to Melissa Linton during a vaccine clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Feb. 26.

‘Get the vaccine’

Amid growing concern of long-term COVID symptoms, public health officials urge vigilance

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Tracy Silta administers a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to Melissa Linton during a vaccine clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Feb. 26.
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Vaccine clinic appointments still available on peninsula

A map of vaccine providers can be found on DHSS’ COVID-19 vaccine website at covidvax.alaska.gov.

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)