Home

Tables in the dining room of the Heritage Place Skilled Nursing facility are arranged for social distancing. (Photo courtesy Sandi Crawford)

Vaccinated Heritage Place residents now able to hug, touch visitors

The change comes after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued new guidance.

Tables in the dining room of the Heritage Place Skilled Nursing facility are arranged for social distancing. (Photo courtesy Sandi Crawford)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

DHSS: 238 new cases yesterday

Affected peninsula communities include Seward, Kenai and Soldotna

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
The Iditarod checkpoint is nestled in a bend in the Iditarod River, in this aerial view Thursday, March 11, 2021, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. (Zachariah Hughes/Anchorage Daily News via AP, Pool)

Iditarod officials contact tracing after positive virus test

Johnson tested negative on Sunday, when he began the race.

  • Mar 11, 2021
  • By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
  • Iditarod
The Iditarod checkpoint is nestled in a bend in the Iditarod River, in this aerial view Thursday, March 11, 2021, during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. (Zachariah Hughes/Anchorage Daily News via AP, Pool)
Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink addresses members of the media during a remote press conference on Thursday, March 11 in Alaska. (Screenshot)

Health officials emphasize importance of vaccinations

About 26.9% of peninsula residents 16 and older have received at least one dose

Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink addresses members of the media during a remote press conference on Thursday, March 11 in Alaska. (Screenshot)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during an August news conference. On thursday, Dunleavy withdrew an executive order reorganizing the state’s largest department, the Department of Health and Social Services, after lawmakers sought to block it. (Courtesy Photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

Governor withdraws DHSS split order

Reorganizing the department remains a priority.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks during an August news conference. On thursday, Dunleavy withdrew an executive order reorganizing the state’s largest department, the Department of Health and Social Services, after lawmakers sought to block it. (Courtesy Photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)
The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen here on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen here on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Judi Westfall shovels snow at her home in Anchorage, Alaska, on Thursday, March 11, 2021. Residents in some parts of Alaska’s largest city woke Thursday to a surprise: up to 18 new inches of snow. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Second winter: Anchorage gets up to 18 inches of fresh snow

The storm, however, caused few headaches in Anchorage.

  • Mar 11, 2021
  • By MARK THIESSEN Associated Press
Judi Westfall shovels snow at her home in Anchorage, Alaska, on Thursday, March 11, 2021. Residents in some parts of Alaska’s largest city woke Thursday to a surprise: up to 18 new inches of snow. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Alaska Senate Secretary Liz Clark, right, holds a copy of the Alaska Legislature’s uniform rules as she talks to Sen. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, center, while Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna and Senate Majority Leader Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, in the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau, Alaska, Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Reinbold was excluded from most spaces in the Alaska State Capitol until she follows the Legislature’s anti-COVID policies. (James Brooks/Anchorage Daily News via AP, Pool)

Alaska Senate takes action against member over virus rules

Fellow lawmakers say Republican Sen. Lora Reinbold has refused to follow measures meant to guard against COVID-19.

Alaska Senate Secretary Liz Clark, right, holds a copy of the Alaska Legislature’s uniform rules as she talks to Sen. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River, center, while Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna and Senate Majority Leader Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, in the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau, Alaska, Wednesday, March 10, 2021. Reinbold was excluded from most spaces in the Alaska State Capitol until she follows the Legislature’s anti-COVID policies. (James Brooks/Anchorage Daily News via AP, Pool)
Tracy Silta (left) administers a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to Melissa Linton during a vaccine clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, Feb. 26 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Local officials look forward to easier vaccine process

A large number of available appointments was likely due to confusion about who was eligible, according to administrators.

Tracy Silta (left) administers a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to Melissa Linton during a vaccine clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, Feb. 26 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A slash pile containing non-organic construction debris is seen at the Snug Harbor Slash Disposal site on Sept. 22, 2020 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Lang Management)

State to reimburse borough for slash disposal

The disposal site saw more use in 2020 due to a statewide burn suspension enacted during the 2020 wildland fire season.

A slash pile containing non-organic construction debris is seen at the Snug Harbor Slash Disposal site on Sept. 22, 2020 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Lang Management)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

DHSS: 150 new cases

Affected peninsula communities include Nikiski and Soldotna.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Meghan Barker presents information about Pebble Mine during a remote series on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (Screenshot)

Conservation group explores future of Pebble Mine in virtual discussion

The group is seeking long-term protections for the region.

Meghan Barker presents information about Pebble Mine during a remote series on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (Screenshot)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file
Service from ferries like the Tazlina, seen here coming into dock at Juneau on May 16, 2020, have become unreliable for coastal communities as year-to-year planning leads to high levels of uncertainty, according to coastal lawmakers.
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file
Service from ferries like the Tazlina, seen here coming into dock at Juneau on May 16, 2020, have become unreliable for coastal communities as year-to-year planning leads to high levels of uncertainty, according to coastal lawmakers.
Love, INC in Soldotna, Alaska, provides homelessness prevention and housing services to people on the Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Love, INC in Soldotna, Alaska, provides homelessness prevention and housing services to people on the Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Express Map Viewer website homepage. (Screenshot)

Borough to do aerial survey of peninsula

The last time the borough conducted a general capture of imagery was in 2012 and 2013 for the western Kenai Peninsula.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Express Map Viewer website homepage. (Screenshot)
A display at Heritage Place in Soldotna, Alaska, shows residents during the coronovirus pandemic. (Photo provided by Aud Walaszek/Peninsula Clarion)

‘No longer on edge’

Vaccination efforts offer morale boost to peninula seniors

A display at Heritage Place in Soldotna, Alaska, shows residents during the coronovirus pandemic. (Photo provided by Aud Walaszek/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

DHSS: 91 new cases yesterday

Three cases were reported on the peninsula

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses Alaskans during a remote press conference on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Dunleavy announced that the COVID-19 vaccine is now available to all Alaskans who want it. (Screenshot)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy addresses Alaskans during a remote press conference on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Dunleavy announced that the COVID-19 vaccine is now available to all Alaskans who want it. (Screenshot)
Marc Lester / Anchorage Daily News, via Associated Press
Aliy Zirkle, of Two Rivers, greets fans as she passes by at the Iditarod Sled Dog Race start at Deshka Landing in Willow on Sunday. 
Aliy Zirkle, of Two Rivers, greets fans as she passes by at the Iditarod Sled Dog Race start at Deshka Landing in Willow, Alaska, Sunday, March 7, 2021. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP, Pool)

Zirkle ends Iditarod bid after injuries

Zirkle sustained multiple injuries after suffering a fall while coming into the checkpoint in Rohn on Monday evening.

  • Mar 9, 2021
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • Iditarod
Marc Lester / Anchorage Daily News, via Associated Press
Aliy Zirkle, of Two Rivers, greets fans as she passes by at the Iditarod Sled Dog Race start at Deshka Landing in Willow on Sunday. 
Aliy Zirkle, of Two Rivers, greets fans as she passes by at the Iditarod Sled Dog Race start at Deshka Landing in Willow, Alaska, Sunday, March 7, 2021. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP, Pool)
Bunny Swan performs at Soldotna Creek Park on July 3, 2019 as part of the Levitt Amp Soldotna Music Series. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna planning for summer events

City Manager Stephanie Queen said she was repealing a “large gathering” policy implemented last year

Bunny Swan performs at Soldotna Creek Park on July 3, 2019 as part of the Levitt Amp Soldotna Music Series. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)