Bench creator, Brad Hughes, pours the molding material over the clay while Rob Wiard and Matt brush the liquid rubber over each character on the bench to ensure it is covered evenly. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Molds for the Loved Lost Bench are underway

Construction for the memorial bench continues as the rubber molds to shape the concrete are made.

Bench creator, Brad Hughes, pours the molding material over the clay while Rob Wiard and Matt brush the liquid rubber over each character on the bench to ensure it is covered evenly. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
This undated photos shows National Day of Mourning plaque on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth, Mass, where since 1970 Indigenous groups have gathered to mourn the history of colonization in North America. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the traditional “First Thanksgiving ” in 1621, but for many Indigenous people, including Alaska Natives, the holiday is a somber one. (Courtesy photo / Creative commons)
This undated photos shows National Day of Mourning plaque on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth, Mass, where since 1970 Indigenous groups have gathered to mourn the history of colonization in North America. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the traditional “First Thanksgiving ” in 1621, but for many Indigenous people, including Alaska Natives, the holiday is a somber one. (Courtesy photo / Creative commons)
Alaska Rep. David Eastman sits at his desk on the Alaska House floor in Juneau, Alaska, on March 5, 2020. Dozens of West Point graduates have demanded state Rep. Eastman resign from office over his ties to a right wing extremist group, saying his affiliation has betrayed the values of the U.S. Military Academy he attended. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

70 West Point grads call on Alaska lawmaker to resign

Fellow West Point graduates called on Eastman to resign after his membership in the Oath Keepers became public.

Alaska Rep. David Eastman sits at his desk on the Alaska House floor in Juneau, Alaska, on March 5, 2020. Dozens of West Point graduates have demanded state Rep. Eastman resign from office over his ties to a right wing extremist group, saying his affiliation has betrayed the values of the U.S. Military Academy he attended. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
Spruce trees are dusted with snow on Dec. 22, 2020, in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Soldotna, Alaska. Some areas of the refuge are open to harvest of holiday trees for non-commercial uses beginning Thanksgiving. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Know before you chop

Where to get holiday trees on the peninsula

Spruce trees are dusted with snow on Dec. 22, 2020, in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Soldotna, Alaska. Some areas of the refuge are open to harvest of holiday trees for non-commercial uses beginning Thanksgiving. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs welcome travelers to the Kenai Municipal Airport on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Federal funds coming to peninsula airports

The money was made available under the American Rescue Plan Act.

Signs welcome travelers to the Kenai Municipal Airport on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Officials: Get vaccinated before the holidays

The state also encourages all eligible adults to get a booster shot to increase protection for the holiday season.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Kenai Senior Center volunteer Carol Freas, left, and driver Don Erwin prepare to-go Thanksgiving meals at the center on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘It’s a wonderful thing’

Kenai Senior Center prepares Thanksgiving to-go for peninsula seniors.

Kenai Senior Center volunteer Carol Freas, left, and driver Don Erwin prepare to-go Thanksgiving meals at the center on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Family practice physician Christina Tuomi, D.O., (right) gets Homer’s first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine from Emergency Department nurse Steve Hughes (left) on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska. Tuomi has been the hospital’s medical lead throughout the pandemic. (Photo courtesy Derotha Ferraro/South Peninsula Hospital)

Feds issue vaccine mandate to health care workers; Dunleavy joins lawsuit against the rule

Rule by CMS applies to hospitals, rural health clinics, community mental health centers.

Family practice physician Christina Tuomi, D.O., (right) gets Homer’s first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine from Emergency Department nurse Steve Hughes (left) on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska. Tuomi has been the hospital’s medical lead throughout the pandemic. (Photo courtesy Derotha Ferraro/South Peninsula Hospital)
The Sterling Highway crosses the Kenai River near the Russian River Campground on March 15, 2020 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Russian River Road and campground to close for 1 year

Construction will limit access to the road and associated recreation.

The Sterling Highway crosses the Kenai River near the Russian River Campground on March 15, 2020 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. Not only were seafood jobs lost due to COVID restrictions, infections among industry personnel affected the fishing season. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Seafood industry hit hard by pandemic

Overall fish harvesting jobs in Alaska dropped by the widest margin since 2000 — 14.1% — in 2020.

Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. Not only were seafood jobs lost due to COVID restrictions, infections among industry personnel affected the fishing season. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Sterling Highway crash kills 2

A passenger with injuries was medevaced to a hospital in the Anchorage area.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

New COVID cases continue downward trend

Alaska remained at a high COVID transmission alert level Monday.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Tim Navarre stands in a bedroom at a cold weather shelter set to open next month on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Shelter prepares to open doors

Efforts to establish a cold weather shelter on the peninsula have been in the works for years.

Tim Navarre stands in a bedroom at a cold weather shelter set to open next month on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion 
Homer Electric Association Director of Strategic Services David Thomas testifies during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Oct. 12 in Soldotna.

Changing tides

Peninsula turns attention to renewable energy sources

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion 
Homer Electric Association Director of Strategic Services David Thomas testifies during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Oct. 12 in Soldotna.
Demonstrators gather outside of Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates and advocate for alternative treatments on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Competing demonstrations held outside Central Peninsula Hospital

Two different demonstrations — one to show support for hospital workers and one calling for alternative COVID-19 treatments — took place outside the hospital.

Demonstrators gather outside of Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates and advocate for alternative treatments on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Michelle Ravenmoon sews a beaded artisan product at the Soldotna Holiday Bazaar at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Art from home

From furs to dreamcatchers, local artisans show off ingenuity at holiday bazaar

Michelle Ravenmoon sews a beaded artisan product at the Soldotna Holiday Bazaar at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Workers with the Pebble Mine project test drill in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, near the village of Iliamma, on July 13, 2007. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, it is extending through May a timeline to decide how or whether to proceed with proposed restrictions on mining in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region, which is known for its salmon runs. (AP Photo/Al Grillo, File)

EPA sets timeline to weigh next steps related to Pebble Mine

In 2019, during the Trump administration, the EPA withdrew proposed restrictions.

Workers with the Pebble Mine project test drill in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska, near the village of Iliamma, on July 13, 2007. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, it is extending through May a timeline to decide how or whether to proceed with proposed restrictions on mining in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region, which is known for its salmon runs. (AP Photo/Al Grillo, File)
Downtown Seward, Alaska is seen on Saturday, July 24, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Seward to promote shop small Thanksgiving weekend

The weekend aims to support local businesses by offering different promotions.

Downtown Seward, Alaska is seen on Saturday, July 24, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
The Tongass National Forest sign stands near the Auke Village Recreation Area. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Feds aim to block Tongass forest logging

At 16.7 million acres, Tongass is the largest national forest in the country.

The Tongass National Forest sign stands near the Auke Village Recreation Area. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)