Teressa Minnich (left) speaks to another poll worker at a precinct at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Municipal elections see ‘sad’ turnout levels

11.8% of registered voters cast ballots in the borough’s Oct. 5 municipal elections.

Teressa Minnich (left) speaks to another poll worker at a precinct at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Runners participate in boys varsity race at the Ted McKenney XC Invitational on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. The trails recently reported incidents of vandalism and theft. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Vandalism and theft reported at Tsalteshi Trails

One trail user reported stolen skis recently and multiple signs have been defaced.

Runners participate in boys varsity race at the Ted McKenney XC Invitational on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. The trails recently reported incidents of vandalism and theft. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Montessori school goes to universal indoor masking

As of Tuesday, eight KPBSD schools were operating with universal indoor masking for staff and students.

The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
An area cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass project can be seen above the intersection of the Kenai River and Kenai Lake in Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Sept. 6, 2021. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Portion of Sterling Highway to be temporarily closed next week

No through traffic will be allowed between Milepost 57 to 58.5, near Jims’ Landing.

An area cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass project can be seen above the intersection of the Kenai River and Kenai Lake in Cooper Landing, Alaska, on Sept. 6, 2021. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel speaks at a joint work session at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to unveil interactive map of available land

The total acreage of all land owned by the City of Kenai is roughly the same size as the City of Soldotna.

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel speaks at a joint work session at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
Several members of the Alaska House of Representatives were absent form a floor session Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, but after a quiet first week lawmakers are scheduled to hold committee meetings through the end of the week.
Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
Several members of the Alaska House of Representatives were absent form a floor session Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, but after a quiet first week lawmakers are scheduled to hold committee meetings through the end of the week.
(Image courtesy CDC)

‘A palpable, noticeable difference in our hospitals’

Health care workers from the Lower 48 have been deployed to help Alaska’s COVID crisis.

(Image courtesy CDC)
In this March 21, 2006, file photo, is the abandoned bus where Christopher McCandless starved to death in 1992 near Healy, Alaska. The bus that people sometimes embarked on deadly pilgrimages to Alaska’s backcountry to visit can now safely be viewed at the University of Alaska Fairbanks while it undergoes preservation work. The bus was moved to the university’s engineering facility in early Oct. 2021, while it’s being prepared for outdoor display at the Museum of the North, Fairbanks television station KTVF reported. (AP Photo/Jillian Rogers, File )

‘Into the Wild’ bus on display during preservation work

The abandoned Fairbanks city bus became a shelter for hunters and others using the backcountry near Denali National Park and Preserve.

In this March 21, 2006, file photo, is the abandoned bus where Christopher McCandless starved to death in 1992 near Healy, Alaska. The bus that people sometimes embarked on deadly pilgrimages to Alaska’s backcountry to visit can now safely be viewed at the University of Alaska Fairbanks while it undergoes preservation work. The bus was moved to the university’s engineering facility in early Oct. 2021, while it’s being prepared for outdoor display at the Museum of the North, Fairbanks television station KTVF reported. (AP Photo/Jillian Rogers, File )
Some of the pumpkins submitted to the pumpkin decorating contest are seen here during the 5th annual Kenai Fall Pumpkin Festival in Kenai, Alaska on Oct. 10, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Spooky season is upon us

Trick-or-treating, pumpkin decorating and scavenger hunts are featured this Halloween month.

Some of the pumpkins submitted to the pumpkin decorating contest are seen here during the 5th annual Kenai Fall Pumpkin Festival in Kenai, Alaska on Oct. 10, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
A graphic published in the October 2021 edition of Trends, published by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, shows how women’s shares of the workforce and wages in Alaska varied by area in 2019. (Image via labor.alaska.gov)

Report: Alaska women’s pay lags

On average, women earned about 72% of what men earned in Alaska in 2019.

A graphic published in the October 2021 edition of Trends, published by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, shows how women’s shares of the workforce and wages in Alaska varied by area in 2019. (Image via labor.alaska.gov)
Courtesy image/ Wikicommons
This map from the U.S. Cencsus Bureau highlights Alaska’s Indigenous populations. A ballot initiative to have the state of Alaska formally recognize the state’s already federally recognized tribes took a step forward Monday, when it was certified by the Division of Elections.
Courtesy image/ Wikicommons
This map from the U.S. Cencsus Bureau highlights Alaska’s Indigenous populations. A ballot initiative to have the state of Alaska formally recognize the state’s already federally recognized tribes took a step forward Monday, when it was certified by the Division of Elections.
The entrance to the Kenai Municipal Cemetery is seen on Thursday, Feb. 25 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai cemetery expansion slated to open in spring

The cemetery has four adult plots available and is subject to a moratorium on the selling of standard plots.

The entrance to the Kenai Municipal Cemetery is seen on Thursday, Feb. 25 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A male sea otter from Kasilof admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program. (Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)

Sea otter pup rescued from Kasilof

The otter pup was determined to be malnourished and dehydrated.

A male sea otter from Kasilof admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program. (Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)
Central Peninsula Hospital as seen March 26, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Peninsula Hospital as seen March 26, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Kelly Tshibaka addresses members of the community at Nikiski Hardware & Supply on Friday, April 9, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Tshibaka cited for commercial fishing violation

Troopers opened an investigation on July 21 in response to a social media video that showed commercial fishing activity.

Kelly Tshibaka addresses members of the community at Nikiski Hardware & Supply on Friday, April 9, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Wildwood Correctional Center is seen in this undated photo. (Alaska Department of Corrections)

Wildwood reports COVID-related inmate death

Approximately 187 inmates have tested positive at the facility.

Wildwood Correctional Center is seen in this undated photo. (Alaska Department of Corrections)
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship oversees the testing of voting equipment ahead of the Oct. 5 municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Outstanding municipal election ballots to be counted Monday

A total of 1,512 ballots, including absentee, questioned and special needs, will be counted.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship oversees the testing of voting equipment ahead of the Oct. 5 municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (Juneau Empire file photo)

Judge sides with psychiatrists who alleged wrongful firing

In a decision Friday, U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick said the nature of the demand was “political.”

  • Oct 9, 2021
  • By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
  • State News
Gov. Mike Dunleavy holds a press conference at the Capitol on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (Juneau Empire file photo)
KPBSD Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes (left) gives a presentation on the school district’s FY23 budget at Soldotna High School on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Forums offer guidance on district budget process

A 30-minute presentation at SoHi served as an all-in-one guide on how the school district’s budget is crafted.

KPBSD Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes (left) gives a presentation on the school district’s FY23 budget at Soldotna High School on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)