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)
This screenshot shows the proposed House Districts for the southern Kenai Peninsula. The shaded pink area is District 5 and the shaded purple area is District 6. The Fritz Creek and Fox River areas currently in District 31 (the area now called District 5) would go into the Kodiak Island and Prince Willaim Sound District 6. The Fritz Creek and Fox River area starts at the Fritz Creek General Store near Mile 8 East End Road and includes the north side of East End Road. At East End Road and McNeil Canyon, all of East End Road to the end of the road is in the new district, including the villages of Razdolna, Voznesenka and Kachemak Selo. (Screen Capture/Alaska Redistricting Board/Google Maps)

Redistricting draft puts Fritz Creek into new district

Draft proposals carve out Fritz Creek, Fox River and put in Kodiak-Prince William Sound district.

This screenshot shows the proposed House Districts for the southern Kenai Peninsula. The shaded pink area is District 5 and the shaded purple area is District 6. The Fritz Creek and Fox River areas currently in District 31 (the area now called District 5) would go into the Kodiak Island and Prince Willaim Sound District 6. The Fritz Creek and Fox River area starts at the Fritz Creek General Store near Mile 8 East End Road and includes the north side of East End Road. At East End Road and McNeil Canyon, all of East End Road to the end of the road is in the new district, including the villages of Razdolna, Voznesenka and Kachemak Selo. (Screen Capture/Alaska Redistricting Board/Google Maps)
The doors of the Alaska Senate chambers were shut Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, a week into the Alaska State Legislature’s fourth special session of the year. Gov. Mike Dunleavy called lawmakers to session to resolve the state’s longterm fiscal issues, but the same divisions that have kept lawmakers from finding resolution before are still in place. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The doors of the Alaska Senate chambers were shut Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, a week into the Alaska State Legislature’s fourth special session of the year. Gov. Mike Dunleavy called lawmakers to session to resolve the state’s longterm fiscal issues, but the same divisions that have kept lawmakers from finding resolution before are still in place. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
In this Oct. 7, 2021, file photo, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, stands in an elevator as she departs, on Capitol Hill, in Washington. A man described as a “normal guy” who kept a low profile in his rural Alaska community faces charges he threatened to hire an assassin to kill the U.S. senator. Jay Allen Johnson was scheduled to be arraigned later Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, on charges related to phone threats authorities say he made against Murkowski. Johnson was arrested earlier in the week and was being held in a Fairbanks jail ahead of the federal court hearing. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Man accused of threatening 2 senators to remain in jail

The caller was also upset that Murkowski voted to convict Trump in his January impeachment trial.

  • Oct 9, 2021
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • State News
In this Oct. 7, 2021, file photo, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, stands in an elevator as she departs, on Capitol Hill, in Washington. A man described as a “normal guy” who kept a low profile in his rural Alaska community faces charges he threatened to hire an assassin to kill the U.S. senator. Jay Allen Johnson was scheduled to be arraigned later Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, on charges related to phone threats authorities say he made against Murkowski. Johnson was arrested earlier in the week and was being held in a Fairbanks jail ahead of the federal court hearing. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Middle school student Wyatt Otness of Fairbanks was awarded a $49,000 scholarship administered as an Alaska 529 savings plan in the fourth week of the “Give AK a shot” lottery. (Alaska Chamber)

Anchorage woman and Fairbanks middle schooler win vaccine lottery

The weekly draw awards one newly vaccinated adult resident and one newly vaccinated child resident $49,000 in cash and scholarships.

Middle school student Wyatt Otness of Fairbanks was awarded a $49,000 scholarship administered as an Alaska 529 savings plan in the fourth week of the “Give AK a shot” lottery. (Alaska Chamber)
Barbara Lake is stocked by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. (adfg.alaska.gov)

New access to Barbara Lake

The lake is about 30 miles north of Kenai.

Barbara Lake is stocked by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. (adfg.alaska.gov)
Lena Wissner testifies before the Kenai City Council in support of additional funding for a dog park in Kenai on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Lena Wissner testifies before the Kenai City Council in support of additional funding for a dog park in Kenai on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai dog park construction delayed

Efforts to create a dog park, which will be located at Daubenspeck Family Park in Kenai, have been underway for years.

Lena Wissner testifies before the Kenai City Council in support of additional funding for a dog park in Kenai on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Lena Wissner testifies before the Kenai City Council in support of additional funding for a dog park in Kenai on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A graph from the Department of Health and Social Services on Oct. 7, 2021 shows COVID-19 cases have dropped since the last week in September. (Photo taken from the DHSS)

Officials ‘cautiously optimistic’ about state COVID trends

Although cases appear to be dropping, officials say Alaska isn’t ‘out of the woods’ yet

A graph from the Department of Health and Social Services on Oct. 7, 2021 shows COVID-19 cases have dropped since the last week in September. (Photo taken from the DHSS)
James Varsos, also known as “Hobo Jim,” poses for a photo during the August, 2016, Funny River Festival in Funny River, Alaska, in August 2016. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Hobo Jim, beloved Alaska balladeer, dies after battle with cancer

Just over two weeks ago Varsos went public with his terminal cancer diagnosis.

James Varsos, also known as “Hobo Jim,” poses for a photo during the August, 2016, Funny River Festival in Funny River, Alaska, in August 2016. (Peninsula Clarion file)