Kenai Courthouse is photographed on February 26, 2019 in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)
Kenai Courthouse is photographed on February 26, 2019 in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Nathan Erfurth speaks before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, July 12, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nathan Erfurth speaks before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, July 12, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad personnel land and disembark from a Hughes 369D helicopter on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, at Temsco Helicopters Inc in Ketchikan, Alaska. The KVRS, U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers and U.S. Forest Service responded to a radio beacon alert from a downed Southeast Aviation de Havilland Beaver float plane that was carrying five passengers from the Holland America Line cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam, according to Coast Guard, Holland America and KVRS information. The sightseeing plane crashed Thursday in southeast Alaska, killing all six people on board, the U.S. Coast Guard said. (Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News via AP)

Poor weather hampers recovery of Southeast plane crash victims

The plane crashed Thursday as the pilot was returning five passengers to Ketchikan from Misty Fjords National Monument.

  • Aug 7, 2021
  • By Becky Bohrer and Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • State News
Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad personnel land and disembark from a Hughes 369D helicopter on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, at Temsco Helicopters Inc in Ketchikan, Alaska. The KVRS, U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers and U.S. Forest Service responded to a radio beacon alert from a downed Southeast Aviation de Havilland Beaver float plane that was carrying five passengers from the Holland America Line cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam, according to Coast Guard, Holland America and KVRS information. The sightseeing plane crashed Thursday in southeast Alaska, killing all six people on board, the U.S. Coast Guard said. (Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News via AP)
In this webcam image provided by the Alaska Volcano Observatory, is the Pavlof Volcano in a state of eruption with episodic low-level ash emissions on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Three remote Alaska volcanos are each in a state of eruption, one producing lava and the other two blowing steam and ash. So far, no small communities near any of the three have been impacted, Chris Waythomas, a geologist with the Alaska Volcano Observatory, said Thursday. (Alaska Volcano Observatory via AP)

3 volcanoes spitting lava or ash clouds

Webcams on Thursday clearly showed episodic low-level ash emissions from Pavlof Volcano.

  • Aug 7, 2021
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • State News
In this webcam image provided by the Alaska Volcano Observatory, is the Pavlof Volcano in a state of eruption with episodic low-level ash emissions on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. Three remote Alaska volcanos are each in a state of eruption, one producing lava and the other two blowing steam and ash. So far, no small communities near any of the three have been impacted, Chris Waythomas, a geologist with the Alaska Volcano Observatory, said Thursday. (Alaska Volcano Observatory via AP)
The Homer Spit is evacuated during the July 28 tsunami warning at about 10:50 p.m. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Lessons learned from surviving country’s largest earthquakes

Memories resurface of ‘64 earthquake for woman who survived it.

The Homer Spit is evacuated during the July 28 tsunami warning at about 10:50 p.m. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
State data shows the current COVID-19 spike in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. (Image via the Department of Health and Social Services)
State data shows the current COVID-19 spike in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. (Image via the Department of Health and Social Services)
Olympic gold medalist Lydia Jacoby waves to the crowd in Seward during her celebratory parade on Thursday, August 5, 2021. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘So thankful for you all’

Olympic gold medalist Lydia Jacoby returns as Seward’s hometown hero

Olympic gold medalist Lydia Jacoby waves to the crowd in Seward during her celebratory parade on Thursday, August 5, 2021. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
File

Local World War II vet’s 100th birthday to be celebrated Saturday

Bill Fields, who lives in the Kenai area, is turning 100 over the weekend.

File
Richard Derkevorkian speaks at a borough and district work session on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly rejects 3-minute time limit for member comments

The ordinance would have limited assembly members’ closing comments to three minutes during assembly meetings.

Richard Derkevorkian speaks at a borough and district work session on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign instructs patients and visitors on the COVID-19 screening process in the River Tower of Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska, on April 7, 2020. The hospital recently matched the number of hospitalizations reported during the peak of the pandemic in 2020 as a resurgence of COVID-19 is reported across the state. (Peninsula Clarion file)

‘We’ve been super, super busy’

Local hospitalizations reach levels not seen since pandemic’s peak last year

A sign instructs patients and visitors on the COVID-19 screening process in the River Tower of Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska, on April 7, 2020. The hospital recently matched the number of hospitalizations reported during the peak of the pandemic in 2020 as a resurgence of COVID-19 is reported across the state. (Peninsula Clarion file)
COVID-19. (Image via CDC)

2 more COVID deaths as cases rise

As of Tuesday, every census region in the state was categorized as high alert status.

COVID-19. (Image via CDC)
Parent Nicole Darwin testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. Darwin testified in opposition to universal masking. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Parent Nicole Darwin testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. Darwin testified in opposition to universal masking. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna is now offering COVID-19 vaccines with no appointment necessary. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Delta variant accounts for 90% of new COVID cases, state reports

Data suggests that on average, one person with the delta variant will infect between five and eight other people.

A clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna is now offering COVID-19 vaccines with no appointment necessary. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Chidem Cherrier speaks at a Kenai City Council work session about waterfront development on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘A view city without a view’: Public voices support for revitalization of Kenai waterfront

Development of the city’s waterfront was identified as a priority by the city in its “Imagine Kenai 2030” comprehensive plan.

Chidem Cherrier speaks at a Kenai City Council work session about waterfront development on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Salmon are preserved in a cooler by dipnetters on Saturday, July 10, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Sockeye bag and posession limits increased

The new limits are six per day and 12 in possession.

Salmon are preserved in a cooler by dipnetters on Saturday, July 10, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
The United States’ women’s 4x100-meter medley relay team, Regan Smith, Lydia Jacoby, Torri Huske and Abbey Weitzeil, celebrates at the podium after winning the silver medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Jacoby honored with resolution, parade

Jacoby, 17, is a rising senior at Seward High School and won a gold medal for Team USA.

The United States’ women’s 4x100-meter medley relay team, Regan Smith, Lydia Jacoby, Torri Huske and Abbey Weitzeil, celebrates at the podium after winning the silver medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Joanne Jenkins distributes backpacks and school supplies to a line of cars at the Peninsula Community Health Services KidFest event on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

KidFest distributes back-to-school supplies

Different colored backpacks were stocked with basic school supplies.

Joanne Jenkins distributes backpacks and school supplies to a line of cars at the Peninsula Community Health Services KidFest event on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, speaks during a news conference at the offices of Denver Water Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Haaland hasn’t made decision on King Cove land exchange

King Cove residents have long sought a land connection through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge to Cold Bay.

  • Aug 4, 2021
  • By Becky Bohrer Associated Press
  • State News
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, speaks during a news conference at the offices of Denver Water Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
A resident casts their vote in the regular municipal election Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Filing period open for municipal elections

City councils, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly and the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education all have seats available.

A resident casts their vote in the regular municipal election Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)