The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen here on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Lovers Lane to be repaired

The city installed temporary patches on sections of Lovers Lane that were “failing” last fall.

The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen here on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State alert level drops to intermediate

The Kenai Peninsula Borough also remains in the intermediate alert division.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
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Heroin overdose deaths increase, officials wonder if it’s pandemic-related

Alaska and other states saw a decrease in opioid overdoses in 2018, an increase in 2019 and then a 165% spike in 2020.

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Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.
The entrance to the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, AK as seen on February 26, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The entrance to the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, AK as seen on February 26, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
This May 2020 photo shows an open sign illuminated on a Juneau business. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development reports the state has added jobs but has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels of employment. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Alaska gains jobs but doesn’t reach pre-pandemic levels

Numbers still lagged what they were before the pandemic, per state report.

This May 2020 photo shows an open sign illuminated on a Juneau business. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development reports the state has added jobs but has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels of employment. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Signs advertising COVID-19 safety protocoals stand outside the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Oct. 6, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Masks now optional at Soldotna city facilities

The Soldotna City Council will also consider the repeal of the city’s COVID-19 disaster declaration during their May 26 meeting.

Signs advertising COVID-19 safety protocoals stand outside the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Oct. 6, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Proclamations from Gov. Mike Dunleavy calling special sessions of the Alaska State Legislature for late May and early August were posted in the otherwise quiet office of the House Clerk on Friday, May 21, 2021. The first special session has started but the Capitol building was quiet as most of the work before lawmakers will take place in committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Proclamations from Gov. Mike Dunleavy calling special sessions of the Alaska State Legislature for late May and early August were posted in the otherwise quiet office of the House Clerk on Friday, May 21, 2021. The first special session has started but the Capitol building was quiet as most of the work before lawmakers will take place in committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
A sticker given out at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic hosted by the Kenai Fire Department in Kenai, Alaska, is seen on March 13, 2021. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Vaccination rates climb

As of Friday afternoon, 53.7% of Alaskans 16 and up had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

A sticker given out at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic hosted by the Kenai Fire Department in Kenai, Alaska, is seen on March 13, 2021. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
A row of skiffs and small boats are moored on Friday, May 21, 2021, at the Homer Harbor in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

USCG National Safe Boating Week reinforces new engine cut-off switch laws

The U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary hosts National Safe Boating Week

A row of skiffs and small boats are moored on Friday, May 21, 2021, at the Homer Harbor in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Not out of fear’: Kenai extends disaster declaration

Those in favor of extending the declaration said it may make the process of accepting federal funds easier and could be rescinded at a later date.

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
This Sept. 7, 2007, file photo shows Royal Caribbean’s “Radiance of the Seas” docked in Seward . (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz, File)
This Sept. 7, 2007, file photo shows Royal Caribbean’s “Radiance of the Seas” docked in Seward . (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz, File)
Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, spoke to reporters in his office on Thursday, May 20, 2021, to discuss next steps after the Senate debated the state budget until just before midnight the night before. Senators voted for a Permanent Fund Dividend of $2,300, the largest in history, but negotiations with the House of Representatives are still to come. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Senate President Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, spoke to reporters in his office on Thursday, May 20, 2021, to discuss next steps after the Senate debated the state budget until just before midnight the night before. Senators voted for a Permanent Fund Dividend of $2,300, the largest in history, but negotiations with the House of Representatives are still to come. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Daubenspeck Park is seen on Thursday, May 20, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai adds grant for dog park to FY22 budget

Efforts to create a dog park in Kenai have been underway for years and have mostly been driven by volunteer labor and financial donations.

Daubenspeck Park is seen on Thursday, May 20, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Valedictorians Rosalie Anderson, Lillian Carstens and Samuel Smith give their commencement address at the Nikiski Middle/High School graduation on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 in the gymnasium. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Valedictorians Rosalie Anderson, Lillian Carstens and Samuel Smith give their commencement address at the Nikiski Middle/High School graduation on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 in the gymnasium. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna High School students celebrate their graduation on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at the high school football field. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna High School students celebrate their graduation on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at the high school football field. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
From left: Jayni Parish, Alyeska Krull, Selia Butler, Brittany Gilman and Braeden Garrett (center) act onstage as their characters the March sisters and Theodore “Laurie” Lawrence in the Kenai Performers’ production of “Little Women,” which headlines on Thursday, May 20, 2021. (Photo provided)

‘Finding their path in the world’

“Little Women” musical debuts this weekend

From left: Jayni Parish, Alyeska Krull, Selia Butler, Brittany Gilman and Braeden Garrett (center) act onstage as their characters the March sisters and Theodore “Laurie” Lawrence in the Kenai Performers’ production of “Little Women,” which headlines on Thursday, May 20, 2021. (Photo provided)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
The Alaska State Legislature passed a bill to create a new oversight board for the Alaska Marine Highway System and its ships like the Tazlina, seen here coming into dock at Juneau on May 16, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska State Legislature passed a bill to create a new oversight board for the Alaska Marine Highway System and its ships like the Tazlina, seen here coming into dock at Juneau on May 16, 2020. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Jesse Bjorkman (right) speaks at a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Amendment to fund outside counsel fails after heated assembly debate

The amendment was proposed in response to a discussion over two assembly members’ potential conflicts of interest.

Jesse Bjorkman (right) speaks at a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)