Tim Dillon

Trends: KPEDD looks to pandemic for lessons in economic resiliency

Among the projects KPEDD is working on this year are the borough’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and an Economic Resiliency Plan.

Tim Dillon
Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce presents local advocate Nona Safra with an exemplary service award Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at the Homer Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Local senior advocate honored for her work

Nona Safra sits on the board of the Alaska Commission on Aging.

Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce presents local advocate Nona Safra with an exemplary service award Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at the Homer Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
The badge for the Kenai Police Department
The badge for the Kenai Police Department
CDC photo

DHSS: 157 new cases

The new cases bring Alaska’s statewide case total to 61,089.

CDC photo
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Vaccinations continue to climb

More than half of peninsula seniors — 52.30% — are fully vaccinated.

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai City Council meets on Wednesday, Feb. 18 in Kenai, Alaska. (Screenshot)

Kenai extends disaster declaration to end of May

The declaration was first issued on March 18, 2020 and has since been extended six times.

The Kenai City Council meets on Wednesday, Feb. 18 in Kenai, Alaska. (Screenshot)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai shop local program extended 1 month

As of March 3, more than $55,000 in vouchers had already been distributed and more than 50 businesses were signed up to participate.

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Homer office of the Division of Motor Vehicles is seen after hours on Monday, March 15, 2021, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

House subcommittee grills officials on plan to close DMV offices

‘I really doubt it’s going to pass,’ Vance said of governor’s idea to close rural locations

The Homer office of the Division of Motor Vehicles is seen after hours on Monday, March 15, 2021, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Dogs are seen playing at 3 Friends Dog Park on Tuesday, March 16 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Not if, but when’

All of the trees at 3 Friends Dog Park must be removed, report says

Dogs are seen playing at 3 Friends Dog Park on Tuesday, March 16 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The MV Matanuska awaits repairs at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on Thursday as lawmakers at the state Capitol debated whether the Alaska Marine Highway System was actually a highway. A bill that would shape long-term planning for the system passed out of committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Bill that would reshape AMHS leadership moves forward

Ideological divide over the word ‘highway.’

The MV Matanuska awaits repairs at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on Thursday as lawmakers at the state Capitol debated whether the Alaska Marine Highway System was actually a highway. A bill that would shape long-term planning for the system passed out of committee. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Riders with Alaska C&C Horse Adventures participate in the 30th Annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Wednesday, March 17 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Back in green

St. Patrick’s Day parade returns 1 year after COVID-19 cancellation.

Riders with Alaska C&C Horse Adventures participate in the 30th Annual Sweeney’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Wednesday, March 17 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A large tarp hangs in the Homer High School gymnasium to catch water leaking through the roof at the school in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Doug Waclawski)
A large tarp hangs in the Homer High School gymnasium to catch water leaking through the roof at the school in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Doug Waclawski)
Tables in the dining room of the Heritage Place Skilled Nursing facility are arranged for social distancing. (Photo courtesy Sandi Crawford)

Heritage Place looks to reopen Monday after employee tests positive for COVID-19

A second test taken by the employee came back negative.

Tables in the dining room of the Heritage Place Skilled Nursing facility are arranged for social distancing. (Photo courtesy Sandi Crawford)
Members of the community give public testimony about a Homer City Council resolution dealing with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s proposal to repeal the ban on personal watercraft in critical habitat areas of Kachemak Bay during the Monday, Jan. 13, 2020 council meeting at Homer City Hall in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Conservation groups question Jet Ski regulation process in letter

Environmentalists allege Jet Ski ban repeal was tarnished.

Members of the community give public testimony about a Homer City Council resolution dealing with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s proposal to repeal the ban on personal watercraft in critical habitat areas of Kachemak Bay during the Monday, Jan. 13, 2020 council meeting at Homer City Hall in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

More than 30% of peninsula residents 16 and older have had at least 1 vaccine dose

More than half of peninsula seniors — 51.86% — are fully vaccinated.

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Juneau School District, it's headquarters seen here in this Juneau Empire file photo, will receive a portion of Alaska's more than $358 million in federal relief money for schools. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
The Juneau School District, it's headquarters seen here in this Juneau Empire file photo, will receive a portion of Alaska's more than $358 million in federal relief money for schools. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Rep. Christopher Kurka, R-Wasilla, seen here leaving the House chambers on Feb. 22, questioned masking rules on the floor of the House Monday and said there was political bias behind enforcement of rules. However, also on Monday two staff members tested positive for COVID-19 and 14 other people, including two House lawmakers, have gone into quarantine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Christopher Kurka, R-Wasilla, seen here leaving the House chambers on Feb. 22, questioned masking rules on the floor of the House Monday and said there was political bias behind enforcement of rules. However, also on Monday two staff members tested positive for COVID-19 and 14 other people, including two House lawmakers, have gone into quarantine. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
In this Feb 23, 2021, file photo, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Alaska Republican Party has not only censured Sen. Murkowski for voting to convict former President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial, but it also does not want her to identity as a GOP candidate in next year’s election, a member of the party’s State Central Committee said Tuesday, March 16, 2021. (Sarah Silbiger/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Alaska GOP censures Murkowski, looks for ’22 challenger

“The party does not want Lisa Murkowski to be a Republican candidate.”

  • Mar 16, 2021
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • State News
In this Feb 23, 2021, file photo, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Alaska Republican Party has not only censured Sen. Murkowski for voting to convict former President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial, but it also does not want her to identity as a GOP candidate in next year’s election, a member of the party’s State Central Committee said Tuesday, March 16, 2021. (Sarah Silbiger/Pool Photo via AP, File)
An Anchorage man was arrested in Anchorage Tuesday, March 16, 2021 by the FBI for his alleged participation in the Capitol riots in January. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Anchorage man arrested for alleged participation in Capitol riots

He’s one of many wanted in connection with the abortive attempt to overturn the election results.

An Anchorage man was arrested in Anchorage Tuesday, March 16, 2021 by the FBI for his alleged participation in the Capitol riots in January. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A Department of Corrections nurse vaccinates a Fairbanks Correctional Center inmate. The DOC eased restrictions on March 15, 2021, to allow attorneys to visit fully vaccinated inmates at DOC facilities. (Courtesy Photo / DOC)

DOC to allow attorney-client visitation in facilities

Attorneys will be allowed to visit fully vaccinated inmates in person again.

A Department of Corrections nurse vaccinates a Fairbanks Correctional Center inmate. The DOC eased restrictions on March 15, 2021, to allow attorneys to visit fully vaccinated inmates at DOC facilities. (Courtesy Photo / DOC)