Jim Cockrell speaks at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Tuesday, April 6 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Dunleavy taps Cockrell to head public safety

Cockrell is a former wildlife trooper and Marathon security supervisor.

Jim Cockrell speaks at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Tuesday, April 6 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Tuesday in Kenai. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Dunleavy: Pandemic in ‘rearview’

Alaska remains in at high-risk level, according to the state

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center on Tuesday in Kenai. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
This May 10, 2017 file photo shows Denali, North America’s tallest peak, from an airplane flying over the Alaska Range near Talkeetna, Alaska. Officials on Monday, April 5, 2021, said five people had to ski to a shelter after they landed on Ruth Glacier at the base of Denali on April 2, 2021, and a heavy snowstorm stranded them for at least three days. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

Snowstorm strands 5 on North America’s tallest peak

The five landed Friday in three separate small airplanes on Ruth Glacier on Denali.

  • Apr 6, 2021
  • By MARK THIESSEN Associated Press
This May 10, 2017 file photo shows Denali, North America’s tallest peak, from an airplane flying over the Alaska Range near Talkeetna, Alaska. Officials on Monday, April 5, 2021, said five people had to ski to a shelter after they landed on Ruth Glacier at the base of Denali on April 2, 2021, and a heavy snowstorm stranded them for at least three days. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Alaska surpasses 64,000 COVID-19 cases

The Kenai Peninsula Borough is also considered to be high risk, with 11.39 cases per 100,000 people.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Kenai Central High School is seen in this 2018 photo in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

School district to submit funding request

The $48 million the district plans to request Tuesday reflects compromises by the district and by the borough.

Kenai Central High School is seen in this 2018 photo in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

200 vaccine appointments available

More than 200 COVID-19 vaccination appointments were available across multiple central peninsula clinics as of Monday at 6 p.m. according to PrepMod, the online portal… Continue reading

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)
Mary Bondurant (left) and her assistant Erica Brincefield stand with an F22 pilot in front of the first F22 to land at Kenai Municipal Airport. (Photo courtesy Mary Bondurant)

Bondurant to retire as airport manager

She began working at Kenai Municipal Airport in 1998.

Mary Bondurant (left) and her assistant Erica Brincefield stand with an F22 pilot in front of the first F22 to land at Kenai Municipal Airport. (Photo courtesy Mary Bondurant)
Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD opens enrollment survey

Uncertainty surrounding fall 2021 enrollment numbers has created challenges in the budget process.

Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer Electric Association election now through May 5

Returned ballots must be received by no later than 5 p.m. on May 5.

The sign in front of the Homer Electric Association building in Kenai, Alaska as seen on April 1, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.
Alaska State Troopers logo.
The entrance to the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, as seen on Feb. 26, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The entrance to the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, as seen on Feb. 26, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Prescriptions drugs, vitamins, hormones, and other drugs left in the drug drop box in the lobby of the Juneau Police Department displayed on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. The state is suing prescription drug companies, accusing them of helping to fuel a drug crisis in the state. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

State sues drug companies over opioids

Not Alaska’s first opioid lawsuit.

Prescriptions drugs, vitamins, hormones, and other drugs left in the drug drop box in the lobby of the Juneau Police Department displayed on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. The state is suing prescription drug companies, accusing them of helping to fuel a drug crisis in the state. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Doug Woodby, co-chair of environmental group 350Juneau, holds up a letter addressed to the CEO of Wells Fargo alongside Irene Alexakos and Dick Farnell, wearing the costume. The group delivered the letter urging divestment from the fossil fuel industry to the bank's branch in downtown Juneau on Friday, April 2, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Doug Woodby, co-chair of environmental group 350Juneau, holds up a letter addressed to the CEO of Wells Fargo alongside Irene Alexakos and Dick Farnell, wearing the costume. The group delivered the letter urging divestment from the fossil fuel industry to the bank's branch in downtown Juneau on Friday, April 2, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Avalanche.org shows a moderate avalanche risk for Turnagain Pass. (Screenshot)

Troopers warn of heightened avalanche danger

Data from the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center showed a moderate risk of avalanches in Turnagain Pass on Friday.

Avalanche.org shows a moderate avalanche risk for Turnagain Pass. (Screenshot)
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)

Peninsula lagging in percentage vaccinated

The peninsula generally ranks in the bottom third of all Alaskan geographies, but higher than geographies of similar population sizes.

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 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)

Public health to offer vaccines on demand starting Monday

People who are homebound or groups of at least three people can request a COVID-19 vaccine administrator come to them.

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)
Department of Health and Social Services data shows that Alaska’s COVID-19 test positivity rate is increasing. (Screenshot)

Statewide positivity rate increasing

As of Friday, the statewide positivity rate was about 3%.

Department of Health and Social Services data shows that Alaska’s COVID-19 test positivity rate is increasing. (Screenshot)
Kenai Parks and Recreation Laborer Charlotte Thurman dresses up as a rabbit at an Easter event at Kenai Municipal Park on Friday, April 2, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Egg-stra special: Community turns out for Kenai Easter event

The egg hunt for children 5 years and younger was held in a cleared-off area, while older kids went on a “QR Code-Breaker Hunt.”

Kenai Parks and Recreation Laborer Charlotte Thurman dresses up as a rabbit at an Easter event at Kenai Municipal Park on Friday, April 2, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

State to receive 160,000 pairs of vaccine for April

State health officials announced during a press conference on Thursday that the state will receive at least 160,010 pairs of vaccine for the month of… Continue reading

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)
Photo by Katelyn Engebretsen / Homer High Yearbook
Zoe Adkins and Emmet Wilkinson prepare pretzels in a high school food and nutrition class at Homer High School.

Homer High teacher resurrects nutrition program

The high school hasn’t had a foods and nutrition teacher for a number of years.

Photo by Katelyn Engebretsen / Homer High Yearbook
Zoe Adkins and Emmet Wilkinson prepare pretzels in a high school food and nutrition class at Homer High School.