News

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

Kenai, Soldotna extend disaster declarations

Soldotna extended their declaration to March 31, while Kenai extended theirs to Jan. 31

The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen here on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Krischelle Batac, a pharmacy technician with Bartlett Regional Hospital, prepares the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020. (Courtesy photo / Katie Bausler)

Feds, state monitor for adverse reactions as vaccinations ramp up

Juneau played reluctant host to the country’s first adverse reaction on Tuesday.

Krischelle Batac, a pharmacy technician with Bartlett Regional Hospital, prepares the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020. (Courtesy photo / Katie Bausler)
Bill Holt sits in the maintenance shed at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Holt retires as facilities and equipment manager on Friday. He started working at the trails in the winter of 1993-94. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Time to be a beginner again’

Holt steps away from Tsalteshi after over 25 years of driving the expansion and refinement of trails

Bill Holt sits in the maintenance shed at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Holt retires as facilities and equipment manager on Friday. He started working at the trails in the winter of 1993-94. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

DHSS: 366 new cases, 2 deaths reported

22 cases were reported on the Kenai Peninsula

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
South Peninsula Pharmacist Jill Kort unpacks the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 shortly after it arrived at the hospital on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

First health care worker, long-term care resident get vaccinated in Homer

South Peninsula Hospital started offering vaccines to residents and front-line staff on Thursday

South Peninsula Pharmacist Jill Kort unpacks the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 shortly after it arrived at the hospital on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
This photo shows vials of COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020. BRH immediately began vaccinating its personnel upon receipt of the vaccine. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Adverse reaction to vaccine reported in Juneau

Health officials said it was the first reported instance in the U.S.

This photo shows vials of COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 15, 2020. BRH immediately began vaccinating its personnel upon receipt of the vaccine. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
Flyer for drive-thru event.

Seward Community Health Center offering drive-thru COVID testing

Testing will be conducted throughout December

Flyer for drive-thru event.
Edward Eagerton / U.S. Army National Guard via AP Residents of the village of Nanwalek greet guardsmen who delivered presents in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment during Operation Santa on Dec. 11. The Alaska National Guard and the Salvation Army were able to provide and deliver gifts for the program’s 65th year, but had to scale back distribution parties that are normally held in the villages because of COVID-19.

Pandemic prompts scaled back Christmas tradition in Alaska

This year’s edition of Operation Santa Claus didn’t have the pomp and grandeur of previous incarnations.

  • Dec 16, 2020
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • Coronavirus
Edward Eagerton / U.S. Army National Guard via AP Residents of the village of Nanwalek greet guardsmen who delivered presents in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment during Operation Santa on Dec. 11. The Alaska National Guard and the Salvation Army were able to provide and deliver gifts for the program’s 65th year, but had to scale back distribution parties that are normally held in the villages because of COVID-19.
This map shows the boundaries of Kachemak Bay State Park and Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park. (Image courtesy Alaska Department of Natural Resources, KBSP and KBSWP management plan)

DNR seeks comment on state parks management plan

Proposal to phase out Tutka Bay Lagoon Hatchery draws ire

This map shows the boundaries of Kachemak Bay State Park and Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park. (Image courtesy Alaska Department of Natural Resources, KBSP and KBSWP management plan)
Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion Central Peninsula Hospital Pharmacy Technician Jessica Hulet rolls a cart carrying doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine into Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna on Wednesday.

1st vaccines arrive on peninsula

975 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine were transported from Anchorage to Soldotna Wednesday morning.

Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion Central Peninsula Hospital Pharmacy Technician Jessica Hulet rolls a cart carrying doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine into Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna on Wednesday.
A COVID-19 exposure took place at Kitwanga Elementary School Dec. 1 to Dec. 3. (Image courtesy CDC)

616 new cases, 60 on the peninsula

Affected peninsula communities include Kenai, Soldotna, Homer, Other North, Other South and Sterling

A COVID-19 exposure took place at Kitwanga Elementary School Dec. 1 to Dec. 3. (Image courtesy CDC)
Dr. David Zielke, left, a pulmonary critical care physician, receives a dose of COVID-19 vaccine from Emily Schubert, the employee health nurse at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Front-line health care workers are among the first in Alaska to receive the vaccine. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

State front-line health care workers get 1st vaccinations

The state began receiving more than 35,000 doses of the vaccine late Sunday, with distribution planned across Alaska.

  • Dec 15, 2020
  • By Mark Thiessen Associated Press
  • Coronavirus
Dr. David Zielke, left, a pulmonary critical care physician, receives a dose of COVID-19 vaccine from Emily Schubert, the employee health nurse at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Front-line health care workers are among the first in Alaska to receive the vaccine. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members participate in a special meeting, which was conducted remotely, on Tuesday, Dec. 15. (Screenshot)

Assembly extends borough disaster declaration

The declaration was extended until March 31, 2021

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members participate in a special meeting, which was conducted remotely, on Tuesday, Dec. 15. (Screenshot)
The Homer Spit stretching into Kachemak Bay is seen here on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Personal watercraft allowed in Kachemak Bay once again

Fish and Game repeals ban that kept them out of critical habitat areas

The Homer Spit stretching into Kachemak Bay is seen here on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
COVID-19 (Image via CDC)

284 new cases, 3 deaths reported

The new cases bring Alaska’s statewide case total to 41,858.

COVID-19 (Image via CDC)
Protesters gather at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling highways on Tuesday, Dec. 15 in Soldotna, Alaska.

Parents protest remote learning

People held signs and glow sticks in Soldotna to protest remote learning

Protesters gather at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling highways on Tuesday, Dec. 15 in Soldotna, Alaska.
Supply Chain Technician Rebi Abdullahi pulls a box of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines at Providence Alaska Medical Center on Monday, Dec. 14 in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of DHSS)

Vaccines arrive in Alaska; CPH to receive first doses on Thursday

The first of Alaska’s 35,100 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 arrived via UPS plane in the state on Monday

Supply Chain Technician Rebi Abdullahi pulls a box of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines at Providence Alaska Medical Center on Monday, Dec. 14 in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of DHSS)
In this May 19, 2020, file photo, Alaska House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, left, presides over the House floor in Juneau, Alaska. Alaska lawmakers who each year relocate to a capital city accessible only by plane or boat are facing challenges in getting settled ahead of what is expected to be a difficult legislative session overshadowed by COVID-19. Speaker Edgmon, an independent from Dillingham, about 860 miles from Juneau, said pandemic concerns come at a time when lawmakers will need to make tough budget decisions. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Virus causes session housing headaches for lawmakers

With just over a month before session is set to begin, some lawmakers are waiting to lock down digs.

  • Dec 15, 2020
  • By Becky Bohrer Associated Press
  • Coronavirus
In this May 19, 2020, file photo, Alaska House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, left, presides over the House floor in Juneau, Alaska. Alaska lawmakers who each year relocate to a capital city accessible only by plane or boat are facing challenges in getting settled ahead of what is expected to be a difficult legislative session overshadowed by COVID-19. Speaker Edgmon, an independent from Dillingham, about 860 miles from Juneau, said pandemic concerns come at a time when lawmakers will need to make tough budget decisions. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
Children’s librarian James Adcox holds a puppet in front of a green screen at the Kenai Community Library on Dec. 11.

Kenai library, others adapt holiday activities to pandemic

Drive-thru events and online crafts are among the family-fun activities being offered this month

Children’s librarian James Adcox holds a puppet in front of a green screen at the Kenai Community Library on Dec. 11.
From left to right, Peyton Cobb, Mason Bock and Myla Cobb hold signs opposing remote learning on Monday, Dec. 14. (Photo courtesy of Andie Bock).

Parents plan strike to protest remote learning

Community opposition mounts to Smart Start revisions

From left to right, Peyton Cobb, Mason Bock and Myla Cobb hold signs opposing remote learning on Monday, Dec. 14. (Photo courtesy of Andie Bock).