Kenai Peninsula Borough

Teressa Minnich (left) speaks to another poll worker at a precinct at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Municipal elections see ‘sad’ turnout levels

11.8% of registered voters cast ballots in the borough’s Oct. 5 municipal elections.

Teressa Minnich (left) speaks to another poll worker at a precinct at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship oversees the testing of voting equipment ahead of the Oct. 5 municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Outstanding municipal election ballots to be counted Monday

A total of 1,512 ballots, including absentee, questioned and special needs, will be counted.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Johni Blankenship oversees the testing of voting equipment ahead of the Oct. 5 municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs direct voters at the Kenai No. 3 precinct for Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Unofficial results show low turnout in cities, incumbent losses

All results are unofficial and do not include absentee, questioned and absentee ballots.

Signs direct voters at the Kenai No. 3 precinct for Election Day on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Sarah Knapp / Homer News 
A voter at city hall in Homer reviews their ballot before submitting it on Tuesday

Southern peninsula adds new faces to assembly, school board

Erickson, Aderhold win council; third race too close to call. Daugharty, Tupper win borough races.

Sarah Knapp / Homer News 
A voter at city hall in Homer reviews their ballot before submitting it on Tuesday
Poll worker Joan Seaman helps Joyce Ellestad cast her vote at Kenai No. 1 precinct on Oct. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Poll worker Joan Seaman helps Joyce Ellestad cast her vote at Kenai No. 1 precinct on Oct. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly President Brent Hibbert is running unopposed for the Kalifornsky seat, which he has held since 2017. (Photo via Kenai Peninsula Borough)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly President Brent Hibbert is running unopposed for the Kalifornsky seat, which he has held since 2017. (Photo via Kenai Peninsula Borough)

Ahlberg to take over as OEM manager

Brenda Ahlberg is the new emergency manager for the Kenai Peninsula Borough. The announcement comes after Ahlberg had been serving as interim emergency manager following… Continue reading

Members of the League of Women Voters wave to the crowd during the Soldotna Progress Days parade on Saturday, July 24, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

3 assembly members oppose resolution commending League of Women Voters

Richard Derkevorkian, who represents Kenai, said he believes the group is not “nonpartisan,” as stated in the legislation.

Members of the League of Women Voters wave to the crowd during the Soldotna Progress Days parade on Saturday, July 24, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Downtown Seward, Alaska, is seen on Saturday, July 24, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Downtown Seward, Alaska, is seen on Saturday, July 24, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly member Brent Johnson address a small crowd of people during a borough public hearing held Monday, March 9, 2020 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Borough to consider banning smoking in buildings

Current code only bans smoking in assembly chambers during meetings and session.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly member Brent Johnson address a small crowd of people during a borough public hearing held Monday, March 9, 2020 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Linda Cusack (left) and Teri Birchfield (right) test a Dominion voting machine ahead of the Oct. 5 municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

New voting machines get test spin

Testing voting equipment has always been open to the public, but was made more accessible due to sweeping election policies approved earlier this year.

Linda Cusack (left) and Teri Birchfield (right) test a Dominion voting machine ahead of the Oct. 5 municipal election on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink answers questions from members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

State, hospital officials brief assembly on COVID

“The hospital has been over capacity for basically the month of August,” an official said.

Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink answers questions from members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Ray Southwell testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in support of legislation opposing government-mandated vaccines on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021 at the George A. Navarre Admin Building in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

COVID divisions shape heated testimony

After raucous meeting, assembly tables resolution on ‘vaccine segregation’.

Ray Southwell testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in support of legislation opposing government-mandated vaccines on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021 at the George A. Navarre Admin Building in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A registered nurse prepares a COVID-19 vaccine at the pop-up clinic on the Spit on May 27, 2021. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Borough resolution opposes ‘COVID-19 vaccine segregation’

The legislation does not nullify COVID mandates instituted by the borough’s incorporated communities.

A registered nurse prepares a COVID-19 vaccine at the pop-up clinic on the Spit on May 27, 2021. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham addresses state and Alaska Native leaders Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, in Anchorage, Alaska. Results of the 2020 census showed a 6% growth in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Census shows slight peninsula population growth

The 2020 census kicked off in January 2020 in Toksook Bay, Alaska.

U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham addresses state and Alaska Native leaders Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, in Anchorage, Alaska. Results of the 2020 census showed a 6% growth in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
The Soldotna City Council meets on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough, cities mull use of relief funds

ARPA funds are in addition to money received through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

The Soldotna City Council meets on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Then-mayoral candidate Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, left, and Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce participate in a forum on Sept. 9, 2020 in Kenai. The City of Soldotna and borough have clashed over the recommendation to appoint Farnsworth-Hutchings to the borough planning commission. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Soldotna City Council stands by Farnsworth-Hutchings as planning pick

The City of Soldotna and borough have clashed in monthslong recruitment and appointment process.

Then-mayoral candidate Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, left, and Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce participate in a forum on Sept. 9, 2020 in Kenai. The City of Soldotna and borough have clashed over the recommendation to appoint Farnsworth-Hutchings to the borough planning commission. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
Cattle Noromectin is sold at Kenai Feed and Supply on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough mayor promotes debunked COVID treatments

Pierce defends ivermectin as potential virus med, proposes local clinical trials

Cattle Noromectin is sold at Kenai Feed and Supply on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

Borough encourages voters to participate in municipal election

Kenai, Soldotna, Seward and Homer city councils as well as school district and assembly have seats open.

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)
The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Assembly OKs purchase of training mannequins

The equipment would be used in day-to-day training for the purpose of learning new medical techniques.

The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)