Spruce trees are dusted with snow on Dec. 22, 2020, in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Soldotna, Alaska. Some areas of the refuge are open to harvest of holiday trees for non-commercial uses beginning Thanksgiving. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Know before you chop

Where to get holiday trees on the peninsula

Spruce trees are dusted with snow on Dec. 22, 2020, in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Soldotna, Alaska. Some areas of the refuge are open to harvest of holiday trees for non-commercial uses beginning Thanksgiving. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs welcome travelers to the Kenai Municipal Airport on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Federal funds coming to peninsula airports

The money was made available under the American Rescue Plan Act.

Signs welcome travelers to the Kenai Municipal Airport on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Officials: Get vaccinated before the holidays

The state also encourages all eligible adults to get a booster shot to increase protection for the holiday season.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Kenai Senior Center volunteer Carol Freas, left, and driver Don Erwin prepare to-go Thanksgiving meals at the center on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘It’s a wonderful thing’

Kenai Senior Center prepares Thanksgiving to-go for peninsula seniors.

Kenai Senior Center volunteer Carol Freas, left, and driver Don Erwin prepare to-go Thanksgiving meals at the center on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Family practice physician Christina Tuomi, D.O., (right) gets Homer’s first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine from Emergency Department nurse Steve Hughes (left) on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska. Tuomi has been the hospital’s medical lead throughout the pandemic. (Photo courtesy Derotha Ferraro/South Peninsula Hospital)

Feds issue vaccine mandate to health care workers; Dunleavy joins lawsuit against the rule

Rule by CMS applies to hospitals, rural health clinics, community mental health centers.

Family practice physician Christina Tuomi, D.O., (right) gets Homer’s first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine from Emergency Department nurse Steve Hughes (left) on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska. Tuomi has been the hospital’s medical lead throughout the pandemic. (Photo courtesy Derotha Ferraro/South Peninsula Hospital)
The Sterling Highway crosses the Kenai River near the Russian River Campground on March 15, 2020 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Russian River Road and campground to close for 1 year

Construction will limit access to the road and associated recreation.

The Sterling Highway crosses the Kenai River near the Russian River Campground on March 15, 2020 near Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. Not only were seafood jobs lost due to COVID restrictions, infections among industry personnel affected the fishing season. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Seafood industry hit hard by pandemic

Overall fish harvesting jobs in Alaska dropped by the widest margin since 2000 — 14.1% — in 2020.

Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. Not only were seafood jobs lost due to COVID restrictions, infections among industry personnel affected the fishing season. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Sterling Highway crash kills 2

A passenger with injuries was medevaced to a hospital in the Anchorage area.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

New COVID cases continue downward trend

Alaska remained at a high COVID transmission alert level Monday.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Tim Navarre stands in a bedroom at a cold weather shelter set to open next month on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Shelter prepares to open doors

Efforts to establish a cold weather shelter on the peninsula have been in the works for years.

Tim Navarre stands in a bedroom at a cold weather shelter set to open next month on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion 
Homer Electric Association Director of Strategic Services David Thomas testifies during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Oct. 12 in Soldotna.

Changing tides

Peninsula turns attention to renewable energy sources

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion 
Homer Electric Association Director of Strategic Services David Thomas testifies during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Oct. 12 in Soldotna.
Demonstrators gather outside of Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates and advocate for alternative treatments on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Competing demonstrations held outside Central Peninsula Hospital

Two different demonstrations — one to show support for hospital workers and one calling for alternative COVID-19 treatments — took place outside the hospital.

Demonstrators gather outside of Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates and advocate for alternative treatments on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Michelle Ravenmoon sews a beaded artisan product at the Soldotna Holiday Bazaar at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Art from home

From furs to dreamcatchers, local artisans show off ingenuity at holiday bazaar

Michelle Ravenmoon sews a beaded artisan product at the Soldotna Holiday Bazaar at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Downtown Seward, Alaska is seen on Saturday, July 24, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Seward to promote shop small Thanksgiving weekend

The weekend aims to support local businesses by offering different promotions.

Downtown Seward, Alaska is seen on Saturday, July 24, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Randy Wells

Wells to fill Seward council vacancy

He was appointed after the council reached a standstill on another candidate.

Randy Wells
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to build boardwalk with grant funds

The funds were made available by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow and debris from an avalanche can be seen near Mile 45 on the Seward Highway on Monday, March 29, 2021. (Photo courtesy Goldie Shealy)

Center promotes avalanche awareness

The Chugach Avalanche Center in Girdwood will begin its daily forecasts Saturday.

Snow and debris from an avalanche can be seen near Mile 45 on the Seward Highway on Monday, March 29, 2021. (Photo courtesy Goldie Shealy)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

‘It takes active work from Alaskans’

As cases trend downward, health officials encourage vaccines, boosters.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
A map of Kachemak Bay State Park showing proposed land additions A, B and C in House Bill 52 and the Tutka Bay Lagoon Hatchery. (Map courtesy of Alaska State Parks)

‘Cure’ sought for Tutka Bay hatchery land issue

HB 52 would take hatchery out of Kachemak State Park and add also lands to park.

A map of Kachemak Bay State Park showing proposed land additions A, B and C in House Bill 52 and the Tutka Bay Lagoon Hatchery. (Map courtesy of Alaska State Parks)