Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire
Charlie Smith, a National Guard first lieutenant at the time of the 1971 airline crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 1866, talks about the recovery efforts on Aug. 9 — 50 years later.
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire
Charlie Smith, a National Guard first lieutenant at the time of the 1971 airline crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 1866, talks about the recovery efforts on Aug. 9 — 50 years later.
John Osenga stands in the Seward Community Library & Museum on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
John Osenga stands in the Seward Community Library & Museum on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Photo courtesy City of Kenai 
Erosion due to a failing storm water pipe can be seen near Bryson Avenue in Kenai, Alaska.

Kenai tackles bluff erosion caused by failing storm pipe

The project is located within a drainage easement between two properties at the end of Bryson Avenue.

Photo courtesy City of Kenai 
Erosion due to a failing storm water pipe can be seen near Bryson Avenue in Kenai, Alaska.
This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)

Nearly 510 cases per 100,000 as statewide COVID alert remains high

The state Department of Health and Social Services reported another 592 positive COVID cases Friday.

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)
Leighton Radner stands in the Seward Community Library & Museum on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Leighton Radner stands in the Seward Community Library & Museum on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 in Seward, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai waterfront can be seen from Old Town Kenai on April 27, 2018, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to assess feasibility of waterfront development

Development of the city’s waterfront was identified as a priority by the city in its “Imagine Kenai 2030” comprehensive plan.

The Kenai waterfront can be seen from Old Town Kenai on April 27, 2018, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Vice Mayor and Kenai City Council member Bob Molloy (center), council member Jim Glendening (right), council member Victoria Askin (far right), and council member Henry Knackstedt (far left) participate in a work session discussing the overhaul of Kenai election codes on Wednesday at Kenai City Hall.

Kenai overhauls city’s election code

The restructuring will bring the city code in alignment with the Kenai Peninsula Borough.

Kenai Vice Mayor and Kenai City Council member Bob Molloy (center), council member Jim Glendening (right), council member Victoria Askin (far right), and council member Henry Knackstedt (far left) participate in a work session discussing the overhaul of Kenai election codes on Wednesday at Kenai City Hall.
This graphic shows Homer's inundation zone, which is 50 feet above sea level. Currently, the Public Works campus is at 35 feet in elevation and at risk of flooding if a tsunami hit. (Photo provided by the Public Works Campus Task Force)

Homer task force suggests phased move of public works campus

The campus on the south side of the Sterling Highway near Heath Street lies below the 50-foot tsunami inundation zone.

This graphic shows Homer's inundation zone, which is 50 feet above sea level. Currently, the Public Works campus is at 35 feet in elevation and at risk of flooding if a tsunami hit. (Photo provided by the Public Works Campus Task Force)
Sterling Elementary welcomes students on the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Sterling Elementary welcomes students on the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Cars wait outside Capstone Clinic in Kenai, where COVID-19 testing is being offered, on Monday, Aug. 30, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. The line at Capstone wound through the nearby Three Bears parking lot. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Peninsula sees surge in testing, increased COVID positivity rate

On Tuesday, the peninsula’s positivity rate was 13%, according to state data.

Cars wait outside Capstone Clinic in Kenai, where COVID-19 testing is being offered, on Monday, Aug. 30, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. The line at Capstone wound through the nearby Three Bears parking lot. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
(Black Press file photo)

Peninsula rental rates some of state’s lowest

The median rent payment on the Kenai Peninsula Borough was about $1,009 in 2020 and about $1,023 in 2021

(Black Press file photo)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District communications blog/Screenshot

Schools report more positive COVID-19 cases, more than 1,000 close contacts

Between Aug. 23 and Sept. 1, the district has been made aware of 180 COVID-19 cases, including 25 staff and 155 students.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District communications blog/Screenshot
Sens. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, center, and Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, right, put questions to Office of Management and Budget Director Neil Steininger during a meeting of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021. The Legislature's third special session of the year is dealing mostly with budget issues despite having been called to bring resolution to the state's fiscal deficit. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Sens. David Wilson, R-Wasilla, center, and Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, right, put questions to Office of Management and Budget Director Neil Steininger during a meeting of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021. The Legislature's third special session of the year is dealing mostly with budget issues despite having been called to bring resolution to the state's fiscal deficit. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Downtown Seward, Alaska is seen on Saturday, July 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward moves ahead with sidewalk repair

The phase addresses sidewalks on the west side of Fifth Avenue, from Washington Street to Adams Street.

Downtown Seward, Alaska is seen on Saturday, July 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign advertising free COVID-19 vaccines stands outside Safeway on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign advertising free COVID-19 vaccines stands outside Safeway on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
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)
Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to repair faulty fire hydrants

The city’s utility department identified 15 hydrants that needed repair or replacement.

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)

Voter registration deadline Sunday

The municipal election is Oct. 5.

A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)
This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)
This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)
A sign welcomes visitors on July 7, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. Due to a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, school in Seward and other areas of the eastern peninsula switched to universal indoor masking this week. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes visitors on July 7, 2021, in Seward, Alaska. Due to a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, school in Seward and other areas of the eastern peninsula switched to universal indoor masking this week. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)