From left to right: Landon Vyhmeister, Jared Vyhmeister, Jamie Hyatt, Emily Warix, Jacob Topp and Isaac Johnson are photographed before their graduation ceremony at Cook Inlet Academy in Soldotna, Alaska on Sunday, May 9, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Cook Inlet graduates 6

“I’m just looking forward to new adventures and just a new chapter in my life.”

From left to right: Landon Vyhmeister, Jared Vyhmeister, Jamie Hyatt, Emily Warix, Jacob Topp and Isaac Johnson are photographed before their graduation ceremony at Cook Inlet Academy in Soldotna, Alaska on Sunday, May 9, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
An axe is stuck in a log at Peninsula Axe Throwing in Cooper Landing in this undated photo. (Peninsula Axe Throwing website)

Ax-throwing in full swing this summer

Cooper Landing business offering new sport.

An axe is stuck in a log at Peninsula Axe Throwing in Cooper Landing in this undated photo. (Peninsula Axe Throwing website)
From left to right: Soldotna Montessori elementary schoolers Augie Mohr, Corbin Sulley, Nathan Nelson and Kian Jester participate in the annual Kenai River Spring Cleanup at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, May 7, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Kid cleanup crews take out the trash

The cleanup is a way to teach kids about the importance of conserving the Kenai River habitat.

From left to right: Soldotna Montessori elementary schoolers Augie Mohr, Corbin Sulley, Nathan Nelson and Kian Jester participate in the annual Kenai River Spring Cleanup at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, May 7, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai River Campus Valedictorian Michelle Wicker speaks during Kenai Peninsula College’s virtual commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 6, 2021. (Screenshot)

‘Be proud of yourself and your accomplishments’

Kenai Peninsula College graduates honored in virtual commencement ceremony

Kenai River Campus Valedictorian Michelle Wicker speaks during Kenai Peninsula College’s virtual commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 6, 2021. (Screenshot)
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)

COVID cases drop 31% statewide this week, 29.8% locally

Positive COVID-19 cases statewide dropped about 31% in the last week, according to data from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. From April… 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)
One of the two buildings used to teach elementary school children in Kachemak Selo sits on the outer edge of the village Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 in the village at the head of Kachemack Bay. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Borough, school district ask lawmakers to move K-Selo money

Efforts to construct a new K-12 school building in the remote village of Kachemak Selo have been in the works for years.

One of the two buildings used to teach elementary school children in Kachemak Selo sits on the outer edge of the village Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 in the village at the head of Kachemack Bay. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai council approves funds for small-scale purchases

Purchases include bulletproof vests, bike helmets and library materials.

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A schematic of one of the options for the Jims’ Landing boat launch project scope. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Environmental impact of Jims’ Landing improvements assessed

The boat launch is located in the Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area, near Milepost 58 of the Sterling Highway.

A schematic of one of the options for the Jims’ Landing boat launch project scope. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Adam Kiffmeyer and Billy Adamson scale a communications tower on Thursday, Jan. 7 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Task force to look at statewide broadband access

The task force will consist of 11 voting members and two ex officio members.

Adam Kiffmeyer and Billy Adamson scale a communications tower on Thursday, Jan. 7 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/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 announces election winners

The results were announced Thursday.

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)
Shorebirds fly on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Mud Bay near the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. The birds were one of several species of shorebirds seen in Mud Bay over the weekend that included bar-tailed godwits, western sandpipers, dunlins, long-billed dowitchers and Pacific plovers. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Shorebirds fly on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Mud Bay near the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. The birds were one of several species of shorebirds seen in Mud Bay over the weekend that included bar-tailed godwits, western sandpipers, dunlins, long-billed dowitchers and Pacific plovers. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Alaska State Troopers logo. (File)

Human remains in Nikiski identified as Anchorage man

Hamrick, an Anchorage resident, was reported to the troopers as missing in December 2020.

Alaska State Troopers logo. (File)
Charlie Pierce, Jesse Bjorkman and Brandi Harbaugh attend a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly votes down $48 million school district funding floor

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce has said that he is committed to funding the school district at the district’s requested $48 million

Charlie Pierce, Jesse Bjorkman and Brandi Harbaugh attend a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Coronavirus 3D illustration. (CDC photo)

146 new COVID cases today, 6 locally

The new case count includes six on the Kenai Peninsula.

Coronavirus 3D illustration. (CDC photo)
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski attends a joint Soldotna and Kenai Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Murkowski talks infrastructure, outdoors and energy

Senator gives update on what else is happening in D.C.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski attends a joint Soldotna and Kenai Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Screenshot from Paul Hueper’s original Facebook post about the FBI search at their residence on April 28, 2021, of Marilyn and the woman in photograph #225a-b on the FBI’s Most Wanted for Capitol Violence list.

Affidavit for FBI search of Homer residence unsealed

FBI affidavit provides more information on search

Screenshot from Paul Hueper’s original Facebook post about the FBI search at their residence on April 28, 2021, of Marilyn and the woman in photograph #225a-b on the FBI’s Most Wanted for Capitol Violence list.
The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26 on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)

Fire season outlook ‘average’ this year

While the outlook looks average, weather patterns and fire mitigation techniques can all be factors.

The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26 on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)
Kyle Kornelis speaks at a public meeting about the Runway 7-25 Rehabilitation Project on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to repave airport runway

The project will be paid for in full with federal money.

Kyle Kornelis speaks at a public meeting about the Runway 7-25 Rehabilitation Project on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Coronavirus 3D illustration. (CDC photo)

102 new cases statewide on Tuesday, 5 on the peninsula

In the Kenai Peninsula Borough, 42.7% of people 16 and up had received at least their first shot.

Coronavirus 3D illustration. (CDC photo)
Peninsula Clarion file
A sign directs drivers to a vaccine clinic held at Beacon Occupational Health in Kenai on April 10.
A sign directs drivers to a vaccine clinic held at Beacon Occupational Health in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, April 10, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Health officials work on vaccine convenience as rates flatline

Moving away from mass vaccination campaigns and reaching the people who haven’t made the time to get their shots yet is the goal in the coming months.

Peninsula Clarion file
A sign directs drivers to a vaccine clinic held at Beacon Occupational Health in Kenai on April 10.
A sign directs drivers to a vaccine clinic held at Beacon Occupational Health in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, April 10, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)