Ashlyn O'Hara

Avalanche.org shows a moderate avalanche risk for Turnagain Pass. (Screenshot)

Troopers warn of heightened avalanche danger

Data from the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center showed a moderate risk of avalanches in Turnagain Pass on Friday.

Avalanche.org shows a moderate avalanche risk for Turnagain Pass. (Screenshot)
A sticker given out at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic hosted by the Kenai Fire Department in Kenai, Alaska, is seen on March 13, 2021. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Peninsula lagging in percentage vaccinated

The peninsula generally ranks in the bottom third of all Alaskan geographies, but higher than geographies of similar population sizes.

A sticker given out at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic hosted by the Kenai Fire Department in Kenai, Alaska, is seen on March 13, 2021. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

Public health to offer vaccines on demand starting Monday

People who are homebound or groups of at least three people can request a COVID-19 vaccine administrator come to them.

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)
Department of Health and Social Services data shows that Alaska’s COVID-19 test positivity rate is increasing. (Screenshot)

Statewide positivity rate increasing

As of Friday, the statewide positivity rate was about 3%.

Department of Health and Social Services data shows that Alaska’s COVID-19 test positivity rate is increasing. (Screenshot)
Kenai Parks and Recreation Laborer Charlotte Thurman dresses up as a rabbit at an Easter event at Kenai Municipal Park on Friday, April 2, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Egg-stra special: Community turns out for Kenai Easter event

The egg hunt for children 5 years and younger was held in a cleared-off area, while older kids went on a “QR Code-Breaker Hunt.”

Kenai Parks and Recreation Laborer Charlotte Thurman dresses up as a rabbit at an Easter event at Kenai Municipal Park on Friday, April 2, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

State to receive 160,000 pairs of vaccine for April

State health officials announced during a press conference on Thursday that the state will receive at least 160,010 pairs of vaccine for the month of… 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)
dnr.alaska.gov

209 land parcels up for bid in state auction

The auction opened March 31 at 10 a.m. and will close on Sept. 28 at 4:30 p.m.

dnr.alaska.gov
Timm Johnson stands inside a chicken house at Diamond M Ranch on Thursday, April 1, 2021, off Kalifornsky Beach Road near Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘People want to be part of the solution’

Community composting program feeds chickens and supports local climate change efforts.

Timm Johnson stands inside a chicken house at Diamond M Ranch on Thursday, April 1, 2021, off Kalifornsky Beach Road near Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

12 new peninsula cases, 232 statewide

The borough is considered to be at intermediate risk level.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Birthed by circumstance’: SoHi takes on COVID-19 in spring play

Soldotna High School students will share their COVID-19 experiences beginning on April 8 during a three-day in-person performance of “Pandemic: A Retrospective.” Director Sara Erfurth,… Continue reading

Soldotna High School English teacher Nicole Hewitt teaches her students remotely from her empty classroom at Soldotna High School on Monday, April 6, 2020 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meet on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough has over $1 million in leftover CARES money

Nearly half of the leftover funds come from CAR13, the project aimed at retrofitting borough facilities.

Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meet on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Image via pfd.alaska.gov

PFD deadline Wednesday at midnight

The deadline to file is 11:59 p.m. on March 31.

Image via pfd.alaska.gov
The Kasilof River can be seen in June 2019. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources will acquire 309 acres of habitat along the river with funding from a federal conservation grant. (Clarion file)

State to acquire Kasilof wetlands for preservation project

The project in Kasilof will protect 283 acres of coastal wetland habitat in the Kasilof River Flats.

The Kasilof River can be seen in June 2019. The Alaska Department of Natural Resources will acquire 309 acres of habitat along the river with funding from a federal conservation grant. (Clarion file)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Tracy Silta administers a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to Melissa Linton during a vaccine clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Feb. 26.

‘Get the vaccine’

Amid growing concern of long-term COVID symptoms, public health officials urge vigilance

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Tracy Silta administers a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to Melissa Linton during a vaccine clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Feb. 26.
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)

Vaccine clinic appointments still available on peninsula

A map of vaccine providers can be found on DHSS’ COVID-19 vaccine website at covidvax.alaska.gov.

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-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Peninsula reports 22 new COVID-19 cases over weekend

On Tuesday, the Kenai Peninsula Borough had an average daily 14-day case rate of 6.18 cases per 100,000 people.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
An area cleared for the Cooper Landing Bypass Project can be seen below Slaughter Ridge in Cooper Landing, Alaska, on July 18, 2020. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Expect delays when traveling through Cooper Landing this summer

Work will focus on the first 2 miles of the project, near the west end of the existing alignment.

An area cleared for the Cooper Landing Bypass Project can be seen below Slaughter Ridge in Cooper Landing, Alaska, on July 18, 2020. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow and debris from an avalanche can be seen near Mile 45 on the Seward Highway on Monday, March 29, 2021. An avalanche shut down traffic on both sides Monday afternoon. (Photo courtesy Goldie Shealy)

Avalanche shuts down section of Seward Highway

The avalanche took place at Mile 45, cutting off peninsula residents’ route to Anchorage.

Snow and debris from an avalanche can be seen near Mile 45 on the Seward Highway on Monday, March 29, 2021. An avalanche shut down traffic on both sides Monday afternoon. (Photo courtesy Goldie Shealy)
Julie Denison, member of the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Incident Management Team, and Beth Wilson, pharmacy technician at Soldotna Professional Pharmacy, sign in Kenai Peninsula resident Lee Sparlin for her COVID-19 vaccine appointment at the Soldotna Prep School in Soldotna, Alaska on Jan. 23, 2021. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough, cities, to expand vaccine efforts with state grant

The state has about $37.5 million available to be distributed to borough and city governments.

Julie Denison, member of the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Incident Management Team, and Beth Wilson, pharmacy technician at Soldotna Professional Pharmacy, sign in Kenai Peninsula resident Lee Sparlin for her COVID-19 vaccine appointment at the Soldotna Prep School in Soldotna, Alaska on Jan. 23, 2021. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

1 in 4 eligible Alaskans fully vaccinated

Nearly 40% — 39.7% — of Alaskans 16 and older had received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine as of Friday.

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)