Camille Botello

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID continues decline; 1 new death

The state had an estimated rolling average of 253.3 cases per 100,000 people over the past seven days.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State cases remain low; 2 deaths reported

Statewide there were 85 COVID-related hospitalizations as of Tuesday, with nine patients on ventilators.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Genna Stormer gives Santa a hug during Christmas Comes to Nikiski at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Dec. 14, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

December brings the holiday cheer

Groups across the peninsula get into the spirit of the season with public events.

Genna Stormer gives Santa a hug during Christmas Comes to Nikiski at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Dec. 14, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Kathy Romain, the executive director of the Kenai Senior Center, hosts a reception on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021 to celebrate the facility’s 50 years in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Kenai loves its seniors’

Kenai Senior Center celebrates 50 years

Kathy Romain, the executive director of the Kenai Senior Center, hosts a reception on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021 to celebrate the facility’s 50 years in Kenai, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Forever Dance students practice for the “Forever Christmas” annual holiday variety show at Kenai Central High School on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Remembering that we’re all in this together’

Forever Dance celebrates the holiday spirit with Christmas showcase.

Forever Dance students practice for the “Forever Christmas” annual holiday variety show at Kenai Central High School on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Cheryl Morse and Tom Kleeman prepare Thanksgiving lunch at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Food bank opens doors for Thanksgiving lunch

“We don’t know what to expect, so we’re trying to still be cautious on our limited seating.”

Cheryl Morse and Tom Kleeman prepare Thanksgiving lunch at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
EPA logo

Alaska Native group to receive EPA funds for clean water projects

The agency is handing out $4.3 million to participating tribal organizations nationwide.

EPA logo
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State reports 6 new COVID deaths

The deaths, which included a Kenai woman in her 40s, pushed the total to 840 since the pandemic began.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Bethany Wortham, under the Twitter handle @petuniawings, posts that Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, blocked her account on Oct. 23, 2021. Wortham sued Micciche for blocking her account but has now decided to drop the lawsuit. (Screenshot)

Micciche constituent drops lawsuit over Twitter dispute

The constituent sued Micciche after he blocked her on Twitter.

Bethany Wortham, under the Twitter handle @petuniawings, posts that Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, blocked her account on Oct. 23, 2021. Wortham sued Micciche for blocking her account but has now decided to drop the lawsuit. (Screenshot)