Camille Botello

A newborn harbor seal is found and transported to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, May 27, 2021. (Photo by the Alaska SeaLife Center)

Newborn seal pup transported to SeaLife Center in critical condition

The male harbor seal pup appeared to be abandoned at birth.

A newborn harbor seal is found and transported to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, May 27, 2021. (Photo by the Alaska SeaLife Center)
The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)

Burn suspension lifted on Kenai Peninsula

Burn permits were suspended on May 24 because of weather conditions.

The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)
A graphic from the Vaccine Materials in Alaska Native Languages project shows a person who was recently vaccinated against COVID-19. Translated from Tlingit to English, it says “I want us to be among each other, that is why I got the shot. I love the people I am with.” (Photo provided)

Vaccine information available in Native languages

The organizations worked in tandem for two months to make the translation project possible.

A graphic from the Vaccine Materials in Alaska Native Languages project shows a person who was recently vaccinated against COVID-19. Translated from Tlingit to English, it says “I want us to be among each other, that is why I got the shot. I love the people I am with.” (Photo provided)
Kids take part in Boys & Girls Club summer activities in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy Boys & Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula)

Grants issued for youth summer camps

Many summer camps on the central Kenai Peninsula were either scaled back or canceled altogether because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Kids take part in Boys & Girls Club summer activities in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy Boys & Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula)
Photo by Joshua Albeza Branstetter 
A group dances in the street during a Black Lives Matter protest in Anchorage in the summer of 2020.

Capturing history

Alaska photographers share experiences documenting Black Lives Matter protests

Photo by Joshua Albeza Branstetter 
A group dances in the street during a Black Lives Matter protest in Anchorage in the summer of 2020.
The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen here on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen here on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen here on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna City Council votes to repeal emergency declaration and utility relief

The disaster declaration was enacted on March 19, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen here on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna's Maleda Denbrock runs to defend Thunder Mountain's Logan Miller at the Division II state championship game in Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday, May 29, 2021. (Photo by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna girls, boys fall in state soccer finals

The Soldotna girls and boys soccer teams each took home a second-place trophy at the Division II state tournament at Service High School in Anchorage… Continue reading

Soldotna's Maleda Denbrock runs to defend Thunder Mountain's Logan Miller at the Division II state championship game in Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday, May 29, 2021. (Photo by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Jasper Webb from Kenai shows off his Iron Man kite during the first Kenai Kite Festival on the Kenai North Beach in Alaska on Saturday, June 15, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Festival to takeoff Saturday

Last year’s event was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Jasper Webb from Kenai shows off his Iron Man kite during the first Kenai Kite Festival on the Kenai North Beach in Alaska on Saturday, June 15, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management offered the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines at the walk-in clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, May 14, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska COVID-19 cases reach lows not seen since last summer

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services announced 45 new cases on Thursday.

The Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management offered the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines at the walk-in clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, May 14, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Fire Department offers the Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines at its mobile clinic during the first day of the Wednesday Market in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Wednesday Markets now include free walk-in vaccines

Dr. Anne Zink, chief medical officer for the state, made a trip to Soldotna on Wednesday as part of the “Sleeves Up for Summer” campaign.

The Kenai Fire Department offers the Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines at its mobile clinic during the first day of the Wednesday Market in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Tthe Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Soldotna, Alaska, is pictured on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Wildlife Refuge to open its doors for summer

The refuge has been closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic for over a year.

Tthe Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Soldotna, Alaska, is pictured on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Nikiski woman trampled by mother moose

Never approach a calf moose or come between a cow and calf moose, troopers said.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
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)

Moderna vaccine proves effective in kids 12 and up

Nearly 3,000 12- to 15-year-olds in Alaska had received their first Pfizer dose as of May 20.

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)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State alert level drops to intermediate

The Kenai Peninsula Borough also remains in the intermediate alert division.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
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Heroin overdose deaths increase, officials wonder if it’s pandemic-related

Alaska and other states saw a decrease in opioid overdoses in 2018, an increase in 2019 and then a 165% spike in 2020.

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Soldotna High School sophomore Trinity Donovan wins the wrestling state championship in Chugiak, Alaska on Saturday, May 22, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Peninsula claims 6 state wrestling titles

The Homer girls had two champions, while the Homer boys and Soldotna girls had a champion each at Chugiak High School on Saturday in the… Continue reading

Soldotna High School sophomore Trinity Donovan wins the wrestling state championship in Chugiak, Alaska on Saturday, May 22, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
This Sept. 7, 2007, file photo shows Royal Caribbean’s “Radiance of the Seas” docked in Seward . (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz, File)
This Sept. 7, 2007, file photo shows Royal Caribbean’s “Radiance of the Seas” docked in Seward . (AP Photo/Beth J. Harpaz, File)
Valedictorians Rosalie Anderson, Lillian Carstens and Samuel Smith give their commencement address at the Nikiski Middle/High School graduation on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 in the gymnasium. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

‘Ready for something new’

Nikiski honors graduates during commencement ceremony

Valedictorians Rosalie Anderson, Lillian Carstens and Samuel Smith give their commencement address at the Nikiski Middle/High School graduation on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 in the gymnasium. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna High School students celebrate their graduation on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at the high school football field. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna High School students celebrate their graduation on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at the high school football field. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)