Camille Botello

From left: Jayni Parish, Alyeska Krull, Selia Butler, Brittany Gilman and Braeden Garrett (center) act onstage as their characters the March sisters and Theodore “Laurie” Lawrence in the Kenai Performers’ production of “Little Women,” which headlines on Thursday, May 20, 2021. (Photo provided)

‘Finding their path in the world’

“Little Women” musical debuts this weekend

From left: Jayni Parish, Alyeska Krull, Selia Butler, Brittany Gilman and Braeden Garrett (center) act onstage as their characters the March sisters and Theodore “Laurie” Lawrence in the Kenai Performers’ production of “Little Women,” which headlines on Thursday, May 20, 2021. (Photo provided)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
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 to do cable maintenance this summer

HEA workers plan to inject the cables with silicone to fill any cracks caused by insulation deterioration.

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)
Aidan Katzenberger speaks at the River City Academy graduation in Soldotna, Alaska on Monday, May 17, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Aidan Katzenberger speaks at the River City Academy graduation in Soldotna, Alaska on Monday, May 17, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

4 new COVID deaths reported Tuesday

The state also saw 56 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide total to 66,867.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Soldotna resident Leah McCabe receives her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the The Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management's walk-in clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, May 14, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Convenience is key moving forward with vaccination, officials say

On Friday, one of the first mass walk-in vaccine clinics on the peninsula was offered at Soldotna Prep School.

Soldotna resident Leah McCabe receives her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the The Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management's walk-in clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, May 14, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

11 new COVID deaths reported on Monday

10 were identified through death certificate review.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Employees work the lunch rush at Jersey Subs in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, May 13, 2021. The sandwich shop is having trouble finding people to work this summer. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Peninsula businesses report worker shortage

Local business owners say it’s “almost impossible” to fill open positions.

Employees work the lunch rush at Jersey Subs in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, May 13, 2021. The sandwich shop is having trouble finding people to work this summer. (Camille Botello / 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)

Youth 12-15 years old can now get vaccinated

Borough emergency management is working to assist the Pfizer vaccine rollout efforts to the new eligible population.

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)
Alex Rydlinski holds one of his pieces in an Instagram photo from July 18, 2020. (Alex Rydlinski)
Alex Rydlinski holds one of his pieces in an Instagram photo from July 18, 2020. (Alex Rydlinski)

Art Guild welcomes self-taught artist as new executive director

Originally from Fairbanks, Rydlinski was looking for a place “off the grid”

Alex Rydlinski holds one of his pieces in an Instagram photo from July 18, 2020. (Alex Rydlinski)
Alex Rydlinski holds one of his pieces in an Instagram photo from July 18, 2020. (Alex Rydlinski)
Foreground, from left to right: Kenai Middle School seventh grader Cooper Tallent-Darling and eighth grader Gavin Hunt perform as their “Lion King” characters, Simba and Mufasa, while the rest of the cast acts in the background. The school drama department recorded and filmed a rendition of the Disney movie and premiered it in May 2021. (Photo provided by Kenai Middle School drama)
Foreground, from left to right: Kenai Middle School seventh grader Cooper Tallent-Darling and eighth grader Gavin Hunt perform as their “Lion King” characters, Simba and Mufasa, while the rest of the cast acts in the background. The school drama department recorded and filmed a rendition of the Disney movie and premiered it in May 2021. (Photo provided by Kenai Middle School drama)
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)
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)
Megan Pike, Kenai Watershed Forum’s education specialist and Adopt-A-Stream program coordinator, wades into Soldotna Creek to dig up creek bed samples for a group of Connections Homeschool students to parse through for macroinvertebrate sampling, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Summer camp registrations open at Kenai Watershed Forum

The forum canceled its summer events last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Megan Pike, Kenai Watershed Forum’s education specialist and Adopt-A-Stream program coordinator, wades into Soldotna Creek to dig up creek bed samples for a group of Connections Homeschool students to parse through for macroinvertebrate sampling, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The entrance to the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, photographed on Feb. 26, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Identity of Alaska Court System hacker still unknown

The system was able to restore email access Tuesday.

The entrance to the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, photographed on Feb. 26, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)
The badge for the Kenai Police Department

Man arrested in break-in at Kenai Central High School

The man, 36-year-old Christopher D. Stroh, allegedly stole miscellaneous items from the school on Sunday.

The badge for the Kenai Police Department
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State reports 2 new deaths as cases continue downward trend

DHSS reported 62 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, a drop from over 100 reported a week ago.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
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)
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)