Camille Botello

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Borough vaccination rate growing slower than state average

The number of fully vaccinated Kenai Peninsula Borough residents 16 and older has increased by 10.4% since April 5.

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

DHSS reports 138 new positive cases, 3 on peninsula

Nearly 40% of Alaskans across all ages — 38.3% — had received at least one vaccine dose as of Tuesday.

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

State reports 12 new resident COVID deaths

The deaths were recorded after death certificate reviews.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State settles for $85K in retaliation case

Keren Lowell was barred from her job after criticizing Dunleavy’s proposed budget cuts, according to lawsuit.

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)

‘Encouraging’ vaccine data showing no safety concerns for pregnant women

Pregnant women were excluded from vaccine clinical trials early on.

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)
Teresa Becher watches as beluga whales swim up the Kenai River on Saturday, April 24, 2021. She and her volunteer team monitor belugas in the Cook Inlet. (Photo by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Teresa Becher watches as beluga whales swim up the Kenai River on Saturday, April 24, 2021. She and her volunteer team monitor belugas in the Cook Inlet. (Photo by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Beluga time

Get out your binoculars: The whales are frolicking in the Kenai River

Teresa Becher watches as beluga whales swim up the Kenai River on Saturday, April 24, 2021. She and her volunteer team monitor belugas in the Cook Inlet. (Photo by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Teresa Becher watches as beluga whales swim up the Kenai River on Saturday, April 24, 2021. She and her volunteer team monitor belugas in the Cook Inlet. (Photo by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Peninsula cases rising faster than vaccine rates

18.7% positive case increase from last week as CDC and FDA lift J&J pause

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
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)

Almost half of eligible Alaskans have received at least 1 vaccine dose

According to the Department of Health and Social Services, almost half of all eligible Alaskans 16 and older — 48.7%— have received at least one… 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)
All 12 finalists of the Caring for the Kenai competition recieve their awards at Kenai Central High School on Wednesday, April 21, 2021.

Caring for the Kenai names finalists

The winning idea proposed using beehives to divert local birds from peninsula landfills.

All 12 finalists of the Caring for the Kenai competition recieve their awards at Kenai Central High School on Wednesday, April 21, 2021.
Youth members of Forever Dance Alaska take part in rehearsal Tuesday, March 26, 2019, at the Renee Hendersen Auditorium at Kenai Central High School for the company’s production of “Best of Broadway.” (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Youth dancers get back onstage

Forever Dance Alaska to perform “Moment Like This” showcase this weekend.

Youth members of Forever Dance Alaska take part in rehearsal Tuesday, March 26, 2019, at the Renee Hendersen Auditorium at Kenai Central High School for the company’s production of “Best of Broadway.” (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
The Alaska Highway on July 15, 2020. (Photo by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Up the Alcan

Five days and nearly 2,500 miles: That’s how long I traveled to get to Alaska. I grew up in rural Idaho, 5,000 feet up in… Continue reading

The Alaska Highway on July 15, 2020. (Photo by Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

State physician briefs Kenai chamber on COVID, vaccines

More contagious variants likely to spread through communities that don’t reach herd immunity

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Three Bears opening in Sterling; Cooper Landing project on hold

The company still owns the property in Cooper Landing, but has put the project on the “back burner.”

Kenai Police Chief David Ross. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Police Chief talks police-civilian relationships, treating people ‘with dignity’

The Kenai Police Department looks at guidelines and training that could potentially prevent inappropriate police conduct, Ross said.

Kenai Police Chief David Ross. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
The entrance to Soldotna Public Library is seen on Thursday, March 25, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Public libraries celebrate Earth Day virtually

The Soldotna library will do an educational science experiment that can be viewed online.

The entrance to Soldotna Public Library is seen on Thursday, March 25, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Peninsula ranks 3rd highest for COVID cases

Out of the seven Alaska regions at high-alert level, the peninsula ranks just below Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna region.

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 issue over $2M in capital credits

Around 16,000 people who were HEA members in 1989 and 1990 will receive a credit on their May energy bill statement.

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)
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)

Alaska hits 40% fully vaccinated

In the Kenai Peninsula Borough, 35.3% of Alaskans 16 and up are fully vaccinated.

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)
The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge headquarters in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Wildlife refuge to host spring cleanup

On April 30 and May 1, volunteers will help collect any litter or debris at the refuge that’s been covered by snow all winter.

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge headquarters in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
From left to right: Rhys Cannava, 16, Quinn Cox, 17, and Jolie Widaman, 16, are pictured here in Soldtna, Alaska on Thursday, April 15, 2021. The three Soldotna High School juniors got vaccinated against COVID-19 in March 2021.

‘I didn’t want to be a spreader’

SoHi teens discuss living with pandemic, why they got vaccinated.

From left to right: Rhys Cannava, 16, Quinn Cox, 17, and Jolie Widaman, 16, are pictured here in Soldtna, Alaska on Thursday, April 15, 2021. The three Soldotna High School juniors got vaccinated against COVID-19 in March 2021.