Jacob Dye

From left, Dain Douthit, Silas Thibodeau, Roman Dunham, Cody Good and Jackson Anding participate in a practice League of Legends match on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula esports teams ready for state championships

Players contend with changing games, increased pressure, rival rematches

From left, Dain Douthit, Silas Thibodeau, Roman Dunham, Cody Good and Jackson Anding participate in a practice League of Legends match on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Wildlife Troopers and CES rescue hunter missing for 12 hours

State troopers were notified around 6 p.m. Wednesday that the hunter hadn’t returned

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Ski tracks can be seen in the snow at Tsalteshi Trails near Soldotna, Alaska, on March 20, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Tsalteshi hosting tree-decorating contest along Moose Loop

Anyone is welcome to decorate a tree

Ski tracks can be seen in the snow at Tsalteshi Trails near Soldotna, Alaska, on March 20, 2018. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Santa Claus is seen with a child at Christmas Comes to Kenai festivities at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce/Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Santa Claus is seen with a child at Christmas Comes to Kenai festivities at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce/Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Tela O’Donnell-Bacher and Neldon Gardner hold their plaques after being inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame following a duel wrestling meet on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A celebration of Kenai Peninsula wrestling

Two storied members of local wrestling community inducted into National Wrestling Hall of Fame

Tela O’Donnell-Bacher and Neldon Gardner hold their plaques after being inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame following a duel wrestling meet on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Montessori Charter School kindergartners parade with balloons around the school playground on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Balloons on parade

Montessori kids put spin on traditional Macy’s parade

Soldotna Montessori Charter School kindergartners parade with balloons around the school playground on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
David Hartman, of David Hartman Signs, is seen with his product on display ahead of the Kenai Arts & Crafts Fair during early set up at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
David Hartman, of David Hartman Signs, is seen with his product on display ahead of the Kenai Arts & Crafts Fair during early set up at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Skiers from Kenai, Seward and Soldotna start the girls race during the Turkey Trot on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, at Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna, Alaska.

Kenai boys, SoHi girls clock top finishes at Turkey Trot ski meet

Kenai boys took the top four finishes of the night

Skiers from Kenai, Seward and Soldotna start the girls race during the Turkey Trot on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, at Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna, Alaska.
Spruce trees are dusted with snow on Dec. 22, 2020, in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Soldotna, Alaska. Some areas of the refuge are open to harvest of holiday trees for non-commercial uses beginning Thanksgiving. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Christmas trees can be taken from wildlife refuge starting Thursday

Only hand tools can be used to cut trees, which cannot be taller than 20 feet

Spruce trees are dusted with snow on Dec. 22, 2020, in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Soldotna, Alaska. Some areas of the refuge are open to harvest of holiday trees for non-commercial uses beginning Thanksgiving. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
A decorated truck owned by Kenai Peninsula Driving Instruction participates in the “Christmas Comes to Kenai” parade on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Christmas comes to the Kenai Peninsula

Kickoff events will be hosted in Kenai, Soldotna and Nikiski in the next two weeks offering free festive fun

A decorated truck owned by Kenai Peninsula Driving Instruction participates in the “Christmas Comes to Kenai” parade on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

COVID-19: Hospitalizations rise for 3 consecutive weeks

For the period of Nov. 13 to Nov. 19, 434 new resident COVID-19 cases were reported

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Morganette Finch is seen at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Leaving behind a legacy of ‘love for people’

Long-time food bank worker Morganette Finch retires

Morganette Finch is seen at the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Jill Schaefer, one of the sharks, presents Anna Mercier with a novelty check for $4000 at the Spark Soldotna Shark Tank Event on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at The Lone Moose Lodge in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Sparking new ideas

Soldotna sharks award scholarship to mobile beverage cart

Jill Schaefer, one of the sharks, presents Anna Mercier with a novelty check for $4000 at the Spark Soldotna Shark Tank Event on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at The Lone Moose Lodge in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A Kenai Peninsula Food Bank truck in the Food Bank parking lot on Aug. 4, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Food Bank seeking donations amid soaring turkey costs

The food bank is holding a fundraiser asking members of the community to adopt a turkey

A Kenai Peninsula Food Bank truck in the Food Bank parking lot on Aug. 4, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Roy Williams receives a dinner from a student volunteer on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at the Area-Wide Senior Dinner at Kenai Seniors Center in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Thankful to be together

Local seniors gather to give thanks for their community

Roy Williams receives a dinner from a student volunteer on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at the Area-Wide Senior Dinner at Kenai Seniors Center in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Cook Inlet is seen from Clam Gulch State Recreation Area on Feb. 7, 2020, in Clam Gulch, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)

Free parking at Alaska State Parks the day after Thanksgiving

The move aims to encourage Alaskans to get outside during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend

Cook Inlet is seen from Clam Gulch State Recreation Area on Feb. 7, 2020, in Clam Gulch, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
Abbi Suprick is seen at Everything Bagels in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Bagelista’ becomes new owner of Everything Bagels

Abbi Suprick takes the reins of local shop after selling bagels for four years

Abbi Suprick is seen at Everything Bagels in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai League of Legends team captain Silas Thibodeau waits for the second game to start during a match on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Esports Week 8: Kenai, SoHi, Nikiski qualify for state

Peninsula teams closed out the regular season for esports competition in Alaska this week, with three teams from Kenai, one from Soldotna, and one from… Continue reading

Kenai League of Legends team captain Silas Thibodeau waits for the second game to start during a match on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022 at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Nurse Sherra Pritchard gives Madyson Knudsen a bandage at the Kenai Public Health Center after the 10-year-old received her first COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)

Fewer than 50% of Alaska kids completing routine vaccines

This was compared to 2013, when more than 60% were completing routine vaccinations

Nurse Sherra Pritchard gives Madyson Knudsen a bandage at the Kenai Public Health Center after the 10-year-old received her first COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)
Nurse Tracy Silta draws a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the walk-in clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna, Alaska on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)

Health officials urge vaccination and mitigation ahead of virus trio

Health officials hope to mitigate the strain on hospitals this winter due to COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus

Nurse Tracy Silta draws a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the walk-in clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna, Alaska on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)