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Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent John O’Brien, bottom left, gives a presentation to members of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce during a virtual luncheon held via Zoom on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. Also pictured: Kenai Chamber Executive Director Brittany Brown, top left, moderator Merrill Sikorski, top right, and KPBSD Assistant Superintendent Dave Jones, bottom right. (Screenshot)

O’Brien optimistic about kids returning to classrooms

At chamber luncheon, the school superintendent shared details on the district’s path forward.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent John O’Brien, bottom left, gives a presentation to members of the Kenai Chamber of Commerce during a virtual luncheon held via Zoom on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. Also pictured: Kenai Chamber Executive Director Brittany Brown, top left, moderator Merrill Sikorski, top right, and KPBSD Assistant Superintendent Dave Jones, bottom right. (Screenshot)
Photo courtesy of Alaska VA Healthcare System
Vallerie Card-King, L.CPht, and Bjorn Miller, Pharm D, document and verify the batch numbers of the Moderna Vaccine at the Alaska VA Healthcare System.

6 peninsula locations to offer COVID vaccines to eligible individuals

Qualifications to receive the first dose are outlined by the state’s Phase 1a Tier 3 guidelines

Photo courtesy of Alaska VA Healthcare System
Vallerie Card-King, L.CPht, and Bjorn Miller, Pharm D, document and verify the batch numbers of the Moderna Vaccine at the Alaska VA Healthcare System.
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)

HEA to raise rates in 2021

Last quarter the rate was decreased from $0.08113 cents down to its current rate.

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)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

374 new cases, state and borough positivity rate drops below 5%

Affected peninsula communities include Soldotna, Kenai, Nikiski, Other South

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Tim Quinn looks for birds in Kachemak Bay during the Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Jim Herbert)

Annual Christmas Bird Counts log 4 new species, falls one short of record

Despit COVID-19 restrictions, birders show up for annual December tradition to count birds in Homer.

  • Dec 30, 2020
  • By Dave Erikson For the Homer News
  • Local News
Tim Quinn looks for birds in Kachemak Bay during the Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Jim Herbert)
Covid money stock photo illustration

Extension of CARES Act deadline grants flexibility to local municipalities

The deadline for federal CARES Act dollars to be spent was extended to Dec. 31, 2021

Covid money stock photo illustration
Snow is piled along the Seward Highway near the Hope Highway cutoff in Alaska on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

Maintenance station reopened after pressure from community

The announcement came one day after Sen. Peter Micciche, R- Soldotna, penned a letter to the governor

Snow is piled along the Seward Highway near the Hope Highway cutoff in Alaska on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Photo courtesy of Bruce Richards
UV light disinfection systems are pictured at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna.

CPH gets disinfecting UV lights

The purchase was intended to help put additional disinfection units in places around the hospital

Photo courtesy of Bruce Richards
UV light disinfection systems are pictured at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna.
Rep. Jennifer Johnston, R-Anchorage, gets her temperature taken as she enters the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, May 18, 2020. New policies will require all staff and legislators to wear masks in chambers. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Legislative Council sets mask policy for upcoming session

Only one representative out of twelve legislators voted against the mask policy.

Rep. Jennifer Johnston, R-Anchorage, gets her temperature taken as she enters the Alaska State Capitol on Monday, May 18, 2020. New policies will require all staff and legislators to wear masks in chambers. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

7 new peninsula cases, statewide hospitalizations pass 1,000

Affected comunities include Soldotna, Other North, Kenai and Seward

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
cares photo illustration

Kenai extends deadline for housing relief responses

As of Dec. 24, 72 applicants had not responded when a caseworker reached out to them

cares photo illustration
Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie (arm raised) celebrates his first-period goal Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, against the Maine Nordiques at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Brown Bears back in action Saturday

Team will release new season schedule any day now

Kenai River Brown Bears forward Brandon Lajoie (arm raised) celebrates his first-period goal Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, against the Maine Nordiques at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

126 new cases statewide, 3 on the peninsula

Over the past week, the borough has conducted 1,237 tests and saw a positivity rate of 5.17%

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 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Vaccine rollout continues throughout state, on peninsula

12,202 total COVID-19 vaccinations had been given in Alaska as of Sunday

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)
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB-10) transits the waters of Puget Sound near Seattle on Dec. 4, 2020. The crew is deploying on rare wintertime mission to the Arctic Circle. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier)

Coast Guard needs more focus on Alaska bases and ships, Sullivan says

Recent Russian exercises and America’s sole functional icebreaker are all cause for concern, the senator opined.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB-10) transits the waters of Puget Sound near Seattle on Dec. 4, 2020. The crew is deploying on rare wintertime mission to the Arctic Circle. (U.S. Coast Guard / Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier)
The Juneau School District prepares hundreds of meals each weekday to feed children in Juneau as seen here at Thunder Mountain High School on Dec. 21.

Juneau union pays off school district meal balances

The union donated more than $7,000 to clear the ledgers.

The Juneau School District prepares hundreds of meals each weekday to feed children in Juneau as seen here at Thunder Mountain High School on Dec. 21.
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Statewide cases continue to plateau

203 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Saturday

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Central Peninsula Hospital as seen on March 26, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

‘We’re tired too’: CPH supervisor emphasizes community role in COVID mitigation

Staffing shortages and strict PPE requirements are among the challenges CPH workers have faced

Central Peninsula Hospital as seen on March 26, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Over 1,000 vaccinated on Kenai Peninsula

Statewide, 8,918 vaccines had been administered as of Dec. 22

An altar at Our Lady Perpetual Help Catholic Church is seen on Wednesday, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Kathryn Dunagan)

Journeying together: Area churches adapt services to COVID-19

Many local churches have turned to digital platforms to help them stay connected to their congregations

An altar at Our Lady Perpetual Help Catholic Church is seen on Wednesday, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Kathryn Dunagan)