Kenai Peninsula

Kenai Peninsula Tourism and Marketing Council Executive Director Debbie Speakman presents to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Trends 2021: Peninsula tourism targeted Alaskans in 2020

It was the year that almost wasn’t for peninsula tourism.

Kenai Peninsula Tourism and Marketing Council Executive Director Debbie Speakman presents to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai, assembly urge US Commerce Secretary to veto EEZ closure

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to reccomend the closure last December.

Joseph Lee, of Idaho, backed by Ivan Zarate, of Arizona, and Abiud Zarate, of Baja California, Mexico, arrange fish so their heads can be chopped off by a guillotine-style machine Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at Pacific Star Seafoods in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
(Photo provided by Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Applications to bait refuge black bears now available

Application requests and submissions will be done via phone or email due to COVID-19

(Photo provided by Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
Daniel Saxton demonstrates how to use a draw knife during the Kenai Wildlife Refuge’s remote Speaker Series on cabins on Friday, Feb. 26 in Kenai, Alaska. (Screenshot)

‘Everyone has a cabin’: Refuge explores history and nature of public use cabins on the Kenai

Dan Saxton also demonstrated how to use a draw knife during the presentation

Daniel Saxton demonstrates how to use a draw knife during the Kenai Wildlife Refuge’s remote Speaker Series on cabins on Friday, Feb. 26 in Kenai, Alaska. (Screenshot)
A spruce tree showing heavy damage from spruce bark beetles stands on Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boetttger/Peninsula Clarion file)
A spruce tree showing heavy damage from spruce bark beetles stands on Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ben Boetttger/Peninsula Clarion file)
The homepage of Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District’s new workforce development is seen in a screenshot from Feb. 17, 2021. (Screenshot)

KPEDD unveils workforce development website

The website aims to connect people with resources to help them start a career

The homepage of Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District’s new workforce development is seen in a screenshot from Feb. 17, 2021. (Screenshot)
COVID-19 (Image via CDC)

15% of Alaskans have received at least 1 vaccine dose

As of Tuesday, more than 110,000 Alaskans had received at least one dose of their COVID vaccine.

COVID-19 (Image via CDC)
Terry Umatum of Anchorage takes a deep breath after landing his Anchor River king salmon on Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Fish and Game issues preemptive restrictions on king salmon fishing

Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game has issued several preemptive restrictions on king salmon fishing in Cook Inlet waters in an attempt to protect the… Continue reading

Terry Umatum of Anchorage takes a deep breath after landing his Anchor River king salmon on Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Health care workers wave from inside of Central Peninsula Hospital while awaiting the delivery of the facility’s first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines on Dec. 16 in Soldotna.

Virus hits home

A look back at COVID in 2020

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Health care workers wave from inside of Central Peninsula Hospital while awaiting the delivery of the facility’s first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines on Dec. 16 in Soldotna.
Bill Holt sits in the maintenance shed at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Holt retires as facilities and equipment manager on Friday. He started working at the trails in the winter of 1993-94. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Time to be a beginner again’

Holt steps away from Tsalteshi after over 25 years of driving the expansion and refinement of trails

Bill Holt sits in the maintenance shed at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Holt retires as facilities and equipment manager on Friday. He started working at the trails in the winter of 1993-94. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion
Central Peninsula Hospital Pharmacy Technician Jessica Hulet rolls a cart carrying doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine into Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna on Wednesday.

1st vaccines arrive on peninsula

975 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine were transported from Anchorage to Soldotna Wednesday morning.

Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion
Central Peninsula Hospital Pharmacy Technician Jessica Hulet rolls a cart carrying doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine into Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna on Wednesday.
Alaska SeaLife Center
A sea otter pup rescued in Homer is being cared for at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward.

Sea otter pup found in Homer recovering at Alaska SeaLife Center

The Alaska SeaLife Center recently overcame major financial setbacks spurred by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Alaska SeaLife Center
A sea otter pup rescued in Homer is being cared for at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward.
Wildwood Correctional Center in Kenai, Alaska, is seen in this undated photo. (Alaska Department of Corrections)

Peninsula correctional facilities see few COVID cases

Wildwood Correctional Facility in Kenai had zero active cases among inmates as of Wednesday, and Spring Creek Correctional Facility had one active case as of Dec. 8.

Wildwood Correctional Center in Kenai, Alaska, is seen in this undated photo. (Alaska Department of Corrections)
Seward junior Lydia Jacoby swims in August 2019 at the Speedo Junior National Championships in Stanford, California. (Photo by Jack Spitser)

Improving through challenging times

Seward junior swimmer Jacoby wins national title at U.S. Open

Seward junior Lydia Jacoby swims in August 2019 at the Speedo Junior National Championships in Stanford, California. (Photo by Jack Spitser)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
City of Kenai greenlights “People Counter Project”

City of Kenai greenlights “People Counter Project”

The city will use $135,000 in federal CARES money to purchase cameras and other equipment.

City of Kenai greenlights “People Counter Project”
From a perch on Lunch Mountain, a hiker enjoys the sunshine and the view of Tutka Bay on the Tutka Backdoor Trail in Kachemak Bay State Park. (Photo by Clark Fair for the Peninsula Clarion)

How Alaska’s state parks came to be

Kachemak Bay State Park and Alaska State Parks have golden anniversary

From a perch on Lunch Mountain, a hiker enjoys the sunshine and the view of Tutka Bay on the Tutka Backdoor Trail in Kachemak Bay State Park. (Photo by Clark Fair for the Peninsula Clarion)
Gary Turner, who recently announced his plans to retire as director of Kenai Peninsula College, addresses the crowd during KPC’s 50th anniversary celebration at the Kenai River Campus on Aug. 25, 2014. (Photo courtesy Gary Turner/KPC)

Kenai Peninsula College head announces retirement

Director Gary Turner will exit at the end of the 2021 academic year

Gary Turner, who recently announced his plans to retire as director of Kenai Peninsula College, addresses the crowd during KPC’s 50th anniversary celebration at the Kenai River Campus on Aug. 25, 2014. (Photo courtesy Gary Turner/KPC)
Almost like being there

Almost like being there

Refuge exhibit uses virtual reality to transport users to wilderness

Almost like being there
A fire crew can be seen here at a containment line for the Swan Lake Fire in this undated photo. (Courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management)

Fire crew’s departure highlights different wildfire season

With fire season winding down, state sends firefigthers south

A fire crew can be seen here at a containment line for the Swan Lake Fire in this undated photo. (Courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management)

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