Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion 
From left: Kenai City Council candidates Alex Douthit, Deborah Sounart and Victoria Askin attend an election forum Wednesday at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center.

Council candidates discuss Kenai’s future at forum

Three of the five candidates vying for seats on the council participated in the event.

Ashlyn O’Hara / Peninsula Clarion 
From left: Kenai City Council candidates Alex Douthit, Deborah Sounart and Victoria Askin attend an election forum Wednesday at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center.
File

Kasilof man arrested in connection to alleged death threats

Tarbell began in August making threats to individuals in Vermont and others states, according to an FBI affidavit.

File
A podium marks the beginning of a StoryWalk at Soldotna Creek Park on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. The project was discontinued in August due to vandalism. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

StoryWalk vandalism results in project’s early end

The StoryWalk was made possible by a $2,500 donation from the Soldotna Library Friends.

A podium marks the beginning of a StoryWalk at Soldotna Creek Park on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. The project was discontinued in August due to vandalism. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A vote-by-mail ballot box is photographed at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration building in Soldotna, Alaska, in October 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Soldotna to allow voters to fix affidavits

About 16 absentee ballots were rejected due to a variety of reasons in the 2020 elections.

A vote-by-mail ballot box is photographed at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration building in Soldotna, Alaska, in October 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
A sign instructing patients and visitors on the COVID-19 screening process is seen in the River Tower of Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska, on April 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Hospital ‘dealing with’ overcapacity

Central Peninsula Hospital was operating at a 112% occupancy rate Wednesday morning.

A sign instructing patients and visitors on the COVID-19 screening process is seen in the River Tower of Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska, on April 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)

7 more COVID deaths reported Tuesday

Deaths of 6 residents, 1 nonresident reported

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)
Nathan Erfurth speaks before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, July 12, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School board approves employee contracts, pay raises for school nurses

88% of KPEA’s voting members approved their contract and 99% of KPESA’s voting members approved their contract.

Nathan Erfurth speaks before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, July 12, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

FBI responds to abandoned explosive found on Sterling Highway

The dynamite was likely left from previous road construction in the area, troopers said.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
A protester stands outside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin building in Soldotna on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Parents divided on masks

Some parents said they will keep their kids home if masks are required; others say they’ll keep their kids home if masks aren’t required.

A protester stands outside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin building in Soldotna on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Brie Drummond speaks in support of mask mandates on Monday, Sept. 13, for the Kenai Peninsula School Board meeting at Homer High School in Homer, Alaska. During a work session before the meeting, the district presented revisions to its COVID-19 mitigation protocols. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

School district revises COVID-19 mitigation plans

The revisions come as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in Alaska and on the Kenai Peninsula.

Brie Drummond speaks in support of mask mandates on Monday, Sept. 13, for the Kenai Peninsula School Board meeting at Homer High School in Homer, Alaska. During a work session before the meeting, the district presented revisions to its COVID-19 mitigation protocols. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Volunteers work the fermentation station at the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival at Soldotna Creek Park on Sept. 14, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Serving up a passion for wellness, local foods

8th annual Harvest Moon Festival focuses on sustainability, locally sourced foods and food security.

Volunteers work the fermentation station at the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival at Soldotna Creek Park on Sept. 14, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)

1 new COVID death pushes Alaska to 445

The state announced another 1,473 positive COVID cases over the weekend.

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)
Dan Nelson stands in the Peninsula Clarion building on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Dan Nelson stands in the Peninsula Clarion building on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Council member Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings is running unopposed for a seat on the Soldotna City Council. (courtesy photo)
Soldotna City Council member Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings is running unopposed for a seat on the Soldotna City Council. (courtesy photo)
This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)

2 more COVID deaths reported; COVID cases grow

The state announced 702 new positive COVID cases Friday.

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)
Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel spins a wheel to determine the Magic Weight at the Kenai Silver Salmon Derby on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, at Three Bears grocery store in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Catch the magic silver

Silver salmon derby kicks off next week

Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel spins a wheel to determine the Magic Weight at the Kenai Silver Salmon Derby on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, at Three Bears grocery store in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Council member Jordan Chilson is running for reelection to his seat on the council. (Courtesy photo)
Soldotna City Council member Jordan Chilson is running for reelection to his seat on the council. (Courtesy photo)
A firefighter with Central Emergency Services in Soldotna places an American flag in front of the station. Firefighters set over 400 flags in the grass outside CES in Soldotna on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 in honor of the first responders who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Here we stand together’

Central peninsula remembers 9/11 two decades later

A firefighter with Central Emergency Services in Soldotna places an American flag in front of the station. Firefighters set over 400 flags in the grass outside CES in Soldotna on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 in honor of the first responders who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Micah Shields (courtesy photo)
Micah Shields (courtesy photo)
Robert Purcell poses for a photo in November 2001 after he returned from five weeks working for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in New York City after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. (Homer News file photo)

‘I knew that I was going to end up being a part of this’

Cleaning up, moving forward - Purcell remembers 9/11 20 years later

Robert Purcell poses for a photo in November 2001 after he returned from five weeks working for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in New York City after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. (Homer News file photo)