This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)

60 peninsula COVID cases, 2 Soldotna deaths reported

They include a Soldotna man in his 40s and a nonresident woman in her 70s who died in Soldotna.

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Olympic gold medalist Lydia Jacoby waves to the crowd in Seward during a celebratory parade on Aug. 5.

Jacoby honored by Seward City Council

The 17-year-old, a senior at Seward High School, won a gold medal for Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Olympic gold medalist Lydia Jacoby waves to the crowd in Seward during a celebratory parade on Aug. 5.
This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)

Kenai Peninsula reports 101 new cases

That includes 70 resident cases on the central peninsula.

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)
Shonathin Hoskins opens at the season’s first Levitt Amp music series in Soldotna Creek Park on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. An audience filled half the lawn and the majority of the beer and wine garden as others purused the food and artisan vendors. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Music in the park ends as summer winds down

The Levitt AMP series was canceled last year because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Shonathin Hoskins opens at the season’s first Levitt Amp music series in Soldotna Creek Park on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. An audience filled half the lawn and the majority of the beer and wine garden as others purused the food and artisan vendors. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers and members of the Special Emergency Reaction Team respond at a shooting scene on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, at the Anchor Point Warehouse in Anchor Point, Alaska, on the Sterling Highway. An Alaska State Trooper was shot and is in fair condition at an Anchorage hospital. Troopers arrested the suspect, Bret Herrick, 60, on Tuesday morning, Aug. 24, 2021. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Troopers arrest man wanted in Anchor Point shooting

The man will be charged with first-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault.

Alaska State Troopers and members of the Special Emergency Reaction Team respond at a shooting scene on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, at the Anchor Point Warehouse in Anchor Point, Alaska, on the Sterling Highway. An Alaska State Trooper was shot and is in fair condition at an Anchorage hospital. Troopers arrested the suspect, Bret Herrick, 60, on Tuesday morning, Aug. 24, 2021. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Cattle Noromectin is sold at Kenai Feed and Supply on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough mayor promotes debunked COVID treatments

Pierce defends ivermectin as potential virus med, proposes local clinical trials

Cattle Noromectin is sold at Kenai Feed and Supply on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers investigate a shooting of a trooper at the Anchor Point Warehouse on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/ Homer News)

Anchor Point shooting injures trooper

A 60-year-old Anchor Point man wanted in connection to the shooting

Alaska State Troopers investigate a shooting of a trooper at the Anchor Point Warehouse on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/ Homer News)
A resident casts their vote in the regular municipal election Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Borough encourages voters to participate in municipal election

Kenai, Soldotna, Seward and Homer city councils as well as school district and assembly have seats open.

A resident casts their vote in the regular municipal election Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Assembly OKs purchase of training mannequins

The equipment would be used in day-to-day training for the purpose of learning new medical techniques.

The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
A sign instructing patients and visitors on COVID screening processes in Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska, on April 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Central Peninsula Hospital breaks records for most COVID patients at one time

Central Peninsula Hospital surpassed its record for the most COVID inpatients it has seen in a single day, spiking up to 20 by the end… Continue reading

A sign instructing patients and visitors on COVID screening processes in Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska, on April 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the full FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Pfizer’s COVID vaccine gets full FDA approval

The Food and Drug Administration gave full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Monday for people 16 and older, according to a press release… Continue reading

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the full FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
A registered nurse prepares a COVID-19 vaccine at the pop-up clinic on the Spit on May 27. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Officials debunk COVID vaccine misinformation

State doctors say ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine aren’t effective at treating COVID-19.

A registered nurse prepares a COVID-19 vaccine at the pop-up clinic on the Spit on May 27. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District communications blog/Screenshot
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District communications blog/Screenshot
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District communications blog/Screenshot
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District communications blog/Screenshot
This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)

‘We have tools, let’s please try to use them’

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink said the surge has imposed challenges on hospitals and health care workers.

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. (CDC)
Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen speaks at a meeting of the Sodotna City Council on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna, Kenai to mull partnership for 911 dispatch services

Queen floated the idea of partnering with Kenai to offer dispatch services.

Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen speaks at a meeting of the Sodotna City Council on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Nikiski Fire Station 3 on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

An investment in safety

Leaders, community celebrate opening of Nikiski Fire Station 3.

Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Nikiski Fire Station 3 on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign at Main Street Tap and Grill on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 alerts customers of a temporary closure due to a staff shortage and COVID-19 cases. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Businesses balance COVID during summer surge

Doors start closing again due to increasing peninsula case counts.

A sign at Main Street Tap and Grill on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 alerts customers of a temporary closure due to a staff shortage and COVID-19 cases. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kelly Tshibaka addresses members of the community at Nikiski Hardware & Supply on Friday, April 9, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Prosecutors vet Tshibaka fishing license case

Kelly Tshibaka received the license during an event on the Kenai River in 2019.

Kelly Tshibaka addresses members of the community at Nikiski Hardware & Supply on Friday, April 9, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Almost 20 people wait in line at a Capstone Clinic pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska. The clinic offers same-day testing from noon-7:30 p.m. today and noon-4 p.m. Friday. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News).

Homer businesses shut down out of COVID-19 concerns

Numerous businesses close for a day or longer for testing of staff as 400th Alaskan dies of COVID-19.

Almost 20 people wait in line at a Capstone Clinic pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska. The clinic offers same-day testing from noon-7:30 p.m. today and noon-4 p.m. Friday. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News).