Kim Keck gives James Redmon a crochet sunflower pendant during the Many Voices Ukraine vigil on Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘We’re standing with them’

Local group shows support for Ukraine after Russian invasion

Kim Keck gives James Redmon a crochet sunflower pendant during the Many Voices Ukraine vigil on Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
A group of young people try out the thawed skate park on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, at the Homer Education and Recreation Complex in Homer, Alaska. The Homer City Council met Monday and heard a report by Stantec staff on a proposed design for a new community center to go on the HERC site. The design includes a skate park. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Council gets first look at community center plan

Stantec presents first draft of multipurpose community center to go on HERC site.

A group of young people try out the thawed skate park on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, at the Homer Education and Recreation Complex in Homer, Alaska. The Homer City Council met Monday and heard a report by Stantec staff on a proposed design for a new community center to go on the HERC site. The design includes a skate park. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Drew Slegers, a fourth grader at Soldotna Elementary, snowshoes on Headquarters Lake in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge just outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021. The refuge is offering spring break snowshoe walks for kids. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Refuge offering spring break walks for kids

Guided walks will be held daily for those 8 years and older from Tuesday through Saturday of next week

Drew Slegers, a fourth grader at Soldotna Elementary, snowshoes on Headquarters Lake in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge just outside of Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021. The refuge is offering spring break snowshoe walks for kids. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

KPBSD adds additional early release days

The early release days on March 16 and April 20 are canceled

The logo for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is displayed inside the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Lucas Stumpf, a fishery biologist with the Division of Sport Fish, helps Aurora Borealis Charter School third grader Teagan Jorgensen, left, with her line while she ice fishes at Sport Lake in Soldotna as part of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s “Salmon in the Classroom” ice fishing educational program on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Fish on!’

Kids cast lines and learn at ice fishing event

Lucas Stumpf, a fishery biologist with the Division of Sport Fish, helps Aurora Borealis Charter School third grader Teagan Jorgensen, left, with her line while she ice fishes at Sport Lake in Soldotna as part of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s “Salmon in the Classroom” ice fishing educational program on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

As COVID cases fall statewide, hospital feels relief

COVID cases have been plummeting in Alaska since mid-January

Central Peninsula Hospital is seen in Soldotna on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a board meeting on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a board meeting on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly members Richard Derkevorkian (left) and Jesse Bjorkman consult during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara)

Borough seeks to fill planning commission vacancies

Two new commissioners took their seats for the Monday night meeting

Assembly members Richard Derkevorkian (left) and Jesse Bjorkman consult during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara)
The Kenai Peninsula’s Community Level is shown as medium on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled new metrics to assess COVID-19 risk level last week. (cdc.gov)

State COVID cases declining

The new cases come days after new masking guidelines were issued by the CDC

The Kenai Peninsula’s Community Level is shown as medium on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled new metrics to assess COVID-19 risk level last week. (cdc.gov)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Driftwood Charters vessel rescues man who floated into Cook Inlet on iceberg

Man rescued after floating in Cook Inlet on iceberg

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Community agencies administer social services during the Project Homeless Connect event at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna mini grant goes to Project Homeless Connect effort

$5 gift cards from Arby’s, Subway and Safeway were distributed to Project Homeless Connect participants

Community agencies administer social services during the Project Homeless Connect event at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Parks and Recreation Director Brad Walker speaks during a small group activity as part of a community vision session for the Kenai Waterfront Revitalization Project on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Community brainstorms future of Kenai’s waterfront

The City of Kenai moderated an event Thursday at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center

Kenai Parks and Recreation Director Brad Walker speaks during a small group activity as part of a community vision session for the Kenai Waterfront Revitalization Project on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A map of COVID-19 Community Levels by county show the Kenai Peninsula have a “medium” community level on Friday, Feb. 24, 2022. (CDC.gov)

CDC: Many more can ditch masks, for now

The agency is now only advising universal masking in regions where community COVID level is high

A map of COVID-19 Community Levels by county show the Kenai Peninsula have a “medium” community level on Friday, Feb. 24, 2022. (CDC.gov)
Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna looks to outsource grant-writing labor

The city wants to maximize funding opportunities made available through the federal government

Soldotna Mayor Paul Whitney speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai City Council members James Baisden and Teea Winger deliberate at the body’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai mulls benefit of rec center as repair costs add up

The Kenai City Council voted this month to consolidate project funding for the building

Kenai City Council members James Baisden and Teea Winger deliberate at the body’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Freezing rain creates icy conditions on Wednesday, Feb. 16. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna asks for more snow removal money

The City of Soldotna estimates it will spend more than expected on snow removal services this winter. Citing above average snowfall, the city’s streets and… Continue reading

Freezing rain creates icy conditions on Wednesday, Feb. 16. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Sterling Highway crash sends woman, child to Anchorage for intensive care

The Tuesday collision occurred near the Sterling Transfer Facility

Alaska State Troopers logo.
A green Little Free Library stands at the edge of Daubenspeck Family Park on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Proposal would bring more Little Free Libraries to Kenai

The proposal to expand the program came from Friends of the Kenai Library

A green Little Free Library stands at the edge of Daubenspeck Family Park on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Data from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services show that some regions of Alaska have dropped to "low" COVID alert level, while most others remain at "high" alert level, as of Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. (Screenshot)

1,773 new COVID cases reported, no new peninsula deaths

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services only reports new deaths on Wednesdays

Data from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services show that some regions of Alaska have dropped to "low" COVID alert level, while most others remain at "high" alert level, as of Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. (Screenshot)
Tuckerman Babcock stands in The Peninsula Clarion office on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Babcock enters state Senate race

Babcock will challenge incumbent Peter Micciche for the seat containing Kenai and Soldotna

Tuckerman Babcock stands in The Peninsula Clarion office on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)