Valedictorians Rosalie Anderson, Lillian Carstens and Samuel Smith give their commencement address at the Nikiski Middle/High School graduation on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 in the gymnasium. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Valedictorians Rosalie Anderson, Lillian Carstens and Samuel Smith give their commencement address at the Nikiski Middle/High School graduation on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 in the gymnasium. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna High School students celebrate their graduation on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at the high school football field. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna High School students celebrate their graduation on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at the high school football field. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Jesse Bjorkman (right) speaks at a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Amendment to fund outside counsel fails after heated assembly debate

The amendment was proposed in response to a discussion over two assembly members’ potential conflicts of interest.

Jesse Bjorkman (right) speaks at a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Jullian Miller (left) and Alivia Howard speak during Kenai Alternative High School’s 2021 graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Jullian Miller (left) and Alivia Howard speak during Kenai Alternative High School’s 2021 graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

Homer Electric to do cable maintenance this summer

HEA workers plan to inject the cables with silicone to fill any cracks caused by insulation deterioration.

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)
KCHS valedictorians Abigail Moffett and Owen Rolph speak at KCHS’ graduation ceremony on Monday, May 17 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Through the good times and the bad’

After tumultuous final years, Kenai Central High School seniors receive diplomas

KCHS valedictorians Abigail Moffett and Owen Rolph speak at KCHS’ graduation ceremony on Monday, May 17 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Aidan Katzenberger speaks at the River City Academy graduation in Soldotna, Alaska on Monday, May 17, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Aidan Katzenberger speaks at the River City Academy graduation in Soldotna, Alaska on Monday, May 17, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna resident Leah McCabe receives her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the The Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management's walk-in clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, May 14, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Convenience is key moving forward with vaccination, officials say

On Friday, one of the first mass walk-in vaccine clinics on the peninsula was offered at Soldotna Prep School.

Soldotna resident Leah McCabe receives her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the The Soldotna Professional Pharmacy and Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management's walk-in clinic at Soldotna Prep School on Friday, May 14, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
A parking lot set to be reconstructed is seen highlighted in red at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Bruce Richards)

More heated sidewalks coming to Central Peninsula Hospital

CPH Board of Directors cited the high demand for parking spaces that comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) at health care facilities.

A parking lot set to be reconstructed is seen highlighted in red at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Bruce Richards)
Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai to vote on budget, mill rate Wednesday

In all, the City of Kenai is projecting around $38.6 million in revenue and just under $50 million in expenditures.

Kenai City Hall on Feb. 20, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

11 new COVID deaths reported on Monday

10 were identified through death certificate review.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Employees work the lunch rush at Jersey Subs in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, May 13, 2021. The sandwich shop is having trouble finding people to work this summer. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Peninsula businesses report worker shortage

Local business owners say it’s “almost impossible” to fill open positions.

Employees work the lunch rush at Jersey Subs in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, May 13, 2021. The sandwich shop is having trouble finding people to work this summer. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration and Assembly meet for a joint work session with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021.

KPBSD recruiting new staff at most schools

The district is looking to hire more than 50 new staff members for schools across the borough.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration and Assembly meet for a joint work session with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021.
Dunline and western sandpipers feed in Mud Bay on Friday, May 7, 2021, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Shorebird festival delights with birds and birders

142 species counted during annual festival

Dunline and western sandpipers feed in Mud Bay on Friday, May 7, 2021, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

A ‘blip’ in budgeting history; Soldotna crafts post-pandemic budget

The city took a smaller financial hit than initially anticipated.

The sign outside Soldotna City Hall is seen on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

1 in 2 Alaskans 16 and older have received at least 1 dose of vaccine

44.16% of residents 16 and older in the Kenai Peninsula Borough had received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
Jeff Helminiak / Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai River Brown Bears salute seats mostly empty due to coronavirus mitigation measures after a victory over the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on April 23 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna.

Brown Bears spectator limit boosted to 750 for Friday’s game

The spectator limit at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex has fluctuated between 250 and 750 since February.

Jeff Helminiak / Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai River Brown Bears salute seats mostly empty due to coronavirus mitigation measures after a victory over the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel on April 23 at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna.
A ringed seal rescued from Dutch Harbor is held at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, on May 12, 2021. (Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)

SeaLife Center admits ringed seal from Dutch Harbor

Dutch Harbor is outside of the normal range for ringed seals.

A ringed seal rescued from Dutch Harbor is held at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, Alaska, on May 12, 2021. (Photo courtesy Alaska SeaLife Center)
Resonant Rogues perform at Soldotna Creek Park during the Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna council shuts down meeting move

The legislation would have allowed council members to attend more of the city’s Wednesday night music series events.

Resonant Rogues perform at Soldotna Creek Park during the Levitt AMP Soldotna Music Series on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
A DNR map of navigable and non-navigable waters are seen on the Kenai Peninsula. (Screenshot)

State unveils maps in effort to ‘unlock’ Alaska waters

The maps are part of an initiative to assert control of state lands.

A DNR map of navigable and non-navigable waters are seen on the Kenai Peninsula. (Screenshot)