Camille Botello

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Alaska State Troopers logo.

Driver in custody after fatal rollover crash

A car accident in Soldotna over the weekend involving four people resulted in a fatality and a second-degree murder charge, among others, according to a… Continue reading

 

The top three fish of this year’s Winter King Salmon Tournament hang on a wall before a closing ceremony announcing the winners Saturday, March 24, 2018 on the Spit in Homer, Alaska. This year’s winning fish weighed 24.6 pounds. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Sport fishing closures shut down east side setnet commercial fishery

The king salmon sport fishing closures on the Kenai and Kasilof rivers, as well as Cook Inlet north of Bluff Point, have also shut down… Continue reading

 

Camille Botello reaches the Skyline summit near Cooper Landing, Alaska with dirty ankles on June 27, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: The view from Skyline

In some ways, the isolation of the pandemic has proved even more harsh for me. I’ve spent the majority of it — actually, this week… Continue reading

 

In this March 2021 photo provided by Pfizer, vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are prepared for packaging at the company���s facility in Puurs, Belgium. Pfizer is about to seek U.S. authorization for a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine, saying Thursday, July 8, 2021, that another shot within 12 months could dramatically boost immunity and maybe help ward off the latest worrisome coronavirus mutant. (Pfizer via AP)

COVID cases continue to rise, delta variant confirmed on peninsula

Homer saw 14 cases in one day this week.

In this March 2021 photo provided by Pfizer, vials of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are prepared for packaging at the company���s facility in Puurs, Belgium. Pfizer is about to seek U.S. authorization for a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine, saying Thursday, July 8, 2021, that another shot within 12 months could dramatically boost immunity and maybe help ward off the latest worrisome coronavirus mutant. (Pfizer via AP)
A fisher holds a reel on the Kenai River near Soldotna on June 30, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai and Kasilof kings limited to catch and release

Kings are passing through the Kenai River at a lower rate than needed to attain the escapement goal.

A fisher holds a reel on the Kenai River near Soldotna on June 30, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna is now offering COVID-19 vaccines with no appointment necessary. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘A choice between getting COVID or getting the vaccine’

Officials encourage vaccines as cases climb and more die of the virus

A clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna is now offering COVID-19 vaccines with no appointment necessary. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Two black bears walk along Skilak Lake Road on Monday, June 14, 2021 near Skilak Lake, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bears and dogs don’t mix

The best way to enjoy bear country with pups is by keeping them close.

Two black bears walk along Skilak Lake Road on Monday, June 14, 2021 near Skilak Lake, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A letter from the Alaska Broadcasters Association was sent to Alaska House Rep. Ron Gillham, R-Kenai-Soldotna, on July 1, 2021, condemning a post he shared on Facebook that compared journalists and medical professionals who disseminate information about COVID-19 to Nazis executed for war crimes. (Letter provided by the Alaska Broadcasters Association) Alaska House Rep. Ron Gillham. (Courtesy Ron Gillham)

Broadcasters group decries lawmaker’s Facebook post

House Rep. Ron Gillham, who represents the Kenai-Soldotna area, posted a meme comparing journalists, medics to Nazis.

A letter from the Alaska Broadcasters Association was sent to Alaska House Rep. Ron Gillham, R-Kenai-Soldotna, on July 1, 2021, condemning a post he shared on Facebook that compared journalists and medical professionals who disseminate information about COVID-19 to Nazis executed for war crimes. (Letter provided by the Alaska Broadcasters Association) Alaska House Rep. Ron Gillham. (Courtesy Ron Gillham)
John Hakla from Eagle River heads back into the water while dipnetting on the North Kenai Beach on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)

Dipnet area expanded; limits increased on the Kasilof

Dipnetting is only allowed for Alaska residents with personal-use permits.

John Hakla from Eagle River heads back into the water while dipnetting on the North Kenai Beach on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
Clarion file photo A fisherman walks along the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing, Alaska.

Sockeye limits increased on Russian and Upper Kenai Rivers

Anglers may possess only the limit allowed in the waters they are actively fishing.

Clarion file photo A fisherman walks along the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing, Alaska.
Gavin Hunt, 13, receives his second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the walk-in clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna, Alaska on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)

Both doses ‘critically important’ as Delta variant spreads

In Alaska, there have been a total of 13 delta cases detected, with nine of them spotted in the last week.

Gavin Hunt, 13, receives his second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the walk-in clinic at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling Highways in Soldotna, Alaska on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion)
A warning by Facebook content moderators denoting sensitive content is superimposed on a post shared by Alaska House Rep. Ron Gillham, R-Kenai-Soldotna. Gillham shared a post comparing media and medical professionals to Nazi-era war criminals on his Facebook page on June 21, 2021. (Screenshot)

Kenai lawmaker shares photo comparing media and medical officials to Nazi war criminals

Republican Ron Gillham represents the Kenai-Soldotna area in the Alaska State House of Representatives.

A warning by Facebook content moderators denoting sensitive content is superimposed on a post shared by Alaska House Rep. Ron Gillham, R-Kenai-Soldotna. Gillham shared a post comparing media and medical professionals to Nazi-era war criminals on his Facebook page on June 21, 2021. (Screenshot)
Anglers gather along the banks of the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing in September 2018. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Sanctuary opens for sockeye sport fishing

The sanctuary opening is effective Thursday, June 24 through 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday on July 14.

Anglers gather along the banks of the Kenai River near Sportsman’s Landing in Cooper Landing in September 2018. (Peninsula Clarion file)
An aerial photo of the 102-acre Loon Lake Fire footprint taken at approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Swan Lake is in the background to the right. (Kale Casey/Alaska DNR-Division of Forestry)

What peninsula residents need to know about fire season

Bouschor said the peninsula is known both for experiencing fires more frequently and producing larger-scale fires.

An aerial photo of the 102-acre Loon Lake Fire footprint taken at approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Swan Lake is in the background to the right. (Kale Casey/Alaska DNR-Division of Forestry)
Setnetters make their way back to the beach near a site on July 11, 2016 near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Personal-use setnetting opening Tuesday on Kasilof

The hours for fishing in the restricted area of the Kasilof River on Tuesday are from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Setnetters make their way back to the beach near a site on July 11, 2016 near Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
A sign and road blocker at the head of the Hidden Creek Trail on Skilak Lake Road warns people about bear activity on Sunday, June 13, 2021 in Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Campers kayak to safety after Skilak bear attack

They were at the mouth of Hidden Creek along the shoreline of Skilak Lake

A sign and road blocker at the head of the Hidden Creek Trail on Skilak Lake Road warns people about bear activity on Sunday, June 13, 2021 in Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
One of two baby seal pups rescued and transported to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward is seen in June 2021. (Photo provided by the Alaska SeaLife Center)

Baby seals abandoned, transported to SeaLife Center

Both the pups were in relatively stable condition.

One of two baby seal pups rescued and transported to the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward is seen in June 2021. (Photo provided by the Alaska SeaLife Center)
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

‘A lot of work to do’: Officials hope for summer bounce in vaccinations

Zink said just six months ago she didn’t think the state would have as much vaccine stock as it does now.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
A graph from the Department of Health and Social Service shows how each census region did in the “Sleeves Up for Summer” campaign, which sought to increase COVID-19 vaccinations by 25% in May 2021. (Photo provided)

State falls short of 25% vaccination goal

East Aluetians Borough only region to increase vaccinations by 25%

A graph from the Department of Health and Social Service shows how each census region did in the “Sleeves Up for Summer” campaign, which sought to increase COVID-19 vaccinations by 25% in May 2021. (Photo provided)
Soldotna’s Sean Babitt wrestles to a Division I state title at 189 pounds against Wasilla’s Colton Lindquist on Saturday, May 22, 2021, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey/Frontiersman)

Peninsula claims 6 state wrestling titles

The Homer girls had two champions, while the Homer boys and Soldotna girls had a champion each at Chugiak High School last Saturday in the… Continue reading

Soldotna’s Sean Babitt wrestles to a Division I state title at 189 pounds against Wasilla’s Colton Lindquist on Saturday, May 22, 2021, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Tim Rockey/Frontiersman)