News

Signs on Saturday, March 28, 2020, at the main entrance to South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska, warn visitors not to enter until they have been met by hospital staff. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Three more southern peninsula residents die of COVID-19

The latest reported deaths came in a large batch of 44 deaths reported on Sept. 24 and a group of 22 on Sept. 27.

Signs on Saturday, March 28, 2020, at the main entrance to South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska, warn visitors not to enter until they have been met by hospital staff. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Harrison Smith, South Peninsula Hospital Facilities Manager, stands by medical oxygen tanks on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2021, at the hospital in Homer, Alaska. Smith, a certified medical gas technician, has been involved with the med-gas system management at South Peninsula Hospital for 18 years. (Photo by Derotha Ferraro / South Peninsula Hospital)

Two southern peninsula residents die of COVID-19

South Peninsula Hospital has adequate reserves for medical oxygen despite increased demand.

Harrison Smith, South Peninsula Hospital Facilities Manager, stands by medical oxygen tanks on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2021, at the hospital in Homer, Alaska. Smith, a certified medical gas technician, has been involved with the med-gas system management at South Peninsula Hospital for 18 years. (Photo by Derotha Ferraro / South Peninsula Hospital)
The 2021 elections will be held Oct. 5.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School Board Q&A

On Tuesday, Oct. 5, elections will be held for Homer City Council, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly District 9 and the Kenai Peninsula Borough Board of… Continue reading

  • Sep 23, 2021
The 2021 elections will be held Oct. 5.
The 2021 elections will be held Oct. 5.

Homer City Council candidate Q&A

On Tuesday, Oct. 5, elections will be held for Homer City Council, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly District 9 and the Kenai Peninsula Borough Board of… Continue reading

  • Sep 23, 2021
The 2021 elections will be held Oct. 5.
The 2021 elections will be held Oct. 5.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Q&A

On Tuesday, Oct. 5, elections will be held for Homer City Council, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly District 9 and the Kenai Peninsula Borough Board of… Continue reading

  • Sep 23, 2021
The 2021 elections will be held Oct. 5.
Workers on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, paint the fog or right side lane lineon the Homer Bypass at Lake Street as reconstruction winds down for the summer inHomer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Lake Street work almost done

Signal upgrades will be done once poles arrive.

Workers on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, paint the fog or right side lane lineon the Homer Bypass at Lake Street as reconstruction winds down for the summer inHomer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Traffic moves north along the Sterling Highway shortly after a fatal crash closed the highway for several hours Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021. The state is seeking federal funding for a project aimed at improving safety along the Sterling Highway between mileposts 82.5 to 94, or between Sterling and Soldotna. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)

State looks to federal funding for Sterling Highway project

The project is aimed at improving highway safety between Sterling and Soldotna.

Traffic moves north along the Sterling Highway shortly after a fatal crash closed the highway for several hours Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021. The state is seeking federal funding for a project aimed at improving safety along the Sterling Highway between mileposts 82.5 to 94, or between Sterling and Soldotna. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum address the House Finance Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. Crum on Thursday discussed a cyber attack that had compromised Alaskans' information. Crum said because of an ongoing criminal investigation the entity responsible for the attack and the exact information compromised could not be revealed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

State offers free credit monitoring following data breach

Beginning Sept. 27.

Department of Health and Social Services Commissioner Adam Crum address the House Finance Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020. Crum on Thursday discussed a cyber attack that had compromised Alaskans' information. Crum said because of an ongoing criminal investigation the entity responsible for the attack and the exact information compromised could not be revealed. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)
Ethan Benton (left) and Laura Walters of Kodiak win the vaccine lottery for the Alaska Chamber's week one vaccine lottery giveaway "Give AK a Shot." (Screenshot)

State names winners in 1st vaccine lottery

A Valdez and Kodiak resident took home checks for $49,000 each.

Ethan Benton (left) and Laura Walters of Kodiak win the vaccine lottery for the Alaska Chamber's week one vaccine lottery giveaway "Give AK a Shot." (Screenshot)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion 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.
Crime

Vandalism ends Soldotna library program

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

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion 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.
Juneau Empire file The Coast Guard medevaced a 90-year-old suffering stroke-like symptoms near Ketchikan aboard a 45-foot response boat-medium like this one, seen in Juneau, on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.

Coast Guard medevacs man from yacht near Ketchikan

The 90-year-old suffered symptoms of a stroke.

Juneau Empire file The Coast Guard medevaced a 90-year-old suffering stroke-like symptoms near Ketchikan aboard a 45-foot response boat-medium like this one, seen in Juneau, on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.
James Varsos, also known as “Hobo Jim,” poses for a photo during the August 2016, Funny River Festival in Funny River, Alaska, in August 2016. (Peninsula Clarion file)

‘Hobo Jim’ opens up about recent terminal cancer diagnosis

Varsos was named Alaska’s official “state balladeer” in 1994.

James Varsos, also known as “Hobo Jim,” poses for a photo during the August 2016, Funny River Festival in Funny River, Alaska, in August 2016. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Kathleen Kuhn is the August Homer Flex Phoenix Award winner. (Photo provided by Homer Flex)

Kuhn receives Homer Flex Phoenix Award

The August recipient of the Homer Flex High School Phoenix Award is Kathleen Kuhn. Each month, the school staff pick a student to receive the… Continue reading

  • Sep 23, 2021
Kathleen Kuhn is the August Homer Flex Phoenix Award winner. (Photo provided by Homer Flex)
Everett Anderson, second grade, shows Principal John DeVolld some of his class work at Soldotna Montessori Charter School on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Like we’re a Blue Ribbon School every year’

Soldotna Montessori Charter School earns national recognition for high performance.

Everett Anderson, second grade, shows Principal John DeVolld some of his class work at Soldotna Montessori Charter School on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaskans pick up and turn in Permanent Fund Dividend applications at the Department of Revenue office in the State Office Building in March 2011. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Dividend payments expected in 30 days

The bill passed, when do you get a check or deposit?

Alaskans pick up and turn in Permanent Fund Dividend applications at the Department of Revenue office in the State Office Building in March 2011. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
A proposal from the Alaska Redistricting Board would substantially change Juneau's legislative districts. One of the latest proposals, seen here, would put parts of Auke Bay and the Mendenhall Valley in the same district as downtown Juneau and Douglas Island. The Northern Lynn Canal communities of Haines, Skagway and Kluckwan would be placed in the same district as the Mendenhall Valley. (Courtesy image / Alaska Redistricting Board)

Hitting the road: Redistricting maps to be shown in local hearings

Redistricting roadshow.

A proposal from the Alaska Redistricting Board would substantially change Juneau's legislative districts. One of the latest proposals, seen here, would put parts of Auke Bay and the Mendenhall Valley in the same district as downtown Juneau and Douglas Island. The Northern Lynn Canal communities of Haines, Skagway and Kluckwan would be placed in the same district as the Mendenhall Valley. (Courtesy image / Alaska Redistricting Board)
Courtesy Photo / Molly Pressler Collection Japanese-Americans interned in Alaska in World War II are shown in this photo at a camp in New Mexico where they endured the majority of the war.

Research into interned Japanese-Americans in Alaska receives grant support

104 Japanese-Americans were interned from Alaska at the outset of WWII.

Courtesy Photo / Molly Pressler Collection Japanese-Americans interned in Alaska in World War II are shown in this photo at a camp in New Mexico where they endured the majority of the war.
Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau is the site of an outbreak of the coronavirus with at least 23 active case as of Sept. 16, said a Department of Corrections official.

COVID outbreak present in Lemon Creek inmates

Nearly two dozen have been infected.

Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire Lemon Creek Correctional Center in Juneau is the site of an outbreak of the coronavirus with at least 23 active case as of Sept. 16, said a Department of Corrections official.
From left to right:Miakah Nix, Daniel Ashenfelter, Shawn Merry and Conrad Revey, members of the Keex' Kwaan Community Forest Partnership, one of the many existing programs set to benefit from the trust. The Keex'Kwaan Community Forest Partnership and the Hoonah Native Forest Partnership are collaborative land management programs and are helping to define what community land management can look like for Southeast Alaska. These partnerships help develop a local workforce for natural resource careers including through the Alaska Youth Stewards program which targets high school-aged Alaskans. Programs work with private, state, and federal land managers to ensure that local priorities, local employment, and Indigenous values are integrated into the treatment of local lands and waters. (Courtesy photo / Bethany Goodrich)

New fund established for Indigenous-led development

Funding into the future.

From left to right:Miakah Nix, Daniel Ashenfelter, Shawn Merry and Conrad Revey, members of the Keex' Kwaan Community Forest Partnership, one of the many existing programs set to benefit from the trust. The Keex'Kwaan Community Forest Partnership and the Hoonah Native Forest Partnership are collaborative land management programs and are helping to define what community land management can look like for Southeast Alaska. These partnerships help develop a local workforce for natural resource careers including through the Alaska Youth Stewards program which targets high school-aged Alaskans. Programs work with private, state, and federal land managers to ensure that local priorities, local employment, and Indigenous values are integrated into the treatment of local lands and waters. (Courtesy photo / Bethany Goodrich)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion Nathan Erfurth speaks before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, July 12, in Soldotna.

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.

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion Nathan Erfurth speaks before the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education on Monday, July 12, in Soldotna.