Michael Armstrong

Starting a legal cannabis grow begins with ‘immaculate conception’ of plants

The recent denial of Alaska Loven It’s license to cultivate cannabis raises a question not often discussed in Alaska’s growing marijuana industry. How do legal… Continue reading

Dellan Vanbuskirk in a 2016 mug shot. (Photo courtesy Homer Police)

Troopers catch theft suspect after 4-hour standoff in AP

A four-hour standoff in Anchor Point on Tuesday night that involved Alaska State Troopers and a Special Emergency Response Team ended without incident when troopers… Continue reading

Dellan Vanbuskirk in a 2016 mug shot. (Photo courtesy Homer Police)
”Bear Poppy” by Julianne Tomich is part of her show opening Friday at Grace Ridge Brewery. (Photo provided)

‘Bears in Flowers’ looks at the terror of our furry friends

In the Homer art scene, artist Julianne Tomich defies categorization. Comfortable in both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional art, she’s as hard working as she is versatile… Continue reading

”Bear Poppy” by Julianne Tomich is part of her show opening Friday at Grace Ridge Brewery. (Photo provided)
Lynn Naden’s giant Root Ball in her Root shows. (Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News)

‘Root’ shows expand meaning of community, connection

The Pratt Museum’s Root shows invite lots of interpretations. Tree roots abound in both paper artist Lynn Marie Naden’s solo Root show, upstairs at the… Continue reading

Lynn Naden’s giant Root Ball in her Root shows. (Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News)
A photo provided by Cook Inletkeeper shows a Freightliner truck operated by AK Trucking that overturned on the Nikolaevsk Road near the North Fork of the Anchor River. The crash spilled an estimated 15 gallons of fuel, according to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. (Photo provided, Cook Inletkeeper)

DEC responds to truck crash on Anchor River

The driver of a truck that rolled over on the Nikolaevsk Road last Monday failed to report the crash and a possible fuel spill to… Continue reading

A photo provided by Cook Inletkeeper shows a Freightliner truck operated by AK Trucking that overturned on the Nikolaevsk Road near the North Fork of the Anchor River. The crash spilled an estimated 15 gallons of fuel, according to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. (Photo provided, Cook Inletkeeper)
Hearing officer spikes ethics complaint Allegation by recall sponsor ‘borders on the frivilous,’ he says

Hearing officer spikes ethics complaint Allegation by recall sponsor ‘borders on the frivilous,’ he says

Saying an ethics complaint filed by a Homer recall supporter “borders on the frivolous,” an Anchorage administrative law judge last Friday dismissed a complaint filed… Continue reading

Hearing officer spikes ethics complaint Allegation by recall sponsor ‘borders on the frivilous,’ he says
Serena Funkhauser, Ava Halstead and Lance Seneff as the harlequin toys rhearse a scene at the Mariner Theatre Nov. 24 in Homer for the Nutcracker Ballet. (Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News)

Nutcracker once again dazzles in Homer-grown production

When you get to the end of the road, sometimes stuff gets jumbled around. That might explain why in Homer Tchaikovsky’s traditional Nutcracker Ballet has… Continue reading

Serena Funkhauser, Ava Halstead and Lance Seneff as the harlequin toys rhearse a scene at the Mariner Theatre Nov. 24 in Homer for the Nutcracker Ballet. (Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News)

Voznesenka man convicted in fed court of felon possessing firearms

A federal jury in Anchorage last Wednesday, Nov. 15, found guilty a Voznesenka man for being a felon in possession of firearms. Sentencing for Joseph… Continue reading

Burglars hit multiple Anchor Point businesses, cabins

Burglars have robbed several lower Kenai Peninsula businesses and cabins since early September, stealing firearms, a vehicle, chainsaws, high-end fishing gear and even a childhood… Continue reading

Carolyn Norton, second from right, as King Herod, performs “King Herod’s Song” as Kyle Schneirder, right, as Jesus, watches during rehearsals last Friday for “Jesus Christ Superstar.” The musical opens 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Mariner Theatre in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News)

Pier One production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” takes gritty look at rock musical

Jesus dies in the end. OK, let’s get that spoiler out in the open. Just as in the Gospels that it’s based upon, in the… Continue reading

Carolyn Norton, second from right, as King Herod, performs “King Herod’s Song” as Kyle Schneirder, right, as Jesus, watches during rehearsals last Friday for “Jesus Christ Superstar.” The musical opens 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Mariner Theatre in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News)
Kendall Dellasperanza’s fourth grade class from McNeil Canyon Elementary School prepares to scour a section of shoreline for trash Friday, Sept. 22 near Mariner Park in Homer. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News.)

CoastWalk cleans up beaches and monitors ecology

Students from McNeil Canyon Elementary School walking the Homer Spit beaches last Friday have become the latest generation of citizen scientists participating in CoastWalk, the… Continue reading

Kendall Dellasperanza’s fourth grade class from McNeil Canyon Elementary School prepares to scour a section of shoreline for trash Friday, Sept. 22 near Mariner Park in Homer. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News.)

Ethics complaint dismissed against Homer council members

Affirming what had been suspected happened when a Heartbeat of Homer spokesperson broke confidentiality, an ethics complaint against three Homer City Council members filed on… Continue reading

Homer firefighters knock down small wildfire

A small wildland fire in the hills above Shirley Court appears to have been started by some sort of accelerant, Homer Volunteer Fire Department Chief… Continue reading

Pink salmon swim up a drainage ditch at Beluga Slough on Thursday evening.

Pinks run in places never seen before in bay

All around Kachemak Bay the past weeks, people have reported large runs of pink salmon in places never seen before — at least in significant… Continue reading

Pink salmon swim up a drainage ditch at Beluga Slough on Thursday evening.
Recall opponent Alex Koplin, center, with blue sign, joins pro-recall supporters at WKFL Park about 11 a.m. Tuesday as citizens rallied on Pioneer Avenue to state their sides in the recall special election. (Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News)

APOC assesses penalty against Heartbeat of Homer

The Alaska Public Offices Commission has assessed a penalty of $725 against Heartbeat of Homer – Assembly Recall, the political group that registered to advocate… Continue reading

Recall opponent Alex Koplin, center, with blue sign, joins pro-recall supporters at WKFL Park about 11 a.m. Tuesday as citizens rallied on Pioneer Avenue to state their sides in the recall special election. (Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News)

Homer recall fails in final count

By vote margins of 223 or more, an attempted recall failed for Homer City Council members Donna Aderhold, David Lewis and Catriona Reynolds. In final… Continue reading

Recall appears to fail in Homer election; 800 votes still to be counted

A special election to recall three Homer City Council members who sponsored an “inclusivity” resolution appears to have failed. In preliminary results, the “no” votes… Continue reading

HEA members file complaint

Two Homer Electric Association members last week filed a complaint with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska regarding a petition by the Alaska Electric and Energy… Continue reading

Homer council takes steps to help homeless

Planning and zoning issues dominated discussion Monday night at the Homer City Council’s regular meeting. With temperatures falling earlier this month below zero, one proposed… Continue reading

Homer Animal Control Officer Sherry Bess holds Mylo, a dog found in Homer that she was trying to reunite with his owner.

Homer animal control officer to retire after 22 years

From a building smaller than a lot of Homer dry cabins to a modern, heated animal shelter, Animal Control Officer Sherry Bess has seen the… Continue reading

Homer Animal Control Officer Sherry Bess holds Mylo, a dog found in Homer that she was trying to reunite with his owner.