Michael Armstrong

From left to right: Anna DeVolld, Rachel Sallaffie, John Green, Carl Schrader and Nona Safra were honored at an awards ceremony in Anchorage on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, by Gov. and First Lady Dunleavy. Schrader, a Juneau resident, was honored for his work in hospice care. (Courtesy photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)

Dunleavy appoints peninsula residents to boards, commissions

Volunteer of the Year Safra is appointed to Commission on Aging

From left to right: Anna DeVolld, Rachel Sallaffie, John Green, Carl Schrader and Nona Safra were honored at an awards ceremony in Anchorage on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, by Gov. and First Lady Dunleavy. Schrader, a Juneau resident, was honored for his work in hospice care. (Courtesy photo / Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy)
A diagram presented by Teresa Jacobson Gregory illustrates the proposed extension of the Beachcomber LLC gravel pit and the impact it may have on the surrounding state recreation area. The red markers indicate the current gravel mining area, and the orange represents the area the extension may allow for mining if approved. (Image courtesy Teresa Jacobson Gregory)

KPB Assembly to consider gravel-pit ordinance revisions

Proposed gravel pit ordinance follows Superior Court ruling that planning commission can deny permits.

A diagram presented by Teresa Jacobson Gregory illustrates the proposed extension of the Beachcomber LLC gravel pit and the impact it may have on the surrounding state recreation area. The red markers indicate the current gravel mining area, and the orange represents the area the extension may allow for mining if approved. (Image courtesy Teresa Jacobson Gregory)
Visitors put on personal protective equipment before an artist talk by Dr. Sami Ali' at the Jan. 7, 2022, First Friday opening of her exhibit, "The Mind of a Healthcare Worker During the COVID-19 Pandemic," at the Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

ER doctor’s paintings follow passage of pandemic

Dr. Sami Ali made 2019 resolution to paint every day — and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Visitors put on personal protective equipment before an artist talk by Dr. Sami Ali' at the Jan. 7, 2022, First Friday opening of her exhibit, "The Mind of a Healthcare Worker During the COVID-19 Pandemic," at the Homer Council on the Arts in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Rep. Sarah Vance hosts a town hall meeting at Captain’s Coffee to discuss her priorities for the upcoming legislative session. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Stevens, Vance reach out to constituents

Sen. Stevens and Rep. Vance hold meetings before heading to Juneau for start of session.

Rep. Sarah Vance hosts a town hall meeting at Captain’s Coffee to discuss her priorities for the upcoming legislative session. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
Megan Pacer / Homer News
Artist Asia Freeman, third from left, speaks to visitors on Nov. 1, 2019, at a First Friday art exhibit opening at Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer.

Freeman wins Governor’s Arts Humanities Award

Bunnell Street Arts Center artistic director is one of nine honored.

Megan Pacer / Homer News
Artist Asia Freeman, third from left, speaks to visitors on Nov. 1, 2019, at a First Friday art exhibit opening at Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer.
Spencer Kuan Co. (Photo by Kammi Matson)

Homer High student gets perfect score on AP Computer Science test

Spencer C0’s score puts him in top .29% of test takers worldwide

Spencer Kuan Co. (Photo by Kammi Matson)
Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News
Kim McNett’s exhibit at Bunnell Street Arts Center features original art and prints from her nature journals, as well as the original journals.

Artist, naturalist finishes Bunnell residency

McNett uses as her subject the environment of Alaska and the Kenai Peninsula.

Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News
Kim McNett’s exhibit at Bunnell Street Arts Center features original art and prints from her nature journals, as well as the original journals.
The Homer Police Station as seen Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Man killed in Tuesday crash

Single-vehicle crash on Sterling Highway killed Drew Brown, 25, after he was thrown from truck.

The Homer Police Station as seen Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
This chart in the Dec. 13, 2021, Homer City Manager’s Report shows a general increasing trend for third-quarter sales tax revenues. Revenues declined for 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but set a record for 20201. (Chart by City of Homer Finance Department)

Homer sets record for sales tax revenues

Third-quarter sales taxes are 85% of projected revenues for budget.

This chart in the Dec. 13, 2021, Homer City Manager’s Report shows a general increasing trend for third-quarter sales tax revenues. Revenues declined for 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but set a record for 20201. (Chart by City of Homer Finance Department)
Homer Volunteer Fire Department firefighters respond to a natural gasline break on Lake Street at the Beluga Lake causeway at about 12:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Gasline break shuts down Homer street

Road over lake was closed in both directions.

Homer Volunteer Fire Department firefighters respond to a natural gasline break on Lake Street at the Beluga Lake causeway at about 12:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Ash Naderhoff, center, pointing, shows the rest of the team the spot where he witnessed the mysterious figure that morning and documented its scat in the woods. (Courtesy Photo by Daniel Lennon/Discovery+)

New reality-TV show explores Nantinaq stories

Series follows 40-day expedition to Port Chatham in search of mysterious Bigfoot-like creature.

Ash Naderhoff, center, pointing, shows the rest of the team the spot where he witnessed the mysterious figure that morning and documented its scat in the woods. (Courtesy Photo by Daniel Lennon/Discovery+)
The cover of Madeline A. Hawthorne’s “A Christmas Parade,” published by Olympia Publishing.

‘A Christmas Parade’ is local author’s first book

Just in time for Christmas, a new Homer writer and artist has published her first book. Bumblebee Books, an imprint of Olympia Publishers, London, United… Continue reading

The cover of Madeline A. Hawthorne’s “A Christmas Parade,” published by Olympia Publishing.
Snow on Heath Street is blown into a truck, which will later be dumped near Public Works. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Storm wallops Homer

Blizzard clogged roads, shut down school and buried southern peninsula.

Snow on Heath Street is blown into a truck, which will later be dumped near Public Works. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
A school closure announcement from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District was issued Monday, Dec. 6, 2021.
A school closure announcement from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District was issued Monday, Dec. 6, 2021.
The new Homer Police Station, as seen Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. Members of the Homer Police Department officially moved into the building on Thursday. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

K-9 trooper team finds lost girl

A 12-year-old girl, poorly dressed for the elements, ran away from her downtown Homer home.

The new Homer Police Station, as seen Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. Members of the Homer Police Department officially moved into the building on Thursday. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Michael Armstrong and his dog Leia harvest a Christmas tree in December 2013 on his land on Diamond Ridge near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Jenny Stroyeck)

Out of the Office: For Alaska Bush cred, head out and harvest a Christmas tree

If you don’t have your own tree lot, harvest trees on public lands.

Michael Armstrong and his dog Leia harvest a Christmas tree in December 2013 on his land on Diamond Ridge near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Jenny Stroyeck)
Democratic Party candidate for governor Les Gara attends a Zoom meeting with Homer residents on Nov. 18, 2021, from his Anchorage, Alaska, home. (Screen capture)

Gara makes election pitch to Homer

Democratic Party candidate for governor Gara visits virtually.

Democratic Party candidate for governor Les Gara attends a Zoom meeting with Homer residents on Nov. 18, 2021, from his Anchorage, Alaska, home. (Screen capture)
Family practice physician Christina Tuomi, D.O., (right) gets Homer’s first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine from Emergency Department nurse Steve Hughes (left) on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska. Tuomi has been the hospital’s medical lead throughout the pandemic. (Photo courtesy Derotha Ferraro/South Peninsula Hospital)

Feds issue vaccine mandate to health care workers; Dunleavy joins lawsuit against the rule

Rule by CMS applies to hospitals, rural health clinics, community mental health centers.

Family practice physician Christina Tuomi, D.O., (right) gets Homer’s first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine from Emergency Department nurse Steve Hughes (left) on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska. Tuomi has been the hospital’s medical lead throughout the pandemic. (Photo courtesy Derotha Ferraro/South Peninsula Hospital)
Shelli and Mike Gordon pose in October 2011 at their Halibut Cove, Alaska, home in an Alaska Gothic version of Grant Wood’s “American Gothic” painting. (Photo courtesy of Mike Gordon)

‘Dagnabit’ features tales of ’80s wild Alaska

Gordon’s second book also tells of Ruben Gaines, creator of Chilkoot Charlie.

Shelli and Mike Gordon pose in October 2011 at their Halibut Cove, Alaska, home in an Alaska Gothic version of Grant Wood’s “American Gothic” painting. (Photo courtesy of Mike Gordon)
A map of Kachemak Bay State Park showing proposed land additions A, B and C in House Bill 52 and the Tutka Bay Lagoon Hatchery. (Map courtesy of Alaska State Parks)

‘Cure’ sought for Tutka Bay hatchery land issue

HB 52 would take hatchery out of Kachemak State Park and add also lands to park.

A map of Kachemak Bay State Park showing proposed land additions A, B and C in House Bill 52 and the Tutka Bay Lagoon Hatchery. (Map courtesy of Alaska State Parks)