Michael Armstrong

Sara Berg, right, talks with artist Brad Hughes, left, at Hughes’ Homer, Alaska, studio in June 2021 about the Loved & Lost Memorial Bench project Berg and other family and friends of Anesha Murnane commissioned to honor Murnane and other missing woman and children. (Photo by Christina Whiting)

Missing Homer woman presumed dead

A six-person jury determined Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, then 38, died of a homicide.

Sara Berg, right, talks with artist Brad Hughes, left, at Hughes’ Homer, Alaska, studio in June 2021 about the Loved & Lost Memorial Bench project Berg and other family and friends of Anesha Murnane commissioned to honor Murnane and other missing woman and children. (Photo by Christina Whiting)
A registered nurse prepares a COVID-19 vaccine at the pop-up clinic on the Spit on May 27. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Tracking vaccine rates presents challenges

DHSS only last month began sorting vaccination rates at the community level.

A registered nurse prepares a COVID-19 vaccine at the pop-up clinic on the Spit on May 27. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
Kayakers paddle across Kenai Lake on Saturday, June 12, 2021, near Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Out of the Office: Camping goals: Turn off the demands of work

‘Stand and stare’ a good motto for becoming a power camper.

Kayakers paddle across Kenai Lake on Saturday, June 12, 2021, near Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
This photo illustration shows the design of Argent Kvasnikoff’s “Tuyanitun Tuggeht” sculpture to be installed at Bishop’s Beach in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Argent Kvasnikoff and Bunnell Street Arts Center)

New monumental sculpture shows Dena’ina wayfinding

Ninilchik artist Argent Kvasnikoff’s ‘Tuyanitun: Tuggeht’ will be installed at Tuggeht — Bishop’s Beach.

This photo illustration shows the design of Argent Kvasnikoff’s “Tuyanitun Tuggeht” sculpture to be installed at Bishop’s Beach in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of Argent Kvasnikoff and Bunnell Street Arts Center)
Smoke from the Kalsin Creek Fire on Kodiak Island is seen from this aerial photo taken Saturday, June 5, 2021. The Alaska Division of Forestry responded to slew of fires in the Kenai-Kodiak region over the weekend. (Duane Morris/Division of Forestry courtesy photo)

Firefighters stop 2 Homer-area wildland fires

Large green lawn around one home kept fire from spreading on Saturday.

Smoke from the Kalsin Creek Fire on Kodiak Island is seen from this aerial photo taken Saturday, June 5, 2021. The Alaska Division of Forestry responded to slew of fires in the Kenai-Kodiak region over the weekend. (Duane Morris/Division of Forestry courtesy photo)
Photos by Michael Armstrong / Homer News
Mary Beth Leigh, director of the Microbial Worlds project, stands next to the exhibit on June 4 at the Pratt Museum & Park in Homer. The exhibit shows through the summer of 2021. Left, “Emergence,” by Nancy Hausle-Johnson.

‘Microbial World’ blends science, art

Exhibit postponed by the pandemic opens at Pratt Museum & Park in Homer.

Photos by Michael Armstrong / Homer News
Mary Beth Leigh, director of the Microbial Worlds project, stands next to the exhibit on June 4 at the Pratt Museum & Park in Homer. The exhibit shows through the summer of 2021. Left, “Emergence,” by Nancy Hausle-Johnson.
Sarah Knapp / Homer News
Alaska Chief Medical Officer Anne Zink, M.D., left, poses for a selfie with Kelly Bolt, right, and Debbie Gardner, who work at WIC, at a meet-and-greet on Thursday, May 27, at the Homer Public Health Center in Homer.

Dr. Zink visits Homer

Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer holds meet-and-greet, visits pop-up clinic on Spit.

Sarah Knapp / Homer News
Alaska Chief Medical Officer Anne Zink, M.D., left, poses for a selfie with Kelly Bolt, right, and Debbie Gardner, who work at WIC, at a meet-and-greet on Thursday, May 27, at the Homer Public Health Center in Homer.
This photo taken Beryl Air pilot Stephanie Greer on Friday, May 21, over Grewingk Glacier and Glacier Spit shows the mesodinium rubrum bloom to the left as contrasted with the normal ocean water of Kachemak Bay near Homer. (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Greer/Beryl Air)

Plankton bloom brings red hues to Kachemak Bay

Though plankton turned Kachemak Bay pale red, the bloom isn’t harmful, scientists say.

This photo taken Beryl Air pilot Stephanie Greer on Friday, May 21, over Grewingk Glacier and Glacier Spit shows the mesodinium rubrum bloom to the left as contrasted with the normal ocean water of Kachemak Bay near Homer. (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Greer/Beryl Air)
People walk through a pared down version of the Homer Farmers Market on Saturday, May 30, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Homer Farmers Market reopens with new director, more booths

Changes include new market director, relaxation of COVID-19 safety policies and return of craft and hot-foot vendors.

People walk through a pared down version of the Homer Farmers Market on Saturday, May 30, 2020 in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Blogtrepreneur/Flickr photo

COVID-19 resources not affected by malware attack

COVID-19 vaccine appointment scheduling and the data dashboards can still be accessed through covid19.alaska.gov.

Blogtrepreneur/Flickr photo
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)
This screenshot from the Kachemak Bay Writers' Conference website shows the faculty who will be attending the conference, held virtually May 15-18. From left to right, top row, are Francisco Cantu, Victoria Chang, Ernestine Hayes, and Brandon Hobson. From left to right, bottom row, are Anis Mojgani, Marie Mutsuki Mockett and Vera Starbard.

Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference includes readings for the public

After hiatus, annual event back as program transitions out of pandemic

This screenshot from the Kachemak Bay Writers' Conference website shows the faculty who will be attending the conference, held virtually May 15-18. From left to right, top row, are Francisco Cantu, Victoria Chang, Ernestine Hayes, and Brandon Hobson. From left to right, bottom row, are Anis Mojgani, Marie Mutsuki Mockett and Vera Starbard.
On Monday, the final day of the May long weekend, Harri Herter from Kamloops takes turns and gives friends thrilling jetski rides on little Shuswap Lake. - Image credit: Rick Koch photo.

Lawsuit challenges Jet Ski use in bay

Coalition of environmental groups says Fish and Game’s process to rescind JetSki ban was illegal

On Monday, the final day of the May long weekend, Harri Herter from Kamloops takes turns and gives friends thrilling jetski rides on little Shuswap Lake. - Image credit: Rick Koch photo.
A Remington Deluxe Model 5 manual typewriter. (Homer News file photo)

Editorial: The pandemic is not yet behind us

Objects may be closer than they appear — the pandemic is not behind us

A Remington Deluxe Model 5 manual typewriter. (Homer News file photo)
The cover of Anne Coray's novel, "Lost Mountain."

Review: New novel set near fictional Pebble Mine

Coray’s ‘Lost Mountain’ looks at personal, community conflict in setting where a large mine might happen.

The cover of Anne Coray's novel, "Lost Mountain."
Andrew Marley, the 2021 Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament winner, at left, holds his prize winning 25.62-pound white king salmon on Saturday, April 17, 2021, on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. Helping him are his father, Jay Marley, center, and older brother Weston Marley, right. The family team included Erica Marley, not shown, all fishing on the Fly Dough. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

10-year-old takes home $87,000 for top fish in Homer tourney

‘Quite a bit of that is going to go to college tuition,’ dad says of son’s earnings

Andrew Marley, the 2021 Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament winner, at left, holds his prize winning 25.62-pound white king salmon on Saturday, April 17, 2021, on the Homer Spit in Homer, Alaska. Helping him are his father, Jay Marley, center, and older brother Weston Marley, right. The family team included Erica Marley, not shown, all fishing on the Fly Dough. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
The top three fish of the 2018 Winter King Salmon Tournament hang on a wall before a closing ceremony announcing the winners on March 24, 2018 on the Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament returns this Saturday

After one-year hiatus, winter king tournament is back with COVID safety restrictions

The top three fish of the 2018 Winter King Salmon Tournament hang on a wall before a closing ceremony announcing the winners on March 24, 2018 on the Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
The cover of Larry Baxter's novel, "Abandoned." (Photo by McKibben Jackinsky)

New book looks at legend of Alaska’s ‘Nantiinaq,’ or ‘giant hairy thing’

The possibility of the existence of Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, took root in young Baxter.

The cover of Larry Baxter's novel, "Abandoned." (Photo by McKibben Jackinsky)
Michael Armstrong is properly outfitted for an Arctic summer hiking trip in this photo taken in 1989 along the Wulik River in northeastern Alaska. (Photo by Charles Barnwell.)

Out of the Office: Living in Alaska is a lifetime in learning

From boots to parkas, there’s lots to figure out about surviving in the Last Frontier

Michael Armstrong is properly outfitted for an Arctic summer hiking trip in this photo taken in 1989 along the Wulik River in northeastern Alaska. (Photo by Charles Barnwell.)
Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, speaks at a town hall meeting on Monday, March 29, 2021, at Captain’s Coffee in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

‘Sip with Sarah’ at coffee shop covers topics from budget to pandemic response

Vance affirms support for rural DMV offices, opposes emergency declaration

Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, speaks at a town hall meeting on Monday, March 29, 2021, at Captain’s Coffee in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)