Keith McCullagh is photographed poling a raft down the Kenai River in 1911 during a forest survey. (U.S. Forestry Department photo by John “Jack” Brown)

Mostly separate lives: The union and disunion of Nellie and Keith — Part 3

As Keith McCullagh sailed home from Europe in the spring of 1926, he may have believed himself on top of the world.

Keith McCullagh is photographed poling a raft down the Kenai River in 1911 during a forest survey. (U.S. Forestry Department photo by John “Jack” Brown)
Nick Varney

Unhinged Alaska: Trouble brews with Super Bowl approach

This annual dementia is preceded by enough warning signals that some spouses have been known to charter weekend flights to remote Peruvian temples.

Nick Varney
A copy of “The Ghost of the Kenai” stands on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion newsroom in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: A haunting close to home

New novel tells human story brought to life by ghosts and Russian colonizers.

A copy of “The Ghost of the Kenai” stands on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion newsroom in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
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Hoagie rolls for the heart

These little loaves are perfect for eating with one hand while you save yourself with the other.

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Collecting Homer history

Local resident Tim Hatfield is a saver of artifacts from Homer’s past

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Minister’s Message: Let’s get ready to …

The word, “fight,” usually conjures up aggression and conflict in a negative way.

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Nellie McCullagh feeds a pen-raised fox on her family’s farm in Kachemak Bay, in 1922. (Photo courtesy of the Peggy Arness Collection)

Mostly separate lives: The union and disunion of Nellie and Keith — Part 2

By this point their lives were beginning to diverge.

Nellie McCullagh feeds a pen-raised fox on her family’s farm in Kachemak Bay, in 1922. (Photo courtesy of the Peggy Arness Collection)
Timothée Chalamet is Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.” (Promotional photo courtesy Searchlight Pictures)

On the Screen: A known ‘Unknown’

Dylan biopic lets the lyrics do the talking

Timothée Chalamet is Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.” (Promotional photo courtesy Searchlight Pictures)
This vegetable minestrone soup is satisfying, nutritious and comes together fast. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Vegetable minestrone fuels fast-paced days skiing and learning

I’ll be relying on my crockpot to help us get through our busiest time of year.

This vegetable minestrone soup is satisfying, nutritious and comes together fast. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
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Minister’s Message: Being a person of integrity and truth

Integrity and truth telling are at the core of Christian living.

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Nellie Dee “Jean” Crabb as a young woman. (Public photo from ancestry.com)

Mostly separate lives: The union and disunion of Nellie and Keith — Part 1

It was an auspicious start, full of good cheer and optimism.

Nellie Dee “Jean” Crabb as a young woman. (Public photo from ancestry.com)
This hearty and warm split pea soup uses bacon instead of ham or can be made vegan. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Hearty split pea soup warms frigid January days

This soup is nutritious and mild and a perfect way to show yourself some kindness.

This hearty and warm split pea soup uses bacon instead of ham or can be made vegan. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Photo by Christina Whiting
Selections from the 2025 Lit Lineup are lined up on a shelf at the Homer Public Library on Friday, Jan. 3.

A new Lit Lineup

Homer Public Library’s annual Lit Lineup encourages year-round reading.

Photo by Christina Whiting
Selections from the 2025 Lit Lineup are lined up on a shelf at the Homer Public Library on Friday, Jan. 3.
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A copy of “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” rests on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion newsroom in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.

Off the Shelf: ‘Anxious Generation’ underserves conversations about cellphones

The book has been cited in recent school board discussions over cellphone policies.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A copy of “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” rests on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion newsroom in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025.
Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)

Life in the Pedestrian Lane: More of the same?

I have no particular expectations for the New Year

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
Mitch Gyde drowned not far from this cabin, known as the Cliff House, on upper Tustumena Lake in September 1975. (Photo courtesy of the Fair Family Collection)

The 2 most deadly years — Part 8

The two most deadly years for people on or near Tustumena Lake were 1965 and 1975

Mitch Gyde drowned not far from this cabin, known as the Cliff House, on upper Tustumena Lake in September 1975. (Photo courtesy of the Fair Family Collection)
”Window to the Soul” by Bryan Olds is displayed as part of “Kinetic” at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Movement on display

Kenai Art Center’s January show, ‘Kinetic,’ opens Friday

”Window to the Soul” by Bryan Olds is displayed as part of “Kinetic” at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
These savory dumplings are delicious steamed, boiled, deep fried, or pan fried and are excellent in soups or added to a bowl of ramen. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)

Facing the new year one dumpling at a time

I completed another impossibly huge task this weekend and made hundreds of wontons by hand to serve our large family

These savory dumplings are delicious steamed, boiled, deep fried, or pan fried and are excellent in soups or added to a bowl of ramen. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Spencer Linderman was a game biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game in 1975 when he and pilot Robin Johnson crashed while flying a goat survey in a glacial valley near upper Tustumena Lake. Neither man survived. (Photo from a eulogy in the Homer News)

The 2 most deadly years — Part 7

The two most deadly years for people on or near Tustumena Lake were 1965 and 1975

Spencer Linderman was a game biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game in 1975 when he and pilot Robin Johnson crashed while flying a goat survey in a glacial valley near upper Tustumena Lake. Neither man survived. (Photo from a eulogy in the Homer News)
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Minister’s Message: The song of the season

There is another song of the season that the Gospel writer Luke records in the first chapter of his book

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