Homer

Emergency personnel respond to a fire on R/V Qualifier, in the Northern Enterprises Boatyard on Kachemak Drive, Jan. 19, 2023, in Homer, Alaska. (Photos by Nika Wolfe)

Research vessel catches fire in Homer boatyard

The cause of the fire and extent of the damage is not yet known

Emergency personnel respond to a fire on R/V Qualifier, in the Northern Enterprises Boatyard on Kachemak Drive, Jan. 19, 2023, in Homer, Alaska. (Photos by Nika Wolfe)
Library Director Dave Berry and Advisory Board Chair Kate Finn participate in Library Advisory Board meeting on Tuesday Jan. 17, 2023, at Homer City Hall, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Emilie Springer/Homer News)

Homer Library Advisory Board upholds decision to retain LGBTQ+ books

A citizen’s group last year submitted a petition asking that the books be removed from the children’s section

Library Director Dave Berry and Advisory Board Chair Kate Finn participate in Library Advisory Board meeting on Tuesday Jan. 17, 2023, at Homer City Hall, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Emilie Springer/Homer News)
South Peninsula Hospital employees remove COVID-19 testing signs from South Peninsula Hospital test site Friday Jan. 13, 2023. (Photo from Derotha Ferraro/South Peninsula Hospital)

South Peninsula Hospital closes COVID test and vaccine site

In its peak, the test and vaccine site employed 15 people, and was averaging 100-150 swabs a day

South Peninsula Hospital employees remove COVID-19 testing signs from South Peninsula Hospital test site Friday Jan. 13, 2023. (Photo from Derotha Ferraro/South Peninsula Hospital)
Ryce-Tovar sketches “The Eagle” in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided by Ryce-Tovar)

‘Gentle’ tarot deck tells a story with Alaska’s nature

The deck includes images gathered during summer spent as a technician in Alaska Fish and Wildlife field camps

Ryce-Tovar sketches “The Eagle” in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided by Ryce-Tovar)
Lucas Wilcox at the Homer Public Library, Homer, Alaska, Dec. 7, 2022. (Photo by Christina Whiting/Homer News)

Homer man on a mission to share hot meals

Altruist Relief Kitchen serves free hot food to nearby residents and refugees

Lucas Wilcox at the Homer Public Library, Homer, Alaska, Dec. 7, 2022. (Photo by Christina Whiting/Homer News)
Martine Cyriacks Sorensen poses in her store, Faux Ever Green, on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, on East End Road in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Emilie Springer/Homer News)

Faux Ever Green finds seasonal home

Mission: to keep items out of landfills.

Martine Cyriacks Sorensen poses in her store, Faux Ever Green, on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, on East End Road in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Emilie Springer/Homer News)
Homer News Editor Michael Armstrong, left, and Senior Reporter Emilie Springer pose for a photo on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, at the paper offices in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke/Homer News)

Homer News editor Armstrong will retire

Armstrong started working at the Homer News in 1999

Homer News Editor Michael Armstrong, left, and Senior Reporter Emilie Springer pose for a photo on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, at the paper offices in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke/Homer News)
A mock-up of an A-Frame property that would be located across the street from the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies Wynn Nature Center and used by the Homer Forest Charter School shows places for classroom yurts, a dormitory and kitchen, a parking area with bus parking and staff housing. The configuration was presented Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School Board of Education. (Via Homer Forest Charter School presentation to school board)

Efforts to open K-8 nature school in Homer delayed

Charter organizers proposed changing the school’s opening date from 2023 to 2024

A mock-up of an A-Frame property that would be located across the street from the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies Wynn Nature Center and used by the Homer Forest Charter School shows places for classroom yurts, a dormitory and kitchen, a parking area with bus parking and staff housing. The configuration was presented Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School Board of Education. (Via Homer Forest Charter School presentation to school board)
Some of the Homer Public Library books a citizens group has asked be removed from the children’s section lie on a table at the meeting of the Library Advisory Board on Nov. 15, 2022, in the Cowles Council Chambers at Homer City Hall in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Testimony on LGQBT+ library books runs 4 hours

Library board will consider issue at its Jan. 17 meeting.

Some of the Homer Public Library books a citizens group has asked be removed from the children’s section lie on a table at the meeting of the Library Advisory Board on Nov. 15, 2022, in the Cowles Council Chambers at Homer City Hall in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Homer Forest School logo. (Image from Homer Forest School draft charter)

Homer group envisions school in nature

Homer Forest School would offer KPBSD students a learning model focused on immersion in the outdoors

Homer Forest School logo. (Image from Homer Forest School draft charter)
Signs in honor of Duffy Murnane were available for people to hold while retracing her last known steps during the memorial walk on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2021. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)

Man accused in Homer death extradited to Alaska

Kirby Calderwood is accused of killing Anesha “Duffy” Murnane

Signs in honor of Duffy Murnane were available for people to hold while retracing her last known steps during the memorial walk on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2021. (Photo by Sarah Knapp/Homer News)
Carla Klinker Cope, far left, and Nadia Jackinski-Sethi, center, co-curators of thethe Pratt Museum & Park's show "Salmon Culture: Kachemak Bay Connections," discuss the show in a talk on Friday, Nov. 3, 2022, at the museum. (Photo by Christina Whiting)

Pratt exhibits celebrate salmon

Art exhibits show how salmon connect us to one another and to place

Carla Klinker Cope, far left, and Nadia Jackinski-Sethi, center, co-curators of thethe Pratt Museum & Park's show "Salmon Culture: Kachemak Bay Connections," discuss the show in a talk on Friday, Nov. 3, 2022, at the museum. (Photo by Christina Whiting)
A recent photo of Anesha "Duffy" Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided, Homer Police Department)
A photo of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. Kirby Calderwood, 32, of Ogden, Utah, is charged in the murder and kidnapping of Murnane. (Photo provided, Homer Police Department)

Calderwood to be extradited to Alaska

Man accused of killing Anesha “Duffy” Murnane pleads guilty to Utah charges, will come back to Alaska.

A recent photo of Anesha "Duffy" Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo provided, Homer Police Department)
A photo of Anesha “Duffy” Murnane, missing since Oct. 17, 2019, in Homer, Alaska. Kirby Calderwood, 32, of Ogden, Utah, is charged in the murder and kidnapping of Murnane. (Photo provided, Homer Police Department)
Martha Story and David Story cruise down a hill in the Fat Freddie’s Bike Race and Ramble on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, in the Caribou Hills near Freddie’s Roadhouse. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Snomads to maintain more of Watermelon Trail

The group applied for an easement with the State of Alaska

Martha Story and David Story cruise down a hill in the Fat Freddie’s Bike Race and Ramble on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, in the Caribou Hills near Freddie’s Roadhouse. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Candidates for Alaska State House District 6 Ginger Bryant, on screen, left, and Louie Flora, on screen, right, participate remotely in a forum held at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Southern peninsula House candidates Zoom into Monday forum

Nonpartisan candidates Ginger Bryant and Louie Flora participated

Candidates for Alaska State House District 6 Ginger Bryant, on screen, left, and Louie Flora, on screen, right, participate remotely in a forum held at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Film fans enjoy reindeer sausages and hot dogs at the gala opening of the Homer Documentary Film Festival last Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Homer Theatre. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Homer Film Fest winners named

The festival spanned a week, Sept. 22 through Sept. 29

Film fans enjoy reindeer sausages and hot dogs at the gala opening of the Homer Documentary Film Festival last Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Homer Theatre. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Tom Kizzia poses with a stack of his book, “Cold Mountain Path,” on Sept. 1, 2021. (Photo provided)
Tom Kizzia poses with a stack of his book, “Cold Mountain Path,” on Sept. 1, 2021. (Photo provided)
Artists Erik Behnke and Teresa Aldridge at their First Friday opening of Our Town, Oct. 7, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Christina Whiting/Homer News)

The art of ‘Our Town’

Local artists collaborate with a colorful exhibit of Homer’s iconic buildings and architecture

Artists Erik Behnke and Teresa Aldridge at their First Friday opening of Our Town, Oct. 7, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Christina Whiting/Homer News)
The Kevin Bell Arena ice rink nears completion on Sept. 29, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. The Homer Hockey Association announced Wednesday that the arena was closed indefinitely due to insufficient insurance coverage. (Photo by Charlie Menke/ Homer News)

Homer hockey arena closed due to insufficient insurance

The board of directors discovered that their liability insurance policy is inactive

The Kevin Bell Arena ice rink nears completion on Sept. 29, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. The Homer Hockey Association announced Wednesday that the arena was closed indefinitely due to insufficient insurance coverage. (Photo by Charlie Menke/ Homer News)
The Homer Police Station, as seen Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News file)

Homer teen arrested after school shooting threat

Police received a tip from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Anchorage office

The Homer Police Station, as seen Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News file)