Michael Armstrong

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Lisa Stengel of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, weighs a halibut on Monday, July 12, 2021, at Coal Point Seafoods in Homer, Alaska, that she caught with a pole spear while free diving in Kachemak Bay. If verified, the 71.4-pound halibut would be the International Underwater Spearfishing Association world record for a Pacific halibut caught be a woman using a pole spear. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Florida woman sets record for halibut caught with a pole spear.

Stengel speared big halibut while free diving in Kachemak Bay.

 

Curtis Jackson, second from right, poses on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, with SVT Heath & Wellness Center health care workers in Jakolof Bay, Alaska, after making a trip across Kachemak Bay from Homer to deliver the medical team and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. From left to right are nurse Candice Kreger, family nurse practitioner Kourtney Holder, Jackson, and family nurse practitioner Julie Drude. The health care workers then went by road to Seldovia. (Photo by Janel Harris courtesy of Mako's Water Taxi)

‘Capt. Balto’ drives boat in rough seas to deliver vaccine, medical workers

In the spirit of the 1925 Nome Serum Run, Capt. Curtis Jackson helps deliver medical team, vaccine to remote Alaska village.

 

An illustration by David Brame for “Sanford Biggers: CODESWITCH,”created in collaboration with John Jennings. (Photo courtesy of David Brame)
Features

New Homer creator brings Afrofuturism to town

David Brame’s new graphic novel will be published in January

 

A group of veterans who participated in the 23rd Veteran trip to Homer, Alaska, pose at the Kilcher Family Homestead near Homer, Alaska, on the last day of the trip on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020. At far right, front, is Stellavera Kilcher, and third from right is Catkin Kilcher Burton, two of the Kilcher family members who participated in the visit. (Photo courtesy of 23rd Veteran)

Minnesota veterans find healing on Kilcher homestead

Retreat fulfills family dream of Kilcher homestead as transformative center

A group of veterans who participated in the 23rd Veteran trip to Homer, Alaska, pose at the Kilcher Family Homestead near Homer, Alaska, on the last day of the trip on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020. At far right, front, is Stellavera Kilcher, and third from right is Catkin Kilcher Burton, two of the Kilcher family members who participated in the visit. (Photo courtesy of 23rd Veteran)
Alaska State Troopers logo.

Homer woman charged in murder of Soldotna man

The victim, Keith Huss, 57, was found in Turnagain Pass

Alaska State Troopers logo.
A Homer Volunteer Fire Department emergency medical technician, left, assists a person who was involved in a boat capsizing, center, as they walk up the load-launch ramp on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, at the Homer Harbor in Homer, Alaska. The crew of the F/V Captain Cook helped rescue the person. The crew of the F/V Casino rescued the other two people who were aboard the 14-foot skiff when it capsized near the entrance of China Poot Bay. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

1 dead, 2 rescued after boat capsizes near Homer

HOMER — One person is dead and another two were rescued Wednesday from the waters of Kachemak Bay by commercial fishermen and a surfer when… Continue reading

A Homer Volunteer Fire Department emergency medical technician, left, assists a person who was involved in a boat capsizing, center, as they walk up the load-launch ramp on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, at the Homer Harbor in Homer, Alaska. The crew of the F/V Captain Cook helped rescue the person. The crew of the F/V Casino rescued the other two people who were aboard the 14-foot skiff when it capsized near the entrance of China Poot Bay. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
A bald eagle sits on top of a tsunami warning tower on the Homer Spit near Mariner Park on Tuesday morning, Sept. 2, 2014, after an error in the alert system caused a false tsunami warning. Towers like this situated in coastal Alaska towns are designed primarily to warn of tsunamis, but also can warn of other events, including possible nuclear missile attacks. (Homer News file photo by Michael Armstrong)

Could false nuke alert happen on the Kenai Peninsula?

HOMER — In September 2014, the National Weather System sent out a false tsunami alarm, triggering tsunami warning sirens in Homer. As happened last Saturday… Continue reading

A bald eagle sits on top of a tsunami warning tower on the Homer Spit near Mariner Park on Tuesday morning, Sept. 2, 2014, after an error in the alert system caused a false tsunami warning. Towers like this situated in coastal Alaska towns are designed primarily to warn of tsunamis, but also can warn of other events, including possible nuclear missile attacks. (Homer News file photo by Michael Armstrong)
The Roof of the Arctic group pose for a photo next to whale jaws. From left to right are Bj&

Couple completes first fat bike journey from Point Hope to Utqiagvik

HOMER — In the past 10 years since fat bikes have become popular for riding on beaches and snow in Alaska, people have regularly ridden… Continue reading

The Roof of the Arctic group pose for a photo next to whale jaws. From left to right are Bj&
The F/V Glacier works its way around ice clogging the east end of the Homer Harbor on Tuesday afternoon. (Michael A. Armstrong | Homer News)

Ice postpones winter king tournament

HOMER — Continued cold weather with excessive ice in the Homer Harbor has caused the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center to postpone for… Continue reading

The F/V Glacier works its way around ice clogging the east end of the Homer Harbor on Tuesday afternoon. (Michael A. Armstrong | Homer News)

Inclusivity measure in Homer faces backlash

A group of 10 Homer citizens on Monday filed an application for a recall petition against Homer City Council members Donna Aderhold, David Lewis and… Continue reading

In this May 23, 2015 photo, the welcome sign is displayed on the outskirts of Homer. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press file)

Homer rejects inclusivity measure

HOMER — The Club Bar incident. Removing the Veterans Memorial from WKFL Park. Nuclear Free Homer. Annexation. Banning commercial cannabis. In the 53-year history of the… Continue reading

In this May 23, 2015 photo, the welcome sign is displayed on the outskirts of Homer. (Mark Thiessen | The Associated Press file)
Jim Rearden in 1955 with a Dall sheep he hunted in the Brooks Range. (Courtesy photo)

Legendary Homer writer, scientist Rearden dies

HOMER — Writer, photographer, editor, professor, biologist, outdoorsman, scholar, veteran, Alaskan and family man: In the history of Alaska’s post-World War II generation that came… Continue reading

Jim Rearden in 1955 with a Dall sheep he hunted in the Brooks Range. (Courtesy photo)
Sherry Bess is retiring after 22 years as Homer's animal control officer.

After 27 years of caring for Homer’s strays, Bess is taking some time off

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

Sherry Bess is retiring after 22 years as Homer's animal control officer.
Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion A woman shows off a ring made out of crochet yarn by one of her fellow inmates during a session of the Wildwood Correctional Complex's crochet program Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016 in the center's pretrial facility in Kenai, Alaska.

Crocheting together for help, hope at Kenai prison

HOMER — In the fiber art of crocheting, yarn gets connected together by making loops with a hook — “crochet” means “small hook” in French.… Continue reading

Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion A woman shows off a ring made out of crochet yarn by one of her fellow inmates during a session of the Wildwood Correctional Complex's crochet program Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016 in the center's pretrial facility in Kenai, Alaska.
Lee John Henry attends his arraignment on first-degree murder in the Homer Courtroom on Monday. Homer Police on Sunday arrested Henry in the death of Mark Matthews, then 61, killed off the Poopdeck Trail on July 28, 2013.

Homer police charge man, 55, in 3-year-old murder case

HOMER — Homer police on Sunday arrested a Homer man in a three-year-old murder case.Lee John Henry, 55, was arraigned in Homer court Monday for… Continue reading

Lee John Henry attends his arraignment on first-degree murder in the Homer Courtroom on Monday. Homer Police on Sunday arrested Henry in the death of Mark Matthews, then 61, killed off the Poopdeck Trail on July 28, 2013.

Appeals court reverses Homer pot conviction

HOMER — The Court of Appeals has reversed a conviction for marijuana possession against a homeless Homer man.In a decision released Sept. 14, the court… Continue reading

The front entrance and parking lot to the Homer Police Station on Heath Street downhill from Homer High School.

Homer votes on new police station

HOMER — In considering Homer Proposition 1, a proposal to borrow up to $12 million to build a new Homer Police Station, the controversy isn’t… Continue reading

The front entrance and parking lot to the Homer Police Station on Heath Street downhill from Homer High School.
Mavis Muller, left, directs a crew of volunteer artists Monday at construction of this year's Burning Basket, Expand, at Mariner Park.

Homer’s Burning Basket vandalized

HOMER — For the second year in a row, a vandal or vandals snuck in at dark and tried to burn the Burning Basket at… Continue reading

Mavis Muller, left, directs a crew of volunteer artists Monday at construction of this year's Burning Basket, Expand, at Mariner Park.
Jennifer Wambach holds a Steller's jay that was shot with a blowgun dart. Veterinarians Dr. Ralph Broshes and Dr. Dorothy Sherwood removed the dart from the jay, as well as another jay shot with a dart. Both jays were released back into the wild.

Retired Homer vet rescues darted Steller’s jays

HOMER — Two Steller’s jays trying to fatten up for the winter almost met an early end last week. Someone in downtown Homer shot the… Continue reading

Jennifer Wambach holds a Steller's jay that was shot with a blowgun dart. Veterinarians Dr. Ralph Broshes and Dr. Dorothy Sherwood removed the dart from the jay, as well as another jay shot with a dart. Both jays were released back into the wild.

Homer bans pets in back of pickups

HOMER — Homer has made amendments to the city’s animal control laws that ban a practice some might think of as Alaskan as log cabins… Continue reading