News

Port Graham resident Ryan Meganack’s makeshift camp, about 400 feet from his mother’s home in the village across Kachemak Bay from Homer, where he was found and arrested in Dec. 2016. (Photo courtesy U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska)
Crime

Port Graham man sentenced for faking own death, causing expensive search response

A man who faked his own death in 2016 to avoid a court appearance and triggered an expensive and needless search and rescue operation has… Continue reading

 

<span class="neFMT neFMT_PhotoCredit">Homer News file photo</span> Homer City Manager Katie Koester.

Homer city manager’s contract renewed

Homer City Manager Katie Koester recently got the stamp of approval to continue her work for another four years. Her next contract was signed by… Continue reading

 

Veterans from several area outfits participate in a Veterans Day celebration Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017 in front of the Islands and Oceans Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Veterans Day celebration is Sunday; day marks 100th anniversary of end of WWI

On the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, Veterans Day ceremonies start at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, at the Homer Emblem… Continue reading

 

Photos: Rotary Health Fair

By Megan Pacer Homer News… Continue reading

Green Elephant Gardens gardener Scott Jones cares for a marijuana plant on Green Elephant’s first day of operation in June 2017. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire file)

Two years on, Alaska’s marijuana industry keeps growing

October collections might set a new record.

Green Elephant Gardens gardener Scott Jones cares for a marijuana plant on Green Elephant’s first day of operation in June 2017. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire file)

Democrats seize House control, but Trump’s GOP holds Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats seized the House majority from President Donald Trump’s Republican Party on Tuesday in a suburban revolt that threatened what’s left of… Continue reading

<span class="neFMT neFMT_PhotoCredit">Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion</span> Parents, teachers, staff and concerned public gather at the Kenai Central High School library to listen to Superintendent Sean Dusek and Assistant Superintendent Dave Jones discuss the future Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget on Tuesday in Kenai.

District begins future budget development with public input

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is already breaking ground on their upcoming budget development — and is getting the community involved. Superintendent Sean Dusek… Continue reading

<span class="neFMT neFMT_PhotoCredit">Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion</span> Parents, teachers, staff and concerned public gather at the Kenai Central High School library to listen to Superintendent Sean Dusek and Assistant Superintendent Dave Jones discuss the future Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget on Tuesday in Kenai.
Hotel workers strike for a wage increase in front of a Marriott hotel Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, in San Francisco. Alaska’s minimum wage is set to rise to $9.89 per hour on Jan. 1. (Ben Margot | The Associated Press)

Alaska’s minimum wage to rise Jan. 1

Inflation increased, so the wage will rise.

Hotel workers strike for a wage increase in front of a Marriott hotel Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, in San Francisco. Alaska’s minimum wage is set to rise to $9.89 per hour on Jan. 1. (Ben Margot | The Associated Press)
Seawatch

Harbor safety committee seeks representatives

The Cook Inlet Harbor Safety Committee is looking for stakeholder representatives to serve on the body, which seeks to provide a forum identifying, assessing, planning,… Continue reading

The Holland America Line ship Amsterdam sits at port in Juneau on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. The Amsterdam is one of nine ships that have received Notice of Violations for air opacity issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Alaska negotiating settlements with cruise companies over air, water violations

Closed-door meetings decide how much cruises will pay for summer violations.

The Holland America Line ship Amsterdam sits at port in Juneau on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018. The Amsterdam is one of nine ships that have received Notice of Violations for air opacity issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Laurie Daniel, left, and Alaska State Parks specialist Eric Clarke, right, discuss the Diamond Creek trails portion of the Kachemak Bay State Park and State Wilderness Park draft management plan at an open house on the plan on Oct. 29, 2018, at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Citizens raise concern about Kachemak Bay state parks draft management plan

With the public comment period ending in a week for the draft of the Kachemak Bay State Park and Wilderness Park Management Plan, Homer residents… Continue reading

Laurie Daniel, left, and Alaska State Parks specialist Eric Clarke, right, discuss the Diamond Creek trails portion of the Kachemak Bay State Park and State Wilderness Park draft management plan at an open house on the plan on Oct. 29, 2018, at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
An unused sexual assault evidence kit, colloquially known as a “rape kit,” is seen Friday, Nov. 2, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire file) An unused sexual assault evidence kit, colloquially known as a “rape kit,” is seen Friday, Nov. 2, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire file)
Crime

Department of Public Safety proposes permanent fix for rape evidence kit backlog

Testing all of the kits is expected to take years.

An unused sexual assault evidence kit, colloquially known as a “rape kit,” is seen Friday, Nov. 2, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire file) An unused sexual assault evidence kit, colloquially known as a “rape kit,” is seen Friday, Nov. 2, 2018. (James Brooks | Juneau Empire file)
<span class="neFMT neFMT_PhotoCredit">Photo courtesy Homer Police</span> Travis Catron, left, and Niko Mogar in undated booking photos.
Crime

Indictments filed in crime spree case

A Kenai Grand Jury on Oct. 17 indicted two Homer men who were previously charged with burglary and theft in a spree of home and… Continue reading

<span class="neFMT neFMT_PhotoCredit">Photo courtesy Homer Police</span> Travis Catron, left, and Niko Mogar in undated booking photos.

Homer area school announcements

Homer Flex Nov. 22-23 — Thanksgiving Break – no school Homer Middle School Today — Homer v. Aurora Borealis Charter School at Aurora Borealis Charter… Continue reading

Homer residents cast their votes in the 2018 midterm election Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018 at Homer City Hall in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Election result updates

The following are preliminary results for the 2018 midterm election, as reported by the Alaska Division of Elections. 11:15 p.m. Update: Governor/Lt. Governor (D) Begich/Call:… Continue reading

Homer residents cast their votes in the 2018 midterm election Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018 at Homer City Hall in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough waste transfer site in Anchor Point is on borough land proposed to be leased for subsurface oil-and-gas rights to Hilcorp. The photo was taken on Oct. 19, 2018. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News) The Kenai Peninsula Borough waste transfer site in Anchor Point is on borough land proposed to be leased for subsurface oil-and-gas rights to Hilcorp. The photo was taken on Oct. 19, 2018. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Borough proposes oil and gas leases in Anchor Point

Update: The location for the meeting of the Anchor Point Advisory Planning Commission has been changed to the Anchor Point Senior Center at 7 p.m.… Continue reading

The Kenai Peninsula Borough waste transfer site in Anchor Point is on borough land proposed to be leased for subsurface oil-and-gas rights to Hilcorp. The photo was taken on Oct. 19, 2018. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News) The Kenai Peninsula Borough waste transfer site in Anchor Point is on borough land proposed to be leased for subsurface oil-and-gas rights to Hilcorp. The photo was taken on Oct. 19, 2018. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly stands in silence while Assembly President Wayne Ogle offers an invocation before the meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Soldotna, AK. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly continues invocations

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to note that Assembly member Willy Dunne will make the invocation at the Dec. 4 meeting. Last Tuesday’s… Continue reading

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly stands in silence while Assembly President Wayne Ogle offers an invocation before the meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Soldotna, AK. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The staff and partners in the Homer Bookstore pose for a photo in the store’s cafe in Homer, Alaska, on Oct. 29, 2018. From left to right are Sue Post, partner; Jennifer Norton, staff; Jennifer Stroyeck, partner; Nancy Vait, staff; Sara Reinert, staff; and Lee Post, partner. The sculpture on the table is of bookstore matriarch Joy Post, mother of Sue and Lee Post, and was sculpted by artist Barbara Jo Auburn House. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

40 years and counting for The Homer Bookstore

“…(T)his store is showing positive growth, and with these three terrific owners and their experience I think they have a bright future. People, if they… Continue reading

The staff and partners in the Homer Bookstore pose for a photo in the store’s cafe in Homer, Alaska, on Oct. 29, 2018. From left to right are Sue Post, partner; Jennifer Norton, staff; Jennifer Stroyeck, partner; Nancy Vait, staff; Sara Reinert, staff; and Lee Post, partner. The sculpture on the table is of bookstore matriarch Joy Post, mother of Sue and Lee Post, and was sculpted by artist Barbara Jo Auburn House. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
<span class="neFMT neFMT_PhotoCredit">Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News</span> Single-use plastic bags litter the side of Lake Street on Sept. 25, in Homer.

Soldotna bag ban to take effect Thursday

The city of Soldotna is working to make sure shoppers aren’t left empty-handed come Thursday, when a ban on single-use plastic bags takes effect throughout… Continue reading

<span class="neFMT neFMT_PhotoCredit">Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News</span> Single-use plastic bags litter the side of Lake Street on Sept. 25, in Homer.
In this Sept. 6 file photo, Democratic nominee for governor of Alaska Mark Begich, right, speaks as Gov. Bill Walker listens during a chamber of commerce gubernatorial candidate forum on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, in Juneau, Alaska, On Friday, Oct. 19, Walker announced he was dropping his bid for re-election, though his name remains on the ballot. He threw his support behind Begich, who will face Republican Mike Dunleavy in November. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Walker’s support for Begich is ‘narrow’

When he gave a speech announcing his withdrawal from the election, Gov. Bill Walker told his audience that they should support Democratic candidate Mark Begich.… Continue reading

In this Sept. 6 file photo, Democratic nominee for governor of Alaska Mark Begich, right, speaks as Gov. Bill Walker listens during a chamber of commerce gubernatorial candidate forum on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, in Juneau, Alaska, On Friday, Oct. 19, Walker announced he was dropping his bid for re-election, though his name remains on the ballot. He threw his support behind Begich, who will face Republican Mike Dunleavy in November. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

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