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Homer Police Department responds to bomb threat
Homer Police Department – Today at 9 a.m. the Homer Police Department received a report from the Alaska State Troopers that an event requiring law enforcement was occurring at the Homer High School. Homer Police officers responded to the school and found that it was being evacuated by school staff. Investigation revealed that an object appearing to be an explosive device had been left in a stairwell area inside the school. School officials moved the object and examined it prior to the arrival of police officers. The …
RVs given space of their own
Come summer, it can be challenging enough to find parking for a Subaru in Homer’s bustling, tourist-filled downtown area, let alone room to squeeze in an RV.
So this summer, community planners decided to give RV drivers space — space to park, that is. Planning sessions in recent years identified the need for RV drivers to have space to park in the downtown and Old Town areas to make it easier for those driving these larger vehicles to access Homer’s center.
“This first year is really to …
Heliport on Spit draws debate
Eric Lee told the Homer City Council on Monday night that he never expected he would create such a stir. The fixed-wing and helicopter pilot thought his business idea was great — offering tourists quick access to a helicopter flight-seeing tour right from the Homer Spit.
“I was pretty excited about it, so I naturally assumed everyone else would be, too,” Lee said.
On the Homer Spit, landing a helicopter is legal, as long as it is done within FAA parameters. And for more than a decade, …
Catch and release only for early-run king salmon
Ker-plunk.
Rather than that being the hopeful sound of a lure hitting the water, it more represents the sinking feeling among anglers that the king salmon fishing season on the Kenai River is already off to a poor start, before it even opens Thursday. On May 9, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced restrictions to catch-and-release and trophy fishing only in the Kenai.
According to the department, the restrictions are being put in place to conserve the early run and help it meet its Board of …
Country music and poety to entertain Saturday
Local talents will be performing western style music and poetry at Alice’s Champagne Palace at 5 p.m. May 18 at the annual Cowboy Cabaret sponsored by the Kachemak Bay Equestrian Association.
On the program are the Homer Ukulele Society (starring former Homer Mayor Jim Hornaday), the S-Curves (Sunrise Kilcher, Sally Wells, Sue Butler and Sharon Schultz). East End cowboy Mark Marette will be the master of ceremonies.
Other performers just show up, while more are expected to call to be included in the show, according to a key …
Bunnell’s Art Plates highlight membership drive
Since 1991, Bunnell Street Art Center has been the focus of creativity in Old Town at the corner of Bunnell and Main, before the new parts of Homer grew up. Once again, their art on plates is drawing members and attention.
Art Plates, created this year by numerous local artists, became available at $100+ membership levels on May 11, and those who support Bunnell Street Arts Center at higher levels, $250+, were invited to select their 2013 Art Plates earlier. But many are still available for people wishing …
Sports Briefs – May 15
The Homer Mariner baseball team finally got a chance to dig their cleats in the soil with an official season-opening game against the Kenai Kardinals last Wednesday. Playing in Kenai, the M’s got their offense going early, as junior Brian Rowe went 4 for 4 at the plate to help in the Mariners’ 4-1 conference win. Tommy Bowe went 2-for-2 and Lucas Schneider, 2-for-3 in the winning effort.
Heading further up the road on Friday, the Mariners fell to the Kodiak Bears by a score of 12 to …
Lady M softball outscores opponents 91-3 in 5 games
Any doubts about the power and performance of Homer’s high school softball team were quickly erased last week as the Lady M squad dominated opponents in five regular-season wins.
Certainly outscoring your opponents by 88 runs makes for a pretty strong argument that Homer bats are hot and hitters hearty. Back that up with a 71-15 hit ratio, and there’s very little doubt about their offensive prowess.
Now, let’s talk defense.
Obviously, any time your pitching crew can hold opponents to an average of three hits per game, your …
Homer qualifies tracksters for State competition in 16 events
Homer athletes took another step toward State with strong performances at the Region III Track and Field Championships at Nikiski High School last Friday and Saturday.
Homer girls took the top spot in the 1600-meter relay, finishing in 4 minutes, 22.58 seconds. The team, comprising Azizza Shemet-Pitcher, Tayla Cabana, Cassidy Soistman and Aurora Waclawski will head to Fairbanks on Friday to compete in the State meet.
Waclawski also turned in strong performances individually, finishing second in the 800m and third in the 400. In a very tight 400m race, …
Homer soccer squads scramble for State berths
The sun was out, temperatures were above freezing and the field was snow-free as the Homer Lady Mariner soccer team welcomed the Palmer Lady Moose to Senior Night for some Northern Lights Conference soccer action on Friday.
Homer opened the scoring early, as Mady Gerard punched in a goal off a Maggie Koplin assist just three minutes into the game to take a 1-0 lead. Luckily, Homer’s defense held strong, as that would be the only goal the Lady M’s could muster for the day.
“We started …
Safety first, then beautification for Old Town
Before proceeding with the construction of the proposed “People’s Garden” envisioned by the activists, called “Old Town Neighbors,” working on the renovation of Old Town, the city is being asked to do some work to improve safety.
The Old Town renewal team recently met with representatives of the Homer Planning and Public Works departments to discuss these needs. The goals for East Bunnell Avenue and Beluga Place include installing speed bumps on the roads to slow traffic, widening the pavement on both streets and adjusting …
Summer reading: a true bear story, traveling ‘Turn Again’
Beyond the Bear: How I learned to live and love again after being blinded by a Bear, Globe Pequot Press, 212 pages by Dan Bigley and Debra McKinney
One of the problems with a good bear story is that Alaskans like to hear every grim detail of an encounter gone wrong, then they sit back and talk amongst themselves about what the victim of the attack should have done. But what kind of a life does the victim live afterwards? And how does that contribute to the agony?…
More News
Community News – May 15
Clean up day spirits high despite snow Homer Clean up Day May 4 began with a fresh coat of snow on...
Homer folks line up to dunk the ‘Fuzz’
The Homer Police Department invited the public to “Dunk the Fuzz,” on Saturday as part of a fundraiser for the Homer...
Columns
Study up on college savings vehicles
Another school year is drawing to a close — so if you have young children,...
Be aware of the need for disability insurance
It probably doesn’t show up on your calendar, but May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month....
Late spring inspires dive into microgreens
It’s the same pretty much every year — the sun stays out longer, temperatures warm...
