Bairamis gets 11 years for drug sales
A former Homer man was sentenced in federal court Nov. 23 in Anchorage to 132 months or 11 years in prison, following a trial for conspiring to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and heroin.
After completion of his sentence of imprisonment, Kostas Nikolaos Bairamis, 23, will be on federal supervised release for five years.
Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Sayers-Fay, who prosecuted the case, said the trial evidence showed that Bairamis began buying small amounts of methamphetamine weekly from an Anchorage source beginning in late summer 2008, but escalated to four and eight ounce quantities as time went on. In August 2009, Bairamis allegedly persuaded the same source to “front” him one pound and nine ounces of methamphetamine, for which he agreed to pay approximately $78,600. Bairamis repaid $20,000 of the drug debt, but could not repay the rest.
City eyes budget cuts
Homer City Council members proposed changes to the fiscal year 2012 city budget, in a few cases by dipping into the reserve savings account to pay for projects like restoring the fishing hole and helping the Homer Hockey Association.
The proposals took from one account to give to another in the $10.8 million proposed general fund budget.
Councilman Kevin Hogan advocates deleting the entire Homer Chamber of Commerce appropriation of $21,375, a move he bluntly stated was justified because the chamber “doesn’t represent all Homer businesses” in light of its protective stand for the charter fleet during the controversial National Marine Fisheries Council halibut catch-share plan earlier this summer.
Popular ‘eagle tree’ topples during strong winds
The tall ancient spruce tree at the corner of Lake Street and the Sterling Highway blew down in recent storms, destroying a popular eagle’s nest where two sets of eaglets were raised in recent years before thousands of eager tourists.
Near hurricane-force winds ushered in a frosty November that leaves some residents contending January came early this year. Yet another storm front moved our way Tuesday, calling for more high winds, but warmer temperatures and rain as well.
Sports Calendar – Nov. 30
Thursday 5:30 p.m. JV Ice Hockey vs. Colony, Kevin Bell Arena 7:30 p.m. Varsity Ice Hockey vs. Colony, Kevin Bell Arena Friday TBA Varsity Wrestling at Seward (Conference Tournament) TBA Varsity XC Skiing Homer Invitational, McNeil Canyon Elementary 5:30 p.m. JV Ice Hockey vs. Wasilla, Kevin Bell Arena 7:30 p.m. Varsity Ice Hockey vs. Wasilla, [...]
Hustling Huskies
Homer Middle School basketball teams travel to Soldotna this Friday to take on Soldotna White teams in conference play. The Lady Husky team is currently undefeated going into their final regular season game. If they win their final game, they will go in as the No. 1 seed at the first round of the Dec. [...]
Stars ice Mariner hockey teams at home
For the second time in as many weeks, the Homer Mariner varsity hockey team faced off against conference rival Soldotna at Kevin Bell Arena in Homer. And while things didn’t play out exactly the same as when the two teams met at Homer’s End of the Road Tournament earlier this month, there were a few eerie similarities.
And the result was ultimately the same.
The M’s struggled again with offense against the Stars, but managed to give Soldotna goalie Cody Harvey a little more challenge this week with 22 shots on goal. Harvey turned away every shot, giving the Stars the shutout, and the 6-0 win.
FYI – Nov. 30
Citizens, Inletkeeper files lawsuit The Chuitna Citizens Coalition and Cook Inletkeeper have filed a lawsuit against the state, claiming officials have ignored their water rights permit applications to protect salmon in the area of a proposed coal mine. The groups filed a lawsuit over the issue on Nov. 10, asserting that the state’s Department of [...]
Homer wins award for top water
People who want to brag about Homer’s fresh water might like to hear about the employees and the city’s water treatment system that recently took top honors with the Alaska Rural Water Association.
At the Monday night Homer City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Beth Wythe conferred honors on Joe Young and Todd Cook. Water Treatment Plant Maintenance Operator Young captured the prestigious 2011 Water Operator of the Year Award.
Todd Cook, treatment superintendent for the city, accepted the Alaska Rural Water Association’s 2011 Wastewater System of the Year award on behalf of the City of Homer.
Meet Cook Inletkeeper’s new director: Wayne Jenkins
The new executive director at Cook Inletkeeper, Wayne Jenkins and his wife Lori, knew they wanted a new chapter in life after raising their children in the southern Appalachians of northern Georgia. Father and son had traveled to Alaska in 2005 for Obie to attend college at Alaska Pacific University.
Later summer, visits to Homer and other Alaska destinations raised the question and possibility of a move north.
“I’m a person who responds to landscapes. My wife and I returned again and again, and we were blown away – It’s whole here. There are no really ‘pristine’ places any more, but this one comes pretty close,” Jenkins said.
Community news – Nov. 30
Ringing in the holidays Members of the South Peninsula Hospital Auxiliary decked the halls of the hospital recently by purchasing and decorating a 10-foot Christmas tree now on display in the front lobby. The members used purchased decorations, as well as donated personal ones from auxiliary and hospital employees, to decorate the tree. Auxiliary members are volunteers who support the SPH [...]
