20 years ago in the Homer News

With boat after boat tied up to the Homer docks over the summer to unload halibut catches, Homer overtook the longtime king, Kodiak, as the top halibut port in the North Pacific. From Puget Sound to the Bering Sea, one pound in every five pounds of halibut was brought to Homer for sale — almost 8 million pounds so far for 1998.

— From the issue of Sept. 24, 1998

30 years ago in the Homer News

Big Valley, a Homer based vessel doing core sampling for a geoscience firm, got stuck in ice off Point Franklin south of Utqiagvik, then known as Barrow. Temperatures were down to minus 15 degrees, with new ice forming, but it’s old ice that has the ship stuck. Only 200 yards of ice separate the boat from open water. A Coast Guard icebreaker is 300 miles away.

“We need help and nobody’s helping us,” said Jacque Botkin, wife of vessel owner Ralph Botkin.

— From the issue of Sept. 22, 1988

50 years ago in the Homer News

Contractor Western Marine starting installing new floats at the Homer Harbor. The floats will provide berths for about 100 vessels. Walt Olson, the project superintendent, said if the weather holds work should be done in two weeks.

— From the issue of Sept. 27, 1968