20 years ago in the Homer News

Firefighters responded to four fires in 12 hours, including one fire that burned a cabin and threatened a stand of spruce-bark beetle killed dead trees near Mile 11 East End Road. A parachute flare launched during survival training at Homer Middle School started a small fire. A slash pile near Mile 10 East End Road got away from a landowner and burned about half an acre. A helicopter pilot doing bucket drops on that fire then saw another fire in the Fernwood subdivision.

— From the issue of May 20 1999

30 years ago in the Homer News

A 24-hour halibut opening brought fewer fish, but those caught weren’t impacted by the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Fishermen took extra precautions to avoid oily waters and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game required boats that had worked in spill response to be certified as clean. ADF&G also banned fishing in any areas with sheen in the water or oil on the beach. Salmon fishermen were divided about an opening June 9, with some saying they’d like to fish and others saying the entire season should be shut.

— From the issue of May 25, 1989

50 years ago in the Homer News

The May 20, 1969, issue is missing from the Homer News archives.