20 years ago

Brother Asaiah Bates, 78, departed the Cosmic Hamlet when he died at 11:22 p.m. on March 28 at his home. Reporter Hal Spence called him “the closest thing Homer will ever have to a patron saint.” Born Claude Donald Bates on April 19, 1921 in Greenville, South Carolina, he came to Homer in the mid-1950s to follow Krishna Venta, the founder of Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Love Fountain of the World, a group people called “the Barefooters.”

“He lived by a simple philosophy, that in all people there is goodness, uttering no words to disparage anyone, but posing questions that often left others rethinking their points of view,” Spence wrote.

— From the issue of March 30, 2000

30 years ago

The Kachemak Heritage Land Trust scheduled a work party to survey a 12-mile trail connecting Baycrest Hill to Ohlson Mountain. Led by surveyor Kenton Bloom, the group planned to take advantage of snow to ski in and flag the trail along public property. In the summer, volunteers would build the trail. The trail most likely would be a hiking and skiing trail.

— From the issue of March 29, 1990

50 years ago

Homer Police released the result of an investigation into drug use in Homer. They surveyed 75 teenagers or young adults who used cannabis, of which 35% had tried LSD. Thirty-four were Homer High School students, and of those 18% used LSD. Police on March 13 arrested two men ages 26 and 27 for possession of hallucinogenic, depressant or stimulant drugs and possession for sale and seized $5,000 in drugs. On March 21, police arrested three people ages 19, 20 and 22 on the same charge.

— From the issue of March 26, 1970