20 years ago in the Homer News

Floyd Newkirk of Homer won the Winter King Fishing Tournament, landing a 35.3-pound salmon and taking a $7,898 prize. Newkirk caught the prize using herring bait and fishing “somewhere on the right side of the boundaries,” he said. More than 350 anglers entered the tournament. Calm seas and warm temperatures blessed the tournament fleet of 115 boats. Six Homer fishermen placed in the top 10. More than $30,000 in prizes was awarded.

— From the issue of March 27, 1997

30 years ago in the Homer News

Marc Cowart and 12 others filed a request for a petition to recall the entire Kenai Board of Education. Cowart said he was upset with the board passing a $53.7 million budget and not making cuts. He said the budget is “frivolous” because it will require a tax hike to fund. The board succumbed to pressure from the teachers association, he said, and violated their oath to impartially discharge their duties. If the recall is successful, it would require a $20,000 special election.

— From the issue of March 26, 1987

50 years ago in the Homer News

The Waterfront Bar on Bunnell Street became the first building to connect to the new Homer Water System. Dean Briske, supervisor for BB&S Construction, supervised the water turn on March 22.

A fire that started in the engine room burned the 130-foot F/V Aleutian Reefer on March 22. Tugs towed the wood hull boat out of the harbor while firefighters pumped water on the burning boat until it could be boarded and anchored. At high tide, bulldozers pulled the still burning boat onto the beach.

— From the issue of March 30, 1967