Nsrl The Fronti~rsman Iss
i VALLEY HEALTH CENTER || m mmm U ■ ^ - 1 W 11 1 t
I _j! PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY j! °B8e'
VOLUME 10, NUMBER 24 PALMER, ALASKA THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1957 PRICE TEN CENTS
BEAUTIFY PALMER CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY
MME LAY-OFF
AFFECTS ABOUT
SIXTY EMPLOYEES
Effective April 1 about 60 em
ployees of the Evan-Jones Coal
Mine were temporarily laid off.
This is an annual lay-off expert
enced each year between con
tracts, but will apparently be of
longer duration than in previous
years, according to Don Hill,
company official.
Hill said this week it looks like
the lay-off may run until about
July 1. A skeleton crew will re
main on the job, doing mainten
ance work underground and the
washing plant is expected to con
tinue work for about an addition
al 10 days. There will continue
to be a minor amount of work,
Hill said.
The Evan-Jones mine normal
ly carries about 90 employees on
pay roll. During the past year ap
proximately 180,000 tons of coal
were mined from the under
ground and strip mining sections.
Work Continues On
Chugiak Telephones
Work is continuing in the Chu
giak area, the only section of the
new Matanuska Telephone Asso
ciation dial system which was not
completed at the time of cut-over,
Lew Hanks, MTA president, re
ported this week.
Carl Blair, REA auditor has ar
rived in Palmer and is assisting
MTA Officials with plans to com
plete the operating status of the
Association which will include fu
ture expansion of the system.
Cliff Gettings, western states
field representative for REA, is
expected next week. He will as
sist in arrangements for an op
erating loan and for a construc
tion loan for the Chugiak area.
LOCAL MAN LOSES
FOOT IN ACCIDENT
Clay Pruitt of Palmer is a pa
tient at the Valley Presbyterian
Hospital where he was taken fol
lowing an accident at the Jones
ville mine last Friday. Pruitt was
struck by the rear end of a power
shovel which crushed his foot,
necessitating its removal.
JOHN DEERE DAY
PROGRAM DRAWS
LARGE AUDIENCE
There was standing room only
at the John Deere Day program
staged at Elks hall last Thursday
evening, according to A1 Brooks,
area representative. In addition
to several interesting films Ham
Hibbard, John Deere representa
tive from Seattle, and Gragg
Gielke, Northern Commercial re
presentative, were in attendance
to comment on the new pieces of
farm equipment featured in the
films.
«
! I1
: \
NOTICE
!; We still need at least ten ;j
more children to sign up ]!
jl before tho teachers from <
-I the C O L O M B A N Y <
\\ SCHOOL OF DANCE will I;
\\ come to Palmer and teach !;
!; dancing. Fee will be $35.00 !;
> for the summer course /
!; Write
MRS. BOB JENSEN Jj
;! Palmer
Home and Grounds
improvement Not
Reflected in Taxes
Improvement programs propos
ed by the Garden Club and Plan
ning Commission have brought to
light several common misunder
standings concerning property
taxes in the city of Palmer, Wil
liam Wakeland, city tax assessor
said this week.
All landscaping improvements
such as lawns, trees, concrete
walks, retaining walls, etc., that
are primarily for improving the
appearance of property are not
considered for property taxes.
They do influence the value, he
stated, and are legally taxable but
are not being added in by the
assessor and will not be unless
instructed to do so by the City
Council, he said.
Painting buildings also influ
ences the value, but again, no
direct change in the assessent
will be made for such painting,
Wakeland stated. However, he
added, over the years the upkeep
of the building will be reflected
by the rate of depreciation. In
other words, he explained, at a
great loss in value it is possible
I over a period of years to save a
few dollars by letting buildings
^ go unpainted.
A taxpayer whose taxes went
j up when he landscaped or paint
ed last year will find an explan
ation other than his beautifying
his property. The mill rate caus
ed most of the increase last year,
and re-assessment caused most
of the increases in valuation this
year, Wakeland stated.
M.l. A. HOLDS
HOBBY SHOW APRIL 3
The Mutual Improvement As
sociation of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Later Day Saints held
a hobby show in their recreation
room on Wednesday night of this
week.
A great number of interesting
and very beautiful collections
were exhibited. Some were of the
commercial type—others were
hand made items. There were
collections of stuffed animals,
stamps, plane and car models,,
paper napkins and others exhibit
ed by the younger set. The adults
exhibited interesting collections
of rocks and minerals, moose horn
ivory work, tinted pictures, slides,
plane models, ceramics, china,
and one very extensive collection
of items from Guatamala and
Costa Rica. Had made items in
cluded crocheted and knitted rugs,
table cloths and many other
items of fancy work.
Little League Group
To Meet Tonight
Summer must be in sight. The
local Little League baseball group
is arousing from their winter lull
and adults of the group will meet
tonight to elect directors and
plan for the 1957 Little League
season in Palmer. The meeting,
to start at 8 p.m., will be held
in the Central School cafeteria.
Parents of all Little Leaguers
and potential Little Leaguers as
well as representatives from in
terested organizations are urged
to attend the meeting tonight.
ALL AREA ROADS
NOW UNDER SPRING
ROAD RESTRICTIONS
\
Effective April 3 road restric
tions limiting gross axle loads to
50 percent of normal and speeds
to 35 miles an hour went into ef
fect on the Glenn Highway from
Palmer to Mile 113. Also included
are all access roads to the Glenn
Highway.
place the following roads in the
Anchorage District of the Bureau
of Public Roads under 50 percent
normal axle loading and 35 miles
an hour speed limit: Glenn High
way and all access roads; Seward
Anchorage Highway and all ac
cess roads; Sterling Highway and
all access roads; Palmer-Wasilla
Highway, Palmer locals and all
roads in the Matanuska Valley;
Anchorage area roads; and all
roads on Kenai Peninsula.
The road restrictions were an
nounced by M. C. Zimmerman,
district engineer and will be en
forced by the Territorial Police.
Local Territorial Police report
the main violations in this area
have been excessive speed. There
have been no court cases, as yet,
on overloads. “They seem to be
cooperating pretty well” an offi
cer said this week.
Fines for violations of the speed
limit may vary but will probably
run about as follows in the val
ley area: $3 per mile over the
35-mile sp^ed limit up to 45 miles;
$5 per mile over 45 miles per
hour. Violations will appear be
fore the U. S. Commissioners in
Palmer and Wasilla.
Local Scouts
Going to Camp
In Mid-July
Boy Scout Troop 654, which is
sponsored locally by the Matan
uska Valley American Legion
Post, is formulating plans for a
week’s outing at Camp Gorsuch
during the week of July 22-27, it
was announced this week.
Scouts who recently passed
their Tenderfoot requirements in
the troop are: Stanley Smith,
[“Victor Johns, Ken Bouwens, Dee
Woods, and Peter Want.
Boys desiring to join the Boy
Scouts are invited to attend a
meeting. Meetings are held at Le
gion hall at 7 p.m. Thursday eve
nings.
TYPHOID CLINIC
FOR ADULTS SET
A typhoid clinic for adults will
be held Tuesday, April 9 from
5:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the Valley
Health Center, located in the Val
ley Presbyterian Hospital. Series
and boosters will be given, Mrs.
Myrtle Spencer, public health
nurse, announced.
Everyone is urged to avail
themselves of this opportunity to
bring their typhoid shots up to
date.
Childrens’ clinic will be held
the afternoon of the same date
from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Bill Puts Teeth
In Trespass Law
Property owners are invited to
become familiar with House Bill
No. 177 in relation to the law of
trespass on improved lands. The
bill provides for fines from $5 up
to $250 for trespass on improved
lands such as gardens, orchards,
etc. In default of payment im
prisonment is provided at the
rate of one day for each $5 in
fines imposed by the court.
The bill spells out require
ments that must be met by the
property owner in regards to the
.posting of lands against trespass.
TWO NEW DIRECTORS
NAMED TO
VALLEY FAIR DOARD
Two new directors were named
to the Matanuska Valley Fair As
sociation at a meeting held this
week. Mrs. Maud Hosier will re
place A1 V. Hagen, long-time
member of the board of directors,
and H. P. Gazaway will replace
Dr. Richard Foley. Mrs. Hosier
will take over the secretarial
duties and Gazaway the duties of
treasurer. The resignations of Ha
gen and Foley were accepted by
the board. Hagen, who has serv
ed in many capacities for several
years, recently resigned because
of conflicting business. Dr. Foley
plans to leave for the States
soon and tendered his resignation
for that reason.
It was reported at the meeting
that the Bill to designate the
M. V. Fair as the Alaska State
Fair failed to materialize. It pass
ed the House but failed in the
Senate. Association officials ex
pressed their appreciation to Mrs.
Dorothy Haggland who introduc
ed the bill in the House, and to
the local Grange and Republican
t Club who sent letters urging the
I bill be passed.
Permission was granted to the
City of Palmer to store the drums
of asphalt now on the city lot
south of the big barn along the
east-west line and that the City
assume insurance liability for the
drums.
A request by James Frey that
the fairgrounds be opened for
activities during the summer was
referred to the maintenance com
mittee.
T. A. Moyer, association presi
dent, will be acting manager un
til a manager for the 1958 Valley
Fair is designated.
Board members voted to con
tinue the fireworks program along
similar lines as in past years.
The next meeting of the board
of directors will be held May 6
in the basement of the theatre
building at 8 p.m. Persons inter
ested in any of the phases of the
’58 Fair are invited to contact
the board.
April Fool’s Joke
Nets Cancer Fund $12
Lots of fun and good humor
was in evidence at the Matanuska
Hotel on Monday night of this
week when KFQD radio station
personalities arrived as the result
of a contest staged by the station.
Mrs. Avis Crowther, more af
fectionately known around Pal
mer as Grandma Crowther,
“won” Chuck Winger, disk jockey
at the radio station, in a contest
and although a dinner was plan
ned, participants couldn’t over
look the date—April 1—and plans
for lots of fun got under way.
Before the evening was over a
mock marriage was staged, com
plete with the flowers, flower
girls, minister, rings, and license.
The entire program was recorded
on tape and played to the radio
listening audience the following
night.
During the evening a collection
was made for a “going away trip”
and the collection of coins—(and
some paper money) resulting in
$12.04, was turned over to the
local Cancer fund by Mrs. Crow
ther, with the following note:
“This is my going away money
given by friends on the evening
of April 1st. So I in turn would
like it to be given to the Cancer
Fund. Grandma Crowther”.
The program was all-in-fun and
resulted in just that for the radio
station personnel, the folk at the
hotel, and Grandma Crowther’s
many friends who joined her in
the event.
Bank Official
Warns of
Check Fraud Dangers
Each year many persons be
come victims of check frauds. In
most cases, we can look back and
find that we were lax in follow
ing basic precautionary rules,
Richard Jones, manager of the
Matanuska Valley Bank stated
this week.
George W. Adlam, check fraud
consultant to The Todd Company
of Rochester, N. Y*, has compiled
& list of such rules, which may be
found in the Matanuska Valley
Bank advertisement on page 7
today.
“We encourage each merchant
to post this list near his cash reg
ister and educate himself and all
employees along these lines”,
Jones said. Copies of these do’s
vmd don’ts also will be available
at the bank. Merchants may ask
for them at the bank.
CHAMBER SETS DATE
FOR COLONY DAY
The date for the Matanuska
Valley Chamber of Commerce
sponsored Colony Day celebra
tion has been set for Sunday, May
26. Members of the Chamber
special events committee will be
in charge of arrangements for the
celebration which each year hon
ors the original colonists and set
tlers of the Matanuska Valley.
The date was announced at the
April 3 meeting of the Chamber.
Eugene Reid, Chamber vice
president, reported on a recent
trip to the States during which he
visited the offices of the Doane
Agricultural Service at St. Louis,
Mo., in regards to a survey pro
gram being considered by the
Chamber.
Reid stated that he spoke to
some of the firm’s officials in re
gards to the posibility of an in
dustrial potential survey in the
valley area, as well as a com
munity development survey. Of
ficials pointed out to him that if
such a survey should be decided
upon and carried through that
there should be some reliable and
capable person, such as a Cham
ber of Commerce manager, to su
pervise operations and see that
recommendations are carried out.
They also told him that such
surveys could be made in the
valley but pointed out that. the
Chamber should decide what they
want to do and made three sug
gestions: Do nothing. Undertake
the project and rely on volunteer
help (they did not encourage this
method). Enlist the interest of
Anchorage and offer this area’s
support and cooperation.
Mrs. Lucille Mick, secretary of
the League of Alaska Cities,
pointed out that a new Act (HB
186) provides for a tax incentive
for new industries in Alaska. She
pointed out that under the Act
new industries are proyided a
very beneficial tax incentive pro
gram under which they will be
tax exempt, both in the territory
and in the city, for a period of
time ranging from three to 10
years, depending upon the
amount invested in the industry.
“We should prepare now for such
a program in the event interest
is shown in locating a new indus
try within our taxing area”, she
pointed out.
Members of the Chamber agri
culture and industrial commit
tees will work jointly on the pro
continued on page 4)
S GIFT ITEMS AND FINE \\
\ CHINA \\
S CHOICE IVORY, JADE,
\ HEMATITE <!
!|l NATIVE ARTS & CRAFTS <!
TREASURE CHEST
| Wasilla Rd. \
COMMUNITY STARTS
CLEAN-UP TO GIVE
PALMER NEW LOON
Judging from tlfe enthusiasm
being shown by members of this
community the area of Palmer is
about to have noticeable face
lifting between now and summer.
Several organizations and in
dividuals have started their
plans for beautifying Palmer, ac
cording to Dr. C. C. Bailey, pub
licity chairman of the Garden
Club’s area-wide project to make
Palmer the garden city of Alaska:
Many of these plans were an
nounced at a meeting held Mon
day night of this week.
One of the largest projects, and
:one that will undoubtedly result
in an incentive for. others to fol
low, will be a complete re-paint
ing program throughout the
M.V.F.C.A. business and housing
areas. All Co-Op business build
ings, as well as the Associations
eleven staff houses, apartment
houses, lodge, and other biuldings
will be painted in colors. Gravel
and soil will be brought in where
needed and the housing areas lev
elled off and filled where neces
sary. The old hospital basement
will be filled and the skeleton
chimney that has remained stand
ing since the hospital burned
many years ago will be removed.
This extensive project follows
many of the suggestions given by
members of the Garden Club and
other organizations to help make
Palmer a more beautiful place in
which to visit and live and is the
first major project announced in
the campaign. Others are expect
ed in the near future.
The American Legion organiza
tion has announced they will par
ticipate in the campaign by paint
ing their building.
The Palmasilla Homemakers
have announced as their project
the landscaping of one area in
front of the Legion building.
Interest in the area-wide pro
ject has extended to Wasilla. A
spokesman from the neighboring
town atetnded the Monday night
meeting and reported that resi
dents of Wasilla are interested in
participation. One of the sugges
tions made by the spokesman was
that persons living in the rural
areas could paint their rural mail
mail boxes in various attractive
colors and designs to help bright
en the roadsides.
The Palmer Library will be
landscaped by members of the
Garden Club who are planning to
plant native shrubs and trees
' around the library building.
The representative from the
Palmer Kiwanis Club reported
:he club is working on plans to
erect street signs throughout the
(Continued on Page 8)
\ CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
:! services j;
!| Sunday School_10:30 |!
Church Service_11:00 \\
/ nursery
CARPENTERS HALL
;! SPRING BULBS HAVE ;I
;;! ARRIVED READY FOR ;!
j! IMMEDIATE PLANTING j!
(MAUD'S FLOWER SHOP |i
;j Theatre Bldg. Phone 3601 j!
|~Tt teTtio n !~~j
ALL CLEANING i!
J 1 for the 4
i| L price of I
ON LIKE GARMENTS
Cash and Carry
j BROWN'S CLEANERS i|
DANCING TO THE BLPE NOTES, “ZT PALMER BAR