Thought of the Week:
There it no limit to the
amount of money some people
thihk the government can
spend.
'•^VWVWVWWVWWS
BOX 2051
JUNEAU ALASKA
The frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
VOLUME 15. NUMBER 5
PALMER. ALASKA. THURSDAY. OCT. 25. 1962
REGISTER VOTE
IN SCHOOL BOND
AND
GENERAL ELECTION
TUESDAY. NOV. 6
TWELVE PAGES
PRICE 15 CENTS
PALMER BANDS
APPEAR IN
FALL CONCERT
“Young Pageantry,” a grand
march written by Lee Plumb-j
ley, bank director for the Pal-;
mer schools, in honor of the
1962 graduating class, will cli-1
max the program of the an
nual fall band concert to be
held this Friday, Oct. 26, in j
Central school auditorium at 8
p.m.
There are 17 new members
in the high school band this
year, making a total of 72.
The junior high band, which
will start the program with a
group of marches and waltzes, i
has 60 members this year, j
Plumbley said.
Contributions of $1 for ad-!
ults and 50c for students will j
be asked, with proceeds to go i
tothe uniform fund. The band
will wear their new uniforms,
which were seen in the Fair
parade.
The program of selection to
be played by the senior high
band is listed below.
Spanish March_F. L. Buchtel
Come Back to Sorrento
-De Curtis
Port Conway_J. J. Richards
Fame and Fortune—Overture
_H. A. Hummel
Liberty Bell—March
_J. P. Sousa
Aria and Minuet_Scarlatti
Waves of the Danube, Ivanovici
Air and March_H. Purcell
Crusaders Hymn
_12th Century Tune
Two Italian Miniatures
C. Monteverde—O. Respighi
Mecklenburg—March
_J. J. Richards
Orpheus in a Jam—Novelty
_F. J. Buchtell
Asleep in the Deep - Paraphrase
_H. W. Petrie—Frank
Young Pageantry—Grand
March_-Lee Plumbley
WOKEN VOTERS
TAKE NO STAND
The Palmer League of Wo
men Voters is taking no stand
either for or against the Pal- !
mer Independent School Dis
trict school construction bond
issue which will appear on the
Nov. 6 ballot, Mrs. Noel Woods,
League president, said this
week..
“However,” she added, “we
urge all eligible voters in the
school district to register and
vote in the election.”
Mrs. Woods said that the
school bond issue has not ap
peared on the study agenda of
the League, and for this reason
the organization is not in a
position to issue a formal state
ment either supporting or op
posing the measure.
IOWA SENATOR TO BE
KIWANIS GUEST MONDAY
Sen. Miller (R) of Iowa will
be a guest of the Palmer Ki
wanis club at a Monday noon
no-host luncheon at the Grange
hall. The meeting will be open
to the public, and farmers of
the area are particularly urged
to attend.
Miller is well versed in such
farm problems as milk pricing
and is eager to meet with local
dairymen. The visit to the Val
ley has been arranged by Jan
Koslosky, Jr., a student at
AML and a member of the
Young Republican Club of An
chorage.
Hardwoods Mill Said to Appear Feasible
Stepovich Woald
Abide By Vote
On Capital Move
Gubernatorial candidate Mike
Stepovich has stated, as gover
nor of Alaska, he would take
the necessary steps to provide
for a relocation of the state
capital if voters approve Initia
tive No. 1 on election day.
“I will abide by the decision
of the voters,” Stepovich said.
He was replying to a tele
gram sent him by James E.
Fisher of the Capital Informa
tion Committee.
If he is elected governor,
Stepovich said he would “initi
ate executive action and ap
prove implementing legisla
tion” should voters approve the
capital move.
Fisher has contacted both
Stepovich, Republican candi
date for governor, and Gov.
William A. Egan, Democrat,
and asked each to make his
position clear.
“This matter (the capital
move) was taken to the State
Supreme Court,” Stepovich
said, “The Supreme Court . . .
gave the issue to the voters to
settle.”
FIREMEN'S BALL IS
THIS SATURDAY
Funds raised at the annual
Firemen’s Ball scheduled for
Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Elks
hall in Palmer at 9 p.m., will
be earmarked for purchase of
a new ambulance, Noel Woods,
volunteer fire chief, said this
week.
An excellent band has been
obtained, Woods said. Persons
attending are asked to come
in costume, although this is
not a requirement, he empha
sized. Prizes will be awarded
for the best costumes. Refresh
ments will be served.
Council Arranges for
Portion of Basement
Remodeling Job
I Two bids for remodeling the
basement of the Palmer city
hall were opened and read at
the Oct. 23 meeting of the
city council, and both were re
jected on the basis that more
time would be needed to work
I out details in specifications for
i construction, and that one
! phase of the remodeling job,
construction of an outside stair
! well leading into the basement
must begin before freezeup.,
Paul Haire submitted a bid in
l the amount of $10,543, with an
additional $468 depending on j
interpretation of specifications
for floor and ceiling tile, while
Loyer and Sons, made a blan
ket bid of $14,044.
On the basis of Paul Haire’s
: apparent low bid, council mem
bers arranged for a special
meeting Wednesday, Oct. 24,
with Haire, at which time he
submitted a new proposal for
construction of the stairwell
only in the amount "of $2265.
which was accepted by the
council.
In the near future, new bids
will be requested by the coun
cil for completion of the base
ment offices.
Floyd Spickerman, a visitor
at the council meeting, brought
up the question of maintenance
of the projected runway lights
for the airport. Results of a
previous interview of city man
ager Winston Gilchrist and air
man Dick Benson with Eugene
Rogusca, division of aviation,
state department of public
Pickeb Not Legal,
Palmer Employer Says
Picket lines at the Frontier
Cafe, D’Gutter, and the Mata
nuska Hotel Cofee Shop are
illegal according to union reg
ulations, Eva Campbell of t h e
Frontier Cafe said today.
Speaking for the three res
taurants involved in the union
disagreement, Mrs. Campbell
said the dispute arose when
Palmer members of the Hotel
and Restaurant Bar Tenders,
Local 878 of Anchorage, voted
down a new union contract last
Monday.
Immediately following an
nouncement of the results,
union officials pulled union
workers off the job and picked
up the restaurants’ union cards.
Picket lines at the three res
taurants appeared yesterday.
Mrs. Campbell pointed out
that both proprietors and mem
bers of the union feel that
this is an illegal picket. In the
first place, she said, suspended
members of the union appeared
at the election and voted. One
voter was not even a member
of the union, she added.
“Instead of taking our help
off the job, they should have
given us a counter proposal,”
she said. “Also, as I understand
it, a strike vote must be taken
before a picket line is placed.”
A member of her staff reite
rated her statement. “I’ve been
a pretty good union member
for years,” he said, ‘but I don’t
understand this move. A strike
vote should have been taken,
and there should be a cooling
off period of 30 days before
picketing begins.”
Mrs. Campbell said she is
working with a full crew, and
that her union help have cross
ed picket lines to report for
work.
A meeting of the Palmer res
taurant employers has been set
up for late this afternoon with
a representative of the Na
tional Labor Relations Board,
Mrs. Campbell said.
works, were reported. The con
versation had established that
a portion of the funds allocated
by the state to the Palmer air
nort could be used for airport
lighting. However, Rugusca had
emphasized that these funds
could not be used for mainten
ance of lighting.
Spickerman reported that pi
lots who use the airport facil
ities and the three fuel sup
pliers at the airport feel that
an equitable way of raising
funds for maintenance would
be to charge an extra cent a
gallon for fuel sold at the air
ports to pilots using the field
facilities.
Considerable discussion fol
lowed as to who should assume
responsibility for collection of
the extra fuel charge, and who
would be liable for mainten
ance of lights. City Attorney
Burton Biss pointed out that
the city cannot assume respon
sibilities of collection and
maintenance, and cannot con
tract with another party to as
sume them, without also as
suming liability.
Spickerman was requested
by the council to ask Rogusca
for suggestions and recommen
dations’ on drawing up ar
agreement to cover the prob
lem of liability for the people
who would handle the main
tenance of the lighting system.
Tentative plans of the coun
cil would be to purchase ten
lights from state funds for the
runways, with the Palmer Air
men supplying another 12.
Fire Chief Noel Woods ap
oeared before the council to
report on activities of the Pal
mer volunteer fire department.
Mayor pro temoore Ralph
Moore pointed out that through
recent council action all pur
chases over $25 in all city de
partments must be aproved by
the city manager and handled
through a purchase order. The
chief replied that in most in
stances this can be done, but
tha the fire department works
on an emergency basis and that
the occasionally emergency
purchases have to be made. He
was assured that in case of em
ergency approval could come
after the purchase.
Jurisdiction of the fire chief
in cases such as fire hazards
about the city was discussed,
with Woods expressing the
view that his position as volun
teer does not give him enforce
ment powers, and he has been
in the habit of asking the police
chief to handle enforcement.
Attorney Biss stated that as a
representative of the city,
Woods has the power to act as
chief, minus restrictions or plus
amplifications on his duties
placed by the city.
Woods was asked about am
monium nitrate now being stor
(Continued on page 5 1
Elks Lodges
Wire Praise
Of Cuban Stand
Thirteen Elks lodges of Alas
ka, comprising 8,000 members,
have sent congratulatory mess
ages to President Kennedy for
his recent stand on the Cuban
crisis. Osky Weeda, Alaska
State Elks Association presi
dent said today.
The text of the wire sent
from the local lodge stated:
“Palmer. Alaska Lodge 1842
of the Benevolent and Protec
tive Order of Elks fully en
dorses your firm and upright
stand on the Cuban problem.
We pledge our wholehearted
support not only on the Cu
ban situation, but in any other
crisis that may rear itself in
the entire world, to further the
cause of freedom. With God’s
help it is our sincere and fer
vent hope that you shall plot a
course that will not waver in
the goal of free people every
where—that being government
by the people.
BOND ISSUE
HEARING SET
A public hearing on the Pal
mer Independent School Dis
trict bond issue, to be voted
upon in the Nov. 6 election,
will be held Tuesday, Oct. 30,
at 8 p.m. in the high school
cafeteria. A second hearing is
scheduled for Nov. 6, also in
the cafeteria at 8 p.m.
Members of the school board,
and superintendent of schools
W. T. Zahradnicek will be pres
ent to answer questions and to
give pertinent information con
I cerning the issue. The attorney
j for the school board will also
| be present at the Nov. 5 meet
ing. Members of the board are
j George Ed Smith, Lew Hanks.
| Walt Briggs. Don Ingalls, and
Joyce Kerttula.
Sketches of the plans for
construction will be distribut
ed. These will also be distribu
ted to school children to be tak
en home to parents.
Eight Qualify for
Wasilla Contest
To be chosen on the basis of
ticket sales plus poise and ap- 1
pearance, a king and queen 1
! will reign over the Wasilla j
grade school carnival tomor- j
row, Oct. 26, in the Wasilla j
Grade School gymnasium. The
carnival will begin at 6 p.m. j
Five girls and three boys,
chosen by organizations and
clases in the junior high school,
have qualified for the contest
by selling $10 worth of raffle
tickets apiece. The prize in the
drawing will be a Zenith tran
sistor radio.
Girls who have qualified are
Shirley Fitzgihbon, Sharon
Reeder, Maurine Andrew, Shel
iah Reddington, and LeAnn
Harbeson. Boys are Tom Crim
mons, Frank Ciawford, and
Jim Huston.
Emergency Defense Plan Reactivated
An emergency meeting of the
area Civil Defense Committee
was called last evening, and
emergency plans were revised
and brought up to date, a com
mittee member said this morn
ing.
Plans for emergency activa
tion of auxiliary police were
worked out with state and local
law enforcement officers. In
the event of extreme emer
gency, all traffic except of an
emergency nature will be halt
ed. All food and supplies will
immediately come under ra
tioning plans administered by
the county defense board. No
immediate evacuation, either
in or out of the area, is plan
ned.
If warning time is sufficient
in the event of an attack, school
children will be taken home.
Otherwise, they will be kept in
the school shelters and under
school responsibility. Emergen
cy care for several days can be
provided from available school
supplies.
If an emergency comes, peo
ple are to stay at home in the
best shelter available.
Telephone lines will be re
connected to allow for emer
gency information only. Emer
gency communications plans
are in readiness to bring essen
tial information to every fpmily
as rapidly as possible. In the
event of an attack or alert, the
committee warns members of
the community not to use the
phone. “You will not be able
to complete a call, and you may
prevent essential information
from being communicated
along party lines.”
During an emergency, the
area will be immediately plac
ed under martial law by order
of the Governor.
All families are urged to
check their emergency supplies
of food, water, and shelter nec
essities and to make sure they
have a battery radio.
Additional information on
family and farm protection and
action is available at the Ex
tension office.
Among those present at the
meeting were Louis Bencar
dino, Palmer police chief- state
troopers Luther and Rush, Phii
Everett, Dr. Colberg, W. T.
Zahradnicek, Ronnie MacIn
tyre, Max Clements, Lew
Hanks, Ralph Moore, and Jim
Schubin.
ARA Loan Funds for
Wasilla Plant Likely
A hopeful note for the future ;
economy of the Matanuska Val
ley was sounded by two mem
bers of the Rural Development
Technical Panel for Alaska,
featured speakers at the lunch
eon meeting of the Matanuska
Valley Chamber of Commerce :
yesterday.
John Emerson, assistant U. S. '
regional forester from Juneau, 1
said he believes the Alaska
Hardwoods project will be
found feasible and eligible for
loan funds from the Area Re
development Administration.
Ralph Mills, state coordinator
for REA, in explaining REA's
position on the conditional
agreement placed on their $1,
500,000 construction and trans
mission loan to MEA. stated j.
that Chugach Electric Associa
tion has made a new offer for
the sale of power, and he feels
that the problem will soon be
resolved.
Other members of the RAD
technical panel who were
guests at the luncheon were
Albert Hanbright, office man
ager for ASCS. Fairbanks; Ar
thur Buswell, director of exten
j sion services, University of Al
j aska; Bart Oliver, state con
servationist; Sig Restad, state
director of agriculture, Palmer;
Walter Ward, state director of
j Smith-Hughes services. Pal
mer; Tom Bichsel, state ARA
j representative; Prent Gazaway,
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Jun
eau; A. Q. Stine, state supervi
sor for FHA; Jay Grant, Chu
gach forest supervisor, Anch
I orage; and Frank Bailey, in
charge of state and private for
: estry, Juneau.
Emerson described the func
tion of the panel as a group set
up by the U. S. Department of
Agriculture to review programs
which will help in develop
ing the rural areas of the state.
In determining whether
there is enough timber of good 1
quality available in the Wasil
la area to justify loan financing
for a hardwoods plant there,
two specialists were brought in
to carry on a training school for
determining quantity and qual
ity of the birch stand, the for
ester said.
Emerson stated that the next I
step will be to cruise the area
to determine quantity and qual-,
ity of the timber stand. Last
week money was made avail
able for the work in the amount j
of $10,000, Emerson said, but I
idded that the season is too
'ar advanced to get started this
'all. Cruising will begin as soon
is weather permits in the
;pring. A mill study will also
)e necessary, he said, for
vhich a number of logs and
;everal days' use of the Wasil
a mill facilities will be need
id.
The forester said that the
easibility of a hardwoods mill
n the Talkeetna area is also
Deing considered.
"I think the Wasilla mill will
ie found eligible to receive
oan funds,” Emerson said. “Al
though I cannot make a defin
te statement at this time, I see
ao reason why it should not
be.”
Ralph Mills, REA coordina
tor for Alaska, was asked to ex
plain REA’s position in placing
a conditional hold on the pend
ing MEA loan. Since general
funds have already been con
siderably depleted for construc
tion purposes, MEA faces a per
sonnel cutback Nov. 1
“Our position is simply this,”
he said. “It’s silly to build a
line to someone’s house if you
haven’t enough kilowatts to
hook him up. The 5000 KWs
of power out of the Eklutna
plant will not supply suffic
ient power for the projected
construction program, and on
this basis we cannot justify re
leasing the loan funds.”
He pointed out that Chugach
Electric Association has offer
ed a contract for power to MEA
which the board of directors
felt was unfair and not accept
able. “I respect the decision of
the board and the manager in
rejecting this contract,” he said.
“They are an intelligent group
of businessmen who are trying
to find the best course of ac
tion for the association.”
Because they found the CEA
contract unacceptable, they
were willing to listen to a pro
posal from the city of Anchor
age for the sale of power, Mills
added. A contract was drawn
up and sent to REA, which, for
technical reasons, was rejected
by the Washington, D.C. office.
“However,” he stated, “CEA
has very recently made a new
affer for the sale of power. I
feel that MEA’s problem in re
gard to personnel cutbacks and
curtailed construction will be
solved very soon.”
( Continued on page 5)
POLITICAL CANDIDATES OF BOTH PARTIES
APPEAR IN PALMER, VALLEY MEETINGS
In the final weeks before the
general election, the campaign
for both political parties has
been stepped up, with a Repub
lican rally last Saturday eve
ning at Williwaw lodge, attend
ed by Mike Stepovich. Lowell
Thomas, Jr., Bob Stratton,
Brad Phillips, campaign chair
man for Stepovich, and Eugene
Reid.
On the Democratic side,
Congressman Ralph Rivers,
candidate for reelection oppos
ed by Thomas, visited the Mat
anuska Valley on Tuesday,
touring the Sutton mines in the
morning and meeting with area
r
residents at the Community
Hall. A luncheon in his honor
was given at the Frontier Cafe
in Palmer at noon, and a coffee
hour at Wasilla was held in
mid-afternoon, where the vis
itor was greeted by a band
made up of community chil
dren. A dinner was served in
the evening at the Willow
Community Hall.
Candidates of both parties
were apprised of local problems
in question and answer periods,
and gave their views on such
subjects as mine mouth pow
er, secondary roads, and farm
legislation.
1
Firemen's Ball
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27-9 P.M.
ELKS HALL
Excellent Band
Prizes for Costumes
VOTE
NavtaiMr Mh
FOR
iIRblDRR HIRRIIN RERTTUliR