mii
- —■— -—————
VOLUME 10. NUMBER 15 PALMER. ALASKA THURSDAY. JANUARY 31. 1957 PRICE TEN CENTS
---------
JASPER SKOK
SERIOUSLY INJURED
IN MINE MISHAP
Jasper Skok, popular and well
known local miner was seriously
injured about 2 o’clock last Tues
day afternoon in an accident at
the Evan Jones Coal mine.
Skok was rushed to Valley
Presbyterian hospital where he
is on the seriously injured list.
According to Dr. Bailey, Jasper
has serious back and internal in
juries.
Mine superintendent Claud
Murphy reported that Skok was
working in No. 3 Seam. He had
gone into the coal chute to start
the coal running when a 200
pound lump of coal crashed throu
gh the opening between timbers,
knocking Skok over.
He was given first aid treat
ment immediately by fellow min
ers who were working nearby
before being rushed to the hos
pital.
LOCAL CREDIT UNION
ELECTS NEW OFFICERS
Matanuska Valley Federal
Credit Union voted to pay a 5%
dividend to all shareholders, at
their regular meeting held Janu
ary 23 at 8 p.m. in the basement
of the Co-Op general office build
ing.
Three new members were elect
ed to office, Mrs. Ina Norbo as a
director, Karla Duff to credit
committee and Herb Lang to Su
pervisory committee.
The 1957 slate of Officers now
reads as follows: President, Sam
Woolcock; Vice President, Virgil
Eckert; Secretary, Grace Edelman;
Treasurer, Dexter Bacon; Credit
Committee; George Small, Karla
Duff, Carol Stephan; Supervisory
Committee: P. Gaza way, Dolores
Pommier, Herb Lang.
The officers also serve as the
board of directors for the organ
ization.
MVCU now has over $90,000.00
in assets according to treasurer,
Dexter Bacon.
I Make Appointments Early !j
for the [
PURPLE BUBBLE BALL !;
VALLEY BEAUTY SHOP j;
LAVONNE JOHNSON 5
Phone 3043 j
| MARCH OF DIMES jj
| BENEFIT DANCE j
| Saturday, March 2 j
ELKS HALL [
V^VWWWS<»WVWNA^WWWWWWW
COUNCIL j
j NOTES J
An irate group of local garage
owners appeared before the City
Council at the postponed regular
meeting held in the basement of
the City Hall last Friday after
loon.
The garagemen were slightly
rankled and “put out” at city offi
cials for allowing major repair
work on the city grader to be
done by a garageman outside the
city limits and who does not pay
city business property taxes.
After several exchanges of
pointed questions and tense re
marks, between councilmen and
garagemen, the city street com
mittee assumed all blame, assert
ing it was purely an oversight as
the result of a hastily made de
cision to meet what was consid
ered an emergency.
The matter was dropped amic
ably by majority of the protest
ing garage owners when city offi
cials agreed to use more discre
tion in similar matters.
* * * *
Aletter from MEA and the Co
Op requested additional time for
filing of paving petitons. Request
was granted.
* * *
District Director of Civil De
fense, Ed Fortier, requesting by
letter that the primary CD crush
er now in possession of Palmer
be’ lept to Petersburg until that
city’s paving is completed was
granted unanimously. Under the
agreement with CD, Petersburg is
to return the primary crusher
along with a^secondary crusher,
to Palmer later in the summer.
* * *
Another letter from J. C. Daum,
representative for National Se
curities Corp., offering his agen
cy’s service to sell city obligation
bonds on an exclusive agency
basis was temporarily shelved
pending replies from other brok
ers.
A motion by Hagen, seconded
by Lancaster called for advertis
ing of bids from other bond deal
ers; bids to specify 6% interest
limit with exclusive agency
clause. Motion was passed unani
mously.
Stewart DurrSht and Jack
Maze, representing Railroad and
Co-Op Avenue petitioners sug
gested the city investigate the
practicality of holding all city
paving to a 24 foot strip. Under
this plan more streets could be
paved where traffic appears to
be heaviest, thereby alleviating
more of the dust problem. The
council agreed to consider the
suggestion.
* * #
Councilmen Hagen, Logsdon,
and Zahradnicek were appointed
to draft an assessment rate sched
ule for paving costs to be borne
(Continued on Page 8)
- r^;.T~r.——,
ELKS ATTENTION
ANNUAL
Purple Bubble Ball
SATURDAY, FERRUARY 9
IOP.M.-2 A.M.
Elks and Their Ladies
ELKS HOME
Arvo Kallio
Horticulturist
Kiwanis Speaker
Mr. Arvo Kallio, horticulturist
with, the University of Alaska at
Fairbanks was guest speaker at
the regular luncheon meeting of
the local Kiwanis club, last Mon
day.
Mr. Kallio reported on his trip
to Finland where he spent almost
four months making observations
of the country’s economy.
With use of a blackboard, he il
lustrated his report with many
interesting facts and figures re
vealing that nation’s economic
status.
Kallio’s choice of Finland for
his observations was made be
cause of the simlarity of that
country’s climate and terrain to
Alaska’s.
Other guests at the meeting in
clude Mr. Arthur Buswell, As
sistant Director of the Extension
Service, Fairbanks; Bob Burk
holder, Mammal control super
visor with F. & W. S.; George
Hedla CPA from Anchorage.
BENEFIT DANCE FOR
MARCH OF DIMES
SET FOR MARCH 2
The March of Dimes drive is,
gaining a little momentum, ac
cording to Campaign chairman,
Ed Smith. Many new contribu
tions have come in the past week
from individuals as well as the
following organizations who mail
ed their after last week’s listing:
Valley Cleaners, Spring Creek
Farm (Louise Kellogg).
The Co-Op cafe is sponsoring a
“Burgers for Polio” benefit all
day Saturday, February 9.
This year’s March of Dimes
benefit dance has been set for
Saturday, March 2 at the Elks
home.
HEALTH, SANITATION
MEETING RE-SCHEDULED
The Health and Sanitation
meeting scheduled for the past
Wednesday evening was cancell
ed due to lack of attendance. An
other meeting has been set for
next Thursday evening, Febru
ary 7, at 8 p.m. in Dr. Colberg’s
office.
TAX ASSESSOR
CLARIFIES FILINGS
Friday, February 1 is the last
day tax payments for 1956 may
be made without payment of 15%
penalty, according to William
Wakeland, tax assessor. Payments
can be mailed and will not be
penalized if postmarked Febru
ary 1, or earlier.
Friday is also the last day for
filing 1957 personal property re
turns. The assessor advises peo
ple who have not filed by Feb
ruary 1, to file a late return, rath
er than none at all. This is for
their own protection.
The assessor notes that many
personal property returns already
on file do not list or describe their
automobiles. Failure to do so will
result in higher assessment when
discovered.
The assessor clarifies two mis
understandings circulating among
car owners. The first of these is
that he will not take the car in
formation off the Commissioner’s
registration, as rumored; the other
is that vehicles under 1 ton clas
sification do not include pas-.
senger cars. Passenger cars how
ever, definitely come under the
classification.
People are urged to list and
describe their vehicles. If it re
mains for the assessor to do so,
assessments may be hgiher, due
to the time involved. Normally,
the assessor fills in only valua
tions.
Those failing to list and des
cribe their vehicles should notify
the assessor immediately. No pen
alty charges will be made for
amending returns.
KIWANIS CLUB
NAMES COMMITTEES
FOR MINSTREL SHOW
The annual Kiwanis minstrel
show has been tentatively set for
April 5 and 6, according to Presi
dent Marv Slaughter.
Committees for the production
were named at last Monday’s
meeting. On the script committee
are Roscoe Taylor, Jim Hurley,
and Dr. Allan Mick; advertising
and program Bob Pippel and A. J.
DeJulio; tickets and house, Ed
Smith and George Crowthers;
costumes Emil Ganschow; light
ing, Herb Lang.
:— -—-i
VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL
RELEASES YEAR-END REPORT
ine year ena report ana nnan
cial statement recently released
by Valley Presbytefian Hospital
shows tremendous improvement
in hospital operations for the year
1956.
Quoting from the report, “The
hospital entered the year owing
some $20,000 in accounts payable.
In mid-d956 the Employment Se
curity Commission claimed $2,457
in delinquent taxes for 1955. A
previously reported figure of $17,
659 in accounts payable as of De
cember 31, 1955, was therefore
adjusted upwards by this amount.
During the year an ^additional
$144,500 was spent or obligated
from the general fund for opera
tions. Total accrued operating ex
penditures or obligations at the
end of the year thus amounted to
about $164,000.
Offsetting these was $807 cash
in bank when the .year opened.
Cash collections (excluding do
nations and temporary funds)
during the year were a little over
$143,000. Total operational resour
ces available were thus about
$144,000. The Finance Committee
during the year built up a cash
reserve of $6,000 to be held in
the bank so that monthly pay
rolls could be promptly paid.
This left $138,000 to apply against
the year’s obligations. The year
closed with the hospital still ow
ing anoui $zo,uuu v«>io%uuu less
$138,000) in accounts.”
During the year a total of 815
adults and children were admit
ted as inpatients. This is an in
crease of 17 percent over the pre
vious year, for a total of $135,897.
Out patient records show 1,422
persons were treated for various
illnesses and injuries, totaling
$11,268. The 1955 record listed
only 883 patients.
Actual cash collections (exclud- !
ing contributions) amounted to
$143,345 as compared to $117,558
in 1955 a 22 percent increase.
Firmer efforts to tighten up on
collections were undoubtedly re
flected in these figures.
Blue Cross is now paying high
er benefits, according to the re
port, and persons covered by Blue
Cross policies do not have to
make advance deposits when ad
mitted to the hospital.
Deposits of $100 are still re
quired for surgery and maternity
cases. Blue Cross allows only $75
for maternities, which makes the
deposit essential.
The following tabulation gives
a clearer accounting of the opera
tions for 1956 by comparison to
the year 1955.
Auditing was done by George
Hedla, of Kincaid and Hedla,
Anchorage auditing firm.
(Financial report on page 5)
I
Fairbanks Malemutes
Play Local Moose
In Weekend Games
The Fairbanks high school bas
ketball team (Malemutes) arrived
by train this morning to engage
the local high school Moose in
games Friday and Saturday
nights.
In a previous game between the
teams, Palmer led for three ex
citing quarters in two games play
ed, but lost out in the final stan
zas to suffer defeat. This w.eek’s
games are expected to be “cork
ers”.
Coach Rousey’s junior varsity
team wiil play preliminary games
both nights, starting at 7 p.m.
sharp. Friday they take on Was
illa High and Saturday they play
the local Co-Ops.
The two game series played by
Palmer and Seward over the last
weekend, gave the local Moose
a winning score of 48 to Seward’s
43. In Saturday’s game the local
boys lost by a score of 28 to 54.
Probable Moose lineup for this
week’s games will have McKech
nie, Trowbridge, Loyer, Leek,
Verral, Herman, Pearson J., Pear
son T., Estelle and Boulter, ac
cording to Coach Chatterton.
SECOND WILD GAME
HEARING HELD
LAST THURSDAY
The second wildgame hearing
held last Thursday evening in
the Valley Theatre clarified only
one major point. Most of the eve
ning was used in reviewing what
had been covered in a previous
hearing. - *
Holgar Larson, Wildlife Agent
and other officials conducted the
meeting.
Sportsmen were given clarifica
tion on the fact that any 5 year
resident is permitted to take a
non-resident hunter on a hunting
expedition if the non-resident
hunter cannot find a guide suit
able or to his liking. However,
there is the limitation that such
guide can make only one expedi
tion. This law has b,een in effect
many years, but apparently not
known to many of the sportsmen
in the territory.
Guides from Fairbanks and Ko
diak were present at the meeting.
U. S. ARMY, ALASKA
BACKS SAFETY PROGRAM
With only one traffic fatality
on the books to mar the 1956
period, its best record in ten years,
United States Army, Alaska, has
joined with Department of the
Army and other agencies in sup
port of the National Safety Coum
cil’s program to “Back the At
tack on Traffic Accidents,” in
1957.
The campaign against highway
slaughter began December 1, 1956
and will continue throughout the
coming year
rrvTiWfFsrri
ALL CLEANING
jj 1 for the |
jj L price of I
ON LIKE GARMENTS
Cash and Carry
BROWN’S CLEANERS I
ELECTROCUTED BY
HIGH VOLTAGE IN
PHONE RECEIVER
Johnny Dutchman, 26-year-old
native youth from Mountain
Village, was killed instantly by
a sizzling, high voltage of elec
tricity in a freak accident in the
Wasilla railroad ' yards about
10:30 this morning.
Dutchman was an employee of
the Alaska Railroad extra gang
stationed at Wasilla for the past
few weeks.
According to reports, the youth
was standing on the steel plat
form of a car. When he reached
for the receiver of the jingling
telephone, the high surge of
power killed him instantly.
Cause of the high voltage in
the telephone line is attributable
to dropping of a hot power line
onto the railroad's telephone line
in Anchorage.
Reports are that many phones
along the rail line and some
switchboards have been burned
out or damaged by the high vol
tage.
MEA lines were not involved
in the short circuiting.
Dr. Colberg of Palmer was sum
moned to the scene accompanied
by Joe Gallant in the Commun
ity ambulance. Dr. Colberg had
hoped to find the victim alive,
but found the youth had died in
stantly.
The body was taken to the Pal
mer Funeral home by the ambul
ance. Funeral arrangements are
pending.
REPRESENTATIVE
EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
HERE, FEBRUARY 1
A representative of the Terri
torial Employment Service will
be’in Palmer at Carpenters’ hall
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday
February 1.
All persons in the Palmer area
who have filed unemployment
claims or are desirous of doing
so should report to the represen
tative on that date.
This visit takes the place of the
regularly scheduled one for last
Tuesday, January 29, Road con
ditions made ft impossible for the
representative to be here,
I CORSAGES FOR THE >
PURPLE BUBBLE BALL >
Telegraph Delivery Service
MAUD'S FLOWER SHOP jl
Theatre Bldg. Phone 3601
CO-OP CAFE
;! Burgers for Polio
Benefit
All proceeds from hamburgers j|
;! sold during Saturday, Febru
;! ary 9 will go to the March of !;
Dimes benefit. 1;
Dance Green Acres, Saturday, Feb. 2
OLD TIME MUSIC GOOD TIME FOR ALL - 9 P.M.