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HOSPITAL
BENEFIT SHOW
VALLEY THEATER. Tonighi
< Staowt: 7 & 9 P.M.
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
PALMER. ALASKA. THURSDAY. APRIL 26, 1956
TRY A FRONTIERSMAN
CLASSIFIED AD for that
'!'? Bom you may haw for sale,
.' reni or lease.
PRICE TEN CENYS
VOLUME 9. NUMBER 27
Old MEA Board
Refutes Election
A nominating committee was
named by the Matanuska Electric
Association, at the April 23 meet
rag, for a proposed special mem
bership meeting at which time
members will be asked to vote to
.fill three seats on the Board.
The decision to hold the special
meeting and to name the nomin
ating committee was the results
of letters of protest received by
the Board concerning the method
of election used at the annual
membership meeting held April
14 when members voted to fill
the vacancy in spite of a warn
ing from the attorney that they
might risk having the vote con
tested, caused by the resignation
of Charles Wilson April 14. By
laws of the association stipulate
that notice of election must be
given the membership 30 days
prior to the election
MEA attorney, John Shaw, told
board members that saying the
election was illegal did not mean
th&t it was a crime . . . but that
the Articles of Incorporation and
By-laws were not compiled with
. .. which means that board mem
bers elected April 14 are open to
attack in courts ... it means not
that the election was void but
voidable, and could toe declared
void by a court.
Justine Parks, meeting chair
man .stated that she feels an
other election will see the same
men elected. “I do not want to
see a new Board take over under
the conditions caused toy the elec
tion at the annual meeting. If it
is allowed this year the same
thing could happen to the new
board next year—and the next.”
A resolution’ was passed by the
board which upheld the protests
and called for a special member
ship meeting as soon as possible.
Phil O. Neil, Bruce Graham, and
Mrs. Parks voted yes; Charles
Wilson, (who was sitting on the
Board until replaced) and Aaron
Combs voted no. James Hurley,
wbo drew the greatest number of
votes at the-annual meeting was
unanimously seated to fill the
vacancy caused by the resigna
tion of Charles Wilson. Hurley
agreed to serve, after learning
that the special meeting is to be
called.
The nominating committee, all
MEA members, wuE meet May 3
to make nominations. Presumed
ly the*' special meeting will be
called as soon after that as the
by-laws permit. During the wait
ing period C. Ivan Branton and
Harold Thuma, the other two
members elected to the Board on
April 14, have been invited to sit
in at all meetings of the Board of
Directors.
CO-OP ANNOUNCES
EVENING HOURS
Three departments in the Ma
tanuska Valley Farmers Cooper
ating Association will remain
open each Thursday night, be
ginning May 3, it was announced
this week. They are the Ware
house, Garage and Trading Post.
They will remain open until 9
pun. each Thursday, at least
throughout the summer.
PLACE ORDERS NOW FOR
CORSAGES FOR THE PROM
Maud's Flower Shop
Theatre Bldg.
Closed April 30 and May 1
OPEN REGULAR HOURS
STARTING MAY 2
VALLEY BEAUTY SHOP
Phone 3043
LAVONNE JOHNSON
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IFIRE DEPARTMENT
WILL ASSIST IN
BURNING GRASS
Anyone planning to bum >
grass was this week requested ;
by .Fire Chief Joseph Gallant I
to contact the office of the :
Oity Clerk. Members of the ;
volunteer fire department will !;
be available on Tuesday and !;
Thursday evenings to sfiper- ;
vise or assist in burning off \
vacant lots or open areas of \
dried grass. If neither night is j
convenient for the resident 1
possible other arrangements !
Will be made. During the haz
ardous dry season now on, ;
Chief Gallant stated that no \
open burning of grass, stump j;
rows or the like, should be 1
done without first contacting >
him. Because of limited fire
fighting equipment, there are ;!
no portable pieces which may «;
be loaned but the fire depart-';
ment, will cooperate to the
best of their ability in assist- /
ing residents who wish to
bum. No open fires will be al
lowed without permit.
Chief Gallant warned also ;
about over-loading incinera- ;
tors. “Many grass fires are >
caused when burning refuse ;>
falls to the ground”, he point
ed out and warned against ;;
leaving a fire unattended at;
any time. j;
Dance Planned at
USAR Training
Center Open House
The grand opening of the new
Army Reserve Training Center in
the Hagen building has been an
nounced by Company “C”, 180th
Engineer Battalion, of Palmer.
Open house will be held April 27,
beginning at 7:30 p.m. and fol
lowing opening ceremonies a
dance, to the music of an orches
tra from the base will be held,
and refreshments served. All resi
dents of the Valley are invited to
attend—admission is, of course,
free.
Company “C” was founded at
Palmer in January, 1955, and is
the largest company in the 180th
Engineer Battalion. It is present
lv commanded by First Lieuten
ant Herbert C. Lang, USAR, of
Palmer. Members of the unit are
taught principles of heavy equip
ment operation and maintenance,
and techniques of engineering as
applied to bridge building, road
construction, and other engineer
ing activities.
A personal invitation has been
sent to all residents of the Ma
tanuska Valley; all local civic of
ficials, military officials of Head
quarters, U. S. Army, Alaska.
The new Training Center will
serve the entire Matanuska Val
ley.
LEGION SEEKS HELP
IN CLEANING OF
CEMETERY GROUNDS
Members of the Matanuska
Valley American Legion Pbst
have set Friday afternoon, May
4, as the date on which they will
be clearing the Palmer Cemetery
for the summer. All organiza
tions and interested individuals
are urged to participate in this
Legion project and help get the
local cemetery in top condition
for Memorial Day. All assistance
possible will be needed, and wel
comed, they said this week.
Clean-up work will begin at 5:30
p.m. or as soon after that time
as oossible.
BIG STAGE SHOW
TONIGHT FOR
HOSPITAL BENEFIT
Tonight is the night at the Val
ley Theatre when a big variety
stage show will be presented as
a benefit for tihe Valley hospital.
Whitey Pullen, valley resident,
will bu master-of-ceremonies for
the shows which will be present
ed first at 7 p.m. and again at 9
p.m.
Admission will be by tickets
which are available in Palmer at
Bert’s Drug store and other busi
ness spots; in Wasilla at the
Cocktail Bar; at the Moose Horn
Trading Post and Eagle River
Shopping Center in the Chugiak
section, and from various indivi
duals who volunteered to sell
them—and for. those who have
not purchased tickets at show
time, they will be available at the
box office.
The ticket not only provides
admission to the show, but en
titles each purchaser, whether
present or not, to be eligible for
a Hi-Fi three-speed record play
er which will be awarded during
the evening.
Featured on the program will
be Whitey’s Western Swingsters;
Bobby Saxton known as the wiz
zard of string instruments; Ced
ric Hayseed the biggest clown in
show business; and a tap dance
specialty by Clarisse Isaacson
and Wayne Hunter, as well as
many other featured attractions.
All talent for the show is be
ing donated—the use of the the
atre—all of the work involved in
setting up a big stage show. All
these persons ask is that the
community get behind them and
support their efforts by buying
tickets and attending the show
JUDGE SETS
MAY 29 DATE OF
SPECIAL ELECTION
Judge J. L. McCrarrey, Jr., has
set May 29 as the date for a spe
cial annexation election to be
held in Palmer. No opposition
to the proposal was heard at a
public hearing held iji District
Court in Anchorage last Frj^tay.
Qity residents will vote in the
special election for or against an
nexing the proposed 40 acres to
the city of Palmer. The area con
cerned includes the new high
school to which city protection
will be extended as soon as the
area is annexed.
Although Judge MoCrarry
agreed that a savings would be
possible if the special election
had been held this past Tuesday
at the same time as the Primary
Election, he said that he felt that
a primary or general election
should not be “clouded by local
tissues”, and set the May 29 date
for the election.
TRUCK/ TRAIN
COLIDE AT CROSSING
Extensive damages to a 1950
Chevrolet pick-up truck driven
bv Dr. Richard Washburn of the
Experiment Station occurred on
Wednesday of this week when
the truck and a railroad car be
ing pushed by a switcher collided
at the railroad crossing opposite
from Tost’s Service. Although not
seriously injured. Dr. Washburn
did suffer several bruises in the
mishap.
Dr. Washburn said to officials
that he neither heard the train’s
signal nor observed it’s approach.
City police investigated the ac
cident. Both the truck and train
were traveling at very low
speeds.
PHYSIOTHERAPIST TO SPEAK
Members of the local Nurses
Association axe reminded of their
regular meeting tonight at the
Health Center at 8 p.m. Maxine
Holtzclaw, physiotherapist with
the Anchorage Department of
Health will be present and speak
to the group on physiotherapy.
BENEFIT CEREBRAL PALSY
DINNER-DANCE
Palmaa Clhi. Jlarne, Sat., AjvUl 28
• DINNER - 6:30 - 8:30 P.M.
• FLOOR SHOW-11 KM P.M.
• DRAWING ON GUN AND IRONER AT MIDNIGHT
$2.50 per person $2.50 per couple, dance only
PUDUC CORDIALLY INVITED
Public Invited
To Cerebral Palsy
Benefit at Elks
The oublic is invited to attend
the Palmer Elks cerebral palsy
benefit dinner-dance to be held
at Elks hall Saturday evening,
April 28. Dinner will be served
from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at $2.50
per person; followed at 10 p m. by
dancing to the tunes of an An
chorage orchestra. Those unable
to attend the dinner are welcome
to attend the dance. Tickets for
the dance are $2.50 per couple.
At midnight a rifle and an Iron
rite ironer will be awarded, and
a floor show will be presented
during the evening.
The dinner menu will certain
ly provide a selective meal for
those attending. There will be a
choice of roast top round, bar
bequed beef, corn beef, chicken
noodles, mashed potatoes, gravy,
relishes, vegetables, salads, garlic
bread, dessert, and coffee.
All proceeds from the benefit
dinner dance will go towards the
lodge’s Cerebral Palsy fund- Each
Elks lodge in Alaska has a year
ly quota to meet in this terri
tory-wide Elks project. Now in
their third year, Alaskan Elks
have provided for four theraphy
units, one of which is mobile and
is taken up and down the Alas
kan highways providing care and
theraphy for children who are
unable to to go the three station
ary clinic units in Juneau, Ko
diak, or Fairbanks. The mobile
unit is headquartered at Anch
orage. Although there are no
known cerebral palsy patients in
the immediate Palmer area, the
unit does make visitations in the
highway north section.
PHS Band, Chorus
Gel High Ratings
Members of the Palmer High
School music department who
participated in the annual Music
Festival, held in Fairbanks last
week, returned to the area Sun
da^ morning ,tired, but triumph
ant The group returned with
cornpliments and fine ratings,
earned by their performances in
the Festival.
The groups, consisting of the
chorus and band, were rated on
grades from one to five. The band
was rate three (good); Muriel
Hanks’ clarinet solo was rated
two (excellent); as was Pat Zab
orac’s saxaphone solo; the
clarinet quartet consisting of
Elizabeth Shook, Muriel Hanks,
Karen Aklestad, and Faye Per
singer was raiea inree; ana me
brass sextet, consisting of Allyn
Wilson, J. C. Harder, Bill Wim
mer, Jim Cottrell, Colin Mick,
and John Maze, was rated one
(superior). The rating is not yet
back on. the baton twirling. The
sextet and Muriel Hanks, twirler,
were selected to present their
numbers during the Saturday
night program oif massed bands
and choruses.
The chorus group was rated
two (excellent) as were all en
sembles which consisted of a
quartet of Jennetta Hughes, Mar
ie Bennett, Mecar Galeshoff, and
Laddie Huntley; a trio of Muriel
Hanks, M. Bennett, and Mildred
Oonkle; and a triple trio of Jen
netta Hughes, Sharon Downing,
Joan Fancher, M. Hanks, Joan
Stephan, M. Bennett, Darlyne
Brager, Wilda Harris and M.
Conkle.
Jennetta Hughes of the chorus
section and Allyn Wilson of the
band each received outstanding
musician trophies for their work
this year in their respective
groups. The awards are made an
nually by schools participating in
the Festival and are based on the
student’s cooperation, sense of re
sponsibility, and musicianship.
The trip was very successful,
according to Lee Flumibley band
master and Mrs. Lois Weldon,
chorus director. “The students
were very well behaved and
earned many compliments”, they
stated. The directors joined in ex
tending their thanks for the co
operation of the community in
helping them earn money for the
trip. Enough money was raised
(Continued on Page 5)
Equalization Hearings
Set by School Board
Members of the Palmer In
dependent School District
board of directors will convene
as a Board of Equalization to
hear protests, if any, on 1956
School District tax assess
ments. The meeting will be
held in the Board chambers at
Central School on May 2 at 8
p.m. Notice of appeal m writ
ing must be filed with the tax
assessor by 5:00 pjn. May 1,
in order to be considered.
Valley Approves
Territorial Constitution
; Warm Weather Weeks :
Ahead of Last Year
I The warm, and greatly ap- !
; predated spring days the'Val- ;
;! ley has enjoyed this week ;
! just might be a for-runmer of ;
; things to come. Last year at
this time residents were still ;!
; looking for warm weather, in;I'
’ fact, it was the sixth of June
;! before the temperature went !;
; up to the 61 and 62 degrees ;
; recorded on Sunday, Monday, ;l
; aind Tuesday of this week, ac- '
cording to Max Sherrod, wea
! ther recorder. A number of ■
! residents have sighted ducks !;
; and geese returning for their I
> summer in the north, and con- ;
vertible cars, with tops down, \
have been seen quite frequent- ;
; ly. So . . . maybe it isn’t going '
;! to snow again this winter ... I
!; spring . . . summer. i
Health Officer
Says No Cause
For Alarm in Area
City Health Officer, Dr. John
Burnett, stated today there is no
need for alarm among area resi
dents in regards to cerebrospinal
meningitis. Although clinic re
ports have indicated that the dis
ease was contracted by a Palmer
boy, no other cases have been re
ported in the city of Palmer, as
stated in an Anchorage newspa
per Wednesday night.
“Some individuals are particu
larity suseptible to the disease”.
Dr. Burnett pointed out. “Were
we to take culture exams we
would probably find at least 50
percent of the valley residents
have the bacteria in ‘A air systems
—tests taken over a period of a
! year would probably show that
at some time 90 percent of the
residents would have the bacter
ia present”. The doctor suggested
that parents see that their chil
dren are receiving adequate vit
amin intake; adequate rest; and
that the children do not become
chilled or over-tired. These are
precautionary recommendations
that are made each year by phy
sicians all over the world.
Children exposed to the Pal
mer meningitis case have receiv
ed prophylactic therapy. How
ever, the doctor stressed, there
is no danger of the spread of the
disease.
A •1'ecord primar>r vote was re
corded in Palmer in the primary
election held April 24. A total
of 650 voters turned out in Pal
mer’s two precincts and voted to
ratify the proposed Alaska Con
stitution r 318 for ratification, 293
against.
Democratic voters chose Ke
fauver over Stevenson, 120- 112;
and Republicans gave 216 votes
to Eisenhower and 14 to Know
land in the presidential prefer
ence* poll.
Other results were in the two
precincts were as follows: DELE
GATE: Bartlett (D) 323: Gilliam
. (R) 191: Wood (D) 76. HIGHWAY
ENGINEER: Metcalf (D) 194:
Reed (R) 184, Davis (D) 164, Ey
inck (D) 18. ATTORNEY GEN
ERAL: Williams (D) 287, Sand
ers (R) 266. TERRITORIAL SEN
ATE: McKinlev (R) 346, Dimock
(R) 236, Rivers (D) 205, Bailey
(D) 123, Moody (D) 115, Johnson
(D) 69.
TERRITORIAL HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES: Snodgrass
(R) 330, Fink (R) 292, Johnson,
Ken (D) 250. Alvord (R) 240, Hit
chcock (I) 230, Fischer, Vic (D)
211, Buckalew (D) 204, Fischer,
Mrs. E. A. (D) 202, Metcalf, Irwin
(D) 202, Rvan, Irene (D) 195, Cul
ver (R) 195, Hillstrand (D) 185,
MacKay (R) 185, Tatro (R) 176,
Young (D) 176. Anderson (R),
171, Rosswog (R) 162, Wharton
(R) 159, Martin (R) 155, Cottis
(R) 154, Palmer (D) 149, Awes
(D> 148, Norene (D) 145, Andrews
(D) 133, Poe (D) 102, Boyer (D)
99. Fields (D) 95, Duncan (D) 93,
Maffei (D) 75, Seitz (D) 58.
- NATIONAL COMMITTEE
MAN: (D) Miller 162. (R) Hickel
127, Benson 96. _
NATIONAL COMMITTEEWO
MAN: (D) Fischer 170. (R) Reeve
165, Ringstad 38.
ALASKA-TENNESSEE PLAN:
317 for: 227 against.
ABOLITION OF FISH TRAPS:
I 521 for; 85 against.
Judges in Precinct I (city)
were Lucille Curry, Clara Ruzby
and Nan Curtis. They completed
counting their ballots at 5 a.m.
April 25. Judges in Precinct II
(outside city) were Helen Scott,
Carol Stephan and Laura Barry.
Their ballots were completed at
7:45 a.m. April 25. Isabelle Wook
cock was the first to cast a ballot
in the city precinct and Mrs. AI
Brooks the first outside the city.
Watch for big Money
prizes offered by your
Chamber of Commerce!!
Coming soon!!
NOTICE
I have noted that many people have not filed « P«“nd
property return for 195S. particularly businesses, ind p• Pj*
renting homes and apartments. Others owning aut<*' alrpla“**
trailers etc. have not filed, or have failed to file on all they own.
After Mav 3rd the assessor will file a return for all parties
whom we discover have failed to file or to list all their proper y.
Personal property includes not 'only your household good*,
but everything you own except money, land and building •
The assessor's return may be any amount he sees fit. and is
not subject to equalization, unless the boarddesiree.If^o
have any questions, or want forms, please call at assessors
office over the bank.
WM WAKELAND
Assessor
School District and City
Re-Opening
Williwaw Lodge
on Lake Was’rila
Fine Foods - Excellent Drinks
SATURDAY, MAY 5TH
Open house will not be held until May 15,
from 7 ’till 10 P.M. due to road conditions
Everybody is cordially invited
A la carte dinners during week
Special Dinners on Sundays
PAT, FLORENCE and JAY