Thought of the Week:
After all, tha republic is
is not going to tha dogs, re
gardles of what happens to be
the outcome of the political
IT
ALASKA '1ST: I CAL SO Cl Lit
3 MUSEUM
30X 2051
Jurtw A'U <i L A Z) - A .. '• ■
The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IM THE INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
St Michael's
Harvest Smorgasbord
Elks Hall
Sat.. Oct. 20—6-9 p.m.
PALMER. ALASKA. THURSDAY. OCT. 18, 1962
PRICE 15 CENTS
VOLUME 15. NUMBER 4
SIXTEEN PAGES
Reporters—
Notebook
Mr. and Mrs. Loyd Watts and
family, Donna, Brenda, and An
thony, ten-year residents of the
Valley, plan to leave soon for
Shelbyville, Tennessee, where
Watts and Ivan (Tennessee)
Cook have purchased a bowling
alley, the Eagle Bowl. The
Watts business here, Palmer
Skateland, has been sold to
Curly Sutton. Loyd will return
to Tennessee by air, and Mrs.
Watts and the children, accom
panied by Donna’s finance Don
Odom, will drive out. The
young couple plan their wed
ding in Shelbyville shortly.
* * *
Mr. and Mrs. L. M. DePriest
have returned from Seattle,
where Mr. DePriest underwent
surgery at Virginia Mason Hos
pital. Recuperating at home, he
says he is glad to be back.
Heinie Snider and Dr. Foster
Sims visited him at Virginia
Mason, as did Ed Christianson,
former Palmer resident now
living in California.
* * *
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph (Joe and
Tommy) Reid and son Frankie
of Willow met with sudden cal
amity Sunday, Oct. 14, on the
first leg of a vacation trip to
Louisville, Kentucky, when the
exhaust of their car backfired
and set the vehicle afire. The
accident occurred just as they
pulled into Mentaska Lodge at
Mile 78 on the Tok cutoff. The
car, not covered by insurance,
was a total loss. The family
also lost part of their clothing.
Friends at Glennallen, Ted and
Midget Richey, formerly of
Willow, picked them up and
brought them back to Anchor
age, where the Reids took a
plane for Louisville on Oct. 16.
* * *
The sixth grade class of Du
ane Jacoby at Central School
visited the Frontiersman of
fice Monday afternoon to get
first-hand information for a
journalism unit the class is
now studying. They plan to
climax the unit by putting out
their own newspaper.
MEA Faces Labor, Construction Layoffs
CariMatn Haard
In Livaly Snswa
About 80 persons, excluding
i the candidates, gathered at
Elks hall in Palmer on Oct. 11
to hear office-seekers from
both political parties present
their views. The panel session,
moderated by Mrs. L. F. (Lib
by) Martin was followed by a
lively question-and-answer pe
riod during which candidates
were called upon to express
their views on affairs of par
ticular local concern.
Politicians who expressed
their views in the five minutes
allotted them were Mike Step
ovich, George Hayes speaking
for Gov. Egan, Ted Stevens,
Bill Henry speaking for Sen.
Ernest Gruening, Lowell Tho
mas, Jr., Nick Begich, Eugene
Reid, Jalmar Kerttula, and
Samuel Lightwood. Bob Strat
ton, just returned from a West
Coast trip, was unable to get
here in time for the panel ses
sion, but talked with Palmer
voters during the coffee hour
following the meeting.
The candidates’ meeting was
sponsored by the Palmer
League of Women Voters.
Rtpiblicai Dinner
Honors Candidates
Republicans will honor Mike
Stepovich, Lowell Thomas. Jr.,
Eugene Reid, and Bob Stratton
at a GOP Rally and dinner on
Saturday, Oct. 20, at Williwaw
Lodge at 8 p.m.
Those wishing to attend the
rally are asked to make reser
vations with Henry Corbin in
Palmer, or Williwaw Lodge at
Wasilla. The charge will be $5
per person.
Voters will be given an op
portunity to discuss Valley
problems and viewpoints with
their candidates on the local,
state and national level.
Morrison Building
Readied for Use
The Morrison Building, re
cently completed on the cor
ner of Main Street and the
Wasilla-Willow Highway, is
ready for occupancy, Barney
Locke, contractor, reported to
day.
The 40 by 72 foot building is
of reinforced concrete block
construction with steel beams
and tongue and groove roof
decking with insulated built
up roof. A new (to Alaska) and
interesting feature of the build
ing is a suspended self-ventila
ting ceiling.
The thermopane windows set
in aluminum sash, exterior
glass doors, suspended ceiling
and finish floor tile were fur
nished and installed by Fuller
Paint and Glass Company of
Anchorage. Interior doors were
furnished by Glass Sash and
Door Supply, also of Anchor
age.
The complete hot water
heating system as well as all
plumbing and plumbing fix
tures were supplied and install
ed by the K. R. Gillow Plumb
ing and Heating Co. of Wasilla.
Knik Drilling Co., also of Wa
silla, drilled the deep well.
Custom cabinet and wood
work featured in the Wasilla
Bar and Liquor Store occupy
ing the southeast portion of the
building includes the back-bar,
bar, bar trim and wall paneling
which provides a very pleasing
interior.
The balance of the Morri
son building, which is equally
functional and attractive, will
be open for public inspection
during the grand opening of
the Wasilla Bar and Liquor
Store October 19th, Mr. Locke
stated.
Willow Civic Civil Asks Donations
Of looks to lot Library Started
Books, particularly for chil
dren, are the immediate need
of the Willow Civic Organiza
tion in their campaign to build
a library for the Willow com
munity, Mrs. Helen Schelin, re
presenting the civic group, said
this week.
Mrs. Schelin was appointed
chairman of a committee to
formulate plans for the library
at the October meeting of the
community group. Workin'
with her are Mrs. Helen Rhea,
Mrs. Lois Fowler, Mrs. Rosalie
Burner, and Mrs. Georgia
Getts.
The committee is asking for
Chamber President Urges
AU-Ont Effort for Coal
“We have now reached the
fork in the road. One road
complacently leads to the loss
of our coal industry, and our
Palmer and Matanuska Valley
area businesses as well; the
other leads to the mine-mouth
thermal plants becoming a
reality and a prosperous future
for all the valley—but not
without the efforts of every one
of us.”
The above statement was
made by Barney Fish, Matan
uska Valley Chamber of Com
merce president and member of
the state Chamber of Com
merce board of directors, in re
porting to two organizations
this week on the success of his
campaign to bring the coal in
dustry crisis before delegates
to the state Chamber of Com
merce convention in Anchor
age last week.
The local president was in
strumental in bringing about
the adoption of a resolution he
feels may indirectly result in
the salvation of the coal indus
try in Alaska. It reads, “Where
as interim sources of electric
energy are an absolute neces
sity if central Alaska is to avoid
an acute power shortage pend
ing completion of Rampart
Dam, and whereas various
sources of interim power are
available in the railbelt area
by construction of steam plants
using well-head gas or mine
mouth coal to produce thermal
interim low cost power; now,
therefore, be it resolved that
the state Chamber of Commer
ce urge immediate construction
of a power grid linking the
present and future generation
facilities of low cost interim
power to meet the demands of
central Alaska pending comple
tion of Rampart Dam.”
Speaking before a Democra
tic party luncheon on Tuesday
and the local Chamber of Com
merce yesterday, Fish said, “It
is amazing to learn how few
of us . . . seem to have interest
or knowledge concerning the
cost or feasibility of such pro
jects as Bradley Lake as com
Wasilla Grange No. 2
OCTOBER 20 - 5 to 8 P.M.
WASILLA COMMUNITY HALL
Tarkay - Nan
Adult* $2.00 Children to 12-$1.00
Children under 6 Free
Special Family Rates
pared to thermal power pro
duced by mine-mouth coal-fix
ed generators, or a gas-fired
thermal power plant.
“This lack of interest and
knowledge has resulted in the
possibility of a $60 million
‘pork barrel’ project becoming
a reality. If this happens, the
coalindustry may be destroyed
and the Rampart Dam project
will never be.”
The cost of Bradley, limited
to supply the Anchorage area
only, would exceed the cost of
thermal power units that would
supply power to the Valley.
“We need people to develop
industries based on our great
resources, but we need jobs to
attract the people,”-he added.
He pointed out that the $34 mil
lion Eklutna project now em
polys about ten people. On the
other hand, $34 million spent
on mine-mouth plants would
provide year-round employ
ment for over 200 new employ
ees, plus the cheapest power
in the state.
“We need industries to make
it economically feasible to de
velop our enormous hydroelec
tric power potential (Rampart
Dam), but we need low cost in
terim power to attract the in
dustries.”
Fish urged writing members
of the congressional delegation
in Washington. “You elected
them—you have the right to
ask for their support in this
crisis. Let them know that this
is our objective—our plan for
Alaska’s tomorrow. Without
their help and endorsement, the
job will never get done.”
contributions of all kinds of
books, though the greatest need
is for those suitable for child
ren, Mrs. Schelin said. She
pointed out that a number of
Willow children live in isolated
areas and the need for reading
material is great.
Persons who have books they
would like to donate are asked
to leave them with Dick Jones
at the Matanuska Valley Bank
in Palmer. Donations of money
for library supplies may be left
with Mr. Jones or sent to Mrs.
Schelin at P. O. Box 18, Wil
low.
Members of Valley organiza
tions are asked to bring up the
subject of the book drive for
Willow at their club meetings.
The projected library will be
located in the Willow commun
ity building, and will be man
ned by volunteer librarians.
Voters Musi
Register Fer
Bond Election
Voters must register to be
eligible to vote in the bond
election to be held Nov. 6, 1962,
board members of the Palmer
Independent School District
emphasized this week.
Only persons whose names
appear on the tax roles will be
eligible to vote, and husband
and wife ate urged to check to
make sure that both names ap
pear on the rolls. Voters must
also be 19 years of age or old
er, and residents of the school
district for 30 days, and one
year residents in the state of
Alaska.
Taxpayers may register at
the tax office in the Wright
building, before 6 p.m. Satur
day, Nov. 3.
Registration of voters is part
of the law and requirements
of the school district for a bond
election, a spokesman for the
board of directors said.
STATE C OF C DIRECTOR
VISITS HERE WEDNESDAY
Miss Jo Bonavitacola of Jun
eau, director of membership
relations for the Alaska State
Chamber of Commerce, was a
guest at the Matanuska Valley
Chamber of Commerce lunch
eon at the Frontier Cafe Wed
nesday.
Miss Bonavitacola, who
spends much of her time in
visiting Chamber of Commerce
chapters throughout the state,
was in the area to attend the
state convention held in Anch
orage last week.
1936 Baseball
Trophy Restored
By Zahradnicek
Palmer won the baseball tro
phy—back in 1936, that is.
You can see it in the window
of the Matanuska Valley Bank,
where it has recently been
placed after a rescue and re
furbishing job by W. T. Zah
radnick, Palmer Independent
School District superintendent
of schools.
It’s an 18-inch high loving
cup, ornately engraved with
the words, “1936 Matanuska
Valley Baseball Trophy, won
by . . .” There the original en
graving ceases, for no one at
the time bothered to have the
winning team added.
“Mr. Z” recalls having rescu
ed it from rubbish heaps sev
eral times in recent years, and
finally hiding it in his office at
the high school for safe keep
ing. Several weeks ago he
brought it to light again, and
began questioning old-time
residents to learn its history.
“Sure,” said Ray McCartney.
“I played right field, and I
scored the only run in the
game.”
The championship was deter
mined during the first Matan
uska Valley fair, McCartney re
called, with the Palmer Civil
ian Conservation Corps team
playing the Alaska Communi
cations System team from An
| chorage. The CCC group was
I composed of young men who
had been sent here to help in
! establishing the Matanuska
i Valley colony. The bridges ac
j ross the Knik and Matanuska
I Rivers had recently been built,
: giving Anchorage people an op
: portunity to attend the fair.
1 Another team member still in
| Palmer is Louie Burcher, who
• played third base. The rest of
j the lineup included Elmer
Waugh, manager; Bill Young,
umpire; George Sund, pitcher;
Pansy Karlavich. pitcher; Mac
Mullen, catcher; George Small
(now deceased), catcher; John
Jackovich, shortstop: Joe Don
avon, second base; Spike Bak
er, first base; Pete Karlavich, i
right field; Jim DeCeco, center
field; and Walt Jackinskie, left
field.
All these names now appear
on the cup, along with the I
name of the winning team and
the score (1 to 0), through the ,
courtesy of the Heggen Troph- j
ies and Engraving Company in
Anchorage, who added the ad
ditional engraving at the re
! quest of “Mr. Z.”
Who needs the New York
Yankees?
_
Local Auction
Collects Over
$500 for CIC
The local Capital Informa
tion Committee collected in
excess of $500 from their auc
tion held Saturday afternoon in
downtown Palmer.
Items auctioned were donat
ed by local merchants and in
dividuals. The committee would
like to thank all who assisted
in anyway to make the auction
a success, and especially to Jim
Rutt, who volunteered his ser
vices as auctioneer.
Proceeds from the auction
will be used to help the Capital
Information Committee in their
efforts to have Initiative No. 1
passed in the forthcoming gen
eral election.
EMPLOYEE ESCAPES
SERIOUS INJURY
Richard B. Hill, Division, of
Highways employee, suffered
minor bruises in an automo
bile accident on Wasilla Road
early Wednesday.
The car he was driving hit
a slick spot on the France
curve, skidded across the road
and rolled down the embank
ment, landing upside down.
D.C. Meeting Planned
To Avert Reduction
Editor's Note: On page 1
of this issue of the Frontiers
man appears an open letter
written by publisher Ted
Schmidtke to Norman Clapp.
REA administrator. Persons
concerned for the projected
cutback in construction and
the MEA labor force are urg
ed to clip the letter, sign it,
and mail it to the administra
tor in Washington, D. C.
Unless the conditional agree-'
ment placed by REA on loan
funds to Matanuska Electric
Association for distribution
construction is lifted within the
next two weeks, the MEA work
force w'ill have to be reduced
on Nov. 1, and all active line
construction will cease, Mason j
LaZelle, manager, said this
week.
The general fund will no
longer keep such construction !
going if loan funds cannot be
secured to reimburse it, the;
manager stated. He added that
if the loan cannot be released
by Jan. 1, 1963, the organiza
tion will be reduced to a status
where only operation and
maintenance can be handled.
In an effort to forestall the
projected cutbacks, a meeting
has been set up for Oct. 29 in
Senator Gruening’s office in
Washington, D. C., with repre
sentatives of the Alaskan dele
gation meeting with represen
tatives of MEA and with Nor
man Clapp, REA administrator,
LaZelle said.
When the hold was placed or
! the projected loan to MEA, the
\ electric cooperative was told
that it must show REA that it
has access to firm generating
capacity to supply all the po
tential consumers who would
receive power through use of
loan funds, as well as to handle
normal load grow'th.
The period of the loan runs
■
until 1969, LaZelle said, add
ing that there is no capacity
available to any utility in the
area out of present resources
(plus plants now under con
struction) beyond 1966.
‘Therefore, we cannot meet
this criteria at present, and
neither can any other REA co
operative in the area,” he said.
“We do feel that the utilities
must shortly come to an agree
ment among themselves on new
generation, and that the re
lease of loan funds can only
provide more reason to come to
such an agreement.”
The manager pointed out that
MEA has arranged for a con
tract with the City of Anchor
ge, under which the city would
sell power to MEA until Octo
ber, 1964. REA has thus far re
fused to approve this contract,
which has been revised to con
form to REA suggestions and
has once again been sent to
Washington for approval. The
contract offers up to 3000 KW
of power from the City gas tur
bine, at the same price per KW
that MEA is now paying for
Bureau of Reclamation power
from Eklutna. approximately
10.5 mills per KWH.
LaZelle stated that the only
other source which has been
offered MEA to date is through
a contract with Chugach Elec
tric Association, under which
MEA would be required to
commit its 5000 KW allocation
to a pool consisting of all gen
' eration and transmission facil
ities owned by CEA, Homer El
ectric Association, and MEA.
This power, and another 2000
i KW, would have then been
available to MEA at an average
rate which REA figured to be
14.7 mills per KWH.
This would have amounted
to a 40 per cent increase in the
(Continued on page 5)
1
AN OPEN LETTER TO
Norman Clapp
MR. NORMAN M. CLAPP
Administrator
Rural Electrification Administration
U. S. Department of Agriculture
Washington 25, D. C.
DEAR MR. CLAPP
The recent decision by your office to withhold loan funds
for extension of power lines in this area puzzles the local
oopulace, inasmuch as the loan was originally given approval
by your department. When the Matanuska Electric Association
received the final okay from your department, the project
must have been a worthy and feasible one, and in line with
the thinking of your agency.
Now that the general funds of our cooperative have been
expended in the amount of $260,000, it is hard for us to
believe the reasoning behind the withholding of approved
funds.
Overall, the effect on the economy of the Matanuska
Valley will be felt, not only in the immediate future, but also
in the long hard battle for a stable and growing economy.
A cut back in work forces will have to be undertaken
in the mere matter of weeks; to this area, that has been
designated a depressed area by the Area Redevelopment
committee, this means additional unemployment, which, sir,
we DO NOT NEED.
If reluctance to release these funds continues, the payroll
in the Matanuska Valley will fall by over $200,000 a year. To
an area such as ours that is making every effort to upgrade
and improve its economy, problems such as this seem to be
on the ridiculous side.
It is our belief that your agency's intent is to help out
lying areas in their power problems, and not to hinder them,
so it is extremely hard for us to understand your position.
We urgently urge you to release the funds approved for
our cooperative so that we can go forward, in the manner
that we are sure the Rural Electrification Administration would
want us to go.
Sincerely yours,
THE PEOPLE OF THE
MATANUSKA VALLEY
SMORGASBORD
SI. Michael's Altar Society
SATURDAY, OCTIBIR 21th
ELKS HALL
I Ml.-9 ML
Public IivHcA