ALASKA HISTORICAL
LIBRARY
JUNEAU
THE FRONTIERSMAN
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
VOLUME 11, NUMBER 22
PALMER, ALASKA Thursday, March 20. 1958
PRICE TEN CENTS
Matanuska Minstrels
Open Here Tomorrow
At 8:30 tomorrow night cur
tains on stage at Central school
gym will part and the Matanuska
Minstrels of 1958, under the
sponsorship of the Palmer Ki
wanis Club, will get under way.
Glenn McNeese, as Mr. Interlocu
tor will be supported by endmen
Harold “Rastus”^ Stephan; Ed
"Bones” Smith; Marvin "Ozone”
Slaughter; and Jack “Sunbeam”
Maze.
The show, under the direction
of Charles Logsdon, and pro
ducer Jim Wilson, will bring the
"deep south” to Palmer. The 18
voice chorus, directed by Lois
Weldon will present a number of
popular selections. Olga Reger
will be the accompanist.
Some of the other acts will in
clude a dance by Dorothy Camp
bell; the popular Nieman Trio
will be back with the show again
this year; impersonations will
be Bill Miller’s part of the pro
gram; and real “suthun” banjo
music will be presented by Lee
Piumbley.
Tickets for Saturday night’s
show are just about sold out and 1
Friday night tickets are selling
fast, it was stated today. Key
Club memebrs are selling tickets
(and will receive a percentage of
their sales) or they may be pur
chased at Koslosky’s Department
Store, Bettys’, Matanuska Valley
Bank, or Hartley Motors, Inc. Re
served seats are $2; adult general
admission $1.50; children’s gen
eral admission 75 cents.
All new costumes are being
used this year and a sneak pre
view at the dress rehearsal last
night proves they are very color
ful—to say the least.
Over 40 people of the valley
community are participating in
the show, including Plumbley’s
Palmer Plumbers—a new local
cfcna.
Memebrs of the chorus are:
James Cottrell, Sr., James Cott
rell, Jr., Mike Cottrell, Laddie
Huntley, Ethan Paey, Paul Davis,
George Crowther, Jim Woods,
Arloine Logsdon, Wanda Wilson,
Aieen Uzelac, Stephanie Gardner,
Barbara Simpson, Lucy Mick,
Helen Maze, Beverly Aper, Mabel
Wallace, and Florence Dunlap.
Assisting with the costumes
will be Bob Pippel, chairman;
Izetta Ganschow, Dorothy Woods,
Eioise Smith, Carol Stephan,
Aleen Uzelac, Marylou Rideout,
Wanda Wilson and Janet Long.
Make up will be in charge of
Mary Clements, Billie DeJulio ■
and Kay Pippel.
Emil Ganschow is treasurer;
COMFORTABLE
Steam Heated Rooms
Hyland Hotel
2 blocks from Post Office
PLACE YOUR ORDERS FOR
EASTER FLOWERS NOW!
There is still time for state
side orders to co air mail.
Special on daffodils Saturday
MAUD'S FLOWER SHOP
Theatre Bldg. Phone 3601
SAVE!
ON YOUR
GLEANING
LIKE GARMENTS
2 for the 4
price of ■
Cash and Garry
BROWN’S GLEANERS
WE GIVE GOLD STAMPS
Ray Lancaster in charge of house
and tickets; Jim Hurley, public
ity; A1 DeJulio, advertising; and
Jim Wilson in general chairman.
SEEK LAND USE
STUDY OF MENTAL
HEALTH ACREAGE
The Matanuska Valley Cham
ber of Commerce plans to peti
tion Governor Mike Stepovich to
set up a study group that would
determine how the million acres
of land that will be turned over
to the territory under the mental
health program can be put to
successful use.
The decision was reached at the
March 19 meeting of the local
Chamber following a talk by
Bruce Kendall, president of the
Valdez Chamber of Commerce,
during which he pointed out that
much of this acreage could be
put into agricultural use, on a
profitable basis.
Kendall stated that residents of
Valdez have worked on the men
tal health program for the past ”
year, during which considerable
research was done. The land com
mission has made no plans for
the million acres, Kendall stated.
“We in Valdez are anxious that
this acreage not be lost . , . a
million acres is a lot of land.
Rough surveys in Valdez havq
found this . , . your potato mar
ket, for instance, would be
wrecked by 300 additional acres
of potatoes—your dairy industry
could be ruined by too many
dairy farms . . . one facet of the
agricultural field not fully ex
plored is that of producing edible '
meat animals, as a compliment to ,
the dairy industry. We have con
tacted a number of persons who j
have tried to raise beef and fail- (
ed and found that the failures
came about for various reasons:
very primative butchering and 1
processing facilities whereby no
by-products were produced; beef .1
(Continued on page 8)
HOT DOG PROJECT
NETS HOSPITAL $56
Nine-cent hot dogs, with all the
trimmings, sold in the Palmer
Piggly-Wiggly store last Satur
day, netted the sum of $56.50 for
the Valley hospital, it was an
nounced this week by Kenneth ;
Lynn, store manager .who turn
ed the money over to the Hos- :
pital board of directors. !
Many times during the special
sale there was a waiting line at
the rear of the store . . . waiting
for the delicious “red-hots”.
Many bought them by the bag
full—some donated a dollar for
one. Local volunteers prepared
and served the hot dogs through
out the day. They were Shannon
Mick, Kathy Roark, and Marjory
Schrieber. Hot dogs for the pro
ject, numbering close to 500, were
donated by the Piggly-Wiggly
store.
EASTER IS COMING
Wear a new hair style under
your Easter bonnet
VALLEY BEAUTY SHOP
LAVONNE JOHNSON
Phone 2041
WASILLA P-TA
VARIETY SHOW
MARCH 28 — 8 P.M.
SCHOOL GYM
Admission: Adults S1.00
Children 50c
Pictured above are the officers of the recently chartered
Matanuska Valley Junior Chamber of Commerce. The picture
was taken March 15th during an inaugural ball held
by local Jaycees in observance of receiving their charter.
Left to right: Stewart Dreghorn, secretary; Bill Sheffield,
national director; Hugo Rasmussen, treasurer; John Gore,
president; and John Aper, vice president. Sheffield is a
member of the Anchorage Jaycees.
rainier leaeners
Amending Annual
I* e-Day Conference
Palmer school teachers are in
Anchorage today and will go
again tomorrow, attending the
two-day regional teachers’ con
ference, sponsored by the Alaska
Education Association. Over 800
teachers are expected to partici
pate in the sixth annual confer
ence ,for which “The Global Pic
ture” was chosen as the theme.
Ray O. Mertes, director of the
school and college service of
United Air Lines, will be the
ceynote speaker. His topic, “Hori
zons Unlimited,” was presented
this morning. He will speak
igain tomorrow morning.
Fifty-seven sectional meetings
ire scheduled. Subjects will in
dude science deficiencies in the
chools . . . juvenile delinquency
. . missiles . . . works: ops . . .
:1ms . . . demonstrations and
>thers.
Urea Tax Notices
Hailed Last Week
Tax assessment notices for 1958
-itv of Palmer and Palmer school
listrict property taxes have been
nailed, it was announced by Wil
liam Wakcland. tax assessor.
Wakeland pointed out that
copies of land description and
Ule data was enclosed with sev
3ral asessment notices. These will
serve a dual purpose, he pointed
rut. First it will enable property
jwners to add to, or correct, the
nformation the tax office now
las on their property; and sec
ondly, it indicates what property
she tax lot number represents,
rfe added that future tax bills
md notices will not describe
and beyond the description
which appears on the 1958 as
sessment notice and suggests pro
perty owners retain the land rec
ord copy for future reference.
Elsewhere in this issue of The
Frontiersman an advertisement
explains this, as well as proceed
ure necessary for protests of valu
ation.
DANCING
For Your Children
Ballet, Tap Modem Acrobat
ics, Hiwaiian and Ballroom
Dancing
Ages 3 to teenage
3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
CARPENTER'S HALL
COLOMBANY
SCHOOL OF DANCE
For further information con
tact Mrs. Robert Jensen or call
PI-2377
DR. OSWALD HOFFMANN
Lutheran Hour Speaker
Wifi Rogers, Jr.
Here Next Wednesday
The March 26 visit of Will
Rogers, Jr., to the Matanuska
Valley next week will be observ
ed by the local Chamber of Com- j
merce with a luncheon in hi? i
honor which will be held at 12:30
p.m. in Elks hall. Persons plan
ning to attend the luncheon are
asked to call Bettys’ shop for
reservations by Monday, March
24. There will be no advance
ticket sale. The luncheon will cost
$2 per plate and it is hoped by
the special committee that an
estimated attendance may be de
termined by the registration.
Rogers, who will be accompani
ed by five Anchorage residents,
is expected to arrive in Palmer
about 10:30 a.m. and will be tak
en on a two-hour tour of the val
ley, during which the party will
visit original colony farms still
occupied by the original colonist
(Continued on page 8)
PALMER TEACHERS
OFFERED CONTRACTS
All Palmer school teachers who
expressed a desire to return to
the Palmer school system next
year, were offered contracts, ac
cording to an announcement
made this week by the Board of
Education. Only two or three
teachers indicated that they do
not plan to return to the school
system next year. According to
territorial law the contracts must
be offered to Alaska school teach
ers by March 15 of each year.
This does not, however, mean
that all teachers will accept the
contracts and in past years there
have usually been vacancies to
fill prior to the opening of school
in the fall.
OLD KNIK BREWERY, INC.
Stock Offering
Salesman:
FRANK (SWEDE) SORENSEN
Phone FR-3345
Alaska Dairy Purchase
Announced Bv Co-On
LUTHERAN-HOUR
SPEAKER HERE
ON MARCH 23
Dr. Oswald Hoffman, famous
Lutheran Hour speaker, started
a tour of Alaska on Tuesday and
on Sunday, March 23 at 3 p.m.
will preach here in Palmer at St.
John’s Lutheran Church. He will
be assisted by the Rev. Joseph
Frenz, who has served St. John’s
church as vacancy pastor since
October.
Dr. Hoffmann will /kpeak on
“God for Us” an appeal to Chris
tians everywhere to revitalize
their faith into a living evidence
of their belief in the Savior.
The noted speaker combines
ability and scholarship with wide
experience. He assisted with the
production of the motion picture
“Martin Luther” on location in
Germany. He is a member of the
board which produces the popu
lar religious television program,
“This is the Life,” and is a mem
ber of the editorial staff of the
American Lutheran magazine.
Born in Snyder, Nebraska De
cember 6, 1913, Dr. Hoffman at
tended Concordia College at St.
Paul, Minnesota and was gradu
ated from Concordia Seminary
in 1936. He received his
master of arts degree from the
University of Minnesota and in
1952 Concordia Seminary award
ed him the honorary degree of
doctor of divinity and Valpraiso
University honored him with the
degree of doctor of laws.
A recognized scholar in Greek
and Latin, Dr. Hoffman taught
at Bethany College, Mankato,
Minn, from 1936 to 1940 at the
University of Minnesota in 1940
and 1941; and at Concordia Colle
giate Institute, Broxville, N. Y.,
where he was also director of
publicity and promotion from
1941 to 1948.
“Like the Lutheran Hour, cur
rently heard over more than 1,
250 television and radio stations
iri*63 nations and in 54 languages,
this service is dedicated to assist
Che community in bringing Christ
to Palmer,” commented the Rev.
Frenz. “We extend a cordial in
vitation to everyone to attend
this service to hear an important
soul-stirring message.”
Reserve Company
Plans Open House
An annual open house program
is being planned by Co. Co, 180th
Engr., U. S. Army Reserves at
their armory in Palmer on Sat
urday, March 29. The program
will begin at 8 p.m. and continue
until about 11 p.m.
The armory, located in the Ha
gen Building ,next to The Fron
tiersman, will be open to the
public at 8 p.m. that evening so
that displays of equipment and
the physical plant may be view
ed prior to the program.
A series of short films, 10 tc
15 minutes, will be shown. These
will include skiing film and oth
ers of general interest.
The program will include re
freshments and will conclude
with dancing.
On Monday of this week the
Matanuska Valley Farmers Co
operating Association announced
the purchase of the assests and
trade name of Alaska Dairy Cor
poration of Anchorage. The sale
had been covered by a memoran
dum of agreement since March 4,
subject to ratification of Alaska
Dairy Corporation stockholders.
This latter was achieved at a
meeting held in Palmer on March
15.
No immediate changes in op
eration are anticipated, accord
ing to Erv Schomburg, Co-Op
general manager. Both brands
will continue to be available, he
, added.
“The purchase of Alaska Dairy
assets and trade name brands
was strictly for the purpose of
saving the dairy economy of the
I valley from certain disaster”,
stated Schomburg, “to have con
tinued on the current basis would
have meant the end of dairying
in the valley”.
“The Matanuska Valley has a
tremendous potential in the need
of supplies to operate dairy farms
and family living requirements,
also in the production of agricul
tural products, and it is our hope
that the efforts of the valley
group will be recognized and ap
preciated . . . operation of the
two units under bne administra
tion indicate economics which we
believe can be realized.
•‘The city of Anchorage will
benefit from this transaction, as
will the entire area, through the
assurance of a continuing fresh
milk supply and a healthy indus
try which is a part of Alaskan
economy; earning, investing and
spending right here at home”, the
general manager concluded.
CO OP OFFERS 8%
EXPANSION BONDS
I The Matanuska Valley Farmers
Cooperating Association this
week authorized the issuance of
$100,000 of five-year expansion
bonds to aid in its recent acqui
sition of the Alaska Dairy Pro
ducts of Anchorage.
The bonds will be of $100, $500,
and $1,000 denominations, with
rate of interest set at eight per
cent. Interest will be paid semi
annually on or after October 1
and April 1, upon presentation
1 of coupons.
Bonds will go on sale at th#
Co-Op general office next week,
with interest to start April 1,
i 1958.
Esslinger stated the bonds will
be made available first to Valley
residents. They are not being of
fered outside the valley area.
I
I
WASILLA ROADHOUSE
Now Under Management of
MRS. ED HARTNER
Specializing in
Homemade Bread and
Pastry
Regular meals and
Sandwiches
Hours: 6:30 A.M. to 10 P.M.
HEAR DR. OSWALD HOFFMAN
Famous Lutheran Hour Speaker
SUNDAY, MARCH 23
3 P. M.
ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH
Palmer
KIWANIS MINSTRELS OF 1958 +
BRING THE FAMILY FUN FOR ALL « Sponsored by Pcilrner Kiwonis ^
CENTRAL SCHOOL GYM
FRIDAY - SATURDAY
MARCH 21 & 22
SHOW TIME 8:30 P.M.