Watch for big Money
prizes offered by your
Chamber of Commerce!!
Coming soon!!
THE FRONTIERSMAN
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLE'*’
TRY A FRONTIERSMAN
CLASSIFIED AD lor lhat
item you may have for sal©,
rent or lease.
VOLUME 9, NUMBER 26
PALMER. ALASKA. THURSDAY. APRIL 19. 1956
PRICE TEN CENVS
REMEMBER
FOLKS...
A VOTE for ADLAI & BARTLETT
IS A
VOTE FOR
STATEHOOD
Pd. Ad.
Tennessee Plan
Outlined by Hilscher
xici utri v rxiisciicr, »ptrcuv
er at the April 16 luncheon meet
ing of Palmer Kiwanis, spoke on
the Tennessee plan, which if
adopted, would enhance possibil
ities t>f Alaska statehood.
Specifically, the Tennessee
plan, according to Hilscher, elects
two senators, one for short term,
one for a long term, and one re
presentative (or Congressman)
who will be sent to Washington
to lobby for Statehood. The Ten
nessee plan has been used seven
times, admitting the states of
Tennessee, Michigan, California,
Oregon, Minnesota, Iowa, and
Kansas, he pointed out.
“The people of the Valley know
value and importance of adver
tising and good publicity. That’s
how you sell your products and
produce”, the delegate to the Con
stitutional Convention stated.
“We need additional salesmen in |
Washington to tell the Alaskan
story and to be duly elected
spokesmen for all people of Al
aska.
“Two Senators and one Repre
sentative whom we elect under
the Tennessee plan will be our
official advertising and publicity
men—selling the story of State
hood to Congress and the Ameri
can people.
“Only those who are opposed to
Alaskan statehood now, or any
time, will vote against ratifica
tion of the Constitution and
against the Tennessee Plan”,, he
stated.
According to Hilscher the su
preme effort must be made at
the next session of the Legisla
(Continued on page 10)
VOLUNTEER FOR
BENEFIT SHOW
Tickets are still on sale
throughout Palmer for the j;
benefit stage show which will ;
be presented at the Valley !
Theatre next Thursday, April !
26, as a benefit for the Valley ;!
hospital. Whitey’s Western
Swingsters and several other ;!
stage stars have volunteered ;
their services for this show and ;
are planning a wide and varied ;
program for the evening. In ;
addition to the big stage show,
those who purchase tickets, at
$1 each, will be eligible to win ;j
a three-speed Hi-Fi record
player which will be awarded i
during the evening. i
Lentz’ Lose Store,
Home in Fire
The living quarters and busi
ness establishment of Mr. and
Mrs. Joseph Lentz were com
pletely destroyed by an early
morning fire on Tuesday of this
week. The fire completely de
stroyed the Midway Market and
the Lentz’ attached trailer home.
Fire loss was estimated at $12,000
to $15,000 and all contents of the
country-style store and all the
Lentz’ personal property were
lost in the blaze. For the present
the couple is staying with their
son Joseph Lentz, Jr., in Moun
tain View. The loss was reported
to be partially covered by insur
ance.
CHAMBER PLAMRING SERIES
OF FARMERS’ MARKET DAYS
Considerable interest Is build
ing up in the Farmer’s Market
Day program being launched soon
by the Matanuska Valley Cham
ber of Commerce. All participat
ing merchants are members of
the local Chamber and will join
together in making this one of
the highlights of every week.
■Cash prizes will be awarded each
week under plans to be announ
ced soon. An executive commit
tee was named by Chamber
president, Ed Smith, and they
will complete final details of the
program which will be announc
ed to the public within the very
near future.
Other business at the April 18
meeting of the valley Chamber
included committee reports dur
ing which it was brought out
that, the local Chamber is active
ly interested in the Alaska Men
tal Health Bill which has been
receiving so much publicity. A
PLACE ORDERS NOW FOR
CORSAGES FOR THE PROM
Maud's Flower Shop
Theatre Bldg.
CO-OP CAFE
WE PREPARE ORDERS
TO GO
CATER FOR BANQUETS
6:45 A.M. - 7:30 P.M.
Sundays 9 A.M. - 7:30 P.M.
Taking Appointments Now
For Prom and Commencement
Evening Appointments
VALLEY BEAUTY SHOP
Phone 3043
LAVONNE JOHNSON
letter received from Del. E. L.
Bartlett stated that seldom has
any Bill received so much atten
tion. The committee reported
they feel it behooves the Cham
ber to not sit back, but to keep
aibreast of the Bill’s status. When
passed provision will be made
for the construction of a hospital
in the Territory. At that time
the Chamber will take steps to
point out availability of facilities
in the valley for such building.
Victor Fischer, visiting from
Anchorage, pointed out that the
Bill presented by Senator Malone
of Nevada does away with land
and money grants that commit
ment of patients would still be
left to the jury and that the Ma
lone Bill and that of Senator
Globewater should be looked in
to further and an expression of
perference made.
Smith appointd the following
committee chairmen for the Col*
ony Day celebration: Jim Hurley,
program; John Weisenberger and
Glen Persinger, barbeque; A1 Ha
gen, grounds; Richard Jones and
Stewart Durrant, publicity and
advertising, and* himself as par
ade chairman.
Fischer, candidate for the Ter
ritorial House of Representatives
in the April 24 Primary Election
and Constitutional Convention
delegate was introduced during
die meeting, as was Toivo Bentti,
M.V.F.CA. producing member
and member of the board of di
rectors, and Mrs. Ethel King of
the Palmer Automotive.
Watch for big Money
prizes offered by your
Chamber of Commerce!!
Coming soon!!
RECORD CROWD
ATTENDS MEA MEET;
GRIEVANCES AIRES
The main topic of conversa
tion throughout the Valley this
past week has been the annual
meeting of the membership of
the iMatamiska Electric Associa
tion when explosive accusations
were made and various issues
were brought out.
Not one of the propositions pre
sented to the membership passed.
Only one, that would establish
the debt limit at $25,000,000, had
more votes in favor than against.
However, a two-thirds majority
was necessary to pass and the
proposition failed, with 177 votes
cast in favor, and 162 against.
Proposition 2, the change in
the number of directors from
five to seven failed to pass by a
vote of 203 against, 55 for. Com
pensation for Directors failed by
a vote of 174 no to 168 yes- These
three propositions were voted
upon by members present. No
proxy voting was allowed be
cause of Territorial law limiting
voting on Articles of Incorpora
tion to members present. All pro
positions pertaining to by-laws '
failed to pass the votes of mem- I
bers present and proxies. Pro
position A to increase the num
ber of directors, 431 no - 95 yes.
Compensation for Directors: 392
no, 223 yes. Proposition C to
bring capital credits into accord
with Territorial law: No, 333—
Yes, 287. Proposition to limit di
rectors borrowing authority: No
362 — Yes, 261
in tne voting ior me two va
cancies on the Board of Directors,
both incumbents, Justine Parks
and Bruce Graham were defeat
ed. Elected to fill the two year
terms were: James Hurley, 511:
and C- Ivan Branton, 414. Harold
Thuma was elected to complete
the term of Charles W. Wilson
who resigned. Thuma polled a
total of 414. Other candidates re
ceived the following votes: Mrs.
Parks, 100; Graham, 114; Ray
Hendricks, 114; Mrs. Rivera Hi
ber, 96; and Waldo Erickson, 69.
A total of 662 ballots were count
ed; six were spoiled.
Well over 800 persons were in
attendance at what has been
termed one of the “hottest”
meetings in the valley for many
years. Although the meeting was
called for 8 pm., with registra
tion beginning at 7 p.m., scores
were still being registered as
the meeting got under way short
ly after 8 p.m.
With no hesitancy, the fire
works started almost immediate
ly when Mrs. Parks, MEA presi
(continued on page 10)
Navy Awards Goal
Contracts to
Valley Goal Firms
Coal contracts were awarded
yesterday by the U. S. Navy to
two coal mines in the Matanuska
Valley area.
A contract for 170,000 tons of
coal was awarded to the Evan
Jones Coal company by the U. S.
Navy. The coal will be delivered
on a monthly basis to both El
mendorf Airforce Base and Fort
Richardson, with the fiscal year
to begin July 1. A company
spokesman said today that the
contract is about the same as
last year’s.
The Mrak Coal Company was
awarded a contract for 30,000
tons of coal. This is an increase
of 21,000 tons over their last
year’s Navy contract when they
furnished 9,000 tons. The Mrak
contract calls for the same mon
thly delivery to the two Anchor
age military bases and the same
fiscal year as does the Evan-Jones
contract.
STYLE SHOW
WILL FEATURE
LATEST FASHIONS
The biggest and best style
show ever offered in the Valley
is ready for presntation tomor
row night at 8 p.m. in the Cen
tral School gymnasium. The pub
lic is invited to attend. Members
of the two local chapters of Beta
Sigma Phi have been busty the
past few weeks working out de
tails on their annual event. “Pre
views of Fashions”, this year’s
show theme, outlines the entire
show, for merchants of the Pal
mer and Anchorage areas will be
showing their newest styles and
fashions in wear for morning,
afternoon, evening, weddings, ar.d
sports events. There will be items
for the teen-agers—for the tod
dlers—for the matrons—and for
the young business women—
clothes for work and play—in fact
just about any occasion. All gar
ments will be modeled by local
and Anchorage residents.
This year the sorority has ad
ded an entertaining highlight to:
their presentation. Staff members j
of the Columbany School of
Dance in Anchorage will be pre
sented in a 20-minute exhibition
dance program. The popular
dancing teachers will offer a sel
ected program of modern ball
room dancing.
Showing from the Palmer area
will be the Co-Op Trading Post,
Koslosky’s Department Store.
Betty’s, Minnesota Woolen Mills,
and Simplicity Fashions.
Shops from the Anchorage area
who will be displaying their fin
est will be Carol’s, who are fur
nishing their own models, Mon
ty’s Department Store, the Stork
Shop, Katherine’s, Theresa’s,
Mona Lee, Welch’s, and The Hat
Box.
Mrs. Max Sherrod of Palmer
will be organist for the show.
Tickets, available now from all
sorority members at $1, will be
available at the door. Refersh
ments will be *erved during the
program.
FAIR BOARD NAMES
ADVERTISING AGENTS
G. W. Vaughn of the Vaughn
Wilson firm in Anchorage, has
been named advertising agent
outside the Palmer area for the
Matanuska Valley Fair, accord
ing to an announcement made by
the association’s officials. In ad
dition to selling advertising in
the Fair Premium Book, Vaughn
will attempt to secure new con
cession accounts for the fair on
an arranged commission basis
Vaughn stated he hopes to reach
the $6,000 mark in advertising.
Named advertising agent for
the Palmer area was M. D. Snod
grass, longtime Fair supporter.
His territory will include sections
from the Knik River bridge to
Alpine and Wasilla, as well as the
Palmer area. All advertising £opy
must be in the hands of the Fair
officials by July 1.
A drop in concession rates was
also announced by the Board.
Outside space on the madway has
been dropped $10 for each 10 feet
of space. Those using concession
space inside the exposition build
ing will also benefit from the re
duced rate, it was pointed out.
Space that formerly cost $160 has
dropped one dollar per foot. Con
cessions on the midway making
no sales, but taking orders for
future delivery, remains the same
as in former years. j
Fair officials reported they had
received few bids for the adver
tising position. From the appli
cations received, Vaughn was sel
ected on the basis of his adver
tising experience and his office [
facilities located in the Anchor
age area.
i
Primary Election
To Be Held Tuesday
I INFORMATION BOOTH
SET UP IN BANK
Literature on the proposed I
Alaska Constitution will be !
distributed free to the public at ,
an information table which will !
be set up and manned in the !
Matanuska Valley Bank on !
Thursday evening, Friday and j
next Monday during the day- '
time hours- Posters will be set .
up urging all qualified voters '
to turn out on April 24 and '•
cast their votes . . . regardless '•
of which way they plan to '•
vote, the Committee urges that j
everyone who is qualified cast ;
!; their vote on April 24.
! James Hurley, area delegate ;
!; to the Constitution, will be;
! present to discuss the Consti- ;
; tution with all interested per- ;
> sons. ;
Funeral Arrangements
Pending for Kendall
And Pennington
Funeral arrangements, which
will be handled by the Anchorage
Funeral Chapel, are not yet com
plete for Lloyd L. Pennington,
56, of Snowshoe Lake and Everett
A. Kendall, 53, of Spenard, who
were killed by a bear while on a
hunting trip last Monday. The
bodies of the men have been re
covered and funeral arrange
ments are pending. Pennington,
well-known throughout Alask. .
is survived by his wife, a V.Vn, auu5
a daughter; the latter has flown
to Alaska from her home in El
Cerrito, California.
Next Tuesday, April 24, vot
ers in the Matanuska Valley area
will go to the polls, along with
Alaskans throughout the Terri
tory, and mark their ballots in
Alaska’s primary election.
The longest slate of candidates
appears on the ballot for Terri
torial House of Representatives.
Thirty names will be presented
to the voters from which they
will be asked to select 10. Two
of these candidates are Valley
residents, Republican M. D.
Snodgras who makes his home in
Palmer, and Independent Ben
Hitchcock who lives at Caribou
Creek.
Candidate Snodgrass has lived
49 years in Alaska and served in
the Sentate in 1923 and in the
House in 1952. He stated this
week he hopes to return to the
House “on unfinished business on
Farm Loan and needed legisla
tion on land for farmers, miners,
schools, and university, an Alas
kan branch agricultural college
for Alaska at Palmer and voca
tional education for all Alaskan
youths”. Snodgrass served as
superintendent in Experiment
Stations in Alaska, as agriculture
development agent, ARR and has
22 years experience as a farmer.
Mr. and Mrs. Snodgrass have a
family of two sons, three daugh
ters. and 16 grandchildren, all
Alaskan.
The Independent candidate,
Ben Hitchcock ffrst came to Alas
, ka 26 years ago and has. had con
tinuous residence the past 22
years, 12 of these at his home lo
(Continued on page 7)
JUDGE McCRARRY TO HOLD
ANNEXATION HEARING FRIDAY
A .hearing on the proposed an
nexation of 40 acres of land to
the City of Palmer will be held
by Judge J. L. McCarrey Jr.,
April 20 at 10 a.m. in the District
Court, Anchorage. Under annexa
tion law the hearing is required
and the Judge then sets the date
for election. The proposed annex
ation has been advertised the
past four weeks- Further notices
that have been run set forth elec
tion on the annexation as April
24, subject to court approval. In
event the Court orders the elec
tion at a later date, a special
election will be held late in May.
The area proposed for annexa
tion consists mainly of the new
nign scnooi property, xne t\iasx.a
Rural Rehabilitation Corporation,
and the U. S. Government. One of
the reasons listed for annexation
is to provide police and fire pro
tection to the 40 acres in which
the high school is located.
Residents in the City ,who are
qualified voters, are eligible to
vote on the annexation; those liv
ing in the area proposed for an
nexation must be bone fide resi
dents of that area—in this parti
cular case there is but one qual
ified voter in the area to be an
nexed, Miss Edna Wehking, a
leasee who resides in the former
Bureau of Reclamation housing
area off Springer Road.
Re-Opening
Williwaw Lodge
on Lake Wasilla
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 carle dinners during week
Special Dinners on Sundays
PAT, FLORENCE and JAY
CEREBRAL PALSY DINNER-DANCE. SAT., APRIL 28
- ELKS HALL
Public Invited
$2.50 per person, dinner and dance
$2.50 per couple, dance only