LIBRARY
JU8EAU
the Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
VOLUME 10. NUMBER 44
PALMER, ALASKA Thursday. August 29. 1957
PRICE TEN CENTS
$
1957 VALLEY FAIR OPENS TOMORROW
CITY MANAGER
PROPOSAL ON
OCT. I BALLOT
A special meeting of the Pal
mer City Council was held on
Friday August 23 to consider a
petition for manager-mayor
council form of government.
Present for the meeting were
Mayor Charles W. Wilson, and
Councilmen William Zahradni*
eek, Robert Peterson, Ray Lan
caster, and Charles Logsdon.
Councilmen absent were Jan
Koslosky and Alfred Hagen.
The petition was examined by
the Council and found to contain
the proper number of signatures
of eligible voters and it was vot
ed that the proposal of “shall the
City of Palmer adopt the city
manager form of government” be
presented to the voters at the
annual election which will be
held October 1, 1957.
A letter which accompanied
the petition pointed out that a
greater coverage of the city was
not possible because of limited
time before the election.
During a short discussion it
was brought out that with the
city manager form of govern
ment the Council would still
set policies of the city govern
ment. One phase that would be
changed would be the commit
tee-type control over various de
partments of the city, which was
expressed as one of the “most
wasteful types of government”.
The city manager would have
control over city employees, with
the exception of the city treasur
er and city attorney.
Also authorized on August 23
was the general election on Oc
tober 1 at which time voters will
be asked to name a mayor to fill
the vacancy when the present
term of Mayor Charles W. Wil
son expires and to elect two
councilmen for three year terms,
to fill the vacancies which will
be created on the 7th day of Oc
tober when the present terms of
Robert Peterson and Alfred V.
Hagen expire.
Museum Acquires
Indian Gravemarkers
Among the interesting addi
tions in the museum this year
are two authentic Indian grave
markers which were presented
to the museum through George
Small who in turn acquired them
through legal sources.
The markers are small houses
which are erected over the
graves of departed Indians of
the Cook Inlet country. This is
a custom which has been hand
ed down from one generation to
another for more years than
can be remembered.
Small pointed out that these
two houses are authentic grave
markers and will remain in the
museum where thye will be pro
tected from the weather.
ATTENTION
ALL MOOSE
Supr. Gov. Ralph
Villani
will be at
, Palmer Moose Lodge;
Sept. 3, 8:30 p.m.
ALL MEMBERS URGED
TO ATTEND
:> (Don't forget our dance <:
Sat., Aug. 31)
Pictured above are the three managers and the office secretary who have devoted un
counted hours for many weeks to correlate activities of the 1957 Matanuska Valley Fair.
Pictured, left to right, are: M. D. Snodgrass, agriculture manager; T. A. Moyer, fair asso
ciation president; Jo Puddicombe, secretary; and Howard McCallister, promotion manager.
Ag Commissioner
Predicts Good
Displays at Fair
Fairs have often been referred
to as the “show windows of agri
culture”. ‘The term is verv ap
propriate, said James Wilson,
Alaska Commissioner of Agricul
ture, “for at fair time farmers
and gardeners have the oppor
tunity to display to crowds num
bering in the thousands.
“These people viewing the dis
plays”, he pointed out, “are all
consumers of our goods and an
attractive display of choice farm
products is bound to make them
more receptive to the local pro
duct and in addition to increas
ing consumer support, we dem
onstrate the capabilities of our
Alaska farms to many who are
not aware of the potentialities
at all.
“Rumor has it,” Walson added,
“that this year’s ‘big vegetables’
will set records and while we on
the inside consider them as
strictly ‘show material’ they do
bring Alaskan agriculture a lot
of good publicity. To those who
are more critical in their ap
praisal, we expect to have vege
tables of exceptionally good qual
ity to show.” —
Livestock is always of special
interest at fairs and has been
a weak department in past years,
he pointed out. It appears that
more livestock will be shown
and improved space will be
available for dairy cattle. This
should help greatly to make our
fair more worthwhile.
“Too often,” he added, “I be
lieve gate receipts have been a
main goal of fair management.
It appears that this year those in
charge are fully aware that we
have a greater obligation to fair
patrons than collect their ad
mission—we are obligated to give
them their money’s worth in
exhibits, entertainment and at
mosphere.”
To keep traffic flowing, special
no parking signs will be erected
in strategic areas around the
fairgrounds by the city police
department. Afl motorists are
urged to observe these signs.
WELCOME TO THE FAIR!!
Starting Friday
We wHI be open 7 am. • 2 a.m. for the
Holiday Week-End
PALMER FOUNTAIN AND CAFE
CO-OP SHOPPING CENTER
WILL TIM
MEET CHALLENGE?
Tim Economu, Alaska Ro
deo, Asociation president has
threatened to ride his horse
into the Shamrock Lounge,
the evening of August 30,
after being challenged to do
so, at the expense of a $50
forfeiture to the Rodeo As
sociation if he fails to make
entry. The sporting crowd is
betting that Tim wouldn't
miss this challenge for all the
; world.
BIG 3-DAY
RODEO PLANNED
Three days of rodeo events
will be staged August 31, Sep
tember 1 and 2 at the Matanuska
Valley Fair. Residents of South
central Alaska will have an op
portunity to see riders compete
in the first annual Alaska Am
ateur Championship Rodeo. The
events will be held twice daily,
starting Saturday afternoon and
continuing through the evening
of September 2.
All riders will be working for
high points, with Alaska 'Cham
pionship titles their goal, accord
ing to Tim Economu, president of
the Alaska Amateur Rodeo Cow
boy’s Association which is stag
ing the rodeo. Riders completed a
very successful rodeo at the Tan
ana Valley Fair this past week
and are ready to go again, this
time for the championship titles.
Among events slated are bare
back riding, saddle bronc riding,
wild horse race, barrel race, ex
hibition bull riding and calf rop
ing, and a calf scramble for
children 10 years old or younger.
Economu shipped 46 head of
rodeo stock to Alaska for the
rodeos this year. Horses and cal
ves arrived in Palmer via The
Alaska Railroad on Friday of last
week. Complete new shoots,
catch pens, and corrals ere be
ing built at the south end of the
arena. Economu stated that this
is a very fine string of bucking
horses-one that will stand up
with any in the States. Three of
the horses have never been rid
den. “Little Joe” was used in
18 attempts at Fairbanks, with
(Continued on page 5)
ATTENTION!
CERTAIN GARMENTS
2 for the
price of
ON LIKE GARMENTS
Cash and Carry
BROWN’S CLEANERS
1
Parking Lots
To Bo Operated
By Kiwanians
Palmer Kiwanians have the
huge job of handling the park
ing of the thousands of vehicles
that are expected to arrive in
Palmer during the next four
days.
Members of this local service
organization will donate their
I services in operating the lots
throughout the four-day fair. Ve
hicle owners will be able to park
their ears in the lots for only 25
cents. All proceeds of this con
cession will be used by the Ki
wanians in their many commun
ity service projects such as the
valley hospital, youth services,
the new city park, and other sim
ilar worthy projects. Kiwanian
C. C. Bailey, M. D., is chairman
of the parking lot project.
MANY QUEENS
TO VISIT FAIR
The Matanuska Valley Fair
will have several visiting Queens
in attendance. Word has been re
ceived from four Queens who
will definitely participate in
Fair activities. Other queens,
from throughout the territory,
have been invited to attend.
Among those who will partic
ipate are Sharon (Downing)
Fritz of Anchorage, 1956 Valley
Fair Queen; Farrel (Renfrew)
Inham, of Anchorage, 1957 Fur
Rendezvous Queen; Jane Hud
deston of Genallen, 1957 Valdez
Truck Rodeo Queen; and Kath
ryn Brooks of Kodiak, 1957 4th
of July Celebration queen con
test winner. tMiss Brooks will be
the house guest of the Charles
Wilson family; Mrs. Inham plans
to commute between Anchorage
and Palmer; Miss Huddleston has
a reservation at the Matanuska
Hotel, and Mrs. Fritz will be
-visiting her parents.
Early-Morning Fire
Razes Highway Bar
The V-Bar, located at Mile 43,
was completely destroyed by an
early-morning fire on August 27.
Fire fighters of the Butte Vol
unteer Fire Department and the
Palmer Volunteer Department
prevented the blaze from spread
ing. The building was complete
ly enveloped in flames when the
departments arrived at the scene.
Gusty Knik winds helped fan
the fire, the origin of which has
not yet been established.
Mayor Charles W. Wilson is
in Pacific Grove, California
where he is attending a Sol
Conservation meeting. Mayor
Wilson is territorial conserva
tionist.
I SCHOOL BUS ROUTE
SAME AS LAST YEAR
Lack of time and space pre- j|
vents the publication of the ;!
1957-58 Palmer school bus \
route this week. However, \
Superintendent of Schools ;
William Zahradnicek said the ;
routes will operate again this ;
year on the same schedules ;
observed in 1956-57. ;
TEACHING STAFF
ANNOUNCED FOR
PALMER SCHOOLS
The teaching staff for the
Palmer schools was announced
this week by William T. Zahrad
nicek. superintendent of schools,
as follows:
HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY:
Keith A. Smith, principal; James
MacKenzie, physical ed, history;
Ann Johnson, physical ed, eighth
grade; Lois Weldon, public
school music, chorus; Lee Plumb
ley, band, English; Eugene An
nas, science; John Aper, English,
library; Margaret Cope, commer
cial; Robert Crites, history, school
annual; John DeVries, shop;
Elizabeth Gaines, English, speech;
Ned Morgonsen, math; Bertha
Rankin, English, commercial and
half-time junior high; Betty Jo
Riddle, biology, gen. science;
Mary Lou Rideout, home ec and
adult ed; Ruth Schaeffer, Latin,
English; Mildred Siddall, Eng
lish, guidance, Marjorie Pauley,
commercial and jr. high home ec;
John Schreiber, driver training
and junior high; Charles S. Al
len, voc. ag.
ELEMENTARY: William Ben
yish principal Central’ School;
Grade 1: Pearl Moyer, Margaret
Schroder, Nacy Poe, Central;
Ada Boyd, Swanson. Progressive
first, Barbara Smart, Central.
Grade 2: Vera Gazaway, Beverly
Hunter, Phyllis Quellette, Cen
tral; Olga Rieger, Swanson.
Grade 3: Carole Case, Joan Han
son, Central; Geraldine Schrei
ber, Swanson. Grade 4: Marjorie
Godfrey, Jean Strickler, Central;
Alma Blunck, Swanson. Grade 5:
Chester Cantley, Florence Dun
lap, Central; Bergie Hecker.
Swanson. Grade 6: Agnes Farns
worth, Alice Cox, Dale Bryant,
principal, Swanson. Grade 7:
Bertha Dean Rankin, Wilhelmina
Pedersen,, Katherine Steele, Cen
tral. Grade 8: Robert Chatterton,
Paula Maine, John Schreiber,
Ann Johnson, and James Mac
Kenzie, Central.
Fireworks Again On
’57 Fair Program
A spectacular display of fire
works will again this year wind
up fairground activities of the
Matanuska Valley Fair. The out
standing display will be handled
by members of the Palmer
Moose Lodge who have taken
care of this tricky part of the
displays for the past several
years. The display will include
ground pieces as well as many,
many aerial pieces. They will be
set off shortly after the award
ing of the annual fair prizes.
NAT. MOOSE OFFICER.
TO VISIT IN PALMER
Ralph Villani, supreme gover
nor of Moose, will arrive in Pal
mer September 3 for a visitation
at the Palmer Moose Lodge. A
special meeting is being plan
ned at 8:30 p.m. and all mem
bers are urged to attend.
Villani will visit other lodges
in Southeastern Alaska and
Fairbanks before leaving for
Juneau from where he will go
by boat to Seattle.
COMFORTABLE
Steam Heated Rooms
Hyland Hotel
Z blocks from Post Office
BIG PARADE
TO HIGHLIGHT
OPENING EVENTS
The 17th annual Matanuska
Valley Fair opens tomorrow at
noon with special exercises to
be held at the main entrance
gate. Following the raising of
the colors, which will be hand
led by the Matanuska Valley Am
erican Legion Post, the Rev. J.
Einar Bach will offer an open
ing prayer. A welcome to the
1957 Valley Fair will be offered
by T. A. Moyer, fair association
president and a welcome to the
City' of Palmer will be extended
by Mayor Charles W. Wilson.
Mr .and Mrs. James Hurley, Fair
host and hostess, Jessie Klem,
association vice president, Maude
Hosier, secretary, H. P. Gazaway,
treasurer, Stewart Durrant,
James Frey and Sam. Cotten,
directors, M. D. Snodgrass, agri
cultural manager, Howard Mc
Callister, promotion manager,
will be presented.
Children's Games
Because the first day of the
Fair has been designated as Fam
ily Day—with special admission *
rates being observed—there
will be a very interesting pro
gram of games and contests for
all children. Mr. and Mrs. Keith.
Lovejoy will supervise the
events and prizes will be given
to the winners. All children are
invited to enter the events. There
will be a free grandstand fbr
spectators.
Tractor Contest
Following the childrerfs events ,
the First Annual Alaska Trac
tor Pulling Championship events
will be held, starting at 2:00
p.m. A1 Brooks, of Brook’s
Equipment and Lew Hanks, Ex
tension district agent, will super
vise the contest.
Parade
At 3:00 p.m. the biggest parade
ever seen in Palmer will start
from the Central School play
ground, travel over a planned
route which will take it through
the business section, to the fair
grounds where floats will be
judged for cash prizes of $100'
for first place and $50 for sec
ond. Participating in the parade
will be an Army marching unit*
the U. S. Marine Drum and Bugle
Team from Hawaii, the U. S.
Navy band from Kodiak, the
Arctic Trails Riding Club, the
Alaska Amateur Rodeo Cowboys
Association, a number of decor
ated floats, as well as other units.
There will be a free grandstand
for those viewing the float judg
ing.
Motorcycle Races
At 6 p.m. the Second Annual
Motorcycle Championship events
will take place on the race track
at the fairgrounds. Many valuable
trophies have been secured and
will be presented to the winners
in the various events. The an
nual event is being staged by
the Spokebenders Motorcycle
(Continued on page 5)
Participate in and attend your
1957 Matanuska Valley Pair.
Support your favorite queen
contestant and go home with
a Ford Thunderbird.
Buy a corsage for your favor
ite girl for the Coronation Ball
i at
MAUD S FLOWER SHOP
Theatre Bldg. Phone 3601
FREE
| I Child’s Ticket
? To Rodeo
| with $5 purchase
Made Here Sept. I
PIGGLY-WIGGLY