CORDOVA AIRLINE
INAUGURAL FLIGHT
MONDAY. MAY 7
11 A. M.
PALMER AIRPORT
The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLE-''’
TRY A FRONTIERSMAN
CLASSIFIED AD for that
ilem you may hare for sale,
rent or lease.
PRICE TEN CENVS
VOLUME 9. NUMBER 28
PALMER. ALASKA, THURSDAY. MAY 3, 1956
C.A. SERVICE TO CITY STARTING MONDAY
2 MEA DIRECTORS NAMED IN SUIT
ACTION FOLLOWS RECENT MEETING
A lawsuit charging three form-'
•er Directors of the Matanuska
Electric Association with illegally
holding office was filed in Dis
trict Court in Anchorage on Mon
day of this week. Those named in
the complaint were Justine Parks
of Chugiak, Bruce Graham of
Butte, and Charles Wilson of Pal
mer.
However, today a copy of an
Amended Complaint was receiv
ed in the office of The Frontiers
man which names only Mrs.
Parks and Graham.
The court action was filed by
James D. Frey as plaintiff who is
being represented by Attorney
«alph H. Cottis. The plaintiff
seeks: 1. That the rights, if any,
of the defendants each to hold
the office of director of Matanus
ka Electric Association, Inc. be
determined. 2. That judgment be
granted excluding each of said
defendants from the office of di
rector of Matanuska Electric As
sociation, Inc. 3- That each de
fendant be fined $2,000 for un
lawfully exercising the office of
lirector of Matanuska Electric
Association, Inc.
A telegram to the Administra
tor of Rural Electrification Ad
ministration was sent by the law
firm of HeUenthal, Hellenthal
and Cottis advising him that pro
ceedings commenced questioning
the right of the defendants to
continue to act as directors and
suggesting it advisable to hold
any current matters in abeyance
until the court had rendered a
decision.
The complaint is believed to be
an aftermath of the-two mention
ed board members refusal to seat
board members elected at the an
nual membership meeting April
14. During the annual meeting an
election was held to fill the ex
piring terms of Justine Parks and
Bruce Graham. At the meeting,
board members Charles Wilson
submitted his resignation and
members voted at that time to
fill the vacancy created by his
resignation by naming the third
high nominee to that seat. The
high three elected at that meet
ing were James Hurley, 511
votes; C- Ivan Branton, 417 votes;
and Harold Thuma, 414 votes.
Hurfey and Branton were to fill
the terms of Mrs. Parks and
Graham; Thuma to complete Wil
son’s term. I
During the Board of Directors
meeting held April 23 a resolu
tion was passed upholding letters
of protest that the election was
not conducted according to the
Association’s by-laws. Voting in
favor of the resolution were Jus
tine Parks, Bruce Graham, and
Phil O’Neill. Voting against were
Aaron Combs and Charles Wil
son. Although Wilson had pre
sented his resignation to the
membership on April 14, he was
advised by the MEA attorney
Fabulous money prizes
by Chamber of Commerce
may be coming your
way, soon!
TAKING APPOINTMENTS
FOR BACCALAUREATE
AND COMMENCEMENT
VALLEY BEAUTY SHOP
Phone 3043
LAVONNE JOHNSON
FAMILY NIGHT EVERY
FRIDAY
10% off o« Family: Bill
Open 6:45 A.M. - 7:30 P.M.
SUNDAY 9:00 A.M.—7:30 P.M.
Co-Op Cafe
John Shaw to sit on the Board
until his vacancy was filled. And
thereby hangs a puzzle:
Wilson presented his resigna
tion to the membership on April
14; it was read in full at the
meeting and had been published
in newspapers prior to the meet
ing. The resignations said in part
. . . “at the annual meeting of
your association you elected me
to serve on the Board of Direc
tors for a two-year term. I want
to take this opportunity to ex
press my appreciation for the con
fidence you have shown. In con
sideration of that confidence I
believe it my duty to offer my
resignation to you, to become ef
fective April 15, 1956, for your
action at the annual meeting of
the membership ”
Following the reading of the
resignation a MEA member asked
that the resignation not be ac
cepted. However, Wilson stated
that he would not continue in
office and it was then that an
other member suggested his of
fice be filled by electing a third
Board member that night. Actu
(Continued on page 8)
Benefit Shew
Nets Close to
$700 for Hospital
Approximately $700.00 was
realized for the Valley hospital
from the benefit stage show held
at the Valley theatre last Thurs
day evening. Talent for the show
was donated interested indivi
duals. An entertaining program
of western music was presented
by Whitey’s Western Swingsters,
as well as several specialty num
bers. Appearing twice on the pro
gram was Sharon Downing,
young local high school girl
whose pleasing renditions of sev
eral vocal numbers brought ap
plause. This was her first public
appearance.
Clarise | Isaacson and Wayne
Hunter presented a tap-dancing
number. Mrs. Isaacson’s costume
was made by Mrs. Carl Wolf and
the material donated by Togs ’n
Seams.
The benefit show committee,
headed by Neil Wright and Ed
Smith, offered their thanks this
week to the many who contribu
ted to the show. Especially to the
individuals who donated their
time and talent on stage, includ
ing Whitey Pullen, Bob Saxton,
Jimmy Noble, Chet Goodman,
Don Rice, Miss Downing, Mrs
Isaacson and Mr. Hunter, and
Clayton Meadows and Bill Barry.
The latter two participants had
the house laughing loud and
long over their comedy skit. Also
to A1 and Imogene Hagen who
donated the use of the Valley
Theatre and John Weisenberger
who spent several hours on the
project.
CEMETERY CLEAN-UP
WORK SET FOR
TOMORROW EVENING
Early evening tomorrow is the
time set by the American Legion
Post for sprucing up the Palmer
Cemetery. The local Legion group
has taken the project this year
but makes no bones about volun
teer help being most welcome.
All organizations and interested
individuals are urged to show up
at the cemetery anytime around
5:30 and give the Legionnaires a.
hand in the clean-up work. Me
morial Day services will te con
ducted at the Palmer Cemetery
May 30 and the Post hopes to
have it in top condition for that
date and the summer.
A^vwywvyvvs^wvwwvyw^
Railroad Workers
Reported Moose
Stranded on Sand Bar
Holgar Larson, Fish and
Wildlife official, said this week
that moose reported stranded
on a sand bar in the Matanus
ka River will in all probabil
ity swim out of their predica
ment. The moose, numbering
between 15 and 18, were re
ported stranded on Tuesday of
this.week by workers on the
Alaska Railroad. Larson s?^
that it would not be possible
to lift them off the sand bar,
and that they had probably
been there only a short time
when sighted. “Moose are good
swimmers and I feel they will
make it to land in good shape’,,
he said.
The moose were reported lo
cated on a sand bar about one
and one half miles up the rail
road, about three miles up the
highway.
LITTLE LEAGUE
SEASON OPENS SOON
The Little League baseball
program in Palmer seems slated
for one of their best years. Dur
ing the meeting held this week
it was reported that there ap
pears to be enough managers and
coaches for the four local teams
this year ... at least enough to
get the season started, H. P.
Gazaway, president, said.
On May 9 it is tentatively plan
ned that Norman Rousey will sel
ect the line-ups for four teams.
Following this managers and
coaches will be assigned to the
teams and practice sessions will
get under wgy.
Again this year the Jonesville
Miners, Koslosky’s Department
store, Palmer Kiwanis and Pal
mer Moose are each sponsoring
a Little League team. The Matan
uska Valley Farmers Cooperat
ing Association are again furnish
ing the ball diamond and will
ready the grounds before the sea
son opens.
Approximately 12 new uni
forms will be ordered; new caps
for all boys, and new balls and
bats are also on the list.
10 SCHOOLS TO
PARTICIPATE IN
TRACK MEET SAT.
Saturday, May 5, Palmer plays
host to the All-Western High
School Track Meet. Pre-track
dope indicates that Fairbanks
and Anchorage have strong clubs
this year and, along with Palmer,
will be out to break old records
and set new ones, according to
Chip Chatterton, track coach.
Participating from Palmer
High will be the following track
men and events:
100 YARD DASH: Roy Felix,
Bert Varrell.
220 YARD DASH: Norm Sta
dem, Jesse Wilson.
100 YARD LOW HURDLES:
Frank Gagnon, Varrell.
60 YARD HIGH HURDLES:
Larry Trowbridge, Bob Estelle.
440 YARD RUN: Felix, Tosh
Pearson, Ray Carroll.
880 YARD RUN: Freeman, Don
Wright, Eugene Jacobson.
MILE RUN: Wright, Jacobson,
Pearson, J. Wilson.
SHOT PUT: Fred Loyer, Mike
Leek, Bythel Compton
DISCUS: Loyer, Stadem, Vad
ney Bledscoe.
POLE VAULT: Leek, Barrell.
BROAD JUMP: Jacobsen,
Trowbridge.
HIGH JUMP: Dean Parks,
Trowbridge.
440 RELAY: Leek, Varrell,
Jacobsen, Felix.
880 RELAY: Parks, Trowbridge,
(Continued on Page 5)
CATTLE ARRIVE BY
AIR; FINAL SHIPMENT
EXPECTED SATURDAY
The Palmer Airport was a bee
hive of activity last night when
a big C-82 Flying Boxcar came
in with a load of Grade A cattle,
destined for the Fred Grover
farms south of town. A total of
21 heads, which included several
frisky calves, was brought in last
night, making the Grover’s total
shipment to date 47 head. The
third and final shipment is ex
pected in Palmer late Saturday.
The Fred Grover family, num
bering 11, are new to the valley
but are already in Grade A pro
duction and are selling their milk
to the Matanuska Valley Farm
ers Cooperating Association.
Coming from Tremontne, Utah,
where they owned two farms,
the family decided they liked the
looks of the Matanuska Valley,
sold the Utah farms, purchased
the local farms and by five truck
trips over the Alaska highway,
transported their equipment to
the Valley. As soon as the farms
were ready the airlifts started
and their valuable dairy heard,
after Saturday, will be a Matan
uska Valley herd instead of a
Utah herd.
Pilto of the big transportation
plane Turman Miley, is being ac
companied by the Grover’s 23
year-old son Bud. Bud will make
the final trip to Palmer on Satur
day, return to Utah with Miley
and then drive the family car
from Utah to Palmer via the Al
aska Highway.
The first flight of cattle was
destined to land at the Palmer
Airport this past Sunday but a
delay enroute forced them to
land after dark and the pilot
chose that International Airport.
Just prior to take off last Sun
day a calf was bom to one of the
cows and made the trip right
along with its mother. All cattle
have survived the airlift in very
good condition, Mr. Grover said
.last night.
To lessen their weight and to
prevent air sickness the cattle
were not fed and liquids were
rduced for several hours before
(Continued on last page)
Valley Hospital
Open House May 6
National Hospital Week will be
observed during May 6-12. The
theme nationally and in, Palmer
will be “Your Hospital—'For
You and Your Community”.
A. H. Mick, president of the
Valley Hospital Association, an
nounced today that the emphasis
would be the hospital’s many
contributions to the Valley.
Open house will be held on
Sunday, May 6, from 2:00 to 4:00
p.m. and the public is invited to
visit the hospital. Dr. Mick stated.
Tours will be conducted by mem
bers of the hospital auxiliary and
all departments of the hospital
will have representatives at their
posts for the program.
tFrom 1921 to 1952 National
Hospital Day was celebrated on
May 12, the birthday of Florence
Nightingale, the famous nurse
crusader of the Crimean War,
whose pioneer service led to the
improvement of hospital care
throughout the world. The first
National Hospital Day had the
endorsement of President Warren
G. Harding. Since 1953 the obser
vance of hospitals’ activities has
been extended to a week.
National Hospital Week is
sponsored annually on a national
basis by the American Hospital
Association, a non-profit organ
ization representing the hospitals
of the United States and Canada.
Palmer’s hospital is a member of
the American Hospital Associa
tion.
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COLONY DAY SET
FOR MAY 27
! Colony Day will be held in
! Palmer on Sunday, May 27, it
\ was announced at the May 2
\ meeting of the Matanuska Val
ley Chamber of Commerce,
sponsors of the annual cele
; bration of the colonization of
the Matanuska Valley. Com
| mittees have been named, with
’ Jim Hurley as program chair
’ man, and developments will be
: announced as soon as possible.
A program of contests, a big
!; parade, and of course, the fam
! ous and popular barbeque, will
I; be part of the day-long pro
gram.
NINE COMPLETE
FIRST AID COURSE
Nine area residents recently
completed the required 18 hours
of instruction in a Standard Am
erican Red Cross course of fust
aid. Instructing the group were
Bill and Betty Adams, Red Cross
first aid instructors, and Police
Chief Bernard Bouwens assisted.
The course is but one of several
that the Adams’ have given dur
ing the past few months. Those
completing the course were:
Ed Smith, James Hurley, Alice
Horton, Avis "Bouwens, Ada Boyd,
John A. Boyd, Dexter Bacon,
William Smith and Juan Miller.
Police Chief Bouwens is this
week attending an instructors
first aid course being held even
ings in Anchorage. Upon comple
tion of this course he will be qual
ified to conduct instruction glass
es.
Forester Speaker
At Chamber Meeting
Guests at the May 2 meeting
of the Matanuska Valley Cham
ber of Commerce were Forester
Bill Adams, and Fire Guard Eu
gene Horning, both of the Pal
mer Fire Guard Station. For* ter
Adams showed a colored film on
Yellowstone Park which was pro
duced by the Ford Motor Com
pany, and spoke briefly follow
ing the showing on fire control
in the local area.
Adams stated, as an illustra
tion, that the fire at Sheep Moun
tain last year cost approximate
ly $4,000. He told Chamber mem
bers of the detection problem
and asked cooperation of the pub
lic in reporting fires. He also
asked that residents planning to
burn near public domain notify
the Station ahead of time so that
they will know what the smoke
is from and thereby prevent a
need.less trip. He distributed cop
ies of the Territorial Fire Control
Act which may be obtained by
other persons by calling at the
Station.
He pointed out that fire per
mits are not necessary because of
limited personnel, stating that
there are only 50 regular foresters
and guards in the entire Terri
tory.
The forester again offered as
sistance to farmers and home
steaders who wish to burn off
stump rows or the like. “If they
are doubtful about the safety of
burning at a particular time or
place, we will be glad to assist
them in planning the burning”,
he said.
INJURED IN ACCIDENT
Wilbert Trudell, ME A em
ployee, is a patient at the Valley
hospital where he was taken in
the Community Ambulance fol
lowing an accident near the de
pot. Trudell was unloading poles
from a gondola when one rolled
off the top and Trudell was
knocked down, landing on his
back. Initial X-rays showed no
breaks or dislocations although
further studies will be made.
CHAMBER PLANS
RECEPTION FOR
VISITING DELEGATES
Daily flight service except Sun
days between Palmer and Anch
orage will be inaugurated begin
ning Monday, May 7, by the Cor
dova Airlines, according to Dave
Swanson, vice-president of opera
tions of the airlines.
Through service to Seward,
Valdez and Cordova will be avail
able out of Palmer, as well as
convenient connections out of An
chorage for the States.
Word was received today that
the Cordova Airlines will bring
their inaugural flight into Pal
mer Monday morning between
the hours of 11 a.m. and noon. A
special delegation will be aboard*,
including delegates from Seward.
Cordova, Valdez, and Anchorage.
Members of the Matanuska Val
ley Chamber of Commerce will
hold a no-host luncheon shortly
their arrival. Plans are not yet
complete but information may be
obtained from Ed Smith, Cham
ber president, by contacting him
at Ketchikan Spruce Mills. All
Palmer residents are invited to
turn out and offer a big welcome
to the first Airline to bring regu
lar flight service to the Valley.
According to Swanson deluxe
DC-3 planes will be used on the
daily.flights, leaving Anchorage
at 7 a.m. and leaving Palmer at
7:20 a.m. One way fare will be
$5 plus tax; round-trip $10 plus
tax.
For information and reserva
tions patrons are invited to call
Palmer 2131 or stop at Cordova
Airline^ ticket office located in
the Matanuska Hotel.
VALLEY'S WALKING
BLOOD BANK
SAVES MANY LIVES
The Matanuska Valley’s walk
ing blood bank has saved many
lives, it was pointed out in the
Valiey Hospital quarterly report
last week. The blood bank is
based on a card file system con
taining names and addresses of
some 600 persons whose blood
was typed in March, 1955. The
call for donors normally goes
out by telephone—and Palmer’s
telephone operators have been
very helpful in finding the in
dividual needed. Someone from
the Matanuska Valley Farmer’s
Cooperating Association or the
Experiment Station often re
sponds, the report showed. MEA’s
radiophones are pressed into ser
vice in emergencies—and on sev
eral occasions their truck driv
ers, alerted through MEA’s radio
phone system, have canvassed
rural residences to find a person
with a rare blood type. Most don
ors refuse compensation, statis
tic." show.
FRONTIERSMAN CLASSIFIEDS
ALWAYS BRING RESULTS
MOTHER'S DAY
is May 13th
Potted Plants, Corsages
AND
Flower Arrangements
Don't Forget Our
Telegraph Delivery
Service
Remember HER with
Flowers for HER day.
Maud's Flower Shop
Theatre Bldg.
OPEN 5 UNTIL ?
EXCEPT TUESDAYS
EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY AT THE 49 CLUB
Kitchen now under new management - Pan fried Chicken and French Fried Prawns in the Basket. Sandwiches