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THE FRONTIERSMAN
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
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VOLUME 11. NUMBER 23
PALMER, ALASKA Thursday. March 27, 1958
PRICE TEN CENTS
Union Church Services
Planned for Easter
Three services for valley res
idents have been planned by the
Valley Ministerial Association.
This Sunday evening, March 30,
Dick Benjamin, assistant cashier
at the First National Bank of
Anchorage, will participate in
the monthly Singspiration ser
vice with a group of business
men from Anchorage. The visit
ors will bring a speaker, song
leader and special music. The
program will be presented at the
Church of God at 8 p.m.
On Good Friday, April 4, a
public service will be held in
the Central School gymnasium a
devotional half-hour will be
held from 12:30 to 1 p.m., fol
lowed by the showing of an ex
cellent film on the crucification
of Christ: "I Beheld His Glory".
The annual Easter Sunrise
Service will also be held at the
Church of God this year. Begin
ning at 6:30 a.m., it will be fol
lowed by a brief social hour when
refreshments will be provided by
the Ministerial Association. Sev
eral churches of the valley will
provide appropriate music for
the sunrise service. The public
is invited to attend all services.
Women Voters
Begin Unit Meetings
Unit meetings for the Palmer
Provisional League of Women
Voters were announced this week
by Mrs. Bertren Curry, League
president.
On Monday, March 31 at 1 p.m.
Unit One will meet at the home
of Mrs. Allan Mick; Unit 2 will
meet at the home of Mrs. James
Wilson at 7:30 p.m. the same date;
and on April 2 at 7:30 p.m Unit
Three will meet in the craft
room at 'the Extension Office,
with Miss Edna Wehking as lead
er.
Members will begin their study
of “Know Your Town” which will
include schools and all phases of
local government.
Persons who would be attend
ing the evening meeting March
31 who wish to attend the Tin
ance Forum which falls on the
same date, are invited to attend
either of the other meetings.
All women interested in the
League are invited to attend a
unit meeting.
PIN SPOTTERS ARRIVE
FOR BOWLING ALLEYS
Word was received today that
the automatic pinspotters for the
bowling alleys being installed at
the Palmer Bowling Center have
arrived in Anchorage and will be
delivered in Palmer tomorrow,
Bob Johns said today.
Installation of the spotters is
expected to get under way im
mediately, Johns said, and this
phase of work should be com
pleted in about four days . . . and
the alleys are expected to be
open for business very soon. The
grand opening will be announc
ed, Johns said.
WASILLA P-TA
VARIETY SHOW
MARCH 28 — 8 P.M.
SCHOOL GYM
Will repeat the show on Sal.
night for Palmerites who can't
coma Friday
Admission: Adults $1.00
Children 50c
SAVE!
ON YOUR
GLEANING
LIKE GARMENTS
2 for the 4
price of I
Cash and Carry
BROWN’S GLEANERS
WE GIVE GOLD STAMPS
I MOOSE TO STAGE
TEENAGE DANCE
Another dance-party is being <
planned by the Palmer Moose j
lodge for local teenagers to- j
morrow night. The dance will;
be held at Moose hall, follow- j;
ing the high school operetta ;
and will be limited to local ;
\ teenagers only. ;
Will Rogers, Jr.
Welcomed During
Valley Visit
Momentos of his fathers visit
to the Matanuska Valley in 1935
were presented to Will Rogers,
Jr., by residents of this area who
greeted the newspaperman-actor
yesterday during a Chamber of
Commerce luncheon held in his
honor. Among the souvenirs were I
clippings of the final news col
umns written by Will Rogers
just prior to the fatal airplane
crash in which he and Wiley j
Post lost their lives. These were
presented to Rogers, Jr. by Mrs.
Don Irwin. Two photographs of !
Rogers and the light plane_ in
which he made his visit to Pal
mer were presented to the vis
itor by William Bouwens.
Rogers, Jr. is in Alaska to
take part in the presentation of
“Ah Wilderness” which is being
staged in Anchorage, April 1, 2,
and 3 by the Anchorage Com
munity College theatre workshop
under the direction of Frank
Rrinlr
Rogers was most appreciative
of the welcome extended to him
by the high school Pioneer Band.
“Express my appreciation for
their fine welcome”, he said. “I
never expected anything like
that at all”.
Following the luncheon, which
was sponsored by the Matanuska
Valley Chamber of Commerce,
and prepared and served by wo
men of the Pioneer Grange, Rog
ers spoke to the group. He stated
that for many years the Matah
uka Valley has had a warm spot
in his family’s mind. For a long
time I have waited to visit the
valley, he added. J
Rogers asked that his father be i
remembered, not as a humorist,
but as a reporter who used his
humor to add impact to his writ
ings.
The visitor expressed his sur
prise at the many things he was
seeing in Alaska your
farmlands are very similar to
those in Oklahoma . . . your won
derful paved highways . . . your
schools are even better . . . and I
believe your standards of living
are higher than in the states.”
He praised the Community Col
lege workshop . . . the theatre
(Continued on page 8)
Easier Carlift
Planned by Moose
The Palmer Moose lodge will
cooperate again this year in the
national Moose “Operation Eas
ter carlift” by placing automo
biles and drivers at the disposal
of persons who desire transporta
tion to church Easter Sunday, ac
cording to Ed Smith, civic af
fairs chairman of the local lodge.
Smith requests that ministers
in the valley churches determine
from their congregation the per
sons who will require transporta
tion on April 6. Names and ad
dresses may be turned over to
Smith at Ketchikan Spruce Mills
or to Ralph Moore of Palmer.
Teenage Dance
Classes Begin
Carpenters Hall
Sat., March 29, 7 p.sn.
-
BETTY LOU JENSEN
B-J School of Dance
KITE FLYING
NEAR POWER LINES
VERY DANGEROUS
Parents of valley-area children
were this week warned of dang
ers involved wtten children fly
kites anywhere near electric
power lines.
Cy Brewer, manager of the
Matanuska Electric Association,
stated that children in' this area
have been seen flying kites near
the lines. “These innocent ap
pearing power lines carry 7200
volts and are deadly”, he point
ed out. “Some string might be
considered ‘safe’ but there are
others which contain a metallic
dye which can conduct electric
ity, that are used. Also, if the
kite string is wet or damp, it is
possible that electricty could be
conducted if the string hits one
of the power lines.”
“KEEP YOUR CHILDREN—
AND YOUR NEIGHBORS CHIL
DREN AWAY FROM THE POW
ER LINES WHEN THEY ARE
FLYING KITES”, he cautioned
strongly.
The fun of flying kites can still
be enjoyed, the MEA manager
pointed out, but please see that
this fun is done under the super
vision of an adult and away
from all power lines, he added.
t
USflR OPEN HOUSE
SET FOR SATURDAY
Open house, from 8 p.m. to 11
p.m., will be held at the Army
Reserve Armory in the basement
of the Hagen building on Satur
day night of this week. The pub
lic is invited to attend and enjoy
the diversified program which has
been planned.
Company C, 180th Engineer
Battalion (Cj (A), will display
equipment and the physical plant
during the early part of the eve
ning. A series of short films will
be shown and dancing to live
music will follow.
Girl Scouts of Troop 71 helped
stuff the envelopes of 800 invi
tation Which Were mailed out this
week.
A special invitation is extend
ed to parents of youth approach
ing military age “This is an op
portunity to learn about your
son’s military obligation and how
the Army Reserves may help him
in his military program,” said
Lieutenant John Parks, company
commander.
NOTICE
Cars will leave the Matanuska
Hotel at 7 a.m. Saturday, instead
of 8 a.m., for C.A.P. program at
Elmendorf.
TALENT AND WORK
ACCOUNT FOR
MINSTREL SHOW KIT
Sixty-six valley residents com
bined their talents and helped
make the Matanuska Minstrels
of 1958 a big success.
The show, sponsored by the
Palmer Kiwanis Club, played to
a near-capacity house on March
21 and 22, and brought out many
hidden talents among valley
residents. The smoothness in
which the entire show was pre
sented indicated many hours of
practice and preparation. Color
ful new costumes, made by vol
unteers, helped brighten the en
tire presentation.
Charles Marsh, a surprise act
in the show, was a smash hit, as
the British say, with his portray
al of a sharp oil stock salesman
who had bartered with Herb
Lang for commercial time on the
show. When this time was denied
him he, through one ruse after
another, still managed to plug
his stock sale right up to the
final curtain.
The chorus, under the direc
tion of Lois Weldon offered a
fine performance, as did the
quartet made up of Paul Davis,
Beverly Aper, Laddie Huntley
and Mrs. Weldon.
Specialty acts presented by
local talent included a tap dance
by petite Dorothy Campbell,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry
Campbell. The Nieman trio,
Dana, Robin, and Terry, present
ed their always-fine vocal selec
tions; Walt “Cowboy” Granath,
and Mr. and Mrs. Albert Watson
were well received with their
hill-billy renditions; Bill Miller,
versatile entertainer, did imper
sonations, harmonica solos, and
on Saturday night his encores
included piano and whistle solos.
Lee Plumbley and Mike Galis
hoff added the deep south touch
to the specialty acts with their
banjo and guitar duets. All the
specialty acts were outstanding
and each was very well received,
with the audience demanding en
cores from all.
Final figures on the Kiwanis
show have not yet been compiled,
but all who attended will agree
that it was a success. Kiwanians
expressed their appreciation to
all who in one way, or another,
helped “put the show together”
and made it such a success. Pro
ceeds from the show go into the
Palmer Kiwanis Club youth ser
vices fund from which help is
extended throughout the year in
many youth projects.
COUNCIL NOTES
Four visitors were present at
the March 25 meeting of the
Common Council, City of Pal
mer. They were Ray McCartney,
Bill Roark, John Gore, and Stew
art Dreghorn.
McCartney requested clarifi
cation of the business licensing
ordinance, pointing out that he
felt that all lousinesses, regard
less of type, should carry the
same fee. A lengthy discussion
followed without any decision
being made. Mayor Kenneth
Lynn, who presided at the meet
ing, asked for a study and the
subject will be included on the
agenda of the next regular city
council meeting.
* * *
Roark asked that the city com
plete an agreement made some
years ago to move a log build
ing located at the rear of the
Pioneer Apartment building onto
a basement which was dug for
that purpose. The agreement wa^
made at a time when the apart
ment building was being con
structed. At that time a 30-foot
wide strip of land was deeded
to the city to provide an alley.
In exchange the city agreed to
move the log house; this has not
been done. Council members
stated the agreement should be
fulfilled and bids will be asked
; REMEMBER FLOWERS CAN 1;
SAY IT BETTER!!
Telegraph Delivery Service
MAUD'S FLOWER SHOP
Theatre Bldg. Phone 3601
for moving the building.
Jaycees seek site
Speaking on behalf of the Ma
tanuska Valley Junior Chamber
of Commerce, of which he is
president, Gore requested the
Council turn the care and main
tenance of Colony Park over to
the Jaycees. He stated that an
attractive 12 ft. by 14 ft. log
cabin has been donated by Dr.
Lee McKinley and that the Jay
cees would like to set it in "Col
ony Park and use it as a tour
ist center. “We plan to plant
flowers and shrubs and improve
the general appearance of the
park. We will distribute brochur
es and information to tourists
from this cabin and make it an
outstanding spot in Palmer”, the
Jaycees president stated. Before
making a final decision on the
request Council members will
check the park deed to determine
whether or not any restriction
would prohibit the city granting
the care and maintenance of the
park and the establishment of
the tourist center to the Jaycees.
Dreghorn, who is secretary of
the Junior Chamber, accompan
ied Gore to the meeting.
Join Ordinance Test
The Council voted favorably to
join the City of Anchorage in a
(Cointinued on page 5)
COMFORTABLE
Steam Heated Rooms
Hyland Hotel
2 blocks from Post Office
Valley Gets Record
Fertilizer Shipment
CITY CLERK RESIGNS
EFFECTIVE APRIL 9
The resignation from office j
of L. C. Stock, city clerk-trea- ;
surer-magistrate, was read by ;
! Mayor Kenneth Lynn at the ;
! March 25 meeting of the Com- |
! mon Council. The resignation ;
! stated no particular reason ;
! for the move which is to take J
effect April 9, 1958. In his let- J
< ter of resignation Stock offer- !
; ed to assist the City in any ;
; way possible in breaking in ’
j his replacement. The resign'a- !
; tion was accepted by motion !
of the council and the Mayor!
was authorized to accept ap- !
plications from qualified per- '!
sons to fill the vacancy.
High School Chorus
Presents Operetta
Here Friday Evening
An operetta, “The Singing
Freshman”, will be presented in
the Central school gymnasium
tomorrow evening by the high
school chorus. Curtain time is
8 p.m. and persons who have not
purchased tickets in advance,
may pay admission at the door.
Tickets are being sold by all
chorus members at $1 for adults,
50 cents for high school students
and 25 cents for pupils in the
lower grades. Students will see
the operetta this afternoon and
again tomorrow afternoon. Those
attending the evening perform
ance will pay adults admission
price.
The operetta, to be presented in
three acts, has the following cast:
Deanna Peay, Princess Zihita;
Vadney Bledsoe, Gordon ' (the
singing freshman); Ruth Moore,
Mary; Bill Olsen, Bill; Shannon
Mick, Jessie; Nancy Stineburg,
Gerry; Jill Cope, Marie, Robert
Verrall, Helen; Jessie Wilson,
Jack; Pat Williams, “Pop”; Bill
Knutsen, the dean; Ray Carroll,
Quay; Mike Cottrell, the robber;
Leonard Kungesuk, Sam (who
stutters); and Macar Galleshoff,
Stewart.
Special entertainment will be
presented beween the first and
second act, it was annouced by
Lois Weldon, chorus director.
Proceeds from the operetta
will go toward the chorus mem
bers’ trip to Fairbanks for the
Music Festival in April.
Albert Metz New
Palmer Elks Ruler
Albert Metz was named Exalt
ed. Ruler of the Palmer Lodge
B.P.O. Elks No. 1842 and will be
installed in office, along with
other new officers, sometime
next month.
Named to serve with Metz dur
ing the coming year were the
following: Jan Koslosky, esteem
ed leading knight; Ben Hudgens,
esteemed loyal knight; Willard
Cook, esteemed lecturing knight;
Emil Ganschow, secretary
Thomas Lepak, treasurer; Theo
dore Buzby, tiler; and James
Hamlin, trustee. 1
The installation of officer;-! date
i will be announced as soon as de
termined.
Matanuska Valley farmers are
busy this week hauling their
spring shipments of fertilizer
from the Co-Op Building and
Farm Supply.
According to Virgil Eckert,
manager of the department, the
warehouse received a record
shipment of fertilizer this year.
Fifteen carloads were received
early this week and another 10
carloads yesterday. These ship
ments include 40,000 sacks of as
sorted-type fertilizers. Each sack
weighs about 80 pounds which
means that over three million
pounds, or 3,200,000 pounds
(1,600 tons) of fertilizer will be
put into the valley’s important
agriculture industry this spring.
In addition to this huge fer
tilizer shipment, the Co-Op has
received shipment on 4,000 sacks
of oat seeds and 1,000 sacks of
pea seeds, or about 400,000
pounds.
Area farmers are rushing to
pick up their orders and trans
port them to their farms before
the spring break-up road restric
| tions are put in effect.
Lillie Festival
Planned Here by
Three Schools
! ■ Valley residents who have
never attended a «high school
music festival will have an op
portunity to get an idea of what
its all about when a “Little Fes
tival” is held in Palmer April IS
and 19.
Members of the Cordova High
School band and chorus will ar
rive in Palmer April 18. They,
and a number of adults who will
accompany them, will be housed
in Palmer by members of the lo
cal band and chorus depart
ments.
Cordova will present a free
concert for junior high school
students the afternoon of April
18. That evening they will pre
sent a concert in the school gym
nasium for the general public.
An admission charge will be
made.
On Saturday, April 19, the en
tire day will be devoted to mass
ed band and chorus rehearsals.
Participating schools will be Was
illa, Cordova and, Palmer. In the
evening a concert will be present
! ed in the gym by the massed
band and chorus groups of the
! three schools.
It is hoped that the entire com
munity will turn out and greet
the visitors during their presen
tations. This is the first time that
such a program has been attempt
ed by the local school.
DANCE
Alpine Civic Club
Music by
"Tennessee Partners'‘
Square & Round
Dancing
Floor Show
Refreshments
Sat., March 29—9 p.m.
Donation $2.50 per couple
ATTENTION!
Land Clearing and Road Building
Breaker Discs and Discs Plows
Have plenty of equipment to do good work
We are also reasonable
FOR APPOINTMENT CALL FR-3423
BILL NELSON