WILDFLOWER SHOW
Sunday, June 9
M.E.A. Building
1:00 - 8:00 p.m.
VOLUME 10. NUMBER 33
LIBRARY
The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
PALMER, ALASKA THURSDAY, JUNE 6. 1957
PRICE TEN CENTS
Snodgrass' to Observe
Golden Wedding Date
.air. ana Mrs. M. D. Snodgrass, *
long-time valley residents, will
celebrate their golden wedding
anniversary on Saturday, June 8.
A reception is being planned in
their honor by their children, to
be held at Elks hall from 1:00 to
5:00 p.m. and all friends of the
couple and their family from
throughout Alaska are invited to
* attend.
It was just 50 years ago June
8 that Mr. and Mrs. Snodgrass
were wed in Manhattan, Kans«.^
and set out on their honeymoon
trip to Kodiak, Alaska. Since then
they have spent very little time
in the States.
Five children were born to the
pioneer couple; Rolland, who is
married to the former Alice Mi
kami; William, married to Edna
Mae Bidwell; Agnes, married to
John Reed; Margaret, married to
Ray McCartney; and iMary Hale.
The couple has 14 grandchildren
and one great-grandchild.
All of the children except Wil
liam make their homes in Alaska.
William is a colonel in the U. S.
Airforce, stationed in Nevada.
His son, William, Jr., also is a
member of the airforce. Two
* grandsons, Johnny Bob Reed and
Gary Verrall are in the U. S.
Navy. Other grandchildren are
Sharon, Bob, and Jacqueline Mc
Cartney and \Karen McCartney
Hoover; Margaret Reed Pullen
and Sally Reed; Jack Snodgrass;
Bert, Kristy, Roberta, and David
Verrall. Johnny D. Pullen is the
great-grandson.
Mr. Snodgrass was Dorn March
14, 1876 in Jasper County, In
diana. He was graduated from
Kansas State College in 1906.
Mrs. Snodgrass was born June 5,
1875 in Garrison, Kansas and
(Continued on page 8)
KING’S LAKE CtyfP
OPENS FOR SEASON
The summer caifiping season at
King’s ,Lake Camp opened this
past week with the Chyrch of
God Family Conference being
held from June 3 - June 10.
Fred Christen will again this
year act as camp manager and is
expected to arrive following his
graduation from the University
of Redlands, California, in early
June. Mrs. Clarence Hoffman
will be camp cook.
King’s* Lake Camp is a non
profit organization operating for
the welfare of the young people
of the Valley and Anchorage
areas. Any Individual is invited
to join the King’s Lake Associa
tion from which the board of di
rectors is elected. Local people
* serving on the present board in
(Continued on page 5)
STIAN SCIENCE
SERVICES
aunaay School_10:30
Church Service_11:00
nursery
lRPENTERS HALL
IDEAL WEATHER
CONTINUES IN VALLEY
Alaska, the publicized land
'of ice and snow, has been pro
ducing some pretty terrific
weather the past few weeks.
According to official weather
reports gathered by Max Sher
rod rainfall in the month of
May measured only .12 inch in
1957. In 1956 there was .11
inch of rain, however, the
windstorm experienced early
in the month this year had
very drying results, he report
ed. Temperature recordings
made by Izetta Ganschow
showed a high of 77 on June
3 and a high of 81 on June 4.
Today’s temperature, although
pedicted to reach 80, was 56
at 8 a.m. and 65 at 11 a.m., ac
cording to Mrs. Ganschow. A
slight breeze may keep the
temperature from hitting the
prediction. Swimming and
picnicking are favorite past
times.
Palmer Men Escape
Injuries When
Boat Upsets in River
Three Palmer men narrowly
escaped a serious mishap on
Tuesday of this week when their
boat capsized, throwing them in
to the Matanuska river. They
were Lloyd Hansen, Dick McAl
lister, and Keith Hooks.
The three men, employed as
line men at the Eklutna project,
were attempting to release a
power line from a Bureau of Rec
lamation pole which was knocked
down by the turbulent river on
Monday. According to James
Hamlin, project engineer, the
boat capsized when it became in
volved with the pole. The men
managed to get themselevs out
of the water onto a sandbar. The
lateness of the hour prevented
attempts at rescue with other
boats and the 10th Air Rescue
was requested to assist. A helicop
ter was sent to the project where
Jim Hale was picked up and after
pointing out the location of the
men he was set down on a sand
bar while, the transportation of
the men was completed. He was
later picked up by the helicopter
crew and flown to the power
house.
Hamlin said the crew was at
tempting to cut loose the pole
and cross arm from the line,
hoping the power line would be
released and put back in use. He
said another attempt, in a dif
ferent manner, will be made.
Lost in the accident was a 16
foot boat and a 10 hsp motor.
Hamlin said they may be able to
recover the equipment. Hamlin,
who has been in the States, learn
ed of the accident upon his re
turn that evening.
COMFORTABLE
Steam Heated Rooms
Hyland Hotel
2 blocks from Post Office
PALMER CAFE & FOUNTAIN
Open for Business
UNDER MANAGEMENT KEITH BROCK
Open 7 A.M. -10 P.M.
Including Sundays
Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner
HOLIDAY TRAFFIC
HEAVY IH VALLEY;
HO AGCIDEMTS
With the exception of a very
small mishap, resulting in about
$10 damage, no other highway
accident was reported to the ter
ritorial or city police during the
/ong four-day holiday weekend.
This commendable record was set
in spite of an almost constant
flow of traffic in and around the
valley during that time.
Oliver Onkka, Bureau of Public
Roads engineer in the valley
area, reported that traffic checks
were recorded at the Matanuska
River bridge, on the Glenn high
way just north of Palmer and on
the Wasilla highway from May 29
to June 3. The check at the Mat
anuska River bridge indicated a
flow of traffic (north and south)
totaling 17,764 vehicles. On May
19 and 31 the traffic count was ex
actly the same, 4,139 vehicles; On
the 30th there were 2,546, on the
first 2,233, and between the first j
and third of June there was a |
total of 6,940 vehicles crossed the j
bridge.
A greater number of holiday
travelers chose the Wasilla lake
areas as indicated by the heavier
flow of traffic on the Wasilla
highway. Between June 1 and)
June 3 a total of 4,153 vehicles
traveled the paved highway to
the Wasilla-Big Lake area.
Figures indicate that about 1,
364 of the vehicles counted did
not travel either the Glenn high
way north or the Wasilla high
way.
Hospital Owner
Stresses Importance
Of Public Relations
William Knight, owner of the
Orville-Curran Hospital, Califor
nia, told Chamber of Commerce
members and delegates attend
ing the Alaska Hospital Associa
tion convention, that good public
relations is essenitial to good
business, whether it be a hospital,,
or a private business.
Public relations start at home,
he pointed out. He referred to a
public relations slogan used by
the Union Electric in Missouri—
“No words or devices convey to
the people what a good organiza
tion this is to do business with
if they do not find out sufficient
ly enough from their own experi
ences”. He brought out the im
portance of the impression made
by employees, not only from 8:00
to 5:00, but from 5:00 p.m. on—
after working hours. “We recog
nize that it is not right to judge
a hospital—or a business—by the
opinion of one disgruntled em
ployee—‘but unfortunately, that
is just what happens quite often”,
Knight said. The relationship be
tween employer and employee is
very important for public rela
tions, he added. Wages should be
equal to the same type of worn
elsewhere.—sick leave should be
provided, holidays off . . . and
most important—the coffee break.
This is a very important time for
the employee. It provides a time
for getting acquainted with other
employees. If an employee feels
he is not being treated right he
will not represent the organiza
tion well.
The patient or customer rela
tion is very important. Policies
of the hospital or firm should be
checked with the patient or cus
tomer for reaction. The best
guide, he added, is the Golden
Rule.
Community public relation is
important. The total impact of
Op power house is helping boost
the voltage in the system. “The
voltage isn’t too good yet,” Brew
jContinued on page 8)
GIFT ITEMS AND FINE
CHINA
CHOICE IVORY, JADE,
HEMATITE
NATIVE ARTS & CRAFTS
treasure chest
Wasilla Rd.
RIVER CAUSES POWER
FAILURE; CREWS
MAKING FAST REPAIRS
The spring flood finally took
a power pole toll on the Matan
uska river#this week.
On Monday about 4 p.m. all
power to the Matanuska Electric
Association areas was cut off
when a Bureau of Reclamation
pole was swept away, along with
an island upon which it was an
chored. This particular structure
had not been anticipated as a
probable souce of trouble but a
fast change in the river current
soon put the M.E.A. crew on a
stepped up pace to complete
work on their new distribution
line. Less than four hours was
required to make adjustments
and get two sub-stations, never
tried out, into service.
Cy Brewer, M.E.A. manager,
had high praise for his crew.
“Everything went along very
smoothly, with the crew operat
ing with top efficiency”, he said.
Bureau of Reclamation crews
are working on the power line
knocked down by the river and
in the meantime the Co-Op pow
er house is operating their new
generator, acquired through Civ
il Defense. Sam Woolcock power
. house foreman, said the generator
was cut in immediately follow
ing the power failure. Without
this emergency power, work in
the creamery department would
have come to a standstill, result
ing in considerable cost. Woolcock
said the generator is being oper
ated during the high use period
as an assistant to M.E.A.
Brewer said yesterday that the
power being supplied by the Co
(Continued on page 8)
Public Invited
To Wild Flower
Show on Sunday
All persons interested in Alas
ka wild flowers are Invited to
participate in and attend the Pal
mer Garden Club’s annual wild
flower show which will be held
in the Matanuska Electric As
sociation conference room this
coming Sunday afternoon.
It is desired by the club that
as large a representation as pos
sible of the many lovely wild
flowers and plants of this area
be on exhibit. Classifying and
labelling will be done at the
show. If possible, the exhibits
should be ready for display in
their natural form, but this is
not necessary. Exihibits will be
taken from 9:00 a-m. until 1:00
p.m. Sunday, or may be left with
any Garden Club member Satur
day.
The show will open at 1 p.m.
Sunday and continue until 8 p.m.
It will feature many of the beau
tiful wild flowers found in pro
fusion throughout the valley and
mountain areas of this section.
Exhibitors are welcome and urg
ed to help make this showing
complete.
’56-’57 Savings Tickets
Now Due at Co-Op
Patrons of the Matanuska Val
ley Farmers Cooperating Associa
tion are reminded that the asso
ciation’s fiscal year is drawing
to a close and that all purchase
saving tickets for 1956-57 should
be turned in at the business of
fice as soon as possible. Patrons
will note the deadline date of
June 15 printed on the reverse
side of the tickets.
Tickets are given to all mem
ber patrons making cash purchas
es in the Trading Post, Garage,
or Co-Op Building and Supply
(formerly called the Warehouse).
Newcomers in the valley are in
vited to request a patron number
at the general office so they may
receive these tickets for all cash
purchases. Last year dividend
certificates were issued in the
amount of $92,750.00. Tickets
turned in last year totaled $792,
796.34. The certificates are re
deemable in 10 years.
Hospital Convention
Draws Many Delegates
PLANTS AND SHRUBS
ARRIVE FOR
PALMER GARDEN CLUB
The palmer Garden Club is
expecting their shipment of
plants and shrubs this week
and they will be available for
pickup at the home of Mrs.
Jack Land on Saturday, June
8. Persons having placed or
ders for these plants and
shrubs are requested to pick
them up as soon as possible.
Any not picked up within
two days will be disposed of.
Five Local Girls
To Attend Rainbow ;
Assembly in Spokane
j
Five Palmer girls will be at
tending the Rainbow Girls Grand
Assembly to be held in Spokane
this month. They are Gretchen
Esslinger, Charmain Sawby, Bet
ty Jo Wilson, Judy McKinley,
and Jill Cope.
The 31st Session of Grand As
sembly for Washington, Idaho
I and Alaska, Order of the Rainbow
| for Girls, will be held in Spokane
! June 16, 17, and 18. Headquarters
j will be at the Davenport Hotel
and meetings will be in the Col
iseum.
Wanda Rogers, grand worthy
advisor from Pasco, will preside
at the sessions. She will be as
sisted by Mrs. Margaret A. Ken
rick, supreme deputy from Ta
coma.
Seven drill teams have entered
the drill team competition. Other
assemblies are entering skits,
scrapbooks, and favors in com
petition.
During the session degrees
will be exemplified by the grand
officers. The Grand Cross of
Color, the honorary degree of the
order, will be conferred by a
group of past grand worthy ad
visors, and the majority degree
will be conferred by the grand
representatives.
The hostess assemblies are
those in the Eastern Washington
and Idaho district of Mrs. P. C
Kerr, supreme sub-deputy from
Oakesdale. Mrs. Channon Price,
mother advisor of Spokane Val
ley assembly at Opportunity is
acting as general chairman.
The Palmer group will attend
the sessions along with other
Rainbow Girls f*om other sec
tions of Alaska. They will leave
Alaska June 14 and gp directly to
Spokane. Following the grand
assembly Miss Esslinger will go
on to Oregon to visit relatives;
Miss Sawby plans a side trip to
Montana; Miss Wilson and Miss
McKinely to Washington and
Oregon, and Miss Cope to Seat
tle.
Members of the local Mason,
Eastern Star and Rainbow Girls
have given funds to the three top
officers to help pay expenses.
TO ALL OUR FINE PATRONS
Due io limited space we urge
you to pick up your cleaning
as soon as possible.
BROWN'S SHOP
Delegates from hospitals thro
ughout Alaska are attending the
Fifth Annual Convention of the
Alaska Hospital Association be
ing held in Palmer this week.
Delegates and guests began ar
riving on Tuesday and the pro
gram opened with registration of
delegates on Wednesday morning
at Central School. The Rev. How
ard E. May, Jr., of Cordova, As
sociation president, opened the
convention.
At noon on Wednesday the
delegates and geusts attended the
Matanuska Valley Chamber of
Commerce luncheon, held at the
Palmer high school and catered
by the Palmer (Assembly, Order
of Rainbow for Girls.
A welcome was extended to the
visitors by Mayor Charles W.
Wilson on behalf of the City of
Palmer and by Stewart Durrant,
president, on behalf of the Ma
tanuska Valley Chamber of
Commerce. William H. Knight,
owt.er of the Oroville-Curran
Hospital in Oroville, California,
was guest speaker. His topic was
“Public Relations Start at Home”.
Afternoon sessions were con
cluded with a dinner served by
members of the Butte Fire Asso
ciation at Butte hall. A tour of
the valley, city, and Valley Pres
byterian Hospital was held in the
evening.
Morning sessions today were to
be presided over by Sister John
of the Cross, vice president of
the Association. The business ,
session included a talk on Hos
pitals and the Blue Cross by C.
J. Kretchmenr, director of the
Washington Hospital Service.
(Continued on page 8)
Herb HHscher to be
Historical Society ;
Guest Speaker
All members of the Matanuska
Valley Historical Society, and all
other persons interested in the
purposes of the organization, are
invited to attend a meeting which
will be held in the M.E.A. meet
ing room Friday at 8 p.m. Her
bert Hilscher of Anchorage, im
mediate past president of the
Cook Inlet Historical Society, will
be guest speaker. Other officers
of that organization have been
invited to attend, including the
president, Mrs. Robert Atwood
and Don Rozell, chairman of the
museum committee
Hilscher will speak on the
bays of organizing a local his
torical society—how to collect
histoically valued items and other
subjects pertaining to such a
group.
Refreshments will be served at
the close of the meeting.
AtTeHT10 N!
ALL CLEANING
2 for the 4
price of I
ON LIKE GARMENTS
Gash and Carry
BROWN’S cleaners !:
Caterpillar Work
See BILL NELSON for D-8 “Cat” work,
have giant breaker disc, scarifier and
angle blade
WILL DO GOOD WORK AT REASONABLE RATES
INQUIRE CO-OP CREAMERY
GENE
COONRADrS
BLUE NOTES,
SATURDAY
JUNE 8
PALMER BAR