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BARANOF BANNER
Sitka, Alaska
104 a copy
Vol 1- No. 6
August 21, 1958
The Crying Towel
(by Gil Truitt)
By Gil Truitt
Three or four years back,
this town was all shook up,
boasting the finest athletic
teams in the territory. At that
time, this hamlet boasted the
best in independent basket
ball witli the colorful ANB
Tribe laying claim to the title
as best in the Southeastern
region by adding the Gold
Medal Tournament crown to
its long list of championships.
The Wolves of Sitka were
champions of the Southeast
by copping the tournament
championship from Juneau
and capped this off by dump
ing Anchorage in the All Ala
ska lay-offs.
In the summer sports, the
local American Legion Junior
nine powered its way, in
spectacular fashion, to the All
Alaska title and the right to
represent this big land in the
national tournament in Mon
tana.
In that era, we had the fin
est mens’ baseball league in
Alaska with competition so
keen that the big leagues
seemed like tidly-winks in
comparison. We also had a
ball diamond in those days
too.
We old timers of Sitka
used to like to boast that we
were the sports center of this
vast land. Today, we have
nothing to brag about except
the past.
Last winter, we saw the
fast deteriation of the once
awesome Sitka ANB quint in
its complete collapse in the
most recent Gold Medal
Tournament. Only SJS was
able carry the banner in local
school basketball. In the re
cent American Legion Junior
baseball tournament held in
the c a p i t o 1 city, our team
come in a poor last-something
we sourdoughs of Sitka are
not accustomed to seeing. It
is something we do not cher
ish seeing either since we are
spoiled and like to see a win
ner but right now, this is be
side the point.
In men’s baseball that is
just a memory since no such
thing exists in this town.
/ fJorrilMt QUITE E<?ML‘
{ TUBE’S LITTLE PARTIES
V—7 WS HAVE }
i
i m
W i t h o u t a baseball field,
baseball is out of the ques
tion despite the frantic efforts
of a few to bring the national
sport back to this town. The
effort was made early last
spring to get the new Moiler
Ball Park in shape for the
summer just past but a few
can not be expected to do the
impossible. As a result, the
Moiler Park is in the same
sad shape that it was three or
four years ago.
There is no doubt that our
American Legion Junior
baseball team would have
performed as well as some of
Sitka’s great nines of the past
if they had a baseball dia
mond on which to work out.
For the benefit of those still
interested in American Le
gion baseball, our Sitka team
was clobbered in Juneau due
to the lack of practice and the
fact that there was no league
in town where our boys could
gain valuable game situations
and experiences"Before ven
turning into the Southeastern
tournament.
We don't expect a winner
every year. Winning should
not be the ultimate objective
since constructive social val
ues can be attained by just
participating in any sport
Winning should be second
ary. We are not harping be
cause the Sitka team did not
come home a winner. We are
gratified that the local team
did as well as it did under the
circumstances. Without a
field to practice and work-out
on, the local nine did better
than most expected. We are
hoping that by this next year,
Sitka will again have a base
ball field where not only tlx*
American Legion Junior pro
g r a m can benefit, but the
whole community as well.
We have no doubt that if
some one can figure out
where money can be made by
Sitka having a baseball field,
we would have such a field in
no time flat.
Unlike many who have
wandered into this berg dur
ing the past year or so, 1 hope
to be able to stay here as long
as I can. Ivvould like to see
sports brought back to this
town. Much can be gained by
a community with Recreat
ional and Sports programs.
For one thing, it is whole
some and provides an out-let
for all the pentup emotions
that most of our youngsters
have now a days. It is far bet
ter to have them occupied in
wholesome activities than sit
ting in one of the booths in
their favorite joints sipping a
glass of their favorite bever
ages.
' This town has made much
head way in the past year.
Recreation has not kept pace
with the rapid progress of
this city and it will continue
to fall back unless something
is done now to rectify this sad
situation.
Had a nice visit with Vern
Metcalfe up in j u n e a u not
too long ago. He was interest
ed in what the three local
schools will have in the way
of basketball this year. 1 told
him to watch out for Edge
cumbe this year since it may
be the Island School s year
my face is red since I picked
the St. Louis Cardinals to win
the National League flag and
look where they are in the
standings a long shot predict
ion: Milwa u k e e and the
Yankees will be in the World
Seric* this fall Everyone in
Sitka is happy when the Yan
kees lose. Every one except
Tony Herman haven’t seen
Harold Donnelly in ages.
That last time we talked, he
was hoping to journey to Fri
sco to see the Giants play.
We hope his plan material
izes as we are sure that it
would be one experience he
would not soon forget getting
this column out is a real chore
since we have no sports local
ly the Baranof Banner deriv
ed its name last fall from a
co-w orke r, one, Leroy W.
Benson. Benson submitted
the name along with hund
reds of others. His was de
clared the winner in the name
contest. Mr. Banson has often
said that he has never had
his name in any newspaper,
except the Police Blotter. His
name is mentioned here and
we hope he is happy there
are 128 stitches in a baseball.
If you don’t believe this,
count the stitches saw John
Borhridge smile the other
day. Borhridge is coach at
SJS we had high hopes of im
porting three 6 foot ten inch
players for the Sitka ANB.
It didn’t work out so it looks
as though the Tribe will have
to be short and hist again the
weather the past wwo sum
mers was perfect for baseball
m a n y questions will be
answered on the26th of this
month. ‘
The Stork
Report
THE STORK REPORT
Arrivals at the Sitka Com
munity Hospital:
A baby girl to Mr. and Mrs.
William L. Lawrence on Thu
rsday August 14th at 9:10AM
The Baby weighed in at 71b.
7. oz. and joins a two and a
half year old sister. Mr. Law
rence is with the C&R Build
ers.
A baby boy to Mr. and Mrs.
Carl Lindstrom, Jr. on Mon
day, August. 18th at 2:36 PM
Baby weighed in at exactly 8
pounds and joins one brother.
Mr. Lindstrom works at the
C hatham Cannery.
A Baby Boy to Mr. & Mrs.
George Skannes onTuesday,
August 19th at 1:20 PM. Wei
ght at birth was 5 lbs. 13 oz.
Baby has a sister and brother.
Mr. Skannes is with Harri
Plumbing and Heating.
A Baby Boy to Mr. and
Mrs. Harley Brown on Tues
day August 19th at 12:10 AM
Baby weighed 5 lbs. 6 oz. at
arrival and joins a brother.
Mr. Brown is with Husky Par
cel.
Mrs. Jessica Mather enterains in Ikt room at tile Pioneer
Home. t
We-The Pioneers
By one Jessica Mather
Who feels she is truly, a
pioneer!
In my new found capacity
of news reporting, I hope
that I can hit a happy med
ium somewhere between the
sublime and the ridiculous
and somewhere between the
life of a sourdough and that
of the current one-among the
ladies.
First on the agenda we will
cover Sunday, the 27th of
July. It was a day of our
different Church Services in
the A.M. and of Birthday
celebrations in the afternoon
hours. Mrs. Martha DeGanno
Mrs. Jane Cashel and Mrs.
Sarah Mary Roberts celebrat
ed their birthdays together at
a wonderfully large party.
Refreshments consisted of
most delicious cake, cookies
and punch along with home
made fudge given by “Dolly”
Pinkston. The three render
ings of “Happy Birthday” had
to be heard to be appreciated
as they represented a range
of voice from soprano to bass.
And many really lovely gifts
were received by the Birth
day Ladies. All was topped
off with a chicken dinner
which was superb. We enjoy
ed every minute of it as did
the Birthday Ladies. I’m sure.
Other news-Mrs. Ida Gar
ner, who suffered head injur
ies from a fall, is improving
slowly. Mrs. Jensina Peterson
will remain in the hospital
wing where she can receive
constant attention, Her con
d i t i o,n is rnucTi improved
however.
Mrs. Alice Handley return
ed, after a two month visit to
Fairbanks, a few weeks ago
and intends to stay. She now
resides in a single room on
the main floor.
Several of the men have
been leaving for the Tenake
Hot Springs. Carl Jensen left
A u gust 11th and Eugene
Morris on the 12th. Joseph
Dlouhy, who left for the Hot
Springs August 6th plans to
stay a few weeks so there will
be no more private domino
games ‘til fall, (my loss!)
The entertainment contin
ues in the Hall. Mrs. Morgan,
who organizes it, plays the
piano Beautifully and sings
Mr. Huff plays the piano and
sings many good old favorites
from most every country.
This is usually followed by
moving pictures shown by
Miss Eugenie Williams and
all in all it is a most enjoyable
evening. And every other Sat
urday games are played in
the sitting room. Dominoes
and cross word puzzles from
the Sentinel are played most
evenings. And we enjoy the
many good radio programes.
Time passes swiftly.
Thought for the Day: If
you hear any petty gossip-do
as Esop-consider the source.
Ed. Note; Perhaps before
too long we can contribute
Cross-word puzzles from the
Banner, too!
"Younster" Home
on Leave
Tom Kinberg, Midship
man, 3rd Class, arrived here
last Wednesday, August 13th
on leave from Annapolis Nav
al Academy to visit his fami
ly. His parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Marvin Kinberg, reside in Sit
ka.
When Tom returns to the
Academy, early in Septem
ber, he will enter the 3rd
Class Yeai* which is the se
cond year of studies and will
then be officially referred to
as a “youngster” as will all of
his classmates regardless of
age! We learned, however,
that the average age of a
“youngster” is nineteen.
Torn, who was brought up
in Sitka and is a graduate of
Sitka High School, spoke
most enthusiastically of Aca
life as being as interesting
balance of formality, study,
athletics -and good, solid dis
ciline! Dress uniforms for
meals, academic studies row
ing whaleboats, tying knots
and sailing yawls are but a
part of the training and trad
ition of the Academy.
As a member of the Row
Team, Tom rowed in the In
ternational Rowing Regatta
at Syracuse, New York, this
spring before embarking on a
training criuise which took
him to European waters and
ports. During a one and a
half month cruise, ports of
call included Lisbon, Portu
gal, Copenhagen, Denmark
a n d Hamburg, Germany.
1' h r o u g h the Eisenhower
Peopl to People Program, the
hoys from the ships were en
tertained in European homes;
an experience which Tom
found most interesting and
educational.
Tom has no hesitation
about his future plans. Upon
graduating from Annapolis,
he will spend four years as an
officer of the U.S. NAVY
which is regulation and pro
bably a good many more!
Best of luck to “Younster"
Kinberg.
Birth Card
Required
Juneau, Kindergartners,
first graders, and other pupils
entering Alaska schools for
the first time this fall will be
required to present proof of
age, Francis E. Kester, Di
rector of the Bureau of Vital
Statistics in Juneau, remind
ed parents this week.
Parents of Alaskan-b o r n
children may obtain a small
plastic birth card by writing
to the Bureau of Vital Statis
tics, Alaska Department of
Health, Alaska Office Build
ing, Juneau, stating name of
child, date and place of birth,
and names of parents. The re
quest must be accompanied
by a postal money order for
$2.00.
Application in person may
be made at Room 108 in the
Territorial Building, Third
and Seward, Juneau.
Alaskan-bom students go
ing outside to school or col
lege will also find the wallet
size plasic birth card a con
venient form of proof of date
and place of birth, Mr. Kester
s a i d, although proof is no
longer required by the Im
migration Service.
He advised that requests
for birth cards be made se
veral days in advance of the
date they will be needed.
Poor Richard's
Almanac
Is the Sitka Annual Fair a
thing of the past? Hope not
Were jealously guarding a
juicy looking jar of blueberry
jelly. Might get eaten, though
if don’t hear something soon.
Seems the party’s over for
freedom loving Herman. Her
man, and his friends have
been running in packs lately
and are becoming a down
right hazard to traffic, people
that aren't nimble footed any
more and policemen reshing
ingg to the scene of the crime.
Come Monday, though, and
Herman and his gang will be
mulling it over in the City
Dog Pound.
Do you know that 1944 dimes
are rare? Been saving mine.
SCHOOISOPBI...