TV PROGRAMS
FOR ENTIRE WEEK
SEE PAGE 6
THE FRONTIERSMAN
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLET
I TRY A FRONTIERSMAN
CLASSIFIED AD lor that
item you may have for sale,
rent or lease.
VOLUME 9, NUMBER 36
PALMER. ALASKA. THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1956
PRICE TEN CENTS
Plan MTA Meeting
After Cut-Over Dale
Following the recommenda
tions of Clifford H. Goetting,
field representative with the
Rural Electrification Adminis
tration in Washington, D. C., the
annual membership meeting of
the Matanuska Telephone Asso
ciation will not be held until
construction of the dial system
is completed. The decision was
made by the MTA directors at a
special meeting held June 22.
The meeting was slated to be
held in August. Goetting point
ed out that the August date
would not give sufficient time
for the new construction to
reach completion and that for
that reason a comprehensive re
port could not be given to the
membership at that time.
“The present Board of Direc
tors”, said Goetting, “is fully in
formed of the future plans for
the new system, is well acquaint
ed with REA procedure, and in
my opinion should remain in
charge of the system until after
the new system is cut into op
eration, at the most, only a few
more months time is being con
sidered as being necessary to get
the new system into operation.”
It is anticipated by the MTA
directors that the system will
be cut over by December.
COUNCIL NOTES
Four members of the City
Council met in an informal ses
sion June 26 to discuss fire
trucks and equipment with
Claude Kiger, representative of
the Carrington Company. No
formal action was taken because
of a quorum lack. Mayor Char
les Wilson was confined to his
home by illqess, Councilman
Zahradnicek is in the States and
Councilman Peterson was out of
the city.* Mr. l&iger presented
literature and extensive infor
mation on fire trucks of a size
suitable to a city the size of Pal
mer.
Additional information will be
forwarded to the City, along
with cost estimates. Kiger told
Councilmembers that the cities
of Ketchikan, Juneau, Fairbanks
and Anchorage all have this
type truck, one of which ran
steady for 16 hours without a
shut down at a recent fire in
Ketchikan.
A hose drying rack has been
built in the fire hall.
FORMER GOV. GRUENING
VISITS PALMER
, Visiting in the Palmer area on
Saturday of last week was for
mer Governor and Mrs. Ernest
Gruening.
DON’T FORGET
You need your new
fishing license and
stamp this week-end.
Both available at your
fishing and hunting
headquarters at
Koslosky’s Dept.
Store
PAMT YOUR BARN
Now!!
Bright Red, Brown, etc.
$8.00 to SI2.50
for 5 gallons
ALSO
. Plenty of Varnish ..
JOHNNIE’S SURPLUS
AT VALLEY GROCERY
The Frontiersman
Offering Free
Reference Glebes
A full-color 10-inch high geo
graphical reference globe will
be given free with each new
one-year subscription to The
Frontiersman. The globe has de
tailed markings of trade routes,
marine distances and all geo
graphic notations; provides an
education in geography for
young and old alike.
Elsewhere in this week’s issue
of The Frontiersman will be
found a coupon which may be
clipped and taken to the news
paper office where a free globe
will be given for each new one
year subscription. The offer is
limited to Alaska only. Subscrip
tions in the Valley are $5.00 per
year; outside the valley, $6.00
per year.
This offer is limited to the
supply of globes now on hand,
so place your order early.
TEEN AGERS FORM ]
LOCAL ORGANIZATION
Over 60 persons, of which at
least one half were teen-agers,
attended the special meeting
held in the U. S. Army Reserve
center last Friday night. The
meeting has been called for all
interested teen-agers and adults
to form a planned recreation
program and teen-canteen for
the Palmer area.
As a result of the meeting, a
tentative program has been set
up whieh will basically op
erated by the teen-agers them
selves. They will act on their
own plans, subject to the super
vision of an adult supervisory
council which they themselves
will select.
The outcome of the program,
Richard Breton, meeting chair
man, said, will depend on the
teen-agers themselves. What
ever results they have will
come from what they put into
it. The program will be as ex
tensive as they wish to make it
—including both indoor and out
door programs.
A list of adult names were
submitted to serve on the advi
sory council. Anyone interested
in serving on the Council is in
vited to submit his or her name
for selection by the teen-agers.
Names may be turned in to
Dorothy Saxton.
Any particular indoor or out
door activity in which particular
interest is shown by the teen
agers will be encouraged. Speci
fic activities planned for the in
door canteen include table
games, dancing, ping pong, shuf
fle board, and pool. Anyone
having such equipment they
wish to donate may contact
Branton of Mrs. Saxton.
Branton said that the objec
tive manner in which the teen
agers own problems were con
sidered during the organization
al meeting Friday indicated
their strong desire to succeed
with the program.
All teen-agers of the area are
urged to make plans to attend
the next meeting. The date will
be announced as soon as deter
mined, either through the news
paper or by word-of-mouth.
Meetings will be held in the
Reserve Center as frequently as
activities demand. An adult su
pervisor will be in attendance
for all meetings and functions.
In September meetings will
have to be re-scheduled to fit
in with military activities at the
Center.
The teen-agers have gone on
record as being willing to accept
responsibility from local organ
izations to help with community
i services and projects.
“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happi
ness.” With these words, our forefathers
“Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happi
set American freedom ringing:, on July 4,
1776.
As we celebrate the Fourth, let us pledge
to preserve our heritage, our American way
of life.
Polio Vaccine
Now Available in
Wider Age Group
The Anchorage Health Depart
ment has announced that Salk
polio vaccine is available to all
children ages 1 to 14 and to
pregnant women. Attention is
drawn to the change in age
limits. Vaccine was formerly
available to only those children
in the one to nine age group, as
well as pregnant women. Par
ents are urged to take their
children to their family physi
cians for innoculations.
The medical staff has urged
that all children in this eligible
ige group receive the innocula
tions that are not only recom
mended by the Public Health
Department but the Polio Foun
dation, as well.
MEA $544,000
LOAN APPROVED
A very quiet meeting was
held by the board of directors
of the Matanuska Electric Asso
ciation on June 25. The three
new directors devoted much of
the evening to becoming famil
iar with MEA procedures, sign
ing necessary deposit cards, and
discussing general policies of the
association. President Phil O’
Neill presided at the meeting.
Present at the meeting were
Directors Aaron Combs, James
Hurley, C. Ivan Branton, Harold
Thuma and President O’Neill.
Loan Approved
Manager Cy Brewer read a
telegram received June 22 from
REA official, Fred H. Strong in
which he announced: “Loan ap
proved for $544,000. Documents
being forwarded in near future
for execution”. The money, ap
plied for some time ago by MEA,
will be used for the general ex
tension in heavying up the
transmission line and substation
to the old Eklutna station, to
provide an auxiliary line in the
event of an outage on the pres
ent line. Other planned work
includes service improvements,
substations and other general
extensions.
Appoint Branton
Board members affirmed the
choice of the membership at the
last general election by appoint
ing C. Ivan Branton to fill the
, (Continued on page 10)
> \..~"'-4-—----..
I FISHING LICENSES
EXPIRE JUNE 30
All fishermen planning to
wet their hooks this week-end
are reminded that the cur
rent federal and territorial
fishing licenses expire at mid
night Saturday, June 30.
New federal and territorial
licenses will be required for
any fishing done after that
date and hour. Federal li
censes may be purchased in
Palmer at Bert’s Drug store
and at Koslosky’s Depart
ment store. Territprial fish
ing license stamps may be
purchased at the same two
stores, as well as at the office
/ of the U. S. Commissioner.
Chamber Campaign
Postponed to Sept. 13
The special Farmer’s Night
program being planned by the
Matanuska Valley Chamber of
Commerce has ben postponed
until later in the year, it was
announced this week by the com
mittee. The special program,
which will promote a buy-at
home campaign is now schedul
ed to begin September 13. Valu
able prizes will be awarded dur
ing the program.
Senate Approves
Permanent Certificates
For Air Carriers
Senate-passed legislation to
authorize permanent certifica
tion for certain air carriers op
erating in Alaska and Hawaii
was approved this week by the
House Interstate and Foreign
Commerce Committee.
The action was taken in con
sideration of Del. E. L. Bartlett’s
bill for which the Senate bill
was substituted for reporting to
the House.
The legislation would allow
Alaska Coastal Airlines, Cordova
Airlines, Ellis Airlines, Northern
Consolidated Airlines, Reeve
Aleutian Airways, Wien Alaska
Airlines and Alaska Airlines to
ipply for permanent certifica
tion on those routes within the
Territory for which they now
have temporary certificates.
POSTPONE TONIGHT’S
LITTLE LEAGUE GAME
The Little League ball games
scheduled for this evening have
been postponed because of a
conflicting activity. The games
will be made up by special
games on July 11.
Residents Testify
During CAB Hearings
Lew Hanks Named
To Fair Association
Board of Directors
Lew Hanks, district agent with
the Extension Service, was ap
pointed to serve on the Matan
uska Valley Fair Association
board of directors, filling'a va
cancy caused by the recent
resignation of William Adams,
Bureau of Land Management
forester. Adams resignation was
submitted because of work pres
sure during the summer fire
season and was accepted by the
Directors, with regrets. Hanks
was named treasurer and chair
man of the finance committee.
Fair Manager A1 Hagen re
ported that over $4300 in adver
tising has been sold in the 1956
Fair premium book. Listing in
the book will be closed within a
few days and anyone desiring
advertising space is urged to
contact M. D. Snodgrass, adver
tising agent, or the manager.
Work is being done at the
Fairgrounds, including the mov
ing of one Quonset hut; fencing
on the west side of the race
track, roofs have been repaired
and plans are under way to ex
tend the fencing along Springer
road.
A numoer 01 changes are be
ing contemplated for the pre
mium list this year, bringing
rules and regulations and pre
miums more in line with those
practiced by various Fairs that
have been operating for a con
siderable number of years in the
States. Also used as reference
was the premium book follow'
ed by the Tanana Valley Fair
Association. A number of rib
bon awards will be added this
year. Board members pointed
out that pride in ribbon awards
seems to be fading in favor of
cash awards. Although the cash
awards are in a way commesera
tion for work put into the ex
hibit, it was pointed out that if
exhibits are entered with a
commercial value in mind, the
pride of winning an award is
losing ground each year.
Several Accidents
In Valley Area
During Past Week-End
A number of accidents, one of
them fatal, occurred in the val
ley area this past week-end. The
first occurred Friday morning
about 11:30 when a tractor being
hauled on a lowboy snagged ver
tical supports on the north end
of Moose Creek bridge. Consid
erable damage was done to the
bridge and approximately 200
north-and south-bound vehicles
were held up until about 9 p.m.
that evening. Crewmen of the
Alaska Road Commission built
a temporary crossing on the bed
of the creek and a Bailey bride
will be put in, at least for the
time being, it was announced.
Early Sunday morning Eugene
Mclnnis of Anchorage drowned
at Big Lake when a boat in
which he was riding overturn
ed. Two other Anchorage resi
dents clung to the boat and were
saved. Divers are attempting to
recover the body which is be
lieved to be in approximately 70
feet of water, about 400 yards off
shore.
Sunday afternoon Pvt. Albert
Sabo of Fort Richardson receiv
ed a gunshot wound in his right
leg when a .25! target pistol he
was carrying in a holster, dis
charged. He received first aid
at the Valley Presbyterian Hos
pital and was transferred to the
5005th Airforce Hospital.
An airman, Robert L. Berg
strom, escaped serious injuries
Sunday afternoon when a trac
tor on which he was riding over
turned, pinning him beneath.
The accident happened on the
Richard Tunnieliffe farm where
land is being cleared. Bergstrom
was removed from under the
(continued on page 10)
Direct testimony for continued
air service to Palmer was given
by a number of Palmer residents,
an Monday of this week when
they appeared in the CAB hear
ings being held in Anchorage.
The group appeared as witnesses
for Cordova Airlines, the only
airline service into the Valley.
James Hurley, was in charge
of the Palmer group and pre
sented each witness. First to ap
pear was Councilwoman Lucille
Mick, representing the City of
Palmer. Also testifying were Dr.
Allan Mick, representing the Ex
periment Station, Extension
Service, and the Valley Presby
terian Hospital; Hugh Adams,
dairyman; Ed Smith, Chamber
of Commerce and Palmer Inde
pendent School District; Stewart
Durrant, Matanuska Valley
Farmers Cooperating Associa
tion; and Dr. C. C. Bailey, Valley
Presbyterian Hospital staff.
The continued need for air
service in and out of Palmer was
emphasized by each witness.
They pointed out that there is
no bus or passenger train ser
vice and that the air service is
the only passenger travel now
provided to Palmer. They
brought out that Palmer is be
lieved to be the only incorporat
ed city in Alaska without sched
uled air line service. They made
a particular appeal for mail ser
vice from the airlines because
of the bottleneck in Anchorage,
pointing out that Palmer is the
seventh largest city in Alaska in
respect to post office receipts.
The group was flown to the
hearings by the Cordova Air
lines and returned over the
highway. Ralph Browne, CAL
representative, said this week
that the Palmer group had pre
sented a very good case; that
their testimony had been well
thought out aud very well pre
sented. In addition to the testi
mony given by the group a
resolution, drawn up by the Ma
.tanuska Valley Chamber of
Commerce was presented, re
questing scheduled airline ser
vice to and from Palmer, and a
paper prepared by the City of
Palmer outlining general infor
mation on the Valley and the
City of Palmer.
SPORTSMEN POSTPONE
REGULAR MEETING
The regular meeting of the
Matanuska Valley Sportsmen
has been postponed from July 4
to July 11 to avoid confliction
with the holiday.
All members are reminded of
the organization’s annual fish
fry which will be held July 15.
This is a public event and all
sportsmen are requested to “go
get some fish”.
SCOUT MEETING
POSTPONED TO JULY 5
Boy Scouts of Troop 654 will
meet on Thursday evening, July
5, instead of their regular meet
ing date on Wednesday, because
of the holiday.
OUR MENU FEATURES
Matanuska Maid
PRODUCE & PRODUCTS
CO-OP CAFE
Claudia Wilson, Mgr.
FOR DRY SCALP AND
DANDRUFF TRY
Dandricide
VALLEY BEAUTY SHOP
Phono 3043
LAVONNE JOHNSON
New Vases — New Flower
Pots — Bone China Cups
Potted Plants & Cut Flowers
MAUD'S FLOWER SHOP
Theatre Bldg. Phono 3601
I
SUN., JULY I
2:00 P.M.