VALLEY FRONTIERSMAN
Published each Thursday
Palmer, Alaska
Entered as second class matter on Oct. 21, 1947, at the past office
at Palmer, Alaska, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Subscription rates .50c month, $5 a year
Viola Daniels .Editor
No printed material in the Valley Frontiersman may be
reproduced except by permission of the editor.
Mailed to all points in Alaska and the United States
DANIELS - In The Lion's Den
The Valley Volunteer Fire Association is currently conducting
its annual membership drive. Members of the Association’s board
of directors are handling the drive this year, and they find the go
ing as stiff as it has ever been.
Although the Valley has gained a three-truck fleet of fire fight
ing equipment during the past year, and although the fire insurance
rate drop is directly attributable to the efforts of the Association,
the doubting Thomases still are legion.
Excuses for abstaining from membership are more unique this
year, than some of those given in the past. There are those who
refuse to pay $10 membership fee, because they “don’t think we’ll
have a fire,” and “anyway, we don’t think the Fire Association could
put it out anyhow.” There are others who seem to feel that after
they’ve had a fire will be time enough to join. Others quibble about
a $7 charge made to answer a fire call to the home of non-members,
overlooking the effect that a 510 payment now is all it would take to
avoid that “excessive” charge.
Then the Monday-morning quarterbacks still arc with us. Those
are the men who think the “Department's run all wrong. I wouldn’t
have a thing to do with it the way it is now," they declare. Neither
would they have a thing to do with changing those things they don't
like, for invitation to join as an active volunteer sends them scurry
ing in the opposite direction.
The department is doing the best job ol which it is capable
with the limited funds and personnel it now has. Your membership
fee and your active entrance into the volunteer ranks would im
prove the existing situation materially. Until you do your part by
contributing your money and your time, you have no grounds lot
criticism.
The Valley Volunteer Fire Association needs you and it needs
your money now. Join today.
Catholics Will
Picnic Sunday
Members of St. Michael’s Cath
olic Church will hold their an
nual picnic next Sunday at the
Peck farm at Wasilla, Father
James Snead announced this
week. Picnickers will leave from
the church immediately follow
ing the morning service. Those
who have no transportation will
find space available in church
goers’ autos.
Families are asked to bring a
picnic basket lunch, to be shared
in potluck style at the picnic
grounds. Father Hubbard and
Col. Bernt Balchen, now visiting
in Alaska, will be special guests
at the picnic.,
FOR THAT REFRESHMENT
PAUSE IN PALMER
VISIT THE
Frontier Bar
Frontier Liquor Store
BOTH ARE OPEN 24 HOURS DAILY
7 DAYS A WEEK
HORTICULTURIST HERE
F. Sidney Beecher, a member
of the Beltesville, Md., staff of
the division of fruits and vege
table investigation, arrived in the
Valley this week to begin a tem
porary assignment at the Mata
nuska experiment station. Mr.
Beecher will serve for three
months as assistant to Dr. Myron
O. Babb, horticulturist, in a se
ries of plant breeding experi
ments.
GLORIA SMITH MARRIES
Miss Gloria Smith, a recent
graduate of Palmer High School,
was married to Warren Benbow
at an informal service on July 13.
Rev. Victor Alfsen of the United
Protestant Church officiated at
the ceremony, which was wit
nessed by Norma Jean and Jo
seph Loyer.
The newlyweds will make their
home at the Butte.
Potted Plants
Cut Flowers
MATANUSKA
VALLEY GARDENS
M. D. SNODGRASS
Real Estate
Dairy and Vegetable Farms
City Lots — Acreage
Richard E. Demming
Registered Land Surveyor
Box 675 — Palmer, Alaska
Health Commissioner
Gets An Assistant
Dr. Robert L. Smith, formerly
with the New Orleans city
health department, has been ap
pointed assistant commissioner
of health for the Territory, it
was announced last week. Dr.
Smith will be stationed in An
chorage, from which spot he will
direct all the department of
health activities of Interior
Alaska.
Dr. Smith, who is a graduate
of the University of Illinois
Medical School, is a surgeon of
the U. S. Public Health Service.
His experience includes four
years of tuberculosis control
work in Wisconsin.
Dr. Smith was in Anchorage to
attend the recent medical con
vention, but plans to return to
Juneau for orientation work be
fore assuming the duties of his
Anchorage office.
GREEN'S
FLYING SERVICE
STUDENT INSTRUCTION
CHARTER FLIGHTS
Closing Out
All Surplus Merchandise
25% - 75% Price Slash
MOSQUITO BED NETS
Parkas, O. D. Trousers
Reversible Coats and Linings
CLARA'S VARIETY
We make 'em any size you want in our shop!
Severns Cabinet Shop
Steaks, Salads, Sandwiches
• WE SPECIALIZE IN EVERYTHING •
Tasty Chicken Dinners Every Weekend
Open All Night Saturday—7 a. m. to 1 a. m. Weekdays
BAR-B-Q
Steve Cutuk, Prop.
It's the Ron-Da-Voo Cafe