PARC MEMBERSHIP
MEETING
SCHOOL CAFETERIA
JULY 29 — 8:00 p.m.
The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
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VOLUME 7, NUMBER 40
PALMER. ALASKA. THURSDAY, JULY 29. 1954
PRICE TEN CENTS
$567,000 TELEPHONE LOAN APPROVED
CITY SETS 10-MILL TAX RATE
FIRST PAYMENTS
REAL, PERSONAL
PROPERTY AUGUST I
The tax rate on real and per
sonal property in the City of Pal
mer, and consequently the Pal
mer Independent School District,
was approved at 10 mills by city
council members at the July 27
meeting. Setting the tax rate con
sum ates many weeks of study by
council members, and revaluation
of property by the tax assessor
Estimated value in the city of
Palmer was $4,994,664 — in the
school district, $4,844,638, for a
total of $9,839,302 upon which the
tax valuation of $988,393.02 was
set.
A request of $114,000 was made
for the school budget. Failure to
meet this figure means that the
school budget will have to be re
adjused to, allow for the differ
anc-e. The school budget figure
included $20,000 for the rehabil
itation of the present gymnasium.
However this item will have to
be cut nearly $8,000, along with
a cut of $5,000 from the $10,000
listed for sites and clearing work.
. Earlier tax-rate estimates had
been predicted at 13.7 mills, later
brought down to 11.4 to allow for
the full school budget. However,
members of the city council vot
ed to continue the sam , lev^ rate
as in the past (10 mills) and the
school budget will be cut. An es
timated figure of $3,000 was given
as a possible recovery from back
taxes, however, such a figure is i
hard to predict, it was pointed
out, for back taxes recovered may
be replaced by additional tax ar
rears this year.
The first tax installment pay
ments are due August 1.
RODEO TO FEATURE
BR0NC RIDING
A fun-filled, fast-moving after
noon has been promised by mem
bers of the Arctic Trails Riding
Club to all those attending the
club’s first regulation rodeo on
July 31 and August 1 at the Fair
grounds.
The two-day show is schedul
ed to get under way at 2 p.m.
each day and will continue for
two and one-half hours. Admis
sion will be by ticket only and
purchasers are reminded to hang
on to their stubs as there will at
tendance prizes awarded during
both shows. In addition there will
also be refreshments sold on the
grounds by club members, includ
ing hot dogs, coffee and orange
punch.
Participants will be competing
for prize money in the many ex
citing events. There will be bronc
(Continued on page 4
KEEP OFF BUILDINGS,
FAIR BOARD ASKS
Members of the Matanuska
Valley Fair board this week
asked all children playing in
the fairgrounds to say off the
buildings. Some damage to the
roofs and windows have been
reported, in spite of the fact
that the buildings are all post
ed against trespassing. Par
ents are requested to cooperate
in keeping the buildings in as
good condition as possible by
urging their children to re
main away from all buildings
on the grounds.
14 HEW TEACHERS
IH PALMER SCHOOLS
At least 14 new teachers will be
be on hand to greet students on
the opening day of school this
year. The high turn-over has
been accounted for by married
teachers who have resigned, in
nearly every case, Zahradnicek
said.
Among those already hired are
Joann Farnsworth from Colum
bus, Ohio who will teach a pri
mary grade; Joyce Campbell from
Guthrie, Oklahoma, teaching
either junior or senior high; An
ita Higgins from Muncie, Indiana,
girls’ PE and history; Rodger
Larson from Anchorage who will
teach an elementary grade and
will also be ski instructor. Lar
son has been working in the
Valley the past year and is al
ready acquainted with many
residents.
Also Wanda Kauffeld from
Clarksville, Arkansas who will
teach either elementary or math;
Phyllis Heck from Toledo, Ohio,
second grade, Lois Metzer, also
from Toledo, junior high teacher
who will also assist in the com
mercial department; Harry Plum
bly, from Texas who will be band
master this year and teach in the
high school, Gloria Wilson from
Milwakie, Oregon, elementary
grade, and Ruth Beecheck and
Dale Bryant who are coming
down from Lazy Mountain school
this year. Students who have been
attending school at Lazy Moun
tain will attend the Palmer
schools this year.
New High School
Construction on the new high
school is expected to be complet
ed around the first of next year,
Zahradnicek said. Until that time
high school classes will continue
in Central School. When the new
school is completed the four up
per grades will be moved. How
ever, inasmuch as there is no
gymnasium at the new school,
all students participating in gym
will have to travel hack to Cen
(Continued on page 8)
OPENING AUGUST 3
Chugiak Optical Service
Palmer Branch
FRAMES — LENSES — ALL REPAIRS
MAIL ORDER SERVICE
P. O. BOX 1315 — Palmer
Stateside Prices
Open 10:00 A.M. — 5:00 P.M. — Tuesday Thru Saturday
Located old Extension Office — Co-Op Shopping Area
FORESTRY DIVISION
PLANS PERMANENT
BUILDING FOR FAIR
Bill Adams, fire control aid,
presented plans for a permanent
exhibi building to be constructed
on the Matanuska Valley fair
grounds by the Division of For
estry, Bureau of Land Manage
ment on July 26. The plans were
immediately approved by mem
bers of the association board.
The 15-by 21-foot building will
be constructed of peeled logs and
will be located in the vicinity of
the building previously used by
the Division of Forestry. Con
struction is expected to get under
way immediately.
Building Progressing
The new permanent exhibit
building being constructed by the
fair association this year is well
under way, with the foundation
expected to be completed by Mon
day of next week. Tuttle Brothers
of Anchorage were awarded the
contract for the cement block wall
construction, as low bidders.
Their bid was approximately $3,
500 for the job. Sixty percent of
space in the new building has
already been allotted.
Big Fair Expected
From all incidations, this will
be one of the largest fairs ever
put on in the Valley. "Several or
ganizations have already indicat
ed their intention of having dis
plays, among them are the North
land Pioneer Grange of Palmer
and the U. S. Air Force. There
will be displays in forage crops,
grains, individual farm displays,
livestock, poultry, rabbits, handi
crafts, needlework, dressmaking,
thrift, sewing, cooking, home can
ning, baking, dairy products,
flowers, art, 4-H club work, pho
tography, education, furs and na
tive cfafts, and many more.
A.mong known exhibits will be two
candy houses, one depicting, the
house of yesterday, and the other,
the house of today. They will be
made entirely of candy.
To Publicize Fair
The 1954 Valley Fair will re
ceive publicity through all media.
Television Station KTVA has al
ready notified the fair board of
it’s intention to cover the high
lights of the fair. TV Station
KFIA and all radio stations as
well as newspapers have been in
vited to participate in the three
day fair.
Little League
All-Stars in
Divisional Piay-off
The Palmer all-star Little Lea- ;
gue team journied to Anchorage !
today for their first game in the j
Little League tournament being j
played off today, Friday and Sat- ’
urday at the Fort Richardson ;
field.
Seven teams, representing
Palmer, Anchorage, and Fair
banks, have entered the tourna
ment and the winner will go to
Santa Monica, California for the
sectional play-otf. Members of
the Palmer all-star team are
playing in attractive white uni
forms. Palmer Women of the
Moose generously donated money
to provide lettering on 14 suits.
Blue letters spelling out PALMER
| with one star on either side
clearly identify the local players
when they are in the game. This
is the second season for the local
Little League’s participation in
the district play-offs.
All Little League players are |
invited to attend the play-offs ,
and any adult who can furnish
transportation is asked to con
tact Bill Fogg for time and place
: for pick-up. Transportation has
been, provided for the team, but
there are several other boys who
would like to see the games, Fogg
said today. Palmer’s first game
was with Fairbanks.
P.A.R.C. MEMBERS
URGED TO ATTEND
TONIGHT'S MEETING
The quarterly meeting of the
Palmer Area Recreation Council
will meet tonight at 8 p.m. in the
Palmer School gymnasium. All
members, and anyone interested
in joining the council, are urged
to attend.
The summer program, includ
ing the six-week supervised play
1 ground, will be evaluated and
project reports for the coming
j year will be given. A discussion
of next summer’s playground
| program will also be discussed
i and parents of children who at
1 tend the program this summer
are especially invited to attend.
A display of handcraft created
I in the playground program will
be shown during the evening.
City Council Notes
The City of Palmer will receive
consideration at a later date, if j
and when they request parking
space along the railroad in the
city, F. E. Kalbaugh, ARR manag- ;
er said in a letter to the City
which was read at the July 27
City Council meeting. The city
had requested the use earlier this
year to provide additional park
ing space in the post office area
but have tabled the plan for
the time being because of costs.
* * *
The City Clerk’s report, repre
senting revenues and expenditur
es in comparison with budget es
timates, was presented at the
meeting and discussed at length
by council members. A copy of
the report is printed elsewhere j
in this issue in an advertisement |
to enable city residents to learn
of the city’s income and expendi- i
tures from the fiscal year, Oc- !
tober 1, 1953 up to June 30 of 1
this year. The clerk’s report in
cludes information that it is dif
ficult to present a clear financial
picture based upon the budget as
adopted because the accounts as
listed in the budget are dissimilar
and lees detailed than the ac
counts in the city books and in
many instances accounts that ap
pear on the City books cannot be
listed under any heading in the
budget.
In discussing the report, it was
brought out that the high cost of
maintaining the city dump was
aggrevated this summer by the
dumping of many tons of pota
toes that had to be cared for
each day, with dozing work and
gravel coverings.
In considering additional ap
propriations, it was requested by
the city clerk that an additional
appropriation of $154.42 be made
to cover the secretary’s salary for
(Continued on page 8)
Concession Forms
Ready for Applicants
Letters will be mailed this
week to all groups and indivi
duals who have indicated their
plans to conduct a concession
at the 1954 Valley Fair. Any
one who wishes a concession
contract blank may obtain it
at the temporary Fair office
in the Theatre building or from
Gene Kirsch, fair manager.
Those planning concessions
are asked to return the con
tracts immediately so that
space may be allocated and
to enable Fair officials to de
termine the number and type
concessions being planned.
Those making application first
will receive preference in space
etc., it was indicated.
Concession front footage will
cost $9.00 per front foot, with
a minimum of 10 feet. Space is
rented on a front-foot basis,
depth of each concession to be
ok'd by the fair manager,
prior to the opening. Season
tickets will be furnished each
concession for each ten feet
frontage rented by concession
er, except for dining room and
rides.
Stevenson Makes
Short Vailey Visit
Adlai Stevenson, Delegate E. L.
Bartlett and Stevenson’s son
John, made a brief visit to Pal
mer and the Valley this past Sun
day. Their air trip from Anchor
age was sandwiched between a
series of events that kept the en
tire pary on the move from the
time of their arrival at the
neighboring city, until Monday
when they left on a fishing trip,
one of the main reasons for the
Alaska jaunt.
The trio were met at the Pal
mer Airport by a small group and
were escorted from there to the
Elks home, with a brief stop-off
at Farmer’s Market where Stev
enson admired produce grown in
the Valley. Following a short stay
at the Elks where hors d’oeuvres
at the Elks where h’ordourv
and coffee were served, the dis
tinguished visitors were taken on
a tour of the farm area and to
the Agriculture Experiment farm.
Upon his return to Anchorage
Sevenson was quoted as saying he
is convinced that the possibilities
are “enormous”. He said he can
foresee a time when Alaska will
have to seek markets elsewhere
for its produce. He added that
roads for Alaska are almost “con
dition number one” for its de
velopment.
Ed Smith, manager of the local
Ketchikan Spruce Mills, was re
cently elected to the Southeast
ern Alaska executive committee
of the National Foundation for
Infantile Paralysis.
AREA-WIDE
DIAL SYSTEM
SET FOR VALLEY
Word of the approval of the
Matanuska Telephone Associa
tion REA loan was received this
morning by Lew Hanks, chair
man of the association from
Mary Lee Council, secretary to
Delegate E. L. Bartlett. The $567,
000 loan means that the MTA can
begin it's initial work on what
will eventually be a modern dial
system planned to cover the en
tire valley from Chugiak to Sut
ton.
Ground work for an area-wide
telephone system was first start
ed some time ago by the North
liand Pioneer Grange in Palmer.
In March, 1953, an organizational
meeting was held in Palmer and
some 400 signatures were obtain
ed at that time and the Matanu
ska Telephone Association was
formed, with Hanks as chairman.
Loan specialists were here in.
the Valley and took the applica
tion back to Washington where it
stagnated until an appeal to Dele
gate E. L. Bartlett got things mov
ing. When Mrs. Justine Parks was
in Washington attending the na
tional REA meeting, she was told
that it was expected that the MTA
loan would be released June 25.
Since that time no encouraging
word had been received until this
morning.
A sales agreement between the
City of Palmer and MTA has al
read been approved whereby
MTA will purchase the present
city system for the sum of $10,
000 plus capital investments,
bringing the total figure in the
neighborhood of $30,000.
Other members of the MTA
committee are James McDowell
of Chugiak, Phil O’Neill of Sut
ton, A1 Withey of Wasilla, and
John King of Palmer.
Assault Charge
Placed Against
Nick Samoff
Nick Samoff was released on
$2,500 bail Saturday following ar
raignment in U. S. Commission
er’s Court on a charge of assault
with a knife and a nail. Samoff
is charged with assaulting Jack
Corey on July 21, doing “exten
sive bodily damage”. He entered
a plea of not guilty. Corey was
hospitalized following the alleg
ed assault.
CO-OP ANNUAL MEET
TO BE HELD AUG. 14
The annual membership meet
ing of the Matanuska Valley
Farmers Cooperating Association
will be held in the Palmer School
gymnasium on August 14, it was
announced this week.
The meeting, scheduled to be
gin at 10 a.m., will be open to the
producing membership, number
ing 107, and probational mem
bers. Four prizes will be given
away during the day but the re
cipient must be present. The first
prize will be given at 10:30 a.m.
Notice to Voters
By action of the Common Council of the City
of Palmer, the special election scheduled for
July 31,1954 concerning the construction of
a sewer system for the City of Palmer has
been postponed and no election will be held
on July 31,1954 as previously advertised.
E. BARRY, CHy Clerk
Elks Picnic - Sunday, Aug. 1
ELKS AND INVITED GUESTS _
■ ■ —T —^m=== .1 ■ " ' M . ,r ■ ■ . "it ■ I.■ — ■ —
1:00 P.M.
GREEN ACRES