uiru-ify-ir.—— - - .
Senior Class Play
BROTHER GOOSE'
March 27—28
School Auditorium
The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
TRY A FRONTIERSMAN
CLASSIFIED AD lor Hut
item you may kart for sate,
rant or loaso.
VOLUME 6, NUMBER 27
PALMER. ALASKA. THURSDAY. MARCH 26. 1953
PRICE TEN CENTS
PAVING MAY START i
THIS SUMMER ON
PALMEfcWASlLi.A RD
Mayor Alfred1 Hagen received
word this .week, from William J.
Niemi, chief engineer, Alaska
Road Commission concerning the
improvement of roads ahd arteri
als in the Palmar area.
Earlier this year the city re
questing recommendations for
ceived a letter from ARC re
the coming summer program. At
that time a letter was sent, ask
ing that Valley, Wasilla and a
portion of Colony streets be in
cluded as part of the arterial
highway system in the Matanuska
Valley. Also included was a rec
ommendation for the black-top
ping of the Palmer-Wasilla high
way.
Niemi’s reply, in part, was as
follows: “We appreciate very
much your suggestion and the
need for a higher type road be
tween Palmer and Wasilla. Our
planning is toward that end and
we are hopeful that funds will
permit a start on that project this
coming season.
“Regarding streets in the City
of Palmer as a part of such as
arterial, we'feel that this might
be considered as a later phase
following completion of water
and sewer lines, which, we un
derstand, are in process of being
constructed in your newly incor
porated town. Other factors such
as right-of-way, and . coordina
tion of engineering with the ad
joining street system of the town,
must be considered and solved
before the ARC could undertake
to include these thoroughfares in
the arterial highway system.”
Niemi stated that E. J. White,
district engineer in the Anchor
age District was in accord with
the recommendations, and stated
there is no objection to the City
of Palmer working closely with
the Anchorage district office to
ward future consideration of the
the proposals outlined.
Seniors to Present
Annual Play
Friday and Saturday
Seniors of the Palmer High
School are busy selling tickets
> , to the annual Senior play,
* "‘Brother Goose,” to be presented
tomorrow night and again on
Saturday night. Members pre
dict capacity audiences, with
many reserved seats already sold.
The three-act comedy centers
‘ around Jeff Adams, played by
Ronnie McNeese, who is trying
to raise his brother and two sis
ters properly. Their parents are
dead. Throughout the play Jeff
has trouble with his housekeep
er, brother, sisters ,girl friends
, and work.
Miss Beverlee Unwin is direct
ing the play and has had the
cast in regular rehearsals twice
. daily this past week.
Others in the cast include
Stuart Dreghorn, Gerry Kind
gren, Barbara Bentti, Marilyn
Macek, Mary Ann Mears, Mar
garet Cope, Mary Jane Clark,
Mary Ada Lee and Lyle Jones.
The play will be presented to
grades 1-6 Thursday and grades
7-IS Friday afternoons at 1:3C
p.m.
* Evening performances Fridaj
and Saturday will start at 8 p.m
NO SCHOOL BOARD
ELECTION tHIS SPRING
There will be no school
board election next month, as
in the past, residents were re
minded this week.
According to Territorial
legislature, when the City of
Palmer incorporated, and the
school district became an in
dependent district, elections
were regulated to fall on the
same date. The next regular
school board election will be
held in October, when city
elections are held.
Local Kiwanis Club
Receives National
Awards for Efforts
The nation-wide non-partisan
register and vote campaign,
“BALLOT BATTALION,” spear
headed by the Kiwanis Club of
Palmer in cooperation with all
;i vic-minded, patriotic groups
during 1952, has been awarded
the Freedoms Foundation George
Washington Honor Medal, and
also a major prize from The
American Heritage Foundation,
H. J. Hodgson, club president,
announced today.
These awards were won by Ki
wanis International in competition
with hundreds of entries to the
awards juries of the Freedoms'
Foundation of Valley Forge, Pa.,
and The American Heritage Foun
dation of New York City. The
Freedoms Foundation Award
gives to Kiwanis the distinction
of being recognized by this organ
ization for the third consecutive
year for its Americanism pro
grams. Both organizations are
non-profit, non-political and non
sectarian and actively work to
promote more personal participa
tion in citizenship and the furth
ering of the American way of
life.
Through the Ballot Battallion
program, Kiwanis International
presented a plan for coordinating
the efforts of all local civic, pro
fessional and fraternal groups in
every Kiwanis community
throughout the United States in
an all-out, non-partisan “get out
the vote” campaign.
In announcing these awards,
club President Hodgson said,
“The Kiwanis Club of Palmer
believes that the success of the
Ballot Battalion demonstrates the
inherent desire on the part of the
citizenry of our country to be
governed by elected officials ■
chosen by the highest possible
percentage of the eligible voters.
“We are very grateful to all
local citizens, the press and radio
for their support in assuring the
success of this program. We are
confident that the American peo
ple will continue to exhibit a keen
interest and increased participa
tion in matters of government on
all levels.”
ASKS LOAN OF CITY TRUCK
The Chugiak Fire Department
recently asked the City of Palmer
for the loan of the pumper truck.
The truck is not being used this
winter because of inadequate
housing. The request was not
granted, for it was felt the truck
can be used this summer for
sprinkling the streets.
CITY COUNCIL
VOTES TO ACCEPT
LICENSE CHANGES
As chairman of the city license
committee, Councilwoman Betty
Mears presented committee rec
ommendations at . the regular
council meeting held March 24,
regarding changes in Ordinance
14.
Following lengthy discussions,
the recommendations were ac
cepted by a vote of 4-2 in favor.
Only two lofcal business men
Johnny Weisenbarger and Ray
McCartney were present at the
meeting.
Several recommendatons will
result in savings of up to $75 to
businessmen.
New license fees are as fol
lows: General contractor, $100;;
unclassified, electrical, excava
tors, painting, oil burner and
plumbing, each $25. Any business
operational service conducted in
conjunction with the above, to be
licensed an additional $14..
Local and general trucking,
sign erectors and lumber yards
fall under the $14 category.
Other recommendations, includ
ing the better definement of a
special public dance license and
pawn broker and/or second hand
merchant licensing, was interpre
ted by City Attorney Harold But
cher as follows: Where dancing is
incidental to the bar business,
no special license will be requir
ed.
The accepted recommendations
become effective followng the
final reading of the amendment
to Ordinance 14.
Health Committee
O. K. Kincaid recommended (1)
the city pay one-half the amount
of $600 being sought by the
Health Council to complete their
1953 budget, providing the school
district will furnish an equal part.
City payment to be contingent
upon this provision. (2) Monies so
given not to be used for nurse’s
car. (3) That the city in exchange
may call upon the Public Nurse
when necessary to aid in enforc
ing the city health ordinance.
Other committee recommenda
tions stipulated the money must
remain in this area and be spent
in this area. All recommendations
were accepted by the council.
Firemen Needed
Volunteer firemen are needed
for the city Fire Department, it
was announced. Anyone interest
ed in volunteering his services is
asked to contact Fire Chief Ray
Lancaster. All regular volunteers
are covered by insurance while
on duty.
SPECIAL MEET SET
FOR CD WARDENS
An important meeting of all
Zone Wardens and Block Ward
ens of the Greater Palmer Civil
Defense District will be held
Monday evening, 8 p.m. in Car
penters’ Hall, it was announced
this week by CD Director Edward
Imrae.
All wardens are urged to at
tend this meeting, to receive in
structions for the extensive Civil
Defense exercises which are
scheduled for this area on April
■ 12.
All Boy Scouts and Explorer
; Scouts who have enlisted for
; courier service are urged to at
; tend the regular Troop meeting
: Tuesday night for instructions.
: On Sunday afternoon the Cit>
(Continued on page 8)
Immunization Clinic
Scheduled for Area
April 9 to 24
The annual Spring typhoid im
munization clinic has been plan
ned for the Palnier area, Miss
Dolores Mattila, Public Health
nurse announced this week.
The initial series of three in
jections ,one week apart, is rec
ommended for all who have, never
had typhoid immunizations, Miss
Mattila said. Those who have
not had typhoid immunizations
within the past three years, but
have had them before that, are
advised to have the series of
three again.
A “booster” of one injection is
recommended every year after,
the initial series for maximum
protection. A “booster” is thought
to be sufficient if the series were
given within the past three years,
she said.
Local physicians highly recom
mend typhoid immunization for
the people in the Palmer area and
have volunteered their services
tothe immunization clinic to be
held at the Palmer School and the
Health Center April 9, 10, 17 and
24. The Alaska Department of
Health has recommended the im
munization for everyone in Alas
ka.
Clinics will be held on the fol
lowing dates: April 9 and 10, Pal
mer School (for school children
only). Subsequent injections will
be given this group on April 17
and 24.
Adult and pre-school children
(age one and over) clinics will be
held at the Health Center April
10, 17 and 24 from 3:00 p.m. to
6:00 p.m.. and from 7:00 p.m. to
8:30 p.m.
WASILLA AREA
TO GET NEW SCHOOL
Pat Carter of Wasilla, returned
from Juneau this week where he
spent eight days attending ses
sions of both houses.
Representing Wasilla organiza
tions including Wasilla Grange
No. 2; Wasilla P-TA; Community
Club; Veterans of Foreign Wars
and the VFW Auxiliary Carter
was primarily interested in de
velopments pertaining to a new
school at Wasilla.
He reported that the new school
has been assured the community
and should be constructed some
time within the next year. Terri
torial funds are available and
federal grants are expected to be
forthcoming. Members of the leg
islature had inspected the present
school building early this Fall
and were in accord with the Was
illa people in the necessity of new
facilities.
Fire Destroys
Anchorage School
Auditorium
The Anchorage High School
auditorium was gutted by a
spectacular fire March 24. Origin
of the $200,000 blaze is believed
to be from spontaneous combus
tion in the northeast wing of the
auditorium stage.
Valuable equipment owned by
the Anchorage Little Theater and
the Anchorage Concert Associa
tion was destroyed along with
school equipment. School records
were not destroyed.
ObtK IKIlUolKIAL UArllHL
FOR DEVELOPING COAL POTENTIAL
A : definite move, with a far
reaching scope, has been started
by members of the Industrial De
velopment committee of the Ma
tanuska Valley Chamber of Com
merce, to build up the potential
START LAND CLEARING
FOR NEW HOSPITAL
Land clearing at the new
Valley Presbyterian Hospital
site was started this week.
Contractor C. R. Foss, Inc.,
of Anchorage has arranged for
using local land-clearing equip
ment and owners, in doing the
work. In addition to the land
clearing, workers will also dig
the basement for the building.
Easier Seals Lend
Helping Hand to
Alaskan Children
Easter seals arrived in Palmer
this week and with them a mes
sage from the Alaska Crippled
Children’s Association concern
ing the crippled children’s pro
gram in Alaska.
Since the opening of Mt. Edge
cumbe Orthopedic Hospital in
1947, 298 orthopedic cases have
been cared for there. As of No
vember, 1952, 86 children were
occupying beds and undergoing
surgery. During the same period,
127 children have been sent to
other hospitals in Seattle, Chicago
and San Francisco, with the aver
age cost per day for seven hos
pitals involved at $15.05.
There are 1253 children on the
register waiting for hospitaliza
tion.
What is Needed
The opening of the new center
in Anchorage in the next month
will provide care for the first
time in Alaska, for children af
flicted with cerebal palsy. All
Easter contributions will help
support this center.
In addition a speech and hear
ing consultant is needed; the
present rheumatic fever program
needs enlarging; a convalescent
home in Anchorage and the en
couragement of local school dis
tricts to employ speech therapists.
Every dollar' that is contributed
to ACCA is doubled by matching
federal funds.
B & B Show Sale
Announced This Week
A1 Stein of the B and B Alas
ka Show arrived in Palmer dur
ing the week end and announc
ed the sale of his carnival equip
ment to a company in Edmon
ton, Alberta. The sale included
the ferris wheel, merry-go-round
and other rides, dear to the heart
of the fajr-goers. Work crews
have been preparing the equip
ment for the move down the
highway this week.
There is very little chance that
Palmer will have rides for Set
tler’s Day celebrations. However
there is a possibilility that one
of Stein’s employes may return
to Palmer, with a few small rides
and concessions, if he can find
backing, it was announced.
The B & B Shows have played
Palmer the past few years, both
at Settler’s Day and Fair time
and had become a rather fixed
feature of both events.
ities of the Matanuska Valley and
surrounding areas. The committee
announced they have a program
outlined that will focus on the
coal industry in this area.
In Alaska, they said, as in
every [young country, there is a
shortage of industrial capital to
develop the natural resources.
“The Matanuska area is no ex
ception; and those of us who
know the country and its indus
trial potential hope to bring cap
ital and potential together to
their mutual satisfaction,” they
said.
The coal industry is one of
those now presenting excellent
opportunities, they emphasized.
Will Solicit Inquiries
As a result of several weeks lo
cal study and research, the com
mittee announced a general plan
to solicit inquiries from industrial
investors and to gather data from
owners, leaseholders and pros
pectors as to their production pos
sibilities.
The Matanuska Valley Cham
ber of Commerce will act as a
clearing house ,functioniong only
to bring the two factions within
negotiating range. Since this will
be a highly confidential effort,
no information will be relayed
without prior mutual consent of
the interested parties ,they point
ed 01’t.
Inquiry forms for all mine op
erators in the Matanuska coal
field point out the intention to
circularize, as widely as possible,
the need and opportunities for
investment capital or participat
ing parties in the growth of the
local coal industry. .
The purpose of the question
naire is to primarily acquaint
prospective investors or partici
pants with the general scope of
the miner’s operation and its pos
sibilities and encourage direct
correspondence. Data will include
location of activity; distance from
road or railroad; operating meth
od; present stage of development;
estimated extent of property and
coal reserves and whther or not
property and reserves can be
expanded at a future date.
GLEN AARRAIGNED
IN DISTRICT COURT
Theodore R. Glen was arraign
ed on two charges before Judge
Anthony Dimond in District Court
March 24.
He is charged with first-degree
murder and rape. Glen is
charged with the murder of Mar
garet Toloff near Palmer in Sep
tember 1949 by “beating her
while perpetrating rape.” The
second charge accuses him of
raping a 15-year old girl and two
other crimes against nature in
volving the same gir’. John Shaw
Palmer attorney, is representing
Glen.
FAIR ASSOCIATION
TO MEET APRIL 6
The annual Matanuska Val
ley Fair Association meeting
will be held Monday evening.
April 6 in the Co-Op club room
at 8 p.m., Association Presi
dent, Alfred Hagan announced
this week.
All members are urged to at
tend. Membership may be
purchased for $1, Hagen said.
SMGSPIRATION SERVICE
MARCH 29,1953
7:30 PM.
SPECIAL SHOWING FILM
"KING' OF KINGS
n
SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
PUBLIC IHVITED
FREE ADMISSION
1