VALLEY FRONTIERSMAN
Entered as second class matter on Oct. 21. 1947, at the post office at
Palmer, Alaska, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
A. J. DeJulio - Owner-Manager
Editor ---.-....___Virginia Gallant
Subscription Rates 50c a month, $5 a year
Mailed to all points in Alaska and the United States
DON’T LET THEM CHEAPEN ALASKA
From the '“Alaskan Agriculturist", February, 1954
Did you know that there is a strong movement afoot to do
away with the law against roadside advertising in Alaska? Impor
tant people are investing importat money in outside advertising
concerns, with the avowed purpose of breaking down the law. In
cluded among the investors are legislators elected by the people.
Watch the system used. The sign companies are donating large
signs to churches. These signs will be placed in areas contrary
to law. The signs will say ‘‘Go to Church on Sunday”. No one
objects to these sentiments and so the signs will stand. Other signs
will say "Statehood for Alaska”. These too will stand until people
get used to seeing such signs along the roads.
Gradually commercial signs will be inserted until the sign
companies can go before the legislature and claim that they have
50 or 100 men working who will be thrown out of work if their
right of living is not recognized.
Let us be realistic about this. If we are going to allow our
scenery to be mutilated by signs as it is in the States, why not
allow people to take the shrubbery from the roadside. A land
scaping firm could say that their right to make a living is being
interfered with by the law against the removing of shrubberies.
Let’s let the garbage men dump their cans and junk along the
roads instead of having to haul them miles to designated dumps.
This costs them money and definitely cuts their profits.
The coming session of the Territorial legislature is going to
have strong pressure placed on it, to do away with the anti-road
side advertising law. The companies will point out the fact to
the people that when the law was written it exempted political
advertising.
There is a lack of roadside signs along the highway that should
be a part of the highway system. Such signs should point out
items of interest, such as glaciers and points of hisorical interest,
dangerous curves and icy hills. The sign companies are going to
ask for the right to place these signs along the highway, using a
portion of the signs space for public information, the balance to
be sold to commercial advertisers. Such a sign might be placed
on Eagle River hill saying, ‘‘Ten people have died on this hill—if
you don’t make the grade call Joe Blow’s towing service or Blank’s
funeral parlors”.
Have you driven between Seattle and Portland lately? There
is simply nothing to see along the highway there but signs. The
prettier the scene the more likely the sign is place in front of it.
because that is where people look. In every States in the Union
where roadsigns are allowed, this is a fact. Our sign companies in
their bid for their right to use the road signs, say they will re
spect our scenery. And they will, until such time as the law is off
the book.
Our greatest defense against this campaign is in the letters
that Alaska-minded residents write to our representatives. Don’t let
commercial monstrosities spoil Alaska’s natural beauty. Won’t you
write your letter today?
Grazing Range
To Open Season
At Little Susitna
All livestock owners who de
sire permission to range cattle on
the Little Susitna Range area this
summer should make application
to the range committee at the
general meeting of the Matan
uska Valley Breeders Associa
tion on June 14. Application
forms may be secured from Wil
liam J. Sweetman, secretary of
the 1954 range committee.
The committee has decided to
bar bulls and to require that
.each livestock owner bear his
own losses. Each animal is to
be clearly identified with a
brand or other suitable marking.
All animals must have a clean
bill of health from the veterin
arian. This bill of health must
be furnished to the committee
by the owner when the range
fee of $2.50 per animal is paid.
All stockmen who apply for
permission to range cattle on the
little Susitna Range in 1954 are
to meet with the range commit
tee in the office of William J.
Sweetman at 8 p.m. on June 14.
At that time health certificates
will be checked, quotas assigned
and fees for the season collected.
The range will be limited to
130 head with members haying
priority. Members of the range
committee urge those who ap
ply be sure and bring health
certificates signed by the veter
inarian on all animals.
FAIR BOARD TO PUT
KITCHEN CONCESSION
OUT ON BID THIS YEAR
A call for bids for the opera
tion of the dining room conces
sion during the 1954 Matanuska
Valley Fair was issued this week
by the association’s board mem
bers.
Prospective bidders were
warned that the stove in the
kitchen is in need of repairs, and
that the electric wiring may not
be adequate for all types elec
trical operation. The call for bids
states that"the dining room must
be in continuous operation dur
ing the hours of 10 a.m. to 7
p.m. throughout the Fair. Bids
must be in by June 15 and should
be addressed to the Fair Associa
tion.
Another call for bids was is
sued on insurance and extended
coverage on the association’s
buildings. Specifications are ob
tainable at Brook’s Equipment.
Present at the May 17 meet
ing was Ben Hudgins, president
of the Matanuska Valley Sports
men who announced the group is
planning a wildlife and sports
men exhibit at the Fair again
this year. Another visitor was
Acting Mayor Betty Mears who
drew the boai'd’s attention to the
need of the association to con
sider the parking problem they
will be faced with if the city
builds on the piece of property
located opposite from the Fair
grounds, and used in the past
for parking the largest percent
age of vehicles during the Fair.
Furnaces Stokers Pre-fab Chimneys
Stainless Steel Work
— Free Estimates —
PALMER SHEET METAL & HEATING
Box 1797 John Weisenberger Palmer
Phone: 62J3
Reporters—
Notebook
Bougie Maze, who was a pa
tient in the local hospital last
week,*is recovering from measles
at his home.
Don Irwin, director of the Al
aska Experiment Station, who
has been a patient in the Pal
mer hospital for several days
is reported somewhat improved.
Fred Zieke and Clayton Es
I slinger of the Co-Op were in
j Fairbanks this week in business
for the association.
Dr. and Mrs. Allan Mick at
tended commencement exercises
at the University of Alaska last
week. Dr. Mick is dean of agri
culture at the university.
Richard Demming, local sur
veyor, is in Seward his week,
doing survey work in that city.
Tom Siler is filling in at the
local Fire Guard Station as em-'
ergency fire fighter.
Two nurses have been added
to the Valley Presbyterian Hos
pital staff. They are Mary Jane
Casbeer and Bernice Traphagen.
Both nurses began their duties
last week.
Mrs. Frances Hulbert, who
was a patient at Valley Presby
terian Hospital has returned to
her home where she is recuper
ating.
Among students already home
from the University of Alaska are
Blake McKinley and Wesley Eck
ert.
A boy’s Junior Hawthorne bi
cycle, owned by Eddie Buzby,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Buzby,
was taken from the Buzby home
either Sunday or Monday night.
Anyone knowing the where
abouts of the bike is asked to
contact the family.
Marylou Rideout of the Exten
sin Office is in Valdez this week
arranging for a furniture work
shop in that area, to be con
lucted by Mary Robinson of the
Extension, Service.
Word was received this week
from the University of Alaska
that Benjamin Ross, graduating
senior, was selected as first al
ternate for the University’s $600
Phipps Scholarship. Winner was
Kenny Bell of Fairbanks.
Charles Wilson of the Soil Con
Tanana Valley
Farmers Get 14
Ex. Sia. Cows
Fourteen cows from the Uni
versity of Alaska Experiment
farms were allocated to farmers
in the Tanana Valley region this
week, to encourage the establish
ment of grade A dairies in that
section of Alaska.
The cows came from both the
farm in the far-north section and
the Matanuska Experiment farm.
Not all of the animals have yet
been delivered. Any of those
farmers who were allocated cows
who do not get into grade A by
fall will have to relinquish the
stock, and they will be given to
some other grade A farmer, Wil
liam Sweetman, of the Experi
ment Station animal husbandry,
who conducted the drawing at
Fairbanks May 13, said this week.
Those who will get the cows
are P. R. Johnson, Lynn O. Hol
list, Lyndon Funt, and three
others, whose first names were
not available but whose last
names are Bouton, Matheson,
and Smathers.
Chamber Recommends
Consistent Use of Dump
Members of the Matanuska
Valley Chamber of Commerce
went on record at the May 19
meeting as being opposed to the
jumping of rubbish, garbage, or
any type refuse anywhere except
in the City Dump located on the
Matanuska river.
The statement was made fol
lowing the announcement that
several spots in and around the
Valley are being used as “public
dumping grounds”, not only
creating an eye-sore, but also
creating health hazards. The City
of Palmer recently went to great
expense to remodel the city dump
and have begun sanitary fill.
Everyone is urged to use the
dump for disposing of all type
refuse and not the end of the
Palmer Airport, along the high
ways, or someone’s back yard.
servation Service, reported the
farmers in the Tanana Valley
have their spud planting as far
along as local farmers. Mr. Wil
son was in the Fairbanks area
last week on office business.
10 P.M. CURFEW
TO BE ENFORCED
The City of Palmer ordinance
pertaining to a curfew within
city limits for all youngsters un
der the age of 17 years of age,
will be enforced, beginning im
mediately. In cooperation with
the decisin of the council mem
bers at the May 18 meeting, the
whistle at the Co-Op power house
will sound one long blast at 10
p.m. each night, indicating the
curfew hour.
According to the city ordin
ance, “no person under 17 years
of age shall be upon the public
streets, alleys, parks, public
buildings, places of amusement
and entertainment, vacant lots or
other unsupervised places be
tween the hours of 9:30 p.m. dur
i ing the school term and 10 p.m.
j otherwise, and 5 a.m. of any day,
i unless such person shall be ac
I companied by or in charge of his
or her parent or other competent
and adult person or upon an em
ergency errand or legitimate
business directed by his or her
parent, guardian or other adult
person having the care and cus
tody of the minor.”
Parental responsibility is also
provided for in the ordinance. It
states “no parent, guardian, or
other person having the custody
or control of any person under
the age of 17 years shall allow
such child to go or be upon any
public street or other places as
listed in the preceding section
between the hours of 9:30 p.m.
during the school term and 10
p.m. otherwise and 5 a.m. of any
day unless such child shall be
accompanied by his or her par
ent or other competent and adult
persons or is on an emergency
errand or legitimate business di
rected by his or her parent, guar
dian or other adult person hav
ing the care.and custody of the
minor. In any prosecution for the
violation of any provision of this
section, the presence of any per
son under 17 years of age un- j
attended, as herein requiivd, up- !
on any of the public streets or ;
other places as listed in the pre- j
ceding section shall be deemed
prima-facie evidence of the guilt
of said parent and of the viola
tion of the provisions hereof.
Penalties: Whoever violates
AMERICAN LEGION
AND AUXILIARY
MAKE ANNUAL AWARDS
Sharon Henke ar.d Bradley In
man of Palmer Central School
were presented citizenship
awards in a program conducted
by the American Legion Post 15
on May 18, by Department Com
mander Foster R. Sims. Com
mander Sims spoke briefly to the
assembly on the Americanism
project of the American Legion
and told of is purpose to foster
i 100% Americanism. This was the
I 17th annual award made by the
i local post to students selected
! by vote of their classmates. The
award includes a certificate and
lapel pin.
Also participating in the an
nual awards program were mem
bers of the American Legion
Auxiliary who made awards in
the Americanism essay and Pop
py poster contest. The awards
were made by Mrs. Ruth Everett,
president of the local auxiliary.
The essay awards were given to
Dorothy Hoffman, member of the
senior class, and to John Maze,
eighth grade student. Their sub
ject was “My Responsibility As
! An American Citizen,” for which
j each received a $5.00 award, as
i did Dorothy Lentz, another eigh
th grade student who won the
Poppy poster contest.
In addition to the above nam
ed participants, John Weisenbar
ger, Commander of the local Le
gion post, and flag bearers Seth
Cook and Pete Petersen of the
Legion ard Mrs. Ed Barrett of
the Auxiliary took part in the
ceremonies.
Among many additional
awards given during the a.fter
noc n program was tnc National
He—- — Flirty awards which
w.nt to t’ns followirg Juniors:
Charier Kennedy. Delores Foster,
Carol Colberg, Carol Wood, Syl
via Nelson, Barbara Kindgren,
Jean Burke, and Larry Bentti.
Seniors receiving the award were
Janice Barry and Marjorie Hunt
ley.
| any of the provisions of this
| ordinance shall be punished by a
fine not to exceed the sum of
$100 or by imprisonment in the
municipal jail for not more than
30 days, or both as determined
by the Magistrate.
GRANDMA
GEE, I KNOW WHY, NOW-*
SINCE TH* KIDS’QUARTET CAME
OVERT’SERENADE ME THIS
MORNIN’
By Charles Kuhn
MY EARS HAVE BEEN STUFFED
WITH COTTON PLUGS. AN’ I y
FORGOT T’ REMOVE ’EM // ^
By Len Kleis
MUTT AND JEFF
By Bud Fisher
iaM'/il
JITTER
By Arthur Pointer