Thought of the Week:
One thing sure about living
in Russia—you never lose an
election bet.
ALASKA HISTORI
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
:al society_9.
iUSr.'JM
FREE, ADULT
HEARING CLINIC
HEALTH CENTER
7:00 - 9:00
TONIGHT
VOLUME 14. NUMBER 31
PALMER, ALASKA, THURSDAY. APRIL 26. 1962
TEN PAGES
PRICE 15 CENTS
City Youth to Take Over City for Day May 1
COUNCIL GIVES
POLICE CHIEF
30-0AY NOTICE
Members of the Palmer City
Council this week voted to se
cure a new police chief and
give the present chief, Bernard
Bouw'ens 30-day notice of ter
mination.
The motion was made at
12:30 a.m., following an execu
tive session of the regular
meeting of the city council. No
discussion was held at the time
the motion was made pertain
ing to the chief’s dismissal.
Ralph Moore, chairman of the
police committee was out of
town today and could not be
reached for comment, nor could
the mayor. Other members of
the police committee did not
wish to make a statement re
garding the dismissal.
Police Chief Bouwens said
today that he has not been
given written notice. “I have
received verbal notice of the
motion ... I don’t know what
it’s all about, no reason was
given me.” he said.
Bouwens has served as police
chief since the city was incor
porated 11 years ago. No re
placement has been named.
SCHOOL BUS
CONTRACT GOES
TO GLEN WOODS
Glen Woods of Palmer was
low bidder to supply bus ser
vice for students of the Pal
mer Independent School Dis
trict, it was announced this
week.
Bids were opened at a spe
cial meeting April 20 of the
Palmer Board of Education.
Only two bids had been sub
mitted; the other by Whitfield
and Rasmussen, who have
been furnishing bus service
the past three years.
Woods bid of $.83.8 was be
low that of Whitfield and
Rasmussen who had bid .86
per mile.
Earlier bids had been thrown
out when declared too high.
At that time there had been a
third bidder who was then low.
However, he was not able to
show proof of performance at
the time the bids were opened
and the Board called for new
bids from all interested per
sons.
Woods has been promised 30
day delivery on 12 new buses,
seating capacity 60 passengers,
and the buses will be in Pal
mer prior to re-opening of
school in the Fall.
According to regulations,
Woods will provide a $10,000
performance bond before the
contract is finalized,
LOOK-WELL
BARBER SHOP
Now offers you the best
in services.
Two qualified barbers
now serving you six
days a week.
r
Dance-Smorgasbord
BILL NOBLE & HIS ORCHESTRA
(Formerly Billed as BILLY GUITAR & THE KENAI KIDS)
$1.50 DRAG $1.00 STAG
MOOSE LODGE
SATORDAY, APRIL 28 - 9:00 P.M.
LOCAL ARTIST’S SHOW IS BIG SUCCESS
JWAi'.-* • ■ •
"PANNING GOLD" by valley artist Fred
Machetanz, attracts the attention of Maj.
Gen. and Mrs. Wendell Bowman who were
among some 3,000 persons who viewed
the Machetanz one-man show in Anchor
age this past week-end. The artist is
pictured above explaining this particular
picture to the couple.
—Picture courtesy Anchorage Daily Times
The first one-man show of
valley artist Fred Machetanz
was viewed by over 3,000 per
sons during the exhibition
which was held in the Com
modore Room of the; Anchor
age-Westward Hotel in Anch
orage.
Machetanz said here this
week that he was thrilled by
the response shown his works.
“There were so many from the
valley who visited the show,”
he added. “A long time ago
my wife and I decided the val
ley was the place where we
wished to make our home, and
this was just one more proof
that our choice was right,” he
said.
Herb Hilscher of Anchorage,
one of the patrons for the show,
was credited by Machetanz for
his work and help in staging
the show during which over
half of the paintings were sold.
The valley artist and his wife
Sara, a well-known author, am
their son Treiger, make thei
home south of Palmer, at Higl
Ridge. Until this year, the cou
pie spent their winters in thi
Southern 48 on lecture tours
“I do believe that the succes
of the show now assures us tha
the lecture tour days are be
hind us. We will be able to re
main in Alaska and continui
our work year-round," Machet
anz said.
Dispute Causes
Director to Resign
The resignation of Thomas
L. (Pat) Carter as director of
the State Youth Conservation
Camp and School at Wasilla
was anounced this week by
Charles Pfeiffer, State Youth
and Adult Authority director.
Pfeiffer, who visited the
camp this ueek, said he regret
ted losing Carter in the YAA
program. However, he added,
we have no alternative, but to
accept the resignation, in as
much as Mr. Carter does not
wish to withdraw the resigna
tion. Joe Martin will be named
as acting camp director.
In his letter of resignation
Carter stated that “ . . . I am
_justly proud of the camp
program as it exists this date.
It was obtained through the
joint efforts of the camp YAA
staff ... as this policy and
program has been severely
compromised by the arbritary
way in which the charges of
Verne O. Martin were investi
gated by my supervisors and
the Citizen’s group, I submit
my resignation as acting cor
rectional supervisor for the
camp and school.” Copies of
the resignation were sent to
the Governor’s office in Anch
orage and to Mildred Augus
tine, management services,
YAA office. Anchorage. The
original was sent to Pfeiffer.
“I did not in any way involve
Governor Egan in this situa
tion, as I was quoted as saying
in an Anchorage paper," Car
ter stated. “My argument has
been with Mr. Pfeiffer as I did
not feel that the charges made
by Martin were properly clear
ed up. When I asked that an
investigation be continued, it
was denied. I promised Pfeif
fer that as long as I was affil
iated with the camp program,
I would do nothing on my own.
By resigning my position. I feel
that I can be free to do as I
feel best about the situation,”
he added.
The resignation was dated to
go into effect on or before
June 1, 1962.
Only Two Protest
Tax Assessments
Only two asessment protests
were made at the City Board of
Equalization meeting held
April 24 in the Council cham
bers. Russell Felzien protested
the method used by the tax
assessor in increasing his as
sessment $2820 over that of the
previous year. Tax Assessor
John Marshall pointed out it
was based on improvements
made in Felzien’s trailer court
when sewer and water facilit
ies were provided. Following
a discussion, it was determined
that Felzien had installed facil
ities to only half the lots and
the Board of Equalization au
thorized his increase be re
duced $1420.
A second protest to increased
assessment, received in letter
form from Lowell Scbiltz, was
not found justified by the
Board and the assessment or
dered to remain the same as
levied.
Although not entered as a
protest in assessment, the grain
protest in assessment, Stewart
brought it to the attention of
the Board that the grain eleva
tor had been assessed this year.
He pointed out that there was
yet one year to run on the five
year tax incentive program ap
proved by the City of Palmer.
The Board ordered the grain
elevator assessment be strick
en from the tax roll for 1962,
as per previous agreement.
Historical Group
Seeking Artifacts
For New Museum
Anyone of the valley area (oi
elsewhere) who has pre-colon}
or colony-day artifacts of his
toric value that they are will
ing to donate to the Matanus
ka Valley Historical Societ}
for display in the newly estab
lished museum is asked to con
tact the Society. A list, describ
ing the articles should be mail
ed to the society at P.O. Bo>
1362, Palmer, or may be callec
in to Laura Barnes, societ}
secretary, at PI 5-3988.
Palmer's museum, located
in the basement of the Fron
tier Cafe, with a thousand
square feet of floor space,
has been painted various
colors, and with indirect
lighting, will make a show
place valley folk may be
proud of.
“T h e tourists will soon be
here,” said Ed Ueeck, societ}
president, “and we want to bt
ready for the museum’s grand
opening by Colony Day.”
BOROUGH SIZE
MAIN TOPIC OF
PUBLIC MEETING
Three borough proposals
were discussed at a public
meeting sponsored here Mon
day nighi t>y the Northland
Pioneer Grange. The Matanus
ka-Susitna borough was dis
cussed by Robert Vroman.
chairman of the local commit
tee; Richard Fisher of Anchor
age represented the large bor
ough and Scott Hamilton. An
chorage, also spoke on advant-1
ages of a larger borough.
The greatest part of the
meeting was devoted to discus
sions of boroughs as a whole
without too much local em
phasis. Many questions were
asked by the area residents in
attendance, which indicated
much thought is being devoted
to the most advantageous type
borough, what projected addi
tional costs have been deter
mined, and what immediate
steps need to be taken.
Bill Hermman, speaking as
an individual, rather than as
a representative of the local
I Chamber of Commerce, said
. that he not only favors a larg
( er borough, but there is a grow
ing interest by many persons
, in the valley area, in the larger
concept. He pointed out that
; the chief stumbling block of a
J borough is a basic fear and dis
trust of Anchorage.
'
George Fowler said it is a
> problem to know just how
much a borough will cost for
operation. Any borough will
present problems, he said, and
stated he felt that the borough
should be of minimum size and
minimum government.
It was pointed out several1
times at the meeting that three
things are required of a bor- J
ough: Zoning and planning
education, and the assessment
and collection of taxes. All
other services would be deter-!
mined by those areas desiring ;
particular services which
would not necessarily be re
quired by the entire borough.
These areas would then be
come service areas and assume j
the cost of the special service j
required.
School operation costs in An-1
chorage and the Palmer area |
were compared. Tax rates, I
road maintenance, and even
the Port of Anchorage were
brought up in the discussions.
Although the qeustion of
why Wasilla was chosen by
the local committee as the bor
ough seat, very little discussion ,
ensued. Vroman stated Wasilla
was chosen for it’s central lo- j
cation in the proposed borough
area.
James Wilson conducted the
meeting.
Teefands to Mark
15th Anniversary
Tuesday, May 1 will mark
the 15th aniversary of the day
Walt and Vivian Teeland, with
their three children, Colleen,
Wally and Larry, took over
Knik Trading Company in
Wasilla from Mrs. Orville
Herning.
The Teelands remodeled the
store to some extent and chang
ed the name to “Teeland's
Shopping Center.” In 1960 the
store was completely remodel
ed, a new front installed and
the name again changed, this
time to ‘‘Teeland’s Country
Store.”
The old Knik Trading Com
pany was founded by O. G.
Herning in 1904 in Knik, then
the growing town of the valley
area. By 1917 the once thriving
community of Knik was fast
becoming a ghost town and the
Trading Company was moved
by the Herning family to Was
illa. The Hemings helped pion
eer Alaska, spending 47 years
handling supplies and dealing
with the Alaska public.
In 1947, following the death
of Mr. Herning, the Teeland
! family purchased the store.
The Teeland family is grow
ing up. Colleen is now married
to Rod Cottle. They are living
in Wasilla where Rod is a coun
; selor at the State Youth Con
servation Camp and School
i Wally works in Seattle for In
ternational Business Machines:
| and Larry will graduate form
| the new high school in Wasilla
j next month.
The Teeland family and staff
!— Jackie Wilkerson, Leroy
j Heaven, Jennie Edwards and
' Woody Woodward would like
all of their friends and neigh
bors to drop by the “country
store’’ on Tuesday to say hello
and have a cup of coffee and
some cake. Several interesting
items of historical value will be
on display, including old pic
tures of the area, old Wasilla
newspapers, gold scales, a cof
fee grinder and other items.
Annual Youth Day
Program Planned
Dr. William H. Shear, doctor
of social science at the Meth
odist University, will be guest
speaker at a dinner to be held
at Elks hall on Youth Day,
May 1.
His talk will be based on
citizenship and the responsib
ility of citizens. A graduate of
Ball State Teachers College at
Muncie, Indiana, Dr. Shear
joined the AMU faculty this
past fall as assistant professor
of political science. He received
his M A. in political science
from Duke University and his
doctor of social science degree
from Syracuse University.
The dinner will be held at
5 p.m. at the close of a full
day's activity by some 47
high school youths. The an
nual Youth Day program is
sponsored locally by the Pal
mer B. P. O. Elks lodge in
cooperation with the City
of Palmer High School. Also
attending the dinner will be
city and school officials. Ac
cording to Ben Cabo, exalted
ruler of the Palmer Elks
lodge, during the dinner two
Youth Leadership Awards
will be made. Recipients will
be Cherie Ann Draze and
Fred Barnes, seniors at Pal
mer High School.
When city hall opens for
business next Tuesday morn
ing, there will be a number ol
extra faces seen. In an elec
tion held at the high school this
week, some 85 students indi
cated their interest in partici
pating in the Youth Day pro
gram. Of these. 57 were select
ed by fellow students, by bal
lot.
Elected to represent the of
fice of mayor was Michael
Steiger. Those who will re
present the City Council are
Steve Curry, Bob Fowler,
School Chorus
To Participate In
Music Festival
Members of the high school
chorus, Madegal singers and
girls’ triDple trio left for An
chorage today to participate in
the three-day Music Festival.
Soloists who will also per
form for judges’ comments and
ratings are. Grace Hurt, Fred
Dundas. Terry Niemann, Betty
Maurer, and Nada Singer. Miss
Hurt, who a companies the
chorus and triple trio, will also
accompany several of the in
strumental soloists.
Selections to be performed
by the chorus, for rating, are:
'The God of Abraham Praise,”
"The Traveler,” and “Be Thou
Near Me." The Madregal sing
ers will sing two 16th Century
compositions, "Let Thy Merci
ful Ears,” and “No, I Cannot
Conceal It.”
The girls’ triple trio, which
;ang recently at the Beta Sigma
Phi style show, will present
'How Lovely Are Thy Dwell
ings” and “My Favorite
I’hings.”
On May 8 at the Palmer high
school these vocal groups and
soloists will be giving their fin
al concert under the direction
:>f Mrs. John Koranda, who has
resigned and will devote full
time to the Loussac Foundation
Grant for Eskimo Music Study.
Last year the Palmer choral
groups received superior rating.
‘We shall endeavor to do as
well this year,” says Mrs. Kor
anda.
Judy Jacobson. Terry Nie
mann, Holly Schroeder and
Fran Ulrich.
Fred Barnes will represent
the chief of police and patrol
; men will be Norman Johnson
i and Maurice Johnson.
Youths named to the street
department were: Neil Ba
con. David Cottrell, Scott
Deming, David DeVries, Pat
Eppler, Miles France, Hal In
galls, Gary Johnson, Stephen
Nelson, Gordon Smart, Rich
ard Smith and Ed Wilkerson.
Ted Buzby of the city water
department will have his son
Martin Buzby and Steve Cook
as his youth representatives.
Janie Hanks will represent the
city office secretary; Dorothy
(Continued on Page 10)
Barnes Qualifies
For West Point
Fred W. Barnes, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Glen VV. Barnes, was
notified this week by U. S. Rep
; resentative Ralph J. Rivers
! that he has been informed that
| Barnes is fully qualified for
West Point and will be admit
ted to the Academy July 2,
1962. Congratulations and best
wishes were sent to the Valley
I youth by the representative.
Barnes will graduate from
Palmer High School next
! month. Formerly a resident of
, Wasilla, Barnes and his family
now make their home just out
side Palmer, off the Wasilla
highway. He has been active in
school and 4-H activities thru
i out his schooling in both
Wasilla and Palmer.
EGAN SEEKS RE-ELECTION
Governor William A. Egan
has announced that he will
seek re-election to his office.
The announcement was made
at a testimonial dinner held in
Anchorage on Tuesday night
of this week. Gov. Egan will
be the eighth candidate to file
for the office. He was quoted as
saying, “I enjoy being gover
nor.”
RENOVATE
Your
LAWN OR GARDEN
WITH A
R O T O - T I L L E R
RENTED FROM
Palmer Paint Go.
PI 5-4848
NOTICE
There will be a PUBLIC HEARING on the Proposed
Home Rule Charter for the City of Palmer at 8:00
P.M., May 2, 1962 at the Central School Gym. The
purpose of the Hearing is to consider any correc
tions or changes in the Charter prior to election on
the Charter scheduled for June 5, 1962.
CITY OF PALMER CHARTER COMMISSION