The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
FRONTIERSMAN CLASSIFIEDS
ALWAYS BRING RESULTS
TRY ONE NEXT WEEK
VOLUME 7, NUMBER 14
PALMER. ALASKA. THURSDAY. DEC. 24. 1953
PRICE TEN CENTS
VALLEY CHILDREN
EAGERLY AWAIT
COMMUNITY PARTY
The weather man predicts a
“green” Christmas for Alaskans
In this area, but the lack of snow
hasn’t dampened the holiday
spirits of the many hundred Val
ley children who will be attend
ing the annual community Christ
mas party Thursday afternoon at
the Valley Theatre.
The party is to begin at 2:00
o’clock and all Valley children
up to and including Grades 5
have been invited to attend. A
giant Christmas tree, gaily trim
med with icicles, tinsel and hun
dreds of blue lights has been set
up to the right of the stage. A
candy house, trimmed with candy
canes and sparkling snow has
been set up to the left of the
stage. This is where the young
sters will get their first glimpse
of Santa as he arrives to distribute
bags of treats to each child who
attends. Women of the Moose
again this year helped Santa with
the tremendous job of filling the
bags for the party.
^ ** The program will be opened
with the showing of several popu
lar comic movies and animated
cartoons.
Mothers are asked to please not
attend the party because of limit
ed seating space. Members of the
Moose Lodge will be in attend
ance to help seat the youngsters
and keep order. Those mothers
■^Fho do attend will not be seated
until after all the children have
found a place and then, only in
the back three rows, and they will
be asked to hold their child or
children on their lap.
This year members of Theta
Chapter, Beta Sigma Phi, have
been in charge of contributions
for the party. All merchants were
most willing to give to the party,
members reported. A final figure
on the amount collected will be
announced as soon as all checks
have been received.
Santa Goes to
Tatkeetna by Air
Members of the Palmer Lodge
B.P.O. Elks No. 1842 were hosts
at a Christmas party held in Tal
keetna Sunday, December 20
when children and adults gather
ed in the CAA utility building to
greet Santa Claus. Arriving at
10:00 a.m., the group got things
started immediately and several
films were shown followed by
gifts of goodies to the children,
cakes for the "old-timers” and
fun for all. Baskets of food were
also distributed to the needy in
the Talkeetna area. The nine
planes returned to Palmer around
3:00 p.m.
Among those attending were:
Leonard Kyger, Harold Dunn,
L. C. Stock, Earl Brown (pilot),
Dave Onkka, Ken Westenbargei
(pilot), Jack Lee (pilot), Tommy
Thompson (pilot), L. McNarry,
Lee Hartley (pilot), Ted Buzby,
Ralph Farnsworth, Phil McRae
(pilot), Dave Porter, Don Me
Kechnie (pilot), Rene Neilsen
(pilot) and Bob Smith (pilot).
The pilots are all members oi
the Matanuska Airmens Associa
tion who made the trip possible
by furnishing planes and pilots.
Calling All Elks!!
NEW YEAR'S
FOR ELKS AND THEIR LADIES ONLY - Formal Optional:
MUSIC DY VINCE HAIGHT AND HIS DAND
FROLIC!!
DANCING 9 P.M.-3 P.M.
City Traffic Laws
Being Observed,
Chief Announces
Local motorists are beginning
to observe the' new traffic or
dinance in city limits, Police
Chief Bernard Bouwens said this
week.
“We had several infractions the
first week or two, but warning
tickets seemed to be all that was
needed, and we have noticed co
operation from the local drivers
in observing the regulations,” he
added.
To date, 23 warning tickets
have been issued by city police
however, six of these have fail
ed to appear and further steps
are being taken. Six additional
offenders have posted $2.50 bail
for their infractions.
Parking within a restricted
area leads in offenses with a total
of 12; car not properly parked is
next with nine offenses. Other
common infractions are parking
within 15 feet of a fire hydrant,
and parking overtime.
NEW HOSPITAL MAY
OPEN MARCH I
Present construction progress
on the new Valley Presbyterian
Hospital makes it look favorable
for a March 1 opening date, Jack
Newcomb, acting hospital man
ager said this week.
Although the building is near
ing completion and we have
enough construction funds, con
tributions for certain pieces of
equipment will definitely still be
needed, he added. There are piec
es of equipmnt that will be need
ed that there are no hospital
funds fox-, he explained. Any in
dividual or organization who
wishes to continue their contri
butions to the hospital will be
welcomed to. do so.
One wing in the new hospital
is completely sheet-rocked and
one boiler is working steady.
Equipment already on order left
Seattle December 15 and will be
installed as soon as possible.
During the past few weeks the
hospital has received numerous
boxes of baby clothes, sheets and
other supplies from Outside don
ors. Some boxes have come from
individuals but the majority have
been sent by Stateside church
groups. The Professional Wom
ens Club of Chicago recently sent
a check to the hospital in place
(Continued on page 12)
PARENTS AGAIN ASKED
TO WARN CHILDREN ON
PELLET AND B-B GUNS
Police Chief Bernard Bouwens
this week asked parents to in
struct their children in the prop
er use of pellet and B-B guns.
On the evening of December 22
a window in the home of Joe
Tioyer was broken when two pel
let shots were sent through the
window. At the time, daughters
of the Loyers were in the room,
Going outside the house, the girls
were again shot at by the same
person. Fortunately none of the
pellets hit the girls when they
‘were in the house or outside.
Parents are asked to warn theix
children of the seriousness ol
such practices, and acquaint them
with the fact that they may be
prosecuted for misuse of guns ol
this type, the same as other guns,
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SEASONS GREETINGS TO ALL
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May the joys of the Yuletide season
gladden your hearts. With this, the
greatest of holidays before us, let us
not forget the real meaning of Christ
mas . . . and fjruy together . . . for peace
on earth, good will toward men.
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GSTY COUNCIL NOTES
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New household and business
assessment forms for personal
' property tax returns, together
with instructions, were accepted
by members of the city council
: at the December 22 meeting.
Police Chief Bernard Bouwens
announced a new no-parking sign
has been erected at the corner
of the White Spot, relative to
the area from the sign to Wasilla
Road. The sign was authorized
last week because of hazardous
conditions on the corner.
A report on the telephone sys
tem was made by Councilman
Parker Lester. Council members
were told that work on the
switch-over to the new board has
been delayed considerably by ir
rational splicing and tangles in
the old lines. “It has been a much
bigger problem than anticipated”,
he told them. Each hook-up, he
explained, must go through a cer
tain process—first the line must
be strung to the board, hooked up
temporarily and then tested. If
the calls go through all right, then
it is hooked up permanently.
“Things seem to be progressing
now, and the switch over will be
completed as soon as possible,”
he added
Mayor Don McKechnie pre
sented copies of his proposed bud
get to councilihen for study, ex
plaining that it was not complete.
Committee chairmen proceeded
to discuss his proposals in the
various city departments.
The new city sales tax ordin
ance No. 40 was read for the
third and final time and was ap
proved for adoption by council
“members. This ordinance now re
peals Ordinance No. 10.
Also receiving its third and fin
al reading was the business licen
se amendment No. 41, amending |
Article 21, Sec. 4, ordinance 14.
Following the final reading the
amendment was approved by the
council.
Council members approved the
liquor application of the Matan
uska Valley Hotel Corporation.
Because of the holiday season,
council members voted to omit
the December 29 meeting. Next
regular city council meeting will
be held Tuesday, January 5, in
the city clerk’s office.
SANTA DELIVERS 335
CHRISTMAS TREAT BAGS
Santa Claus distributed 335
bags of Christmas treats to the
many, many children who attend
ed the Palmer Elks annual Christ
inas party Sunday afternoon.
In addition to the treats, the
youngsters enjoyed a beautifully
decorated Christmas tree and
movies.
Following the party 100 bags
of treats were sent to children in
the Glenallen region.
NEW COLOR MOVIE
ON ALASKA RELEASED
A new movie on Alaska, "Mov
ing North” will be released soon
by Martin Van Lines, Inc.
The new color and sound film,
will be shown on television by
standard projection throughout
the States and Alaska. It was pro
duced by Louis R. Huber of Seat
tle, with narrations by Dr. Ber
nard J. Goldstein, director of the
Readers' Workshop of the Uni
versity of Washington.
All Valley Churches
To Hold Special
Christmas Services
Churches in the Valley are ob
serving the Christmas holiday
with appropriate programs on
Christmas eve and Christmas
day.
A childrens’ program will be
presented December 24 at St.
John’s Lutheran Church, begin
ning at 7:30 p.m. The holiday
theme will be carried out with
the showing of the Christmas
Story, with narrations by the
children. A candlelight service, in
which both children and adults
will participate, will follow. Gifts
and candy will be given to all
the youngsters who attend.
At St. Michael’s Catholic
Church the traditional Midnight
Mass will be offered by Rev.
James P. Snead. Special Christ
mas music will be played by or- j
ganist Ave Brown and the church
choir will present chosen num
bers.
Members of the United Protes
tant Church will hold special
Christmas Eve services, begin
ning at 9:00 p.m. The church
choir has prepared a program of
Christmas music for the candle
light service.
On Christmas day, there will be
regular church services at the
Lutheran and Catholic churches,
with the service at St. John's to
begin at 11:00 a.m.
At St. Michael’s, the Christmas
services will include two Masses,
one to follow the other, begin
ning at 10:00 a.m.
All residents and visitors are i
invited to attend the Valley
church of their choice during the
holiday season.
im REGISTRATIONS
SOSII*!G |K FAST
Several hundred parcels of
land in this area have been regis
tered to date, U. S. Commission
er Dorothy B. Saxton said this
week. Not only is the land being
registered by those living in Pal
mer, and surrounding areas, but
many registrations have come in
from persons owning local land
and living in other areas in the
Territory. On the 18th of the
month, only 30 persons hgd reg
istered, the balance have come in
in less than one week.
Although it is not necessary for
persons to register their land if
they have previously done so,
Mrs. Saxton emphasized that this
does not mean those who have
recorded their land. This is stirct
ly a land registration, and accord
ing to the new legislation put
through this past year, must be
completed by December 31.
Mrs. Saxton is planning on
keeping her office in the Thea
tre building open next Tuesday
night, December 29 from 8 until
10 o’clock for the convenience of
those whose work would prevent
them from getting to the office
during the day. Blanks for the
registration are available at her
office.
NEW TRAFFIC REGULATIONS
Copies of the new Alaska Traf
fic Laws and revised regulations
are now available in the office
of U. S. Commissioner Dorothy
Saxton. A few changes and sever
al additions may be noted in the
new edition. This edition is the
first to carry revisions since one
approved in 1949.
GAME LAW CHANGES
RECOMMENDED DY
LOCAL SPORTSMEN
Matanuska Valley sportsmen
turned out in large numbers for
the annual game law hearings
held in the Valley Theatre Tues
day night.
Among recommendations of
fered to the Fish and Wildlife
representatives who were pres
ent were (1) that a buttton be
issued with each license—this
button to carry a number cor
responding with the license num
ber and that the button be worn
in a plainly visible position. (2)
That all moose and caribou hunt
ers be required to have means of
getting meat out after the kill.
Several general recommenda
tions were made by the sports
men, including August 20 to Sep
tember 20, open for bull moose.
That a late season, November
15 to November 30 be open for
either cow or bull moose.
That the Palmer area be open
for the late season.
That caribou season be from
August 20 to September 20 for
either sex caribou with forked
horn or larger.
That sheep season be from Aug
ust 15 to August 30 for rams with
three-quarter curl or better. '
That wolverines be classified
as predatory animals, the same as
wolves and coyotes.
Also recommended was an open
season on fox and that the use
of shotgun arrd airplanes be per
mitted.
These recommendations from
local sportsmen, along with
those obtained by the FWS in
other hunting areas, will come
up for discussion and action dur
ing the annual FWS meeting in
Juneau. Holgar Larsen said that
sportsmen in nearby Wasilla and
Anchorage made similar recom
mendations during their meet
ings last week.
Fish and Wildlife representa
tives present for the hearing
Were: Holger Larsen and Don
Roberts, enforcement agents;
Gordon Watson, game manage
ment; Ed Chatelaine, biologist;
Roger Allen, sports-fishing biolo
gist; Overill Thayer; and Janet
Porter, FWS secretary.
MORE COMPLETE REPORT
TO BE GIVEN ON
HOSPITAL FUND DRIVE
Sometime shortly after the hol
idays a more complete break
down of contributions made to
the Valley Hospital fund drive
by Valley organizations will be
announced. This will be a break
down on the total contributed by
Matanuska Valley Fraternal and
Civic groups, Homemakers Clubs
and professional groups.
The financial report printed in
last weeks paper identified only
those individual groups who had
made a $1,000 pledge and had
either filled the pledge 05 gone
over the amount. Other contri
butions were lumped under gen
eral titles. These are the ones
that will receive a further break
down.
GIRLS INVITED TO
PLAY BASKETBALL
All Valley girls interested
in forming a girls basketball
team are invited to meet at
the Elks Home Monday even
ing, December 28 at 7:30 pjn.