P. A. R. C.
Membership Meeting
Tonight — 8 p.m.
School Cafeteria
THE FRONTIERSMAN
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
try a frontiersman
CLASSIFIED AD for thai
iiem you may have for sale,
renl or lease.
VOLUME 7, NUMBER 32
PALMER. ALASKA, THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1954
PRICE TEN CENTS
Valley Voles Big
Democratic Margin
Two hundred and fifty-eight
ballots were cast in Palmer Pre
cinct I. and 281 in Palmer Pre
cinct II during the primary elec
tion held April 27. David Porter
was the first»voter in Precinct I
.and William Edwards in Precinct
II. In Eska 62 voters turned out
and in Wasilla 116.
Unofficial figures in the two
local precincts showed a total of
323 ballots cast for E. L. (Bob)
Bartlett Democratic candidate
lor delegate to Congress. Wasilla
gave him 68 votes and Eska 47.
His nearest opponent, Barbara
D. Dimock, Republican, totaled
90 votes in Palmer; 17 in Wasilla
-and 7 at Eska.
In the race for Territorial
'Commissioner of Labor, Demo
crat H. J. Lannen polled 244 voL
es in Palmer; 50 in Wasilla, and
42 in Eska. Republican candidate
"Henry A. Benson drew 196 votes
in Palmer; 28 in Wasilla, and 12
in Eska.
Hugh J. Wade, Democrat can
didate for Treasurer of Alaska
got 140 votes in Palmer; 26 In
Wasilla, and 18 in Eska. Republi
can candidate Earle Hunter got
102 in Palmer, 17 in Wasilla and
12 in Eska.
For Territorial Senate, Repub
lican candidate Gerrit (Heinie)
Snider drew top vote in Palmer
-with a total of 251*, m Wasilla
with 60, and at Eska 18. How
ever, in the Eska vote Lee L.
McKinley received the highest
Republican vote, totalling 28.
Leonard K. Kyger, Democratic
candidate got 246 votes in Pal
mer; 45 in Wasilla, and 27 ia
Eska.
High ten candidates for Ter
ritorial House of Representa
tives were as follows: Betty
Wears, Democrat, Palmer 282:
Wasilla, 37; Eska, 34. Milton D.
Snodgrass, Republican, Palmer,
273; Wasilla, 50; Eska, 21. Wen
dall P. Kay, Democrat, Palmer,
-237; Wasilla, 45; Eska, 21. Ray
mond E. Plummer, Democrat,
Palmer 204: Wasilla, 45; Eska, 21.
Dorothy M. Prior, Republican,
Palmer, 204; Wasilla, 32; Eska,
19 Lloyd C. Olson, Republican,
Palmer, 203; Wasilla 27: Eska 11,
Ken C. Johnson, Democrat, Pal
mer, 201; Wasilla, 54; Eska, 30.
Stanley J. McCutcheon, Demo
crat, Palmer, 170; Wasilla 38;
RECREATION COUNCIL
MEETS TONIGHT; TO
ELECT 15-MEMBER BOARD
The public is invited to attend
the first annual membership
meeting of the Palmer Area
.Recreation Council to be held
this evening, April 29 in the Pal
mer School cafeteria, beginning
at 8 p.m. A 15-member board of
directors will be elected during
the meeting and by-laws and the
constitution will be presented.
All persons who have purchas
ed membership in the Council
will be eligible to vote. Offic
ers will later be elected by board
members from the 15 who are
elected tomorrow night. All or
ganizations are urged to attend
the meeting and vote a repre
sentative onto the board to en
able an area-wide coverage.
Any interested person who has
not yet purchased a membership
(price $1.00) is invited to do so
prior to the meeting, between
7:30 and 8:00 p.m. tomorrow
night at the meeting place. A ros
ter of those who have already
purchased tickets is being com
piled.
Eska 28. E. G. Bailey, Democrat,
Palmer 169; Wasilla. 34; Eska,
26. Russell K. Young, Democrat,
Palmer 168; Wasilla 36; Eska, 23.
palmer voting on the party Na
tional Committeemen and Com
mitteewomen were not available.
However Wasilla and Eska re
turns were as follows: Republi
can—Lamon, 9; Kinkel, 27; Bar
nes, 12. Democrat—Plummer, 50;
Nordale 22.
TELEVISION SET
GIVEN TO HOSPITAL
!; The new Valley Presbyteri
I; an Hospital received a 21-inch
h table model television set this
' week as a gift from Mr. and
- Mrs. Walter Teeland of Wasil
; la. The set will be set up in
j1 the solarium where the great
: est number of patients will be
\ able to enjoy the programs at
; one time. Arrangements for
\ antenna for the set will have
;! to be made, H. J. Hodgson,
hospital board president ad
ded, in making the announce
;! ment.
First Babies,
Parents Receive
Many Levely Gifts
Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Ubert of
Palmer were receiving congra
tulations this week, not only on
being parents of their first child,
but also on being parents of the
first baby girl to be born in the
new Valley Presbyterian Hos
pital, an honor which brought
a showier of gifts to the new
baby and her parents. The little
miss has been named Elizabeth
Jane and she weighed six
pounds, seven ounces when born
on April 23. Mr. Ubert is employ
ed at the Evan-Jones Coal Mine.
Receiving similar congratula
tions are Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Lee
of Palmer who are parents of
the first baby boy bom in the
new hospital. He has been named
Herbert Cleo and weighed six
pounds, 14 ounces at birth on
April 25. He is the couple’s third
child and the recipient of many
beautiful gifts, along with his
mom and dad. Mr. Lee is also
employed at the Evan-Jones Coal
Mine.
Coffee Shop
Has New Managers
Nick Jacobs and John Stefan,
both of Anchorage, have taken
over the operation of the Ma
tanuska Hotel Coffee Shop.
The new managers took over
this week and said' they plan to
continue the coffee shop’s popu
lar prices, but will make several
changes in the bill of fare. Both
men have wide experience in
their field, and are well acquain
ted with the palates of Alaskans,
having lived and worked in the
territory for many years. Jacobs
was at one time chef at the Mod
el Hotel in Fairbanks and is
known throughout the territory
for his fine cuisine.
WASILLA BOY WINS
BIKE IN TV CONTEST
Gerrit Hjellen, son of Mr.
and Mrs. E. Hjellen of Wasilla,
will be awarded a bicycle on
TV Station KFIA, Channel 2,
Friday afternoon at 4:45 as
winner of the High Jinks pro
gram contest to find the bes)
drawing of what the “Mayor
Gels College Honor
|
Geraldine Kindgren
Associated Students of the Uni
versity of Alaska last week in
stalled Geraldine Kindgren as
secretary of their organization for
1954-55. Miss Kindgren, daughter
of Mrs. Saime Ising of Palmer,
is a freshman student, majoring
in accounting. She graduated
from Palmer High School last
year, where she was a cheerlead
er. She has been an active cheer
leader at the University the past
year.
COUNCIL NOTES
No action was taken on a letter
petitioning the City of Palmer
for a franchise for the collection
of garbage in the city. The re
quest was made by Albert Math
ews who has a garbage collection
business. Mayor Don McKechnie
explained to Mathews that the
granting of a franchise -must go
before the vote of the people.
Mathews pointed out that the
city dump is again in need of
cleaning. A discussion followed
disclosing that the city is paying
an average of $80 every two or
three months for clearing and
that many large users of the
dump, such as the Bureau of
Reclamation and the Co-Op, do
not contribute toward the clean
ing costs. Russell Felzien was
■authorized to investigate the pos
sibility of getting a new road into
the dump.
Rev. Edward Imme, civil de
fense director for the Greater
Palmer area, gave a brief report i
on the recent creation of the
Greater Palmer area, Sutton,^But
te, Wasilla, Matanuska Experi
ment Station, and Palmer. Each
area has its own director and or
ganization heads. Following Rev.
Imme’s recommendation, city
council members approved May
or McKechnie’s appointment of
Ralph Moore as Civil Defense di
rector in the Palmer area, to fill
the cavancy caused when Rev.
Imme was moved up to the great
er Palmer area director.
A limited civil defense exercise
will be held this Sunday, Rev.
Imme announced. A red alert will
be held in the Chugiak area,
however, only a yellow alert will
be conducted in the Greater Pal
mer area, with the participation
of the Palmer and Butte areas
planned. Southbound traffic con
trol will be handled by Butte CD '
workers and the Palmer area will :
send a fire truck and one unit 1
of medical aid to the red alert 1
area. There will be no siren -
sounded in Palmer for the alert. 1
Fire Chief Gallant was given <
authorization by council members 1
to install the civil defense siren
at Hartley Motors. The siren will l
be coordinated to sound simultan- i
aously with the city siren. Medi- ;
(Continued on page 8) t
CD TEST AT
EKLUTNA PROJECT
TERMED SUCCESS
A practice Civil Defense ex
ercise conducted in the Eklutna
Power Project area by the
Greater Chugiak Civil Defense
organization last Sunday was
termed very suuccessful by Third
Division CD officials and the
military.
The exercise went into action
when two jet planes made a sim
ulated attack on the Bureau of
Reclamation’s hydro - electric
plant. The attack was reported
by Area Director A1 Soliss to
Director Vernon Haik, following
which the entire district went
into action.
Called to the “casualty scene” j
was the Palmer CD Jeep fire
fighter, manned by Fire Chief j
Joseph Gallant and volunteer fire !
fighter Donn Moyer; and a medi- \
cal group consisting of Dr. Ar- j
thur J. Colberg and nurses Mrs.
Max Sherrod, Ann Demming, and j
Clara Kopperud. The Palmer
units joined those of Chugiak
and Anchorage which were also
called to the scene. The heavy
rescue truck was sent in from
Anchorage to assist in a difficult
rescue, simulated at the Eklutna
surge tank.
The serious efficient manner
in which the exercise was hand
led could well be an example to
other areas and pointed out the
cooperation utilized throughout
the exercise. District Director
Haik expressed his satisfaction
with the entire exercise and com
mended the organization devel
ped under Area Director Soliss
for the manner in which it hand
led the extensive problem.
Director Soliss extended his
thanks to the Palmer Baking
Company who furnished dough
nuts for all “patients” and work
ers participating in the exercise,
and to Palmer Constructors who
furnished the coffee.
RALPH MOORE
NAMED CD DIRECTOR
Ralph Moore, recently appoint
ed Palmer Civil Defense Direc
tor, has called a special meeting
of all local CD personnel for
Thursday evening. May 6, be
ginning at 7:30 p.m. The meet
ing will be held in CD Headquar
ters in Carpenters’ Hall. Director
Moore is anxious to meet with
the entire personnel of the local
organization and get lined up for
further exercises. An exercise is
oeing planned for early summer
n this area.
Director Moore takes over the
local duties, filling a vacancy
created when a Greater Palmer
dD organization was formed this
winter and Rev. Edward Imme,
former Palmer director was nam
?d area director. Directors in the
Palmer, Wasilla, Butte, Eska, and
Vlat. Experiment Station areas,
will operate under area director
[mme’s supervision. Moore has
ived in Alaska since 1935 and
aas just recently completed a
;erm as governor of the local
Moose Lodge. He has held office .
>f secretary in that organization
'or six years and was recently ,
•e-elected to that office. He was ,
resident of the Alaska Moose <
Association in 1950 and has been !
ictive in youth programs and ‘
>ther civic activites in the Val
ey for many years. ]
All Civil Defense workers are 1
irged to attend the May 6 meet- <
ng, meet their new director and (
issist in lining up a planned pro- \
[ram for the local area. i
Ladies Night, Saturday, May 1
SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT
ELKS CLUB
ELKS AND THEIR LADIES
During a special meeting of the
City Council on Wednesday
night, April 28, the resignation
of Mayor Don McKechnie was
announced through a letter from
I SOCIAL SECURITY
OFFICIAL TO VISIT
Edwin C. Storr, field repre
sentative of the Social Secur
ity Administration, will be at
the Palmer post office Mon
day, May 3, from 1:00 to 3:00
p.m. and will be available to
answer any questions pertain
ing to the old age and survi
vors insurance program.
Mr. Storr will assist anyone
wishing to file a claim for so
cial security benefits.
Social security benefits are
payable to workers who are
65 and over, and are retired,
and to survivors of deceased
wage earners.
Kiwanians Hear
History of Many
Canadian Cities
Mrs. Margaret Blom of Palmer
was guest speaker at the Palmer
Kiwariis regular meeting held
April 26. Mrs. Blom spoke to the
group on cities of Canada, how
they got their names and other
interesting historical facts.
The local club is observing
United States-Canada good will
week from April 25 to May 1,
according to club president, Emil
Ganschow, who arranged for the
special program in line with the !
observance which is held annual
ly in commemoration of the
Rush-Bagot Agreement which
went into effect April 28, 1818.
President Eisenhower, refer
ring to the observance stated,
together the United States and
Canada share a major part of a
great continent without animos
ity or confict. Each nation has
recognized the necessity of main
taining the strength, unity and
determination of the free word
to resist aggression. The friend
ship between the United States
and Canada stands a shining ex
ample of mutual trust between
nations. The annual United
States-Canada Good Will Week,
sponsored by Kiwanis Interna
tional, is a timely reminder to
the citizens of both countries that
peace and posperity are the pro
duct of friendly cooperation.”
During his term in office as ;
Lt. Governor Xlaska-Yukon Di- j
vision, Jim Hurley of the local
dub was a visitor to the White
norse club, from where the pres
ent Lt. Gov., Jim Gentleman |
:omes. Lt. Gov. Gentleman was
n Palmer this past January and
expects to return again in June. |
\t that time he will be accom- j
5anied by Mrs. Gentleman and
Kiwanis Governor, Alaska-Yu- I
con Division C. E. Thompson
tnd Mrs. Thompson.
Other guests at the noon lun- ■
■heon April 2 were. Jack Flint
>f the Co-Op creamery and I. M. j
1. Anderson of Anchorage.
Secretary of the Interior Me- i
Cay recently advised Governor j
leintzleman of the appointment j
>f James W. Huston as director I
if Alaska Public Works. Huston
vill fill the vacancy created by i
esignation of Donald R. Wilson. |
j the mayor to members of the
council.
The surprise resignation was
made necessary, Ids letter stated,
because under present plans he
expects to be out of the city
during most of the summer mon
ths.
With no alternative evident,
members of the council voted un
animously to accept the resigna
tion, to become effective as of
j that date.
The text of Mayor McKech
nie’s letter follows:
April 27
“Please accept this as my res
ignation from the office of Mayor
of the City of Palmer, to take
effect immediately upon your
formal acceptance of the same.
I wish to be relieved of my du
ties as quickly as possible and
therefore urge that you hold a
meeting ■without delay.
“It has been my pleasure to
work with you on City affairs
and it is my privilege to say at
this time that each and every one
of you are to be commended for
the diligence and efficiency in
which you ihave pursued the
management of the affairs of
Palmer.
“In accordance with my pres
ent plans. I shall be out of town
during most of the summer
months, and for this reason and
other personal reasons, I find
that it will be impossible for me
to devote the necessary time and
effort required of the office of
Mayor, and have the firm con
viction that it is best that I
resign so the position can be fill
ed by someone able to devote
the necessary time to the affairs
of the City.
“I would like to take this op
portunity to make a recommen
dation to you concerning the
matter of a salary for the May
or. Lack of salary has no bear
ing whatsoever upon my resig
nation at this time, but in fair
ness to future mayors I think
the office should pay at least
$100 per month, such renumera
tion to be paid for the purpose of
offsetting personal expenses of
the Mayor in looking after the'*
affairs of the city. If the job is
done properly, there are regular
expenses such as gasoline and
other automobile expenses, meals
away from home, trips to Anch
orage and other places on city
business. I think a salary of $100
per month would be no more
than enough to cover the gener
(Continued on page 8)
TRAFFIC VIOLATORS
PAY $58.50 IN APRIL
Violators of the City of Pal
mer’s traffic regulations are
learning that it usually costs
$2.50 to improperly park their
car; make a U-turn in a posted
area; park within 15 feet of
a fire hydrant, go through a stop
sign; block a cross walk, park
overtime, or park within a re
stricted area.
Several warning tickets have
been issued by the City Police
Department this month, and a
total of $58.50 has been collected
from other violators. Most com
mon infractions are parking
within a restricted area, and
overtime parking. Regions where
these two are in effect are clear
ly posted by signs and motorists
were asked this week by Police
Chief Bernard Bouwens to please
cooperate in observing the city
traffic regulations.