Civil Defense Town Meeting
Palmer School Gymnasium
January 19. Public Invited
The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANT7SKA VALLEY
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VOLUME 6. NUMBER 17
PALMER. ALASKA. THURSDAY. JANUARY 15. 1953
PRICE TEN CENTS
Snider, Snodgrass Seek College lor Valley
MARCH OF DIMES
TALENT SHOW TO
OFFER SURPRISES
A “surprise quartet” is plan
ned for the March of Dimes Tal
ent Show on January 27, accord
ing to information released by the
committee this week. “It will
surprise everyone when they dis
cover who the ‘black-face sing
ers’ really are,” said Dorothy Sax- j
ton, chairman of the Beta Sigma
Phi committee who are co-spon-.
soring the show with the Palmer |
Kiwanis Club. .
Several other acts have been
secured for the evening, including
Dana and Robin, mother and
daughter, who will present duets;
Norman Rousey who made such a
hit with his rendition of Johnny
Ray’s “Little White Cloud” at
the Minstrel Show; Lois Thomp
son will contribute her lovely so
prano voice; Lowell and Gary
Krise are planning a presentation
but haven’t yet announced what
it will be; the Terapelli sisters
will dance; Bob Smith has several
cowboy songs ready; Joan Fanch
er will dance and Murial Hanks
wall also present entertainment.
Many additional acts have been
scheduled and a full evening of
fun is assured for all who attend.
Ticket sales started this week and ;
may be purchased from members
of Beta Sigma Phi or Kiwanis. j
Marilyn Macek and Mary Ann
Mears have been bysy this week,
making posters that will be dis-"
tributed throughout the Valley.
The Kiwanis public address
system will be made available to
participants so they may use
records if they desire. However,
anyone not using records is ask
ed to make their own arrange
ments for accompanists and stag-1
ing, if to be lised. Lighting and
stage management will be under;
the direction of the Kiwanis Club.
Make-up and ushering will be
conducted by the sorority.
Box Social at Sulton
The following evening, Janu
ary 28, the Sutton community
will hold a public box social at
Alpine Inn at 7:30 Chairman Phil
O’Neill extends an invitation to
everyone to attend the old fash
ioned fun-get-together. All wom
en attending are asked to take a
box lunch. These will be auction
ed off and all proceeds given to
the March of Dimes.
Food Sale at Wasilla
Famous cooks will offer their ,
favorite dishes at a food and ,
bake sale to be held at Teeland’s j
Shopping Center in Wasilla on (
January 24. The sale will be held
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and all
residents of this area are asked
to help in any way they can. Mrs.
Oscar Johnson and Mrs. Martin
Olson are acting as chairmen of
the sale. All proceeds will go to
ward the March of Dimes.
Urges Participation
- William Rempel, director of
the local March of Dimes, urges
community participation in the
month long activities planned to
raise money for the local and na
tional fund. He points to how
recent successes in the search for
an effective, safe and permanent
preventive of paralytic polio have
intensified the need for March
of Dimes funds to explore and ex
ploit the findings. Scientific re
search programs sponsored by the
National Foundation are financed
entirely by the March of Dimes.
Cases of poliomyelitis in +he'
territory as of December 1 total
led 77, of which 51 occurred in
the Ketchikan area, according to
reports made to the Alaska De
partment of Health. Polio cases
reported from other Alaska towns
since May, 1952 are: Anchorage,
4; Fairbanks, 1; Haines, 1: Hyda
(Continued on page 8)
1
3EC ie Hold
Gpen House In
New Armory Jan. 17
Members of Palmer’s Organized
Reserve Corps unit, Detachment
1, Military Intelligence Service
Organization, formally dedicated
their new armory January 7.
Major Clarence I. Branton, re
cently appointed commanding of
ficer of the newly activated re
serve unit, was congratulated on
his assumption of command by
Capt. C. H. Dearborn, command
ing officer of one of the three
teams which comprise the unit.
The group, which meets once
a week for two hours of basic
and technical military instruction,
had been using the Agricultural
Research Administration building
for its training sessions. .It was
felt by the members that the
training could be conducted more
efficienty if the unit had its own
armory.
Sergeant Lynn R. Dishon, train
ing NCO, emphasized that this
is new and still growing. “We’re
very much interested in securing
new members, especially men
with previous military service,”
he stated.
On Saturday, January 17, be
tween 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., the new
armory, located off the Glenn
Highway, two blocks east of Hart
ley Bros. Garage will be open to
the general public. At that time
all residents of Palmer are cor-,
diall invited to visit the armory
and see how the new unit func
tions. There will be a few open
mg remarks by Lt. Col. John J.
Lavin, Senior ORC Instructor,
(J. S. Army, Alaska, followed by
a motion picture which will ex
plain the many opportunities and
advantages offered by the Or
ganized Reserve Corps.
Co-Op Asks Bids
On 4 Thousand
Produce Crates
^ The Matanuska Valley Farmers
cooperating Association is asking
for bids on produce crates, accord
ing to an announcement this week
oy Fred M. Zieke, general man
iger.
Crates are to be 21 inches long;
■SH inches wide: 14V2 inches deep
and be ready for June delivery,
Sieke said. Bids are being asked
m four thousand crates with
ititched covers and all bids must
>e in the Co-Op office not later
han February 15.
PALMER FIRST IN ALASKA
TO RECEIVE
POLIO CHARTER
Dated February 16, 1940 is
the first Territory of Alaska
charter issued by the National
Foundation for Infantile Par
alysis, certifying that the Ma
tanuska Valley had been duly
organized as a Chapter of the
national foundation.
The copy of the charter has
an interesting history in itself. ,
Hanging in the old Valley Hos- ,
pital it was thought by the ,
local chapter to have been lost (
in the fire that destroyed the
hospital several years ago. *
However, it was brought to
light by the late Charles Wil- ''
son one day when he was go- ,
ing through property stored in ,
one of the Fairground build- ,
ings. This and a signed list of
charter members were turned ,
over to Mrs. Nina Stock, one of
the charter members and early :
directors of the March of Dim
es. Many persons whose names
appear on the original charter
are still in the Valley.
COUNCIL VOTES TO
RE-INSTATE CITY
CHIEF OF POLICE
At the regular meeting of the
common council, City of Palmer,
January 13, Bernard Bouwens,
city Police Chief, was re-instated
effective 2 p.m. January 8.
The decision followed a discus
sion pertaining to the suspension
of the police chief last week, dur
ing an executive session from
which the public was excluded.
According to the decision, Bou
wens will continue to operate his
city department under the same
ordinances as previously until a
new set of rules and regulations
for the operation of the police
department are drawn up by the
police committee. Such rules and
regulations will be subject to ap
proval by the city council at a
special meeting to be held Janu
ar 20 for that purpose.
City Clerk Larry Mooers was
instructed by the council to in
form all department heads that
all administrative procedures and
functions will be directed from!
the office of the city mayor and
that all policies, rules and regula
tions approved by the city council
shall be administered by the may
or. I ;*'V!
Another special meeting was
scheduled for February 3 at which
time the council will meet with
representatives of the Matanuska
El**ctr:c Association for a discus
sion pertaining to electric light
poles.
Approve Transfer
Council members approved the
transfer of the Palmer Bar liquor
license from Robert Peterson to
Robert Totten and authorized a
letter of approval be written by
the city clerk to the clerk to the
District Court informing them of
their decision.
G. 0. P.’S ENDORSE
SNIDER AS GOVERNOR
Senator Gerritt Snider was voted :
the unanimous support of Valley
Republicans as candidate for gov
ernor of Alaska at the caucus
held by the group January 12. ■
This support substantiates that J
offered by the Republican Club a
month ago.
Recommended endorsement was
given James Wilson, former Co- ’
Op general manager, to office of ’
rerritorial Commissioner of Agri- '
culture. No additional recommen- 1
iations regarding local territorial
i>r federal offices were made at j
!he caucus because there was not ;
rnough information avaiism- [
rhese recommendations will be 5
nade at a regular Republican
-lub meeting as soon as more in- ^
'ormation is obtained. 1
CD Director Says \
Early Shipment of r
Supplies, Equipment £
The urgent need for every city '
n Southeastern Alaska to organ- c
ze its civil defense into a more *
?ffective and solid organization £
vas outlined January 8 by Colon- '
;1 James C. Crockett, territorial c
iirector of Civil Defense, to may- £
)rs of six Southeastern Alaska c
•ities meeting in Juneau in the £
irst Southeastern Mayors confer- r
;nce of the year.
“Civil Defense is a local com
nunity f responsibility which
hould be integrated with the
iver-all military defenses of the
?erritory,” Col. Crockett said. He
lointed out that the Alaska Mil
tary Command has made strides
n bringing the military defenses
if the Territory up to its full
st efficiency and able to meet
aost of the known contingencies
(Continued on page 8)
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Blood-Typing
Program Set
For January 31
A valley-wide blood typing pro
gram will be conducted at the
Valley Health Center, Saturday,
January 31, it was announced this
week. Frank Pauls of the Alaska
Department of Health and assist*
ant director of the district labra
tory in Anchorage will conduct
the program, assisted by members
of the local nurse’s association.
The hours will be from 9 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Any person not previously typ
ped is welcome to avail them
selves of the opportunity. There
will be no charge for the service.
Each person will be mailed an
identification card stating their
blood type and a record of this
will be kept at the local health
center. Servicemen who still have
their “dog tags” are probably
aware of their blood type, it was
pointed out .However, any who do
not know their type and RH blood
factor are invited to attend Janu
ary 31, for typing.
Metal tags with permanent typ
ing will be distributed to those
who are blood typed and the
many who have been typed in,
previous programs, as soon as
volunteers can be located who will
go to Anchorage and help make
them, it was announced. Anyone
who can operate a typewriter and
would be able to spend a day in
Anchorage is asked to contact any
member of the local health coun
ail.
Kiwanians Hear of
Southern Economy
At Annual Dinner
More than 50 members and
quests attended the annual din
ner and installation of officers
leld by Palmer Kiwanis the eve
ling of January 10.
Immediately following the din- j
ler, served by women of the I
United Protestant Church, Rev. j
Sdward Imme, as master of cere
nonies, led the group in singing
md interesting stunts.
Offering his thanks to Beta Sig
na Phi for assistance lent during
be past year, out-going President
£d Smith recalled the many ac- j
jomplishments of the local Ki-1
vanis Club throughout the year,
nentioning the Minstrel Show,
>asketball tournament, Kid’s Day j
tnd several other civic activities
ponsored'by the organization.
Henry Noonan, executive of
icer with CAA and a charter
nember of the Anchorage Kiwan
s Club, was guest speaker. His
ubject, “Kiwanis In the South”
eft no doubt in his listeners
ninds that the south has progres
ed greatly in the past ten years
/ith the introduction of the me- ,
hanical cotton picker and new
idustries that have been gradu- j
11 moving from the north. Active ,
rork within southern Kiwanis
Hubs had foreseen the need for <
dditional employment when the
otton picker was first introduced :
nd through long-range planning j
either the machine or the new
lastic fabrics have affected the
conomy of the south to any de- (
ree, Noonan stated. .
“We can do the same here in the <
'erritory,” he went on. “Loyal j
daskans say that the economy of j
ae Territory will not be affected ]
’ the military moves out. We can
lake long-range plans here in ;
daska the same as they did in I
le south,” Noonan prophecied. It <
fill not be a little thing, he went i
(Continued on page 8) 1
VALLEY AWAITS NEW
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
On January 12 the Matanus
ka Valley Health Council re
ceived word from the Alaska
Department of Health that a
Public Health nurse was avail
able for the Valley region and
asked for assurance of the
council that $1200 a year of the
nurse’s salary and mainten
ance of her vehicle would be
taken care of by the Council.
Wiring an immediate ap
proval and assurance, the coun
cil today announced that the
new Public Health Nurse
should arrive in the Valley
very soon.
Cost of repairs to the vehicle
will be assumed by the Alas
ka Department of Health, it
was announced.
DEATH OF NATIVE IS
BEING INVESTIGATED
The Alaska Highway Patrol is
continuing its investigation in the
death of Damon Ezi, 17-year-old
son of Mrs. William Ezi of Eklutna
whose injured body was found
on the Glenn Highway about one
mile north of the Eklutna rail
road crossing early on the morn
ing of January 11.
William Zahradnicek of Palmer,
stationed at Fort Richardson was
driving toward Palmer and was
within 10 feet of the body before
realizing what it was. Highway
Patrol officers said that Zahrad
nicek reported his car was straddl
ing the body when he brought
it to a stop.
Zahradnicek stopped the first
car along the highway, which was
a patrol car and he and the officer
took the injured youth to Provi
dence Hospital where he died
shortly after admittance. . .
An atopsy revealed nothing ad
ditional about the cause of the
youth’s death, physicians reported.
Ezi died from injuries, but wheth
er he had been struck earlier by
a car or received his injuries in
another manner had not been de
termined.
Ezi was a former resident of
Matanuska and had formerly at
fpnHPalmpr
SPEAKERS SET FOR
CD TOWN MEETING
Ed Fortier, Civil Defense Cood
inator for the Third Division will
be a guest speaker at the local
DD sponsored town meeting to be
held in the Palmer School gym
lasium Monday night, January 19.
Accompanying Fortier will be an
Army representative who will
speak on the army’s part in Civil
Defense.
The meeting will start at 8 p.m.
md all residents of the Valley,
Sutton, Jonesville and Eska are
nvited to attend. Two Civil De
’ense films will be shown and a
question and answer period will
je conducted b various depart
nents of the local Civil Defense
>rganization.
Coffee and doughnuts will be
;erved.
HEALTH COMMISSIONER TO
dEET WITH HOSPITAL BOARD
It VALLEY HEALTH COUNCIL
Dr. C. Earl Albrecht, Territorial
Commissioner of Health will meet
vith the Valley Hospital board
if directors Monday, January 19,
t was announced this week. Pur
>ose of the meeting is to discuss 1
dans for the proposed hospital. 1
Dr. Albrecht has also requested
t meeting with the Matanuska
falley Health Council the evening ■
>f January 19. The public is in- J
ited to attend the meeting to be '
ield in the Co-Op club room. |1
PUN TO PRESENT
COLLEGE BILL AT
NEXT LEGISUTURE
Fired with enthusiasm, the Val
ley’s two Republicans who will
leave for the Capitol at Juneau
this month plan to present for
legislature a bill for the construc
tion of an agricultural college in
the Matanuska Valley. Senator
Gerritt Snider was scheduled to
leave for Juneau today aboard
S. S. Denali; Members of the
House of Representatives, M. D.
Snodgrass will follow the early
part of next week.
In commenting on the possibil
ities of a college for the valley,
Representative Snodgrass said
that their work is not all com
plete. “We will definitely present
a bill,” he said, “for a vocational,
agricultural college as a branch
of the University to be located in
the Matanuska Valley. We will
have a bill ready to present for
legislature,” he promised.
The University is proposing a
Community College for some six
towns and cities in the Territory.
Palmer (Matanuska Valley) is
fifth on this list. This community
type college would include special
lines of instructions for adult ed
ucation and vocational training.
They would provide subjects par
ticularly adapted to the region in
which they were located.
Snider Plans Bill
“The first bill I shall present
will be one ordering the death
penalty for second and third of
fenders in dope peddling,” Sen
ator Gerritt Snider saiH o»
for leaving for Juneau today.
“They have that law for murder
. . . aren’t dope peddlers just as
bad,” he queried.
Increased salaries for all Ter
ritorial teachers and an increase
in money for the aged will also
receive his support, Snider said.
Together with Representative M.
D. Snodgrass, Snider will present
a bill for the construction of a
college in the Matanuska Valley.
rropnecies sales Tax
“In all probability a bill will
come up for a Territorial sales
tax,” Snider prophecied. During
the last legislature, as a member
of the Senate, I opposed a bill for
an indebtness of 12VS million dol
lars for schools, Snider stated. A;
we all know, this bill has passed
and now will be sent as a mei.xoi
ial to Congress. I believe it wi.l
be granted by Congress and if
granted, a special tax may be set
up, probably a Territorial sales
tax to pay for tha 12 Ys million
dollars, he stated.
“A lot of people forget we have
to pay close to $200,000 interest
on l2Vt million dollars. Hence, I
was against it, figuring that $200,
000 interest could build a nice
school,” Snider explained.
“Only a few years ago,” Snider
went on. ‘our budget was around
four or five million dollars. Now
the budget calls for 32 & million
dollars. It seems as though the
Territory has been or is going into
Wg business. I believe that instead
of meeting only once in two years,
Alaska legislature should have
sessions every year.”
“Last year, as a member of the
egislature finance committee, we
rnded the year with four and one
oalf million dollars in the black.
Dur committee was made up of
;wo Republicans and two Demo
crats who all worked in accord
•nd ended with the unusual rec
ord,” Snider explained.
Members of the committee were
rohn Betrovich, (R) of Fairbanks:
loward Ling, (D) of Nome, James
Man, (D) of Wrangell and Sena—
or Snider (R) of the Valley.