Thought of the Week:
No one is completely useless
— you can always serve as a
bad example.
The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
MATANUSKA VALLEY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
WED.. MAY 16. NOON
FRONTIER CAFE
__
VOLUME 14. NUMBER 33
PALMER. ALASKA, THURSDAY. MAY 10. 1962
TEN PAGES
PRICE 15 CENTS
| Reporters—
Notebook
Students of Mrs. Olga Rei
ger’s class were visitors at the
Frontiersman this week during
the press run and witnessed
first hand, the steps necessary
to publish the valley’s weekly
newspaper.
« * *
Mrs. Foster Sims left for
Seattle on Tuesday of this
week. She plans to return next
week and returning with her
for a visit will be Mrs. Mary
Steelman, former valley resi
dent. Dr. Sims, who has also
been Outside, expects to return
this week-end.
* * *
Mrs. Gerald McNally has re
turned home from Fairbanks
where she was hospitalized for
medical treatment. She will re
main home until arrangements
are completed for her entry in
the University of Washington
medical center where she will
receive further medical treat
ment.
* * •
Gordon R. Yerbich, machin
ist's mate first class, USN. son
of Mrs. Juanita Melendy of
Palmer is serving aboard the
nuclear-nowered attack air- i
craft carrier USS Enterprise,
observed by President John F.
Kennedy during a two-day
visit April 13 and 14 to the At
lantic Fleet in Norfolk, Va.
* * *
Communicable diseases re
ported in the Palmer area for
the week ending May 4 includ
ed four cases of upper respira
tory infection, two cases of otit
is media, and one case of scar
let fever.
Palmer Couple
Win Expense-Paid
Trip to Europe
Lee and Marilyn Hartley will
be taking off for the sunny
shores of the French Riveria
late this summer. The fabulous
Riviera-Rome holiday comes to
them as one of 12 winners in a
sales contest conducted among
Ford dealers in the Western
section of United States. Hart
ley Motors. Inc. of Palmer was
the top selling firm, with 142.9
percent of their quota filled at
the close of the contest. There
were 150 Ford dealers listed in
the contest.
The trip is slated for August
of this year, and according to
information received this week
by the Hartleys, will include
eight days in Rome, Italy and
Cannes, France.
Last year the Hartleys won a
trip to Hawaii and the previous
year one to the Bahamas.
GOVERNOR EGAN DEDICATES NEW WILLOW HALL
*vm..
GOVERNOR WILLIAM A. EGAN is shown above during
his visit to the Wiilow area this past Sunday where
he participated in dedication ceremonies at the Willow
school and the new community building. The building
was made possible through funds made available by
the State, and from donated materials arid help. The state
funds were used in labor costs only. Conversing with
Governor Egan is Floyd Heimbuch, chairman Willow
Civic Organization. Seated in the background is Ray
White, chairman of the construction committee and
Representative Kerttula.
TWO VALLEY MEN
DIE IN PLANE CRASH
Funeral services for two Val
ley men, victims of an airplane
crash last night, are pending.
At press time details of the
accident were still sketchy,
however, the plane was ob
served Wednesday evening
by several Wasilla residents
who reported they believed a
crash had occurred.
State Trooper Howard Luth
er, a member of the Civil A i r
Patrol, flew the area last night
but was not able to observe any
crash. However, just after 4
a.m. Pat Carter, a Wasilla pilot,
discovered the crash and re
ported his find to the officials.
The victims are Phil Ser
rell. 39, a Wasilla-area resi
dent, and Robert Simmons.
32, a resident of the Goose
Bay area.
The aircraft, which was of
the experimental type, was
completely demolished in the
crash.
Police officials and Federal
Aviation Agency officials were
at the scene of the crash this
morning making investigations.
VALLEY HOSPITAL OBSERVING
NATIONAL HOSPITAL WEEK
Present day hospital care re
presents a unique combining of
science and personal attention,
Mrs. Millie McConnell, admin
istrator of the Valley Presby
terian Hospital, said this week
when National Hospital Week
is being observed.
“Scientific advances have
been translated into life-sav
ing equipment, medications,
techniques,” Mrs. McConnell
said, “but they are passed on to
the patient only because physi
cians, nurses and other medical
personnel are present to use
them.”
Each patient has special
needs that can be met only by
individual atention. To fulfill
this goal, community hospitals
have more than two employees
for every patient. Each year,
one in eight persons is hospit
alized, and each of these per
sons benefits from the ad
vances of medical science and
from the attention of the hos
pital staff.
The Valley Presbyterian
Hospital is joining other hos
pials throughout the country in
observing National Hospital
Week, May 6-12. This year’s
theme, “Your Hospital-Uniting
Science and Patient Care,”
points out that each person
who enters a hospital will
benefit from the latest scientific
advances and the most careful
human attention to his individ
: ual needs.
Adding even more toward
i this effort, members of the hos
I pital board of directors have
instituted a survey among pat
ients at the Valley hospital, to
determine the patient’s reaction
| to the service he has received
while hospitalized. “We are
i asking all adult patients being
: discharged from the hospital to
1 answer a questionaire. Such
questions as, their satisfaction
with the nursing program, diet,
housekeeping, admitting and
discharge procedures, etc. From
a planned two-month survey
I we hope to learn how and
where our services may be im
proved to permit the maximum
of comfort for the patients
while in our hospital,” board
members stated. After the ex
tensive two-month coverage,
spot checks will be made per
iodically among patients in or
der to continue the program
throughout the year.
Governor Tours
Coal Mine Areas
Governor and Mrs. William
A. Egan and governor’s aides
John Alcantra and Joseph
Rothstien, and Representative
Jalmar Kerttula were guests of
the valley coal producers on
Sunday afternoon of this week.
Following a tour of the min
ing areas the party attended a
luncheon held at the Sutton
Community hall, with some 70
persons attending.
In speaking to the group
Governor Egan expressed his
pleasure at recent news that
the White House has sent back
to the Budget Bureau and the
Department of Defense a pro
posed contract providing for
fuel conversion of military in
stallations in Alaska from coal
to natural gas.
“On my part, I have always
felt that the coal producers
have been in an unfair position
and over a year ago I requested
that coal producers be given
an opportunity to bid on a bas
is equal to that allowed the gas
producers,” he stated.
Cole McFarland of the Evan
Jones Coal Company, in speak
RADIO SPEAKER
TO BE GUEST AT
CHILDREN'S HOME
The Rev. Richard W. DeHuan
of Grand Rapids, Michigan will
speak at the Lazy Mountain
Children’s Home on Saturday,
May 12 at 7:30 p.m. This service
will be held in the chapel at the
home. The public is cordially
invited to attend.
Rev. DeHaan is the religious
speaker heard on the “Daily
Bread” radio broadcast and is
co-director of the Radio Bible
class heard every Sunday over
national network.
ANNOUNCE LAKES
OPEN FOR FISHING
Lakes opening in the valley
area May 19 include Echo, Kep
ler-Bradley, K n i k, Lucille,
Meiers and Rocky, it was an
nounced this week by the Divi
sion of Fish and Game. The
balance of area lakes open for
fishing on May 26. All areas
remain open for fishing until
December 31.
] ing of the recent action in
! Washington. D. C., pointed out
j that the decision means that
no conversion is now anticipat
! ed for at least a year.
Governor Egan and his party
! visited the coal mine area im
mediately after participating in
dedication ceremonies at the
Willow school and community
building.
FIRE GALLS
OUTSIDE CITY
TO BE LIMITED
The City of Palmer Volun
teer Fire Department will not
respond to fire calls outside
the city limits unless buildings
or other personal property are
endangered, announced Fire
Chief Noel Woods this week.
Chief Woods pointed out that
during the past month over
$1100 was spent answering
grass fire calls, the majority of
them located outside the city
limits. He pointed out that last
week there were two fire calls
outside the city at the same
time.
“City regulations state that
at no time may the city be
ieft without the protection of
at least one fire truck, and suf
ficient help to man it." Woods
pointed out. "Individuals who
are burning -tump rows and
fields, without adequate pro
tective measures established,
are taking a chance. The city
does not have the type of fire
fighting equipment necessary
to go into the woods to fight a
fire that has gotten out of
hand,” he added.
Only one fire call ha? been
made in the city since Fire
Chief Woods reminded resi
dents that it is illegal to burn
anything outside an authorized
incinerator, without first ob
taining a written permit at city
hall.
HAINES CUTOFF
OPEN TO LIGHT TPAFFIC
Canadian officials have ad
vised Donald A. McKinnon,
Commissioner of the Depart
ment of Highways, that the
Haines Cutoff was officially
open to light traffic, Tuesday
morning, May 8.
Peppy Day Plans
Being Made By
Aifxiliary Unit
The Matanuska Valley Am
erican Legion Auxiliary 1962
Poppy Day will coincide with
the date selected on a nation a
scale. Saturday, May 26 is the
date that American Legion
Auxiliary poppy campaign will
be staged in Palmer.
These poppies are made by
bed and wheel chair patients in
veterans hospitals, as well as
by disabled veterans working
in community centers, as part
of thpir occupational therapy.
The American Legion Auxil
iary supplies veterans free with
materials for making poppies
This enables veterans to earn
money by paying them for
every poppy they make. The
Auxiliary arranges for volun
teers to present poppies so that
ALL funds collected are used
for Rehabilitation and Child
Welfare.
The official American Legion
Auxiliary poppy is a small red
paper poppy, on a green stem,
bearing a white tag labeled
“Handmade by Veterans” and
imprinted on the other side
with the name of The Ameri
can Legion and the American
Legion Auxiliary. The poppy as
the memorial flower for Am
erican war dead is a tradition
which began in the years fol
lowing the first World War.
Veterans returning to their
homes remembered the wild
poppies which lined the devas
tated battlefields of France and
Flanders, and the soldiers of all
nations came to look upon this
flower as a living symbol of
their dead comrades’ sacrifice.
First Aid Class
Planned $ext Week
Standard and advance class
es in American Red Cross first
aid training will be held in
Palmer, starting May 14, at 7
p.m. at the fire hall. The classe
will be conducted by a quali
fied instructor from the U. S.
Bureau of mines and all inter
ested persons are urged to
leave their names at the city
hall, where they will be picked
up by Fire Chief Noel Woods.
Classes will be held for three
hours each night for five
nights.
There is room for another 15
persons in the class, Chief
Woods said.
Local Resident
Questions Firing
Of Police Chief
mere were several visitors
at the May 8 meeting of the
Palmer City Council. Among
them was Harold Dunn who
approached the Council for an
explanation regarding the re
cent dismissal of Police Chief
Bernard Bouwens.
Dunn explained that he had
come to the Council as he had
not been able to determine the
reason the police chief was re
lieved of his duties. “I’ve heard
it was because he is not con
sidered chief material,” Dunn
said, and asked the Council
i what requirements are used to
determine qualifications. He
pointed out that some 11 years
ago Bouwens was hired as a
I patrolman and that he didn’t
feel it right that the city would
dismiss an individual who had
served that length of time . .
perhaps he should be given)
schooling, not throw away all!
that experience. I'd like to see
the Council reconsider t h e i r i
| decision,” he added.
A rather lengthy discussion!
followed during which a few (
instances were reported by j
council members and Mayor j
that the dismissal came about,
noi because oi any one reason,
but rather many reasons, some
of which have occurred over
the years. Councilman Geiwtz
stated that the Council could
make public a list of reasons,
all of which would be substant
iated. but we do not wish
to cause the gentleman any un
necessary embarrassment.” he
added. Police Chief Bouwens
was notified following the j
April 11 1 meeting of the Conn- j
cii, that his services would be J
terminated in 30 days.
Tom Keenan, also a visitor,
asked the Council to take ac
hm against two shacks located I
near his property, pointing out j
that they are unoccupied and
that they are a fire and safety j
hazard, in that children fre-1
quently play in the buildings
■ he property owner, w h o re- !
sides in Anchorage, will be re
que tea to take immediate ac-;
tion to eliminate the hazard.
Leo Lucas discussed the
removal of the large rock on
Bailey Hill street which pre
vents a through way cf the
street. This reck has been a
subject of discussion at var
ious Council meetings since
the v/ater system was in
stalled a number of years
ago. Lucas said that he be
lieves that all property own
ers of the area are willing to
sign waivers to enable the
city to remove the rock by
blasting means.
Tax Assessor John Marshall
reported to the Council that the
total assessed valuation in the
city is now $6,609,620, of which
$4,184,900 is in real property,
and the balance in personal
property. He suggested that
only one per cent of the assess
ments will be uncollectable this
year. Names of individuals who
are delinquent in payments of
the 1961 personal property tax
will be turned over to the city
attorney for processing.
The Council approved a re
quest of the Northland Pioneer
Grange to apply to the state for
a permit for games of skill and
a raffle of goods.
Supplemental budgets are to
be submitted by all depart
ment heads at the May 22
meeting of the Council. City
Clerk Emilie St. Pierre report
ed that all departments need to
review their budgets.
* * »
A motion was approved to
ask for applications for the po
sition of police chief.
* * *
A resolution, levying assess
ments for improvements on
(Continued on Page 10)
LOCAL MUSICIANS
TO BE FEATURED
IN SPRING MUSICALE
The public is invited to at
tend the second annual Spring
Musicale to be presented at St,
Bartholomew's Episcopal
Church at 2 p.m. on Sunday,
May 13.
Featured will he Mrs. Thel
ma Whitehouse Riley, soloist
and Ray Holtz, organist. These
two local musicians are well
known to Valley and Anchor
age residents, for outstanding
past performances. Their pro
gram will include special num
bers selected in honor of Moth
er's day and a special tribute
to Fritz Krietzler.
Tea will be served following
the musicale, and a silver of
fering will be accepted.
improved Mail
Service Announced
Bea John, postmaster at the
Palmer Post Office, has an
nounced new mail schedules
now in effect.
Closing time for accepting
mail will be at 12 o'clock noon
and 4 p.m. for all classes of
mail, she stated.
Mail service schedules arc
as follows: DAILY, including
holidays, but excepting Sun
days: (A) All classes of mail ar
rive in Palmer at 7:30 a.m,
(B) Mail to Anchorage, 1 p.m.,
none on Sundays or holidays.
(C) Ail classes of mail leave
Palmer at 5:30 p.m., including
all mail for dispatch to the
States, Anchorage routes and
other Alaskan points not cover
ed elsewhere in the schedule.
(D) Mail to Wasilla, 7:45 a.m.
On Tuesday, Thursday and
Saturdays in addition to the
above schedule, mail leaves
Palmer for Eska. Sutton and
Jonesville at 10:45 a.m.
On Mondays, Wednesdays
and Fridays, including holi
days, mail for Sutton, Glenal
len. Copper Center, Gakona
and Vulde/, leaves Palmer at
8:30 a.m.
The additional mail service
has been made possible through
the new mail truck service
from Outside.
Soother’s Day
The usual corsages,
arrangements &
Pot Plants
baud’s Flowers
PI 5-4056
MOOSE DANCE
(LAM
FEED
Saturday
MAY 12th
9 P.M.