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The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
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VOLUME 8, NUMBER 8
PALMER. ALASKA. THURSDAY, DEC. 16. 1954
PRICE TEN CENT*
MTA Deadline Near;
Officials Here Jan. 3
G. H. Goettings, REA official
fro^ Washington, D. C. is expect- j
ed in Palmer on January 3, ac
cording to Lew Hanks, chairman
of the Matanuska Telephone As
sociation.
Goettings, who is assistant head
of the Western Section Telephone
Operations and Loan Division,
■will be accompanied by a REA en
gineer and while in Palmer will
check over the progress of the
MTA.
Hanks said this week that it
is urgent that all prospective
telephone users purchase their:
memberships and equity stock in
the association prior to Goettings’
arrival. If the sign-up is suffi
ciently complete by his arrival, j
it is expected that he will go j
ahead and assist in drawing up j
contracts, etc. If the sign-up is i
not sufficiently complete by that
date, it will probably delay the
telephone project indefinitely.
Everyone planning to have a
telephone is urged to sign up at
once. Hanks emphasized that
there just isn’t time, or personnel,
to make personal contacts in
every case and urged that those
■who have not already signed up
do so at once. The Extension
Service is offering assistance in
this respect, by permitting regis
tration at the Extension Service
office. Membership in the associa
tion is $10. Equity stock is $40
For those who can not pay the
entire amount at this time, instal
lment payments may be arranged
for at the time of initial payment,
but by signing up and getting a
partial payment down, Hanks
said, we will know how extensive
a telephone service we will be
BENEFIT PLANNED
BUTTE FIRE HALL
The public is invited to attend
a showing of Alaskan game mov
ies and a hard-times dance being
sponsored by the Butte Fire As
sociation Saturday night, Decem
ber 13 at the new fire hall, lo
cated on Plumley road, next to
William. Barnhardts.
The movies will be shown from
8 to 9 p.m., with dancing to fol
low until 2 a.m. Proceeds from
the evening will go toward a fund
to finish the fire hall and repair
the fire truck.
During an 11 o’clock intermis
sion four valuable prizes will be
awarded, including a Broil Quick
Chief Rotisserie; Norelico elec
tric razor, glass rod and whirl
away reel; Dormeyer toaster.
Tickets purchased on these priz
es will be excepted as admission
to the entertainment and refresh
ments.
‘‘Come and see our new hall
and have yourself a good time”.
Butte residents stated.
NO COUNCIL MEETING
THIS PAST WEEK
The regular meeting of the
City of Palmer Common Coun
cil was not held on December
14 due to a lack of quorum.
The next regular meeting is
scheduled for December 21 at
7:30 p.m. in the City Clerk’s
office.
FREE CHRISTMAS
CORSAGES
to all our customers who visit
the shop on Saturday, Dec. 18
Holly - Cedar
Pine - Christmas
Cards - Ties - Candies
MATANUSKA VALLEY
GARDENS
Phone 32J11 Palmer
able to have. If the required
amount is not secured before the
January 3 date, the prospects of
having the modern dial system
will not be assured, he added.
BUTTE RESIDENT
PLANS PARTY FOR
ALL BUTTE CHILDREN
Among commendable Christ
mas projects being held in the
valley this year is one being
conducted by Mrs. Mary Sch
lesinger in the Butte area.
Again this year Mrs. Sch
lesinger will be hostess to all
the children of the Butte area
She plans a Christmas party,
that to date includes 52 chil
dren, complete with chicken
salad, baked ham, and all the
fixings. Each child attending
will receive a present. The
party is being held at the
Schlesinger home Thursday,
December 23 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Mrs. Eva Plumley will help
Mrs. Schlesinger with the serv
ing.
Mrs. Schlesinger has donat
ed her time to many worth
while projects during the past
year, including work with the
Alaska Crippled Children As
sociation, she was instrumen
tal in getting the frozen food
locker for needy families start
ed, and donated money raised
from her candy houses to the
emergency Polio campaign this
fall.
X-RAY PROGRAM
SET FOR m. 10, 11
SR PALMER AREA
Every adult in the Palmer area
I should circle the dates January
10 and 11 on their new 1955 cal
! endars. Those are the days when
: the Alaska Department of Health
mobile X-ray unit will be set up
in the basement of Palmer Cen
tral School.
In making thhis announcement,
Mrs. Richard Andrews and Mrs.
* Charles Wilson, co-chairmen for
the X-ray program in Palmer, re
peated the primary objective: to
find early indications of tuber
culosis, heart disease, and can
cer before it is too late.
“Those are the leading disease
killers”, Mrs. Andrews pointed
out, “and in this territory-wide
battle against them, the X-ray is
one of the best ways to uncover
hidden cases of chest diseases
that show no warning signals”.
“Remember also”, added Mrs.
Wilson, “that tuberculosis is a
communicable disease. The hid
den source of TB in the valley
might be the one who doesn’t get
an X-ray.
“Do your part. Urge everyone
in your neighborhood to come
and get an X-ray; team up on
rides and go together. You are
only as safe as your neighbor”.
! Committee chairmen who will
! assist in the Palmer X-ray pro
! gram were also announced this
I week. They are: Ray DePriest,
! facilities; Mrs. Allan Mick and
| Miss Betty Jo Riddle, publicity;
» Mrs. James Wilson, services (in
j charge of hostess for school chil
> dren), and Mrs. Robert Buzby, for
> adults. Mrs. Buzby, president oi
> th local chapter of Beta Sigma
| Phi, will be assisted by other sor
| ority members who will act as
| hostesses for the adult clinic.
> X-rays will be given to all
< school children in the Palmer
< Independent School district or
< January 6 and 7. The mobile X
$ ray unit will be set up at Wasills
[School and at the Alpine Inn ir
Sutton earlier in the week. The
exact time will be announced lat
er.
[OUST RULES
!0 INJUNCTION
AGAINST CITY
City Attorney John Shaw re
asserted the City of Palmer in
rhird District Court on December
10 when the City was ordered
:o show cause why a restraining
arder should not be given from
incurring further costs in con
nection with the construction of
;he City’s fire hall; and from mak
ing further expenditures for ob
ligations already incurred in con
nection therewith and from in
curring additional obligations
and liabilities of any sort in con
travention of Territorial and City
ardinances.
When the case came to trial
members of the City Council, in
attendance to support the city’s
position were William Zahrad
nicek, Betty Mears, and Lucille
Mick, as well as City Clerk Frank
Connally. The only witness called
by Ralph Cottis, attorney for the
plaintiff Steve Ward, was Coun
cilman Alfred V. Hagen. The city
did not call any witnesses.
City Attorney Shaw had fur
nished the court with several af
fidavits which Judge J. L. Mc
Carry announced were well pre
pared. Following testimony giv
en by Councilman Hagen and
questioning by both the City At
torney and Judge McCarrey, the
Judge anounced he felt the city
had gone ahead and done a job
for the community, pointing out
that according to an affidavit,
the city was faced with no hous
ing for the fire equipment after
September 1, 1954 and that the
construction of housing to protect
the equipment was done in the
interest of the community. “Had
there not been proper housing
provided for the equipment, could
not the city have been faced with
a suit if the equipment did not
function at a fire?” he question
ed.
Judge McCarrey’s decision in
the case was that the plaintiff,
Steve Ward, was r.ot entitled to
an order restraining or enjoining
the city from paying the bills in
curred in connection with the
construction of the fire hall.
He expressed an opinion thal
on the City’s statement that the
fire hall is completed sufficiently
enough to serve its purpose foi
now, there would probably be nc
need for further construction a<
the present time.
What it amounted to was tha'
the judge actually dismissed the
petition for a restraining ordei
and injunction as sought by Ward
Had it been granted it woulc
have prohibited further work anc
payment of bills for work anc
materials already performed anc
purchased in the construction o
(Continued on page 4)
CD OFFICIAL WARNS
OF H-BOMB DANGER
DURING VALLEY VISIT
That Palmer could be the tar- ,
get for an H-bomb is not entirely j
impossible, it was pointed out at
a general Civil Defense meeting
held on Tuesday of this week.
Ed Fortier, deputy Civil De
fense director, ar.d Charles Sap
pho, communications chief of the
Greater Anchorage area, met with
members of the Palmer City
Council, leading Civil Defense of
ficials of the valley area, and
several interested citizens. The
purpose of the meeting was to
bring the present CD picture into
view. !
A 20-minute film showing the
H-bomb explosion test, highly il
lustrated the problems facing thR
area. “There is an 80% change in
the CD picture now,” Fortier
stated. Our previous CD plans
were made obsolete with the ex
plosion of the H-bomb and now
we must get going, in a hurry,
and get an entire new program
for civil defense.”
In pointing out the graphic
j changes in the defense picture,
I Fortier said that officials qon
| sider all military points as con
' ceiveable H-bomb targets. Should
an H-bomb be dropped on mil
itary targets in the Anchorage
area, Palmer could be in danger
of what is termed the “fall-out”
factor of the bomb. However,
through weather studies being
conducted, Palmer is considered j
fairly safe from the fall-out, if
prevailing winds hold. Trouble [
from the fall out factor can be
I felt from 50-100 miles away from j
the actual blast, Fortier stated. ;
An area between 200-300 miles j
could even be in danger. The ex
i isting weather at the time of the
blast would be the determining
| factor.
“There is much planning to be
j done”, the CD official stated. “If
I necessary to move residents out
; of the Anchorage area, it looks
j now as though those in the
| Mountain View and Eagle River
j areas will have to be moved into
Palmer. Many Anchorageites
| would be moved south. It looks
like at least 4-5,000 people would
! come north immediately, he ad
ded.
One of the big problems will
be food, he said. “We need a food
depot—it stands to "reason the
Valley will need food if 20,000
. people are moved into Palmer.
' i Many Anchorageites would be
■ moved south. It looks like at
least 4-5,000 people would come
i north immediately, he added.
I One of the big problems will be
l food, he said. We need a food de
l pot—it stands to reason the Val
" ley will need food if 20,000 people
(Continued on page 4)
Strike Settled
At Kosloskv's Store
The employes at Koslosky’s De
partment store who were out on
strike for nearly two weeks, went
back to work today, following a
settlement.
In a statement made yesterday
by union representatives, they
reported that the Retail Clerk’s
Union and Koslosky’s Department
store came to an agreement Wed
nesday evening, ending the strike
at Palmer’s largest department
store. ‘'Employees will return to
ARE YOU GIVING
TO A NEEDY FAMILY?
Anyone knowing of a needy ;
family in the valley area who
should be getting a Christmas
box is asked to contact U. S.
Commissioner Dorothy B. Sax
ton who has a list of names
compiled by the Public Health
Nurse, the Anchorage Welfare
department, and the commis
sioner.
Any family wishes to help a
needy family during the holi
day season and who has not
yet found a family, is also ask
ed to drop in. The list is being
compiled to avoid duplications
omissions.
and
Boosters to Sell
Christmas Trees
For Band Fond
Members of the Palmer Band j
Booster club have come up with i
a recipe of “How to get your j
Christmas tree the easy way”.
To help raise funds for the Pal
mer School band program, Band ;
Boosters wi'l be selling Christ
mas trees. Through the coopera
tion of Ketchikan Spruce Mills,
the trees will be on display at
the lumber yard and may oe pur
chased right off the lot. The trees
have been selected for size and
beauty and will range in price;
from $2.50 to $5.00, depending up
on their size. Each tree will carry
a price tag to facilitate selection.
, The number of trees may be limit
j ed, so, as a suggestion from the
[Boosters, better make an early
: purchase.
COMPLAINT SIGNED
IN ASSAULT CASE
A complaint was signed in U. S.
Commissioner’s office today by
Lynn Crosby, against Kenneth
Johnson, charging him with as
sault. The complaint is resultant
from an alleged unprevoked at
tack on Crosby on December 13.
Churches Plan Christmas Services
Several Valley churches are
planning special Christmas pro
grams during the coming week,
beginning on Sunday.
Special Christmas services at
the United Protestant Church this
Sunday will include the Sunday
School Christmas program at 10
a.m. The theme of the program
will be “For God So Loved the
World”. A play of five scenes will
dramitize the theme. The program
will be under the combined direc
tion of Mrs. Gayle Rowland, Miss
Campbell and Mrs. Mary Doherty.
Christmas Sunday worship ser
vice will be held at 11 a.m. The
church choir will offer special
Christmas music. The sermon,
“Christmas Without Christ” will
be delivered by Rev. Brian Cle
worth.
Church of God
A special Christmas program
has been planned for the morning
service on Sunday at the Church
of God. Sunday School will con
vene at 10 a.m. Each child in the
Sunday School will be participat
ing in the morning program, some
with recitations, some with lovely
songs, and other varied contribu
tions. The program will begin
promptly at 10:20 a.m. and every
one is invited to attend and en
joy the special service. The
Christmas worship service will
immediately follow the childrens’
program and the choir will offer
a special message in song.
The Church of God is present
ing a Christmas drama, “Seeing
the Star”, on Thursday, Decem
ber 23, at 8 p.m. The inspiration
al dramatization portrays the true
spirit of Christmas. The public
is most cordially invited to attend.
First Baptist Church
On Wednesday night, Decem
ber 22 at 7:45 p.m. the children of
the junior organizations and the
Sunbeam band of the First Bap
tist Church will'present a Christ
mas pageant, “Bethlehem Star”.
The pageant will be followed by
the showing of the film, “Child
of Bethlehem”. Refreshments
will be served in the church rec
reation room following the pro
gram. Everyone is cordially invit
ed to attend.
Sutton Community Church
The worship service at the Sut
ton Community Church will begin
at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Rev. A. B.
Compton will offer a Christmas
message. Children of the Sunday
School will enjoy an exchange
of gifts following the service.
The annual Christmas program
will begin at 5:30 p.m. at which
time the children will offer reci
tations and special songs. The
youth group will present a short
pageant. Rev. and Mrs. Wesley
Lancaster of the Church of God
in Palmer will assist wi^i music
for the evening program. Follow
I ing which there will be a Christ
' mas tree for the children, when
I each child will be presented
an attractive Christmas bag of
| goodies. The community is cor
dially invited to attend.
/ork with satisfactory wage in
reases; with provisions for sick
eave in case of illness or acci
dent; with paid vacations and
lolidays, and with job seniority
ecurity. The agreement includes
.11 the employees except the store
upervisors and will be in effect
mtil 1 R with an opening for
cages omy in 1955”, they said.
Jegotiations for the clerks have
>een conducted by Pearl Gibson,
inion agent, and Milton Brackus
>f Seattle, international represen
ative of the union.
In a statement today Jan Kos
osky expressed his understand
ng of the fact that members of
ither unions were not permitted
;o trade at the store during the
strike and said he hoped now
hings are settled that they will
■esume their former trade. The
;ontinuane of our business is de
aendant upon the local trade, he
idded. He expressed the manage
nent’s appreciation for moral
support shown during the strike
aeriod.
“The biggest controversy was
not over wages,” he said, ‘‘as
Koslosky’s early in negotiations
agreed to meet all conditions in
the only other similar contract in
Palmer, but several clauses gov
erning the employer and manag
erial positions were in question.
GKAMBER ELECTS
DIRECTORS FOR 1955
Seven members of the Matan
uska Chamber of Commerce were
elected to the board of directors
at the December 15 meeting.
Elected to the two-year terms
were A1 V. Hagen, Everett Adams,
and Glen Persinger. John Gore,
Marie Stilton, Lenore Am*ner
mae, and John Weisenberger
were elected to one-year terms.
At a subsequent board meeting,
those elected will name their of
ficers for the coming year.
Guests at the luncheon meeting
were Stewart Durrant, new gen
eral manager at the Matanuska
Valley Farmers Cooperating As
sociation; Mrs. Mary Bryant,
Rosalind Miller and Carl Fritz
lar, the latter from Anchorage.
Dr. Allan Mick reported to
the Chamber that the Farm For
um, which the local Chamber is
sponsoring, have been set for
February 1, 2, and 3. Financing
for the forum will be obtained,
through advertising space in the
Alaskan Quarterly. The Agricul
ture Committee will spearhead
collections for the advertising
from local merchants during the
last two weeks in December. Ad
copy must be ready by December
30, he pointed out.
President Richard Jones an
nounced that the industrial sur
vey being compiled by the Cham
ber, is at present in outline form
and will be turned over to the
new board of directors for con
tinued work.
Lew Hanks, chairman of the
Matanuska Telephone Associa
tion, asked support and coopera
tion of Chamber members in an
all-out concerted drive to obtain
membership and the purchase of
equity stock in the MTA. He an
nounced that on January 3, REA
officials will be in Palmer. “The
chips are down, now”, Hanks
said, “and we must get this equity
stock sold before they arrive to
be sure of the new telephone sys
tem”. Merchants present agreed
to assist in the program by giving
part of their usual newspaper ad
vertising for publicizing the MTA
project.
Dr. C. C. Bailey returned to his
home this past Monday, follow
ing several weeks confinement in
the 5005th Air Force Hospital.
He was reported as “feeling pretty
good”.