Thought of the Week:
In the good old days a gov
ernment could spend a million
dollars and have something to
show for it.
i
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
P.T.A. BENEFIT FILM
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
MARCH 30 & 31
VOLUME 17. NUMBER 4
PALMER. ALASKA. THURSDAY. MARCH 22. 1962
Eight Pages
PRICE 15 CENTS
Borough Group Urges Immediate Area Support
PROCLAMATION
NATIONAL WILDLIFE WEEK
MARCH 18 - 24. 1962
WHEREAS, the people of Palmer are depend
ent upon natural resources—soils, water, forests, grass
lands, minerals and wildlife—to sustain life and contribute
to the commerce, agriculture and recreation of future
citizens of Palmer, and,
WHEREAS, there is growing concern about the
future continental waterfowl population and especially
the destruction and drainage of wetlands which provide
nesting areas for waterfowl and other wildlife, and,
WHEREAS, the week of March 18-24, 1962, will he
observed across the nation as NATIONAL WILDLIFE
WEEK, this being a time set aside to alert ail the citizens
of the nation to the need for wise and proper use of all
the natural resources.
NOW THEREFORE. I, Billy R. Miller. Mayor of the
City of Palmer do hereby proclaim March 13-24, 1962.
as NATIONAL WILDLIFE WEEK.
Stale Air Meet
Here March 24-25
Valley residents are invited
to join the many hundreds of
spectators expected at the
Third Annual State Air Meet
which will be held at Big Lake
this week-end.
This year the event has been
s'ated for two days, with the
opening events Saturday mor
ning to continue throughout
the day. On Saturday evening
there will be a speghetti feed
ALASKAN MILK
PRODUCTION UP
12% OVER 1380
Production of milk in Alas
ka in 1961 is estimated at 22.
500,000 pounds, up 12 per cent
from 1960. according to Paul
Pownall, statistian with the
Alaska Cooperative Crop Re
porting Service.
The retail price of a quart
of milk in Alaska in mid-De
cember ranged from 06 cents
at Sitka up to 76 cents at Nome.
In Anchorage the price of milk
was 45 cents per quart and at
Fairbanks consumers were
paying 53 cents a quart of
whole milk, according to the
quarterly report on Alaska
Food Prices issued by the Al
aska Experiment Station. In
Seattle a quart of milk, on
the same date, averaged 24
cents, while the average for
the 48 states was 25 cents.
Alaskan cows averaged 8.
180 pounds of milk produced
in 1961. Seven states surpassed
Alaska in annual production of
milk per cow and Utah tied
with Alaska at 8,180 pounds.
Pioneers to Meet
Here Next Sunday
There will be an important
meeting for all memhers of
Pioneers of Alaska Igloo 31 at
2 p.m. on Sunday. March 25 in
the American Legion hall in
Palmer, it was announced this
week by Heinie Snider, Igloo
president.
During the meeting the
membership will be asked to
choose a regular meeting place
and date and pictures taken
during the recent Igloo institu
t. >n will be shown, according
to Don Ingalls, secretary.
Igloo officials suggested that
any petition signers who have
not yet completed their enroll
ment attend the March 25
meeting at which time require
ments may be fulfilled. There
a 30-day limit for comple
tion, it was announced.
; and mukluk dance held at Big
I Lake lodge.
Competition for pilots will
j include bombing events, bal
j loon busting, and spot land
| ings.
On Sunday, March 25, the
; day will begin early with a
I FlyJn Breakfast. There will be
competition finals for the per
j pet .ml trophy which last year
i was won by Stan Lowe of
j Palmer. Sunday afternoon’s
t program will include an air
j show consisting of helicopter
! demonstrations, parachute
j jumps, aerobatics and possibly
j a surprise or two
All pilots are notified that
the Big Lake field will be
i closed from 2:00-4:00 o’clock
■ Sunday afternoon.
In the event of poor weather,
the show will be held the fol
lowing week-end, on March 31
and April 1, it was announced.
ALASKA'S FIRST
NUCLEAR POWER
PLANT ACTIVATED
Alaska’s first nuclear power
! generating plant went into op
eration on March 13 at the sub
arctic Army Post at Fort Gree
ly, Alaska. The plant, of medi
um size, has a capacity for
4,000 kilowatts of energy, 2,000
will be used for electric gen
, oration and 2,000 for heating
j base installations. The output
j is sufficient for needs of a
! tow-n of about 2,000 population.
During the initial phase of
operation, the plant will be
studied closely in developing
further peaceful uses of the
atom for the military at re
| mote installations.
Advocates Caution
On Fair Site Bill
I
| Rather than have legislation
| which would designate the
! Matanuska Valley as the site
| of the official Alaska State
i Fair killed in this session by
i an overwhelming negative
| vote, it was the general feel
ing of those attending the
March 21 meeting of the Ma
tanuska Valley Chamber of
Commerce, that it would be
more favorable if the bill re
mained in committee at the
close of the current legisla
ture,
i
Mayor B. R. Miller, who
1 spent several weeks in Jiui
eau as a lobbiest for Alaska
State Fair, Inc., told Chamber
members that it was an entire
week after he had registered
as a lobbyist, before he had the
opportunity to appear before
the House finance committee to
i discuss the proposed bill. He
i said the legislators were very
' attentive and that only a few
i remarks were made by the
j legislators during the discus
i sion. Miller presented the com
I mittee with copies of a map
! which show projected expan
sion plans of the local r ir
grounds, and brochures which
| outline the entire local fair
! program since its inception
over 25 years ago.
Miller said that he feels leg
islators from the Fairbanks
j area are opposed to the bill
I because they fear to lose state
| aid funds now received for the
! operation of the Tanana Val
ley Fair. Miller said he told the
{committee that as far as the
| appropriations were concern
led, Fairbanks could retain all
of the money, that the local
SEE GREATER
STREAM FLOW
DURING BREAK-UP
j Present indications show that
j stream flow may be greater
j than normal during the spring
1 breakup, according to the Soil
Conservation Service, USDA
which conducts snow surveys
in Alaska.
1 The report, made March 1,
| shows soil moisture was high
last fall when freezeup came
, and could mean greater than
; normal runoff in the spring.
Snow cover in Alaska is
| generally heavier than during
| 1961. The maximum snow cov
I er usually occurs near the first
I of April, the report points
i out, so considerable snow could
j be added to the present cov
| er. Some of the “old timers”
! in the Tanana Valley reported
! more snow than normal, and
I this is also the case in the Ma
! tanuska and Susitna Valleys.
i area was seeking the official
! title only.
He said Fairbanks favors al
| ternating the State Fair, one
i year in the Matanuska Valley,
and the following year in the
i far north. Miller pointed out
■ that such a proposal would not
; be condusive to projected,
i building plans by either area. |
In a discussion that fellow-1
! ed, points were brought out
which indicated that perhaps
: next year, which is not an elec
I tion year, more favorable ac
: tion would be realized. It was
pointed out that if the bill, as
i it now appears it might, is kill
ed by an overwhelming vote,
; it will be difficult to get favor
j able action in another year.
' M. D. Snodgrass told Cham
ber members that he feels that
' the valley can still produce a
1 very good fair, that the issue
! will eventually settle itself,
and that if the Matanuska Val
(Continued on page 5)
—
Library Receives
Several New Books
i i
Several new books havej
i been received at the Palmer t
| Public Library and are now i
I on the shelves, it was an-:
' nounced this week. These in
| elude a section of non-fiction •
adult books: also adult fiction,
j and several new books lor
I children.
Among non-fiction books
; are the following, with author: i
"Fate Is the Hunter". Gann:
"Adrienne", Maurois; "In Pur
I suit of Poetry”. Hollyer; “Ice-:
I land Summer”, Sutton; "El
ena”, Zelayeta; “Rural Free”,
Peden; "Good-bye To A River”,
i Graves; "Lanterns and Lan-'
ices”, Thurber; and “One
Week In March,” Sht 1 win.
Adult fiction books include:
| “The Late Mrs. I).". Waugh;
j "But the Patient Died”, Sin
Iclair; “The White Unicorn”.;
■ Blanton; “Something Light".
I Sharp; “Adam", Bolt; "April
| Morning”, Fast; “The Torch",;
Penfield; “Man From Mt. Ver
non”, Boyer; “A Journey to'
Maticumbe", Taylor; A Tiger j
Walks”, Niall; “The Heartless
Light", Green; and Wedding
Train," Scherf.
j Children and junior books
| include: “The Little Store On
i the Corner," Miller; "Lightn
! ing". Bendick; “Wild Orphan”, j
j Rounds; “Children of the Red
j King”, Pollard; “Partners In;
j Science”, Ross; "The Hidden1
iKey”, Clewes; “The Robber;
Ghost”, Amknrsvard; “Touch
ed With Fire”, Bell; "Stephen i
Crane”, Franchere; and “Ani- j
mal Clocks and Compasses”, j
Hyde. i
PROPOSED CHARTER
READY FOR REVIEW
Members of the City Charter
Commission have completed
their work on the proposed
charter for the City of Palmer
and copies will be submitted
to members of the City Coun
cil for their review prior to
the March 27 of the Common
Council at which time the
charter will be printed in the
Frontiersman for tiie interest
of all persons concerned.
HONOR GROUPS
ATTEND FESTIVAL
IN FAIRBANKS
Young instrumentalists and
vocalists from every high'
school in Western Alaska Gath
ered in Fairbanks today to be-1
gin an experience, which for!
man;’, will be the high point
of their school musical career.
A number of months ago,
band and choir directors met
to consider the inception of
this program to meet needs
of the highly talented high
school musicians of the
State. The results has been
the Honor Band and Choir
groups. In the past many of
these music groups have
gathering at various locations
in the State to participate in
a Music Festival. With this
planned program of Honor
groups, the music educators
are ultimately pointing to
ward an All-State recogni
tion of the talented young
musicians.
As with any new endeavor
much work had to be accom
plished by the individual di
rectors of the schools invoic
ed. The young musicians are
trained by many of the fin
est music instructors in the na
tion. It is a rare occasion when
one community can hear all of
the performing groups in con
cert, thus, with this new en
deavor ati attempt has been
made to skin: the very top of
each of the school groups.
Musicians from such
schools as Palmer, whose
band wo.i honors at last
year's Fur Rendezvous, and
repeated this distinction
again this year, will have
representation along with
vocalists and instrumental
ists from West Anchorage
High School, long noted for
the fine performing groups.
New to the Anchorage divi
sion, but promising great
things musically, are the
choir and band groups from
East Anchorage. Young
music groups such as those
from Seward, Wasilla, Kenai,
Nome. Eielson, Monroe of
Fairbanks, and Copper Val
ley have enlered their top
performers. Acting as hosts ,
for these students is the
Laihrop High School Choir
and Malemule Concert Band
of Fairbanks, who have also
(Continued on page 5)
New Valley Medical Aid Plan
Ready For Use Says Sorority
The two Palmer chapters of
the international social soror
ity of Beta Sigma Phi have
started their 12th year by set
ting up a Medical Aid Fund,
which is now operable and
available to area residents.
The first funds alloted this
service project came from a
Valentine Dance held last
month. Money will be added
to the fund from the soror
ity's annual style show, and
other activities, such as their
fair booth which they have
operated since 1950.
The Fund may be used by
persons needing small loans to
cover such medical needs as
special medication, transporta
tion to clinics or treatment
centers, equipment for crip
pled children, orthopedic ap
pliances and diagnostic exam
inations, when an emergency
exists or funds from other
sources are not available.
The Beta Sigma Phi chap
j ters will work through the
| Matanuska Valley Public
! Health Nursing Service in
administrating the fund. All
applications must be made j
to and certified by the public
health nurses.
In discussing the need for j
this type of medical aid, Mrs. |
Priscilla Bacon, PIIN. explain- ,
ed that often families in need !
of urgent treatment or rnedi- I
cation do not at the time, have (
the financial means with which
to avail themselves of the at
tention. “However, if a fund
is available from w’hich they
may borrow when needed,
many would repay when able
to do so,” she said. Users will
be encouraged to repay in lull,
or in part. However, it was
pointed out, inability to repay
will not limit an applicant in
need of help.
The area from which ap
plicants will be eligible will
correspond to the area serv
ed by the Matanuska Valley
Public Health Nursing Ser
vice.
Further information may be
obtained from Mrs. Bacon at
the health center, or from
members of the Beta Sigma
Phi chapters in Palmer.
McKenzie Point
Becoming Issue
At a borough meeting held
March 16 in Willow, at which
elected representatives of vari
our organizations were pres
ent, discussions were directed
toward mechanics of the bor
ough law and standards for or
ganization. The ability of the
Matanuska-Susitna Borough to
function as a responsive, econ
omically sound government
was displayed through a series
of questions, the answers to
which were supported by docu
ments of investigations of the
borough study group. “Willow
is not a stranger t.o the Ma
tanuska-Susitna Boroungh con
cept," said Robert Vroman,
study group member, “having
worked cooperatively since
18a-1) with other community re
presentatives to develop bor-i
ough government for this area.”
Other meetings held last
week included on March 18 in
the Burma Road-McKenzie
Point area and in Anchorage
March 20 for McKenzie Point
land owners.
Vroman reported that the
question of the Goose Bay
McKenzie Poirt region is of
much interest to all persons
cf this area. Following a
presentation of the borough
law by Anchorage represen
tatives, views of both adjoin
ing borough areas were brief
Minstrel Show
Cast Goes Into
Final Rehearsals
Only a week remains un
til the curtain goes up at 8:20
P-m March 20 on the 1062 Ki
w.-mis Minstrel show. “Fallout
Follies" which is now in final
stages of rehearsal
Next week two complete re
hearsals will be held, accord
ing to show directors II. J
Hodgson and James Wilson. On
Tuesday at 8 p.m. a full rut
of the show will be held, in
cluding chorus numbers, spec
ialty acts, and the script. A full
dress rehearsal will be held
Thursday at 8 p.m. These two
full rehearsals should make the
Friday night performance fully
as polished as the Saturday
night show, the directors said.
Tickets went on sale this
week, with a fairly brisk stile
soon .after they were available
Reserved seat tickets may be
purchased at Ketchikan j
Spruce Mills. Bettys’ and at ;
Koslosky’s. Those desiring re
served seats should waste no i
time m getting them, the direc
tors advised.
A style show will be featur
ed the third act of “Fallout
Follies” and it is reported the
four stunning models have
been selected to display the
latest in femminine attire.
Describing the fashions, in her
own inimitable way, will be'
Fran Hulbert.
ly expressed regarding mer
its for their concepts. The
empire borough" was vague
ly mentioned by a member
of the Anchorage Planning
Commission though not at
tended by any favorable re
sponse. it can be said, Vre
man staled, that a concen-f
trated effort is being devel
oped by the advocators.
Permanent residents of the
aiea, as well as the “absentee
owners" who were present,
ielt predominantly that the
area is not ready for organi*
ed borough government. Thpy
pointed out the lack of acces
'to the area by road and'the
Sparsity of population even
though a good percentage of
the area is in the process of
patent.
It was pointed out that rfny
inclusion by Anchorage * of
(Continued on page S)
STRESSES NEED
TO FULFILL P.T.A.
AIMS, PURPOSES
"Our earth is degenerate in
these last days . . . children
’nve luxury . . . contradict then
parents . . . tyrannize teach
ers." Thus began Mrs. A‘. L
Henrick. field consultant of
the National Congress of P.T.A.
I in her address to the local
P.T.A. unit March 20. The
i speaker pointed out that con
ditions have not changed gfeat
: ly since the above quote was
written on an Assyrian stone
tablet in 2800 B.C *
As guest speaker for the" con
ference of the Third District of.
Alaska Congress of Parents
and Teachers, which began
.March 1!) with a welcome din
ner. Mrs. Henrck offered a
considerable number of ideas
In her talk to the local P.T.A
group Mrs. Henrick unfolded4
the vital importance of tt\»
purposes of P.T.A. to every
community, each state, the na
tion and the world, not only for
today, she pointed out, but
for the future to preserve derrp
ocracy with “dignity and rights
of man defended and individ
ual personality supported.” j
Mrs. Henrick pointed out tfle
importance of parents arid
teachers working together. She
brought out that every citizen
in Alaska, and elsewhere,
needs to be aware of his in
dividual importance in helping
meet educational needs. “From
this united effort can come tfire
fulfillment of P.T.A object
Ives,” she added.
Having traveled widely in
the 50 States. Europe and the
Near East, the speaker dos
ed by asking P.T.A. members
to be thankful for the privil
eges enjoyed under Democracy
at home, in school and in the
church.
. *» «*' Tv”' A*-A''«• 7TTTTVV.-'.T
COME VISIT OUR NEW
Rubob Room
Saturday, March 24
FREE SMORGASBORD
Special Accordion Selections by the
Famous KEITH, fresh from Los Vegas
Palmer Bar
Bob & Ruth Peterson.
II
FALLOUT TOLLIES”
IITH ANNUAL
Kiwaais Minstrel
MARCH 30 - 31
8:30 D.m.
CENTRAL GYM