PALMER
CLEAN-UP WEEK
MAY 11 THROUGH MAY 16
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
THY A FRONTIERSMAN
CLASSIFIED AD lor that
itom you may haro for saU.
roai or loaso.
VOLUME 6. NUMBER 33
PALMER. ALASKA. THURSDAY. MAY 7. 1953
PRICE TEN CENTS
FARM LOAN FUND DECLARED INSUFFICIENT
Mayor Proclaims Clean-Up Week
BACCALAUREATE TO
BE HELD SUNDAY IN
HIGH SCHOOL GYM
Eev. Brian Cleworth, pastor of
the United Protestant Church,
will give the address “God Be
lieves in You,” during Baccalau
reate services to be held in the
Palmer High School gymnasium
Sunday evening, May 10, at 8
p. n.
Opening processional, “God of
Our Fathers,” will be played by
Mrs. Virginia Haaland, followed
by the invocation by Rev. George
Geitvitz.
In addition to the addres, the
balance of the program will be
a fellows: “The Green Cathedral”
sung by Dorothy Adams; “Dear
Lord and Savior of Mankind,”
by the Congregation; Scripture
reading, led by Rev. Cleworth; “I
Need Thee Every Hour,” pre
sented by the Mixed quartet;
“The Blind Blowman,” Oliver
Brewer; “O Master Let Me Walk
With Thee,” by the congregation
and the Benediction by Rev.
George Geiwitz. The program will
be brought to a close with the
recessional "A Mighty Fortress Is
Our God,” played by Mrs. Haa
land.
Families and friends of the 26
graduating seniors are invited to
attend the services.
HIGH SCHOOL PLANS
APPROVED BY APW
Pians for the new Palmer High
School were signed and approved
by representatives of Alaska Pub
lic Works last night at a meeting
held in the Palmer School, Wil
liam Zahradnicek, school uperin
tendent announced today.
As soon as the abstract is com-;
pleted and approved, APW will;
call for bids, they said. This may
possibly be done this week.
PALMER STUDENTS
ENJOY ANNUAL PICNIC
Students of grades 7 through |
12 cf Palmer School enjoyed their
annual shool picnic Tuesday, May
5 at Granite Creek.
Each rooim had prepared their
own refreshmens enjoyed the day
roaming around the area and
eating. The groups were all ac
companied by their teachers.
Grades 4-5-6 will hold their
picnic Wednesday, May 13 at
Barry’s Lake. The popular sum
mer resort has usually been the
scene of all school picnics but
impassable roads prevented the
older group from going there
this year.
While the students are enjoying
themselves at Barry’s, the lower
grades will hold their own picnic
on the school grounds and in the
gvmnaium. All rooms will pre
pare their refrehments.
PLANE DAMAGED WHEN
PROPELLER TIP BREAKS
A tip on the propeller blade on
Bob Buzby’s Seabee plane broke
off when the ship was about
75 feet in the air May 4, causing
it to crash land at the local air
port.
Although there were no per
sonal injuries, the plane was
damaged, quite extensively in the
crash. It landed 600 feet from
the south end of the north-south
runway around 6:15 p.m. short
ly after Buzby took off.
RTA Group Invited
To Joint Meeting
At Chugiak May 10
Committee members of the Pal
mer Rural Telephone associatior
journied to Chugiak Friday
night, April 10 to meet with a
group from that commuity. As a
result of the visit, 52 new appli
cations for membership in the
association were received, Lew
Hanks, chairman announced this
week.
Henry Cuffel of Anchorage was
present from the group organiz
ing in that area and extended an
invitation to the local group to
attend a meeting to be held to
morrow night, May 8, at the
Community Hall in Chugiak for
a discussion on the proposed mer
ging of the two organizations into
one system.
This coming meeting will be an
open meeting and Hanks urged
all who can, to attend. Repre
sentatives from all local organi
zations, city government and in
tereted individuals are particular
ly urged to atend and give their
opinions on the proposed merger.
The local committee is coming
along very well,- with new ap
plications being received regular
ly, Hanks said. Poor road con
ditions have prevented volunteer
workers from contacting many
who live outside city limits, he
added and urged those who can,
to drop in the office of the Mata
nuska Electric Association to sign
up for phones. Application blanks
are available there, as well as
an informative booklet on rural
telephone service.
Chamber Hears of
Proposed Tax Changes
Outlining briefly the proposed
changes in the city sales tax,
Council-woman Betty Mears told
members of the Chamber of Com
merce of clarifications and chang
es the city council and sales tax
committee are considering, at the
meeting held May 6. In her out
line, Mrs. Mears told of proposal
to start sale tax payments at 25c,
breaking the dollar on the half
cent.
A joint meeting between the
council, committee, and all per
sons who collect the sales tax
has been scheduled in the Co-Op
club room Wednesday night,
May 13 at 7:30 p.m. The proposed
ordinance will be presented for
discussion at that time.
A few suggestions came out of
the Chamber meeting, among
which was the proposal that any
person or organization asking ex
emption from sales tax payment
be obligated to apply to the coun
cil for exception and that a cer
tificate of exemption be issued
for presentation by the party
when making purchases for which
he is claiming tax exemption.
It was also suggested that any
one coming into the city to make
sales who is not a local business,
be required to post a bond, pend
ing a report of local sales and
collection of sales tax, if any.
Guests at the noon luncheon in
cluded, C. R. Foss, Valley Presby
terian Hospital contractor and
Harold Moline, resident superin
tendent of Construction Mr. Mo
line recently took up residence in
the Dr. Albrecht house on Bailey
Hill.
"BUY AN AMERICAN LEGION
POPPY ON MAY 23"
LOCAL GROUPS TO
OFFER THEIR AID
The entire week of May 11
through May 16 has been official
ly proclaimed as Clean-Up Week
in Palmer by Mayor Alfred V.
Hagen.
In the proclamation issued by
Mayor Hagen he pointed out that
Palmer, as the center of the fam
ous Matanuska Valley, should be
clean and attractive for the many
who will be visiting this year. “I
urge all civilians to join together
and make a concerted effort to
make our Clean-Up Week a suc
cess.” He further asked that
yards be tidied, vacant lots, base
ments and other areas where rub
bish has accumilated be cleaned.
Beginning Monday morning, city
employes, civic organiations, Boy
and Cub Scouts and many other
groups will start the city-wide
drive to brighten-up the city.
The following schedule for rub
i bish pick-up has been established
within the Palmer area: Mon
day, May 11 - City employees: on j
Colony and Valley streets using i
the city truck; Tuesday, May 12 -
City employees: in the AHA hous
ing area, North Wasilla highway
and West Valley street using the
i city truck; Wednesday, May 13 -
I Kiwanis club members in the
hospital area, CoOp area and
ARA housing area uing the CoOp
, truck: Thursday, May 14 - Moose
' club members in the south Wasilla
■ highway and West Colony street
areas using the forestry truck;
I Friday, May 15 - in the North
| Palmer area and North Palmer
store district, using the ARC
truck; Saturday, May 16 - Gener
al clean-up day, entire Palmer
: area using all trucks. The Alaska
! Road commission will be in
i charge of cleaning Glenn High
1 way from the Matanuska bridge
to Bailey Hill.
Free Show and Ice Cream
A free show, courtesy of the
Valley Theatre and free ice
cream, courtesy of the Matanuska
| Valley Farmer’s Cooperating As
I sociation will be given to all
youngsters who participate in
Clean-Up Week under the super
' vision of the city or any partici
pating clubs. Youngsters are ask
ed to be at the Valley Theatre
Saturday morning at 9 a.m. May
15 ready to work.
Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts
have indicated willingness to as
; sist in the drive and will be
■ assigned duties.
Rubbish pick up service will be
made by vehicles donated by the
CoOp, Forestry Service, the ARC
; and the city.. In addition, any
i one who may not be contacted
to donate labor or a vehicle, who
would be willing to do so is ask
ed to contact City Clerk Larry
Mooers who will be acting as
dispatcher-.
All rubbish must be on the
curb or edge of the street for
pick up by trucks. As in the past
! drives, there will be no pick-up on
. ashes.
The Kiwanis club, in addition
to donating labor, will also fur
nish the use of their public ad
j dress system to remind home
j owners of the drive.
SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY
MESSAGE AT ST. JOHN'S
Special services and a Mother’s
Day message are planned at St.
John’s Lutheran Church for Sun
day, May 10. Rev. Edward Imme
will present a special message
honoring motherhood at the 11
a.m. service. Appropriate music is
planned.
SPECIAL MEETING FOR
FAIR ASSOCIATION
All superintendents and
helpers of the Matanuska Val
ley Fair are requested to be
at a special meeting to be held
in the Co-Op club room Mon
day, May 11 at 8 p.m.
Changes in the fair book for
the coming season will be de
termined, Fair Association
President Alba Brooks said.
0. K. KINCAID
RESIGNS FROM
CITY COUNCIL
During the regular city council
meeting held May 5, O. K. Kin
caid, Jr. tendered his resignation
as three-year councilman.
In making the announcement,
Kincaid said the resignation was
necessary because of business,
and that he expects to move from
the ctiy in the near future, mak
ing him eneligible to serve as a
city councilman.
According to procedure, when a
councilman departs from the city
with the intent of remaining ab
sent more than ninety days, the
council may declare the office of
such member vacant. Whenever a
vacancy occurs in the council, the
remaining members may elect
some qualified person to fill the
vacancy, which person so elected
shall hold office until a successor
be elected at the next annual el
ection and qualified. This three
year term of office will not ex
pire until October 1955.
Clarence Trick, former Anchor
age city engineer was a visitor
at the council meeting, acquaint
ing the council with his qualifica
tions and briefly outlining neces
sary engineer work that will be
necessary within the city this
year. Members of the street com
mittee were asked by Mayor Ha
gen to consider his qualifications,
the city needs for such services
and report at a later meeting.
MOTHER-DAUGHTER
PROGRAM PLANNED
BY MARY MARTHAS
A special mothers-daughters
program, marking the observance
of Mother’s Day will be held in
the United Protestant Church
Friday evening, May 8 at 8 p.m..
The program will be under the
supervision of the Mary Martha’s
group and will feature special
music and features appropriate to
Mother’s Day.
Following the program, refresh
ments will be served. All women
are invited to attend, taking their
mothers or daughters or borrow
ing one for the occasion.
WORK ON NEW
SCHOOL PROGRESSING
Excavating work on the new
Swanson Street School is practi
cally completed, William Zahra
dnicek aid this week.
Workers are completing the
foundation forms and expect to
pour the footings very soon, he
added. Although the contractors
have until October to complete
the 6-room building, it may be
possible to finish construction
before that time.
Office desks, formerly used by
the Rural Electrification Admini
stration, were donated to the
school and are now being ued by
the City of Palmer and the local
Alaska Comunication System un
til called for by the school.
ANNUAL POPPY DAY
SET FOR MAY 23
Preparations for Poppy Day
were occupying women of the
American Legion Auxiliary
throughout the country this
month as the organization got
ready for its annual distribution
of the little red flowers of mem
ory to be worn in honor of Am
erica’s war dead on May 23, ac
cording to Mrs. Izola Sims, poppy
chairman of the local auxiliary.
“We are all ready for Poppy
Day here,” Mrs. Sims said. “Our
women have responeded splen
didly to the call for volunteers
to distribute the flowers on the
streets. Teams have been organ
ized and locations assigned.”
“The poppies have been made
for us by disabled veterans at
Veteran’s Hospital in the states
of Utah, Montana and Oregon.
They are made of crepe paper,
with wire stems, and resemble
as closely as possible the wild
poppies of France and Flanders |
which bloomed in such profusion
on the battle fields and war cem
eteries there. The making of them
has provided interesting and
beneficial occupation for many
disabled veterans through the
winter and spring.”
“When we offer our memorial
poppies on Poppy Day, we will
ask for contribution for war’s j
living victims, disabled veterans j
and needy children of veterans. I
Most of the money received will |
remain here in Palmer in our j
Unit rehabilitation and child wel-'
fare funds.”
“We hope everyone will catch
the spirit of Poppy Day, will wearj
a poppy proudly in honor of those
who have given their lives for
America, and contribute gener
ously to help those to whom the
three wars of the past 25 years
have brought suffering and hard
ship.”
NEW HOURS AT
LOCAL ACS OFFICE
Effective May 1, the local Al
aska Communication System of
fice in the Neal Wright building,
will be open under a change of
hours, Sergeant William Kalleigh
announced this week.
Week days the office will be
open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sun
days and holidays the office will
be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Emergency wires may be sent
by contacting the city telephone
operator who will notify an ACS
man. However, Kalleigh pointed
out, this is for emergency type
wires only and not for the con
gratulatory type.
Toll calls may be made at any
time through the city operator if
Ihey are called collect, all other
toll calls must go through the
ACS office.
Various changes in hours are in
effect throughout the ACS sys
tem, Kalleigh said.
TOO MEAGER FOR
PRESENT, SAYS
M. D. SNODGRASS
“There is an urgent need for a
land clearing program for agri
cultural land.” M. D. Snodgrass,
House Representative said this
week.
The Farm Loan Fund of $200.
000 is so meager that to meet pre
sent needed producion for our
dairy herds, it will have to be
spread very thin, he said. The
Valley’s 54 grade A dairies are
all short of cultivated crop and
pasture land.
Not withstanding the Land
Management Program now in ef
fect, land regulations governing
homesteading have not changed
in 80 years, he pointed out. The
new settler finds he can not com
pete with defense wage scales and
seeks employment off the farm in
order to meet the high cost of
living. Present small tract home
sites are only an aid to the tran
sient laborers or the fishing
population. It tends to retard per
manent settlement and develop
ment of our farming areas and re
sults in small cabin homes and
low tax values, forcng the ter
ritory to spend millions for edu
cation of transient people, he ad
ded.
Snodgrass said he feels a radi
cal overhauling of our land laws
is in order, pointing out that
idle land is wasteful and unpro
ductive.
In presenting the Agricultural
Loan Bill during the past legis
lature meeting, Snodgrass said he
had begged Legislature to invest
$500,000 of territoral funds in
Alaska farm lands as a revolving
fund. Some support was offered
but far too little to convince the
ways and means committee. Our
transcient population, many of
whom came to homestead, are on
the small homesite tracts, await
ing opening of homestead land.
They will remain here, he said,
if they are given a fighting chance
on he land, and added he feels
statehood would give them that
chance. If a special session is
called this year, Snodgrass said
he hopes to see an increase in
the loan fund included on the
agenda.
Alaska needs people and work
ing funds to properly settle this,
our last frontier, he said. Liberal
provision in sharing mineral and
oil royalties to the territory or
new state, for educational and
farm development programs can
not come under the present long
distance administration, he add
ed.
GOVERNOR PROCLAIMS
HOSPITAL WEEK
National Hospital Week has
been proclaimed as May 10 to
May 17 by Governor B. Frank
Heintzleman.
In making the proclamation,
Governor Heintzleman asks that
all citizens of Alaska join the
people of the world in observing
National Hospital Week and to
show their appreciation to hos
pitals whose dedicated services
are so important o us.
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