Thought of the Week:
Any guy who isn't broke has
been getting the breaks.
The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
VOLUME 14, HUMBER 29
PALMER. ALASKA, THURSDAY. APRIL 12. 1962
TEN PAGES
PRICE 15 CENTS
Reporters—
Aioteboah
Palmer High School placed
sixth in team scores (based on
three highest individual scores)
in the Alaska section of the Na
tional Mathematics Contest.
William E. Combs was high
scorer of the Palmer partici
pants and will receive a math
ematics pin.
* • *
Mrs. Richard Demming has
returned from Juneau where
she represented the church
women of St. Bartholomew’s
Episcopal Church at the Dis
trict Episcopal Church Wom
ens’ five-day meeting. While in j
Juneau Mrs. Demming attend- !
ed one session in both the
House and Senate and called
on Governor William Egan. :
Also attending the meeting was
Mary Rowley, PHN, of Sitka,
formerly of Palmer. Over 60
women, representing all areas 1
of Alaska, attended the meet
ing.
* * *
Marvin Slaughter, engineer,
U. S. Geological Survey, is
back at his desk following a
visit Outside, during which he
visited his former home in
Tennessee.
* * *
Ralph Moore of the Matanus
ka Electric Association return
ed to Palmer Wednesday eve
of last week from Minneapolis
where he attended a power use
management school.
* * *
Betty Mears has returned
from the Seattle area where
she spent the past week. While
Outside Mrs. Mears had an op
portunity to visit the Jantzen
factory in Portland where she
saw the popular sportswear be
ing manufactured.
* * *
Among visitors attending the
recent installation of officers
of Palmer B.P.O. Elks were
Louis Odsather, past exalted
ruler of the Anchorage Elks
lodge and Osky Weeda, also
past exalted ruler and current
vice-president of the Alaska
State Elks Association. Benja
min Cabo was installed as ex
alted ruler of the Palmer lodge,
assuming his position from Wil
liam Cook.
* ♦ *
Eight cases of upper respira
tory infection were reported in
the Palmer area for the week
ending April 6. In addition
there was one case each of in
fluenza and pneumonia.
* * *
Mrs. Joyce Kerttula and Lew
Hanks are representing the
Palmer Board of Education at
a meeting of the National As
sociation of National School
Boards being held in St. Louis.
Hanks expects to return to Pal
mer this week-end.
WASILLA STORE
FORCIBLY ENTERED
Some $150 damage was done
at the Wasilla Building and
Farm Supply, formerly Eckerts
Supply Center, when the es
tablishment was forcibly enter
ed sometime last night. Har
old Newcomb, manager, said
this morning that the break-in
was discovered by Leroy Hea
ven when he passed the build
ing enroute to work.
Entry was made when a
large window in the front door
was broken, Newcomb said. Al
though inventory was not com
plete, the manager reported a
radio, various tools, fishing
gear and ammunition were
taken. _
ALFALFA HAY
USDA GRADE NO. 1
3RD CUTTING -
PROTEIN 20.3%
$98 per Ion
We also carry PURINA
FEED of all types
BAH SUPPLY
Palmer, Alaska
City Contemplates New Water Well
MEA Members Will Hear
Annual Reports Saturday
Additional prizes have been
added to the list of those that
will be awarded at the April
14 meeting of the Matanuska
Electric Association member
ship.
The main prize, announced
last week, will be a washer
dryer combination. In addition
the following items will be
awarded during the meeting:
Installed outdoor lawn lamp,
Westinghouse table radio,
toaster, four dozen assorted
fish lures, $50 credit on MEA
account, (all identified last
week) and a two and one half
pound General Quick-Aid fire
extinguisher, donated by the
Palmer Volunteer Firemen’s
Association; GE electric skillet
and control, donated by G E
Supply, Anchorage; also a Nu
tone range hood, and one each
General Electric blender, auto
matic coffee maker, mixer
sharpener combination, auto
matic skillet, and rotisserie
broiler, all of the latter donat
ed by MEA.
Registration for the meeting
will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Cen
SCHOOL BUS BIDS
ARE REJECTED;
NEW BIDS ASKED
All bids submitted for the
transportation of school chil
dren in the Palmer Independ
ent School District, were re
jected as being too high, ac
cording to William T. Zahrad
nicek, superintendent of sch
ools.
A new invitation to bid has
been extended by the Palmer
Board of Education. Bid forms
may be obtained at the high
school and proposals must be
filed with the office of the su
superintendent of schools on or
before 5 p.m., April 20.
The bid invitation specifies
bids on the transportation of
school children for a minimum
of two years and up to a maxi
mum of three years on 12 bus
routes and a minimum of 12
school buses.
Chamber Speaker
Will Discuss
MEA Planning
Mason LaZelle, manager of
the Matanuska Electric Asso
ciation' will be geust speaker
at the April 18 meeting of the
Matanuska Valley Chamber of
Commerce. His discussion will
be based on MEA activities, in
cluding a report on the propos
ed steam plant at Sutton.
tral School gymnasium. Mem
bers will assemble for the busi
ness meeting at 8 p.m. Busi
ness to be conducted will in
clude the election of two mem
bers to the board of directors
for two-year terms.
Candidates, named by a nom
inating committee, include: Ro
bert L. Tucker, Walter Mayr,
Sutton, both incumbents; Vir
gil Flint, John Steeby, Chu
giak - Birchwood - Eagle River
area; Pettis L. Woodward,
BOROUGH GROUP ESTIMATES AREA
VALUATION AT OVER $38 MILLION
As a part of the study being
made by various committees
who are working on the pro
posed borough in the local
areas, members of the revenue
committee have submitted a
report on their findings of val
uations (estimated) in various
areas.
Information for their find
ings was obtained through the
Anchorage Land Office, the
Soil Conservation Office, Pal
mer School District tax office
and the City of Palmer.
The committee reported they
found over 2C0 homesteads,
most of them with houses and
cabins, that will be patented
within the next two or three
years, with a valuation of over
one half million dollars.
A total valuation, over the
above mentioned properties,
was reported at $38,334,095 and
was broken down as follows:
Palmer School District, in
cluding the City of Palmer,
$18,060,795; Big Lake area, four
miles from water line around
lake, $13,763,875 (this latter did
not include area south of Big
Lake, beginning four miles be
low shoreline); Willow area,
$1,089,175; North Willow to
Talkeetna, $223,000; Talkeetna
Townsite. including farms,
Two Named To
Wasilla Advisory
School Board
Kenneth R. Gillow of Wasil
la and Mrs. Thomas (May) Car
ter were elected to the Wasilla
Advisory School Board during
an election held April 16 in
Wasilla. Gillow will assume
the three-year term and Mrs.
Carter a two-year term.
There were 114 registered
voters at the meeting and nom
inations were made from the
floor. Other Wasilla area resi
dents nominated were Paul
Huppert, Alice Vickaryous, and
Harold Newcomb.
A re-organization meeting
of the Advisory Board will be
held when the board chairman,
Robert Vroman returns from a
trip to Juneau, which is ex
pected to be within two weeks.
$347,000; Wasilla Townsite,
four-mile radius, plus farms
and Lake Lucille and Wasilla
Lake. $1,611,500; Knik Road to
Goose Bay, $313,750; Fairview
Loop to Palmer School District.
$528,000; Four miles from Was
illa to Houston, $290,000; Four
miles from Wasilla-Schrock
Road to Susitna River, $304,
500; Meadow Lakes *o Schrock
Road, $126,000; Finger Lake
and Barry area. $406,500; and
Schrock Road to Little Susitna
Lodge, $361,000
These reports did not include
three miles beyond Sutton to
Chickaloon River; Petersville
area west of Big Susitna, nor
four miles west of Big Lake to
Big Susitna River.
Plans Finalized
For Spring Style
Show April 13
Plans are now complete and
the Beta Sigma Phi sponsored
spring style show is ready for
presentation tomorrow night.
Advance ticket sales indicate
there will be a good turn-out
to view' the new' spring and
summer fashions which may be
found in local shops.
Participating merchants are
Bettys’, the Co-Op Trading
Post, Lea’s, and Koslosky’s De
partment Store.
Co-chairmen for the style
show are Judy Buzby and
Marianne Hermon. Special dec
orations for the event have not
been revealed. Committee
workers will only say that they
will be very special. “April in
Paris” was chosen for the
show’s theme.
The show will be presented
at 8 p.m. in the multipurpose
room at Swanson School. Those
who have not purchased tick
ets may get them at the door.
EASTER SEAL
FUND TO BENEFIT
FROM AREA EVENTS
With only two weeks remain
ing in the 1962 Easter Seal
Campaign, hopes are high for
a successful week-end in the
local area to enable the val
ley chapter of Alaska Crippled
Childrens Association to con
tinue the work it is now' doing
to help handicapped children of
the valley area.
Ninety per cent of all mon
ies received from Easter Seal
appeal letters will remain in
the local chapter. Residents are
urged to please answer their
appeal letters as soon as pos
sible.
All proceeds from fund-rais- i
ing projects will remain in the
local chapter to finance the
therapist and clinic. The latter
is located in the basement of
the Palmer Pharmacy w'here
space is donated to MVCCA by
Robert Estes, proprietor.
Starting Saturday and con
tinuing through Sunday and
Monday daffodils will be sold
(Continued on page 7)
Claud Kelton. Wasiila - Big
Lake area; Robert Douglas
Willow-Houston area; and Ro
bert Estes, Palmer. Further
nominations may be made from
the floor during the meeting.
Annual reports will be pre
sented by association officials,
including a report from Mason
Laelle, manager, on the steam
plant generation picture, as
well as other activities of MEA
this past year.
Guest speaker at the meet
ing will be Frank Degnan,
president of the Village Coun
cil at Unalakleet and president
of the Unalakleet Valley Elec
tric Cooperative, Inc.
Members will be requested
to vote on a proposition to re
peal an amendment pertaining
to minimum payment for ser
vices required to establish
capital credit account.
RICK CADY IS
SPELLING CHAMP
PATRICK CADY
Palmer's spelling champion
this year is Patrick (Rick)
Cady, a 14-year-old member of
Grade 8-A. Central School.
Rick topped the nine contest
ants and will compete in the
State championship. Runner-up
was Bobby Nichols, a member
of the sixth grade.
Churches Plan
Holy Week Services
Area churches will begin
Holy Week observances on
Sunday, April 15. At St. Mich
ses will be offered by the Rev.
ses will be ofefred by the Rev.
James P. Snead. The first will
be at 10:30 a.m., followed by
the second Mass, one hour later.
Blessed palms will be distri
buted at both Masses. During
the coming week there will be
services held on Hold Thurs
day, with Mass celebrated at 6
p.m., commemorating the Last
Supper. Good Friday services
w'ill be held at 6 p.m., and on
Holy Saturday, the Pre-Easter
Mass will be celebrated at 6
p.m. On Easter Sunday the
Masses w'ill be offered at 10:30
and 11:30 a.m. and traditional
Easter music will be sung at
both Masses. The public is in
vited to attend.
A special Maundy Thurs
day Communion service is be
ing planned April 19 at Sa.
Bartholomew's Episcopal
Church. The Rev. Lewis Hod
gkins. associate pastor of All
Saints Episcopal Chvirch of
Anchorage, will conduct the
service at 8 p.m.
The United Protestant
Church will observe Maundy
Thursday with a Communion
Service to be held at 7:30 p.m.
Regular worship service will
be held on April 15 at which
time there will be baptisms.
The Rev. Paul Moyer will con
duct the services.
(Continued on Page 10)
Hearing Clinic
Planned for Adults
Free hearing thests for adults
of the valley area will be offer
ed from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on
Thursday, April 26 at the Val
ley Health Center, located in
the Valley Presbyterian Hos
pital. The program is being
sponsored, without charge, by
the Matanuska Valley Health
Council.
citeHtthislyb whengmuchU
The program will consist of
a simple hearing test, using an
audiometer or otometer; ma
chines designed for thearing
tests. Should the test reveal
any loss of hearing, an ap
pointment will be made for a
more detailed test at a later
date.
Services of the public health
nurses, school nurse and Al
aska Crippled Childrens Asso
ciation speech and hearing
therapist will be combined in
the program. Local physicians
have approved the program
and will participate in the cor
rective activities.
Members of the Health Coun
cil strongly urge all residents
of the valley to take advantage
| of the opportunity to have hear
I ing tests done without charge.
Co-Op May Become
City’s Largest User
The installation of another
water well at the City reservoir
site was discussed at the April
10 meeting of the Palmer City
Council.
The need for another well
will be realized if the Matan
uska Valley Farmers Cooperat
ing Association decides to go
on the city water system. For
many years the Co-Op water
system was the only system
in Palmer. Many families used
wells. After the City installed
the city system, all users ex
cept the Co-Op went on the
city line. The need for addi
tional water for commercial
and fire protection require
ments, has prompted inquiries
to the City from the Co-Op.
Rough estimates indicate
the Co-Op, using the City water
system only, would require
about the same amount of wa
ter daily as is currently used by
all other users combined. At
the present time the Co-Op
creamery department is using
i city water. Although it would
become necessary for the city
to install another well if the
Co-Op went entirely on the
city line, it was pointed out it
would not be necessary to en
large the reservoir. The city is
presently averaging 155,000
gallons of water use per day.
Financial studies of the pro
posal will be made by the city
| water committee.
Police Chief Bernard Bou
wens recommended the City
make inquiries regarding hous
ing of women prisoners in An
chorage, rather than attempt
ing to assume additional costs
of housing women in the local
city jail. Chief Bouwens also
I told Council members that an
identification card issued to a
| local citizen was not a regular
| police card, that the individual
‘ had not been sworn in as an
I officer, and that he issued the
! card to be used as identity only.
■ The card has since been recall
I ed and is po longer in posses
sion of the'individual,
i Chief Bouwens reported the
! probationary period for offi
I cer Louis Bencardino expires
April 12 and recommended he
; be put on permanent basis,
i Later in the meeting Bencar
dino was put on permanent
basis, with his salary set at $625
per month. The salary of Offi
cer George Reid also was in
creased to S625 per month.
Councilman Pazaruski was ab
sent during the voting.
Harold Monahan told Coun
cil members that if the city
would supply paint brushes,
linseed oil, and turpentine,
that a local merchant will fur
nish the paint and several resi
dents will volunteer to paint
the fence around Colony Park,
located near the Palmer Phar
macy. The purchase of needed
supplies was authorized by the
Council which expressed their
appreciation for the volunteer
ed help.
♦ * *
Council members were in
formed that the State Youth
and Adult Authority has now
decided to build a “tent city”
at the she of the adult prison
camp in the Buffalo Mine area
and will not require jail space
in the basement of city hall.
* * *
Councilman Blom reported
that a new roof will be needed
on city hall before next win
ter. Blom was requested to
draw up specifications for a
new roof and bids will be ask
ed from interested persons.
From 10:20 to 11:25 p.m. the
Council and Mayor Bill Miller
met in an executive session to
discuss police department busi
ness. When the meeting recon
vened, Council members re
quested Attorney Burton Biss
obtain the services of a quali
fied man from the Anchorage
area to review personnel and
procedures of the city police
department.
* * *
The city clerk was instruct
ed to contact the Division of
Highways regarding the avail
ability of street cleaning equip
ment.
• • •
Although discussed, no ac
tion was taken by the Council,
regarding the alley between
Walker and Railroad streets.
Youth Day was announced for
May 1, with the various city
(Continued on page 7)
CHURCH BELLS
TO RING HERE
PATRIOTS' DAY
At 8 a m. on Thursday, April
19, church bells in Palmer will
be ringing in unity with church
bells across the nation.
April 19 is Patriots’ Day and
church bells across the nation
will be rung at noon as a dis
play of national unity under a
program being sponsored by
the Sons of the American Revo
lution.
Because of the time differ
ence church bells in Alaska
will be rung at 8 a.m. Plans are
already under way for churches
in Anchorage, as well as the
bells of the National Bank of
Alaska, to join in the nation
wide observance.
Plans for local participation
are being made by the Anchor
age Chapter of the Sons of the
American Revolution.
SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM
TO BE FEATURE OF P.T.A. MEET
All taxpayers, and especially
parents of students attending
Palmer schools, are invited to
attend the April 17 meeting of
the Palmer Parent-Teachers
Association meeting which will
| be held at 8 p.m„ in the high
! school cafeteria.
Main topic for discussion
at the meeting will be the
proposed school construction
program and speakers .vill
include William T. Zahrad
nick, superintendent of sch
ools and members of the
Palmer Board of Education.
The speakers will explain ar
chitectural drawings, describ
ing the “package” program and
the alternate proposals. Inter
ested persons are invited to
submit questions at the meet
ing.
Also appearing on the pro
gram of the final P.T A. meet
ing for this season, will be Jim
Estelle who will present his
Future Farmers of America
contest-winning speech, “The
Time for Safety is Now’’.
EASTER LILIES
Will Arrive April 13
MAKE YOUR
SELECTION EARLY
Also now accepting orders
for Easter floral arrange
ments and corsages.
MAUD'S FLOWERS
Palmer Hwy. PI 5-4050
CTR, A11 VEEIi Fresh Dungeneis Crab Elks Club
^.' "SATURDAY, APRIL 14-6 P.M. TIL?? Elks and Guests