VTION ANNUAL
MEMBERSHIP MEETING
TONIGHT — 8 P.M.*
CO-OP CLUB ROOM
The frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
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VOLUME 9, NO 6
PALMER ALASKA. THURSDAY, DECEMBER L 1955
PRICE TEN CENTS
ARC Hears Protests
On Road Abandonment
Completely recorded testimony
given at the Alaska Road Com
mission public hearing in Pal
mer last night, will be sent to
the Department of Interior, in
Washington, it was announced.
Hie hearing was held by the ARC
to enable area resident to voice
protests over the ARC’S propos
ed abandonment of certain roads
in the Matanuska Valley. Don
L. Irwin, long-time valley resi
dent, acted as moderator and
kept the meeting at an even
pitch throughout the four-hour
session.
Testimony was offered by near
ly all residents living adjacent
to the specified roads, as well as
representatives of various local
organizations
A- F. Ghiglione, commissioner
of roads for Alaska,, present from
his Juneau office, spoke briefly
prior to the testimony and expla
ined the ARC’S position in the
proposal- “We both have prob
lems”, he told the audience,” we
don’t like to stop building roads
or maintaining them, but we have
to account to Congress and can
not handle the money as freely
as was done years ago. We must
justify expending of public funds.
These 13 or 15 roads in question
seem to be private roads. It is
not in our authority to maintain
such roads. The Alaska Road
Commission is a federal agency,
he pointed out- The Territorial
highway gas tax money goes to
to the Territory Department of
Roads, which in turn transfer
some funds to ARC « for road
work, he added.
“In some cases we do remove
snow from roads at a charge of
$20 an hour where no private
equipment is available”, he point
ed out.
“The decision on the proposed
CHAMBER ELECTION
SLATED FOR DEG. 7
Everett Adams, president of
the Matanuska Valley Chamber
of Commerce, this week urged all
members to attend the December
7 meeting of the local Chamber
at which time annual election of
officers will take place. Nomin
ations were offered r’ iring the
November 16 meeting and fur
ther nominations from the floor
will be accepted prior to the
election next Wednesday
Also on the program will be a
discussion on the Chamber spon
sorship of the Alaska Visitors
Association membership drive in
the valley.
Members are requested to take
colored slides of the valley to
the meeting- The slides are need
ed by a tour group in the States
and will be returned to owner
by the Chamber as soon as dup
licates are made for the tour
group.
AGRICULTURE OFFICE
NOW LOCATED
ABOVE VALLEY BANK
The office of the Territorial De
partment of Agriculture this
week was moved from its location
over the drug store to the office
formerly occupied by the city
clerk in the Wright building over
the bank. The move was announ
ced by Jim Wilson, commissioner
of agriculture.
In addition to using the former
city office space, The Department
will also occupy office space
across theliall where the Matan
uraska Telephone Association of
fice was located prior to their
move.
The new offices will provide
more adequate space for the De
partment’s varied functions
J» PERMANENTS for the
j! _HOLIDAYS <>
\ We Make Evening !;
<! Appointments !*
: VALLEY BEAUTY SHOPji
Phone 3301
LAVONNE JOHNSON
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abandonment of these valley
roads will not be made tonight”,
he stated. “Washington has ask
ed for a complete tr inscription of
this meeting and the decision will
be made there.”
First to offer testimony was
Paul Martin who stated that al
though he has a community-wide
(Continued on page 4)
PALMER TO PLAY
ANCHORAGE FRIDAY
AT ANCHORAGE
Palmer High School basketball
players travel to Anchorage to
morrow where they will meet the
Anchorage Eagles in the first
game of the Railbelt series.
Coach Critterton’s lads have been
putting in full practice sessions
and have played pre-season
games during the warm-up period
which has preceeded the opening
of the conference play. Friday
will be the real thing and the
players are ready for the team
that will probably give them
their most trouble this year.
In pre-season play the Palmer
Moose defeated the Air Traffic
Squad team from Elmendof Air
Base by 16 points. Up against a
mature and experienced city lea
gue team last Wednesday the
Palmer Moose showed up very
well, losing to Monty’s team from
Anchorage by only a few points.
Palmer rooters are urged to
attend the game if possible and
lend ’ their fsupport to the local
team1. The next scheduled games
will be played in Palmer Decem
ber 9 and 10 when the Seward
Seahawks make a valley* visit.
ICE REPORTED GOOD AT
PARK SKATING RINK
Ice skating season in Palmer
is well under way. City person
nel cleared and flooded the
PARK skating rink opposite from
the old hospital and skaters of
all ages have been enjoying the
ideal skating conditions. A flood
light obtained and erected late
last year provides ample light
ing for night skating- Organiza
tions, groups, and individuals are
invited to use the rink. There is
no charge made for skating but
users are asked to please help
keep the rink in top condition.
A small open building, loaned to
PARK by the local Democratic
club, provides sitting space while
changing from shoes to skates.
FIREMEN BATTLE BLAZE
: '
City firemen and volunteers are pictured above fighting the
fire that did considerable damage to the American Legion
building on November 26- Sub-zero weather soon had hose
lines and firemen covered wi th coatings of ice.
—Jean’s Studio Photo
EHRHARTS PURCHASE !
CLARA’S VARIETY
Clara’s Variety, located in the
theatre building, this week
changed ownership when Rex
and Violet Ehrhart of Palmer
purchased the variety store from
Mrs. Clara King and John King,
original owners.
The Ehrharts have made their
home in Palmer the past two ;
years, coming here from Anch
arage where they conducted the
Anchorage Rubber Stamp com
pany. Mr- Ehrhart first came to
Palmer in 1838 and Mrs- Ehrhart
in 1940. Both are well known
throughout the valley and Anch
orage areas- Mr. Ehrhart recent
ly resigned his position as tax
assessor-collector for the Palmer
Independent School District. Mrs.
Ehrhart is employed as executive
assistant in the Department of
Agriculture office
The Ehrharts said this week
they plan to continue the varied
lines of merchandise offered at
Clara’s the past few years. Begin
ning December 5 the store will be
open evenings until Christmas.
Regular store hours are from 9
a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Kings originated the busi
ness in small quarters in the
King building, soon expanded to
larger quarters in the Shamrock
building and about a year ago
expanded again to the present
modern location. J
Territorial, City
Police Office Now
Located at City Stall
Area residents who plan to
seek examinations for Terri
torial driving licenses may
now contact Territorial Police
at the City Hall, located on
Wasilla road in the fire hall
building.; The announcement
was made this week by Frank
Cornelius, Territorial patrol
man in the .Palmer area. Cor
nelius said that he and Offi
cer Sherman Barton will be
available at the office during
the day. Specific hours will be
announced as soon as estab
lished, he said.
Also, persons desiring vehi
cle examination (necessary for
registration of cars purchased
in the States) may. contact the
officers at the new office.
The Territorial Police will
be sharing the office of Pal
mer Police Chief Bernard Bou
wens, where in the near fu
ture, the Territorial Police
radio will also be located.
When the City of Palmer pur
chased a patrol car Territori
al Police will install a two
way radio in the city vehicle
to tie the two enforcement
agencies closer together.
Legion to Rebuild
After $30,000 Fire
Ray Lancaster, American Le
gion post commander, this week
reported the Post will rehabilita
te the Legion building, extensive
ly damaged by fire on Novem
ber 26 as soon as possible to en
able tenants to move back as soon
as feasible. Housed in the mod
em building were the offices of
TERR POLICE
COORDINATE
S-D DAY IN ALASKA
Members of the Department of
Territorial Police have accepted
the responsibility for coordinat
ing the annual Safe Driving Day
Program in Alaska, following a
request to do so from the Gov
ernor of Alaska who proclaimed
December 1 as S-D Day.
The campaign consists of a
build-up in traffic enforcement
and traffic safety education ac
tivities for a period of 10 days
proceeding December 1 and 10
days following the date.
All public and private groups
have been requested to partici
pate in the program.
Territorial Police Officer Frank
Cornelius of Palmer . said this
week that during S-D Week a
maximum number of drivers will
be stopped and advised of the
significance of this traffic safety
program. He pointed out that the
objective of the Territorial Po
lice participation in this program
is not solely for pu^yoses of en
forcement, but equally for the
purpose of educating the public
to the true causes of traffic acci
dents. A significant decrease in
accidents would reveal to the mo
toring public that accidents are
chiefly resultant from errors in
driving behavior, and from viola
tions of our traffic laws.
All Chiefs of Police have been
requested to advise the Territor
ial Police offices of any fatalities
which might occur within incor
porated municipal limits. This in
formation, and reports of serious
injury, property damage, and fa
tal accidents occurring in the rur
al areas of the Territory will ad
vise the President’s Highway
Safety Committee of the new re
sult of S-D Day activities in Al
aska.
Among 37 poems selected for
an anthology of Alaskan poetry
to be published in the future, is
the poem, “A Wonderful Chance
. to Brag” by Bob Klem of Palmer.
the Soil Conservation Service, the
University of Alaska Extension
Service, American Legion post
and Auxiliary unit quarters, the
U- S. Army Reserve unit, the
Unemployment Service office,
Girl Scout Troop 71, and Home
maker clubs who held frequent
meetings in the Extension craft
room
The fire, discovered shortly
after one o’clock by Mrs. Helen
Maze who gave the alarm, caus
ed an estimated $30,000 damage
to the building. Robert Pippel,
of Pippel Insurance Company
through which the building was
insured, said today that Jack
Roddy, insurance adjuster from
the General Adjustment Bureau
in Seattle, will be in Palmer this
Saturday to survey damages
Fire Chief Joseph Gallant said
this week that the origin of the
fire has not yet been definitely
determined, although without a
doubt it started in the basement
section of the building. Because
of the day being Saturday, all of
fices were closed. All pieces of
city fire equipment were immed
iately moved to the fire and fire
men, assisted by Legionnaires
-and other volunteers, battled the
stubborn blaze in freezing tem
peratures for over two hours.
Firemen were hampered in
their work by sub-zero weather
which caused icing almost as soon
as th£ water hit. Several firemen
were covered by ice from head to
toe- Hours after the fire was out
firemen were still working thaw
ing hos^hna^s. and getting them
dried out. Several hundred feet
of hose were laid from nearby
hydrants.
Fire Chief Gallant extended his
(Continued from page 5)
SCOUTS TO SELL
GHRISTMAS TREES
Dale Clark, senior patrol lead
er, announced this week that
Scouts of Explorer Post No. 754
of Palmer will sell Christmas
trees this year. The first trees will
be available on Saturday after
noon, December 10. If anyone de
sires a tree prior to that time
they may contact any of the Ex
plorer Scouts.
A. wide selection of trees will
be on display at different loca
tions in town- Orders for trees
may be given to any Explorer
Scout in the Post or to the Ex
plorer Advisor Bill Adams, at
the Palmer Fireguard Station,
telephone 3136
Trees will be available at Ket
chikan Spruce Mills and also
other spots in town to be an
nounced later. Prices will range
from $2 00 up, depending on size
of tree.
Money raised from this pro
ject will be used to further
Scout activities and to make it
possible for more Scouts to par
ticipate in many planned pro
grams. A trip to the SPA is ten
tatively planned for mid-winter.
REMINDS MEMBERS
OF FAIR ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL MEETING
Matanuska Valley Fair Associa
tion members and prospective
members are reminded of the an
nual membership meeting which
will be held tonight at the Co
Op club room .beginning at 8 pm.
Annual reports will be given and
vacancies on the board of direc
tors will be filled by election. All
members are urged to turn out by
Association President T. A. Mo
yer. The first scheduled meeting
was postponed to this date be
cause of a lack of quorum. Fif
teen voting members are needed
for a quorum.
NEW SHIPMENT
CHRISTMAS
MERCHANDISE
Telegraph Delivery Service
MAUD'S FLOWER SHOP
Theatre Building
AVA Director Urges Tourism Support in Valley
In spite of short notice, a fair
sized crowd turned out on Mon
day night of this week to hear
Frank Whaley, executive director
of the Alaska Visitor Association.
Whaley, widely known through
out the territory, explained the
greatly expanded AVA program
for 1956.
“The demand for information
on Alaska is profound through
out the States”, he told the audi
ence. Whaley spent three monts
in the States earlier this year
speaking to groups, on radio and
television programs, and was in
terviewed by newspapers and
magazines throughout his trip
He estimated he had reached an
audience of 36 million people.
In Chicago 120 travel agents
turned out to hear him speak and
see his wide collection of colored
slides of Alaska- “Travel agen
cies sell 80 percent of all tours
throughout' the world”, Whaley
pointed out.
“The Alaska Visitor Associa
tion was formed in 1951 by a
group of Alaskans,” the AVA di
rector explained to his listeners.
“Territorial legislators recogniz
ed a need for *such an organiza
tion and showing their faith, put
up money on a matching basis for
Alaskan publicity. A sum of
$100,000 was designated, with the
provision that another $50,000 be
raised in Alaska through subsc
ription. “There was no member
ship drive in 1955”, Whaley
pointed out. “Right now we have
a new president, Ben Craswford
of Anchorage ahd we feel that we
are ready to make a concerted
drive to show the tourists just
what Alaska has to offer”.
The director pointed out that
40 million people vacationed last
year in the United States- A
travel chart showed that of va
cationers from the Pacific coast
only 1.9 percent visited Alaska.
Canada drew 13.2 of the tourists
and New England, completely
across the states, drew 3.1 per
cent.
Through illustrated slides
Whaley showed how every tour
ist dollar spent returns itself to
the community again and again
“Of that $100 .fare the airline
gets”, he said, “all but about
five dollars goes 'to personnel,
rent, taxes, etc. The pilot takes
his salary—buys a new car—his
wife a dress—his children go to
the movies—the car salesman in
turn spends his profit on the sale
likewise, in his community. Every
tourist in Alaska from the time
they get here starts dollars mov
ing-from the cab driver to the
porter, the desk clerk, car ren
tal, beauty shop, stores, souvenirs,
resturants—everyone gets a share
of each dollar spent. He in turn
spends that dollar for his home
and family- “For each dollar
spent by AVA, $115 is returned
to Alaska in the way of tourist
dollars spent here”,, he stated.
During the peak tourist sea
son the AVA received about 1,000
letters a week inquiring about
Alaska, Whaley reported- The
majority of these inquiries are
answered by sending prepared
pamplets—however, many are of
a nature that must receive in
dividual attention.
“Our biggest mistake in the
past has been in not letting the
Alaskans know what we have
done to help promote Alaska to
the tourists”, he said. Not being
aware of the accomplishments of
AVA, we have not had the nec
essary support from Alaskans, he
added.
The Visitors Association hopes
to raise an average of 50 cents
per capita in all Alaskan com
muhities, the territorial fund will
match it with two dollars.”
Whaley has flown as a com
mercial bush pilot in Alaska for
20 years and has the distinction
of being one of the very few civ
ilian pilots to be awarded the
Air Medal for meritorious achie
vement in air force rescue opera
tions. He has served four years
in the Alaska Territorial Legis
lature as Representative and two
years as Senator. He has just re
cently completed filming a series
of 13 15-minute documentary
pictures on Arctic Alaska- Some
of these films are now being us
ed as audio visual instruction ma
terial in schools throughout the
United States. Four of these
films, under the title of “Beyond
the Yukon”, were shown follow
ing Whaley’s discussion at the
meeting.
Among promotional plans be
ing worked out for the next tour
ist season are bumper stickers
that would read, “Visiting Alaska
from _” with space for
the visitor’s home state to be
written in. Also a small lapel pin
with similar lettering. “Lots of
things along this line are possi
ble, he pointed out, once we get
started. We feel that by identify
ing the tourist, residents of each
community will take it upon
themselves to help make the vis
itor’s stay more pleasant by
pointing out special spots of in
terest in each community