THE FRONTIERSMAN
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
TRY A FRONTIERSMAN
CLASSIFIED AD for ihai
item you may hara for tala,
rent or laasa.
VOLUME 8, NUMBER 19
T
PALMER. ALASKA, THURSDAY. MARCH 10. 1955
PRICE TEN CENTS
Chamber of Commerce
Plans Anchorage Day
Wednesday, March 18, will be
Anchorag* Day at the noon
luneheoa iwaeting •£ the Matan
taska Valter Chamber of Com
r&i&rem, according to an announce
ment marie Ibis weak by Everett
Adame, Chamber president.
Among those who will be at
tending from the neighboring city
are George Jackson, Anchorage
€. of C. president and Kev. Gould.
The Anchorage Chamber will be
in charge of the program and will
lead a discussion on the proposed
sea-train and Rev. Gould will
speak during the meeting on the
new Methodist College to be built |
in the Anchorage area.
The meeting will begin at 12:05
p.m. and all members of the local
Chamber and other interested
persons are invited to attend. A
Matanuska Valley luncheon will'
be served.
Palmer Funeral Home
To Open Aboui May 1
The Withey building on Valley
street was leased this week by
A. S. Haines of the Anchorage
Funeral Home, and a modem
mortuary will be opened in Pal
mer this spring, it was announc
ed.
The mortuary* will be known as
the Palmer Funeral Home and
will consist of a modern chapel,
display room and work room.
William J. Bouwens, long-time
valley resident will be manager
of the mortuary. Four licensed
embalmers will be available for
service, Bouwenis said this week.
Bouwens began his mortuary
work in Wisconsin several years
ago and was licensed in the ter- j
ritory from 1938 to 1943 at which j
time a fire destroyed his equip- j
ment. * *
A combination hearse-ambu-;
lar.'ce was shipped out of Seattle
this week and will arrive in Pal
mer prior to the opening date,
which has been tenatively set as
May 1.
WEATHER CHIEF TOPIC
OF CONVERSATIONS
New Englanders irk the valley
region must feel right at home
this week with the abrupt chang
es in the weather that have been
experienced the past few days.
On Wednesday of last week the
official weather report stated 19
inches of snow on the level in
Palmer. By Sunday morning a
great majority of this snow has
turned to moisture and was locat
ed in a score of city-dwellers
basements. The quick thaw
caught most home owners un
aware and presented problems
for the street department. The
preview of Spring came to a halt
Monday night when snow fell and
again Tuesday r.ight when even
more of the winter white came
down. Driving was hazardous up
until about noon Wednesday:
many office workers were late
in punching the time clock and
several rural route school chil
dren got an extra day off when
bus drivers were unable to reach
their rendezvous points.
What’s the weather going to be
like from now on? Alaskans have
a saying for laymen who try to
predict the weather . .. “ ... must
be a cheechako or a dang fool.”
; Have you thought of getting |
one of the smart short hair
styles? We Make Evening
Appointments
Valley Beauty Shop
CO-OP SHOPPING AREA
Delegate Seeking ,
Flood Control Work
In Butte Farm Area
Among bills introduced last j;
; week by Delegate E. L.. Bart-1;
; lett, was one providing for a j;
preliminary flood control and <J
bank stabilization examination
and survey in the Matanuska ;!
Valley. The study would begin j!
at a point where the North; I
Bodenburg Butte Hoad turns;!
south approximately seven and ;!
one half miles by road from ;!
Palmer, thence along the south ;!
bank of the Matanuska River ; |
for a distance of approximate
ly two miles. !;
The area to which Del. Bart- !;
; lett’s bill refers has suffered !;
; great erosion losses the past! j
few years, as season after sea-!;
; son the river has washed away j; |
valuable farm lands in the j;
; Butte area. <
TYPHOID CLINIC
BEGINS MARCH 21
The annual typhoid clinic for
the Palmer area will begin on
Monday, March 21, according to
an announcement made this week
by Jeanne Shaver, public health
nurse. The clinic will be held at
the Health Center in the Valley
Presbyterian Hospital and ail pre
school children, one year or old
er, and all adults, are invited to
avail themselves of this service.
Both booster and full series im
munizations will be offered.
Immunization throughout the
Palmer schools will begin the
same week. Parents are remind
ed that permission slips for the
immunizations must be returned
to the school prior to March 21.
No immunizations will be given
to those students who do not re
turn signed permission slips.
The public clinic will be held
on March 21, March 28 and April
4. Clinics will be held from 3:00
to 6:00 p.m. and from 7:00 to 8:30
p.m. on- those dates. No appoint
ment is necessary, Miss Shaver
pointed out.
I i *
SETTING A DATE
FOR AN EVENT?
LET US KNOW
Following a request from mem
bers of the lqcal American Legion
Auxiliary, The Frontiersman has
agreed to act as a “clearing
house” for community activities.
The local unit pointed out that
quite often planned activities in
the valley conflict with one an
other. With a convenient spot de
signated in town, each organiza
tion planning a community affair
couid leave word as soon as they
have set their dates, thusly avoid
ing conflicting dates, unit mem
bers suggested.
The Auxiliary has done this in
the past, and it has worked out
to their advantage, they reported,
and offered this “clearing house”
suggestion to other organizations
in the Palmer area.
Any organization planning an
event is welcome to stop in the
office of The Frontiersman and
have the date entered in the com
munity activities book which will
be kept for that purpose. All or
ganizations of the valley, includ
ing the Wasilla, Sutton, and Butte
areas are invited to avail them
selves of this suggested service.
Bob Burkholder, FWS preda
tory control agent, left this week
for Unalakleet and Kotzebue
where he will spend from six
weeks to two months, depending
upon whether conditions, doing
predatory work. Two FWS two
man teams will be working in
the area, with Joe Miner of Fair
banks teaming up with Burk
holder.
City Council
Proceedings
About 25 telephone lines in the
city telephone system were out
on Monday of this week, mem
bers of the telephone committee
reported during the March 8 City
Council meeting. Damage to the
Lines was believed to have been
caused by rain. The water depart
ment personnel have been assist
ing in telephone line repairs. In
turn, the telephone department
personnel will assist with thaw
ing work on street culverts.
* • •
The nevy City Ordinance No.
62, pertaining to the electrical
and plumbing code, was read for
the third and final time and
adopted by unanimous decision of
the Council. Ordinance 60, per
taining to the Fire Prevention
Code also received unanimous ap
proval for adoption following its
third and final reading. Copies of
the prevention ordinance will be
mailed to all gasoline and im
flammable liquid wholesale and
retail sellers. Pertinent sections
of the ordinance will be mailed
to city residents in next month's
water bills.
* * *
In the event the City Magis
trate should order a prisoner
transferred to Anchorage for im
prisonment, because of lack of
jail facilities in Palmer, the Chief
of Police was authorized, by
Council motion, to move prison
ers to and from Anchorage. The
motion passed with a vote of 4-1,
with Councilman A1 Hagen cast
ing the opposing vote.
The request for forgiveness of
penalties on delinquent tax pay
ments by Kirk’s Sales and Ser
vice was denied by Council ac
tion on the grounds that they are
not exclusively a charitable or
religious organization.
* * *
A resolution was unanimously
passed by Council members
whereby the City of Palmer de
clares itself to be opposed to the
sale of objectional comic books.
Copies of the resolution will be
mailed to all distributors of comic
books, pocket books and magaz
ines in the city and to the local
organizations who passed a sim
ilar resolution several weeks ago,
and to members of the Palmer
school student council.
* * *
Police Chief Bernard Bouwens
appeared before the Council and
told of bottle-neck parking that
has been evident near public
gathering places in the city.
Churches and organization? will
be requested to assist in the prob
lem by urging parking on one
side of the street only. Chief
Bouwens pointed out that in case
of fire it would be difficult to get
fire trucks through some of the
areas now used for parking near
these structuers.
* * *
Following a motion which
passed with a 4-1 vote, Council
members authorized the issuance
of four checks in the amount oi
$50 each to the U. S. Marshal
Third Division, for use, if neces
sary, to defray the cost of witness
fees in the defense of the recall
action against the acting mayoi
of the City of Palmer*. The con
trary vote was cast by Council
man Hagen.
The next regular city council
meeting will be held on Tuesday
March 22, in th^ City Clerk’s of
fice at 7:30 p.m.
HEART CAMPAIGN
NETS $192 TO DATE
A total of $192.00 has been
received in the current Heart
Campaign now in full swing in
the valley area, according to
< Ed Smith, committee member.
Any who have not yet mail
ed their contributions, or any
who wish to make a contribu
tion, may do so by mailing to
“Heart”, c/o Palmer ^pstoffice;
Leave with Don Irwin at the
Experiment Station; with Mrs.
Ben Hudgins, or with Ed Smith
at Ketchikan Spruce Mills.
MINSTREL SHOW
TICKET SALES
OPEN NEXT WEEK
Ticket sales for “Matanuska
Minstrels of 1955” will go on sale
in the valley next week, accord
ing to Ed Smith, ticket chair
man. The Kiwanis sponsored
show will be presented at the
Central School gymnasium on
March 25 and 26, with curtain
time at 8:30 p.m. Proceeds from
the annual show will go toward
community benefits.
Those planning to attend the
Saturday show are urged to get
their tickets early to avoid dis
appointment, especially those
planning to purchase reserved
seats, Smith suggested. Reserved
seat tickets will be on sale at
the Matanuska Valley Bank, Kos
losky’s Department store, Bettys'
shop, and Ketchikan Spruce Mills.
These business houses will also
have general admission tickets
for both adults and children. In
addition, various Kiwanis mem
• bers will be selling general ad
• mission and childrens' tickets.
Reserved seat tickets will cost
I $2; general admission, $1.50; and
! childrens', 75 cents.
New Rehearsal Spot
Members of Kiwanis Minstrel T
chorus are reminded of the new,
meeting place for rehearsals. Be
girding March 11 chorus mem
' bers will practice at the Lloyd
Morley home where Mrs. Morley
organist, will accompany them.
Chorus rehearsals will be held at
Morley home each Tuesday and
Friday night until show time.
SENIOR PLAY
CURTAIN TIME 8 p.m.
It’s not too late to obtain reserv
ed seat tickets for the Senior
class play, “Our Hearts Were
Young and Gay” which will be
shown tomorrow, night at 8 p.m.
in the Central School gymnasium.
The three-act comedy is based
upon the book of the same name,
written by Cornelia Otis Skin
ner and Emily Kimbrough and
tells a humorous story of two
young girls who go abroad for
studies^ Their many escapades,
from the opening scene aboard
ship, through their visits in
Europe, keep the audience's im
agination alive throughout the
presentation.
Cornelia will be portrayed by |
Jean Burke, while her best friend J
and fellow compatriote Emily J
Kimbrough, will be played by j
..Sylvia Nelson.
Eight male parts and nine fe
male parts make up the popular
play. Miss Joyce Campbell is di
recting the play, which will be
presented by special arrangement
with The Dramatic Publishing
Company of Chicago.
Reserved seat tickets are $1.25;
general admission, $1.00. Special
matinee showings were held yes
terday and today for students in
the lower grades and high school.
Navy Recruiting
Office Established
Alaska’s youth, who desire to
join the U. S. Navy, need not
travel to Seattle, Wash, to do so
as in the past. The Navy has es
; tablished its first Navy Recruiting
Office in the Territory of Alaska,
located presently at the Naval
Transient Barracks at Elmendorf
Air Force Base in Anchorage, but
soon to be permanently located in
’ downtown Anchorage.
The Navy Recruiter-in-Charge
is Chief Boilerman Donald D.
• Jones, USN, who is a veteran of
18 xk years of naval service. Dur
ing World War II, Chief Jones
saw action in the Pacific and Asi
atic theaters. Prior to his present
duties he served in the USS Kas
kaskia.
Youths who are interested in
“seeing the world” and desire
more information concerning
number of years they can enlist,
benefits they will receive, etc.,
can: call Chief Jones at Extension
3-9211 (Elmendorf phone) or
write to the Naval Recruiter Sub
Station, Anchorage. Chief Jones
will be more than happy to ans
wer any questions about the
j Navy.
Palmer Player Gets
Sportsmanship Award;
Eaales Win Tourney
Ray Wirfegarner, center on the
Palmer High School basketball
team, was awarded the Railbelt
Conference Sportsmanship tro
phy, following the Western Rail
belt Basketball Tournament Mon
day. The coveted trophy, award
ed annually by the First National
Bark of Anchorage and radio
station KENI, goes to the player
RED CROSS DRIVE
UNDER WAY IN VALLEY
Mrs. Florence Sandel, chair
man of the local American Red
Cross campaign, reported this
week that volunteer workers
are calling on local residents
and that the response is grat
ifying. In addition, she stated,
organizations are sending in
contributions. Anyone not yet
contacted may send their con
tributions to the Red Cross in
care of Mrs. Sandel at the Val
ley Presbyterian Hospital.
MOOSE BRING NATION'S
ATTENTION TO PALMER
The city of Palmer and the Ma
tanuska Valley came in for na
tional publicity this past week
when an Anchorage United Press
correspondent sent out a story on
“wild moose on the rampage” in
Palmer.
Interesting letters and clippings
are being received by • valley
dwellers from their families in the
States. Some of the folks at home
are worried—others, who have
visilted the territory, are treating
it with question. One amusing re
action was received *his week by
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wilson from
a friend in Oregon who sent along
a clever “ ‘Rube Goldberg Moose
Trap’—to take care of invading
mooses in the vicinity of Palmer,
Alaska”, drawing the blue print
was complete with trip ropes, slid
ing doors, a mangCr for fancy
food, such as lettuce, cabbage,
peas, etc., and a 500-pound moose
slugger.
Police Chief Bouwens, who was
featured in the UP release, has
received suggestions from the
states on ways to handle a moose
problem.
Locally, Jack Hermont, assisted
by the Boy Scout troops, has been
knocking down small trees and
brush to make feeding easier for
the young calves. By increasing
their feed in the outlying areas,
Hermon’s project, which has the
backing of the Sportsmen, and
others, will help keep the moose
in the woods and out of the back
yards of home owners.
A1 Hjellen, Wasilla correspond
ent for The Frontiersman, report
ed he’s now a member of that
select fraternity. A moose ran out
of Mommsen’s driveway up Was
illa way and smack-dabbed into
the side of Hjellen’s car, smash
ing two windows.
Anyhow, there’s one sure thing
about the moose in Palmer, they
won’t be within miles next fall
during hunting season.
CREAMERY TRUCK
DAMAGED IN ACCIDENT
Ben Cottle of Wasilla, driver
for the MVFCA creamery, escap
ed with slight injuries, when the
creamery truck which he was
driving was forced off the road
near Fire Lake last Friday.
The combination of icy roads
and an oncoming car that was
riding the center of the road,
forced Cottle into the ditch. The
truck turned over, damaging the
truck box extensively. A load of
milk and cottage cheese destined
for the Army commissary was lost
in the accident.
who displays the best sportsman
ship during the regular Railbelt
Conference games.
Palmer basketball fans avidly
followed the Moose players dur
ing the Tournament which ended
on Monday night when the An
chorage Eagles took the tourna
ment crown. Those who were un
able to travel to Anchorage to
see the games followed them
closely through radio broadcasts.
Palmer’s first encounter was
with the Seward Seahawks whom
they upset. Following a bye on
Wednesday they met the Fair
banks Malemutes Thursday night,
taking the game from the far
north players 48-42. This second
victory earned them another day
off and on Friday they met the
defending champions, the Anchor
age Eagles, losing to them in the
final minutes of the game by five
points. Monday night, the final
game of the tournament was play
ed off between the Eagles and
Palmer Moose. The very low scor
ing game ended in favor of the
Anchorage players, 31-27. Palmer,
who was low man in the Railbelt
Conference, played good basket
ball throughout the tournament,
upsetting other good teams, and
forcing the winning hoopsters to
give all they had.
I In addition to the Sportsman
1 ship award, Winegarner was also
-named to the Class A All-Tour
nament team, along with ace-for
ward Jack Worledge of the Pal
mer team, and Fred Batson, Bob
Rude arid Wayne Bowers of the
Anchorage Eagles. Rounding out
the 10-man All-Tourney team
were John Nielsen, Joe Kizorek
and Denny Krize of Fairbanks
and Pete Wagner and Danny Rose
of Seward, who were named to
the honor squad.
The Class B trophy was won
by the Nome team. Milton Willo
va, Nome’s center man, set a new
tournament record with a 26
point average in the six games.
In Saturday’s game Willoya ac
counted for 32 points of his team’s
winning 67 points.
University Acquires
Land Near Haines
An area almost 5,000 acres in
extent in the vicinity of Haines,
has. been transferred from the
U. S’. Government to the Territory
of Alaska, for the benefit of the
University1 of Alaska, it was an
, nounced today by Lowell M.
Puckett, Area Administrator,
Bureau of Land Management.
The grant of 4,92148 acres, only
the second designation made by
the University under a special
Act passed in 1929, was based
upon selections made by the late
Walter T. Stewart, of Ketchikan,
who was a member of the Uni
versity Board of Regents. A num
! ber of other selections are pend
! ing, BLM Officials said. William
O’Neill, of Anchorage, a member
of the Board of Regents, is contin
uing to choose lands for the Uni
versity.
Copies of House and Senate
Bills are now being received in
the office of The Frontierman.
Anyone wishing to see a copy of
any of these Bills is welcome to
stop in during office hours.
jj ANNOUNCEMENT
j; Dr. E. E. Bach, optome
|| trist from Anchorage
will be in Palmer to do
eye examinations on
Thursday, March 24
|;! For an appointment see Mrs.
;;! Maud Hosier at the Flower
j;! Shop in the Co-Op Rec. Bldg,
ior call her at 32J11
HAM DINNER - MARCH 17-5-8 P.M.
ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH BASEMENT
Tickets a± Bert's. No* Palmer Stop and XJhuxcb Members
Adults $2.08 Children $1.00
PUBLIC INVITED
luWlAIWWiV