The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
VOLUME 8, NUMBER 12
PALMER, ALASKA. THURSDAY, JAN. 20, 1955
PRICE TEN CENTS
City Council
Proceedings
Payment of dues in the League
of Alaska Cities was authorized
by Palmer City Council members
at the January 18 meeting. Mem
bership dues are based on city
population, at the rate of 13 cents
per capita. City population was
set at 1,000.
* * *
The water rate study recently
completed by an appointed group
of citizens was accepted by coun
cil members and a letter of ap
preciation will be mailed to the
group, advising them of the coun
cil’s intended serious considera
tion of recommendations made.
* * *
Ted Buzby of the City water
department, is planning to attend
the Alaska Department of
Health’s water operators school
program to be held in Anchorage,
it was announced.
* * *
Members of the police commit
tee will make a study of the pres
ent traffic ordinance and make
recommendations for any changes
found necessary. The decision to
do this resulted from a request
lor limited parking on Pioneer
Peak Avenue and Colony Street.
* * *
Acting Mayor Betty Mears an
nounced that Roy Casey, of the
Alaska Jail System, is planning
a Palmer visit February 17. Mem
bers of the Council will meet
with him on that date and dis
cuss proposed use of the city jail.
* * *
A short business meeting next
week, on January 25, is planned.
It will be followed by a meeting
with Civil Defense officials for
a general discussion on needed
equipment.
The names of John Weisenber
ger and Acting Mayor Betty
Mears were nominated to the of
fice of Mayor of the City of Pal
mer. Following a brief discussion
it was decided to postpone vot
ing on the nominations until the
February 1 meeting, during which
time councilmembers will have
an opportunity to talk with the
nominated candidates.
* * *
The first reading of a new or
dinance covering the Fire Preven
tion Code in the City of Palmer
was given by City Attorney John
Shaw. Also receiving its first
reading was a combined Electric
al and Plumbing Code ordinance.
Read for the third and final times
were Ordinance 58, pertaining to
liquor sale licensing in the City
of Palmer, and Ordinance 59 per
taining to the non-taxing of hos
pitals. The latter two ordinances
were adopted as read and the
Acting Mayor authorized to sign.
* * *
Approval for the City to pur
chase membership and equity
(Continued on page 5)
Valley Beauty Shop
3UTS1—PERMANENTS—SETS
Call for evening appointments
CO-OP SHOPPING AREA
FARMERS URGED PLACE
ORDERS THIS WEEK
FOR FERTILIZER, SEED
All Valley farmers planning
to place fertilizer and/or seed
orders at the Matanuska Val
ley Farmers Cooperating As
soiation, should do so by the
end of this week, according to
Stewart Durrant, general man
ager.
Final orders will be mailed
this week, he said in making
the announcement.
Palmer to Meet
Anchorage Eagles
Tomorrow Night
The Palmer High School 'bas
ketball team travels to Anchor
age tomorrow night where they
tangle with the Anchorage Eag
les. Although the Moose are in
the cellar in the Railbelt stand
ings, a couple of winning games
will put them right back in the
running.
The Anchorage Eagles are in
top place with three wins and
one loss, followed by Fairbanks
with three wins and two losses.
Fairbanks took their standing by
defeating the Moose in both
games played in that city last
week. The Malemutes took an
early lead in last Friday’s game
13 points ahead of the Moose at
the end of the first quarter and
going on to defeat the local
quintet 60 to 38.
Catching their breath on Satur
day the Moose kept the scores on
a more even level, dropping the
game to the Malemutes by only
12 points. High-point men were
Jack Worledge with a total of 32
points in the two games, and Ray
Winegarner with a two-game to
tal of 24 points.
Next week end the Seward Sea
hawks fly to Palmer for two
games on January 28 and 29.
Asks Land WithdrawalI
Near Knik River
The Bureau of Land Manage
ment announced today that it has
requested withdrawal of 31.5
acres to be reserved as a public
service site. Located about 35.5
miles northeast of Anchorage,
this secenic spot fronts on both
the Glenn Highway and Knik
River. Except when the river is
in flood stage this area is favor
ably situated for public camping,
picnicing and other recreation
al activities and will assure pub
lic access to the river.
Harold T. Jorgenson, acting
area administrator, in Anchorage,
said that this proposed withdraw
al is in keeping with past Bureau
policy in recommending reserva
tion of small public recreation
areas for Alaskans. There has
been high use of similar areas at
Eagle River and Peters Creek and
demand for other areas has been
increasing, Jorgenson said.
TAX FORMS AVAILABLE
FROM COMMISSIONER
U. S. Commissioner Dorothy
Saxton announced this week
that tax forms for Territorial
Withholding (WR400) and Terri
torial Income Tax (WR600) have
arrived. She said she also has a
few Federal tax forms in 1040,
1040A, and the schedules.
Notice
19S4 TAXES BECOME DELINQUENT FEBRUARY
I, 1955, CITY OF PALMER AND PALMER INDE
PENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
REX EHRHART
Tax Assessor
MTA CONSTRUCTION
EXPECTED TO BEGIN
BY EARLY SPRING
The $16,650 goal of the Matan
uska Telephone Association has
been fulfilled to the point where
Lew Hanks, MTA chairman, this
week told Chamber of Com
merce members that the long,
dreamed-of, modern dial tele
phone system for the entire Ma
tanuska Valley area will be a
thing of reality in close future,
with early Spring forseen for the
start of construction.
To date over $14,000 has been
collected, with additional pled
ges which will bring the final to
tal over the top. The necessary
number of memberships have
been exceeded, he said.
As soon as mapping and other
necessary paper work is complet
ed, they will be sent to Washing
ton, D. C. for final approval, after
which preliminary work cart be
gin on purchase of materials, call
for bids, and other work that will
assure an early start on construc
tion this Spring. Hanks stated that
he felt that the association would
be in a position to call for con
struction bids the latter part of
May or early June.
Because the system was origin
ally planned around 400 users,
telephone rates will in ail pro
bability be lower than anticipated
because 550 signers have already
been obtained. “By surpassing our
goal in membership, we feel it
will be reflected in reduced rat
es”, Hanks said. “We hope they
will be as low or lower than
present city rates”, he added.
Clifford Goettings, REA official
who spent several days in Pal
mer assisting in the formulation
of data, returned to his Washing
ton office last week. Prior to his
departure he expressed his plea
sure in the cooperation of the en
tire community in obtaining the
equity stock and membership
sales.
Colony Day; Available
Building Dicussed by
Chamber of Commerce
Roy Casey of the Alaska Jail
System scheduled speaker for the
January 19 Matanuska Valley
Chamber of Commerce meeting
was unable to get to Palmer for
the meeting but has been re
scheduled for the February 17
meeting of the local Chamber.
James Hurley gave a brief re
port on his and other Chamber
member’s visit to the Anchorage
Chamber of Commerce on Mon
day of this week in observance
of Palmer Day in that city. Hur
ley suggested that plans be made
for a similar meeting in Palmer,
designating an Anchorage Day
for Chamber members of that
city.
President Everett Adams pro
posed that in-as-much as the
local Chamber embraces the en
tire valley, meetings be held oc
casionally in the Wasilla, Sutton,
and Butte areas.
Chamber members approved
the proposal that a letter be writ- j
ten to the Territorial Legislature
urging the confirmation of James
Wilson as Commissioner of Agri
culture, and asking consideration
of the Governor of Alaska in ap
pointing V. Louise Kellogg to fill |
a vacancy on the University of Al
aska board of regents.
Plans for the Colony Day cele
bration to be held this Spring
will get under way in the near
future. President Adams appoint
ed a committee consisting of
Richard Jones, Stewart Durrant,
James Hurley, Jan Koslosky, and
Lucille Mick to formulate £)lans,
including the date, prizes and
other plans for the popular Val
ley event.
A1 V. Hagen spoke to mem
bers about a large building, mea- j
suring 60- by 240-feet that could j
(Continued on page 8)
First Alaska Farm Forum Program
To Feature Leading Agriculturists
Delinquent Telephone
Accounts Warned
Members of the Palmer City
Council this week instructed
City Clerk Frank Connally to
give three-day notice by letter
to telephone users who are 60
or more days in arrears in
payments that unless the bill
be paid in full by January 24
service will be discontinued
and the instruments removed.
Varied Activities
Planned for
March of Dimes
The annual March of Dimes is
well under way in the Palmer
area, with donations being mailed
in every day, and organizations
announcing plans for fund-rais
ing activities that are all geared
to bring the final total up to a
record-breaking figure this year.
This year’s slogan, “It’s a BIG
GER job this year” is spurring
area organizations and individuals
to give their utmost in time and
work, recalling the need for
March of Dimes money in the
valley this past fall.
An outstanding display of dimes
may be seen in the Matanuska
Valley Bank where large pla
cards, spelling out March of
Dmes in dimes, is being shown.
Members of the Palmer B.P.O.
Elks lodge filled the placards
with dimes donated by the mem
bers. The amount totals $69.10
Basketball Match
One of the first public activ
ities to be held in the valley may
prove to be the most amusing.
It definitly assurs those attend
ing an evening well spent, with
out having to suffer through any
physical hardships, such as some
of the participants may have to
face. The Palmer Kiwanis Club
is again this year playing basket
ball against the local Elks lodge
womens team. The date is set for
this Saturday night, January 22
at 8 p.m. in the Palmer School
gym. Those who saw the men
in motion last year recall their
unusual set of court rules that
permitted their winning points.
“Spud-King” Crowthers, Kiwan
is president, will be remembered
for his fast smile when things
looked the darkest—he’ll be play
ing again this year, as will the
old (oops! pardon me) favorites
“Jelly-roll” Persinger, “Full-cov
erage” Pippel, “Tin-Bender”
Weisenberger, “Reddy Wirehead”
Brewer, “Sawdust” Smith (he’s
really in training), “Bell-ringer”
Kelleigh, “Ag-head” Wilson,
“Tooth-Acher” Sims, “Tacks” Er
hart, “Budget-wise” Andrews,
“Want-Ad” DeJulio, “How
Much?” Hurley, “Bouncer” Mor
ley, “Stage-Prop” Ganschow,
“Dusty” Taylor, and “Delver”
Bula. “Top-Soil” Wilson and
“Echo” Johnson will be in charge
of ticket sales. “Super” Zee will
be coaching. All proceeds from
the game will go toward the local
March of Dimes current cam
paign.
The girls are being coached by
Vi Stacy, good basketball player
herself. Team members are Gwen
McNamara, Clara Buzby, Barb
Meier, Laura Stenberg, Donna
France, Bonnie Bettine, Bobby
Jo McRae, Esther Peterson, Irene
Vasanoja, Janice Barry, Barbara
Kindgren and Wanda Kauffield.
The girls say they have no tricks
up their sleeves—they figure they
will be busy enough watching for
“planned” plays by the men.
Kitchen Band
Beginning around 11 p.m. that
same night, the 18-piece Kitchen
Band of Palmer will present a
program at Green Acres in Wasil
(Continued on page 8)
Highlights of the Alaska Farm Forum program were released
this week by Don L. Irwin, chairman of the planning group. The
Forum, to be held in Palmer on February 1, 2, and 3, is sponsored
by the Matanuska Valley Chamby the All-Alaska Chamber of C
ber of Commerce and endorsedommerce.
‘‘The Alaska Farm Forum will
bring together for the first time
in Alaskan agricultural history,
the men who produce our food
and those who process and mar
ket it. The stage is sc£ to solve
some of Alaska’s most perplexing
economic problems,” stated Ir
win, long-time agricultural ad
ministrator in the Territory.
Major addresses will be made
by George D. Scarseth, research
director of the American Farm
Research Association, and Dr. W.
M. Beeson, animal husbandman
of Purdue University. Scarseth,
recently returned from agricul
tural studies in the Scandanavian
countries will speak on “New
Farm Frontier: the sub-Arctic”.
Beeson will speak on “Let’s Look
at Livestock”. Beeson, an animal
nutrition expert, has developed
feeds for livestock that have net
ted midwestern stockmen sizeable
profits.
Another specialist to be fea
tured at the Forum is Lee Fryer,
fertilizer division manager of the
Charles H. Lilly Company of
Seattle. Fryer, long a champion
of Alaska’s agriultural future,
will consult with Forum partici
pants on fertilizer problems.
Panel discussions will include
Pasture, Forage, and Cereal Pro
duction; Better Farm Living;
Dairy and Beef Production; Per
ishable Vegetables and Fruit Pro
duction; Potatoes and Root Crops,
and Poultry Production. ,
Dr. Ernest N. Patty, president
New High School
Inspection This Week
Official inspection of the new
Palmer High School was made
this week by officials of the Al
aska Public Works. Outside of a
few minor details it would ap
pear that the building is com
pleted, it was reported. In due
course the close to million dol
lar structure will be turned over
to the Palmer Independent School
District.
The new high school is con
sidered one of the finest school
buildings in Alaska and will be
open to the public for inspection
on a date to be announced.
CHAMBER COMMITTEES
NAMED FOR 1955
New committees for the Mat
anuska Valley Chamber of Com
merce for 1955 were named last
week by Everett Adams, presi
dent.
They are: A1 Hagen, Richard
Jones, and Howard Campbell,
membership. James Hurley, Le
nore Amerman, Glen Woods, Max
Sherrod, and Harold Thuma, agri
culture. Ed Smith and Richard
Jones, industrial, and A1 J. De
Julio and Virginia Gallant, publi
city.
of the University of Alaska, will
speak at the February 2 joint
luncheon of the Matanuska Val
ley Chamber of Commerce and
the Farm Forum attendance.
Growing interest is being
shown about the Territory in the
February 2 evening session on
the theme “Great Expectations’*
at which Elmer Rasmussen, presi
dent of the National Bank of Al
aska will preside. Dr. Allan H.
Mick, associate director of the Al
aska Experiment Station is ex
pected to release the announce
ment of a new grain variety es
pecially developed for Alaska at
that time. His subject has been
listed as “New Crops-New
Tools”.* James W. Wilson, terri
torial commissioner of agricul
ture, will speak at the same ses
sion on “New Markets—New
Money”, suggesting new oppor
tunities for Alaskan exports and
farm-related industries.
Marketing problems will occupy
the Forum on Thursday, Febru
ary 3, when Colonel Arthur C.
Bass, U. S. Army Alaska Quar
termaster, will speak on '“The
Military Consumer” followed by
Larry Carr, president of Carr’s
Food Center speaking on “The
Family Consumer”. Question and
answer periods will follow, giving
farmers an opportunity to discuss
mutual concerns with Alaska’s
principle agricultural market re
presentatives.
George Jackson, president of
the Anchorage Chamber of Com
merce, will lead a Forum-wide
discussion entitled “Wnere Do We
Go from Here?” at which time it
is expected that the Forum will
make recommendations for fu
ture research and legislative ac
tion to ease obstacles to farther
agricultural expansion.
An evening meeting, open to
the general public, will present
Dr. George P. Scarseth in a dra
matic illustrated lecture on a sub
ject for which he has won coun
try-wide acclaim—“Soil, Civiliz
ation, and Health”.
Don Irwin, in consultation w|th
farmers and agricultural technic
ians, has- served as chairman* of
the program committee made up
of Charles W. Wilson', territorial
soil conservationist; James W.
Wilson, commissioner of agricul
ture; Hugh A. Johnson, agricul
tural economist; and Allan H.
Mick, director of Extension. The
Alaska Farm Forum, opening at
10 a.m. Tuesday, February 1, will
be called to order in Moose Hall
by Everett Adams, president of
the Matanuska Valley Chamber
of Commerce.
POTTED DAFFODILS
ONLY $1.00
MATANUSKA VALLEY
GARDENS
Phone 32J1I Palmer
Telegraph Delivery Service
Announcement
i| Dr. E. E. Bach, Optometrist from Anchorage will
i; be in Palmer to do eye examinations on
i
5 Tuesday, January 25.
For an appointment see Mrs. Maud Hosier at the Flower Shop
in the Co-Op Recreaiion Building or call her at 32J11