SATURDAY IS LAST
DAY TO c FILE FOR
CITY OFFICES
The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
TRY A FRONTIERSMAN
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VOLUME 8, NO. 48
PALMER. ALASKA. THURSDAY, SEPT. 22. 1955
PRICE TEN CENTS
House Subcommittee
Local Hearing Saturday
Local citizens will be given an
opportunity to testify before
members of the House subcom
mittee on territorial and insular
■affairs who will hold a two-hour
hearing here from 11 a.m. to 1
p.m. Saturday in the Co-Op Club
Room.
Presiding at the hearing will
be Rep. Leo O’Brien (D-NY).
Other members of the group will
be Representatives James B. Utt
(R-Calif), William A. Dawson (R
TJtah, and Mrs. Grade Pfost (D
Id&ho); Dr. John Taylor and Sid
ney McFarland, staff members;
and George Abbott, counsel. It is
hoped that Delegate Bob Bartlett
will also accompany the group
to Palmer. Missing will be Mrs.
Edith Green D-Ore.) who has
championed the controversial
mental health bill resulting in
investigation of reportedly huge
profits at Morningside Hospital.
She left Anchorage yesterday to
attend her son’s wedding.
The Matanuska Valley Cham
ber of Commerce is making the
local arrangements for the hear
ing. Chamber President Everett
Adams stated that it will begin
at eleven o’clock or as soon as
tine Congressmen arrive from
Anchorage. About 11:45 the hear
ing will be interrupted while
lunch is served. Adams will be
on hand to greet the Congress
men, and Commissioner of Agri
culture James Wilson will intro
duce local witnesses to the com
mittee.
To make sure that everyone
who wishes to testify may be
heard, the Chamber urges regis
(Continued on page 8)
WARNING TO
ij DAIRY FARMERS
!; The Alaska Department of
!; Agriculture warns dairymen
1; in the Valley today that a dia
![ rrhea of an infectious nature
![ has occurred in several herds
in one section of the valley,
;! causing a considerable reduc
;! tion in milk production.
;! To prevent further spread,
;! it is recommended that ex
;! treme sanitary precautions be
\\ taken by those visiting other
;! farms, washing hands, boots,
;| clothing, or equipment that
j! may have been in contact with
other herds.
SPAGHETTI PASSES
Something old was subtracted
from Palmer horizons this week
but few mourners were on hand
to cheer the passing of main
street’s spaghetti.
The informal spaghetti-cutting
ceremony was wittnessed offici
ally by Police Chief Bernie Bou
wens and MTA Manager Bob
patridge. Cutting the wire fes
toons which have looped grotes
quely from pole to pole opposite
the city’s main business section
for nearly ten years, was a tick
lish job, Patridge said. There was
a chance the poles might come
down, too, and some of those
were property of the U. S. Gov
ernment.
Only spaghetti remaining is
that along the highway. That
goes next, the MTA Manager
promised.
MATANUSKA VALLEY SPUD DROP LOSS
HEAR $150,009 COMMISSIONER SAYS
Matanuska Valley farmers,
hurrying harvest of the 1955 po
tato crop before freeze-up this
week, are realizing a loss of ap
proximately $150,000 in low
yields, it was estimated today by
Commissioner of Agriculture
James Wilson.
A combination of late spring,
a cool, dry summer and early
frost has resulted in a 40% reduc
tion of potato yields in the vai
FREE MOVIE SHOW
"India"
Wasilla Community
Hall
FREE
Sunday, Sept. 11
7:30 p.m.
Change of subject each Sun.
Sponsored by the Reorganized
Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints
ley, the Alaska Department of
Agriculture reported. Growers
whose yields usually run be
tween seven and ten tons per
acre are reporting yields as low
as three tons. A few fields will
not be dug because of low ton
nage, the report added.
The Matanuska Valley produc
ed 3,785 tons in 1954, but this
year’s potato crop probably will
not exceed 2,500 tons in spite of
a reported ten percent increase
in plantings..
Information from the Anchor
age, Homer, Kenai and Tanana
Valley areas indicates the reduc
ed yields are general for Alaska
which could mean a total loss of
approximately a quarter of a
million dollars in farm income.
The unusual season affected
other crops to a lesser degree;
however, the quality of produce
has ben very good. The early
frost resulted in better maturity
of potatoes which will improve
their keeping and cooking qual
ities.
CITY CANDIDATE
PETITIONS SLOW
IN BEING FILED
With only two days left to file
for city office vacancies, only two
candidates had filed petitions in
the city clerk’s office by press
time today.
The two avowed candidates are
Mayor Charles W. Wilson, aspir
ing to succeed himself, and Jan
Koslosky, for one of the two
council vacancies.
Other petitions reportedly are
being circulated for John Gore
of Tost’s Service; Jack Flint,
manager of the Co-Op dairy; and
incumbent Councilman William
T. Zahradnicek. It is believed
that these petitions, if filed, will
be for council candidacies.
Deadline for filing petitions for
city offices is noon Saturday,
September 24. City Clerk Frank
Connally will be in his office
from 10 a.m. until noon Satur
day to receive petitions.
Meanwhile candidacies for two
school board vacancies are even
slower in being declared. By
noon todiav not one intention to
run had been filed. School board
(Continued on page 8)
Grim Hunt for
Kilter Bear Follows
Dealh of Victim
Fifty miles above Eureka, in
the vicinity of the Big Oshetna
River, a grim hunt for a killer
bear is in progress.
Volunteer hunters, friends of
Willis R. McBride, 29, who was
killed by the grizzly Monday
afternoon, have organized the
widespread hunt in the area.
McBride was killed after he
and his hunting companion, Vic
Vukovich of Goat Creek had
separated to search for the bear
they had spotted with a moose
kill from their plane. Worried
when McBride failed to return
to the plane, Vukovich flew over
the area and discovered the
mauled body of his friend.
U. S. Marshal Fred Williamson,
returning Tuesday from a heli
copter flight to recover the body,
concluded that McBride, an ex
perienced hunter, had apparent
ly been the victim of a surprise
attack by the bear. Wind carried
the hunter’s scent toward the
grizzly, and a slight rise in
ground apparently curtained the
wary bear from McBride’s view,
the U. S. Marshall said. McBride
resided in Spenard.
MAYOR’S KIDS’ DAY PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS the citizens of Palmer, Alaska are vitally in
terested in our youth and recognize the importance of adult
participation in matters pertaining to the welfare of our
children;
WHEREAS one of the principal tasks facing our nation
and our community today is the building of our youth into
useful and honorable citizens;
WHEREAS it is fitting that we make every effort to
keep all children from being prey to any form of delinquency
and to foster all good and proper endeavors aimed at helping
our youth to achieve the benefits offered by the American
way of life;
WHEREAS through the joint efforts of Kiwanis Inter
national and the local Kiwanis club(s), a day has been set
aside to focus attention upon the problems and the accom
plishments of youth throughout the forty-eight states (or ten
provinces) at both a national and community level; said day
to be identified with the objective slogan—“Boys and Girls—
Our Greatest Resource.”
WHEREAS the purpose of the day is to provide worth
while experiences for all youth and to raise funds which will
be expended locally to the betterment of all concerned:
NOW, THEREFORE, I Charles W. Wilson by virtue of
the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Palmer,
Alaska, do hereby designate Saturday, Septmber 24, as Kids’
Day in Palmer, Alaska and do call upon all citizens to support
the objectives of this day and to cooperate to the best of their
abilities in making the event a success.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand
and caused the seal of the City of Palmer to be affixed this
24 day of September in the year of our Lord, Nineteen Hun
dred and Fifty-Five.
CHARLES W. WILSON
Returns Incomplete
On 3rd Division
Convention Race
With returns from 73 out of 98
precincts tabulated, the top 12
candidates for delegates from the
Third Division at large to the
Constitutional Convention lined
up yesterday as follows: George
McLaughlin, 2,524; Victor Rivers,
2,396; John Hellenthal, 2,179;
M. R. Marston, 2,169; Edward
Davis, 1,995; Victor Fischer,
1,876; William Egan, 1848; Mrs.
Helen Fischer, 1792; Seaborn
Buckalew, 1,737; Barrie White,
1,607; Chris Poulsen, 1,604; Jos
eph Hong, 1,585.
Close behind these candidates
were Edgar Boyko, Dorothy
Awes, Arthur Engebreth, Wil
liam McSmith, and Dorothy Ty
ner Walters in 13th through 17th
places. Local candidate Betty
Mears was 19th in a field of 43
candidates. Vernon Haik of Chu
giak and Frank Sorensen of Was
illa were in 23rd and 26th places
respectively.
Returns from the 25 precincts
still to be tallied might change
the line-up of the successful 12.
99’s To Serve
Sourdough Hotcakes
At Airport Sunday
The Palmer Airport will be
the scene Sunday of the second
“Drive-in, Fly-in” breakfast
sponsored and served by the An
chorage-area chapter of the Nine
ty-nines, a national organization
of women pilots.
AH persons interested are in
vited to attend the breakfast Sun
day anytime between 8 a.m. and
noon. Sourdough hot cakes, ham,
eggs, coffee, and cocoa for the
youngsters will be served by the
99’s. “All you can eat” for $2,
adults, or $1, children. The all
women flying organization will
set up kitchen and serving equip
ment at the airport. A similar
breakfast staged at Kenai last
month was very successful.
Proceeds from the breakfast
will go toward expenses for an
Alaskan contestant in next year’s
All Women’s Transcontinental
Air Race, better known as “The
Powder Puff Derby.” Palmer
Airport Instructor Rene Nielsen
is a local member of the Ninety
I nines.
Palmer Hi Band to Lead
Kids' Day Parade
Kiwanians To Serve
Pancake Breakfast
To help finance their youth
activities, including the an
nual Kids’ Day program, Ki
wanis Club members will ser
ve a pancake breakfast on the
sidewalk in front of the Pig
gly Wiggly store from ten
o’clock until noon Saturday.
Cy Brewer is in charge of
the novel event, but all Ki
wanians will be on hand to
help flap the Sperry jacks, fry
the bacon, pour the Slim Jim
syrup, and serve the Minute
Maid orange juice and. Folger
java. Most of these editbles are
being donated to the local
cause by the manufacturers.
In case of rain, a sign on
the Piggly Wiggly windows
will direct the hungry to an
improvised "breakfast shelter.
Pilots Contest Sunday
Palmer pilots have challenged
Anchorage club fliers to a con
test Sunday on spot landings and
simulated bush landings. The
contest will be held in connec
tion with the flight breakfasts
sponsored by the Ninety-Nines at
the Palmer Airport.
Kiwanis Kids’ Day activities
are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
Saturday as the Kids ’N Pets
Parade, led by the Palmer High
School Band, starts marching
from the school gymnasium to
the main business district.
Kids’ Day Chairman Ed Smith
named William T. Zahmdnicek
Parade Marshal. After circling
the business district, the parad
ers will return to the school gym
nasium where the Talent Show
will be emceed by Kiwanian
James Hurley. Also in the gym
nasium may be viewed the Hob
by Show supervised by Ray
Bula.
Registration of amateur sing
ers, musicians, dancers, actors,
and jugglers has been going on
all week through the local sch
ools, Kiwanians reported. En
tries to the hobby show may be
taken to the school gym between
10 a.m. and noon. A Kiwanian
will be on hand to accept and
help display the entries during
these two hours, Bula said. All
entries must be in by noon, he
warned.
Every child who takes part in
activities will receive a Kids’
Day badge of recognition. Win
ners of special events will receive
a large badge with ribbons at
tached to indicate first, second,
or third place.
P-TA CONSIDERS EDUCATION PRODLEMS
ON WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE AGENDA
Highlighting the first P-TA
meeting of the year held in the
school gymnasium Tuesday eve
ning was group participation in
a local consideration of six basic
problems in the field of educa
tion to be on the agenda of the
White House Conference on Edu
cation in November.
Local School Board Member
Lew Hanks, president of the Al
aska Association of School
Boards and one of the 12 Alaskan
delegates named by Governor
Frank Heintzleman to attend the
White House Conference, ex
plained the nation-wide approach
of consolidating opinions on these
problems on the local level. His
job, he explained, was to carry
the opinion of interested Palmer
School District citizens to a pre
liminary meeting of Alaskan
school board members and edu
cators scheduled to be held next
month in Anchorage and later
to the nation-wide White House
conference
P-TA members present divided
into six groups headed by volun
teer chairmen to discuss and re
port on one of the six basic prob
lems outlined.
On the first broad question
"What Should Our Schools Ac
complish?" Leader Winnie Mar
tin reported her group agreed on
two basic objectives: preparing
the child to live in the commun
ity and preparing him for more
(Continued on page 8)
PERMANENTS
HAIR STYLING
SCALP TREATMENTS
VALLEY BEAUTY SHOP
Pbone 3301
LAVONNE JOHNSON
Just Arrived
TULIPS and DAFFODILS
! for outside planting
;! HYACINTHS & NARCISSUS:
![ for forcing
;! MAUD'S FLOWER SHOP
<! Theatre Building
Close Out Sale
MUST CLOSE OUT ALL GREENHOUSE
PLANTS BY OCTOBER 1ST
50% oil
ON ALL
PLANTS IN GREENHOUSE
PERENNIALS AND BERRY PLANTS
25% off
BRING YOUR OWN BOXES
Palmer Nursery
FREE FEED!
Friday Sept 23
9:30 P.M.
Jeannie Shelton at the Organ for your entertainment Friday and Saturday
HAMROCK LOUNGE