FLYINfi FAIMEIS
6? AHEHOA MAY
CMtE T9 YAUEY
The MaUnuska Valley Cham
ber of Commerce thia week an
nounced plan* to encourage the
Flying Farmer* of America to
make the Matanuska Valley
their yearly trip in 1956. The
rational organization of flyers
take an annual crow-country trip
each year, and only recently
Balph Famaworth president of
the local flying club, discussed
the possibility of the organiza
tion selecting the Matanuska
Valley aa their site for next
year's flight.
Farnsworth told Chamber
member* at the May 16 meeting
that the organization seems very
enthusiastic about the idea but
wilt need ample information on
accommodations, field conditions,
weather data and entertair/ment.
‘•Anywhere from 50 to 200 four
place planes can be expected in
the valley if this goes through”,
Farnsworth stated. The trip
would be planned to coircide
with the 1956 Matanuska Valley
Fair and will be a big thing if
it materializes, he a$ded.
Chamber President Everett
Adams appointed Farnsworth
ard Richard Jones as a commit
tee to work with the Flying
Farmers in gathering the needed
information.
Opta Nun Flmel
At Lake Ueilla
Far larrBt Snltos
Friends of former Senator and
Mrs. Gerritt (Heinie) Snider of
Wasilla will gather at the Snider
home on Lake Lucille on Sunday
afternoon from 3 to 6 p.m. to
help them celebrate their 40th
wedding anniversary and bid
them bon voyage. The entire
community of Wasilla will par
ticipate in the celebration ,with
women of the village preparing
refreshment* to be served during
the open house.
The Sniders, who have lived in
Wasilla airtce 1925, plan to leave
for their homeland, Holland, in
early June. They will spend a va
cation in Monnikertdam, province
of North Holland where welcom
ing preparations are now under
way in anticipation of their visit.
Senator Snider’s mother, who is
now 90 years old, will be among
the first to greet the visitors.
Sisters and their children and
grandchildren will be or.l hand,
as will nearly every person in
the village. The town of Monni
kendam will celebrate their 600th
anniversary about that time and
has honored Senator Snider by
naming him honorary citizen of
the town.
The Sniders have three daugh
ters, Mrs. Al (Pat) Hjellenl, Mrs.
Lloyd (Ann) Short, and Mrs. Bill
(Marie) Betts, and 12 grand
children, all of Wasilla.
Since coming to Alaska in 1916
Heirlie has taken an active part
in the growth of the Territory.
He has worked for the Alaska
Railroad, the Alaska Road Com
mission, and has served in the
territorial legislature as both
Representative and Senator. In
1952 he went to Chicago as Alas
kan! delegate to the Republican
National Convention and has tak
en an active and interested part
id other local and territorial civic
affairs.
Reporters— !;
Notebook
M mbers of the Altar and-Ros
ary Society of St. Michael’s Cath
olic Church will hold a public
rummage sale on May 21 from 8 j
a.m. to 5 p.m. in the hall at the
Co-Op rec hall. A variety of
clothing and miscellaneous items
will be offered for sale at very
reasonable prices, members stat
ed. 1
* * *
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Payton
showed their film “Thirty Min
utes in Alaska” to members of
on May 16 as part of the soror
ity’s cultural program, Getting
Theta Chapter Beta Sigma Phi
Acauainted with Nature. The
film was based on wild and cul
tured flowers of Alaska.
Cub Scouts of Den Five held
a tea for their mothers at the
home of Mrs. George Allen on
May 10. Mothers attending were:
Mrs. Ted Buzby, Mrs. Keith
Lovejoy, Mrs. Virgil Eckert, Mrs.
Mann Leaser, and Mrs. Harry
Campbell. Mrs. Lee Plumbley
was a guest.
Familiar names on Del. Bob
Bartlett’s list of visitors this past
week included Mrs. Cloyce Parks
of Chugiak, Marlin S. Stewart,
CEA of Anchorage, Edwin B.
Crittenden, Charles Tryck, and
W. E. Bittner, all of Anchorage.
Mrs. Parks and Stewart were in
Washington attending a meeting
of the National Rural Electric
Cooperatives Association. Mrs.
Parks is a member of the national
board.
“Dark of the Moon”, a play,
was presented this month at
Washington State College by the
Department of Speech. IncludedJ
in the cast was Wesley Eckert of
Palmer who played the part of
Mr. Bergen.
Visiting in Palmer is Mr. John
Aarestad of McHenry, North
Dakota who is spending a vaca
tion with his son and daughter
in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Elton S.
Aarestad.
Home for their summer vaca
tion from studies at the. Univer
sity of Alaska are Blake McKin
ley, Lyle Jones, Oliver Brewer,
Geraldine Kindgren, Jane Ste
phan and Nancy Frank.
Stuart Durrant, Co-Op gereral
manager, said this week plans are
being formulated to improve ser
vice at the Trading Post. “We
certainly are not closing the
Trading Post”, he said. “It will
remain part of the M.V.F.C.A.—
open for public participation and
catering to our customer’s needs
and wants.”
The Palmer B. P. O- Elks lodge
this week applied for a building
permit for the addition of a kit
chen at the lodge. The addition
will go on the building at the
back end on the southwest cor
ner and will measure about 10 ft.
by 14 ft.
PALMER TEACHER
TO ATTEND FAMOUS
GERMAN UNIVERSITY
Gottfried Sltevahn, science
teacher at Palmer High School,
leaves Alaska on Saturday, May
21, enroute to Heidelberg, Ger
many where he will attend the
University of Heidelberg this
summer.
Stevahn completes his fifth
year in the Palmer school sys
tem this week .having come here
in the fall of 1950. His classes
include science, chemistry and
physics. While in Germany he
will attend classes in German
language, literature and Europ
ean history, from May 24 through
July 29. He hopes to tour Europe
£9 Graduate
Prom Eighth Glade
In addressing the 59 eighth
grade students at the Palmer
Junior High School graduation
exercises ori Mar/ 18, James Hur
ley, school board member, told
parents “We are going to need
the help of these students in
helping them grow up. We need
their help in telling us when to
be strict—when to be lenient;
when they should work and when;
they should play. Our children
may at times look upon, us as
‘squares’ — ‘ickie’—even ‘goons’,
but don’t worry about it. The
way our children grow up will
depend on the example we set at
home. If we set good examples,
they will respond. If we set bad
examples, they are very apt to
follow.’’
In talkirg to the students, Hur
ley pointed out that he has never
met a man who didn’t wish that
he had more education. “Think
hard before you quit school”, he
told them. “You have an oppor
tur/ty to get a high school edu
cation—set your life goal be
yond your reach, even if it looks
impossible. In high school you
will use the tools of learning you
have acquired in your grade
school but there are some things
you will not learn in school, he
added, “ . . . but this above all,
to thy own self be true”.
The program, which was well
attended by friends and relatives
of the graduates, opened with
the salute to the flag, led by
Bythel Compton, and followed by
the singing of the Star Spangled
Banner. Roberta Uzelac brought
greetings from the class and Ray
Lancaster, Commander American
Legion Pos* No. 15 made the
Legion’s award for honor and
leadership to Jerry Sisley.
William W. Elliott, principal,
presented: the class and Lew E.
Hanks, school board member,
presented the diplomas.
Musical selections were offer
ed by the junior high girls’
double sextet; Carrie Weber, and
James Ord.
a bit before returning to the
States August 26. Following a
week’s vacation at his home in
Wishak, N. Dak., he will return
to Palmer for the opening of
i school in September.
The University of Heidleberg
is located on the Neckar River,
about 29 miles south of Frank
fort.
FRONTIERSMAN CLASSIFIEDS
ALWAYS BRING RESULTS
IN TIME
OF SORROW
■ ■a
Whenever . . .
wherever bereavement
occurs, our
organization stands
ready to give aid and
comfort in time
of r.leed . . .
Sympathetic Service
One phone call will shift the
burdensome details to our
shoulders.
PALMER FUNERAL
CHAPEL
Couldn't Find a Way to
Open this New Model
.. .I'm Using a Can
Opener
It can't happen here! Every
car, regardless of make, model
or year, is an "open book" to
us. We know the "inside story"
of YOUR car . . . can get right
to the seat of any trouble . . •
without a can-opener!
COMPLETE TUNE-UP &
WHEEL BALANCING
TOST’S
SERVICE
Downtown Palmer
R. WINEGARNER
NAMED TO NEW
AIR FORCE ACADEMY
F. Ray Winegarrer of Pal
ner is one of the 301 cadets
lamed for the first class of
he new U. S. Air Force Aca
demy. Wine garner’s first noti
fication of his selection and
congratulations came from
Del. E. L. Bartlett. This wire
was followed by one from
US.A.F. Deputy Chief of Staff
Emmett O’Donnell who re
quested he report at the Air
Force Academy in Denver,
Colorado, July 11.
“I join, the Secretary of the
Air Force and the Chief of
Staff in extending congratula
tions on your selection as an
air force academy cadet”, he
wrote.
Wi'r,3garner was selected
from over 6,000 youths nomin
ated by members of Congress.
The well-known valley youth
graduates from Palmer School
tomorrow night.
Slide Blocks Highway
For Short Period
Alaska Road Commission work
crews were busy last night re
moving snow from the Palmer
A:):horage highway just beyond i
Knik River bridge where a snow
slide off the mountain piled up
about 20 feet of snow. The slide
came down around 6 p.m. but
traffic was delayed but a short
time while ARC personnel cut
through the srjow.
Local Youths Graduate
From University
Valley residents graduating
from the University of Alaska
last week irelude Stanley Wjyatt
Johnson .civil engineering; Wal
ter Arthur Stevens, civil engin
eering; ar,d Laurence B. Clarke,
business administration. Clarke
was named for the school admin
istration award as outstanding
student in his class.
FRONTIERSMAN CLASSIFIEDS
ALWAYS BRING RESULTS
Colony Day—
(Continue irom page i)
cooperate in the celebration by
operating a special excursion
train from Anchorage. Special
low rates will prevail for the
roundtrip and several hundred
Anchorage residents are expected
to take advantage of the rail
road’s offer.
Following the parade a dedi
cation ceremony will be held in
honor of the early settlers and
colonists of the Matanuska Val
ley. James J. Hurley, manager of
the Alaska Rural Rehabilitation.
Corporation will be master of
ceremonies. Speakers on the
program include George Mum
ford, president ARRC; Don Ir
win, director, Alaska Agricultur
al Experiment Station; Joseph
Flakne, program director, Arctic
Institution of North America and
a representative of the Armed
Forces. Mrs. M. D. Snodgrass
will unveil the commemorative
plaque which has been purchased
fcr7 the ARRC. Mr. Mumford and
Acting Betty Mears will partici
pate in the presentation of the
park deed to the City of Palmer.
Activities at the fairgrounds
will begin at 2:45 p.m. when a
drill team from Co. C, 125th
Erigr. Bn., U. S. Army Reserve of
Palmer will display close order
drills and the manuel of arms.
This display will be followed by
favorite games, contests and en
tertainment for the whole family.
Following the distribution of
free barbequed Matanuska Val
ley beef the Arctic Trails Riding
Club of Palmer will stage a rid
ing demonstration ar.|d races.
Hurley said this week that the
entire valley is cooperating in
making this the biggest arid best
Colony Day celebration ever
held in Palmer. Many of the
stores are planning to remain
oper.) on that day. All are pre
paring for the thousands of vi&
itors that will be coming into
Palmer. The City of Palmer is
this week completing Clean-Up
Week and we hope to have our
city and valley looking its best
irl time for the visitors.
Hundreds of photographers are
Palmer Girl Wins
Territorial
Essay Conlesl
Word was received in Palmer
this week that Jerene Stephan,
Palmer High School Junior, was
named winner in the senior high
division of the Americanism Es
say Contest for the Territory, ac
cording to Mrs. Pat Weisenberger,
Americanism chairman. Miss Ste
phan’s esas<y was selected by the
local American Legion Auxiliary
as winner ini the area contest
and as such was entered in the
Territorial contest.
Mrs. Lorene Tuengel, Alaska
Department Americanism chair
man, American Legion Auxiliary
announced Miss Stephan's selec
tion. Subject of the 1955 essays
was “Our Heritage—Freedom of
Worship—what it mean to me.”
Miss Stephan’s essay was written
as a prayer in free-verse style
and was reprinted in this news
paper. It became eligible for the
Department contest after winning
the local essay contest. Entries
in the Department contest were
winners of Territorial essay con
tests sponsored by the various
American Legion Auxiliary Units.
Winr ing the Department award
marks the second time the Ma
tanuska Valley’s contest wanner
has won the Department honor.
An essay written by Virginia
Boulter of Sutton won the 1950
Department contest.
Although the American Legion
Auxiliary no longer has a Na
tional Americanism essay contest,
many Departments have elected
to continue the contest. The De
partment of Alaska has continu
ed the essay contest ini hopes that
it will, even in a small way, con
tribute to better citizenship of
Alaska’s young people.
expected to converge on the val
ley, looking for pictures cori\
memorating the settling of the
valley 20 years ago. Residents of
the valley are requested to offer
their assistance in making the
guests feel welcome and in point
ing out particular points of in
terest to the visitors.
FRONTIERSMAN CLASSIFIEDS
ALWAYS BRING RESULTS
One pint of Matanuska Maid
COTTAGE CHEESE
with every 2 doz.
MatanukaMaid EGGS
Free Free Free
25 tickets on midnight sun excursion over Mt McKinley on June
21. Tickets given with every purchase.
1c Sale
THURSDAY - FRIDAY
SATURDAY ~ SUNDAY
LIBBY'S GARDEN
PEAS
I £ with
Effective May 20 Store hours wit I be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. week days
Sundays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.