I
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
TRY A FRONTIERSMAN
CLASSIFIED AD for that
item you may ha-re for sale,
rent or lease.
VOLUME 8. NUMBER 23
PALMER, ALASKA THURSDAY, APRIL 7. 1955
PRICE TEN CENTS
BLOOD TYPING PROGRAM SET FOR VALLEY
City Council
Proceedings
Under Territorial law the City
of Palmer is obligated to examine
the books of a company holding
a franchise within the city, it
was brought out at the April 5
meeting of the City Council. The
examination is scheduled to take
place the first of April each year.
The Matanuska Electric Associa
tion, which was granted a fran
chise in the City of Palmer by
the voters last fall, will be notif
ied of this regulation.
Members of the street depart
ment committee reported there
is little that can be done at pres
ent to better' run-off conditions
in the city. However, Councilmen
agreed that during the coming
summer considerably more work
must be done to establish proper
grades on city streets.
An itemized cost sheet was
presented the city by the Palmer
Independent School District
showing the cost of installing the
water line to the new high school.
The break down and cost sum
mary included digging, back fill,
laying line, engineering, freight,
hydrant, line and fittings, com
ing to a total of $5,471.64.
By unanimous decision, coun
cil members voted the City of
Palmer, acquire the water line
leading to the Palmer High Sch
ool at the cost of $5,471.64 and
that $1,984.56 now owed to the
City water fund by the Palmer
Independent School District as of
April 1, 1955, be applied as a
down payment on the purchase
of the said line and that all water
revenues expected from the Pal
mer Independent School District
be applied to the purchase price
until such account is paid; and
further that no interest will be
charged on the unpaid balance.
Speaking for the Matanuska
Valley Fair Association, A1 Ha
gen requested the City of Palmer
take steps to acquire a 60 ft. by
240 ft. building from the District
Engineers. The surplus building
is available, at no cost, to a
bonefide political body, such as a
municipality. Hagen suggested
the city acquire the building and
turn it over to the Fair Associa
tion for community activities and
purposes. The building could be
set up in the fairgrounds, Hagen
pointed out, and used by the en
tire community as well as the
fair association.
Following a lengthy discussion
members of the Council took the
request .under advisement and
will have further discussions at
a special meeting to be held
April 12.
Approval of building plans for
a Union Oil service station to be
erected by Swede Anderson and
Emil Larsh, was made by council
members following an examina
tion of plans as presented by the
(Continued on page 8)
Easter Lilies
Home-Grown
$2.50 for 3 bud plant
50c each additional bud
Potted, Ready to Deliver
EASTER POTTED PLANTS
• Also Table Decorations
• Easier Corsages
• Cut Flowers
• Telegraph Delivery
Service
Matcmuska Valley
Gardens
Aubrey Haines
Donates Ambulance
To Community
Ambulance service for resi
dents of the entire Matanuska
Valley region will soon be avail
able on a 24-hour basis. Thanks
to the generosity of Aubrey
Haines of the Anchorage Funeral
Home, a 1950 [Pontiac ambulance
was delivered in Palmer on Mon
day of this week. At the present
time the vehicle is being housed
and cared for by William Bou
wens until definite plans for
housing and operations are made.
The service committee of Theta
Chapter Beta Sigma Phi ap
proached Mr. Haines some weeks
ago, inquiring about a vehicle
which could be used as an am
bulance in the Palmer area.
When he learned what was need
ed he immediately offered to pur
chase an ambulance for the com
munity. Its arrival this week ful
filled his offer.
The ambulance is in excellent
condition and is equipped with a
wheeled stretcher, mattress,
blankets, sheets and pillow, and
a resusitator, valued at over $400.
The sorority this week voted to
purchase the resusitator. Al
though valued at the above men
tioned amount, through Mr.
Haines the group was able to
purchase it for only $185. Addi
tional equipment will be need
ed for the ambulance and it is
the hope of the group that other
organizations will adopt the am
bulance as a community project
and help obtain the needed fur
nishings. First aid equipment,
such as splints, roller bandages
and other items; a rubber blan
ket, and sign painting work will
be needed.
William Bouwens has donated
a siren and Police Bernard Bou
wens p spot light. Three adults
have already volunteered ser
vices as drivers. Others interested
in offering their service in this
community addition are asked to
contact William Bouwens at
Bert’s Drug store. They should
have some training in American
Red Cross first aid.
Mr. Haines stated that he had
always wanted to do something
for the valley and was happy to
be able to fill a need in the com
munity by giving this ambulance.
He stressed it is for use of the
entire community.
As stated, plans are still in the
formative stage and all sugges
tions as to how the community
may participate in the housing,
manning, caring, and mainten
ance of the vehicle will be more
than welcome.
Hugh Johnson Gets
Harvard Fellowship
Hugh A. Johnson, economist
with the Alaska Agricultural Ex
periment Station in Palmer, .was
this week notified that he has
been awarded a Littauer Fellow
ship at Harvard University Grad
uate School of Public Adminis
tration. He will devote two sem
esters of full time course work
in residence. Johnson received
his bachelor and master degrees
in agriculture from the Univer
sity of Wisconsin.
Before coming to Palmer in
1949 Johnson was stationed at
Purdue University where he
worked on cooperative projects
between the University and the
U. S. Department “of Agriculture.
Prior to this work he was with
the regional office of the Bureau
of Agriculture Economics at Mil
waukee and the regional office
at Upper Darby, Pa. He was a
staff member of the University of
Delaware and has spent time in
field work with the Bureau of
Agriculture Economics in the
east.
Since coming to Palmer John
son has taken an active interest
in community affairs. He is past
president of Kiwanis Club of
Palmer, past president of the
AAAS Cook Inlet Branch and
Alaska Division, and has partic
ipated in many civic activities.
At the present time he is work
ing on his 50th publication on
agriculture subjects.
This is our Easter wish for you.
May all the happiness of the Easter season
surround you and your family. May you re
joice anew in the miracle of spiritual rebirth.
May the glory of the Day shine brightly in
your heart throughout the year to come,
t
^^vvvs/vvvwvv^^vvvvvs^vvvvvvvvv,
I HEY KIDS!
WANT A RIDE
ON A FIRE TRUCK?
Fire Chief Ray Lancaster jj
will have a busy Saturday jj
afternoon this week. He an- I;
nounced today that on Satur- I;
day, April 9, all valley young- j;
sters will be invited to inspect !;
the City of Palmer fire hall <;
and equipment. The inspection j;
will begin at 1:30 p.m and «;
will be climaxed by a ride J;
around the city on one of the ||
fire trucks. All youngsters <[
(young or old) are invited to <!
visit the fire hall and ride on j!
a fire truck.
Chief Lancaster will demon- j!
strate various fire fighting j!
equipment and point out to ;!
the youths how they may as- j!
sist in fire prevention pro- ]j
grams. J;
MEA ANNUAL MEET
SET FOR SATURDAY
The annual membership meet
ing of the Matanuska Electric
Association will be held this
coming Saturday evening, April
9 at 8 p.m. at the Central School
gymnasium, according to an an
nouncement made by Justine M.
Parks, association president.
The Board of Directors are
hoping for a large voting attend
ance at the meeting. For mem
bers who are unable to attend,
proxy forms were mailed this
week. According to the associa
tion’s by-laws qualified voting
member is entitled to vote three
proxies besides his own vote.
Anyone unable to attend may
give his proxy to a voting mem
ber who will attend and vote.
The program this year will be
offered by the Boy Scouts of the
MEA area—Palmer, Wasilla, and
Chugiak. The program will con
sist of a Court of Honor.
Several, valuable prizes have
been received and will be award
ed during the meeting. Each vot
ing member attending the meet
ing will be given one ticket at
the door. Prizes to be awarded
include a Hurri-hot cup form the
RT&E Company of Spokane;
Westinghouse steam iron from
Westinghouse Company; Toast
master from Line Material Com
pany of Anchorage; a quarter
inch Thor drill frpm Yukon
Equipment Co. of Anchorage;
three checks in the amount of
$25, $15, and $10 from the Oeser
Cedar Co. of Bellingham and one
(Continued on page 8)
Getting an Easter Bonnet?
Why not have your hair styled
first and 'be ready for spring.
Evening appointments
Available
VALLEY BEAUTY SHOP
Co-Op Shopping Area
600 Attend First
Merchant Exhibit
And Motor Show
Approximately 600 persons at
tended the first annual Mer
chants Exhibition and Motor
Show held in Palmer on April 2
and 3. Visitors were treated to
free samples, chances at prizes,
several hours of entertainment,
and an opportunity to see a dis
play ot the valley’s new cars,
trucks, tractors ,home appliances
and other items.
Although poor weather is be
lieved to have prevented a larger
attendance, Whitey Pullen, show
manager, said this week the show
was definitely a success and
hopes it will be the for-runner
of like shows in years to come.
He expressed his appreciation to
the many individuals and busi
ness firms who assisted in mak
ing the show a success.
Winners of five gallons each of
Matanuska Maid ice cream were
Eroll McElory and Weil ter Phil
lips of phlmer. The ice cream
was donated by the Matanuska
Valley Farmers Cooperating As
sociation.
Palmer Piggly-Wiggly store
awarded two hams during the
show. Holders of tickets number
ed 2705 and 2745 are requested
to turn their ticket in at the
store and receive their hams.
Also ticket holder number 078146
won 15 gallons of gas and a
grease job donated by Kirk’s
Sales and Service. This prize also
may be collected by turning in
the ticket at Kirk’s
Among local merchants dis
playing at the show were Brook’s
Equipment, Minnesota Woolen
Mills, Piggly-Wiggly store, Bice’s
Bakery, Palmer Baking Com
pany, Koslosky’s Department
store, M. V. F. C. A. Warehouse,
Creamery, and Garage, Kirk’s
Sales and Service, Hartley Mot
ors, Inc. and Women of the
Moose, Palmer Band Boosters
and the ladies aid of St. John’s
Lutheran Church conducted con
cession booths. The latter organ
ization also sold home made
pastries.
Free entertainment was pro
vided by Whitey’s Western
Swingsters.
Colony Day Program
Indicates Biggest
Celebration Ever
A progress report on the May
29 Colony Day celebration to be
held in Palmer was made at the
April 6 Matanuska Valley Cham
ber of Commerce meeting by
Jim Hurley, Colony Day general
chairman.
Plans indicate that the 20th
anniversary of the colonization
of the Matanuska Valley will be
one of the biggest observances
of that event. A full-day pro
gram is shaping up, beginning
with a parade in which all or
ganizations and businesses will
be invited to enter floats, with
valuable cash prizes for the win
ners. Ed Smith is chairman of
the parade committee and should
be contacted for particulars.
A. L. Smith, barbeque chair
man, has arnounct x that ar
rangements have been made for
the beef and that those attend
ing will be trea'ed to the best
in barbequed h of. Other events,
still in tentative stages, include
a bicycle race from Wasilla; hot
rod display; military display;
games, contests and races; food
concessions; riding club partici
pation and others.
A booklet is being prepared
for the printers that will tell the
complete story of the coloniza
tion of the Matanuska Valley. In
addition to the valuable informa
tion and interesting pictures,
the booklet will carry a listing
of all area business firms. Part
of the booklet will be reproduced
and serve as a program for those
attending the celebration. The
booklets will be sold as souven
irs of the 20th anniversary.
Chamber President Everett
Adams requested this week that
all local businesses plan to Re
main open during the Colony
Day celebration to enable the
many hundred visitors expected
in the valley to shop around and
see what the valley of today has
to offer.
NO RESTRICTIONS
YET ON LOCAL ROADS
No information has yet been
received at the local Road Com
mission office pertaining to load
restrictions on highways in this
area.
However, road restrictions on
two main highways, the Seward
Anchorage and Seward high
ways, were announced this past
week end.
Limitations on other highways
are expected to be imposed soon.
One-Hour Parking
Signs Erected This Week
Police Chief Bernard Bouwens
this week erected new parking
signs in the post office area.
Parking in front of the business
section from the corner at Bert’s
Drug store to the Wasilla road
will be limited to one hour time.
Motorists are asked to cooperate
in observing the parking regula
tions throughout the city.
With the addition of the sec
ond generator at the Eklutna
project, the powerhouse is now
at its full capacity of 30,000 kilo
watts. The second of the two
huge generators was cut in this
week, according to L. J. Wiley,
project engineer.
KIWANIANS SPONSOR
AREA-WIDE PROGRAM
OTHERS TO ASSIST
All valley residents, from the
Knik Bridge to Wasilla and Sut
ton, who have never been blood
typed or who do not know their
blood type and RH factor, are
urged to take advantage of a
blood-typing program tentatively
set for Friday, April 29, under the
sponsorship of the Kiwanis Club
of Palmer. Cy Fahnestock has
been named Kiwanis chairman of
the project and will be assisted
by committee members Jack
Flint and Bill Kelleigh. The pro
gram will be conducted in the
basement of Ceneral School in
Palmer and in Wasilla. Residents
of the highway and farm areas
will be asked to attend which
ever program is nearest home.
Members of the Matanuska
Valley Nurses Association have
volunteered to assist with the
required nursing help and Theta
Chapter Beta Sigma Phi has vol
unteered help for typing and
clerical work, Fahnestock said
this week.
The primary purpose of the
blood-typing program is to pro
vide the local hospital with a list
of persons with known blood
types and RH factors, willing to
act as donors if the need arose,
Fahnestock said today. “Just as
important is the fact that blood
type and RH factor serve as ex
cellent identification—by having
this information for an injured
person much valuable time can
be saved in finding a donor”, he
pointed out.
Fahnestock pointed out that
only persons over 16 years of age
serve as donors. Younger chil
dren should be typed in case of
accident or injury where they
might need a transfusion, he
said. The blood typing program
also is a vital part of Civil De
fense program to prepare for all
eventualities.
Consent slips will be sent
home to parents of school chil
dren and must be returned prior
to the program. All persons who
do not know their type and RH
factor are urged to participate.
A charge of 25 cents per person
will be made to cover the ex
pense costs of the program. This
slight charge will include a
blood-type identification card
which may be carried in a bill
fold. An additional 11 cents will
provide a “dog tag” identifica
tion.
Members of the Greater Pal
mer Civil Defense organization
are expected to participate in the
program to some degree, possibly
in transportation. Additional in
formation will be publicized
prior to April 29.
U. P. LADIES AID
BAKE SALE
SAT., APRIL 9 — 10 A.M.
GRASSERS' HARDWARE
Notice
ALASKA TV SERVICE CO.
Formerly located in Koslosky's Basement
Now Located in
Ken Foster Building
Glenn Highway
Across from Kirks' Sales
| Meet Your Friends at T & T Sourdough Bar <1
FREE COCKTAIL HOUR 7-8 P.M.
SATURDAY, APRIL 9TH
HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYOHE