eather
High Low Precip.
an. 1 28 20
an. 2 .28 14
an. 3 . 20 0 .03
an. 4 20 13 Trace
an. 5 25 14 .10
an. 6 .30 19 .13
an. 7 . 35 28 .67
Seward — Record
77/e Gateway City of Interior Alaska Since 1903.
Seward’s All-IP eather Port is Alaska’s Greatest Assct.
Only newspaper In the
world that gives a hoot
about Seward, Alaska.
X.
No. 28
SEWARD, ALASKA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1954
Price 10 Cents
[New City Manager
:xpresses Desire For
'Superhuman' Ability
A large number of members
lat tended Chamber of Commerce
lat the noon meeting last Tues
[day to meet Raymond O'Hara,
|thc new city manage r. Mr.
jO'Hara surprised them by mak
jing a speech of about two sen
j tences. First remarking about
the warm hospitality shown him
,and his family upon arrival and
I then hoping for "superhuman”
I ability.
Mr. Malm reported on the
Seward. Nebraska fund. He was
to leave for Anchorage on the
afternoon plane to make ar
rangements for plane transpor
tation for the group. It would
cost approximately $12,300 for
the entire trip, Mr. Malin staled,
about half of which is to be
made up by sale of round trip
tickets for Seward, Alaska pas
sengers who plan to make the
trip with the basketball team.
Tommy Bie reported that a
total of $1370 has been contrib
uted to the Boy Scout fund.
Ray Lee, chairman of a com
mittee appointed to contact the
city council on the possibility
of extending the salt water fire
main to a point past the school
building, reported that the coun
cil turned it over to Mr. O'Hara
for consideration.
It was announced that the
firm of Bari & Wright, contrac
tors, have been engaged by Tne
Alasxa Railroad to make tne
survey of Seward docks and de
cide where the new dock is to be
located. A member of the firm,
probably Mr. Bari, is expected
to arrive sometime this month.
Jesse Lee News
By Tommy Dillard
tDue to early publication last
week, this column was received
too late to use.)
The holy season of Christ's
rfjirth was ushered in by a tra
xlitio tal t .1 j • '• .1 U at Sund iy
School, at which the eiuldren
played the parts of shepherds,
angels, and wise men.
On Wednesday evening chil
dren and staff gathered in our
own chapel tor a vesper carol
service. Next morning brought
all the thrills and excitement of
starting on the long anticipated
trip to Anchorage. Chrisimas
Eve the older children and staff
attended the candlelight service
at church. The remainder of the
vacation has been a time of
gaiety.
With the children back from
Anchorage, the empty halls are
again their normal, teeming
selves. There is much to cause
excitement, with the new things
•'Santa ' brought during the va
cation trip. The Anchorage fam
ilies showed the kids a wonder
lul time, and they returned full
of reports on everything from
parties to midnight television
programs!
A fitting climax for the past
week's events was a Sunday
School party held in the base
ment ol the Methodist Church
here Wednesday night. Mickey
Mouse. Donald Duck and Rev.
Charles Malin dominated the en
tertainment program, with ice
cream and punch running a close
second. The cones seemed to be
inexhaustable. There were sec
onds, thirds and, in some cases,
fourths!
Two free movies and the reg
ular Saturday movie provided
more activity this week, espe
cially for the older ones who
did not go to Anchorage.
The A girls entertained with
a “slumberless” party Monday
night at which, including guests,
about 15 girls made merry until
the “wee” hours. Let it not be
said that they made up for lost
sleep the next morning, but
when they reached the lunch
table very little food disappear
ed and there was much talk of
bacon and eggs!
The next morning was “turn
about,” and the boys got to
“sleep in” while the girls got
up and took care of the chores.
Unlike the girls, most of them
did not even appear at the lunch
table, and the few who did made
it known they had come only for
the “fellowship.”
Altogether, for us, this has
been a blessed season, thanks to
all the wonderful people who
have made a real Christmas pos
sible, believing the oft quoted,
“ ’Tis more noble to give than
to receive.” We are grateful,
and wish each and every one a
most abundantly blessed New
Year.
Mr. Bud West has gone Out
side for a vacation.
Alaska-Nebraska
Fund Progress
SEWARD QUEEN TICKETS
ON SALE MONDAY
Ticket votes for selection of
the basketball queen will be on
sale in most of Seward stores
next Monday. One vote for each
$1.00 purchase will be given.
No names have been offered as
candidate; purchasers are re
quested to name their own can
didate from among the girls in
Seward school. Periodical counts
will show a trend from which
some names will begin to lead,
thus giving voters a chance to
pile up a majority for their fav
orite.
A large and interesting dis
play by the high school art class
is causing quite a sensation in
the window of Seward Hardware
store. This is in connection with
the contest and well worth see
ing.
The travel fund now stands
at a little over $1500.
BENEFIT BOWLING
BRINGS IN $160
Net proceeds from the bene
fit bowling matches held at
Dreamland Bowl last week
amounted to $100. First prize
of $25 is held for the bowr-on
or a Ue between Jim McSwain
and George Contra who both
scored 241. The playoli is ex
pected tins weekend.
Third place in the mens handi
cap league class went to Brown
ie Rogers who scored 240.
^John Paulsteiner, Sr., took
first prize in the open class
games with a score of 221. Boo
Hendricks made 213 and Sam
McDowell scored 208 for third
prize.
Donna Martin made first in
the Women's Handicap League
class with a score of 212; Inger
Watsjold. second place, scored
182; followed closely for third
by a tie between Helen Prietoe
and Dianna McKay with scores
of 181. They divided the prize
instead of making a play-off.
Second prize offered for the
events was 15 bowling tickets,
with 10 tickets as third prize.
The Elks Club will show the
Seward, Nebraska, film next
Wednesday at 9 p.m. in the club
rooms. This is a sound film taken
on the Nebraskans' trip here last
year and also shows other activi
ties of the Nebraska city.
On Friday, January 15, Ralph
Andrews of the Andrews’ Out
floor Store will donate one-third
of his day's business to the fund.
CATHOLIC WOMEN
PLAN ACTIVITIES
A bake sale to be held Sat
urday, January 16, and a public
card party for Monday, January
125, were two important items on
the calendar when 11 members
of the Catholic Ladies met at the
home of Mrs. M, J. Bauer, 215
Second Avenue, January 4.
Due to Holiday activities, the
regular first Saturday bake sale
was put forward to January 16,
when Mesdames Ann Stanwyck,
Bauer and Robert Duffy will be
present to serve the public. All
ladies wishing to have their do
nations picked up may call Ad
ams 29 or Adams 22, or dona
tions may be taken directly to
Werner’s Market before 10 a.m.
It was voted to turn all pro
ceeds from the regular monthly
public card party in to the
March of Dimes fund. This party
will be held as usual, in the rec
tory, January 25th, with Mes
dames Logan Varnell and Her
man Leirer hostesses, and Mes
dames George Lesko and Ben
White the refreshment commit
tee.
A vote of thanks to all those
who helped renovate the church
and rectory prior to Christmas
was given by Father Custer and
Mrs. Ginger Gay. Mrs. Gay head
ed the women's cleanup com
mittee.
Tentative plans for the annual
Saint Patrick’s Day festivities
were discussed with Mesdames
William Ryan, Lesko, Bauer and
Gay as committeemen.
Mrs. Ann Lacey was wel
comed as a new member.
Other business being quickly
disposed of, members adjourned
for an evening of entertainment.
Mr. and Mrs. Ted Bristow
have returned from Portland
where Mrs. Bristow has been
visiting since Thanksgiving. Her
husband went out Christmas and
they returned together.
Seahawks Go To
Anchorage Series
Shorthanded
Seward Seahawks and a large
delegation of basketball fans
will be in Anchorage Friday and
Saturday nights for the most
hotly contested games of the
season.
The team and pep squad left
this afternoon by car and bus.
Several carloads of fans also
left today to be there in time
for the first game, and others
plan to go on Saturday.
Gene Boe, big forward, is ill
with flu and cannot play which
will cause a serious break in
the line.
CORDOVA GAME FIRST
IN MANY YEARS
The first interchange of scho
lastic games between Cordova
and Seward in many years will
begin next week end. The Cor
dova basketball quint will arrive
via Cordova Airlines to play
here next Friday and Saturday.
This is not a conference game
as Cordova is not a member of
the Railbelt conference. It is.
however, the first attempt to es
tablish relations with the neigh
bor city. Coach Deward Halsey
will accompany the Cordova
five. It is not known whether
Mr. Fenner, school superintend
ent will come or not. The return
game will be played in Cordova
next month.
LT. EASTON TRANSFERRED
TO EAST COAST
Lt. Glenn II. Easton, Jr.,
U. S. N. ti., Officerm-Ciiarge 01
the Naval Control ot Shipping
Ottice, has received ins orders
transferring him pack to the
states and will leave wnn his
wife and family for Seattle on
the mid-January sailing ji the
SS Baranof. Alter a tram trip
across tne continent, Lv. and
Mrs. Easton will visit their fam
ilies in New York and Philadel
phia, whom they have not seen
tor over three years. In March,
after the completion of his leave,
Lt. Easton expects to be assigned
to the Navy's new Training and
Administration of Reserves pro
gram somewhere on the East
Coast.
Tiie Eastons have been in Sew
ard for nearly forty months and
regret leaving very much, as
they have formed many lasting
friendships among the people of
Seward. Lt. Easton is a member
of the local Masonic and Elks
lodges and Mrs. Easton has been
active in the Eastern Star and
in church work in Seward.
Lt. Walter B. Wentz, U.S.N.R ,
the present Communication Offi
cer, has been designated by tne
Navy Department to relieve-Lt.
Easton as Officer-in-Gharge and
Lt. (jg) Donald O. Johnson has
been ordered to Seward from
the States as the new Communi
cation Officer. The rest of the
staff of the Naval Control -of
Shipping Office will remain the
same. Lt. Easton is the last of
the “plankholders" (those who
established the office) to leave
Seward.
Masons Elect Officers
Seward Lodge No. 219, F. &
A. M. recently elected and ap
pointed the following officers
for 1954:
Leland A. Miller, Worshiptul
Master; George V. Green, Sen
ior Warden: Irwin L. Metcalf,
Junior Warden: Delbert L. Rob
bins, Treasurer; Thomas E. How
ell, Secretary.
Patrick K. Hodgkinson, Sen
ior Deacon, Howard M. Chris
tenson, Junior Deacon; Oliver
J. Amend, Junior Steward; L.
Russell Clapp, Chaplain; Harold
W. Campen, Marshal; Guy P.
Kearns, Tyler.
The Senior Steward's station
will be filled at a later date.
Stated communications are held
on the first and third Tuesdays
■of every month, at 8:00 p.m. at
the lodge hall in the McMullen
Building.
"EXERCISE NORTH STAR,"
FEBRUARY 15-28
Exercise North Star, joint
Army-Air Force Arctic maneu
vers, will be held in Alaska
February 15 through 28. The
purpose of the training exercise
is to test Alaskan air and ground
defense and to provide Arctic
training for certain Army and
Air Force units stationed in the
continental United States.
Participating in addition to
Alaskan troops will be elements
of the Army 44th Infantry Divi
sion and the Air Force Tactical
Air Command and Strategic Air
Command, under the over all
command of Lt. General Atkin
son, Command in Chief, Alaska.
MEASLES NEAR
EPIDEMIC St AGE
Incidence of ri ;ular measles
in the city is rapidly approach
ing epidemic stagi according to
reports from the sc 100I. It is con
fined mainly ti elementary
school children, however, with
few absences in high school at
tributed to the disease.
School will not be closed un
less absence caused by measles
'reaches 20 per cent, Superin
tendent Carlson stated. Although
if school were clo ed, it would
do little to stop contagion unless
children are also excluded from
the movie and other public gath
ering places. •
NOTICE
Commissioner Anna B. South
ard said today that purchase of
new 1954 car license tabs is be
ing delayed in a number of
cases because applicants fail to
bring their old registration
cards.
It is no longer necessary to
produce title to the car, but a
last year's registration card is
necessary.
Legion To Sponsor
March of Dimes
The Child Welfbre Committee
of American Legion and Aux
iliary will sponsor the March of
Dimes fund campaign in Sew
ard. Other organizations plan
activities to raise money, also.
Mary Sloeckle, Alaska De
partment Cha'rman of the Com
mittee, announced the following
schedule of events for the Aux
iliary:
Thursday, January 14. xa 11 Dro
ceeds from the weekly game
session at the Legion Club will
go to March of Dimes.
Sunday, January 17, Dinner
at Legion Club.
Friday, January 22. Jam ses
sion.
Tuesday, .January 26. Chinese
auction.
Saturday, January 30, Presi
dent’s ball, semi-lormal dance
at the Civic Center.
Telephone Case
Again Postponed
The second postponement this
week was asked by Attorney
Arnell for Alaska Telephone
Corporation in the hearing of
City of Seward versus ATC.
The first hearing was post~
poned from January (i to Janu
ary 8 at 11 a.m. Today, January
3. another postponement was
granted until 11 a.m. Monday,
January 11.
FIRST NEW YEAR BABY IN
11 YEARS IN HOSPITAL
The first actual New Year's
Baby to be born in Seward Gen
eral Hospital since 1943 was
born at 5:28 a.m. January 1,
1954. The parents, Mr. and Mrs.
James G. Aylen, live at Mile 3
on the highway. This is the
second New Year baby to be
born in Sewarcl Hospital since
it was opened in the present
building in 1930.
To honor the New Year Baby,
Seward stores made many gifts.
While mother and baby were in
the hospital they received a $5
trade certificate from McMul
len's; $5 00 in cash from Mara
thon Bakery; $5.00 savings ac
count by First National Bank:
$5.00 trade certificate from Ur
bach's; $10 savings account from
Durant’s; baby dress from the
Fashion Cache; set of gown and
shirt from the Blue Shop: case
of milk from Werner’s Market;
silver cup from O’Brien’s: blan
ket from Werner's Furniture;
ease of milk from Seward Trad
ing Co.; a trade certificate for
the mother from Vina's Beauty
Shop; flowers from the Alaska
Shop.
No doubt other gifts have been
received from commercial hous
es by the family since they left
the hospital but no list was
available today.
HAZEL BROSSOW WORTHY
ADVISOR RAINBOW GIRLS
Hazel Brossow was elected
worthy advisor, the highest of
fice in Rainbow, at the regular
election of officers held Thurs
day night. Associate worthy ad
visor is Murlene Trevethan.
Janice Frampton was elected
Charity; Audney Horton, Hope,
and Lura Peck, Faith.
Carol Ann Trevethan was
elected recorder and Patsy Bates
treasurer. Mrs. Tom Howell will
be Mother Advisor again, with
Mrs. Woody Mahurin as Associ
ate Mother Advisor. Mr. Ma
hurin is Father Advisor. All of
ficers will be installed next
Thursday evening in tire Masonic
Temple.
SEWARD SCHOOL
ACCREDITED IN
NORTHWEST ASS’N.
Seward High School is among
the top eight Alaska schools to
receive accreditation by the
Northwest Association of Secon
dary and Higher Schools last
year, according to Don Dafoe,
Territorial commissioner of edu
cation.
Accreditation means that gra
duates from these approved
schools receive full credit for
secondary school work when ap
plying for college entrance with
in the Northwest region. The re
quirements for schools to be ac
credited are high. Seward has
complied with them all, but it
is advised that the librarian
should have five more credits
and that Mrs. Grace Campen,
as principal, should not carry a
heavy teaching schedule.
Members of the school board
expressed satisfaction and pride
in the local school situation.
Radio Man Escapes
injury on Highway
Joel Buffington, manager of
radio station K1BH. tells how
he escaped injury when his car
skidded off the road and turned
over about two miles south of
Girdwood Monday morning.
He was driving at about 35
miles an hour along a sharp un
banked curve, Buffington says,
when he skidded suddenly. The
car made two complete turns on
the road before toppling off and
down an almost vertical drop of
about 40 feet, turning complete
ly over once and landing on its
wheels. The driver and his pas
sengers, Mr. and Mrs. Lynn
Stover of Anchorage, all in the
front seat, were unhurt. A pass
ing car took the Stovers back
to Anchorage and Mr. Buffing
ton went into Girdwood to call a
towing car.
Buffington was walking to the
north end of the curve to place
a flare when an Alaska Freight
Lines tractor and semi-trailer
van swung into the curve. The
driver began applying brakes
but the van swayed and veered
back and forth across the road,
hitting the wrecker which had
been working on the ditched car,
spinning it around in the road,
and finally the trailer van itself
plunged over the same embank
ment about 200 feet beyond.
They expected the truck driver
to be killed, Buffington says, but
he too was uninjured. Edward
W. Montgomery, driver of the
freight truck, had a record of
700,000 miles without an acci
dent. Buffington has been driv
ing for 21 years, also without
an accident, and both rerget the
loss of their record.
Mr. Buffington was most in
dignant at an article in an An
chorage paper describing the ac
cident and saying his car went
into a "d i t c h.” “If that is a
ditch,” the Seward man exclaim
ed, “then I never want to see
anything w o r s e.” Preliminary
estimate of damage to his car
was placed at $1000. Damages
to the wrecker truck and to the
freight truck have not been
stated.
Girl
Scout
News
Troop 4 has started the new
year with Mrs. Alice Christensen
as leader and Mrs. Ruth Brown
assistant leader. Judy Riker was
elected patrol leader, Jane Phil
lips, treasurer; Barbara Vaughn
and Carol Simard scribes.
Girls will complete their bas
ketry badge before making plans
for an International Month pro
ject.
Brownie Troop 3 has started
Kits for Korea for their Inter
national Month project. They
will study Scouting activities in
other countries.
The Girl Scout Leaders Club
met Monday night and discussed
plans for the spring. These in
clude birthday and Community
Service projects and the Cookie
Sale scheduled in March. All
girls and leaders are urged to
pay their $1 yearly registration
this month.
Troop 3 met Wednesday and
each girl made out her chart of
badges to earn to complete re
quirements for First Class. The
girls plan to make Valentine
favors for their Community
Service project.
Reporter's
Notebook
The Fire Department was
called out three times this week.
One time it was not a fire but
need for the emergency truck.
On Tuesday, a stove exploded in
a warmup shack near the Army
dock. Another small blaze in the
city garage called firemen out
early on Wednesday morning.
The Nurses invite all first aid
trained people and instructors to
a meeting in the Nurses Resi
dence on First Avenue next Mon
day at 8 p.m. The question of
treatment of injuries in case of
atomic attack will be discussed,
and whether enough interest can
be found in Seward to siudy the
matter either in cooperation
with civil defense or as an ad
ditional emergency measure on
the part of nurses and first aid
ers. The public is urged to at
tend.
Mr. and Mrs. Bud Lovell and
the children expect to leave next
week for their new home in Ar
kansas. With them will be Mrs.
Mike Stevens and the three Ste
vens children. Mr. Stevens will
leave when property is disposed
of.
Mrs. A. H. Mattson, her son,
Pvt. Richard Mattson, and two
younger children, Darlene and
Gary, spent the holidays in Sew
ard. Richard has returned to Ft.
Richardson but the rest of the
family will remain here.
Mrs. Hazel Ruth Sheidler and
Keith Eugene liursh, both of
Kenai, were married here on
New Year's Eve by Rev. Dwight
Boe. Mrs. Hursh is public health
nurse at Kenai.
E. V. Danforth is back in Sew
ard. He is the former chief of
police of Fairbanks and before
that was a patrolman on the
Seward police force.
Richard Van Guilder was back
in town all dressed up in Uncle
Sam's uniform last week. He has
now returned to training at Fort
Richardson.
Linda Norton left last Monday
with her grandmother, Mrs. Her
bert J. Cox, for Portland. Ore
gon. They were here for the
holidays. Mrs. Cox is the mother
of Mrs. Russell Norton and Mrs.
Harold Davis.
Mrs. Ross Miller of Hope has
been visiting with Mr. and Mrs.
Homer Boe. She is a former resi
dent of Seward.
Mrs. Boe took some of the
high school girls to Anchorage
Friday afternoon for the basket
ball games.
Some concern was felt here
Friday morning about the Sea
hawks basketball team. They
were thought to have encounter
ed the slide near Girdwood, and
by morning had failed to tele
phone home about their safe ar
rival, as some of the boys had
promised to do. It was learned
later, however, that phone lines
were down because of the slide.
A bus load of kids left at 4
p.m. Friday for the games in
Anchorage. It seemed doubtful
to many parents that they would
arrive in time for the first game
at 8 o'clock tonight, but they
left anyway.
The Business & Professional
Women's Club will hold its an
nual dinner meeting at 6:15 in
the home of Mrs. Phil Harding,
107 Adams Street. This is jus1,
across Adams Street from the
Episcopal Church. All members
who cannot attend are asked to
notify Mrs. Harding or call
Juanita Everitt. Plates will be
set for all who do not call.
An IQ test given high school
students last week showed that
a large percentage of Seward
students are above average and
six exceotional, having made a
score of 145 out of a possible
150.
The regular meeting of Sew
ard Volunteer Ambulance Corps
will be at 8 p.m., Jan. 12, in the
Fire Hall. New officers will be
installed.
Mr. Charles Lechner did not
spend Christmas alone, even
though he was away from home.
He sends word that Mrs. Viola
Swetmann, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Har
wood, and the Harry Balderstons
drove from Riverside, Calif., and
Leucadia, Calif., to spend the
day and have dinner together
with him at Desert Hot Springs.
Freight Van Goes Off
Snow River Bridge
Injuring Driver
The third accident on icy
roads in as many days involving
trucks of Alaska Freight Lines
occurred at about 3 a.m. Wednes
day. A truck and trailer van
plunged off the north end of
Snow River bridge when it fail
ed to make the -sharp turn.
Archie Berck, Anchorage man,
driver, was pinned in the cab
and seriously injured.
Vern Hoffman and Jim Kirk
patrick responded to a call for
the ambulance received about
five o'clock. They assisted in the
rescue of Berck, but put the
stretcher into another truck for
transportation to Seward Gen
eral Hospital. The truck was
equipped with mattresses and
the ambulance was having radi
ator trouble. It was thought the
patient would have a more cer
tain ride in the truck.
Other freight truck drivers
discovered the accident and
were working to extricate the
driver within a short time of the
accident. Reports from the hos
pital at noon today are to the ef
fect that Mr. Berck is “resting
comfortably." He suffered frac
tures of the nose and pelvis and
internal injuries.
Cars, Truck, Van In
Tieup At Clear Creek
Shortly after noon last Sun
day an Alaska Freight Lines
trailer van tangled with a pick
up truck owned by Ben Suddath
and two Ford cars. It seemed
almost miraculous that no one
was injured in the smash up,
that left one car and the truck
in what appeared to be a total
loss and the van in the ditch.
One car, driven by I. Kalmikof,
was headed north and most ser
iously damaged.
Witnesses told reporters that
the van passed another of the
company's huge vans northbound
at Clear Creek bridge and in
an apparent attempt to slow
down began to whip across the
icy curve, moments later had
struck the other cars, at least
one of which was parked, then
jumped the embankment and
lodged in the ditch. Suddath
said that he saw what was hap
pening and ran to a snow bank
out of danger before his truck
was hit.
In no time a crowd assembled
to stand in the 20 degree cold
to watch efforts to release the
big van from its nearly vertical
position, which took several
hours of hard work.
Townsmen Entertain
Dock Engineers
Mr. A. W. Earl and Norvin J.
Lewis, engineers l'rom the firm
of Earl & Wright, San Francisco,
arrived here Wednesday. They
were entertained by about 20
townspeople and Chamber of
Commerce members Thursday
night.
After a social gathering at the
Elks Club, the party went to
Gabe's for dinner. The engineers
questioned people as to their
opinions on the proper location
•of the docks and other pertinent
subjects.
The firm of Earl & Wright lias
been engaged by The Alas ta
Railroad to survey the dock situ
ation and decide upon the proper
location for new facilities. In ad
dition to local opinion the Rail
road also requested informat.on
from skippers and pilots c" sh ps
putting in at Seward. All the
compiled .information, including
results of test pile driving, are
at the disposal of the engineers.
What concerns Sewardites most
is the evidence of activity along
these lines.