Published every Saturday at Kodiak, Alaska
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THE ISLAND PUBLISHING COMPANY
Box 1307, Kodiak, Alaska ^
Sig J. Digree, Editor and Publisher
l Betha Digree, Executive Secretary
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use or republica
tion of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in
this paper and also the local news published herein.
Statehood at Long Last
f Alaska has emerged overnight as the 49th state of the Union.
v "This vast and sprawling land whose destiny not too long ago
* sseemed that of a territory for many years to come, now will take its
place; as an integral part of our great nation, and its star placed in
the beautiful galaxy of clustering stars on the American flag.
What ofithe fu*ii»? It is small wonder the statesmen of our land
hesitated for 42 .yeans in making the historic move—for there is no
j-urnihg back once t^ve decision was made-—it is irrevocable.
3 ^ IRREVOCABLE
ft is irredbcaMdMr. Alaskans, too. We can take pride in our vast
Land—its towering • mountain peaks, its glaciers, its vast and un
^ualed scenery* itk abundance of wild animals and fish, its store*
Imtise of potential wealth—no longer should we stand simply awed
hy this great heritage
Fearsome and spine-tingling as they may be in contemplation—
live have noW to think of the future—and the price of statehood. No
longer should we depend on a beneficient uncle to pay our way.
We have untold wealth which is so little explored. We have hut to
reach in our own pockets-^figuratively speaking—and pay our way.
•Minerals there are; and of course, oil* New coal explorations are
uow underway; the- highest metallurgicatchrome in North America,
ds beiiig Mined at Red Mountain: Platihuhrls being drawn from the
Chores of Bristol Bay; new copper deposits are being worked, with
^uranium explorations going on and iron-ore fields looming. Agricul
ture, too, must take its place in Alaska’s future economy.
1 Control of this land, the right to open it to industry as we choose,
^iemonstratifig to the skeptic our abiliy to choose wisely, realistically
jmd practically, in guiding the future of the youngest state in the
>iniohf is our responsibility.
f Men don't come to. Alaska without the pioneer spirit They don’t
«tay in Alaska without the fortitude needed in overcoming obstacles,
irhe future years, won’t be for weaklings. God grant that we measure
iip to our responsibilities. *
Vandals on Rampage
r Windows were broken over the
Weekend in the biiildftlg housing
‘1 he pumps at the dty reservoir.
A pattern of bullet holes was
?woven by s 22 calibre pistol,
jirotn a distance of 6 to 8 feet, in
the building housing the chlorina
tk>n equipment This building fc
.located several hundred feet from
jthe pump house.
Both of these- acts -op v^daHsnr
were more th r likely dor ? by di?
forent* people ^he oitv ** u ^
the evidence points to gntiwn&gK
or older boys who committee
them. Whoever they may be, w<
wonder how proud they muff
have felt to accomplish the destruc
tion. The huge rocks thrown into
the pump house showed clearly
the intent was not only to break
windows, but the pumps and
equipment .too.
Why? No one will ever know
unless equipped with the same
lame-brains of people who destroy
just for the sake of destroying.
The gun wielder forgot or maybe
hoped someone was in the build
ir.g when he shot through the
door.
1 " The two areas in question have
L been placed out of bounds to all,
! and anyone found within the area
t will be prosecuted.
ALASKA’S FLAG
Eight stars of gold on a field of
blue
Alaska’s flag, may it mean, to you
The blue of the sea, the evening
sky,
T'he mountain lakes, and flowers
(near-by;
The gold of the early sourdough’s
dreams,
The precious gold of the hills and
streams; s
The brilliant stars of the Northern
sky,
The “Bear”, the "Dipper” and,
shining high.
The great North Star with its
steady light.
Over land and sea a beacon
bright,
Alaska’s flag—to Alaskans dear,
The simple flag of a last frontier.
—Marie Drake
Miss Drake has put into verse a
beautiful interpretation of
Alaska's flag, and its symbolism.
The original designer of that flag,
Beinny Benson, now lives in Kodi
ak. As a boy of 13* he captured the
beauty and feeling of this great
land* and the sky above, and put
on paper what he feels today is a
fitting design for the flag of the
49th state in the Union.
•Chosen from 142 entries, in a
contest sponsored by the American
Legion, Benny Benson’s design
was selected by a committee con
sisting of two senators, two repre
sentatives from the Alaskan legis
lature, and three residents of
Alaska. The original design is now
in the museum at Juneau. His
flag was beautifully drawn and
executed* but it was the original
ifcy of his design and its symbolism
that won for him first place.
The official flag is eight gold
stars in a field of blue. Scrolled
in childish handwriting on the
original design are the words:
“The blue field is for the Alaskan
sky and the for-get-me-not an
Alaskan flower.
The north star is for the future
state of Alaska, the most northerly
of the Union. The dipper is for
the Great Bear or Symbolizing
strength.”
It is evident that this boy of 13,
a native of Alaska, already sensed
Alaska becoming a state. Later he
was present at the signing cere
monies when Alaska’s constitution
was adopted, in Fairbanks, Feb
ruary, 1956. He received a stand
ing ovation from the crowd in
attendance.
The flag designer favors state
hood for Alaska and thinks we’ll
be able /to work out our problem.
Asked if he would have designed
the flag differently* if he had to
do it over again, his answer came
in a tone of complete’ simplicity
and modesty: "No, I think it fitting
for Alaska.”
The American Legion, as a
special honor, presented Benny
with a gold watch. It is made of
native gold. Benny’s design is
enameled jon the back, the stars
are tiny gold nuggets and the staff
is made .of the same. The inscrip
tion on the /back is as follows:
“Awarded to Benny Benson,
Seward, Alaska, as first prize jn
American Legion Alaska flag,
design contest, whose design was
accepted by Alaska^ its official
flag.”
He has lived in Kodiak since
1949. He is employed by Bob Hall’s
Kodiak Airways as Procurement
Supervisor.
Griffin Memorial
Hospital Notes
—ADMISSIONS—
Those admitted to Griffin
Memorial Hospital this week were
John Bremer, Ludwig Haugan,
skipper of the Westward, and Gary
Clifton.
—DISCHARGES—
Those discharged were Mrs.
Janet Soleim and infant, Mrs. Mary
Selen and infant* Nick Wolkoff,
John Morrison, Pryce'Harriman
Willie Hines and Rol&nd Enger
ran.
—BIRTHS—
Robert Alan, weighing 7 lbs. 14
ozs., was born on June 29 to Faye
and A1 Choinard.
Soap Box Derby
Keenly Contested
Trials have been conducted from
the newly painted and faster
starting ramp for the keenly con
tested soap box derby to be held
on the 4th of July. Walt Muller, in
charge of the competition, states
the trials have been conducted
every evening, weather permitting.
Most of Sunday afternoon was
devoted to the trials.
The paint job on the ramp,
which is higher than that used
last year, was done by Albert
Norris and Oscar Datson on their
own time.
Some fast times are being chalk
ed up, due to the new height with
about 20 riders in the competition.
The races will be run off from 3
p.m. to 4 p.m.
A $50 award will go to the cham
pion of the derby. Five prizes will
be awarded in all. Second prize
is $40 and the amounts for third,
fourth and fifth place winners will
be $30, $20 and $10.
WINNERS IN THE RECENT PINEWOOD DERBY
iwneeiing: ueorge
Garoutte, Den 5 and
lick Champion
Standing:: Left to
right: James Voka
cek, Den €; Steve
Boyce, Den 2; David
Hilton, Den 1; Rich
ard Grimes, Den 3
and best looking ra
cer in the Pack.
Missing from this
picture of cham
pions is Stuart Ric
key, Den 7 champ.
CHAMBER HEADQUARTERS
ANNOUNCED FOR FOURTH
The Chamber of Commerce
Fourth of July Headquarters will
be located at roadway entrance
to the downtown school grounds,
it was learned this week. Any in
formation on the 4th’s activities
may be obtained there. Entry
blanks for all events may be ob
tained there.
Rest rooms wil] be provided on
that day in the old school building
and at the USO.
CLARENCE DIZNEYS HERE
Clarence and Alta Dizney, and
their daughter Louise, and Alber
ta Reft arrived in town Thursday
for a short visit with friends.
They will leave Sunday.
'2.t
.. 1 .." 1 ... l ^ _ I
Fresh milk from the local dairy can
now be obtained through the Kodiak
Creamery and in the grocery stores.
Try ?our locally manufactured ice
cream.
KODIAK CREAMERY
We hope you have an enjoyable
time with us in Kodiak
on the
Kodiak Insurance & Bldg. Corp.
Phones 3401 - 2561
we have been through two great wars
^j^essions and periods of peace and pros^
Some smart people saved a part of their
income during good times and bad, now thev
are on “easy street”. iney
You too, can be on “easy street” if you wm
sa»-e a part of your income. y 1
fore ae!SSM”Ummer Vaeation cometh ^
Rank of Kodiak
KODIAK, ALASKA