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Published every Saturday at Kodiak, Alaska
Yearly Subscription Rate $5.00
Entered in the Postoffice at Kodiak, Alaska as Second
Class matter under act of Congress of March 3, 1878
THE ISLAND PUBLISHING COMPANY
Sig J. Digree, Editor and Publisher
Betha Digree, Associate Editor
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.
What Of The Future?
Sitting in on the swan song efforts of the present Council tlm
other night started a train of thought as to the future of Civic gov
ernment in Kodiak.
There is no doubt the outgoing Council has worked hard and
long in an effort to meet ithe problems of the City. Whether you
have agreed or disagreed with.some Of their decisions is besides
the point. They have tded. You will not have the opportunity to
repudiate their actions by rejecting them, except for'one ineurn
bant„ who is the only one runningfor re-election.
Many «f their actions could probably be singled out for commen
datioa.’*Ohe, in particular comes to mind. Their .decision to do some
thing about the roads, and the harbor facilities, toy bringing to a
vote, the implementing of a sales tax. They, as well as residents,
'ere not in favor of increasing taxes. In this age of increasing costs,
• • - "'blem to be reckon with. To even suggest further
;► V . .hem to criticism.
After a study of the City's finances, and a realization that pres
ent revenue would not permit of these necessary improvements, they
decided on the Sales Tax. The merits or demerits of a sales tax is not
the point we are discussing. The fact that a decision was made looms
as a very important one.
A remark made by Mayor Johnson, who has been in office for
two years, and should know where-of he speaks, summarized the dif
ficulty encountered by the Council. He said, "Our main difficulty is
that we couldn’t see the forest for the trees.” He referred, no doubt,
to a situation we have observed from the sidelines, so to speak.
The Council has on its agenda many little,' little problems, and
a decision has to be reached in matters involving just a few people.
Much of this deplorable state of affairs is brought about by the ac
tions of a few individuals, who are unable to work amicably and
neighborly in a solution of their localized problems. It shouldn't be
necessary for the Council members to expend their energies and
efforts into the small hours of the morning to mull over charges and
counter charges of a personal nat ura. Very little time is left for
planning Civic improvements that might benefit the community as a
whole. - _ * i.
The second statement that is significant was made by a Council
man when a question, appeared on the evening agenda Monday. He
commented, “That came up when we first took office two years ago."
No decision had apparently been made. Lack of decision, one way
or another, is a time and energy waster.
It is regrettable that in 6ur eleetfoh set-up, there are not at
least two of the present Council serving for one or two more years.
Pitfalls and time-wasting trial and error could thus be avoided. We
understand some such changes are being made for future elections.
It behooves the new City Council to attempt correcting the
“trees" situation. We call upon citizens to meet their problems to
the best of their ability before calling on the Council for action.
Running the affairs of the City is not the easiest job in the
world, as the new Council ,will find. Keeping everybody happy all
the time is impossible. Former Governor of Alaska Ernest Omen
ing made a significent statement while -yisiting here this week. We
were discussing cities that progress and move forward, and those
that do not. He said, “It has been my observation that the cities
that amount to anything, are spark-plugged by a moving spirit. Lead
ership is what counts the most.” We hope you new Councilmen,
whoever you may be, will offer us that leadership. The best of luck
in your efforts.
Jeanme Laurence
Leaving Kodiak
Mrs. Jeanne Laurence, well
known artist, will leave Kodiak to
morrow after spending tnree
months here painting local scenes.
Jeanne, who was the house guest
of Mrs. Margaret Lightfoot during
her visit, will first go to Anchor
age. She plans to have a showing
of her paintings in the mainland
city sometime in October.
From Anchorage she will go to
Los Angeles for a short time. Her
next stop will be Hawaii, where
she will spend the winter. Jeanne
hopes to do some painting as well
as sightseeing.
In the Spring, Mrs. Laurence
will leave for Colmar, France to
visit her family.
Jeanne stated that sha has en
joyed her stay in Kodiak, and
found the people here extremely
friendly. She expressed regret at
leaving and said, “I hope to return
soon to see all ray friends here.”
Russian Church
Parsonage Blessed
A ceremony of Blessing was held
at the new Russian Othodox
Church parsonage Sunday. Sep
tember 23, following the morning
church service. Rev. Roman Sturm
er, pastor of the Russian Orthodox
Church, conducted the traditional
ceremony which is a long-time
custom of the Church.
Open 'house 'was held following
the Blessing, with refreshments
prepared and served by the Sister
hood of the Russian Church.
Rev. and Mrs. Sturmer arc now
living in their comfortable new
home, which is modern through
out. It is painted with bright dec
orator colors. Rev. Sturmer ex
pressed his delight with the space
on the second floor which he
plans to use as his study. There,
too, he will publish “Glad Tidings,"’
the monthly paper of'the church,
of which he is the editor.
Special Showings
At The Orpheum
Special showings of two pictures
have been announced by Skip
Fletcher, Manager of the Orpheum
Theatre.
Monday, the movie “Lady and
the Tramp,” a full-length Walt
Disney cartoon will be shown.
Doors open at 12:30. Show starts
at 12:45.
Next Saturday, there will be a
special showing of “The Egyptian,”
the historical film of ancient
Egypt. Doors open at 10:30. Show
time is 10;45 a. m.
Old Joe Is Dead
Old Joe, the popular white
horse owned by John Gibbons, and
as he says by “all the kids of Ko
diak,” slipped or fell from the
high cliff on the town side of Gib
son’s Cove sometime Monday night.
He was found dead on the rocky
beach below the more than 80
foot cliff last Tuesday by bis care
taker, Walter Hand.
Joe wasn't just a horse. He was
something of a fixture, a part of
the landscape, the scenery, if you
will. He played his part in parades,
and in horse races. Joe could well
be called the most photographed
animal on Kodiak Island.
He was one of the few and rare
horses that was completely trust
worthy with children. He spent all
the time that he could with the
young fry, allowing them to crawl
all over him. This they delighted
to do. Joe would follow them
around to gain their attention. He
would eat almost anything that
the children would feed him- -from
dill pickles to ham sandwiches.
Cube sugar was his favorite food.
You could always make a hit with
Jot when you catered to his
sweet tooth.
Joe has been around the Kodiak
City area the past six years. In all
that time he had never nipped a
finger or stepped on anyone's foot.
This seems a marvel considering
how children flocked around him.
It might be said that Joe was a
native of Kodiak. He was born r.l
Kalsin Bay. His mother was a
mare owned by the late Tom Nel
son, and was of Arab and thorough
bred blood. His sire was Burbon
Pride, a fine American saddle
horse brought to Kodiak.,by Maur
ice Briggs, the Postmaster.
Joe was a splendid saddle horse,
well-trained, and could run a quar
ter mile in near record time, ac
cording to his owner.
Old Joe is dead. His days of use
fulness in which he brought de
light to young and old is finished.
The children, especially, anrl all
Kodiak, will miss him.
Here There Everywhere
(Continued from page 2)
to say nothing of a happy hunting
ground for the big game humer—
all these, to mention just a few,
add up to good future prospects
CEREMONIAL CONDUCTED
Glen H. Carpenter, Lloyd Coder.
Ernest B. Dooalson and F. N. Fow
ler were in Kodiak Monday and
Shune m
Tuesday, .and conducted., a
Elect
Ernest Gruening
Governor of Alaska
1939-1953
U.S. SENATOR
6 Year Term
(Alaska Tennessee Plan)
Democratic Ticket
Election October 9
THE NOVEMBER 1956
Goes to Press October 15th.
Advertising changes and listings
are requested by September 30th.
If yam have cols or mats that will per
sonalize your ads we would appreciate
your contacting the telephone office1
about them.
We have some cuts available
to help you make your ads out
standing and invite you to
come in and select one suitable
for your business. 1
Kodiak Telephone Co.
YOUR DEPOSITS
are insured in the sum of up
$10,000 for each account.
The Examiners for the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation
were here recently on their yearly
insepection and found everything
in good order.