Zodiak Mirer
: 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, 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.
' &{e<ws of cAmtrica's Lest 'frontier
A Letter To The Editor
We are happy to include in the
columns of our paper, the views
of citizens on any subject they may
choose to unburden themselves.
Further, we think healthy discus
sion, whether in the columns of a
newspaper, or among, people, is
good for all concerned. Something
worth <latkH*g about, or writing
-about, must have some merit, and
quite often does.
When writing, as in newspaper
work, you soon realize the written
word is your medium through
which you convey certain messages
and thoughts. The thought simply
can’t be expressed without the
word. The mo. t right the word is,
and the more aptly phrased the
thought is, the better it is going to
gjet over to the reader.
' Recently, we had a letter to the
“Letter to the Editor” column
wlhich we did not print. It was pub
lished in another local paper. Our
rfeason for not publishing it,
was not for the thoughts express
ed, but the blanket statements
contained therein, and more par
ticularly the phraseology. A quo
tation from a magazine was taken
ojut of the context. The quotation
aave a definition of a politician, as
■A heel on a soap box making a
mol of himself.” The implication
was that our present Councilmen,
tjeing politicians, are heels. Coun
cil members must have resented
Aie implication. A Councilman
Cannot in any sense of the term be
Considered a politician. In the first
(Mace the monetary gain from the
job, which is negligible, is not suf
ficient to attract a politcian, who
is strictly out for gain. The job of
fers little else than a chance to
improve the City, or carry out
(jne’s own ideas about civic govern
ment.
«
: We have no quarrel with the
kody of the letter, which gives de
tails on an omission on the pub
lication of the Sales Tax elections.
The letter stated: “If you will look
at the first two of the City of Ko
diak’s legal publications announc
ing the Sales Tax Election in the
{Codiak Mirror you will find it
states twice in each of those issues
that to vote on the Sales Tax one
J»ad to be on the assessment tax
lolls. This being untrue, was cor
rected in the last two publications
Commendations On Both Sides
1 Commandant of the 17th Naval
District, Adm Craig’s commenda
tion of Kodiak Chief of Police, Rol
and Vickery, for his efforts in
keeping to a minimum enforce
ment problems related to service
personnel who frequent the City,
<s praise indeed. The Chief and
the City should be proud.
Law enforcement, especially on
Sa waterfront or near a military es
tablishment, poses many problems
not apparent elsewhere. Kodiak
has been free from any serious dis
agreeable episodes. Those thal
I
have occurred have been handled
prior to the election. However, any
prospective. otherwise eligible vot
er not on the tax rolls seeing only
the first and second Sales Tax elec
tion announcement, could only con
clude that he was disfranchised and
unable to vote.”
The writer concludes the letter
with this statement: “Is there any
lower form of heels, Non Partisan
Party in this case, fhan fhe vicious
type that will circumvent our elec
tion laws?”
The writer of this letter, knows,
as well as most of us do, that this
was an error, easily made, and
was not to circumvent an election
law. At least we have to give our
public officials the benefit of the
doubt.
Name-calling is strictly a politi
cians method of an election. It
would seem, from this letter, it is
not a practice indulged in only by
those in office or seeking office.
One fact that must be borne in
mind in a small community such
as this, is, that considerable time
and effort has to be spent by some
one to render a public service. The
Councilmen, whether you agree
with some of their policies or not,
are doing their job as they see it.
Criticism, whether in the form of
a Letter to the Editor or other
wise, is justfied. Honest criticism
never hurt anyone. We come back
to what we said to begin with—it’s
how you say it.
We welcome letters to the edi
tor. Our columns will always be
open to our readers for an honest
expression of opinion, for we be
lieve the more opinions expressed
denotes a greater interest in civic
affairs. That’s a healthy condition.
However, we suggest a formula
for future writters of letters: When
you are steamed up about some
policy or act performed, for in
stance, members of the Council,
or somebody else, sit down and
write it on a piece of paper. When
you have finished with your name
calling, blasting and bigotry, tear
it up and throw it in the waste
basket. Then, and only then, calm
ly sit down and write a second let
ter, with weighed evidence before
you, in a tone of helpful criticism,
and send it in for publication. You
can be assured it will be printed
nicely with good cooperation from
the City Police and the Naval
authorities.
The justly deserved commenda
tion reflects this cooperation. The
City in turn may well offer the
Base law enforcement officers, and
especially the Shore Patrol a com
mendation too, for their efforts ir
behalf of law and order on the
streets of Kbdiak.
This is not a model town, bu:
infractions are kept to a minimum
due largely to an alert police de
partment and a vigilante Navy pa
trol.
CITY HOSPITAL NEWS
Incoming patients at Griffin
Memorial Hospital this week in
cluded Mrs. Bernice Keegan, Mrs.
Marina Gunderson, Mrs. Pat Can
non, Elaine Bromley (15), Stephen
Shields (9), Carl Nelson, Ernest
Inga, (2 mo.), Mrs. June Burkhard,
Mrs. Marion Trent, Mrs. Maggie
Tate, Christine Neseth (14), and
Mrs. Elizabeth Renshaw.
Those leaving this week were
Mrs. Juanita Neibour, Mrs. Win
nie Woodward, Mrs. Dorothy Clark,
Mrs. Margaret Burrows, C. Ray
Jenson and Ernest Inga.
Four babies were born during
the past week. Poula Marie, 7 lbs.,
was born on May 5 to June and
Jack Burkhard.
Lawrence Patrick, 7 lbs. 4 ozs,
was bom on May 7 to Bernice and
Jack Keegan.
Kenny John, 9 lbs., was born to
Mrs. Anna Boskofsky, widow of
Dennis Boskofsky, recently deceas
ed.
Joanne, '6 lbs. 1 oz., was born on
May 11 to Maggie and Bill Tate.
Planting Discussed
At Garden Meeting
The regular meeting of the Ko
diak Garden Club, held at the
home of Mrs. Helen Hall Wednes
day evening, was well attended by
members and guests.
The subject of the interesting
program given by Mrs. Beverley
Horn and Mrs. Hall was that of
"Spring Planting as Applicable to
Kodiak.”
A surprise feature of the eve
ning was a plant auction. Mrs.
Bea Nachweih, club president, was
high bidder for a Schinus seedling,
more commonly known as “Hawai
ian Holly." Mrs. Nachtweih is to
report on the culture and growth
of the plant at the June meeting
of the club.
At the conclusion of the meet
ing the guests enjoyed a lunch
served by the hostess.
Grobler On Trip
Via Air To Germany
Fritz E. Grobler leaves today on
a trip that will take him across ihe
American continent by air to Ger
many, the land of his birth.
The first leg of the trip is Seat
tle by PNA. He will leave on the
16th for Vancouver, B. C., where
he will board a Canadian airlines
plane for Montreal. From there he
will embark for London, England,
travelling via the airways, thence
to Guterloh, Germany.
He will visit relatives in this
West sector city, and will attempt
to cross into the Russian-held East
sector for a possible visit with rela
tives there. Arrangements for this
phase of the trip have to be made
upon his arrival in Germany.
Grobler is a machinist on the
Naval Station, where he has work
ed for most of the past ten years.
He expects to return to Kodiak
about August 20.
SMALL FRY PARTY
Joe (Tony) Spinnato was host to
twenty young guests at a party
Tuesday at the home of his par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Spinnato on
the Naval Station.
The occassion marked Tony’s
seventh birthday. The youngsters
gathered at his home after school,
and after games, were served din
ner by Mrs. Spinnato. There was,
also a birthday cake and ice cream
•WIZARD OF OZ” AGAIN
The “Wizard of Oz,” popular
movie which was shown last week
will again return to the Orpheuno
Theatre for one perfomance, next
Saturday morning, according tc
Manager John Fletcher. Doors will
be open at 10 a. m. and the movie
will begin at 10:30.
Flying islanders
On Airways Flights
Residents of the Island and oth
ers traveled around the island con
siderably this week, and Bob Hall's
Kodiak Airways were kept on the
fly pretty regularly with fairly
good weather prevailing.
Florence Clark, Bruno Tommils
and Andrew Jager flew to Lar
sens Bay last Saturday. Jess Boyer
and Richard Clayton, who are with
the Department of Education, also
went to Larsens Bay.
On the same day, Mike Grossom
off returned to Wolf Point. Jake
Lukin went to Afognak, as did
Phyllis, Bud and Randy Sholl. The
latter three returned last Wednes
day. James Gillman came in from
Port Wakefield. Two hunters, John
Buehler, Bud Hook, and Guide
Leonard Helgeson went over to
Terror Bay.
On Sunday, G. Pestrikoff, Bud
Peery and Dennis Shannigan came
in from Ouzinkie. Dennis returned
the following Wednesday.
Monday Ray Kelly went to Old
Harbor, Hender Toms, Mr. and
Mrs. Bender went to Ouzinkie,
Otto Olsen and Jim Wilson to
Shearwater. Clarence Fry came in
from Sitkinak, also Sam Stout. The
latter continued on to Ouzinkie.
Two hunters, Mr. Rambo and Mr.
Peters came in from Olga Bay,
Slim Freeman in from San Juan.
Alex Ambrosia went from Afog
nak to Karluk, and Nora Malutin
and Willie Waselie from Karluk
to Larsen’s Bay.
Tonia Gunderson, Nick and Alex
Naumoff, Carl Christiansen, Nick
Pavloff, Oscar Alpiak and Nester
Masure all traveled from Larsen’s
Bay to Karluk.
Tuesday, Don Bentley and Ron
ald Olsen flew to Lazy Bay, Ralph
Corrie to Shearwater and Carl
Nelson from there. Dr. McCracken
flew over to Pinnell and Tolifson’s
camps at Olga Bay for some hunt
ing. Dr. Ellison headed for Dead
man's Bay. A. B. Jay and C. C. Al
len were dropped of at Zachar
Bay. Yelman Albert flew to Kar
luk.
Martin Norell flew in from Kar
luk on Tuesday returning the fol
lowing day. The Airways trans
ported Gust Rastopsoff and Mary
Larionoff from Karluk to Larsens
Bay.
On Wednesday, A. Anable, J.
Lundquist and A. Gustman were
flown in from Old Harbor and
Mrs. A1 Cratty and Mary Christian
sen came in from Old Harbor.
Training Begins
The first meeting of the Girl
Scout Outdoor Activities Class,
held Thursday in the High School
gave promise of a most successful
Day Camp this summer.
Twenty-four interested ladies
swung with enthusiasm into the
Girl Scouts skills of dancing and
crafts.
The next class will be held
Thursday, May 17, in the Science
Room of the Kodiak High School
at 7:30 p. m. The schedule of study
will be the duties and responsibili
ties of the unit and the co-leaders
Orientation to the camping pro
gram will be given, with special
emphasis to the local problems.
Singing, dramatics and crafts
will each have their place in the
schedule, and how these skills can
be co-related to the camping phase
will be discussed.
>
G.S. Court Of Awards
Haid At NS Saturday
An impressive Girl Scout joint
town and base Court of Awards «
was held Saturday, May 5, in the
Elementary School building on the
Naval Station at 2 p. m.
The program opened with Pre
senting and Posting of the colors
followed by the National Anthem
by Sharon Van Buren, Mrs. Em
ma Zieba, Mistress of Ceremonies,
then welcomed the visitors. After
a short speech by Lt. Helen Upson,
PIO Officer, Mrs. Zieba introduced
the Troop leaders. The leaders
then presented Second Class and
Merit Badges to the girls. Higher
awards will be given this fall.
The ceremony closed with the
Girl Scouts International Good
Night Song, and retiring of the
colors.
Color bearers of the American
flag, International and Girl Scout
flags were Deanna Ball, Connie
Trent, Nancy Waller, Christine
Newman and Janet Zieba. Troop
flag bearers of the town were
Dawn Jarvella, Candis Fread, Judy
Cammer, Rhonda Shupp and Krist
tin Babbitt. The base color bear
ers included Sandra Stewart, Pat
Brickell, Annetta Stewart and Bet
ty Routzahn.
CARD OF THANKS
The Sisters wish to make a pub
lic acknowledgement of two re
cent gifts, one of $100 from the
Emblem Club, and one of $25
from the Grandmothers Club.
(s) Grey Nuns of the Cacred
Heart, Griffin Memorial Hosp.
HOME
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