Election, April 10 en
Incorporation of Palm
er. Voting in Palmer
Drug Bldg.
Knlley IFrontierømUn -
PUBLISHED Ilf THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
4 £ PAGES
10 TODAY
VOL. 4, NUMBER 30
PALMER, ALASKA, FRIDAY. APRIL 6, 1951
PRICE 10c
Incorporation Up To Voters Tuesday
ROBERT SHARP, CITY MANAGER,
ANSWERS INCORPORATION QUESTION
Incorporation will not automa
tically bring services, but it will
provide the vehicle by which the
people of a city can obtain, ser
vices, Robert Sharp, city mana
ger of Anchorage, told members
of the Kiwanis Club at their pub
t lie meeting Monday.
“All you need must come
through your own efforts and out
•f your own pockets,” he warn
ed. “You can determine the cost
of government by what you want.
The standard of service is a local
determination.”
Sharp told the overflow meet
ing that he was present merely to
state facts and answer questions
‘ and that what he had to say was
not to influence the decision of
the people one way or the other.
City Income
Sharp listed possible sources of
income as general property tax,
(40 per cent of the income of
Anchorage is from this). Licenses i
and taxes cn a territorial basis
with the refund on liquor. The
business license tax with the re
fund to the municipality. Police
court fines. The authority to set
Continued on page 4
Q and A
When Robert Sharpr-city man
ager of Anchorage, offered to ans
wer questions following the Kiw
anis meeting, the queries came
fast Here are some of the ques
tions from the floor and Sharp’s
answers:
Q—When we elect a city coun
cil, 1. What duties do we face in
the immediate future? 2. If we
draft ordinances, is there any con
trol over those ordinances? 3. Fol
lowing this election, when is a
new council elected?
A—The council’s duties are
legislative. In addition the coun
cil has general powers conferred
by the Territory. Ordinances are
enacted by the council but al
ways within the Territorial dele
gation of Authoritory. The coun
cil has some administrative func
tions. In this case the council is
creating the city government
and setting up the personnel. As
for term, one of the seven elected
will be chosen by the council as
mayor, president or chairman. An
Continued on page 13
CASUALTY STATIONS DESIGNATED,
NURSES AIDES TRAINED IN MOCK WAR
Strategic casualty stations have
been designated in Palmer for
participation, if called upon, in
the military exercise “Firestep”—
or in case of grim war reality—
for emergency treatment of the
wounded.
Concrete fireproof shelters* with
water, heat, light and toilet faci
lities, located in the more heavily
populated districts and easily ac
cessible, were chosen.
The school was made a central
first aid clearing station. Casualty
stations are the school shop, the
basement of the Matanuska Val
ley Lodge, and the basement of
the Valley Theatre,
y The Matanuska Valley Nurses’
Association is prepared to staff
the casualty stations on a 24-hour
basis with graduate nurses
nurses’ aides, and other volunteer
workers.
Seven Nurses Aide classes of
men and women have put in six
weeks of training. In these classes
have been trained nearly 100 wo
men in the Matanuska Valley
who will be able, skilled assist
ants to doctors and nurses in
medical and nursing care of the
sick and wounded.
A special meeting of the Nurses
Association has been called for 8
, o’clock tonight (Friday) at the
Health Center, to assign person
* nel to the designated casualty
stations. Dr. Clarence Bailey will
participate in the program and
instructions.
Exercise "Fireslep"
While local plans moved effi
ciently forward despite lack of
instructions from the military,
operations “Firestep” moved in
mock war across the territory.
Reports from the “front” in
cluded:
“Aggressor” forces have se
cured footholds in at least two lo
cations in Western Alaska. The
“enemy” has made bombing and
straffing attacks against military
installations the Fairbanks, Anch
orage and Kodiak areas, with air
craft of the Alaskan Command
counter-attacking.
The island of Kodiak became a
focal center, with “enemy” forces
attempting to seize the U. S. Na
val Station. Bombing and straf
fing sorties continued in the Ko
diak, Fairbanks and Anchorage
areas.
This is a mock war but it is a
training and test for what might
happen, Civil Defense authorities
reminded.
Twelve girls who will volunteer
to help man stations during civ
il defense maneuvers are wanted
to sign up at once as typists,
stenographers and clerks. Call
Hugh Johnson. Eight Boy Scouts
will serve as messengers, the Rev.
Victor Alfsen, scoutmaster, prom
ised.
VOTE
FOR WHAT:
1— Incorporation of Palm*
or as a 1st class city.
2— Sma members for city
council.
WHEN:
Tuesday, April 1ft
9 a. m. to 7 p. m.
WHERE:
Palmer Drug Bldg, across
from Koeloeky's
WHO CAN VOTE: Any quail
fied elector residing with
in the proposed incorpor
ation limits 30 days, and
in the Territory of Alaska
1 year.
REGISTRATION:
Sign registration book
with oath at time you Tote
CANDIDATES
Statements of the 18 candi
dates who have filed for city
city council will be found—
printed in their own words—
on page 6.
FOR COUNCIL
VOTE FOR 7
Here are your candidates:
Ray Adams
Frank Brown
Bernard R. Bouwens
A1 J. DeJulio
A. V. Hagen
A1 King
Ray Lancaster
Mrs. Betty Mears
Dr. Allan Mick
Carl H. Meier
Oliver Onkka
Matthew Perkins
Robert "Bob" Peterson
C. A. "Chet" Sandvik
Llyod W. Severns
John L Sullivan
Steve Ward
Mrs. Katheryn Wilson
Gross Fire Threatens
Miles France Farm;
Slight Damage Reported
What could have been a dis
astrous fire except for prompt
action menaced the Miles France
home on the Wasilla road Wed
nesday.
A grass fire whipped by a
high wind swept toward barns
and outbuildings. Volunteers of
the Fire Association were on the
way almost before the siren stop
ped sounding. Two trucks re
sponded, manned by Lew Hanks,
Bob Peterson, A1 Hagen and
Sandy Sands with a good fast
turnout from other volunteers.
The fire was out in record time
with little damage.
ELECTORS DECIDE CITY OR VILLAGE,
SEVEN COUNCILMAN TO BE NAMED
People of Palmer face a turning point in the history of the com
munity.
They will rote Tuesday. April 10, on whether Palmer shall be
come an incorporated city, or remain a Tillage.
They also will rote for 7 councilmen who will take office IF ti
corporation carries. Eighteen candidates hare filed for council. Some
are for, some against incorporation, but all feel that if Palmer does
become an incorporated city—by the rote of the majority—that the
welfare and program of the community as a whole must be consid
ered. The issue requires a two-thirds rote to carry. Both faction*
FOR and AGAINST, urgently request erery qualified elector te
VOTE.
<-m xuesaay, Apru iu, nere u
the procedure for the electors:
At the polling place, in th<
Palmer Drug Bldg., you will hav«
two ballots.
One ballot is YES or NO on in
jorporation.
The other ballot has a list o:
18 names. The elector votes for '
out of 18 for city council.
Voting booths at the Palme:
Drug building are open 8 a. m. tc
7 p. m. Tuesday. Voting booth:
are plainly marked with sign:
“VOTE HERE” and with tht
American Flag. Each person vot
ing must sign the registratior
book which carries at the top oi
each page, the oath:
"I, the undersigned, hereby
certify that I am a qualified el
ector in the community of
Palmer, Alaska, residing with
in the limits of the proposed
incorporation of the City of
Palmer; that I am a citizen of
the United Stales and have re
sided in the Territory of Alas
ka for one year, and within
the boundaries of the proposed
incorporation for 30 days, next
preceding the election,"
Judges of the election are Mrs.
Emil Larsh, Mrs. Nan C. Curtis,
and Arthur L. Madison. No el
ectioneering is allowed in or near
the polls, but any vote may be
challenged if the challenger is
sure of his information. Liquor
stores and bars will be closed
during voting hours.
Two-Thirds Vote Required
After signing the registration
book with the oath, the voter is
given two ballots. He marks his
ballots—on incorporation, and
for council—folds the ballots and
drops them in the ballot box.
When the polls close, the three
election judges tally the votes,
seal the ballots, and turn the
sealed packages over to U. S.
Commissioner Dorothy Saxton.
If. incorporation carries by :
two-thirds vote, the seven name
on the councilmanic slate of It
who receive the highest numbei
of votes, are elected. They choose
a mayor from one of their num
ber, and proceed from there.
To safeguard possibility of ‘bal
lot stuffing”, each ballot is mark
and carries on a perforated cor
ed with a consecutive number
ner the same number which is
i tom oti Dy the election judges as
a double-check.
i In the matter of candidates for
i council, Frank Brown filed while
in the States. His affidavit of
candidacy was in the mail before
the deadline on filing and Judge
, Dimond ruled he was qualified
; to file as a candidate. His name
therefore appears on the official
ballot.
, Steering Committee
• When the question of incorpor
. ation first became an important
, problem in Palmer, a large group
of business men called a meet
ing and decided the issue should
come before the electors, if
enough wanted it.
They appointed a steering com
mittee to look into the matter. A.
petition for incorporation was
circulated and 228 names, includ
ing 96 who lived outside the pro
posed corporate limits but whose
interest and business centered in
Palmer, were signed to the peti
tion to put incorporation up to
the electors.
The steering committee, chos
en at large from a representative
cross-section, feels now that it’s
job is done. In a joint statement,
members of the committee said:
Your steering committee was
charged with bringing the
question of incorporation to
an election, where the majori
ty of electors could decide. This
we have done. Our job is finish
ed. We favor no candidates.
Each elector has his own
choice. Our final word is:
VOTE!"
'The incorporation vote will
not be valid until the Court de
cides it official.
SCHOOL BOARD
ELECTION DRAWS
LIGHT VOTE
Winners in the school election
neld Tuesday, April 3, were
lames J. Hurley, incumbent, 116
votes; Harold L. Thuma, incum
oent, 98 votes, and Mrs. Richard
3. Washburn, 89 votes. Lew E.
I Hanks trailed with 80 votes and
• two “write-ins” had one vote
each. Ballots cast were only 131.
Judges of the election which
was held at the school, were Mrs.
Earl Graves, Mrs. I. M. Sandvik.
Mrs. Charles Wilson and Mrs.
Clayton Esslinger.