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UnuiEy Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTENESTP OT THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
THY A rAONTimSMAN
CLASSIFIED AD for lh«l
it#m fou m«r H«»* tor ul«,
rrnl or trur.
OLUML S NUMBER 17.
PALMER ALASKA THURSDAY. JAN. i. 1152.
PRICE TEH CENT*
jack Maze Charged With Embezzlement
ower Policies May Curtail Area
'^velopment, Chamber Speakers Warn
That the stubborn refusal of
nchorage power officials to con
the present power shortage
ight seriously hamper the pro
•am of providing decent modern
omes for the ever-increasing
ipulation in the Anchorage area
as hinted by Glen Wilder of the
laska Housing Authority in a
oort inventory of facts presented
> members of the local Chamber
f Commerce yesterday. Herb
ilscher of the Alaska Develop
ient Board also warned about
le shortsighted economy of cer
lin government officials who
ould jeopardize the future de
elopment of Alaska by curtail
\g studies of long-range produc
lg potentials.
“Since the Matanuska Valley
;as taken aggressive action in the
onservation of power”, Wilder
laid, “the AHA should tell you
/hat demands there will be on
ae power supply from additional
lousing planned for this area.”
Although Wilder conceded that
S.HA plans no additional units in
he immediate Palmer area for
952, the area-wide power picture
/ould be affected by the de
nands from units planned in and
tround Anchorage. There AHA
-Ians to build 400 single family
-ernes and 425 apartment units
' ‘952. Each of these homes are
iMern in every detail because
!.e purpose of AHA is to bring
nodern housing to the people of
vlaska, thus replacing the ae
dovble shacks in which many
\laskans have been forced to
ive.
Estimating a minimum demand
)f two kilowatts from each of
hese additional housing units,
ogether with one and a half kilo
watts for each of 300 low cost
mits anticipated in the Anchor
je area as a result of the re
•ently passed FHA act, Wilder
eported that an additional de
nand of 2,000-2,500 KW’s is al
nost certain from civilian hous
ig alone for next year. The low
r figure is double the number
>f KW’s allowed the Matanuska
? :ctric Association under its
xntract with Anchorage Public
Jtilities.
<k‘Tf there is a lag in hooking up
i fy of these new homes”, Wilder
'P'irned, ‘‘further approval of
\.AA housing will be rejected un
il something can be done about
he power problem.”
Wilder further commented that
he local “brownout” is the great
st selling point for help in get
ing additional power from Wash
ngton.
“The first thing those people
[own in Washington ask is, ‘What
3 the community doing to help
tself?’ ” Wilder said. “Your vol
mtary ‘brownout’ is a telling
nswer.”
A ray of hope for the future
/as reported in power projects
v under way. It was reported
t generation equipment is be
installed at Fort Richardson
ich should provide KW’s in
.ess of 10,000—enough for the
’ort and Elmendorf AFB as well.
Although none of this could be
■rchased, the 1,000 KW’s now
eceived from APU might be re
used. The Chugach Electric As
ociation and the Alaska Rail
oad have under construction a
team generating plant which
hould furnish the additional
ower needed in those areas—if
ae necessary equipment can l>e
btained. Mrs. Justine Parks,
resident of MEA, made it clear
lat it . behooves everyone in this
(Continued on Page 8)
Sportsmen Urge
Good Turnout at
Annual FWS Hearing
The Valley Sportsmen urge!
everyone interested in hunt- ; i
ing. fishing and all other
phases of conservation in this!
area to attend the annual
FWS hearing being held in;
the Sportsmen’s rooms at Rec ;
Hall Saturday night, January ;
5, at 7:30 p.m.
Only if all those interested;
attend will the FWS officials; i
obtain a good cross section of I;
local opinion from the hear-!;
ing, Maud Hosier commented ;
this morning. The Sportsmen!;
ladies are providing a free!;
lunch for all those who attend
the meeting.
HOSPITAL FUND
GOES OVER $10,000
To the P-TA Hard Times Dance
committee went the honor this
week for sending the Valley Hos
pital fund over the $10,000 mark
before the New Year. Hugh John
son, treasurer of the Valley Hos
pital Fund Raising committee re
ports that their check for $774.98
brought tne total to $10,388.94.
The Homemakers Council made
good on their pledge last Friday
when Mrs. Charles Nelson, coun
cil treasurer, wrote a check that
brought the total Homemaker
contributions to $1,055.61.
The United Protestant Church
through its Ladies Aid, Sunday
School, and congregation has con
tributed a total of $491.60 to date,
Johnson reported.
The fund raising committee
was pleased to receive an anony
(Continued on page 8)
HIGHLIGHTS OF 1051
Jan. 2—Civilian Defense plar
adopted in Palmer.
Jan. 5—Petitions for hearing
on incorporation presented ir
Third District Court.
Jan. 10—MVFCA started de
livery of 1200 quarts of recom
bined milk to army.
Jan. 15—New Palmer Library
opened for first time.
Jan. 17—Record low tempera
ture of 35 below recorded by Max
Sherrod and 42 below by Irving
Newville.
Jan. 18—Senate hearing on
Palmer Airport; Rolland Snod
grass, secretary of Palmer Air
port Assn, called to testify.
Jan. 24—Big four-day wind
reaches peak.
Feb. 15—Plans for new Valley
Hospital discussed at annual
meeting of Valley Hospital Assn.
Majority of members recommend
name change to Valley Presby
terian Hospital.
Feb. 20—Petition for incorpora
tion of Palmer approved by Judge
Folta.
Mar. 30—Incorporation fight
sweeps Palmer; Palmer Business
Men’s Assn, comes out against in
corporation; 16 file for Council
posts.
Apr. 10—Incorporation of Pal
mer approved by voters, 254-113.
Palmer’s first city fathers elected.
Apr. 20-21—Kiwanis Minstrel
Show. •■■■
May 24—Architect William Ar
ild Johnson hired to draft plans
for new high school.
May 26-27—Thousands attend
16th Colony Day.
June 16—Parched city of Pal
mer gets water from new line
tapping Carnegie Creek.
June 15—Nation’s editors visit
Palmer.
June 18—Demolition of old
Ron-da-voo Cafe started.
June 22—New high school
funds recommended by APW;
only half of proposed structure
provided for; Eklutna Project
asks for bids on 30 houses, 10 to
be built in Palmer.
June 18-25—Valley Homemak
ers get unique Swedish weaving
instruction.
June 27—Visitors from Port
land and Honolulu Chambers of
Commerce feted by local C of C
at game luncheon, home of Dr.
and Mrs. Lee McKinley.
July 10—Palmer voters okay
tax on sales and services by vote
of 142-57.
July 14—Alaska’s first Farm
ers’ Market opens in Palmer.
July 17—Valley shocked by
early morning murder of Mrs.
Minnie Barnes.
July 20—Local Masonic Lodge
receives charter.
Aug. 14—Claim of Knik Indi
ans to Matanuska Valley an
nounced.
Aug. 25—Local Chapter of Or
der of Eastern Star instituted.
Aug. 27—Governors Dewey of
New York and Gruening of Al
aska are overnight guests in Pal
mer.
Aug. 29—Loyal Order of Moose
and their ladies initiate new
Moose Hall.
Aug. 30—Bernie Bouwens was
named first police chief of Pal
mer.
Sept. 1—Sales tax begins in
Palmer; Joyce Hardage named
queen of 11th annual Matanuska
Valley Fair which is visited by
8,000.
Sept. 15-30—Four big dairy
farms change hands: Frank Linn
farm leased to Pat Murphy; Gust
Scheibl farm sold to Rolland
Grover; Fred Gaylord farm sold
to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Boyd;
Axvid Johnson farm sold to Mr.
and Mrs. Vernon Williams.
Sept. 20—Palmer Constructors
get contract award for Eklutna
tunnel.
Sept. 25—Senate confirms Wal
ter Huntley’s appointment as J.
5. Marshal of Third Division.
Oct. 2—Electors of Palmer
School District okay $1 million
oond issue for new school by ma
jority of 86 percent.
Oct. 3—New Bishop of Juneau
:onsecrated in colorful rites at
Anchorage; MEA gets $1,040.00
REA loan for new building, ex
tended services.
; Oct. 20—Palmer Elks Lodge
No. 1842 instituted, with parade
through city led by school band
and drum majorettes in uniform.
Oct. 20-25—Two leading chur
ches of Palmer get new pastors:
Rev. Harry Gayley at United Pro
testant Church and Rev. Edward
H. Imme at St. John’s Lutheran
Church.
Oct. 24—Mayor appoints City
Planning Commission.
Nov. 2—Alaska Delegate “Bob”
Bartlett here for luncheon.
Nov. 14—Zoning regulations
for Palmer Municipal Airport go
into effect.
Nov. 16—Asst. Commissioner of
Health Dr. Robert L. Smith sug
gests Valley Health District.
Nov 20—1951 Community Chest
Drive goes over the top.
Nov. 24—Hospital fund drive
starts with Hospital Ball.
Nov. 28—Civil Defense officials
reveal Palmer will be headquar
ters in evacuation plans.
Dec. 5—Climaxing months of
controversy regarding improved
telephone system for Palmer, the
City Council decides to concen
trate study on municipal owner
ship.
Dec. 12—Jan Koslosky takes
over managership of Matanuska
Valley Bank.
Dec. 14—Voluntary "brownout”
begins in Palmer to conserve
power.
SAFE AND ORDERLY
NEW YEAR’S EVE
IS REPORTED HERE
The most safe and orderly New
Year’s Eve Palmer has had in
many years was proudly reported
yesterday by local law enforce
ment officials.
“For the first time in the his
tory of Palmer", claimed Police
Chief Bernie Bouwens, "there
wasn’t a single fight on the street
or in a bar on New' Year’s Eve.”
Bouwens attributed this record
to the extra police help added
over the New Year’s holiday and
the excellent co-operation be
tween the local agents and the
Air Police from Elmendorf Air
Force Base. Joe Mazy of Wasilla
and Tom Murton were deputized
to help keep law and order in
Palmer on New Year’s Eve and
New Year’s Day.
The Highway Patrol recorded
no accidents in this area during
the holiday period, although two
drivers did report tangling with
moose. The Wasilla record was
marred by a serviceman who ap
parently wanted to get some
where in a hurry. He appropriat
ed a handy jeep, ran it off the
road near the railroad tracks,
and ended up by being run over
by the rear w'heels of the jeep.
Fortunately he was not seriously
injured. He was removed to the
Base hospital after receiving
emergency treatment at Valley
Hospital.
Stan Laird of the Highway Pa
trol said that the holidays just
past were the first Christmas and
New Years when there wasn’t
"a bunch of cars piled up”. He
attributed this to the recent tax
increases on liquor and income.
“People can’t afford to drink too
much”, he said.
Whether or not Laird’s opinion
is correct, there was no damper
on the gaiety which attended the
New Year’s Eve celebration. Ac
cording to reports everyone had
a wonderful time. Palmer had
many visitors that night from
(Continued on Page 8)
Council Moves Fast
To Assure Continued
Fire Protection
Although residents of the City
j of Palmer and the surrounding j
Valley have been without official
fire protection since the stroke of
midnight Monday. Council mem
bers moved fast at the meeting
last night to assure such protec
tion while formal negotiations
w'ith the Matanuska Valley Fire
Association are being completed
Members of the Council fire
department committee were to
! meet this afternoon with mem
bers of the fire association to;
make arrangements for the latter j
to continue services for thirty
days with the city’s promise to
underwrite all financial obliga
tions.
The council empowered the fire
committee to negotiate to obtain
title to equipment of the Fire As
I sociation. to accept applications
| for fire chief and volunteer fire
j men and to guarantee renewal of
insurance on firemen with an
agreement that the city will pay
the premiums within 45 days. In
the meantime a formal agreement
will be drawn up relative to the
transfer of the Matanuska Valley
Fire Association property. Fol
lowing the transfer, insurance on
the property will be changed by
endorsement from the fire asso
ciation to the city of Palmer.
City's Valuation Announced
The assessed valuation of the
City of Palmer was announced
by William Head, city clerk, to
be $3,696,339.12. The assessment
roll was compiled for the pur
pose of the election scheduled for
January 29. _
Harold Butcher, city attorney,
said no registration previous to
voting, will be required from
those who are on the assessment
roll.
Payments for services of two
temporary police officers hired
during the holiday period were
(Continued on Page 8)
Bank Directors, Stockholders Act
To Protect Depositors' Accounts
THERE'S STILL
A TAX ON RENTS,
COUNCIL DECIDES
The tax on sales and services
is still applicable to rents, it was
decided definitely in the meeting
of the City Council last night.
A recent report by the OPS
that the Fairbanks tax on rents
was illegal had brought the mat
ter to the attention of local coun
cilmen.
City Clerk Bill Head revealed
that taxes on rent are now being
collected in Fairbanks. In a re
cent decision by Warren Taylor
in that city, it was pointed out
that the tax does not accrue to
the profit of the landlord who
must collect it. Therefore, it is
not an increase in rent and is per
fectly legal. Moreover. Head add
ed, Fairbanks is in a rent control
area whereas Palmer is not. Even
if the tax should have been prov
ed illegal in Fairbanks, the rul
ing would not apply to Palmer.
MERLE ANDERSONS
SELL DAIRY FARM
Long time Valley residents,
Merle and Dorothy Anderson an
nounced Monday the sale of their
dairy farm to Robert Anderson,
brother of “Deb" Anderson and
a former Valley resident.
TJ^e sale which v.as completed
last Friday, December 28, includ
ed 120 acres of land, the house
and farm buildings, 25 head of
cattle, and the farm equipment.
The Merle Andersons kept 180
acres of land and their plane.
This sale represents the fourth
large dairy farm in the Valley to
be sold since September; it is the
fifth dairy farm to change hands
(Continued on Page 8)
Even as local customers of the
Matanuska Valley Bank were
reading the first daily newspaper
accounts of the New Year's Eve
arrest of former bank manager
; Jack Maze on charges of embez
zlement, directors and stockhold
ers of the bank were meeting in
Anchorage in a lengthy session
devoted to further action to as
sure bank depositors that they
would not suffer the loss of one
penny due to Maze’s defalcations.
At this meeting the directors
and stockholders agreed unani
mously to put up an amount in
cash equal to their stock to pro
tect bank customers pending set
tlement from the bonding com
pany.
This morning, Jan Koslosky,
president and now manager of
the bank, thanked the depositors
on behalf of himself and the di
rectors for their show of confi
dence and cooperation during the
difficult period of readjustment
which followed Maze’s resigna
tion December 7.
Jack Maze was still held in the
federal jail at Anchorage today
in lieu of the $45,000 bond set by
U. S. Commissioner Dorothy Sax
ton at the time the warrant for
his arrest was issued here on
New Year’s Eve. Picked up at his
home shortly before midnight on
Monday by Stan La^rd of the
Highway Patrol on the orders of
U. S, Marshal Huntley, Maze was
taken to Anchorage by Deputy
Marshal Oscar Olsen.
nearing in Anchorage
Yesterday morning, shortly be
fore noon, Maze was returned to
Palmer under guard for arraign
ment in the U. S. Commissioner’s
Court. He was accompanied by
his lawyer, Peter Kalamarides,
who did most of the talking for
his client. Through his lawyer,
Maze refused to waive a prelimi
nary hearing. Kalamarides then
requested that the bail of $45,000
be lowered. The request was de
nied. In his second request, Kala
marides asked that the prelimi
nary hearing of his client be
transferred to Anchorage on the
basis that the defendent will be
detained in federal jail at An
chorage, and would thus be more
accessible to the Anchorage pre
oinct than to the local one. This
request was granted by the U. S.
Commissioner.
Thus, the preliminary hearing
will be conducted before U. S.
Commissioner’s Court in Anchor
age, and the date of the hearing
will be set there. At this hearing,
Maze will be charged formally
with the felony of embezzlement.
According to the complaint
signed by Jan Koslosky, Jack
Maze, between the dates of April,
1949, and December 7, 1951, did
embezzle funds or monies belong
ing to the Matanuska Valley
Bank over the value of thirty-five
dollars.
Recovery from Properties
Although the full amount of the
defalcations has not been reveal
ed, Koslosky said this morning
that the total defalcations known
to date are almost covered by re
covery from properties turned
over to the bank by Maze. As
soon as the defalcations became
known, the bank took over every
thing owned by Maze including
his home and his interests in the
Butte, real estate, and the Mata
nuska Press.
Koslosky said that although the
total amount of the defalcations
is not known, the audit is not
complete. Within two weeks, he
said, accountants Jones and An
derson expect that they can give
(Continued on Page 8)