. —
Thought of the Week:
The prefabricated house
dispenses entirely with nails.
*s that new? Barns back
home were held together for
years with 24-sheet circus
Posters.
VOLUME 15. NUMBER 32
PUBLISHED IN THfc INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
PALMER, ALASKA. THURSDAY. MAY 2. 1963
C { z T Y 9
KIWANIS MINSTREL SHOW
CENTRAL SCHOOL AUD.
FRI. • SAT. MAY 3 - 4
PRICE 15 CENTS
Boundaries, Seat Discussed at Borough Meet
Local Affairs Director
Meets With Group
Small units such as the pro
posed Lake George borough or
the Palmer Independent Sch
ool District would not meet the
standards for incorporation of
boroughs, Ronald Cease, direc
tor of the Alaska state Local
Attairs Agency, said at a spe
cial meeting of the Palmer City
Council and the board of direc
tors of the Palmer Independ
ent School District on Satur
day, April 27.
Cease was invited to the
meeting to clarify a number of
p ,nts dealing with borough
organization.
Cease’s statement was made
after Dick Jones, a visitor at
the meeting, said that a rumor
had been circulating that the
council and the school board
had taken a stand favoring in
corporation within the city lim
it? or within the limits of the
Palmer Independent School
District. Jones stated that he
felt this was a poor stand, and
that our need is for minimum
government for the largest area
possible.
Ed Smith, school board presi
dent, said there was no founda
tion for such a rumor; that the
idea had merely been discuss
ed briefly, and that it had al
ready been learned that such
a borough unit would not meet
the required standards.
Cease pointed out that Dis
trict 7 residents have two ap
proaches to the problem of in
corporation: they may file a
local option petition, which
must be done within a month to
allow enough time for incor
poration befort Oct. I, or they
may wait and go the House
Bill 90 way, in which the state
will step in and hold the neces
B & ( Branch Store
Opens Here Tomorrow
3 Sc C Auto Electric will op
en a new branch store in Pal
mer tomorrow. May 3, in the
budding formerly occupied by
the Palmer Pharmacy across
fix m Koslosky’s Department
St ire. The company is a whole
sale distributor of automotive
ani industrial parts and sup
plies, and is the Alaska repre
sentative of numerous well
known manufacturers of ser
vice station and garage equip
n.ent.
James Carson will manage
the new Palmer store for
B & C. Carson, until recently
manager of the garage division
of Matanuska Maid, Inc., was
an employee of the farm co-op
for 11 years. He came to the
Valley in 1935 with his par
ents, who were part of the or
iginal colony group. He attend-,
ed Wasilla schools for 12 years
and spent two years at the Uni
versity of Alaska. Carson is
married and father of five
children.
B & C was originally organ
ized in 1950 by Chris Bjornstad
and Max Clark, who opened
the company’s first store in
Anchorage. Since that time,
branch stores have been estab
lished in Fairbanks, Spenard,
and Soldotna, in addition to
the new Palmer operation. All
of the stores are connected by
teletype or direct telephone.
This feature makes the inven
tories of each store available
: RYAN’S LYNES
By Jack Ryan
I would like to recommend
boating as an excellent hobby.
However, if you are going 50
miles an hour in a speedboat,
und you strike a log, forget
about the speedboat. Grab the
log.
* * *
If you suddenly find your
self at the bottom of a lake,
belter check your hulL There
n»y be a leak in it.
* * •
If your vessel fills with
water, you are no longer boat
ing. I suggest you take up some
other hobby. Why don’t you
try swimming?
* * *
Remember, sailboats al
ways have the right of way.
That's only fair because they
can't stop easily. It's sort of
difficult to reverse the wind.
James Carson
immediately to all the other
stores.
The company continues to be
owned and operated by Alas
kans. Present officers are Lor
an E. Cannon, president; Rich
ard T. Albers, vice-president;
and Kip Aslin, secretary-trea
surer.
In announcing the new Pal
mer, store, Loran Cannon said.
“B & C has for many years en
joyed and appreciated a fine
relationship with parts job
bers, car dealers, garages, ser
vice stations and other business
people in the Matanuska Val
ley. As Western Alaska grows,
development of the Matanuska
and Susitna Valley areas is in
evitable. It is now our pleasure
to take an active part in that
growth. All of us at B & C
wish to thank the people of
Palmer for their cordial wel
come and encouragement.”
An open house is planned for
Friday and Saturday, May 3,
and 4, with all area residents
invited to drop in for refresh
ments and a visit with the peo
ple of B & C.
MOOSE TO HOLD
MEMORIAL SERVICES
Members of the Moose Lodge
will observe their annual Me
morial Services on Sunday,
May 5, at 2 p.m. in the Moose
hall.
Women of the Moose will
conduct their memorial ser
vices at 2:30 p.m. in the lodge
hall.
Both services are open to the
public.
sary hearings and elections for
incorporation by Jan. 1. Un
der House Bill 90, boundaries
would be those of Election Dis
trict 7 for this area.
The agency director said that
if residents chose to incorpor
! ate by petition, the boundaries
I commission will have the pow
1 er to alter the boundaries stat
i ed in the petition, but will hold
! public hearings before making
! such changes. The changes
! will be stated in the ballot for
; incorporation, and although it
I will not be possible to vote j
against individual provisions]
| for incorporation, if residents i
: are dissatisfied with the boun
j daries they would have the •
j privilege of voting against in
I corporation, or, after incorpor- ,
ation, of taking the boundary
changes to court.
In a District 7 borough, with \
Palmer the only incorporated i
city. Palmer would have two !
assemblymen, and the rural
areas would have one more, or (
three, making a total of five.
1 he first borough election ]
would determine whether the j j
i local government unit will I
have a borough manager or a
borough chairman. Cease said.
The borough manager would
; be a paid professional em
1 ployee, while a chairman would
j be the assemblyman receiving
the largest number of votes in
the election. A manager could
be removed at any time, while
a chairman could not be re
moved (except by recall) until
the next election.
Borough assemblymen from
within incorporated cities will
be chosen from the city council,
and may either be designated
during council elections or
chosen by the council men
themselves.
(Continued on page 7)
FIRE RAZES DOWNTOWN CORDOVA;
LOCAL HELP FOR HOMELESS ASKED
An entire downtown diock
of the city of Cordova was raz
ed and 15 businesses were wip
ed out in a rampaging fire
which broke out at 4 a.m. this
morning. The fire, which cov
ered approximately the area
bounded by First and Second
and B and C Streets, destroyed
about 70 per cent of the Cordo
va business district. The initial
estimate of damage is set at
about $2 million.
240 persons, comprising 65
families living in apartment
buildings and homes in the
area, were reported homeless
at noon today.
Local organizations and in
dividuals have expressed a
desire to assist the persons
made homeless by the fire, '
and a number of pickup sta
tions have been designated.
Clothing, household goods,
tools, money, food, anything
that would be useful to per- j'
sons who have lost all their
possessions may be left at the
Elks home, the Moose hall,
Bert's Drug, the B & B Mar
ket, Koslosky's, and all ser- •
vice stations in Palmer; also
Teeland's Country Store, Gil- <
low's Plumbing and Healing,
Big Lake Union Service.
Houston Market, Cottle's Cor- <
ner. Willow Trading Post and 1
Big Lake Lodge. 1
The fire was started by an ]
explosion at the rear of one of “
the buildings. It was brought
under control about 9 a.m., ‘
with mopping-up operations ‘
continuing for several hours.
A number of relief fire fight
louncn proposes
Second-Class Borough
Boundaries and the location
)f the borough seat were the
wo objections raised to the
Vlatanuska-Susitna local option
aetition at a meeting in the
Palmer Grange hall on Tues
day, April 30.
The meeting was called by
3ob Vroman, chairman of the
Vlatanuska-Susitna b o r o u g h
;ommittee. to clarify the pur
poses of the petition, which
vas circulated a year ago in
he District 7 area, but which
hus far has not obtained the
equiied 2a per cent of signa
ures from city of Palmer vo
ers.
A new petition was proposed
ay members of the Palmer city
•ouncii, which would extend
lie boundaries to the Kusku
an River, follow the Alaska
tange at the 2.000 foot level. '
:ircle above Denali, join with f
ipproximately the eastern
roundary of the Seventh Elec
ion District, include Lake
ieorge on the south, and fol
ow the Knik River boundary.
The borough seat would be
lesignated as Palmer.
The council proposed incor- j
roration as a second-class j
rorough. The Matanuska-Su- |
;itna petition designated a
'irst class borough. Council
nen, questioned later as to
:heir reason for this change,
said that the only mandatory
duties of a second-class bor
augh would be education, zon
ing and planning, and taxation
and assessment.
Other services would be as
sumed only by a vote of the
borough residents, whereas in
a first-class borough the as
semblymen have the power .o
assume special services for the
borough. Council men stated
that residents of particular
areas wanting special services
could organize their own serv
ice district, assessing them
selves for the cost. This would
ers, including coast guard and
air force, were airlifted to Cor
dova to assist in the fight to
bring the fire under control.
KIWANIS SNOW
IS THIS WEEKEND
With dress rehearsals Mon
day evening and again tonight,
:he cast, directors, and crew
af the 1963 Palmer Kiwanis
Minstrel Show are winding up
last-minute details in prepar
ing their music and fun-packed
ihow. according to Emil Gans
:how, general manager. Per
formances will be Friday and
Saturday, May 3 and 4, at 8:30
a.m. in Central school auditor
urn.
This year’s show marks a re
urn to the traditional minstrel
;how format, with numerous
nstrumental and vocal num
aers as well as some specialty
lance acts, "With lots of catchy,
oe-tapping tunes,” Ganschow
aromised.
Non-Kiwanians who will per
orm in the show are Kitty
kahnson, Bob Clarke, John
Ulissard. Jack and Thelma Ril
iy, Norm Rousey, and David
3rown of Anchorage.
There will be a barbershop
luartet composed of Lee Plum
aley, Norm Rousey, David
Brown, and Bob Clarke, and
meal solos by Norm Rousey,
3aul Martin, Bob Pippel, Lynn
sandvik, and David Brown.
Members of the orchestra ac
■ompanying the vocal and
lance numbers are Jimmy and
ierry Wilson, Morton Blissard,
(Continued on page 7)
take considerable pressure of
of the newly organized bor
ough, and once it got on it
feet, steps could be taken to re
organize as a first-class bor
ough.
Dick Jones and John Shav,
made statements in favor o
the proposed new boundaries
Jones pointing out that t h <
Overall Economic Developmen
Plan already set up encomp
asses this area, and Shaw stat
ing that the larger borougf
would more nearly meet the re
quirements of the borough law
“We are in a great basin ex
tending all the way to Mt. Mc
Kinley and the rich deposits o
the Beluga coal fields. W h a
have we to lose by taking ir
the unoccupied potential farm
ing lands across the Big Susit
na River? Large counties ir
the western states do not fine
administration of thinly popu
lated areas expensive to admin
ister,” Shaw said.
Speaking in favor of the Pal
mer borough seat. Shaw saic
that Palmer is the heart of the
economically developed area o:
District 7, and already has tht
needed services such as watei
and sewer.
Vroman said that designatioi
of Wasilla as the borough sea
was based on central location
and the fact that it is on th
railroad and will be on t h
main highway to the north.
(Continued on page 7)
AMBULANCE
DRIVE REACHES
$4,000 MARK
With nearly $4,000 raised an
$7,000 to go, the Palmer Vo!
unteer Fire Department arr
bulance drive is gaining me
mentum. members of the de
partment said this week.
The dental work you hav
been needing but have bee
putting off can serve the dou
ble purpose of contributing t
your well-being and helpin
the volunteer firemen in thei
campaign, it was stated.
All proceeds from denta
work performed in the offici
of Dr. Lee McKinley on May i
and May 11 will go to benefi
the ambulance drive. Dr. Me
Kinley’s office is located in hi
farm home near Bodenburi
Butte. Hours will be from !
a.m. until the doctor is ex
hausted, with all work to bi
paid for in cash
Contributions to the drive
have thus far been receivec
from the Palmer Emblem Club
Mr. and Mrs. Estes, Order oi
Eastern Star. Mrs. Bessie Ste
vens of Anchorage. Belvedere
Apartments. D & A Grocery
Teeland's of Wasilla, Maud’;
Flowers, Matanuska Hotel, Mr
and Mrs. Kay McCartney ol
Mac’s Plumbing, and Evan
Jones Coal Co.
Annual Spring Tea
Planned for May 3
Miss Agnes Sunnell. Alaska
state home demonstration lead
er, will be guest speaker at the
annual Homemakers’ Spring
Tea tomorrow at the Elks Hall
in Palmer. Hours for the tea
will be from 1 to 3 p.m., with
all women of the area invit
ed to attend.
Mrs. Virgil Eckert is general
chairman of the affair, with
Mrs. George Crowther serving
as decorations chairman, Mrs.
Hal Tye program chairman,
and Mrs. L. J. Klebesadel food
and serving.
The program theme, “The
Right and Wrong of It,” cen
ters around what constitutes
good taste in clothing.
ATTEND CONFERENCE
4
* wmmmmmmmm r * s ' *
ALASKA 4-H'ERS ATTEND WASHINGTON CONFERENCE
Lila Ann Woods, Palmer, and Joe Buzby, Fairbanks (left),
pose with Texas 4-H'er Geralyn Swanson in front of
the National 4-H Club Center during the annual 4-H
j Club Conference, April 20-26.
Good Turnout Seen
For Sports Car Race
Forty cars from all over Al
aska are expected to partici
pate in the sports car races in
1 Palmer on Colony Days, Maj
j 25 and 26, William G, Wood
] ward, race chairman, said ehrh
J this week.
Motorcycle races are tenta
i tively set for both days, as in
j a drag strip exhibition, Wood
^ i ward said. It is hoped that
! enough women will enter to
1 make up a powder puff race,
he added.
. I Larger sports cars, including
J the new XKE Jaguar, will be
? ; entered, along with Korvette
i Sting Rays and just about
. every other make of sports car,
j the chairman stated. He esti
j mated that speeds attained by
lj larger cars on the back stretch
'should be around 120 to 130
I miles per hour. The court is
, one mile long. Total laps for
{ the two days of racing will be
• about 250.
■ i He warned tnat, for their
; [ own safety, spectators will be
I j required to stay at least fifty
i feet from the course.
Local entrants may get their ;
■ i entry blanks at Hartley Mot- !
ors. All entrants must have a !
physical examination before
entering the race. Woodward I
stressed. Free examinations :
will be given at Doctor's Clinic j
in Anchorage on May 12 from
2 to 6 p.m. The clinic is locat
ed at Eighth and L Streets.
Anyone who has had a recent
physical may be passed by pre
senting his physician's signa
ture.
The Alaska Crippled Child
ren's Association will handle
the concession inside the
I course, with proceeds to go to ;
the MVCCA. The Explorer
I scouts will be in charge of the j
j soft drink concession, with pro
ceeds also going to the local un
| it of ACCA.
Reservations for tickets may
i be made by writing to the Al
aska Sports Car Club, Box 699, j
Anchorage. The charge for
general admission for each day
of racing will be SI.50. S2.50
will be charged for grandstand
seats, the number of which will
be limited. There will be no
charge for children under 12 if
accompanied by parents. Un
accompanied children will pay
25c for admission.
Woodward and his assistant,
Virgil Gillespie, are spending
considerable time in Palmer
making arrangements for the
Colony Days races.
YOUNG PEOPLE
RUN CITY FOR
EXITING DAY >
i An enthusiastic group
I young city officials who rec
1 ommended a city cleanup week
with a crew of high school stu
1 dents to cover certain areas, ar
rested three “armed bandits,”
land gave out eight (for real!
j overtime parking tickets spent
; yesterday in the city council
'chambers, the district magis'
| trate’s office, and in the police,
fire, water and street depart
ments getting a taste of what
it is like to administer city gov
ernment.
They were observing the an
nual Elks Lodge-sponsored
Youth Day. in which high sch
ool students take over city of
fices.
The young people were serv
ed lunch at the Grange hall,
and were guests of the Elks
lodge at a banquet at 5 p.m.,
where they were welcomed by
Wilson Woods. Youth Day
chairman, Palmer mayor Ralph
Moore, Exalted Ruler Stan
Zaborac. Jr., and superintend
ent of schools Richard C. Car
ter. Youth Day mayor, Doug
las Moffitt, introduced the oth
er officers for the day (named
in this week’s Hi-school Hi
Lites).
The young people heard an
address by James Jeffers of
the state department of health
and welfare, his topic being
"Go Forth to Serve America.”
The annual Youth Leader
ship awards were given to
David Martin and Janie Hanks,
and the Most Valuable Student
awards were presented to Miss
Hanks and to Wayne Eckert.
The most exciting incident
of the day was the “holdup” of
Johnny’s Barber Shop, by
three masked and “armed”
bandits. Doug Maze, Gary
May. and Theron Compton.
Fhey were speedily arrested,
tried, and sentenced to a half
hour in the city jail, followed
by hard labor washing the po
lice car.
BUSINESSMEN'S
MEETING CALLED
A meeting to form a Palmer
Businessmen’s Association will
be called tonight at 8 p.m. in
the Frontier Cafe. All local
businessmen are urged to at
tend.
MINSTREL SHOW
FRI. - SAT
8:30 P.M.
May 3 - 4
CENTRAL GYM