I
if
Thought of the Week:
Over the years dogs have re
fused to talk, which indicates a
high degree of intelligence.
VOLUME 16, NUMBER 5
THE FRONTIERSMAN
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
PALMER, ALASKA, THURSDAY, OCT. 24, 1963
TEN PAGES
FALL BAND CONCERT
CENTRAL SCHOOL GYM
OCT. 25 — 8 P.M.
PRICE 15 CENTS
Seven Take Petitions for Borough Assembly
; Reporters—
NoieJioah
Mr. and Mrs. Dick Hamilton
left this week for Alton, 111.,
from where Mrs. Hamilton will
continue to Miami, Fla., to visit
her mother, Mrs. Lillian Hoh
ler. She plans to be away about
two months.
Paul D. Henry of Palmer was
guest of honor at a farewell
party held at the Church of
Christ last Friday evening.
Henry, who left Oct. 15 for ser
vice with the U.S. Army, was
presented with a gift following
an evening of games and a cof
fee hour.
* * *
David Hamon, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Dan Hamon of Lazy
Mountain, is now attending
school at the Glynco Naval
Training Center in Georgia.
After a month of radar train
ing there, he will be stationed
in Puerto Rico.
David left Palmer on Oct. 2
following two weeks’ leave
here. The young man is a 1960
graduate of Palmer high
school.
Ensign James Vickaryous of
the U.S. Naval Air Force writes
from Alameda, Calif., that he
is now flying to the various
carriers operating out of San
Diegc, Long Beach and Ala
meda. The young pilot is the
son of Mr. and Mrs. Tony
Vickaryous of Wasilla.
* * *
Mr. and Mrs. John Kilgore
(Marjorie Schreiber) are set
tled in their new apartment in
Virginia Beach, Va., where
John is attending school. The
couple say they are enjoying
the east coast, and send greet
ings to their many friends here.
Their address is White Sands
Motel Apartments, Atlantic
and 6th Streets, Virginia Beach.
Va.
Navy Ensign Gerald T. Cogh
lan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gene
Coghlan of Wasilla, was grad
uated Sept. 20 from the Naval
Officer Candidate School at
Newport, R.I. During the 16
week training program, candi
dates studied naval science and
leadership, and upon gradua
tion were commissioned En
sign in the Navy.
* * *
Roger J. LaZelle, machinist’s
mate fireman, USN, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Mason LaZelle of Pal
mer, is serving aboard the de
stroyer USS Uhlmann and par
ticipated in exercise “Black
Bear’’ in the Eastern Pacific,
Sept. 30 through Oct. 4 The ex
ercise was a major fleet strike
and anti-air warfare practice
which centered about the Kitty
Hawk. It was designed to eval
uate the effectiveness of fleet
units under realistic conditions.
RACEWAY PLANS
DISCUSSED AT
OCT. 18 MEETING
At an open meeting held at
the Moose hall on Oct. 18, the
executive committee of Palmer
Raceways, Inc. reported on the
organization and planning for
construction of the new motor
racing circuit to be established
one mile south of Palmer.
A detailed breakdown was
given on the estimated cost of
construction of the various por
tions of the new racing facili
ties, and a projection was made
of the returns to be expected
from the operation of the
tracks as each portion reaches
completion.
It was announced that the
corporation is now accepting
subscriptions for the purchase
of shares of the initial offering
of stock from local investors
who are interested in the de
velopment of this new enter
prise. No money is required at
present, as the subscriptions
are to be payable on or before
March 20. 1964.
A member of the Palmer
Raceways, Inc., executive com
mittee reported that response
to this announcement, to date,
has been highly gratifying, and
suggested that others in the
community who wish to take
advantage of this opportunity
may do so by contacting Lloyd
Severns, chairman of the com
mittee or Pat Wells at the
Matanuska Hotel.
BAZAAR RAFFLE
TICKETS STOLEN
Raffle tickets numbered 1
through 33 for St. Michael’s
bazaar on Nov. 9 have been
stolen from the Frontiersman
office. The raffle tickets now
being sold start with No. 34.
Persons purchasing tickets
are warned not to accept any
number lower than 34.
PTA Asks (ily For
Swanson Ice Rink
Construction of an ice-skat
ing rink at Swanson school was
discussed by Palmer city coun
cil members at the Oct. 22
meeting, following a request by
PTA representative Mrs. How
ard Luther and Mrs. Clifton
Spendlove that the city of Pal
mer build the rink.
Council members recom
mended that city manager Don
Irwin study the location with
street department personnel
and the Swanson' school prin
cipal to determine the amount
of work that would be involved
in excavating the rink.
It was suggested that if the
project is quite costly, other
civic organizations ought to be
enlisted by the PTA to help
pay for the rink.
Liquor Violations
Council members approved
license applications for the
coming year for business places
in Palmer which sell liquor,
with the exception of the Tro
pical Gardens. The council
recommended that the state li
quor control board review the
police report on liquor law vio
lations at the Tropical Gar
dens, and instructed the city
manager to write letters to
other liquor establishments in
Palmer with a record of viola
tions, expressing the council's
displeasure at these infractions
of the law
Palmer police reported viola
tions at the Four Aces, the
Glass Bar, the 49 Club, the
Tropical Gardens, and Ray’s
Liquor Store involving the sell
ing of liquor to minors or for
staying open after legal closing
time. No violations were listed
Dr., Mrs. Colberg to Leave Oct. 28
For Hospital Assignment in Pribilofs
To leave Oct. 28 for a year’s
work with the Fish and Wild
life Service hospital on St.
George Island in the Pribilofs
are Dr. and Mrs. A. J. Col
berg.
Dr. Colberg, who has had a
medical practice in Palmer for
the past 13 years, spent 23
years in China as a missionary
and physician. He explains that
the 23 years were spread over
a 27-year period, interspersed
with several years of medical
practice in California and
Minnesota.
The Colberg family lived for
four years under Japanese oc
cupation in China, and the doc
tor once spent a month in the
hands of Communist forces in
north China. He was forced to
flee before the spread of Com
munist troops after World War
II, and escaped from Commun
ist-held China hidden in a coal
cart.
The St. George post will be
an isolated one, since the island
is inaccessible except by heli
copter during the winter
months.
Supplies for the Colbergs will
be delivered by the Penguin
III, the last boat of the season,
which left Seattle on Oct. 21.
Some supplies will also be
available at the store on the
island. There is an airstrip on
neighboring St. Paul Island,
but none on St. George.
Two hundred Aleuts live on
the island, and between 10 and
20 white persons make their
homes there. Six are teachers.
The only church is the Greek
Orthodox, administered by a
Russian-born priest.
The Colbergs will fly from
Anchorage to the Pribilofs, a
distance of about 850 miles.
Mail to the Colbergs may
continue to be mailed to Box
1807. Palmer, since arrange
ments have been made to for
ward their mail to them. The
couple have asked to “Good
bye" to Matanuska Valley
friends through the Frontiers
man.
for the Palmer Bar, the Mat
anuska Hotel, and Koslosky’s
j liquor store.
The action against the Tropi
cal Gardens was taken upon
the recommendation of the Pal
mer police department. The li
quor control board will review
the case and then determine
whether or not to grant t h e
license for the coming year.
Matanuska Maid Plat
A planning commission re
commendation for approval of
a plat of ground on the corner
of Railroad and Co-op Avenue,
to be known as Standard Oil
property, was accepted by the
council. The commission re
commendation included the
proviso that an easement on
the east line be changed to
meet recommendations.
Mayor Schmidtke announced
the appointment of Dick Miller
to the commission and the re
appointment of Bud Haire and
Sam Reiger.
City Manager's Report
The manager reported that
no one has yet been found to
operate the Palmer dog pound.
The street behind the Buddy
Woods hangar has been leveled
and graveled and culverts have
been placed and drainage
ditches dug in trouble spots on
Airport Road, he said. The
water main on Smith Street
has been put in, tested, and
backfilled. The bumper guards
along the new parking strip on
Colony Street have been moved
back and reinforced.
Other Business
Mayor Schmidtke called a
! meeting with the Palmer Inde
! pendent School District board
I of directors for Tuesday. Nov.
5. to discuss disposition of tax
penalties and interest.
A motion was approved to
reject all bids on the Barber
Greene loader.
Sale of the city-owned fire
truck for $500, with time pay
ments to be arranged if desired,
was approved by the council.
State IOOF to Meet Here
South Southcentral district
Odd - Fellows Association will
meet in Palmer this Friday and
Saturday. Oct. 25 and 26.
Events will begin Friday
with a banquet at 8 p m. in
Carpenters hall for all visiting
Odd - Fellows and Rebekahs.
Anyone interested in the Odd
Fellows lodge is urged to at
tend. with the promise of an
enjoyable evening.
Saturday activities will be
gin with a pancake breakfast
served by the Palmer Rebek
ahs.
The Association will open
business sessions at 10 am.
State officers are Paul Wise.
Seward, president; L. J. Smith,
Sr., Wasilla. vice-president;
and Elmer Boedeker. Jr.. An
chorage, secretary-treasurer.
30 Attend Conference Here
1
About 30 Palmer civic lead
ers and businessmen attended
the civil defense conference in
Palmer on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
The conference was sponsored
by the University of Alaska
civil defense education pro
gram, and was headed by Wil
liam Swick of the university
staff.
Other civil defense leaders
who directed conference activ
ities were Ira Minnihan, liai
son officer for Alaska from the
Department of Defense, region
al office in Everett, Wash.;
Frank Primozich of the Everett
office; Jim Messick, training
and education officer for the
state of Alaska civil defense
program, Anchorage; and Dr.
Allan Mick of the Alaska Agri
cultural Experiment Station in
Palmer.
The morning session outlined
the threat of nuclear war and
the countermeasures available.
Afternoon workshops consisted
of three separate groups, which
discussed warning and support
ing services, radiological de
fense and emergency opera
tions center, and fallout shel
ters.
Dr. Mick, lecturing on prob
lems of nuclear radiation in
the Matanuska Valley, stated
that the latest studies show less
radiation in the Matanuska
Valley than in most other
areas of the United States.
It was brought out at the
conference that state surveys
show that the only city with
more fallout shelter space than
people is Ketchikan. Kodiak
and Anchorage need about 25
per cent more space, Fairbanks
30 per cent more. Palmer does
not at present have any shel
ters that meet the required
standards, which include mini
mum space for 50 persons.
There are a number of loca
tions that would be suitable for
less than 50 people, however.
The closest shelter is the
Eklutna power plant, which
has been stocked with supplies
for 466 persons.
Present bomb capacity would
kill everything within a radius
of 14 miles from the point of
detonation, it was stated. As
suming that Anchorage would
be the target, prevailing winds
would be likely to bring fallout
to the Matanuska Valley in
about an hour and a half.
In the event of an emergency
Palmer would receive the in
formation within 60 seconds
from Colorado Springs, the
central station of the nation
wide warning system. The
message would be relayed to
Elmendorf, where instantan
eous lines with Palmer, Ketchi
kan, Sitka, Juneau, Seward,
Kodiak, Kenai, Nome, Fair
banks, and Anchorage are now
in operation.
FALL CONCERT
IS TOMORROW
Music with appeal for every
one will be offered at the Pal
mer schools fall band concert
on Friday, Oct. 25, at 8 p.m. in
Central school auditorium, ac
cording to Lee Plumbley. hand
director.
A contribution of $1.00 for
adults and 50c for students will
be asked for admittance to the
varied program. Children ac
companied by parents will be
admitted free.
The senior Pioneer band will
present several marches, "Am
parito Roea," by J. Texidor.
“Little Giant.” by Moon, “Bom
Basto,” by D. R. Farrar, and
“Zacatecas," by G. Codina.
Concert pieces will be “Be
guine Festival,” G. Osser; "Pa
cific Grandeur.” (Overture), by
V. Olivadoti; “Light Cavalry,"
(Overture). F. Von Suppe; and
an original composition by Lee
Plumbley, “Ballad.”
Junior high band selections
will be “America;” "Crusader's
Hymn” (traditional); "Margot,’'
(waltz), Metcalf; “Artist,” (pol
ka). Metcalf; “Aura Lee.” Fos
ter; and “Mac March," Metcalf.
The dance band will play
“Basin Street." by S. Williams:
“After You’ve Gone.” Creamer
and Layton; and “Panama,'
William Tyers.
Soloists will be Mike Pippel
playing the alto saxophone
Dawn Leigh Plumbley on the
clarinet; Colleen Blissard, clar
inet; and John Comos. cornet.
No Candidates Yet
In Southeast Area
Seven petitions are now cir
culating or have already been
filed for the office of borough
assemblyman in Election Dis
trict 7, the offices of the city
clerk and deputy district ma
gistrate in Palmer said this
morning.
No one from the Matanuska,
Sutton, or Butte precincts has
as yet shown an interest in can
didacy for assemblyman, with
only a little over a week re
maining before the final filing
date, 5 p.m. on Saturday. Nov.
Robert Vroman is thus far
the only candidate for borough
chairman. Five persons, Joyce
Kerttula, Ed Smith, and Lew
Hanks of Palmer and Kenneth
Gillow and May Carter of Wa
silla, have taken petitions for
posts on the borough school
board.
Assemblyman hopefuls are
Robert Vroman. Houston: Hen
ry Jordan, Rocky Lake; Milton
I Wetherington, Willow; Rose
1 Palmquist. Houston; George K
| Harbeson (address not avail-]
i able): L. J. Smith. Sr.. Wasilla;
i and Harold Newcomb. Wasilla.
Petitions for the three bor
ough assemblyman posts must
have the signatures of at least
50 qualified voters whose legal
residence is in the borough area
Incorporation to
Be Decided Nov. 5
Voters of the Big Lake area
will decide whether or not to
j incorporate as a second-class
! city on Tuesday. Nov. 5. The
1 election will be held at the
j Big Lake Y Grocery.
The election was scheduled
; by superior court action on
Oct. 7. following the presenta
tion of a petition signed by the
necessary number of petition
ers (15 eligible voters of the
area to be incorporated). The
area encompassing the pro
posed city must also contain a
minimum of 50 eligible voters.
No one appeared at the Oct. 7
hearing to protest incorpora
tion.
The proposed city covers 19
| square miles, including Big
| Lake, Mud Lake, and Rocky
i Lake, also part of Flat Lake
| and Lake Stephan.
Only permanent residents
may vote in the election.
Property owners in the area
are estimated between 2,000
1 and 4.000, but most are sum
mer home owners.
Proponents of incorporation
cite the need for police and
fire protection, roads, sewage
and garbage disposal. They
point out the losses suffered
by part-time owners through
vandalism, and the increasing
problems of lake sanitation.
Those opposed to incorpora
tion argue that these services
are not yet needed and that the
extra burden of taxation will
drive summer residents away,
thus destroying the recreation
al potential of the area.
Proponents counter by say
ing that summer residents
themselves have asked for in
corporation.
At a public meeting called
Oct. 18 to acquaint residents
with the issues and mechanics
of incorporation, concern was
expressed that no public hear
ing had been held prior to pre
sentation and allowance of the
WORK PARTY AT
PARK SATURDAY
The Deneke Park committee
has announced a work party at
the park for Saturday. Oct. 26.
Those with time to volunteer
are asked to be at the park at
9 a.m.
petition, hsig L,aKe ousiness
man Frank Smith said that
those who did not want a sec
ond class city should have ap
peared in court on Oct. 7 to
protest.
A second class city is n o t
allowed to bond, and can spend
only its anticipated revenue
for the year. It can tax up to
30 mills.
According to an Attorney
General's opinion dated July
12, 1963. a second class city is
not entitled to particular rep
resentation on a borough as
sembly. Attorney General
George Hayes said in his opin
ion that the borough act pro-;
vides for representation on the ’
borough assembly from first j
class cities and areas outside
of first class cities, and does
not designate any class of city
other than first class for rep- j
resentation on a borough as
sembly.
but who live outside the city
of Palmer.
Petitions for candidates for
the office of borough chairman
and borough school board
member must be signed by at
least 50 qualified voters who
live within the borough area,
including the incorporated lim
its of the city of Palmer.
The petitions may be obtain
ed in the offices of the deputy
magistrate and the city clerk in
Palmer, or by writing to Huge
Wade, Secretary of State, Box
971. Juneau.
The signed petitions must be
filed with the Secretary of
State at the above address, or
in the office of the Supervisor
of Elections, 120 East 5th Ave..
Anchorage, no later than 5 p.m
on Nov. 2.
The borough election, which
is being called under the pro
visions of the House Bill 90
amendment to the borough law.
will be held on Dec. 3. Voters
will choose between a first and
second class borough, and will
decide whether the borough is
to have an elected borough
chairman or an appointed bor
ough manager. They will elect
a borough chairman (in case
this office is approved), three
borough assemblymen, and five
school board members.
The borough assembly will
be made up of live members,
two to be appointed from the
j Palmer city council.
Sawmill Clinic
Held at Wasilla
Wasilla was host to one of
three sawmill clinics held re
cently in the state of Alaska
under the auspices of the U.S.
Forest Service in cooperation
with the state Division of
Lands forestry branch. Others
were held in Fairbanks and
Homer.
The Wasilla sessions were at
Williwaw Lodge on Oct. 2 and
3.
The Divisionof Lands report
ed the clinics to be well-organ
ized and informative, and pre
sented a superior demonstra
tion of the results of taking
into consideration log and lum
ber grades, as well as the func
tions of efficient Sawmill oper
ations. The demonstration
helped the small sawmill oper
ators to realize the impact
which grade sawing makes on
the profits from their opera
tions. it was stated.
FIREMEN MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO
TRANSFER AMBULANCE TO WASILLA
Transfer of the ambulance
now in use by the Palmer Vol
unteer Fire Association to Wa
silla is row being considered,
according to Noel Woods, fire
chief. The new ambulance has
been ordered and will be de
livered here soon.
Gordon Green, manager of
the Anchorage Funeral Chapel,
has approved the transfer of
the vehicle, originally owned
and operated by the funeral
chapel. The ambulance was
made available to the Vaile.v
on a cooperative non-profit ba
sis.
Final approval of the trans
fer of the ambulance will de
pend on several conditions and
requirements. Woods said.
A responsible organization,
dedicated to providing efficient
and reliable ambulance service
to all, must be formed; the or
ganization must provide proper
care, maintenance and housing;
and the group must be a non
profit organization.
The Palmer group will trans
fer the vehicle in good operat
ing condition and completely
equipped, the fire c,hief stated.
The Palmer Firemen will also
donate a small resuscitator in
! good operating condition, and
I subject to approval by the Pal
mer city council and the Fed
eral Communications Commis
; sion, the present two-way radio
communications equipm ent
owned by the city. This equip
: ment would be purchased from
the city or replaced by the
firemen.
The Palmer organization also
proposes to pay the insurance
premium for the Wasilla am
; bulance for the first year, and
give the Wasilla group a cash
donation of $500 to start an op
erating fund. Woods said.
"The Palmer Fire Association
can think of no better way to
thank the many persons who
assisted in the ambulance drive
and who have cooperated with
the fire department in the past
than to pass on to our Wasilla
neighbors some of the same
cooperation and assistance,"
the fire chief stated.
The local fire association also
expressed appreciation to the
Anchorage funeral chape! for
their generosity and help.
DUKE
Harris
BENEFIT DANCE ”
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26
Public Invited