Merchants' Annual Christmas
Party December 24. Valley
Theatre. All children
through grade 6.
VOLUME 6. NUMBER 13
The Frontiersman
PUBLISH ED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
PALMER. ALASKA. THURSDAY, DEC. 18, 1952
TRY A FRONTIERSMAN
CLASSIFIED AD for that
item you may hare for sale,
rent or lease.
PRICE TEN CENTS
ICY ROAD CONDITIONS SNARL TRAFFIC
FWS BIOLOGISTS
FIND PARASITE IN
VALLEY MOOSE
Ed Chatelain, biologist with
the Fish and Wildlife reported
this week that examinations made
on vital organs of moose taken
during the special moose hunt
conducted in this area showed
the presence of hydatid tape
worm, found in the lungs of one
bull moose and one illegally kil
led cow moose.
The parasite is dangerous,
Chatelain said, in that man may
act as host to this particular var
iety. It is common among the
moose in the Matanuska Valley,
he added. From 11 sets of lungs
checked last year, four were
found to be infected by the par
asite. In most cases, animals in
fected were older moose. Only
one caribou from the Nelchina
herd was found to have been in
fected.
A new strain was recently
found on St. Lawrence Island
where there are no moose or
caribou to act as intermediates.
It is believed that a small mouse
is the carrier in that area.
FWS biologists are also making
a study of the jaw bones, teeth,
antlers and stomach contents to
aid in the determination of age
and eating habits of the moose.
NEW CREAMERY
MANAGER ARRIVES
Keith Walker, new department
manager at the Co-Op Creamery
arrived in Palmer December 15
and has taken over his new
•duties.
A graduate of Washington
State College where he majored
in dairy manufacturing, Walker
had been employed the past two
and one half years as foreman
in cheese processing and quality
control chief with Consolidated
Dairy Products at Seattle.
Formerly of a small commun
ity in eastern Montana, 'Walker
said he was pleasantly surprised
with the city of Palmer. “I shall
strive to maintain the high qual
ity of Co-Op products with vi
sions of improvements when
necessary,” he said.
Mrs. Walker and their three
young sons will arrive in the Val
ley shortly after the first of the
new year.
Chugiak Gun Club
Gets NRA Charter
Colonel Charles G. Kirk, El
mendorf, AFB, Alaska, has been
elected president of the CKugach
Rod & Gun Club, the National
Rifle Association announced re
cently.
Instructor for the newly char
tered club is Captain Aubrey J
Shelton, Fort Richardson, Alas
ka.
The new shooting club joins
thousands of other clubs, similar
ly chartered by the National Rifle
Association, in the promotion 01
competitive shooting and the
teaching of safe firearms hand!
ing for all in the community
Members will compete for firing
honors in a series of registerec
tournaments on the club’s range.
CO-OP REDEEMING
1942 CERTIFICATES
Clayton Esslinger of the Ma
tanuska Valley Farmers Co
operating Association announc
ed this week that the associa
tion is issuing checks for cer
tificates issued to members in
1942.
All persons holding these
certifcates are asked to call at
the office for their checks.
1
15 Cow Moose
Killed By
Wasteful Hunters
The wanton slaughter of 15 cow
moose which have been discover
ed by Fish and Wildlife agents
in the Willow-Koswithna anc
Lazy Mountain areas puts a blact
mark on the sport of hunting. Thf
moose were discovered following
the second moose hunt held De
cember 11.
According to Holgar S. Larson
FWS enforcement ofifcer, this i:
the first time so large a numbei
of cow moose have been killec
and abandoned. Two or four cov
moose have been discovered ii
a season but this high figure i
unheard of, he said.
No attempt to take or save an;
of the meat of the 15 illegal kill
was made. FWS agents said th
shootings were out and out kill
ings just for sake of killing.
One cow moose discovered i:
the Lazy Mountain area wa
found to have been carry
ing twin calves. This means tha
three lives were taken in th
one shooting. As agents pointe
out, the moose herd will soon b
a thing of the past if such killin
are to continue. They have lead
on violators in two or three case:
they reported and added tha
the violators will “have the boo
thrown at them” when appre
hended.
Library association
TO HOLD ANNUAL
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The annual metll.ij and elec
tion of officers for the Palme
Library will be held at the librar
January 19 at 8 p.m., it was ar
nounced this week.
Election of officers will includ
one trustee to fill the three-yea
term of Miss V. Louise Kellog
expiring this year. Also, the offic
es of president, vice-presiden
secretary and treasurer. All adul
and high school members ar
asked to attend the meeting.
BROKEN LINE CAUSES
ELECTRIC OUTAGE
A broken power line in th
Wasilla area early Sunday result
ed in a black-out for the Valle
and Anchorage areas that laste
from one hour and twenty mini
tes to two hours. The section fror
Wasilla to Eagle River was i
darkness until around 9 a.m.
Monday night’s outage we
caused by heavy snow loading o
Anchorage lines.
ASSESSOR RECOMMENDS
SALES TAX
Acting Anchorage City Assessc
has recommended either a terr
torial sales , tax or a one per cer
increase in the income tax. A;
sessor Richard Tuff proposed th
alternatives as a substitute f(
the Municipal Tax on person;
property.
He said the present tax on pe:
sonal property is “uncollectible
He told the League of Wome
Voters the territory could colie
the extra income tax and turn
over to the cities.
SOCIAL SECURITY AGENT
MAKES ROUTINE VISIT
Edwin Storr, Social Securii
representative from Anchoraj
spent a few days in Palmer th
week on a combination routii
visit and familiarizing himse
with the Valley. Storr recent:
arrived in the Territory from Se
Bernardino, California and h;
his office in Room 213, Loussa
Sogn Building, Anchorage.
Anyone desiring informatic
pertaining to Social Security m«
call or write Mr. Storr at th;
address.
JACK NEWCOMB
APPOINTED TO NEW
PMA COMMITTEE
Jack Newcomb of Palmer has
been appointed to the three-man
Production and Marketing Ad
ministration Committee created
to administer the Agricultural
Conservation Program in Alaska,
it was announced this week by
Charles F. Brennan, Secretary of
Agriculture.
The farmer-committee system is
a new method of PMA program in
Alaska and will continue to be
developed and operated in cooper
ation with Extension and other
Territorial and Federal agencies,
including the Soil Conservation
Service and the Forest Service.
Three, so-called “counties” have
been set up with Ralph Stiple of
Fairbanks, Ed Leibenthal of Hom
er and Newcomb of Palmer rep
resenting the areas. As in the
states, each county committee in
Alaska will be elected by local
farmers who are participating in
ACP. The elections in the Palmer
area for three farmer members
and three farmer alternate mem
bers, will be tallied December 30.
Those farmers qualified to vote
are persons who have been or are
presently active in the ACP pro
gram, 1950-1953.
Through the new program
farmers will make their needs
known to Newcomb who will in
j turn present their problems to the
! administration.
r
V
DRIVERS’ LICENSES
EXPIRE DECEMBER 31
e
r
y
t
e
2
y
i
a
a
s
a
r
i
it
e
ir
il
n
;t
it
All motor vehicle operator’s li
censes will expire on December
31, 1952. The licenses for the two
year period 1953-1954 available at
the office of Deputy Tax Collec
tor, Dorothy B. Saxton. The fee
for the two year license is $2.00.
To facilitate the issuance of
license plates, Mrs. Saxton re
minded vehicle owners to take
with them the present registra
tion certificate (license plate
receipt). If the certificate has
been lost the certificate of title
or certificate of title receipt must
be presented for examination.
M. P. Mullaney, Territoial Tax
Commissioner reminded vehicle
owners of several provisions of
the Motor Vehicle Act as follows:
(1) Registration card (certificate)
shall at all times be carried in
the vehicle to which it refers. (2)
Whenever a vehicle is sold both
the certificate of title and certifi
cate of registration must be
transferred to the new owner.
(3) License plates remain on the
vehicle when sold. (4) If registra
tion certificate or title is lost, a
duplicate must be obtained, the
fee for which is $2.00. (5) Owner
dismantling or wrecking any reg
istered vehicle shall immediately
forward the certificate of title
and registration card last issued
for such vehicle to the Motor
Vehicle Division of the Depart
ment of Taxation, Juneau, Alas
ka.
■y
:e
is
le
If
y
n
is
n
y
it
LARGE CHRISTMAS TREE
JN CO-OP BUSINESS AREA
A 35 to 40 foot Christmas tree
will be erected and lighted in the
Trading Post parking space with
in a few days, Manager Free
Zieke announced today. Frank
Clark of maintenance department
has the assignment and has prom
ised early delivery. Attractive tc
see are the decorated tree anc
windows in the Co-Op office
where the Christmas lights are
left burning during the evening
Want to play
SANTA CLAUS?
If there is any Valley family
or individual who would like
to play Santa Claus to a less
fortunate family this Christ
mas. Mrs. Eileen Branton in
the Health Center said she has
a list of needy families who
would appreciate a box or bas
ket of food, clothing or toys.
Those wishing to spread the
holiday spirit in this way are
asked to call at the Health
Center any morning. Several
local organizations are plan
ning to distribute Xmas boxes
but there are other families
who may not have any Christ
mas this year.
Ltcal Elks Form
Walking Blood Bank
Through the Territorial Elks
Association, all Elks lodges in
Alaska will be vertual “walking
blood banks.” Each member will
be typed and a system for filing
information set up, it was an
nounced. In this manner, blood
donors will be available for fast
| service.
The blood donating service will
be available to all other mem
bers and in emergency, to others
who are not members of the or
j ganization. Started by the Anch
orage Elks Lodge, the idea was
fast to catch on and was recently
taken over by the Territorial
Elks Association.
In addition to the local service,
there will be a Seattle blood
bank service available to all Elks
or members of his family, who
might need the service while Out
side, either for planned hospital
care or in emergencies.
COUNCIL VOTES NO
CHANGES IN CITY
LICENSE FEES
During a special City Council
meeting held at the Co-Op club
room Tuesday evening, council
men voted to make no rate chang
es in the business licenses in the
City of Palmer. Present business
licenses will expire at midnight,
December 31, 1952, with new ones
payable on or before January 1,
1953.
MVBA Make Requests of
Territory Officials
Members of the Matanuska
Valley Breeders’ Association
made known their wants to Sen
ator Gerritt Snider and Repre
sentative M. D. Snodgrass at a
meeting held December 9 in the
home of Harold Thuma.
Three issues were brought to
the attention of the Territorial
lawmakers during the meeting,
first of which was a request to
permit farmers to take actions or
have the territory take action to
prevent moose from damaging
fencing and crops in the Valley.
Pointing out that no effort has
been made by the Alaska Road
Commission to rectify damage
done to private property during
snow removal, members asked
the visitors in their second re
quest to see what can be done
to assist them with this problem.
Third on their list was a re
quest for higher salaries fox
school teachers.
New Vet Present
Plans of the new Territorial
veterinarian, Dr. Fred Honsingei
were clarified at the meeting. Dr
Honsinger announced his plans tc
return to Southeastern Alaska as
soon as a new man can be broker
in here in the Valley. In the
meantime he can be reached a1
the Matanuska Lodge, Room 15
whenever needed.
Santa Clans House
Near Ready for
Annual Xmas Party
Erection of the popular Santa
Claus House in the Valley Thea
tre was started today and plans
call for completion by Friday eve
ning. It is down the chimney of
this house that Santa Caus will
go next Tuesday afternoon at the
annual Merchants’ Christmas
party when he will greet and dis
tribute sacks of candy to all Val
ley children.
Time for Ihe parly has been
set up to 1:30 lo allow lime for
Ihe school children lo return lo
school before bus departure
lime.
Financed by Valley merchants
nnd organizations the annual
party is planned for children up
to and including grade six. Loren
Smith has donated two Christmas
trees, as he has done the past
Jive years. One tree will be erect
ed inside the theatre while the
other will be set up at the corner
of the theatre block as a com
munity tree, by theatre owner,
AI Hagen. Women of the Moose
plan to sack the goodies which
incude candy, assorted nuts and
fruit the evening of December 22
Parents are again asked tc
remain away from the party tc
provide more, seating room foi
the children. A bigger than ever
attendance is looked for this yeai
and men from the Palmer Moose
Lodge and teachers of the Palmei
School will be in attendance tc
supervise the seating and care ol
children attending the party.
First Aid Course
Planned for MEA
And Ski Club
A 30-hour American Red Cross
First Aid course will be conduct
ed by Sergeant Stanley Laird o:
the Alaska Highway Patrol frqc
January 5 through Januray 16, i
was announced this week.
The course will be offered tc
Matanuska Electric Associatior
employees and members of the
Matanuska Ski Club. Anyone else
interested in taking the course is
asked to contact Sergeant Laird
To receive a certificate, all classe:
must be attended by those takinj
the course.
Classes will be held from 8 p.m
to 11 p.m., with the meeting place
to be announced as soon as ar
ranged.
Civil Defense lo
Plan Town Meeting
On Monday evening, Decembei
29, the Civil Defense commttee o
Palmer will meet at the head
quarters in Carpenters’ Hall at i
p.m. to make plans for a towi
meeting to be held in January.
At the January meeting, mem
bers of the community will b<
offered the opportunity to discus
Civil Defense in the greater Pal
mer area and view the film “J
Tale of Two Cities,” a graph!
picture of the bombing of Hiro
shima and Nagsaki being showi
b CD committees throughout thi
Territory and States.
ALPINE INN PLANS
CHRISTMAS PARTY
Alpine Inn plans a Christma
party for Friday night, Decern
ber 19 to which the public is in
vited. There will be a Christma
tree, an informal lunch and lot
of fun, the hosts have promised
Everyone attending is asked t
take a gift not to exceed $2 ii
cost, labeled whether for a mai
or woman. Santa will distribut
the gifts during the evening.
NIGHT-TIME CHINOOK
MELTS SNOW; MANY
ACCIDENTS OCCUR
Overturned trucks, traffic
snarls and many, many disgrunt
led drivers were the results of a
Chinook experienced December
16 and 17 in the Valley and sur
rounding areas.
Extreme icy condition of the
! highway was blamed for all the
many accidertts reported during
the day. A five car pile up just be
yond the Matanuska Bridge was
i reported to have been caused
1 when one vehicle slid across the
curve, blocking the road. As one
car after another piled up, a
i coal truck owned by High
way Fuel Transport was
reported to have slid into
them, causing some damage to
the vehicles. Drivers of the ve
hicles were: Roy E. Linden, Tom
Murton, Sam Thornhill, Dwight
Pullen .Minard Berg and David
Rabold, the latter was driver of
the coal truck. There were no
personal injuries reported.
The Red Maid, MVFCA milk
delivery truck slid off the road
j December 16 when enroute to the
j commissary at Elmendorf Air
Force Base. Very little damage
was done and driver Paul Schoe
j nig escaped with no injuries.
| Plagued by misfortune, the Silver
! Maid truck sl'iu off on December
17 followed by a second MVFCA
truck later on. Very little dam
| age occured and all trucks are
| back on regular schedules.
While attempting to turn his
car around to return to Palmer,
Stanley Zaborac was literally
blown off the highway down the
river enbankment.
Wayne Hunter received a dis
located shoulder when he slipped
on the ice and grabbed his car
handle for support. He was treat
ed at Valley Hospital.
; j The new Koslosky Department
; Store billboard sign located near
:! Knik bridge was blown down
. | with no estimate of damage re
; ported.
Highway Patrol officers and
local wrecker services were kept
busy from early morning until
late night checking accidents and
towing cars out of the ditches.
Highways remain in icy condi
tions and motorists are, urged, to
» drive with caution, using chains
; whenever necessary.
NINE VALLEY HUNTERS
GET MOOSE DURING
SPECIAL PERMIT-HUNT
Nine successful hunters of the
Palmer area have moose for their
freezers following the close of the
special permit hunt held in this
area from December 11 to Decem
• ber 18. They are: Isabelle Wool
‘ cock, William Kucera, Stanley
5 Laird, Roy McCartney, James
t Morgan and C. B. Wood, all of
Palmer. Also, Aaron Bauder of
Mile 37; J. Phillip Langdon and
, Lawrence Tetrault of Wasilla.
First of the hunters to report
’ his kill was Stanley Laird who
shot his bull moose early opening
, day.
■
i
5
5
)
1
1
GAME HEARING SET
FOR DECEMBER 30
The annual Fish and Wild
life hunting and fishing regu
lation hearing will be held in
Palmer Tuesday night, Decem
ber 30 at 8 p.m. in the Matan
uska Valley Sportsmen quart
ers, it was announced by Hol
gar Larsen this week.
The public is invited to at
tend and present any changes
or ideas they may have per
taining to the regulations.