Thought of the Week:
A birthday, once a year, gets
to be enough.
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
J sJ U J *»
MARCH-O-DIMES DANCE
Wasilla Community Club
Live Music
Feb. 9 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
VOLUME 15. NUMBER 20
PALMER. ALASKA THURSDAY. FEB. 7. 1963
EIGHT PAGES
PRICE 15 CENTS
Reporters—
/VcUeltao-h
Ross Kopperud has written
irom Vallejo, Calif., that he is
out of braces but will remain
at the treatment center about
Two more months “to see if I
can’t leave my crutches here,
too.” Ross was injured over a
year ago in a freak construc
tion accident, and has been at
Vallejo treatment center for
several months.
* * *
Royal C. Johnson 19, son of
Mrs. Lavonne Goodrich of Pal
mer, was enlisted in the U. S.
Navy at Kodiak on Feb. 1. A
1962 graduate of Palmer high
school. Royal will undergo re- [
cruit training at the U. S. Na- \
val Training Center in San
Diego, Calif.
He was originally recruited
through the Navy recruiting
office in Anchorage as a can
didate under the Navy’s high
school graduate training pro
cram. Under the program, he is
eligible for a specialized ser
vice school upon completion of
basic training.
* * *
Mr. and Mrs. Max Sherrod
returned to Palmer from Los
Angeles last Monday, after a
stay of several months on the
West Coast. Max reports that
he is recovering well from sur
gery undergone in Redlands,
Calif., and says he would like
to thank the many friends here
who sent cards and letters dur
ing his stay in the hospital.
* * *
Mrs. Ned (Ginger Lawton)
Anderson arrived in Palmer
from Pocatello, Idaho, in mid
January. Her husband plans to
join her here soon, and the
young couple will make their
permanent home in Alaska.
She is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Lloyd Lawton of
Palmer.
The Lawtons' son, Joe,
who was recently discharged
Irom the U. S. Navy, is now en
rolled at Alaska Methodist
University in Anchorage.
Lucille Hutchinson is now
employed in the office at Pal
mer City Hall.
* * *
Edith Faye Washburn, dau
ghter of Lester E. Washburn of
Boise, Idaho, will marry Roger
Woods on Friday. Feb. 8, in
Boise. Edith is the oldest grand
daughter of Mrs. Elsie Lowe of
Palmer.
COMMITTEE NAMED
TO NOMINATE
CO-OP DIRECTORS
A nominating committee for
the 1963 MEA annual meeting
tc» be held April 13 was named
at the Jan. 28 meeting of the
board of directors.
Those who will serve are
James Frey, chairman, Butte;
Mrs. Beulah Hobson, Big Lake;
Ray White, Willow; Mrs. Mary
Bergman, Wasilla; Ted Sch
midtke, Palmer; Paul Swanson,
Chugiak; Chester Dee, Eagle
River; and Mrs. Edna Johnson,
Sutton.
The terms of three directors,
Phil O’Neill of Sutton, C. Ivan
Branton of Palmer ,and Virgil
Branton of Palmer, and Virgil
piring.
The committee is required
to prepare and post a list of
nominees at the general office
at least 45 days before the an
nual meeting. Further nomina
tions may be made by petition,
which must be posted not less
than 40 days before the meet
ing.
Members interested in run
ning for the vacancies on the
hoard have this year been ask
ed to inform the committee,
and have been sent forms for
the purpose, which should be
filled in and returned to t h e
nominating committee chair
man or the secretary, Matanus
ka Electric Association, Inc., at
the main office in Palmer.
Hospital Assn, to Elect,
Discuss Needs for Year
Local Youth
To Compete for
Air Force Academy
Congressman Ralph J. Rivers
announced on Feb. 1 that he
has nominated five Alaskan
youths to compete with each
other for his one vacancy at the
United States Air Force Aca
demy, Colorado Springs, Colo
rado.
Named to take the competi
tive examination this spring
are Kenneth Robert Bissett,
Palmer; Warren Lee Griese,
College; Daniel Nelson O’Brien,
Mile 5, North Tongass. Ketchi
kan; Jack B. Webb, 252 Min
nie Street, Fairbanks; and Jack
A. Windeler, 1501 Columbine
Avenue. Anchorage.
“Bob” Bissett is the son of
Mr. and Mrs. George McClure,
and is a student at Palmer high
school, where he is president
of the senior class.
Mr. McClure is an employee
of Matanuska Maid, Inc., and
Mrs. McClure is cashier at Ma
tanuska Electric Association.
Park Prance to
Be in Armory
The Palmer Park Prance will
be held in the Armory in the
Hagen Building, according to
Gerri Knettle, chairman of the
Park Committee. Scheduled to
begin at 8 p.m. February 16,
this is to be an old-fashioned
money-raising barn dance.
Live music by talented oil
well drillers is promised. There
is plenty of parking space. Ad
mission is granted after a do
nation of $2.50 per couple. Re
freshments will be dispensed
after exchanges of additional
donations.
Three Vacancies On
Board To Be Filled
Current problems facing the
Valley Hospital as well as
election of three members to
the board of directors will be
part of the business to be tak
en up at the annual meeting of
the Hospital Association on
Friday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m. in
the Palmer high school cafe
teria.
Ted Buzby of Palmer, Hazel
Harris, Sutton, Robert Tucker,
Sutton, Larry Leveen, Palmer,
Beulah M. Hobson, Big Lake,
Rose Palmquist, Pittman, Char
les Logsdon, Palmer, and Ros
coe, Taylor, Palmer have con
sented to run for the vacancies
on the board, according to the
report of the nominating com
mittee. Those whose terms are
expiring are Robert Vroman,
Robert Tucker, and Larry Le
veen.
Members of the nominating
committee are Mrs. John Weis
enberger, chairman, Palmer;!
Mrs. Roland Blank, Big Lake;
Mrs. E. Johnson, Sutton; Mrs.
Clara Buzby, Palmer; and Mrs.
R. J. Heddles, Butte.
Several immediate needs for
the hospital are listed in the
annual report, now in the
hands of the members. Chief
among them is a new roof,
which may cost three or four
thousand dollars, according to
the report. Several patching
jobs have been done but have
proved to be inadequate.
Major repairs to the heating
plant will be required this
year, and may cost as much 1
as $1,500, the report said.
What Iodine-131
Means to Area
(Fourth in ? series)
By A. H. Mick, Alaska Experimental Station
The American Dairy Association and other groups are
watching public reaction to radioactive fallout. They conclude
that very few consumers have become excited in spite of
publicity given to peace marches and other demonstrations.
Milk supplies are safe if they are offered at retail outlets.
That this is generally accepted is a tribute to the U.S. milk
industry.
Our press thrives on sensational and scare stories, often
based on minor events. Most readers do not respond to all
the frightening things reported day after day. They shrug
most scare stories off, rationalizing that "they don't apply 1
to me".
The radioactive fallout problem is largely a federal gov
ernment responsibility. President Kennedy has the uneviable
task of weighing the hazards of health damage against the
hazards of not testing atomic weapons.
Iodine 131 could disappear overnight if international
agreement might be reached to eliminate atmospheric weapon
testing. Announcements by President Kennedy last week
warned of new underground testing. How the Russians will
react is unknown. In any event plans are now being devised
to monitor 1-131 in the Matanuska Valley this next summer.
If sharp increases in radioactive levels are noted, dairymen
will be urged to switch to stored feeds in the interest of
protecting their consumers.
This is not an unprecedented move. Last summer fresh
milk in at least one Utah milkshed was diverted into manu
factured products. Some Minnesota dairys switched to stored
feeds during the growing season. If 1-131 levels build up in
the Matanuska Valley's fields as they did last summer, the
amount finally showing up in Anchorage markets can be
reduced by—
0 Switching from green feeds to stored feeds. This
may be possible on perhaps a third of our dairy farms with
out large outlays. Material that otherwise might be fed as
green-chop could thus be ensiled for a month or so until its
radioactivity has declined.
0 Holding fresh milk for several days will permit con
siderable decay of its radioactivity.
(This discussion is based on an American Dairy Associa
tion pamphlet "People are asking questions about milk".
Copies may be obtained from the local Extension office.)
The present x-ray develop
ing tank is faulty and outmod
ed. and a replacement of prop
er quality will mean a cost of
almost $1,800, it was stated. Al
though funds are not available)
for this replacement, it was
felt that this was a crucial
piece of equipment, and the!
order has been placed. The
Hospital Auxiliary has pledged |
help in getting funds, and oth- J
er organizations are asked to
consider giving contributions.
The sum of $47,873 is listed
in the report as outstanding in
accounts receivable. $0,526 of
this amount has accumulated in
the past 12 months.
The unpaid bills of hospital
patrons are a contributing fac
tor to a decision that members i
of the board feel must be made '
soon—a raise in hospital rates. ■
The present rate of $28 per
' day is just barely keeping the j
accounts balanced, according,
to the report, with nothing set
aside for the type of emergen- !
cies described above. Also, no
funds are being built up for j
up-dating of present facilities.
Although members of the
board agree that a raise in rates
will be necessary to put the:
hospital on a stable financial j
basis, it has not been determin
ed how much of a raise will :
be necessary, and the board has j
asked for assistance from any-1
one with experience in cost
analysis.
The goal of accreditation by
the Ameircan Medical Associa
tion appears to be closer, the
report stated. Most points of
procedure which were ques
tioned in the last review of
the hospital facilities have
been corrected or are now be
ing taken care of, and board
members feel that the hospital
can face the next application 1
for accreditation with consid
erable confidence.
Through the efforts of the'
Hospital Auxiliary, two major
pieces of equipment, the op
erating room light and the
new ice machine, were added.
The cost of the two amounted '
to nearly $1,000. Other contri- :
butions were linen donations i
from various organizations and
individuals, and surgical in
struments by the Auxiliary.
Memberships lor the 1963
year are now renewable, and
may be purchased for $2.50 at
the hospital, from Kiwanis!
Club members, and hospital
board members. Membership
entitles the holder to a vote |
at the annual meeting, also a
reduction in the premium of
certain types of hospital in
surance.
Door prizes at the annual :
meeting will be two tons of j
coal, contributed by the Evan ;
Jones Coal Company, and four !
electric coffe* makers donated
by the llatanuska Electric
Association.
BOB ROSS TO SPEAK
M REPUBLICAN AFFAIR
Bob Ross will be a featured
speaker at the Lincoln Day
smorgasbord to be held tomor
row, Feb. 8, at 8 p.m. in the
Grange hall in Palmer. Other
speakers have also been invited
to the affair, which is under
the sponsorship of the local
Women’s Republican Club.
As proposed reorganization
of Republican party rules will
be discussed, all Republicans
of the area are urged to attend.
The smorgasbord will be
available to those who wish it
at $1 per serving.
Wasilla Library
Plans Open House,
Annual Meeting
Open house at the Wasilla
Public Library and the Annual
Meeting of the Wasilla Library
Association will be observed on
Saturday. Feb. 9 at 1 p.m. in
the library building.
All patrons of the library and
other interested persons are in
vited to attend the meeting and
to take an active part in gov
erning the Wasilla Public Li
brary. The open house also of
fers an opportunity to become
better acquainted with the li
brary.
During the past year 425 new
books have been added to the
library collection and there are
several hundred more volumes
on hand to be processed. Any
one interested in helping with
this project is invited to attend
the meeting.
New' officers will be elected
and refreshments will be serv
ed.
Reid Reports
Appointments
To Committees
Reporting the completed or
ganization of the Alaska State
House of Representatives in a
wire to The Frontiersman on
Tuesday, Eugene Reid, repre
sentative from District 7, noted
that the Republicans now have
control with a Republican
speaker and a majority on com
mittees.
He stated that he is a mem
ber of the Resources. L o c a 1 j
Government, and Health. Edu
cation and Welfare committees. ,
“We will now be able to get !
down to business," he conclud- I
ed. “I will keep you fully in
formed." I
MEA STUDIES NEW APPROACH TO
MINE-MOUTH PLANT AT SUTTON
After a series of meetings
with other area cooperatives
preceding and during the Na
tional Rural Electric Associa
tion annual meeting, the Mat
anuska Electric Association
board of directors and manage
ment have reached the conclu
sion that one of two approach
es must be adopted if the mine
mouth steam plant at Sutton
is to be achieved, Mason La
Zelle, manager, said this week.
One approach would be to
apply for a loan from REA to
construct a 22-megawatt plant,
based upon definitive estimates
recently received from the
Ralph M. Parsons Company.
The second, according to La
Zelle, would involve exploring
all avenues for joint action by
the City of Anchorage and
MEA, Some encouraging re
sults have been obtained in this
approach, and further local
studies have been initiated, he
said.
In reviewing events leading
to the above conclusions, the
manager listed a joint CEA
HEA-MEA meeting in late De
cember, at which CEA and
MEA management were direct
ed to meet for the purpose of
making up a recommendation
on solutions to the generation
problem for consideration by
the boards of directors before
the annual meeting in Las Veg
as. It was found, however, that
important areas of cost which
had a direct bearing on the ap
proaches to be taken could not
be agreed upon on the basis of
available information in time
for presentation before the Las
Vegas meeting.
MEA officials reported that
at the Las Vegas meetings one
of the three cooperatives invol
volved made public that its
policy was that no decision
could be made w hich would not
protect absolutely all the in
terests of that cooperative’s
consumers.
"This would make negotia
tion a somewhat one-sided af
fair. since usually in arbitra
tion some concession must be
made for the common good,"
LiZelle said.
The manager pointed out
that there are two corporations
in existence which could fur
ther an area approach to gen
eration—one between HEA and
MEA, and the other formed by
all the public electric utilities
in Central Alaska, with one ex
ception. The latter includes, in
the general Anchorage area,
the City of Anchorage, HEA.
and MEA.
“A continuing effort will be
made to cooperate with our sis
ter cooperative, if it can aid the
common cause,” LaZelle said.
■‘We do not feel, however, that
MEA can overlook certain
basic economic facts which af
fect our service area, and cer
tainly cannot enter into a bar
gaining situation where these*
facts are given no considera
tion.”
Dimes Dance to
Be This Saturday
The March-O-Dimes Dance,
originally scheduled for Jan.
19, will be held Saturday, Feb.
9 at the Wasilla Community
Club, Mrs. Christine Smith,
chairman of the March of Dim
es campaign in the Wasilla
area, has announced.
The dance was postponed,
because of icy road conditions
throughout the area during the
Jan. 19 weekend.
There will be live music for
the affair, which will begin at
10 p.m. and continue until 2
a.m.
The dance is sponsored by the
Ladies' Auxiliary and Post No.
9365, VFW, and the Wasilla
Grange No. 2.
Chamber Elects
Four Directors
Four nominees to the board
of directors of the Matanuska
j Valley Chamber of Commerce
were elected at the luncheon
i meeting at the Frontier Cafe
yesterday.
Those elected were Elbe
Mrak, Stewart Durrant, Max
Clements, and Bob Pippei.
Holdover members of the board
are Ted Schmidtke, Betty
Mears. and A1 Brooks.
Officers will be elected at
the regular board of directors
meeting on Wednesday, Feb.
13.
CRUSADE CHAIRMAN HONORED BY AGS DIRECTOR
MRS. CHARLES WILSON, right, affixes the Sword pin, awarded to Mrs. George Brewster,
center, for meritorious service in the American Cancer Society. Looking on is A. Herbert
Schutte, left, executive director of the Alaska division of the society who presented the
award to Mrs. Brewster.
Mrs. George Brewster, who
has served as chairman of the
annual Cancer Crusade in the
Matanuska Valley for some
years, was honored at the Jan.
21) meeting of the Matanuska
Valley unit of the American
Cancer Society for her years
of service to the organization.
A special guest at the meet
ing was A. Herbert Schutte of
Juneau executive director of
the Alaska division of ACS,
who presented Mrs. Brewster
with a jeweled pin in the shape
of a sword, the symbol of the
society, in recognition of her
outstanding work for the or
ganization.
Mrs. Brewster plans to leave
Palmer in late February to join '
her husband, who has taken a j
position in Snohomish, Wash
ington. The Brewsters have!
lived in the Valley for 11 years,'
during which time Mr. Brew-1
ster was manager at Spring j
Creek Farm.
Present at the meeting, held
in the home of Mrs. Charles
Wilson, unit chairman, were!
Mrs. Ben Hermon, Mr. and Mrs. j
James Hurley, Marvin Slaugh
ter, Mrs. Clifford Alderman of
Wasilla, and Mrs. Walter Mayr
ofi Sutton.
Members of the unit were
shown a slide film by Mr.
Schutte, dealing with the can
cer research program as con
ducted throughout the United
States.
On Jan. 30, the executive di
rector showed the filmstrip,
“I’ll Choose the High Road," to
fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth
graders in the Palmer schools.
FOUR ACES--Live Music, Muskeg Ramblers
February 9
SATURDAY NIGHT