THE FRONTIERSMAN
fntered as second class matter on Oct 21. 1947. at the post office
at Palmer. Alaska, under the Act of March 3. 1879
T. O. SCHMIDTKE
Publisher
MILDRED JOHNSON
News Editor
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: S6 a year in Matanuska Valley Area
Mailed to all points in Alaska and the United States $7.00 per year
MatAanal Advertising Rep.—WEEKLY NEWSPAPER REPRESENTATIVES
404 Fifth Avenue, New York 16. New York
WHY NOT PALMER?
The principal financial problem of most local gov
ernments, including Palmer, today consists of the costs
■of education, all the way from the public pre-schools
"to the tax-supported state and municipal universities and
colleges. A steadily increasing proportion of property
*nd other taxes goes to support them. This is in accord
with the American philosophy that every child is entitled
*o a chance to become an educated human being, possess
ed of knowledge that is of use to the nation, to society,
and to the individual.
But, certainly, the least we can ask is that the most
be made to our educational plants—plants which have
become almost unbelievably expensive and luxurious
w many instances. Most of us have seen school gymnas
iums and sports fields which dw-arf the educational
facilities, and compare favorably with the Yankee Sta
dium.
There is a growing movement to use the educa
’•onal plants on a full-year or near-full-year basis. As
of now vacation periods cut deeply info their use. So,
the taxpayers wind up with short measure production out
of facilities which are perfectly capable of handling a
lull year's work. 1
The long summer vacation, let it be remembered,
is a hang-over from the forever-gone era when the farm
ing population was, proportionately, far greater than if
s now, when the chores were largely done by hand, and
tne children were needed-to help in the fields. This Cur- 1
r>er-and-lves picture of American life has a nostalgic
charm, but nothing more. The case for full utilization of
Our educational plants and systems is a strong one.
As the recent proposed bond issue for the Palmer
independent School District went down to defeat, the
ocel school board might well look into a possibility of
utilizing our plant to its fullest extent.
fyn&e/i <2/
By Dan Halligan
DEAR DAN: What do you think of high school students
‘dnniing? I'm a student at Palmer, Alaska, High and have
into contact with drinking students. At least 40 per cent
Of the boys drink and a few of the girls. I frown on drinking
and don t think much of kids who go out with other kids who
«rmi.
What can be done about it? Those who drink say you're
•"'* "square if you don’t but who cares? Many parents holler
;me svream but don't do anything. Some parents even go along
with teen-agers’ drinking. How can teen-agers get ahold of
of alcohol when the law prohibits it? And don't say the law
enforcement officers are cracking down because they’re not.
Ih#y catch very few teen-agers drinking and it doesn’t do
any pood anyway. If someone gets caught, he makes sure he
’doesn't get caught a second tune.
is it becoming accepted for anyone to drink regardless of
CONFUSED.
DEAR CONFUSED: First of all, don't blame the
taw. They do the best job they can in Palmer or any
where else but they can't be everywhere and do every
thing they should at one time.
Your teen-age friends get their booze through
three sources: through stupid parents, through adult
friends" who make the purchases for them and through
individuals in the beer, wine and liquor business who
-consider a buck a buck and a customer a customer.
Seme parents lull themselves into a dream world
fey saying, "What harm is there in the kid having a
drink now and then? Let him get it out of his system
and he won't want it later on." That theory is too stupid
to even discuss.
Many teen-agers take a drink for the same reason
they try a smoke. They want to see what "it" tastes like.
Teen-agers, are curious, inquisitive and many have the
show me" altitude. That's fine and no high school
student can be condemned for trying a cigarette or
sampling a drink. They're better off by not doing so but
nhey're not criminals because of the experimenting.
I have stood in front of thousands of teen-agers in
-dozens of high schools in many states and provinces of
Canada and said, "The high school boy who drinks
Habitually is a bum. A girl who drinks frequently is a
tramp." The result? Applause. I’ll be happy to make
the same statement before Palmer teen-agers if ever
£ get up into your neck of the woods.
The steady drinker would get the same results and
■save considerable money if he would wear a sign pro
claiming, "I'm a jerk" and cut out the drinking. The
big man" is only kidding himself.
The "cure" comes from two sources, neither of
which is the police. It comes from the parents and from
■the kids themselves.
Drinking among teen-agers breeds poor reputa
tions as a starter. These kids are only "big shots"
ui the eyes of other drinkers and if that's the ultimate
•ambition a high school kid has. I feel sorry for him or
her. Drinking also results in girls becoming pregnant,
family disgrace, untold financial expenses, the loss of
good friends, the falling away from one's religion, the
quitting of school, crimes, traffic accidents and violent
death. These points are a few of the "liabilities." The
'assets"? There are none—absolutely none. If you can
call looking like a "big shot" in the eyes of another
teen-age drinker an asset, you can have it.
Drinking is not becoming accepted for teen-agers
and never will be accepted. The drinking punks make
a lot of noise, that's all. A teenager doesn't need brains
to drink. All it takes is a pointed head.
(Dan Halligan will answer all questions submitted
f-y teenagers and children. Address him care of :":e
Frontiersman. For personal replies enclose a stamped,
ielf-addressed envelope.)
Slrange Things
By Heinie Snider
At the present time, there is
considerable interest in dog
races, a sport well adjusted to
Alaska. We have dog races at
Big Lake, at the Fur Rendez
vous in Anchorage, in Fair
banks, and other places around
the state.
The dog, man's best friend,
was used as a beast of burden,
pulling the sleds for the pros
pectors, or carrying packs on
their backs like horses.
During the gold rush days,
dog races were held for enter
tainment and excitement. Some
of them have gone down in his
tory. Old timers who were at
Nome in those hectic days can
still remember the "All-Alaska
Sweepstakes” over the course
from Nome to Candle and re
turn.
This classic event, which was
termed the Arctic Derby, oc
curred annually under the aus
pices of the Nome Kennel Club.
The entire population fell un
der the spell of this momentous
event in the field of northern
sport (run. incidentally, for a
$10,000 purse). Doubtless it is
true that large and small sums
of money were bet on the out
come of the race.
The course consisted of 412
long white miles, fraught with
all the dangers, hardships, and
weather conditions that con
front the musher. It was de
signed to furnish an opportun
ity for display of courage,
speed, wisdom, and endurance.
The "Alaska Sweepstakes”
was inaugurated in 1908. In
that event, the Albert Fink
team, driven by John Hegness,
was the winner finishing the
RYAN’S LYNES
By Jack Ryan
Spring is only about a
month away. During this sea
son, the well dressed Alaskan
wears a parka, hip boots, a rain
coat, a dust mask and carries a
life raft.
# t- *
Spring is a very long season
in Alaska. Sometimes it con
tinues until winter. Even the
weather bureau can’t locate
summer.
* * *
There are places in the U. S.
where people brag because
they have a White Christmas.
In most parts of Alaska, we
always have a White Christ
mas, and some years we have a
White Fourth of July. too.
When summer ends and
winter begins, the birch trees
shed their leaves. But nobody
knows how the trees can tell.
course in four days, 23 hours,
15 minutes and 12 seconds.
Jake Berger's team was sec
ond, with Mort Atkinson's team
third.
The teams were all delayed
24 hours by a blizzard of which
no account was taken in reck
: oning time and result.
In 1909. Berger’s No. 1 team
' finished first, Scotty Allen
driving, in 83 hours. Oliver
Blatchford, driving Berger’s
! No. 2 team, was second. The
i other teams were so far behind
no time was recorded.
Sir James Ramsey's Siberian
wolf dogs won the trophy in
1910 under the careful guidance
i of John Johnson, in the re
; markably fast time of 74 hours,
14 minutes, and 20 seconds.
Fox Ramsey was second, tak
ing one hour and 55 minutes
longer, while Scotty Allen,
driving his own team of mala
mutes, came tearing in just 74
minutes later—a remarkably
close finish when the distance
is considered.
But the following race fur
nished that element which
causes races to run—the great
surprise of the unexpected.
On account of past perform
ances. Ramsey’s Siberian wolf
dog's were hot favorites in the
betting and looked to be the
winners under the same driver
who had established a record
the year before.
Scotty Allen, however, show
ed his gameness by driving in
Mrs. Darling’s malamutes an
easy winner in the home
stretch, although one of his
dogs had gone lame and had to
be hauled in by his mates.
While the trail was good,
both dogs and drivers suffered
extremely from snow blind
ness, this affliction having forc
ed Johnson to abandon the con
test with Ramsey’s title hold
ers at Port Safety.
Judge Cake Hill's team was
second and Fay Dalzene’s
third.
"THERE ARE GREAT
DEEDS DONE BY THE MEN
WHO MOIL FOR GOLD.”
SINGSP1RATION
TO BE SUNDAY
The monthly singspiration
sponsored by the Ministers and
Christian Laymen's Association
1 will be held at the Church of
God in Palmer at 3 p.m. Sun
day, Feb. 24. Paul Riley, who
serves the Wasilla Assembly of
God, will speak briefly.
These singspirations give
Christians from all denomina
tions the privilege of meeting
and singing together, sponsors
said.
3 P.M.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24
PALMER CHURCH OF GOD
Sponsored by Matanuska Valley Ministers
and Christian Laymens Association
Choose your Pharmacist,
as you would
choose a doctor
HE'S THERE
WHEN NEEDED
For emergency or
regular health ser
vice — the hour is
never too late at
our pharmacy. Our
prescription ser
vice is always
available
Bert's Drug Store
PI 5-4500 & PI 5-4515
Palmer
olio nays
IN THE
yauiY
Thursday. Feb. 26. 1948
Money may not be the root
of all evil, but there’s been no
satisfactory substitute discov
ered with which to build a hos
pital, shareholders in the Val
ley Hospital Association learn
ed at the annual meeting last
Monday. Members at that
meeting, which was called to
order only to be adjourned and
then reconvened at 10:30 in the
evening, learned that the Asso
ciation must have a $20,000
bank account before it can be
gin even to think of plans for
Hie construction of badly need
ed hospital facilities here.
* * •
Although 15 members of
the MVFCA voiced disap
proval of the proceedings at
the annual meeting by leav
ing the meeting room, the
regular business of the year
was completed on schedule.
A financial report, which
showed that the Co-op gros
sed $1,300,000 in the fiscal
year just past, was accepted
by stockholders.
Leo Lucas, Valley farmer,
trapper and guide, appeared as
a guest on the Vox Pop radio
show which was broadcast in
Anchorage last Sunday even
ing. Mr. Lucas was interviewed
by Warren Hull, Vox Pop mas
ter of ceremonies, concerning
f-*****-»HH«*iH**^******-$:
WasHIa
§ Assembly of God
t
*
*
*
*
^ Sun
Rev Paul E. Riley.
Pastor
School
10
| Morn. Church Sere.
* \
I
*
*
*
11 aan.£
7x30 p.m.*
♦Even. Serv.
Sprayer and Bible
^ Study, Wednesday 7:30 p.m.*
* Phono FR-6-3181 %
the agricultural background
and opportunities.
• * •
The new siren to be purch
ased for the Valley Volunteer
Firemen's Association is now
on order, board chairman A1
Hagen reported today. How
ever it will be a month or six
weeks before the equipment
is delivered here.
• • *
Ways and means of augment
ing the far too slim nurses bud
get was the principal subject of
discussion at the recent meet
ing of the Valley Health Coun
cil. Since the Community Chest
fell so far short of its required
goal, the Council received only
$300 from that source. The full
quota for the area is $600.
Flans are still in the making
for an improved telephone sys
tem in the Valley, if residents
want that service, Maynard
and Dorothy Sands of the Val
ley Telephone Exchange dis
closed this week.
Mr .and Mrs. Glen Burnett
of Palmer suffered buruises
and abrasions last week,
when their car overturned as
they drove home. Neither
was seriously injured.
Look before you leap, but
don’t spend all your time look
ing.
THOUGHTS
OF A
LAYMAN
"Lazarus, Com* Forth."
Lazarus had been dead
four days, and the testimony
of his sister Martha was, “He
stinketh.” At the words of
Christ, “Lazarus, come forth. ‘
he is given a brand new liv
ing body. Millions of new
brain cells, muscle cells, bone,
tendons, heart, lungs and
other organs! This miracle
of miracles brands the evolu
tionary theory a lie. Death
had broken the continuity of
the life thread. One thou
sand nine hundred and thirty
years ago a new' body was
created. God will restore new
bodies to martyrs whose ash
es were spread over Roman
arenas, and whose limbs were
torn asunder by wild beasts.
In the resurrection, this mir
acle will take place to count
less millions.
Profit by your mistakes — it
won’t solve your problems, but
it certainly will work wonders
ST. JOHN
LUTHERAN
CHURCH
t«v. It. H. Frit*,
Palmar, Alaska
Divino
Sunday School 9:45 AJL
VALLEY SCHOOL OF DANCE
Lessons will begin Saturday, March 2, at
Carpenters Hall
ALL NEWCOMERS WELCOME
10 a.m. — Pre-school 11 a.m.—Age 6-8
1 p.m.—Intermediate 2 p.m.—Advanced
BALLET AND TAP
For more information or to enroll
CALL JOAN JENSEN PI 5-4181
THE CHURCH FOR AU...
All FOR THE CHURCH
The Church it the greatest fac
tor on earth for the building of
character and good citizenahip.
It ia a storehouse of apiritual val
ues. Without a strong Church,
neither democracy nor civiliza
tion can survive. There are four
sound reasons why every person
should attend services regularly
and support the Church. They
are: (1) For his own take. (2)
For his children's sake. (3) For
the sake of his community and
nation. (4) For the sake of the
Church itself, which needs his
moral and material support.
Plan to go to church regularly
and read your Bible daily.
Robert Edward, Junior — that’s his name. But
soon it will be Bobby. And after a while he and I
will probably be known as Big Bob and Little Bob.
Funny how you start looking ahead. When I
came out of the shop today I happened to notice
our sign — the big one with my name on it that
hangs over the door. And I thought to myself,
maybe someday we’ll add: & SON...
But Marge and I know better than that! You
can’t plan your son’s life for him. He’s got to make
his own decisions, choose his own road.
One thing we have decided for him, though.
That he’s going to have all the moral and spiritual
training a man needs to make right decisions and
follow a straight road.
This God expects of us — of all parents. And
our church is ready to do its vital part.
Copyright 1963, Keister Advertising Service, Inc., Strssburg. Vs.
Sunday
Luke
11:5-13
Monday
Luke
15:11-20
Tuesday
Matthew
4:1-11
Wednesday
Exodus
3:1-5
Thursday
Luke
7:1-10
Friday
Luke
8:4-15
Saturday
I Peter
5:1-11
The Following Business Establishments Are Contributing This Series of Advertisement
the Churches of Metenuske Valley
THE FRONTIERSMAN
a local anzm
MATANUSKA TELEPHONE ASSN
MATANUSKA VALLEY BANK
PALMER BOWLING CENTER