Thought of the Week:
HAPPY
THANKSGIVING
VOLUME 16. NUMBER 10
A f
THE
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
\ <5
"J 3
PALMER. ALASKA. WEDNESDAY. NOV. 27, 1963
TEN PAGES
^ _ 7 Y 9
'JM
Candidate's Meeting
Willow
Friday. Nov. 29
PRICE 15 CENTS
Borough Candidates Give
Background, State Views
Voters of District 7 will go to
the polls on Tuesday, Dec. 3,
where, under the mandatory
borough incorporation 1 a w.
they will choose between a
first and second class borough,
will designate either a chair
man or manager form of gov
ernment, and will elect a bor
ough chairman (who will serve
only if the borough chairman
form of government is approv
ed).
They will also elect five di
rectors to the borough school
board, and three borough as
semblymen to represent the
area outside the incorporated
city limits of Palmer. Residents
of the city of Palmer will not
vote for borough assemblymen.
Two members of the city coun
cil wiil be chosen by the coun
cil to serve on the borough as
sembly.
Three candidates have filed
for the position of borough
chairman, Henry L. Jordan,
Jan M. Koslosky, and Robert
H. Vroman. Following are
brief descriptions of the back
grounds of the three candi
dates, and statements of their
objectives for the new borough.
Her.ry L. Jordan
Jordan and his wife Frances
make their home in the Big
Lake area. They are the par
ents of four children, two of
whom attend schools of the
area. Jordan has lived in Alas
ka 20 years and at Big Lake
four. He holds a master of ed
ucation degree from East Tex
as State Teachers College.
Jordan says his greatest con
. ern is to attempt to form
borough government on a basis
other than strictly real or per
sona! property tax.
“One of our greatest prob
lems wiil be to finance t h e
borough, although once estab
lished, these problems m a y
lessen. The state is withdraw
ing oil and mineral rights from
norough lands. However, I
think we should be entitled to
a fair share of receipts from
the natural resources of our
area.
“We must establish some
base from which we can create
income. We must have jobs be
fore we can have taxes. Per
sons trying to improve rural
areas can’t be faced with a tax
load right away.”
Jordan said he would push
for a homestead exemption act
to protect the home of every
individual in the borough and
to give each the initial boost
needed to get started.
Jan M. Koslosky
Koslosky, a resident of t h e
state since 1915, established the
Koslosky Department Store in
Palmer with the coming of
the colony in 1935.
He says: “I favor the first
class borough because I believe
it will be more efficient. I pre
fer the borough chairman form
pf executive for the present
because it could be less cost
ly.”
He states that he does not
think the borough should take
■on a full health program f o r
the first two or three years,
and says that he does not be
lieve that the borough should
take any responsibility for
roads unless the state makes
available a portion of highway
tax revenues.
“Furnishing police protec
tion for . . the 7th Election Dis
trict would be prohibitive for
VOTE FOR
Rosa Palmquist
—and—
VOTE FOR
• Careful Planning
0 Conservative Spending
0 Equitable Taxation
Paid for by Committee for
Good Government
the present time. As special
needs arrive, it might be pos
sible to contract with the
state division of police of the
city of Palmer to provide such
needed services on a minimum
basis.”
"I believe personally in a
balance tax program rather
than a single tax source. In ad
dition to state and federal
shared taxes, I believe that lo
cal taxation or a local tax pro
gram that does not piace the
full burden on property will
give to the borough a greater
advantage in attracting new in
dustry and residents.”
Robert H. Vroman
Robert Vroman. who lives in
the Houston area with his wife
Natalie and three children, is a
civil engineer with the state
department of highways. He
was chairman of the Matanus
ka-Susitna borough study com
mittee and spearheaded the
fight for a hearing on the Mat
anuska-Susitna petition.
He states:
“The next few years, partic
ularly, will require intelligent
investment of time and mon
ies, so as to add to the econom
ic well-being of the Borough.
We cannot rush forward in
great haste; yet, we cannot af
ford to retreat from the task
of bettering our environment.
“I feel we will need our tax
monies for implementing the
mandatory programs, there
fore. 1 do not envision the As
sembly establishing large sal
aries for themselves or an
elected chairman. If the man
ager form of government is se
lected by the people, a salary,
as stated in the borough peti
tion studies, will have to be
paid.
On Dec. 3, the voters will se
lect the leadership required to
administer the government. It
is here that public responsibil
ity begins and public trust is
piaced. I hope that I may have
the opportunity to serve.”
Eight candidates filed for
the five positions on the bor
ough school board. It was not
possible to reach Morton A.
Giles of Willow for a statement.
Information on the other cand
idates follow:
May C. Carter
Mrs. Carter came to Wasilla
in 1940, and has served as post
master there since 1944. She
and her husband, Pat, are the
parents of four children, all of
whom have attended Wasilla
schools. Mrs. Carter was U. S.
commissioner from 1944 to
1960, and has served on the
Wasilla Advisory school board
for the last three years.
Mrs. Carter says: “I feel that
the Wasilla area should be rep
resented on the board. As a
long-time resident, I have fac
ed the problems of rural
schools and am familiar with
them. Inequalities in the educa
tional system need to be elimi
nated. Some schools in the
district are now substandard,
and their improvement is an
objective to work toward.”
K. R. Gillow
Gillow, a Wasilla homestead
er and businessman has made
his home in Alaska since 1949
and in Wasilla for the past
| four years. He and wife Fran
cine are the parents of three
schoc .-age children. He is a
member of the Wasilla advis
; ory school board.
“We need more local control
TO COMPLIMENT
HER NEW DRESS
A CORSAGE
—from—
Maid’s Flowers
for the
Purple Bubble Ball
745-3913
of our schools,” he stated. "I
believe the schools can be up
graded.
“Since I do not believe that
the school board is a political
position, I did not campaign,
and will simply put my name!
before the voters to be judged [
on my past performance.”
Lew Hanks
Hanks, who has lived in the
valley since 1949, is district ex
tension agent for the Matanus
ka Valley. He and his wife
Marne live on a farm on Farm
Loop Hoad. They have three
grown children, one married
and two in college.
Hanks said that under t h e
borough form of government
an orderly transfer of facili
ties to the borough assembly
will be necessary. “We must
discuss overall functions and
work up a timetable for trans
fer of ownership of buildings
and of taxing functions to the j
borough. The speed at which
I this is done will depend on the
i pressure the state puts on us
i to take over state schools,
i Points to be considered are the
j establishment of a wage scale
! and t h e signing of teachers'
. contracts. The problems of
: budgeting and of wage scale
i differentials will mean sitting,
; down together and working
them out.”
Hanks has been a member
| of the Palmer school board
: about 12 years. He was chair
man of tne Alaska Delegation
to the White House conference
on education in 1955. and was
first president of the Alaska
School Board Association. He
was chairman last year of the
Unified Education Council.
Harlow J. Hodgson
Out of town this week.
Hodgson was not available for
a statement. He and his wife
Ruth live in Palmer, where he
is an agronomist at the Alas
ka Experiment Station. The
family, which includes four
school age children, came to
Alaska in 1948.
Hodgson is cubmaster of the
Palmer area cub scout pack,
and is the PTA representative
to the school board. He serv
ed on the hospital board at the
time the new hospital w a s
built, and is a member of Pal
mer Kiwanis.
A Ph. D., he is a graduate of
the University of Wisconsin
and took his graduate work at
Iowa State University.
Joyce Kerllula
Mrs. Kerttula lives on Mata
nuska Road with husband Jal
mar and two children. She is
now serving her fifth year on
the Palmer school board and is
a former teacher in the Pal
mer system.
She says, "1 expect prob
lems concerning schools in the
' . rough. However, I believe
many can be avoided by elect
(Continued on page i0)
Early Morning Fire
Guts Test's Service
Fire from undetermined
causes gutted Tost’s Service
Station. located on Colony
Street in Palmer, early yester- j
day.
The station is owned by
"Red’' and Rosina Hardistv.
Palmer police officer Larry
Connolly spotted the blaze as
he was making his rounds, and
called firemen who arrived
shortly after 6:30 a.m. The fire
was brought under control in
about 45 minutes, with mop
ping-up operations taking
about three hours. The Butte
fire department brought their
pumper to the Palmer station
as a standby unit while Painter
firemen, with assistance f r o m
Butte volunteers, battled t h e
gas station fire.
A pile of tires and inner
tubes stacked near the spot
where the fire appeared to
have started added to the in
tensity of the flames.
The Hardisty’s black Labra
dor, locked in the station, is
thought to have jumped thru
a window when the fire start
ed, letting in a rush of a i r
which fanned the blaze.
Fire chief Noel Woods esti
mated the damage at between
$10,000 and $15,000.
DISTRICT 7 VOTERS TO GO TO
USUAL POLLING PLACES ON DEC. 3
Voters of District 7 will go
to the polls on Tuesday, Dec.
3, with only one change noted
in polling places. Talkeetna
precinct residents will vote at
the Talkeetna Roadhouse, not
at the magistrate’s office.
Polls will be open from 8
a.m. to 8 p.m. Palmer voters
will go to the Palmer city
council chambers in the Pal
mer city hall; Matanuska pre
cinct polling place is B & H
Supply, just outside the city
limits on Matanuska Road;
Butte precinct will vote at the
Butte fire hall; Sutton at the
Sutton community hall; Wasil
la at the Wasilla public li
brary; Willow, Willow Civic
Center; Big Lake, the Big Y
Grocery.
Precinct election chairmen
Purple Bubble Ball
Is This Saturday
The Purple Bubble Ball,
scheduled for last Saturday
evening, has been postponed
until this Saturday, Nov. 30.
The dance is an annual affair
of the Elks Lodge.
Dancing to live music will
begin at 10 p.m. at the Elks
home. The traditional ball is
open to members and their
wives only.
Formal wear is optional.
| are Mrs. Halleen Ingalls, Pal
I mer; Mrs. June Liebing. Mat
! anuska; Mrs. Downes, Butte;
I Mrs. Kruscavage, Sutton; Mrs.
| Ruby Church, Wasilla; and
| Mrs. Gilbert, Big Lake. Infor
I mation was not available on
Willow and Talkeetna chair
men.
Mrs. Ruth Dodd, district
election supervisor, said to
day that all residents living
on the east side of the Knik
River bridge are residents of
the Butte precinct and will
vote at the Butte fire halL
Residents living west of the
Knik River vote in the Ek
lutna precinct. Some misun
derstanding has existed in
this area as to where bor
derline residents of the two
precincts were to vole.
Sample ballots are available
at the office of the deputy dis
trict magistrate, at The Fron
tiersman office, and from pre
cinct election chairmen.
Persons who will be away
from their home precinct on
election day are urged to ob
tain absentee ballots. Absentee
voters may vote in person, by
mail, or by personal represent
ative. If the ballot is to be
mailed, it must be postmarked
no later than Dec. 3. November
29 is the deadline for request
ing a ballot by mail.
Jn Mcmoriam
EDITOR'S NOTE: Expressive of the feeling of above, drawn by L. J. Kiebesadel of Pal
the nation and the world is the sketch mer.
By MILDRED JOHNSON
El i TOR THE FRONTIERSMAN
f
The shocked and grieving hush that fell
over the world last weekend was no less
evident in Pal Tier. Residents emerged from
rheir homes and returned to their businesses
on Tuesday, picking up the threads of living
as others throughout the nat.on were doing,
the nightmarish events of the past four days
still cloaked in a pall of unreality.
The very personal grief felt by the people
of the nation in the loss of their President
was perhaps the result of present-day com
munications- The Kennedy family were
somehow the good-looking couple who live
up the street, with whom you might per
haps argue politics but who were neverthe
less close friends who had been in your
home countless times.
Many local churches dedicated a portion
of their Sunday morning services in memor
iam to the slain President, John Fitzgerald
Kennedy. On Monday, a public Rosary was
recited in St. Michael's Catholic Church, and
memorial services were held in the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Tonight, the Palmer Elks Lodge will join
with Elks lodges throughout Alaska in hold
ing a special service to commemorate the
passing of the late President.
Monday was proclaimed a day of mourn
ing in Palmer lay Mayor T. O. Schmidtke,
and many places of business remained
closed throughout the day. Others opened
their doors at noon. Schools were closed.
Gov. William A. Egan attended the Pres
ident's funeral services in Washington, D.C.,
following issuance of his proclamation that
Monday was to be a statewide day of
Jer an appointment from Sen. Gruening, was
Sen. Gruening's newsletter, written on the
tragic Friday, Nov. 22, expressed the shock
and horror of the Washington staff as news
of the tragedy of President Kennedy's assis>
oarion was pieced together from the early
releases from Dallas.
As Miles Brandon, Dillingham Eskimo
who serves on the Capitol police force un
der an appointment from Sen. Gruenmf, was
lowering a flag to half mast outside the Sen
ate office building soon after the President's
death, a passerby, weeping openly, asked
if he could help. Miles accepted his assist
ance," the letter related.
Republican state chairman Frank Harris
made the following statement:
"Today (Friday, Nov. 22) will go down
as a day of infamy in the history of the
United States. All peoples, of all creeds and
political beliefs, will feel as all Republicans
do that we must all stand up for our faith
in democracy and endeavor to express it
through our constitutional means.
"While Republicans did not always follow
President Kennedy in achieving his goals,
we, together with all peoples, are appalled
by this tragedy and feel deep sorrow for
the loss of our President.
"We express our deepest sympathy to
Mrs. Kennedy and the Kennedy family in
their time of sorrow."
In the history of our nation, we have nev
er before entered the Thanksgiving season
with such a burden of sorrow. Yet, there is
much for which the nation can yet give
thanks: the continuing plan of our govern
ment, which enables us to carry on; the
strength of our new President, Lyndon B.
Johnson, in taking the reins of the govern
ment in capable hands; the tremendoi/s
courage of Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy during
her dreadful ordeal; and the fortitude of the
Kennedy family in facing the greatest of
the personal tragedies which have befallen
them.
WILLOW CANDIDATE-VOTER MEETING
TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY, NOV. 29
The District 7 borough can
didates’ meeting at Willow,
originally set for Saturday,
Nov. 30, has been changed to
Friday, Nov. 29, Mrs. Max
Clements, president of the Pal
mer League of Women Voters,
announced yesterday.
The candidate-voter meeting
will be held in the Willow Civ
ic Center under the sponsor
ship of the League at 8 p.m.
Candidates will not be asked
to make formal speeches, but
will mingle with the voters on
an informal basis, giving both [
an opportunity to become |
better acquainted.
Voters of District 7 are urg
ed to take advantage of this
meeting, the last chance they
will have to meet all of the
candidates for borough office.
The election will be Dec. 3.
Moose Contribute
On Sunday, Nov. 24, the
Alaska Moose Association
mailed to Mrs. Tippit, widow
of slain Dallas police officer
J. D. Tippit, a memorial con
tribution.
The Palmer Moose Lodge
joined in contributing to the
memorial to the late President
John F. Kennedy, sending their
donation to the police chief in
Juneau.
The Juneau Police Depart
ment coordinated the drive for
funds to aid the widow of Tip
pit, who died while trying to
apprehend Kennedy’s assassin.
Purple Bubble Ball
ELKS
OHLY
Elks Lodge
Saturday, Nov. 30-10 p.m.