Valdez News
*-VOL. 1. NO. 34
VALDEZ. ALASKA, FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 3. 1950
PRICE 10c
VALDEZ MAY GET $160,000 SEWER SYSTEM
Valdez Children
Contribute Toward
UN Symbol of Peace
The children of Valdez made
their own contribution to the
United Nations last week when a
collection of their pennies was
forwarded to the wife of the gov
ernor, Mrs. Ernest Gruening. The
contribution of $5.24, represent
ing one penny from each child,
will go toward a world peace
symbol, as a gift to UN.
As a part of the observance of
'United Nations week, the Alaska
children joined in contributions
from school children all over the
United States for the world peace
symbol. Mrs. Gruening acted as
chairman for the territory.
A central fountain at UN head- i
quarters has been suggested as
the symbol of peace which would
be a gift from the children of the
United States to the United Na
tions. It w’ould be representative,
not of governmental initiative,
but that of the people, and par
ticularly that of the coming gen
eration.
Alert Ears in Valdez
Did Hear Jet Planes
The mystery of the jet planes i
has been cleared up at Valdez
following receipt of correspond
ence from Lt. Col. J. W. Higgins.
Alert ears at Valdez v/ere not
deceived and jets have been
zooming over the city.
“Jet planes came over Valdez
Friday, October 20. The overcast
was so thick that they couldn’t
,get underneath to Valdez. People
with alert ears w'ere right. They
did come but were heard and not
seen,” according to the colonel’s
letter.
The jets went over the city
again on October 27 but Valdez
was “socked in” and once again
the residents were disappointed
in not getting to see the planes.
Alaska Freight Line
Adds New Trucks,
Office, Warehouse
? New pickup trucks, a new of
fice and a new warehouse are all
recent additions of the Alaska
Freight Lines. The company has
three of the new pickup trucks.
One was sent to Anchorage with
the other two to remain in Val
dez.
The new office and the new
warehouse are located on the
dock. The latter is a knock-down
“elephant” quonset. A loading pit
for trucks has also been construct
ed on the dock.
M The freight line is also build
ing a new garage on the edge of
town near the ARC housing unit
A parking lot for the trucks will
also be located there. The garage
should be completed by the end
of next month.
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to express our deep
appreciation and sincere thanks
for the many acts of kindness
shown us by'friends and neigh
bors at the time of our recent
bereavement.
(Signed) ,
Mrs. Farrell Cnthfield,
Gary and Gale
Valdez School Program Set Tuesday
To Observe National Education Week
CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
NOVEMBER 7
CIVIC CLUB meets with Mrs.
Fawcett.
ROLLER SKATING, 7:30 to 9:30
p.m.
NOVEMBER 8
EASTERN STAR meets, Pioneer
hall, 8 p.m.
NOVEMBER 9
VOLLEY BALL, school gym, 8:30
p.m.
NOVEMBER 10
ROLLER SKATING, 7:30 to 9:30
p.m.
NOVEMBER 13
CHORAL GROUP meets with
Miss Long, 7:30 p.m.
NOVEMBER 14
ROLLER SKATING.
Civic Club Sponsors
Day-Long Celebration
For School Children
The day-long Hallowe’en cele
bration held Tuesday for Valdez
school children by the Women’s
Civic Club was declared to be an
I all-round success.
The children of the lower grades
had the time of their life, coming
to school in masquerade for a pa
rade that preceded parties in each
of the classrooms.
The teen-age group enjoyed a
masquerade skating party in the
evening. In addition to cutting
fancy figure eights they also
played games on skates.
Prizes for costumes went to all
of the groups.
Decorations for the gymnasium
which added to the color and
gaiety of the scene and candy
and apples for all were contribut
ed by Gilson’s, the Valdez Supply
and Burch’s. Refreshments of
doughnuts and cider were served
for all the groups by the Women’s
Civic Club.
Annual Eagle’s Dance
Reported Big Success
The annual Hallowe’en dance
held at Eagle’s hall was very well
attended this year and everyone
reported having a wonderful time.
Many unusual, beautiful and
weird masquerades were worn at
the gala affair.
Cleverly costumed as Salome,
Miss Rita Dingman took first
prize offered at the dance for the
ladies’ masquerades.
Bill Mclllroy and Lew Sever
ance tied for men’s prize, which
they generously turned over to
Wayne Schmidt and Eddie Seav
ers as consolation prize.
MORTIMER MOORE VALDEZ
VISITOR THIS WEEK
Among the city’s visitors this
week was Mortimer Moore, dep
uty tax collector, on a combined
business and pleasure trip. While
here he was the house guest of
the Reverend and Mrs. R. J.
j Teeter.
I In observance of National Edu
cation Week, November 5 to 11,
a special program for Valdez
School has been arranged for
Tuesday, November 7, to start at
2:30 p.m.
An invitation is extended by
the faculty to every parent and
friend of the children of Valdez to
visit the school. Visitors will be
welcomed any day during Na
tional Education Week but spe
cial emphasis have been placed
on the invitation extended for
Tuesday afternoon.
Principals and teachers are
looking, forward to becoming ac
quainted with Valdez parents at
the informal get-together. They
will be glad to show the work
carried on in the classrooms. Tea
will also be served. A roller skat
ing party for the children in the
gymnasium has also been ar
ranged for the afternoon.
“Valdez will advance as its
school advances. Help us have
better schools by becoming ac
quainted with your teachers and
the school needs,” is one of the
school’s slogans, which is being
stressed during the observance of
National Education Week.
“Valdez Is Best”
Superintendent Says
On Return to City
“The best place after all” v.as
the opinion of Valdez expressed
by Miss Ruth N. Foy last week.
Miss Foy, superintendent of Val
dez school, returned to the city
October 24 after spending a week
at Juneau. At the capital she at
tended a meeting of school admin
istrators from all over the terri
tory which was called by Dr.
James Ryan, commissioner of ed
ucation.
School problems discussed by
the superintendents attending the
eluded a new refund system,
teaching loads, building needs and
questions pertaining to adminis
tration.
Recommendations made at the
meeting by the administrators
for the improvement of territory
schools will be introduced at the
next legislature at Juneau.
“Juneau is a lovely city with
modern stores and paved streets
in every part,” was Miss Foy’s
response to a question on how
she liked Juneau.
“The people were among the
most friendly I’ve seen anywhere
in Alaska. Even though complete
strangers they would smile and
exchange greetings,” Miss Foy
added.
While at the capital Miss Foy
was a guest at meetings of the
Soroptimists and the Original
Writers club.
On her return trip to Valdez by
plane she was weathered in at
Cordova and spent an extra day
there. That gave her an oppor
tunity to renew her friendship
with Mrs. George McDonald
whom she met on the S.S. Aleu
tian on her first trip to Valdez.
While at Cordova Miss Foy was
■ a guest at the McDonald home,
I which overlooks the harbor.
«
SECOND SNOWFALL
FOR VALDEZ ON OCT. 29
MEASURES 3 INCHES
The second snow storm for Val
dez, falling on October 29 and
measuring three inches, was al
most two weeks later than that of
last year, a study of the weather
man’s records here this week re
vealed. Last year the second snow
fall, measuring two inches, was on
October 18.
Comparison of first snow falls
for the two years showed that this
year Valdez had its first storm on
October 19 with a fall of two
inches. Last year the first snow
fell on October 17, measuring one
inch. The second snowfall of 1949
of two inches was on October 18.
Welcome Jerry Barnes
As Junior High Student
Mr. Stein, junior high school
teacher, and students of the eighth
grade welcomed a newcomer to
their class. The new student is
Jerry Barnes, here from Glen Al
len to continue his studies.
Jerry is a son of Mr. and Mrs.
Perry Barnes. Mr. Barnes is fore
man for the Alaska Road Com
mission at Mile 47.
RONALD HAYDEN SPENDS
VACATION IN STATES
Ronald Hayden returning to
Valdez after a vacation of one and
one-half months spent Outside,
reports that he had a wonderful
time on his trip. He visited an
uncle and his grandmother in
Wisconsin and cousins in Canyon
ville, Ore. Mr., Hayden arrived
back home on Saturday, October
28.
MRS. ROGER HARRIS
GOES TO MAYO CLINIC
Mrs. Roger Harris left Valdez
last week for the Mayo Clinic at
Rochester, Minn., where she will
undergo medical treatment. She
expects to return to her home
here within the next six weeks.
MRS. WHITLEY TO LEAVE
HOSPITAL FOR HER HOME
Mrs. Minnie Whitley, confined
to the hospital at Valdez, expects
to go to her home soon. She will
be able to leave the hospital as
soon as a wheel chair arrives.
City Council Hears
Preliminary Details
Outlined for Project
Construction of a $160,000 sew
er system for Valdez is being con
sidered by the City Council. With
Valdez next in line for funds un
der the public works act, it is pos
sible that construction of the new
sewer system may get under way
next year, according to an an
nouncement made at the seaport
city this week.
Felix Toner of Juneau appeared
before the Council to outline pre
liminary engineering details for
the new sewer system.
Mr. Toner explained that the
cost of the proposed system would
be amortized over a twenty-year
period.
Whites Win for
Volley Boll Lead
Volleyball games held every
Thursday night at 7:30 o’clock at
the Valdez school gymnasium by
the Reds and the Whites with the
girls competing against the boys
are chuckful of excitement, good
sportsmanship and the “will to
win.”
The girls’ team neither asks nor
gives quarter to the boys’ team
and they are in there to win. On
October 26, Earl George scored
highest with 15 points. Frieda
Gregorieff v.as right behind him
with a score of 12. The Whites
took both games with a score of
35-37 for the first and 26-14.
The high school games are be
ing held not only as a sports event
but also to raise money for the
student body fund. Attendance
at the game will help them in the
project.
Celebrate Birthday
At Dinner Party
Douglas Colyer was the guest
of honor at a dinner party in cele
bration of his birthday on October
28. Also in attendance at the
party were Mrs. Colyer, Shirley
and Jean Campbell, Eddie Over
bay and William Holland.
Miss Oma Lea Schmidt Becomes Bride
Of Philip Stuart in October Ceremony
<
HONOR TED BURGESS
AT FAREWELL PARTY
Ted Burgess, going Outside to
attend school, received a wonder
ful send off from his fellow high
school students. He was the sur
■ prised guest of honor at a fare
well party given for him by his
many high school friends on Fri
day, October 29.
Ted was surprised enough to
please everybody at the party.
He was presented with a going
away gift by his former class
mates and refreshments were
served. Everyone attending the
party voted it a complete success.
He left Valdez for Washington,
where he will attend Auburn
Academy.
► In a pretty single ring cere
mony at the home of U. S. Com
missioner Margaret K. Harrais,
Oma Lea Schmidt became the
bride of Philip Stuart Buchanan.
The ceremony took place October
26 with Mrs. Herman Sontag act
ing as matron-of-honor and Thad
Pointer serving as best man. Mrs.
Sontag is a cousin of the bride.
The bride is a daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. William E. Schmidt,
Alaskan pioneers, who have made
their home in Valdez for many
| years. The new Mrs. Buchanan
has also spent most of her life in
Valdez, where she was born.
The bridegroom, better known
as “Chuck”* to his many friends,
has made his home in Valdez for
the past year. He is employed
here at the Ford garage.
The couple plan to make their
home in Valdez.