o
. Give Now!
VOL. 4. NUMBER 32.
Halley Mrontiergman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
PALMER. ALASKA. FRIDAY. APRIL 20. 1951
4 7 PAGES
IL TODAY
PRICE 10c
PRIimER REDICRTES RHR RORIES
KIWANIS MINSTREL RESERVATIONS
NEAR SELL-OUT FOR 2-NIGHT SHOW
Reserved tickets for that big
spectacle of the year, the Kiwanis
Minstrel show, to be held tonight,
Friday, and tomorrow night,
April 20-21. in the Palmer high
school gymnasium, were virtually
sold out at noon today.
A few last-minute general ad
missions still were available from
Bill Head, Pioneer Insurance; Bill
^•Rempel at the Palmer Drug, and
from individual Kiwanis mem
bers. But forecast was a complete
sell out, and standing room only.
Advance news of the home tal
ent show is that it will top all
efforts in local productions. There
are spiced rumors of what the
end men will do and say, of the
black-face cracks, of the beauti
ful girls in rainbow hued gowns,
' of the zinging singing and sway
ing chorus, the skits and the re
partee.
Talented Cast
Cast of the Minstrel show, in
order of appearance, are:
Tom Day; Chorus; Harlow Hodg
son; Harold Stephan; George
Small; William Rempel; Mel Mon
son; Ruth Burgess; Bob Burgess;
Mrs. Jessie Devries; Dana and
Robin Nieman; Water Boys’
Quartet—Mel Monson, Don Phil
lips, Reed Evans, O. A. Ross; Jack
i Maze; Marvin Slaughter; Matt
Onkka; Otto Kogele; Steve' Rol
•cik.
"On the Team"
Hugh A. Johnson, Kiwanis
president, today said “everyone
is helping to make this a top
show, both clufa members and
others . . . we appreciate their co
operation.”
Among those who are working
behind scenes as well as before
the footlights are:
Talent and Special Effects —
Arline Day.
Accompanists — Mrs. James
Kindler, Miss Virginia Karle.
Script Adaptations—Jim Hur
ley, J. E. Hudock.
Stage Effects—Marvin Udevitz,
A1 Hagen, Ken Foster.
Tickets—Harlow Hodgson, Dan
Fleming.
Reserved Seat Sale—Bill Rem
pel, Bill Head.
Makeup—Jane Slaughter, Ar
4 line Day, J. E. Hudock.
Seating and Nursery Detail —
John King. Stage Props Assem
bled by: Tom Day, George Whet
stone, John Weisenberger, Emil
Ganschow, Allan Mick, Joe Loy
er, Jim Hurley, Hugh A. John
son, David Algarin.
Usherettes-.Patty Kirsch, Haze.
Barnhardt, Joyce Hardage, Lil
lian Loberg.
Nursery: Mrs. June Liebing
Mrs. Phyllis Long, Mrs. I. Nav
’ jord, Mrs. C. Johnson.
Ladies Costumes by member:
of the Chorus.
Other Costumes by Dee-Jay’s
Program for the Minstrel Show
* moves fast. It's slated this way
Grand opening: Interlocutor and
Chorus.
Introductions: End Men and
Interlocutor.
“Grand Night for Singing”:
Full Chorus.
Negro Spiritual: Mel Monson.
Alexander’s Rag-Time Band—
12th Street Rag: Ruth and Bob.
Delia: Jesse Devries. .
“Oh What a Beautiful Morn
ing”: Full Chorus.
Mocking Bird Hill: Dana and
Robin.
“Kentucky Babe”: Water Boys’
Quartet—Mel Monson, Don Phil
lips, Reed Evans, O. A. Ross.
Harmonica Solo: Mat Onkka.
Deep River: Chorus.
10-Minule Intermission
With pranks throughout by . . .
the end men, Harlow Hodgson as
“Sambo”; Harold Stephan as
“Mose”; Paul Martin as “Light
nin,” and George Small as
“Rastus”.
Act II
Olio: Ebony and Onyx—Jack
M ze, Marvin Slaughter.
Curtain—
‘Can’t You Hear Me Callin’
Caroline”: Full Chorus.
Harmonica Solo: George Black.
Negro Spiritual: Mel Monson.
“Moonlight Bay”: Full Chorus.
Au!nt Dinah’s Outing Party:
Dana and Robin.
“Gay Caballero”: George Small.
Dry Bones: Water Boys’ Quar
tet—Mel Monson, Don Phillips,
Reed Evans, O. A. Ross.
Finale—
America The Beautiful: Full
Chorus. , ,
Good night folks . . . see you
all next year.
Chorus
Director: William Rempel.
Accompanist: Mrs. James Kind
ler.
SOPRANOS: Beatrice Huntley,
Delores Foster, Violet Sherman,
Marne Hanks, Betty Kreutz, Dor
othy Laughlin, Esther Brock.
ALTOS: Harriet Bell, Gladys
Foort, Margie Huntley, Lu Sand
vik, Mrs. G. Krise.
TENORS: Juan Miller, Lowell
Krise, Martin Sherman, Duane
Huntley, Tommy Roberts, Art
Stacey, Jim Evans.
BASSES: G. A. Krise, Dave Al
garin, Fred Stassel, Don Phillips,
Bert Cather.
Brown Home From Outside
War tightening regulations are
making it difficult to obtain some
kinds of equipment, according to
Frank Brown who recently re
turned from a trip Outside.
Brown was purchasing equip
ment for his drying-cleaning and
laundry plant, and studying la
test methods of the industry.
He returned over the Alcan
Highway, reporting “road condi
tions good for this time of year.”
Returning with him was his son
John.
Red Cross
Campaign Rolls
The Red Cross emblem is Pal
mer’s badge of honor today.
In a whirlwind campaign the
drive will sweep the community
in record time.
Saturday Boy Scouts will con
tact every home.
Sunday the churches of all
faiths will cooperate.
Posters are being supplied for
storfes. Signs “Give Now” with the
Red Cross emblem are appearing
in the windows.
Speakers will be asked to make
the Red Cross plea at meetings
throughout this week.
Full Support Urged
“The government of the Uni
ted States has requested the Red
Cross to assist in the civil defense
program,” Walter E. Huntley,
chairman both of the Red Cross
drive and the Civil Defense com
mittee, said.
* “Your support will make it
possible for the Red Cross to train
millions of people in skills that
will save lives and reduce suf
fering.
“The Red Cross has many du
ties in peace and in war, in dis
aster and in safety. First aid in
struction must be given to mil
lions; at least 100,000 women
must be trained as nurses aides,
and 1,000,000 in home nursing.
The blood program must be ex
panded to provide for the armed
forces, for stockpiling for civil
defense, and for victims of acci
dents. Volunteer services must be
recruited to full strength.
“Your contribution may help
to save a life.”
Carpenters Mark Calendar
Carpenters Local No. 2251 have
set the second and fourth Wednes
days of each month as regular
meeting dates. Place, is the Car
penters Hall, 8 p.m. Important
business will be brought up at
the next meeting.
More Space Drastically Needed
By Palmer School Next Year
Expansion in Palmer Incorpor
ated school buildings is impera
tive this coming year, members
of the board of education declare.
Big increase in enrollment is
foreseen as families of the Eklut
na government project arrive to
make their homes in this area. At
least six new classrooms are re
quired, plus oth r f Sf ntial fac
ilities.
Adding to the iems of mul
tiplied attendar ne board has
been notified b u-1 Rasmussen,
acting manage’ the Matanuska
Valley Farr , Co-Operative
Assn., that qv ;ers now used as
shop for the - iOol, and the sup
erintendent’? ime, no longer will
be availablt r rental for school
use after J- 1.
Space requirements listed as
absolutely necessary by the board
include a 1st grade room; extra
6th and 7th grade sections; shop j
space; additional high school class ■
room; band and music space; loc
ker room facilities in the gymna
sium for boys and girls.
TERMS STAGGERED
Complying with the law passed
by the last territorial legislature
that board of education members
in incorporated districts shall
serve five years, the Palmer
board, some newly elected, some
hold-overs, drew lots to decide
the length of terms.
Results: Ross one year; Jack
Maze two years; Thuma 3 years;
Hurley 4 years; Mrs. Washburn
5 years.
Construction UnderWay
To Ease Housing Shortage
First home in Alaska to be completed under the new Alaska
Housing Act was formally dedicated today.
This is in addition to nine others under construction.
Simultaneously it was announced that the James Construction
Co. of Seward will start excavation for 15 more homes Monday.
Chamber Plans
Next Meeting At
FI. Richardson
Accepting the invitation of Maj.
Gen. Julian W. Cunningham, com
manding general, U. S. Army, the
Matanuska Valley Chamber of
Commerce will hold their next
luncheon meeting at Officers’
mess, Ft. Richardson, Wednesday,
May 2.
The Palmer caravan will leave
the Palmer Cafe in the Rec club
house at 9:30 that morning, and
all members (wives invited) who
can go are asked to leave their
names today with Jim Hurley or
Mrs. Betty Mears so accomoda
tions and transportation can be
arranged. The visit to the Fort
will include a tour of installations.
Colony Day Plans
Looking ahead to the Colony
Day celebration May 27, a com
mittee was appointed at the last
meeting to work on plans. On the
committee are Carl Rasmussen,
Jim Kirsch, Steve Ward and Bill
Head. They will meet at Hurley’s
office Monday at 8 p. m.
Pat Carter of Wasilla, one of
luncheon guests, pledged the co
operation of that community in
helping make the celebration a
success.
Eugene Kirsch, appointed chair
man of cleanup week starting
May 14, appealed for the full co
operation of businessmen and
(Continued on Page 4)
Here for the open house which
marked the ceremony were mem
bers of the board of commis
sioners of the Alaska Housing
Authority, who were guests at a
special luncheon given by the
Palmer Chamber of Commerce.
They included Father Paul C.
O’Connor, chairman, of Hooper
Bay; Mayor Z. J. Loussac, vice
chairman, of Anchorage; Mrs.
Louise W. Miller, commissioner
AHA, Ketchikan; E. Glen Wilder,
executive director, Anchorage;
“Coal” Newell, chief Alaska Pro
gram, Housing and Home Finan
cing Agency, Wash., D. C.; A1 L.
White, Alaska Program adviser,
HHFA, Anchorage.
“We have built these homes in
Palmer because there is definite
ly a need here for new home con
struction,” the visiting officials
said.
Housing Shortage
“The 25 homes at Palmer were
undertaken by the AHA only
after private sponsors refused to
build here. With the approval of
the Eklutna Dam near Palmer, it
was obvious that an already acute
shortage of housing was going to
become extremely serious. These
conditions prompted the AHA to
build the 25 homes and construc
tion was accordingly begun last
October. Only 10 homes were
framed in before winter, and the
first unit now being completed
is among those 10. The remaining
15 will be started shortly and
completion of all 25 is expected
by late summer.
“The homes are situated on an
ideal site, obtained from the Alas
ka Rural Rehabilitation Corpora
tion, and are close to the shop
ping center of Palmer. They will
consist of two and three bedroom
sizes and will vary in floor plan
and exterior design. Full base
ments are included with each,
containing a forced-air heating
system. Thermo-pane windows
are being installed throughout.
Prices will range from $14,000 to
$16,000 with a down payment of
$2300 to $3900, being required.”
Applications Available
Under terms of Territorial leg
islation, priority will be given to
purchasers who have resided in
Alaska for not less than one year,
and with 50 percent of the homes,
priority will be given to eligible
veterans of World War II.
Applications for the purchase
of a home may be obtained from
Mrs. Betty Mears at the “Betty’s
Apparel” shop in Palmer. Mrs.
Mears, who is donating this ser
vice, will have the plans of the
( Continued on Page 12)