THE
NOME NUGGET
OLDEST NEWSPAPER IN ALASKA—MEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
64th Year No. 144
NOME, ALASKA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1963
Per Copy 15c
Knowledgeable Speakers Address N\\ A
C of C; Gambell Flight Slated Saturday
The Northwestern Alaska Cham
ber of Commerce was treated to
a full house and several guests at
their regular Monday luncheon. A
guest of Jean Burand was Miss
Agnes Sunnell who is the State
Home Economics leader for the
Cooperative Extension Service from
the University of Alaska. Miss
Sunnell addressed the chamber
and spoke briefly on the activities 1
of the Extension Service with a I
comparison of the Alaskan pro- |
gram and that of those in the |
lower 48. Jean Burand came in for
a bit of praise by Miss Sunnell
by virtue of her popularity and ;
good results obtained from her
work in this area.
Another guest introduced was
Capt. Merle Plagge, Medical Offi
cer, Special Forces of the Army,
from Ft. Bragg, N. C. A guest of
Dr. Fenstermacher, he spoke to
the assemblage and thanked the
community for the fine response
shown to the Special Forces. His
group is engaged in the training of
Eskimo National Guard Scout un
its in such things as medical care,
demolition, intelligence and fa
miliarity with Russian weapons.
The Specal Forces is in turn learn
ing of the problems, such as trans
portation, which are unique with
this area.
John Slagle, manager of the
Nome Light and Power Utilities,
was welcomed as a new member
of the Nome Chamber. Bob Har
wood reported on the membership
drive — which is moving slowly at
this time — and then gave the
members and guests particulars on
the developments to date of the
sewer and water project. Mr. Har
wood stated that if either of the
propositions fail the city will find
itself in the position of having
bought some $80,000 worth of
unneeded engineering. He com
mented further that the residents
have shown their intent in the
first election and he presumes that,
based on this mandate of the vot
ers, they will go to the polls and
vote for the propositions again. He
warned, however, that there is
very little being done to create
interest in the election and that
both propositions must pass or the
sewer and water will fail.
Pres. Frank Couch reported that
there will be a special Chamber
of Commerce charter trip to Gam
bell on December 14. The fare will
be $20, and anyone wishing to
make this trip should contact him
soon.
The guest speaker, Rep. Ralph
J. Rivers, in company with his
wife, Martha, addressed the group
informally and non-politically, on
several subjects. He gave a brief
account of President Kennedy’s
death and a reassurance which is
felt nationwide with President
Lyndon Johnson at the helm now.
He asserted that the stock market
was an excellent barometer as to
Johnson’s popularity. Rivers ad
vised that he had met with Mayor
Wilke and members of the Cham
ber relative to the sewer and water
project here. He stated that he
could and would do anything in
his power to see that Nome gained
this vital step ahead.
(Continued on Page 2)
Six Seats Left on
Fairbanks Charter Plane
Six seats have yet to be reserved
on the Wien-Alaska charter plane
to Fairbanks tomorrow. The seats
are $70 total for the round trip,
which leaves Nome 11 a.m. Thurs
day, Dec. 5. The return flight
leaves Fairbanks at 9 a.m. Sunday
morning, Dec. 8.
The charter is taking the Nanook
team and Cheerleaders to basket
ball games with Eielson Air Force
High School Thursday night. On
Friday and Saturday nights, the
Nome High cagers play Lathrop
High School in Fairbanks. This
is a good opportunity for business or
pleasure travel to Fairbanks at the
charter price. Reservations may be
made at Wien-Alaska Airlines
downtown office.
Mr. and Mrs. Ashby Craft will
be spending the holidays with
their family and relatives in West
Virginia. Their son, Joel, will leave
Nome to join them during his
Christmas vacation.
Paul Dryden Loses Rental Unit to Fire
PA fire alarm at 4:06 this morn
ing sent the Police and Fire De
partment to a residence owned by
Paul Dryden and occupied by Mary
Escholt. The 10- by 10-foot cabin
with a 6- by 10-foot leanto was
gutted by a fire which was of an
incendiary origin, stated Chief
Oliver.
Oliver commented that the front
door was sealed and nailed shut.
The walls of the shack were lined
with a light canvas, flour sacks
and cardboard, which made it ex
tremely inflammable, advised the
Chief.
He stated further that the only
entrance was through an old door
into the back cache. There were
no injuries, although one dog was
killed by the fire.
It is not known who turned in
the alarm. The shack was located
on Third Avenue between Lanes
Way and Steadman, according to
Chief Oliver.
The Chief advised further that
their fire truck ran out of water
while fighting the fire and had
to be replenished. Although there
are fire hydrants in the area, the
department is reluctant to run
water through them unless there is
extreme urgency as they will then
freeze and be out of service for
the balance of the winter.
He stated further that when the
new water system is laid, there
will be a continuous flow of water
through these lines, with pressure
up to 110 pounds, which will give
the fire protection that Nome
needs. As of now the water comes
from the well under the City Hall,
and the supply would be exhausted
by fighting a fire of any great
size.
Ability Counts’ Is Theme
For Student Competition
JUNEAU UPl —- Gov. William A.
Egan said today that all Alaska
high school juniors and seniors
will be eligible to compete for the
first time next year in the “ability
counts” essay contest.
The contest is being sponsored
in the state by the Governor’s
Committee on Employment of the
Handicapped, with the winner to
receive $100 in cash and a round
trip to Washington D. C., to meet
President Johnson.
The Alaska State Federation of
Labor, AFL-CIO, is sponsoring the
prizes, Egan said.
The Alaska winner will also be
eligible for a share in the $2,500
to be divided among the top five
national winners.
Entrants are to submit composi
tions of 750 words or less on the
subject, “How handicapped work
ers in my community are proving
that ability counts.”
Entries should be sent to the
Governor’s Committee at Box 2661,
Juneau, and must be postmarked
before midnight, Jan. 15.
Weather Report
Cloudy with frequent snow to
day and tonight.
Low tonight 8. high tomorrow 15.
In the last 24 hours: High of 11,
low of -7. Max. wind 25 mph from
the west. Sunrise at 9:33 a.m., sun
set at 2:11 p.m.
Temps, a year ago today: High
of -6, low of -21.
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR MAYOR
In regard to the coming Sewer and Water Election, I’d like
to say no city in the world remains the same. They either go back
ward or they go forward. The progress of a City is not cheap, but
in the case of Nome with an outright Federal grant of over
$800,000 towards construction of this project, it would seem so.
I can remember when the City bought the Light Plant, which
was privately owned, there were those who said, "Silliest thing I
ever heard of," yet the rates have been lowered and within a very
short time, about the first of the year, we will have a brand new
and more efficient plant in operation. Perhaps once again we can
work towards still lower power rates.
I can remember when the City bought a new fire truck, there
were those who said, "What is the matter with the old one?”
Well, all I can say is, the old one was 25 years old and needed
to be replaced; and by the same token I have urged the Fire Dept,
to give serious thought to specifications and prices for another
new one his next spring.
I can remember when the City black-topped the main street
on out to the terminal, there were those who said, "It won’t work."
I’ll admit part of it has broken up and needs to be replaced, but
for the most part, it is still better than gravel streets.
I can remember lots of things over the years, regarding prog
ress in Nome, but / can't remember any progress in our handling
of Water and Sewer except perhaps now we pump water instead
of "packing” it in coffee cans or perhaps progressing from coal
oil cans to "galvanized” honey buckets — Big Deal!
I’d like to quote from President Kennedy’s last speech, that
was never given in Dallas. He planned to speak out against pur
veyors of gloom, and call on Americans to pay less attention to ;
those who, as the text stated, express opposition without alterna- j
rives — find fault but never favor — seek influence without respon
sibility — end of quote. I don’t know that I seek influence but
I do know my responsibility and that is to work towards progress
for Nome. You too can help by serious thought and by voting
December 6th.
— Roscoe Wilke
Nome Council Asked to Define Effects
Of City’s Sewer and Water Project
The following is taken from an
interview with the City Council
and Mayor:
What part of town does Sewer J
and Water take in?
Mr. Doyle: “Water is to be taken i
from the Snake River approximate- 1
ly at the South end of the north
south runway. Then down the
Snake River to the new power
plant where there will be a settling
basin and reservoir, thence along
the road slope into 3rd Ave. W.
Sewer and water lines run east on
Front St. to Cavota’s store, then left
up Steadman Ave. to Mining Co.
office building, a spur will con
tinue up Steadman for approxi
mately 100-150 feet. Lines will tee
off at the Catholic Church corner
thence west on Third Ave. to B
Street (school house corner) then
North on B Street almost to the
hospital, then back down B to
the old FAA housing corner, thence
West to KICY corner <D Street)
south on D Street to 1st Ave. W.
where it will continue down to
Lomens corner, then back to B
Street and on down to the treat
ment plant next to the Bowling
Alley.”
Why another election and raising
the rate of bond interest?
Mayor Wilke: “Counsels for the
bonding company felt it would be
easier to sell Revenue Bonds to
the public if sewer and water were
treated separately and also it may
not be possible to sell bonds at
4Vfc per cent.”
What if the election fails to carry
both issues?
Mr. Reader: One is definitely
tied to the other and if they fail
to pass, the City (taxpayers) is
still obliged to pay off some $30,000
to Philleo Engineers for drawing
plans and for physical work per
formed so far, which is necessary
to comply with the time limits set
by HHFA. Unforseen circum
stances such as the Bonding com
pany’s suspension and then bank
ruptcy and their bond counsel’s
belated opinion on the necessity
for a split proposition, is the rea
son for having to vote on issues
separately.”
What of cost for installation to
the average homeowner?
Mr. Doyle: “It will hinge on
distance from his property line to
the facility, bath, sink, etc. It will
probably be cheaper in many cases,
to have the contractor do the work
as the main lines progress. How
ever an owner can do the work
himself as long as it meets speci
fications of the HHFA and Health
Service. The actual cash layout
would be purely a guess at this
time.”
(Continued on Page 6)
Get On The Phone
Early, Requests ACS
The Air Forces 1929 Communi
cations Group (ACS) which op
erates the Alaska Communication
System, announced today that they
expect a record volume of tele
phone calls during the coming holi
day period. Additional stateside
circuits will be activated for the
period in order to handle the ab
normally heavy traffic load.
To speed service, the Air Force
suggests that persons planning to
make long distance calls during
this period secure in advance the
telephone numbers to be called.
When exchange of telephone num
bers by personal correspondence
is not possible, the Air Force will
secure in advance the requested
telephone number with no charge
to the customer. This service is
available by contacting the long
distance operator and asking for
the telephone number of the per
son to be called.
The Air Force called attention
to the fact that reduced rates will
be in effect from 6 p.m. on De
cember 24 until 4:30 a.m., Dec.
26; and from 6 pun., Dec. 31, 1963,
until 4:30 a.m., January 2. 1964.
Mrs. Donald Lyle left Nome Sat
urday for a holiday visit with her
sister in Portland, Ore. Mr. Lyle
will join her there later in the
month, and from Portland they
will travel to Nebraska to spend
Christmas with her daughter and
son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald
Button.
» The Harpoon «
Nothing like a big fire on
a cold, windy night to
make people wonder!!