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Cheechako News
“NEWS FROM THE OIL CENTER OF ALASKA"
THIRD YEAR
JANUARY 5," 1362
_. ~_ -__
RICE 10c COPY
NUMBER 61
LARRY CLENDENEN'S huskies
pull 6175 lbs,, a world record load,
over a eonc.se at the \nehor
Point Sno-Festival in 1961. Clen
denen, pictured here in a plaid
shirt and standing on the front
of the sled, is entering his dogs
in the weight pulling contest this
year, also. Such sights as these
and many more are in store for
everyone attending the Sno-Fes
tival events in Anchor Point on
Jan. 19, 20 and 21.
SPECIAL PTA PROGRAM
A symposium on education is
planned for the next meeting of
the Kenai Parent-Teacher Asso
ciation, scheduled for 8 pan, Jan.
8, at the high school.
A junior high school student
will speak on “Why I Should Stay
in School," and Charles Jackson
will explain “Why I Am Going
to College.'’
A tape recording of the talk
given by Prof. Werner von Braun
on “Afternoon for Teen-Agers,”
will also be featured on the pro
gram.
New Star Route Delivery Satur.
W eather Station
A delay of a week or two m
the establishment of a weather
observation station at Soldotna
airport was announced Tuesday
by M. L. Girange, local Cordova
Airlines manager, who is to be in
charge of the station. Operation
previously ‘had been announced
for Jan. 2.
Grange said the delay is due
to the recent holidays and that he
still has several classes to attend
in the weather observation school
being conducted in Anchorage. At
conclusion of his instruction, the
required instruments and equip
ment will be installed and daily
weather condition reports and
■flight weather observations will
be made.
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KENAI, ALASKA
Anchor Point Sno-Pestiva!
\yintGr«fl|*esfcs- ranging fram
snftwnrtn contests to skijoring
and featuring the ever-popuiar Al
askan sport—sled dog racing—
are all listed- on the calendar of
activities for the annua] Anchor
Point Sno Festival. This first
tourist attraction for the 11M»2
season is set:, far- ,J*m> 19-20-21.
Festivities begin at 11 a.ra. on
Friday, Jan. 19* with a snowman
contest for Anchor Point school
children. Prizes are contributed
by Anchor Point businessmen.
First heat of the two-day dog
SEE—SNO-FESTIVA1—page 6
Kenai Peninsula
Highlights of 1961
AS COMPILED FROM CHEECHAKO NEWS FILES
_BY MABLE SMITH_x_
Many and varied were activi
ties and happenings on the Kenai
Peninsula during the year 1961.
Earthquakes, floods, fires and
i eeord breaking low temperatures
which continued for two weeks
and plummeted the mercury in
some areas to as low as 62 de
grees below zero, while other
areas shivered in 4 b below- temp
erattfres, were all duly reported.
Murders, robberies, accidents of
various kinds including airplane
and car crashes all took place on
the Peninsula during 1961.
Oil activities, completion of Al
aska's first natural gas pipeline,
sled dogs, moose stories, fishing,
politics, area development and—
just plain folksy chitchat— all
interested residents of the area.
The following are a few of the
year’s highlights recorded as to
months:
JANUARY
Tony Bordinelli, owner-operat
or of the Jet Bar in Kenai, is the
world’s new champion endurance
howler. He is leaving for New
York to appear on the television
program, “I’ve Got A Secret.”
Lew Fields, Sterling, was ap
pointed by the governor to a
place on the Alaska Soil Conser
vation Board. Mrs. Carl Click of
Kenai has been named Cancer
Crusade chairman for the Kenai
area.
Carolyn Ray Bear, daughter of
Maxine and Cfiel] Bear of Soklot
na, was married to Noel P. Lar
sen, son of Rev. Silas Larsen of
North Dakota, in Central Luth
eran Church, Anchorage, Jan. 27
FEBRUARY
Larry Clendenen’s dogs, King
Pat and Charlie, buckled into
their traces at Anchor Point Srio
Festival and moved a ton apiece
to set a new world’s record for
a three-dog heavyweight pull,
moving an unbelievable weight of
(1175 ibs. over tne 50-foot course.
Champion dog' racer Gareth
Wright, Soldo ina, placed first in
Anchor Point Sno Festival dog
events, completing the two 15
mile heats in one hour, 58 min
utes and 22 seconds.
Fire totally destroyed the Sea
Breeze Inn (formerly Jackinski’s
Ranch) at Ninilchik. Frank Zdor
sky, an employee, escaped with
second degree burns.
“Smoky” TumSuden opened a
garage in Kenai and “Penn” Bu
chanan in Soldotna celebrated his
fifth year in business with a
housewarming party in his new
building.
Mrs. Bertha Stryker, formerly
of Kasilof and now living at Ke
nai with her daughter, Mrs. Allan
Petersen, observed her 82nd birth
day on Feb, 2.
MARCH
Ross Cooper and Brie Thomp
son of Kenai Kardinals were
named to the state’s All-d t a r
basketball team.
The state has advertised for
bids to construct a new span for
the Sterling highway crossing to
replace the damaged Moose River
bvidge.
Standard Oil Co. expects to
spend $14 million to drill 36 de
velopment wells in Swanson Riv
er field this year, Six active oil
drilling rigs are in operation on
the Peninsula and at least five
SEE—1361 HIGHLIGHTS —p. 2
Stax route mail delivery serv
ice Jasmins this Saturday, Tan. 6,
to serve residents along Kalifen
sky Beach and Kasilof Roads*.
The route will be an extension
of Route 2i of which Alex Wilson
is mail carrier. Communities to be
served by the route are Kenai,
Soldotna, Sterling, Kasilof, Co
hoe and Clam Gulch
Patrons living along the new'
route extension may select Kenai,
Soldotna or Kasilof as their mail
ing addresses, according to the
postmasters: Mickey Faa, 'Soldot
na, and Lyndon McBride, Kenai.
This decision was reached in con
sideration for desires and conven
ience of the patrons. All three se
lections, however, will include Rt,
2 as part of the address.
The route will originate at Ke
nai after which the carrier will go
to Soldotna, Sterling, then back
to Soldotna, then to Kasilof, Co
hoe, Clam Gulch, back to Kasilof
and then along Kasilof and Kali
fonsky Beach Roads, back to Sol
dotna and return to Kenai.
Patrons desiring mail delivery
on the new loop are advised to
obtain a form from the mail car
rier, Alex Wilson, and fill it out
authorizing him to bring out their
mail, speefying if it is to include
all their mail or only the first
SEE—STAR ROUTE— page 8
Seal Contest
Nears Close
The city seal contest at Kenai
will remain open until Jan. 15.
The contest is open to Renal
school children and the only re
quirement is that the design be
and that it be suitable •
to be used for a seal for the city
of Kenai.
The City Council probably will
rule on entries at the Jan. 17
council meeting-, according to Mrs.
Torkilsen, city clerk. Announce
ment of the winner will be made.
The contestant entering the de
sign selected for first place will
be awarded a $25.00 government
bond. J. R. Lietzke, manager of
the Kenai Branch of the City Na
tional Bank of Anchorage, h a s
offered to contribute to the pur
chase of the bond.
Other awards in the seal de
sign contest will be cash prizes
■ of $10 and 5 for second and third
place.