April 7, 1995

Here’s what made the news 17 years ago, from the April 7, 1995, edition of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman:

Lake Louise residents want out of borough

Residents of Lake Louise are petitioning the state to leave the Mat-Su Borough. The petitioners want 18 townships, or 648 square miles, in the far eastern corner of the borough around Lake Louise and Tyone Lake to become unincorporated territory. The key issue in the petition is property taxes. Lake Louise has $10 million in assessed property value and pays $150,000 in property taxes annually into borough coffers. Borough attorney Michael Gatti said Lake Louise residents have tried twice to secede from the Borough and failed both times.

Stubborn snow hangs on

Given the lakes of meltwater left behind, it’s not surprising that records show the winter of 1994-95 brought a larger-than-average amount of snow to the Valley. However, the continual snow cover was an even more distinguishing characteristic of the past winter. This last winter’s total was a big increase from the stingy amount of snow recorded in 1993-94. A total of only 42.5 inches fell during that period.

Petro Star slows intertie momentum

Gov. Tony Knowles will decide soon whether or not to pull the plug on the controversial intertie, a proposed power line from Sutton to Glennallen. The governor’s reconsideration of the project took on a new angle recently with the announcement by Petro Star Inc. that it will begin generating its own electricity.

It cost what?

According to advertisements, in 1995 you could:

• Get your oil changed or $24.

• Drive a 1995 Buick Park Avenue Sedan for $26,679.

• Buy a newly remodeled three-bedroom, two-bath home in Settler’s Bay for $92,000.