Peek at the Past

Here’s what made news 21 years ago, from the April 25, 1990, issue of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman.

State wants timber sale opinions

As sure as the leaves appear every spring, the state is again planning to hold commercial logging sales in the Mat-Su. But opponents of the plan say there has been inadequate public input and the state isn’t sure how much interest timber cutters will have in the sales.

About 2,000 acres will be open to loggers at an auction in October as part of a five-year timber harvest plan. The Susitna Valley Association is questioning the plan, which includes some remote areas that likely won’t generate interest. The group was successful in blocking a much larger sale in 1987.

The Alaska Center for the Environment has also asked the state to hold more public hearings on the sales, and the state has said it will host meetings in Wasilla and Anchorage in May.

Oil company quiet about local drilling

One of the country’s largest oil companies has completed seismic work in areas north of Wasilla. While the state prepares to open parts of the Valley to oil development leases, ARCO Alaska is keeping silent about the results of its testing.

ARCO spent about three months and an undisclosed amount of money shaking the ground around Houston, Big Lake, Point MacKenzie, Knik and Meadow Lakes attempting to locate underground oil and gas faults.

Wasilla endorses officer

Wasilla High School may soon have a new “safety officer,” a police officer whose duties would include patrolling the halls and parking lots, and nabbing drug dealers.

Wasilla City Council has endorsed a package of recommendations presented by a Valley-based drug abuse task force that suggests the city divide the cost of the officer to be employed by the school district.

The task force reported that incidents of drug abuse at Wasilla High appear to be on the decline, but it is greater than what is visible on the surface.

It cost what?

According to advertisements, in April 1990 you could:

• Change over your studded tires for $16.95.

• Buy a 15-horsepower Sears boat motor for $500.

• Buy raspberry plants for $1 each or six tomato plants for $2.

• Purchase a used 1978 Oldsmobile Tornado that “looks good, runs good” for $1,200.