Peek at the Past

As it appeared in the Feb. 3, 1983 Frontiersman

Court more complex

"Unfortunately, gone are the days when people could walk into Palmer Magistrate Dorothy Saxton's office and hash over their problems," said Beverly Cutler in her opening remarks to the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce Wednesday.

The Superior Court judge said there are more than 20 attorneys in the Valley and criminal and civil matters are more complex than ever, and handled more formally.

Voters will decide school bond issue

The borough assembly voted unanimously in favor of sending a $20 million school bond issue to the voters. A $9.3 million Wasilla elementary school and about $9 million for additional classrooms and the renovation of the Palmer Junior High School are proposed.

Cutbacks threaten salmon programs

The Fisheries Rehabilitation and Enhancement Division (FRED) sockeye and coho salmon hatchery in Big Lake faces a shutdown this July if the Legislature pares the Department of Fish and Game proposed budget this season.

According to regional FRED division manager Dave Daisy, the Fish and Game is operating on an already cutback 1983 fiscal year budget. Unofficial reports indicate further cuts would close three other state salmon hatcheries, in Cold Bay, Moose Pass and Kasilof.

The Su Valley girls' basketball team placed second in the Region II tournament during the 1983 season, bringing home a huge trophy to the upper Susitna Valley.

ABC Travel Time was offering an Arizona vacation package -- two nights in a deluxe hotel and round-trip airfare for $558 per person. In 1983, tickets for New York were $414, while Seattle was $231.

At Palmer Video Cache, an AM/FM cassette boom box was "now only $177.00."

In the television listings, some of the more popular shows of the time were Little House on the Prairie, the Jeffersons, Different Strokes and Silver Spoons. And on the brand-new all sports channel ESPN, they were showing Australian Rules Football over and over.