Peek at the Past: A look back in Mat-Su's history

As it appeared in the Aug. 18, 1977 Frontiersman:

School bonds totaling $8 million face voters

Mat-Su voters will be asked to authorize the issuance and sales of more than $8.46 million in school construction and design bonds during the Oct. 4 election.

Despite the objections of Assemblyman Gus Scheele of Wasilla, who advocated a single, 24-classroom school at Big Lake, the Assembly backed the school board's proposal to build two 10-room schools, one in Big Lake and the other in Wasilla.

Borough approves

final funding

An appropriation of $3.47 million in federal Local Public Works Program fund was approved by the Mat-Su Borough Assembly.

The action was accompanied by a charge by Assemblyman Gus Scheele of Wasilla that "this whole thing was rubber-stamped four to one in favor of Palmer." Originally, a fire hall for Sutton was to be included but subsequently was deleted off the list.

Harold McKibben, chief of Sutton Volunteer Fire Department, asked reconsideration for his district. He said a new fire hall would make fire protection feasible on a year-round basis for the Glenn Highway community.

Wasilla wants

fewer controls

Planning commission members and borough planners met with an estimated 45 residents of Wasilla and learned that governmental controls from outside the area was their biggest concern.

Dave Simpson, borough planner, told the audience that Wasilla is the fastest-growing community in the state for it has shown an 89 percent population increase in the last two years and a 138-percent growth rate since 1970.

At D&A Super, you could buy tomatoes for 49 cents a pound, five bell peppers for a dollar and nectarines for 59 cents a pound.

At the Center Theatre in Palmer, the Saturday kids' matinee consisted of "The Little Rascals," "Black Beard the Pirate" and "Take It or Leave It."

In the classified section, a Cottonwood Lake home with a dock, boat and storage shed was listed for $90,000. A 1,940-square foot home in Wasilla, sitting on more than an acre, was listed for $66,000. A Butte-area home with three bedrooms was listed at $48,500.