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

As it appeared in the Frontiersman, 40 years ago:

City tax rate to remain

at 20 mills

Taxpayers of the city of Palmer will be paying the same mill rate in taxation in the coming year as they did in the last year.

Members of the city council approved a resolution setting the tax rate at 20 mills, of which 14 mills goes to the school district and the other six mills remain with the city.

Valley to be declared an emergency area

Gov. William Egan will be asked to declare the Matanuska Valley an emergency area and thereby make the area eligible for emergency funds.

The decision to request help from the governor came Monday night at a meeting of the American Dairy Association of Alaska, when it was determined that some 6,300 acres of grass was winter damaged and will have to be replanted by Valley farmers.

Bill Betts first second-generation Wasilla school graduate

Willard "Bill" Betts, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Betts, graduate of Wasilla High School last week is the first second-generation graduate of Wasilla High School. His mother, Marie (Snider) Betts, was one of four seniors who graduated from the school in 1939.

All 12 years of Betts' schooling was in the Wasilla school. His interests include horses, singing and the guitar.

At the Piggly Wiggly grocery store, at the Memorial Day sale you could purchase a quart of Miracle Whip for 69 cents, a bag of potato chips for 67 cents and a 10-pound bag of charcoal briquettes for $1.29. The big sale item was touted as "Fryer 'N a half for a buck 'n a half," in which you could buy three legs, three thighs, three drumsticks and one and a half breasts of chicken for $1.50.

In the advertisement for the Palmer High Class of 1962 graduates, current school board member Larry DeVilbiss was there.

At the Center Theatre in Palmer, Lauren Bacall was starring in "Flame Over India," and Jerry Lewis was the lead actor in "The Ladies Man."