Peek at the Past: A look back in the Valley's history

As it appeared in the March 22, 1984 Frontiersman

Dean Osmar first to Nome

Dean Osmar drove his dog sled out of the midnight darkness Friday morning into a blaze of lights on Nome's Front Street.

He had taken his lead in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race at the halfway point and held it all the way to Nome.

He finished an hour and a half ahead of his nearest rival, Susan Butcher, with a time of 12 days, 15 hours, 7 minutes and 33 seconds, setting a new record of the 1,131-mile northern race route.

When asked what he was going to do with the prize money, Osmar said, "I'll probably buy some dog food." And with the rest of it? "Buy more dog food."

For Mat-Su teachers, salary contract unresolved

The school district has declared its contract negotiations with teachers' representatives are at impasse and has asked for a mediator to help resolve differences.

Wendy Frank, school district director of employee relations, said an impartial mediator will be called in by next week to get negotiations moving again. The MSEA has asked the district to hike teachers' salaries by eight percent.

At the Palmer-Wasilla Video Cache, a grand opening sale meant people could buy a Commodore 64 computer for $219. With the printer, disc drive and color monitor, you would have paid $1,099. Also there were video cassette recorders on sale for only $949.

Other advertisements were for Settler's Bay Village Inn, which is enjoying yet another incarnation as Settler's Bay Lodge. All I Saw Cookware had a special on Easter candy, Dale Conover was selling State Farm insurance.

Casey Ressler

Valley Life editor

352-2265

Phone

352-2276

Fax

valleylife@

frontiersman.com