PEEK AT THE PAST: March 16, 1994

Here’s what made news in the Mat-Su 16 years ago, from the March 16, 1994, issue of The Frontiersman:

Quickest run ever to Nome

Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race organizers are hustling to be ready when Martin Buser arrives as the first musher into Nome. The race is running faster than any in its history, but the preparations for the victory celebration in Nome are off to a slow start.

The fast running of the Iditarod by Buser and Rick Mackey, who is 2.5 hours behind Buser, could also conflict with space availability in the small town. Nome is also hosting its Lonnie O’Connor Iditarod Basketball Classic, which draws 64 Bush teams. With the crowds from the tournament and the expected influx from the race finish, Nome is expected to be bursting at its seams.

Library committee puts out SOS for funding

A nosedive in local library funding has a Mat-Su Borough committee asking the assembly to create a borough-wide service area to fund community libraries.

Although a service area would need voter approval from residents within its boundaries, committee members are hopeful there will be support for the proposal for libraries to have their own dedicated source of funding. The proposal would cut the borough’s property tax mill rate by .33 mills and raise the service area tax by .66 mills to generate just under $1 million for libraries. The service area would be mainly for unincorporated parts of the borough and would not include Wasilla, Palmer, Houston, Skwentna or Trapper Creek.

Wasilla claims tattered totem

The city council has staked its claim to the broken and rotting pieces of the Vasilli Totem Pole despite warnings the city may not have a legal right to the totem and that it’s likely beyond repair.

The totem pole, which stood on the Parks Highway near the Kashim Inn since it was built by a group of Valley students in 1974, was blown down by severe winds on Feb. 12. The pieces of the pole were in a parking lot for four days until they were picked up by someone, who also sawed off the remainder of the pole and walked away with it. A local resident later admitted to taking the pieces and stashing them at the old Teeland’s General Store in hopes of restoring it.

“At this point, I know of no facts with which the city could defend a claim to it,” said city attorney Richard Deuser.

“I don’t think anybody in their right mind is going to sue us for that,” responded Councilman Mike Carson. “It’s laying there in four parts and rotted.”

Palmer’s Tommy Moe wins first World Cup race

Palmer skier Tommy Moe’s résumé got a another upgrade Sunday in Whistler, British Columbia. Already an Olympic gold medalist and several trips to the podium in World Cup races, all that was missing was a World Cup gold.

Moe sped down the mountain to beat out five-time World Cup points champion Marc Girardeli in the super giant slalom by .71 seconds.

“This is what I was shooting for since the beginning of my career,” Moe said. “The Olympics were somewhat of a surprise. To win a World Cup was what I was really shooting for.”

It cost what?

According to advertisements, in March 1994 you could:

• Buy round-trip airfare to Honolulu for $299.

• Buy a Diamond Back bicycle for $239.99.

• Find assorted ladies swimsuits for $19.99 and men for $12.99.

• Save $5 on a Craftsman 18-piece screwdriver set; $19.99 instead of $24.99.

• Type away on a Brother word processor for $159.99.

• Walk out of CW Tack and Western Wear with men’s Wrangler jeans for $20 a pair.