PEEK AT THE PAST: May 15, 1985

Here’s what made news in the Mat-Su 25 years ago, from the May 15, 1985, issue of the Valley Frontiersman:

Palmer man convicted of shooting

Thomas P. Hensel faces a presumptive three-year prison sentence following his conviction on charges he shot a firearm in the direction of a young boy. A jury deliberated for eight hours before handing down its decision.

At issue in the trial was whether Hensel pointed a weapon and shot in the direction of the boy on Feb. 8, 1995. The prosecution argued Hensel chased two boys ages 12 and 13 out of Hatcher Pass Grocery. The youths first thought Hensel was playing, then split up when it appeared he was serious. Hensel tripped over a snow berm, grew angrier and retrieved a gun from his truck, then fired the weapon in the direction of the boys.

After detaining the boys, he took them into the store and told a clerk he caught them shoplifting, but the clerk said the pair paid for their goods.

Legislature shortchanges schools

Hopes for a substantial state grant to help build Mat-Su schools were dashed when lawmakers adjourned having appropriated less than $2 million for Valley schools. The budget the governor had originally sent to legislators included $15 million for local school construction.

That was before state oil revenues dropped unexpectedly and lawmakers had to slash Gov. Bill Sheffield’s proposed budget.

The state capital budget was $1.2 billion in 1994, but this year’s was cut to $488 million, including $238 million of construction statewide and $250 million for the Susitna and Bradley lakes hydroelectric projects.

Another bill that passed calls for the state to increase its funding for bonded indebtedness for school construction from 50 percent to 80 percent is hoped to be helpful for a Mat-Su bond question seeking $60 million to $70 million for Valley schools. Voters will decide the bond in October.

Anchorage rejects Valley pumper dumpers

Anchorage has taken all the septage it’s going to from the Mat-Su Valley.

That’s the message the municipality is sending after re-evaluating taking septage from Valley pumpers for the past several years. A $1.4 million septage treatment plant opened in Houston in May, but has been spurned by most local pumping services that say it’s too costly.

But Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility had been accepting Valley waste on the belief that there were no suitable sites to take it in the Valley. Now that the Houston plant is up, Anchorage is having second thoughts.

Local septage pumpers say they prefer Anchorage because it’s much cheaper than the Houston plan, but if forced to dump at Houston, the customer will eventually end up footing the bill.

It cost what?

According to advertisements, in May 1985 you could:

• Comply with the new child restraint law by buying a child car seat from $64 to $89.

• Enjoy bananas for 39 cents a pound.

• Stock up on tuna for 65 cents a can.

• Barbecue a boneless sirloin tip roast for $1.99 a pound.

• Get a four-pack of brand-name AA batteries for $1.89.

• Celebrate with a $2.99 bottle of red or white wine, or pink champagne.

• Change your hair color for $3.29.