We need good-paying jobs to keep our children in the Valley

To the editor:

I spent time and thought carefully before I composed this “Letter to the Editor.”

A month ago or so I read a very, may I say, awful letter in your column that inspired me to send this letter to your paper. It stated how horrible it was growing up in Palmer when Evan Jones Coal Mine was in operation. It told tales so tall I had to confer with my friends who also grew up here to see what “planet” they were talking about.

I was born in Palmer in 1952 and I am a fourth generation Alaskan as my great grandfather came to Skagway in 1897 for the Gold Rush. My father came up in World War II and due to his West Virginia coal mining experience he was sent to the Valley to work the mines. I had a very blessed childhood — I only wish more children today had what I had in these small towns called Palmer and Sutton.

I do remember what Palmer was like in those years and what Jonesville (and also Mat Maid) and other mines did for these towns. Palmer had a theater, bowling alley, roller rink, at least two dress shops, drug store, variety store, record/TV store, grocery stores, hardware stores, more restaurants/bars and a great school system, just to name a few.

Several years ago I visited the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and on my tour noted how much Usibelli Mine had done for their campus and museum. I have seen what care has been taken in Healy and surrounding areas. There is a lot of pluses and with the environmental control from the state, you know it will be done right.

(Remember the caribou that sleep by the pipeline.)

We need good paying jobs to keep our children in the Valley. If we do not let industry in — we are only kidding ourselves if you do not see the flow to North Dakota and beyond.

One of my best memories was dinner at Moose Creek Drive Inn at Moose Creek (now the Ya Ne Dah Ah School), choice of bingo with Mom at the Sutton Community Hall or pool with Dad at the Alpine Inn.

There are coal miners still living in the Valley who worked the mines and will tell a different story than the massive anti-coal group. This excessive money could be directed in a better place such as the homeless children in the Valley. That was something I did not see growing up in these beautiful towns called Palmer and Sutton.

This summer visit the Alpine Historic Park and you will see my father and other coal miner’s that created in one small part the Matanuska Valley.

Joann Utt

Wasilla