The Wrangell sentinel., 1950-01-06
THROUGH THE SENTINEL, PERISCOPE

ments Of the Territorial government as the result of the public employ ees retirement act passed by the last legislature.
 B. D. Stewart, commissioner of mines, stepped out to become the retired Squire of Calhoun Ave nue." after serving the territory and before that the U. s. Bureau of Mines for some S5 years in Alas ka. Leo H. Saarela of Anchorage, mining engineer who has been heading up the assay office division of the departemnt under Mr. Stew art, was named by Governor Grue- ming to replace the retiring com missioner. At a festive occasion at the Stewart home heralding the New Year, "B. D." was officially christened the Squire of Calhoun" the avenue in Juneau where he has maintained lovely home for many years. A Wrangell gal, Winnie Williams, did the christening.
 Another department head to join the retired group was George W. Gasser, commissioner of agriculture, who has headed the territorial de- partment since it's inception and for many years previous had been with the University extension serv- ice. Clyde c. Sherman of Fairbanks was named by the governor to re- place him. Sherman was formerly in charge Of the experiment station at Rampant and since 1928 has been with the University of Alaska.
 Others joining the retired ranks at years end were: Mrs. Josephine White, for the last 25 years assis- tant curator of the Territorial Li- brary and Museum. Mrs White is a pioneer of '98 and the widow 0f the famed Stroller White of Alaska newspaper fame. She is being re- placed by Miss Jane Hawkins, Uni yersity of Michigan girl. Norman Cook, an old timer with the Depart ment Education as auditor, checked out from his duties to Mrs Goodwin, wife of the flyer, who replaced him. Ray Stevens, another victim of retirement and who has been with the Employment Security Commission formerly the Unem- plOyment Compensation Commis- sion, since it was created, called it a day and was replaced by Rob- ert l.. Anderson as chief of bene- fits. Ray took off for a vacation in Fairbanks, where it was 45 below zero a few days ago.
 It was a different sort of a new year for former Treasurer Oscar G. Olson. Oscar stepped into Judge George w. Folta's court Tuesday and pleaded guilty to two counts of embe2zlement of territorial funds. He was sentenced to 10 years on each count to run concur rently and fined $46,475.3O. Olson resigned last May when an audit was being made of territorial books and shortages were found in his accounts. He had been bound over 10 the grand jury which also con- vened Tuesday-but not with Os- car. His actual shortage, according to the completed audit, was $43,- 351.91, but due to the fact it cov- cred 8 period since he took office in 1885 only the amount involved within the three-year statutory pc riod could be included in leyvine the fine. This amounted to $23,- 237.65. Fine was double tn, amount.
 It was reported in this column recently that the army would re move it's ground troops from tho Aleutian bases but would continu, to maintain the air arm down tho chain with No. 1 priority. Delegate E. L. Bartlett, always alert or Alaska defenses, reports it to b, something else again. He says it i. on the high military commant agenda to pull out of the Aleutiani entirely and turn the air facilities over to the Civil Aeronautics Ad ministration or some other govern ment agency. This may take som
 little time before the army pull out with everything, but the dele gate puts 1t this way: "In an!
 event, the Department of Nationa
 Defense does not intend to maintain
 an establishment in the Aleutians.
 It appears now that instead of al
 air arm in the Aleutians with Nc