Large file downloading - Please be patient!
Click a date to go to that day's Alumni Sandstorm.
Use your browser's back button to return here.
Alumni Sandstorm Archive ~ January, 2001
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
13 13-Jeff Curtis I 14 15 16 17 18-19
20 20-Jeff Curtis II 21 22 23 24 25
26 26-Jeff Curtis III 27 28 29 30 31
********************************************
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/01/01 ~ HAPPY NEW YEAR
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11 Bombers sent stuff:
Grace DeVincentis (50WB), Hugh Hinson (52),
Mike Clowes (54), Loretta Ostboe (55),
Tom Hughes (56), Dean Enderle (57),
Jeanie Walsh (63), Peg Sheeran (63),
Linda Reining (64), Betti Avant (69),
Joy Stanfield (71)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Grace DeVincentis Spice (50WB)
Re: Sue Clifford Pederson (73)
Thought you might want just a quick update on Susan.
She is back in the hospital at Virginia Mason in Seattle.
She's having a problem adjusting to an anti-rejection
medication. Otherwise the operation was a success and with
the new pancreas she has no more diabetes. Her father says
her spirits are good and she's on the road to recovery.
Happy New Year everyone!!
-Grace DeVincentis Spice (50WB)
********************************************
>>From: Hugh Hinson (52)
Happy New Year all you Bombers. Hope your year is filled
with joy, good times, and good health. Here's to you!!
-Hugh Hinson (52)
********************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
Re: New Year's thoughts
Yesterday, Saturday, December 30th, Marguerite Groff
Tompkins (54) sent out a message to all of the class of
'54 that had given her their e-mail addresses. The message
concerned a fellow class member, and a would have been
class member who are man and wife. She is Rosalie Gire
Grabner and a member of the class. He is Dick Grabner,
who, had his parental units, stayed in Richland long
enough, would have been a class member.
My somewhat foggy memory banks place Dick with us at
Carmichael, and then he falls off the radar screen.
Perhaps he was like me, for what ever reasons, camera shy.
Although the Dick Grabner I hold in my mind's eye probably
wasn't. At any rate, Dick and Rosalie got married and
raised at least two daughters. From Marguerite's message,
they have done an excellent job of it, as the two girls
are being very helpful.
Rosalie, I has saddened to hear, has had a liver
transplant in the past; and now has to go into the
hospital for a "valve job" on her heart. Dick, on the
other hand, has had a couple of strokes and is in poor
health.
What a thing to face the new year and century with. At
least Rosalie's surgery (in Spokane, by the way) won't be
until Tuesday the 2nd.
I would like to take this time to ask that all of you
who know Rosalie and Dick to think some very kind thoughts
about them as they try to boldly march into the 21st
century. I would, also, like to have said something bright
and witty and full of reassurances for them. I can only
offer up my own feeble prayer in hopes that they, along
with Gordon Anderson (54), can be with the class of '54 in
2004 when we celebrate our 50th reunion.
Bomber love and cheers to all,
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
********************************************
>>From: Loretta Ostboe Fraser (55)
To: Marilyn Richey (53)
Re: Gordon Anderson
I am wondering if this is Mary Kay Anderson's (56-RIP)
older brother... I thought he was a few years ahead of me
in high school, so didn't make the connection... Mary Kay
and I were friends in Camp Fire Girls and neighbors who
ran around together many many years ago in Junior High.
Just Wondering!!
-Loretta Ostboe Fraser (55)
********************************************
>>From: Tom Hughes (56)
To: Larry Mattingly (60)
Re: Mukelshoot Show
Larry,
Sorry I missed you at the show. We walked over from my
house which is about 1/4 mile away. I talked to some of
the crew and they said you were at dinner up at the
Casino. My wife, granddaughter and I went down and stood
by the fence across the gravel lot from where the Ryder
Truck was parked. Several other people asked me if I knew
where the show was going to be so they joined us. They all
told me to tell you that it was an amazing show,
fantastic. Hope to catch you the next time you do a show
in the area. It was truly a thing of beauty to stand so
close and have the shells bursting almost overhead. One of
the boys said "I wish it wasn't so pretty, my neck is
hurting but I can't look down."
Congratulations on a job well done.
-Tom Hughes (56) ~ Auburn, WA
********************************************
>>From: Dean Enderle (57)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
To all Bombers wherever you may be and especially to the
class of "57"
-Dean Enderle (57)
********************************************
>>From: Jeanie Walsh Williamson (63)
To: Jim Hamilton (630
Gee Jim,
You are such a sweetie... who wouldn't want to be
married to you??? So let's hear a few words from the bride
of 33 years (but who's counting?)
Happy New Year, "Lovebirds"...
Jeanie Walsh Williamson (63)
********************************************
>>From: Peg Sheeran Finch (63)
Does anyone have knowledge of the whereabouts of that
statue of Sacajawea that was on the north side (entrance)
of the grade school for so many years? Wonder who got it.
-Peg Sheeran Finch (63) ~ Omak, WA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://richlandbombers.com/allbombers/0gspicsSacT.html
There's a link to a picture of the Sacy statue towards the
bottom of the Sacy page. Caption at the bottom of the
picture tells where she is now. -Maren]
********************************************
>>From: Linda Reining Pitchford (64)
Re: Alumni Sandstorm ~ Last one for 2000
Thank you Maren, for all you do!!!!!! We may contribute,
but we wouldn't have the Sandstorm without the effort that
you put into it. THANK YOU!
It is almost midnight and my two grandchildren are
anxiously waiting for midnight so they can go outside and
bang pots and pans.
-Linda Reining Pitchford (64) ~ Bakersfield, CA
********************************************
>>From: Betti Avant (69)
Happy new year one and all.
-Betti Avant (69) ~ Goodland, KS
********************************************
>>From: Joy Stanfield (71)
To: Phil Jones (69)
Your Father is a legend.
I don't know that I ever had the chance to meet your
Father but I have heard many, many great things about him
over the years.
I am so sorry for your loss.
-Joy Stanfield (71)
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/02/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9 Bombers and one Bomber Mom today:
Patti Jones (60), Judy Willox (61),
David Douglas (62), Gail Cyphers (62),
Marilyn Stewart (62), Sandra Genoway (62),
Maren Smyth (64), Sandy Mitchell (66),
Larry Stone (71), BJ Davis (Bomber Mom)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Patti Jones Ahrens (60)
HEAR YE HEAR YE HEAR YE
All Bomber Alumni Women's Luncheon
To be held monthly on the second Sunday of the month
CHANGE: Monthly luncheon starting January 14, 2001 will
be at the Best Western Executive Inn in Fife. NOT the
Marriott. REASON: Much more cost effective.
Date: January 14, 2001 (first one)
Time: 12:00 noon Volunteers please be there at 11:30am
Where: Best Western Executive Inn
Address: 5700 Pacific Hwy. E. *I-5 Exit 137
Fife, WA 98424
253 922-0800
Price: $20.00
We need volunteers who would like to help keep this
Bomber Women's Luncheon an ongoing thing. We've all talked
about getting together for lunch at reunions. Now is the
opportunity to do it on an ongoing basis. Bring your ideas
to form this ongoing luncheon to what Bomber Alumni Women
would want it to be.
Please send questions and/or reservations directly to Patti
ALL RESERVATIONS MUST BE IN BY JANUARY 12, 2001. Our
number stands at 22 and growing. Promises have been made
from out of town Bombers to travel to the luncheon during
the better weather months.
HAPPY NEW YEAR and best wishes to all Bombers in the coming year.
-Patti Jones Ahrens (60) ~ Browns Point, WA
********************************************
>>From: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
To: Maren Smyth (64) Our Queen
Re: The Alumni Sandstorm
How very thoughtful of you, Maren, to thank all of us
contributors and fellow Bombers out here for making the
Sandstorm go. That may be so, but without you, the
wonderful one that pulls it all together on a daily basis,
there would be NO Sandstorm to contribute to. You are the
one that is thanked and every day for all the work that
you do to keep us all in touch and bonded together!!
Thank you Maren from the bottom of our hearts!! Happy New
Year to you and to all you fellow Bombers out there as
well as the rest of the world reading this. May the new
year be a peaceful and prosperous one for us all!
Bomber Cheers and Best Wishes,
-Judy Willox Hodge (61) and Family ~ Richland
********************************************
>>From: David Douglas (62)
Happy New Year, everyone!
It did not seem like New Year here in Arizona. In Hawaii
it sounds like World War III from about noon New Year's
Eve on... You cannot hear yourself think at midnight! The
smoke looks like heavy fog, and the streets are littered
with red firecracker paper the next day.
The Japanese throw a bunch of firecrackers out the front
and back doors to scare away the evil spirits during the
new year. New Year's day is a day of feasting - buffet is
set up all day and friends and relatives drop by to visit.
New Year's Eve we used to pound mochi all afternoon. You
put five pounds of steamed rice in a big bowl made of lava
rock and pound it with guava mallets (BIG mallets - two
handed kind). One person kneels down between the two
pounders and reaches in and turns the mass between pounds.
This person tends to be the bravest one available; it is
not a task for the faint-hearted. Especially when I was
pounding... I apparently do not have the necessary genes
to be successful at this. This tradition ended when my
mother-in-law passed away. But I'm glad I had the
experience. And my kids as well.
It was a somewhat somber Christmas and New Year's for us.
My daughter was hospitalized overnight Dec. 23 with
apparent pregnancy induced high blood pressure, along with
diabetes (she is now on insulin injections). So far the
only treatment is rest. The baby (boy) is due March 23, so
this is still a very critical stage for her and him.
May you all experience many blessings and much aloha
during the year. Many of you have been a blessing to me,
and are much appreciated. A special thanks to Maren for
her hard work that makes it all possible (and for some
wise personal advice as well).
-David Douglas (62)
********************************************
>>From: Gail Cyphers (62)
Re: Letter to the editor
Re: Maren, 12/31/00 -Last issue in 2000
Very well said, Maren. You always speak for us and who we
are so well. We appreciate you more than we say but never
forget what you do.
The best of everything to all Bombers for 2001.
-Gail Cyphers (62) ~ Colorado Springs, CO
********************************************
>>From: Marilyn Stewart Stephenson (62)
To: Peg Sheeran Finch (63)
Re: Sacajawea Statue
The statue was donated to the Sacajawea Museum out at
Sacajawea Park years ago. I recognized it at the museum
about 10 years ago and was glad to see it after so many
years. It must have been donated after they closed the old
Sacy down, but wonder why it wasn't moved to the new
Sacajawea School instead. Oh, and by the way, it seems to
have shrunk since the last time I saw it, when I was in
second grade.
Happy New Year to all Bombers out there.
-Marilyn Stewart Stephenson (62)
********************************************
>>From: Sandra Genoway (Jeneaué) Spruksts (62)
Dear Bombers (UofW family and friends alumni),
WOOF!
way to go, Huskies!
-Sandra Genoway (Jeneaué) Spruksts (62)
********************************************
>>From: Sandy Mitchell Hulburt (66)
Re: Lewis and Clark Elem. snow fights
To: Lewis and Clark alumni
I have been reading all the memories of "Annie Annie Over"
and "Kick the Can". Does anyone out there remember how we
could enter the Little League field at the south end of
the playground after a snowfall and throw snowballs at
each other? I think the only rule I remember was that you
had to enter at your own risk. What fun we used to have!
Now many years later working as a teacher's aide and
recess supervisor I cringe when it snows. It seems like
there are so many rules of can't DOs. I always tell the
kids if they are having fun it must be against the rules.
I know it is part of my job to keep all of the kids safe,
but wouldn't it be neat if they could have some of the
old-fashioned fun we used to have when it snowed?
Happy New Year,
-Sandy Mitchell Hulburt (66)
********************************************
>>From: Larry Stone (71)
Thank you Maren for this avenue to remember the good ole
days. Though I don't know or remember most of the people
who write in here, it's still very interesting to read the
comments and go back to yesteryear.
-Larry Stone (71)
********************************************
>>From: BJ Davis (Bomber Mom)
May the New Year bring you all
Troubles that last only seconds
Giggles that last minutes
Chuckles that last hours
Laughs that last days
Smiles that last weeks
Happiness that last months
Friendships that last years
But most of all
LOVE that lasts a lifetime
-BJ Davis (Bomber Mom)
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/03/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 Bombers sent stuff:
Mary Triem (47), Charlotte Carlson (52),
Marilyn Richey (53), Mike Clowes (54),
Judy Willox (61), Helen Cross (62),
Rick Maddy (67), Phil Jones (69),
Peggy Roesch (71), Dan Ham (72)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Mary Triem Mowery (47)
To all Bombers:
My prayers are with Marilyn Wallace Hultman (47), who
is facing surgery today for breast cancer. I'm sure
Marilyn will forgive me for "advertising" this, but I
would ask that all of you offer up your prayers for her
full recovery. Marilyn and Ray (47) have a host of friends
who are all pulling for a successful outcome.
Thanks.
-Mary Triem Mowery (47) ~ Ft. Lauderdale and Richland
********************************************
>>From: Charlotte Carlson Terry (52)
Re: Sacajawea Statue
Just as a matter of interest, there is also a
beautiful bronze of Sacajawea in Sedona, Arizona. When we
visited the gallery, and made the remark "Oh, you have
Sacajawea." the lady said I was the first person she ever
heard pronounce it correctly!! Then I told her it was my
grade school.
Happy New Year to all.
-Charlotte Carlson Terry (52) ~ Prescott, AZ
********************************************
>>From: Marilyn Richey (53)
Re: Rosalie Gire Grabner (54) and Dick Grabner (53WB)
I have known Dick and Rosalie since the grade school days.
Dick was in my room from the 4th grade at Sacajawea
when it was on Williams Blvd. We went through school
together until we graduated. We started pitching softball
together when we were about 11 years old and follow each
other all the years that we participated in the sport.
I went to school with Rosalie and she was behind me in
school. I knew her sister, Jean Gire (52), and we played
softball together in high school.
I know that Rosalie has been ill for several years but
always has bounced back on her feet. I didn't know that
Dick has had strokes and he is a fighter and will give it
the best shot that he can in this challenge. Both of these
people has always been very kind and considerate with
their peers and I will pray that both of them will come on
top after the operation. God Bless to both Rosalie and
Dick at this time.
-Marilyn Richey (53) ~ Richland
********************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
First off, add my name to the list of Admirers of Maren.
Now, all Husky and Beaver fans should be very content
at the beginning of the 21st Century. The teams did very
well in their respective Bowl Games, despite what the ABC
team had to saw about the Beavers. Makes you wonder where
they got their information.
And, yes, you Duck Freaks might join in, even though
the other guys threw four catchable touchdown passes in
the waning seconds. We can only think that one Longhorn
receiver needs to go the the Fred Bilitnikof school of
pass catching and pay particular attention to the fine art
of applying stickum.
All we need now is a perfect Bomber basketball season.
Bomber cheers to all
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
********************************************
>>From: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
Re: Bomber Elders
To: BJ Davis (Bomber Mom)
What a sweet and lovely thing to wish all of us out here
in Bomberville and other points where Bombers have landed.
Thank you for your good wishes. The way it was worded was
really sweet!!! Although I have never been a Bomber Mom, I
am soon about to be a Bomber Grandmom. So once again I
will be roaming and haunting the ole' halls of Richland
High. *G*! Since I am a Bomber Alumni, I find it quite
exciting to be stompin' those great halls again. And,
since I am raising this grandson, I will probably be quite
visual to the stately place. I just didn't have the sense
to stay here in Richland and make my kids little Bombers -
got side tracked for a while and ended up making them
Kennewick Lions. Poor little tykes. *G*!!!
Thanks again for your sweet wishes for us all!!
Bomber Cheers,
-Judy Willox Hodge (61) ~ Richland
********************************************
>>From: Helen Cross Kirk (62)
To: David Douglas, (62)
Hope that your daughter is somewhat stabilized and
that the worst is over and that she has a good pregnancy
and delivery the rest of the way. How exciting to be
grandparents in the real new millennium! Best wishes and
prayers.
Re: Indiana Weather
We are going into our l7th day below freezing out here
in eastern Indiana. A record I think, not since l966 has
this happened. Too bad I had to be here to experience it.
Although l/01/01 was a beautiful sunny Norman Rockwell
sort of day with sunshine and snow and the pond frozen
over so we could skate on it, if we could remember how to
skate that is.
PSS: Can't believe how many wrote in from our class of '62,
one of the very best classes to graduate from RHS of
course, today. Hi Gail, Marilyn and Sandra.
-Helen Cross Kirk (62)
********************************************
>>From: Rick Maddy (67)
Re: Coach Jim Jones
To: Phil Jones (69)
Today is 01/02/01. I just read about the passing of
your father. Your father, as you well know, was my “new”
coach during my last year in little league. He built the
self-esteem in me to keep plugging away at being a better
baseball player during this last year. I had been bunting
most of my little league career in a batting stance that
had a very small strike zone. I walked a lot. With this
confidence building last season of little league, I went
on to play three more years. I ended my short-lived
baseball career in ninth grade with Coach Yonce. Missing
the season's first game with Chief Jo due to the fact that
Coach Yonce had not realized he had the wrong guy in the
outfield, I went two for three off Mickey Hunt the
following week. I moved right up the batting order
throughout the rest of the year. Although it was my last
and best performance year of baseball, I would not have
been there if it had not been from the positive influences
your father had given me during that last LL season. He
was the finest teacher/coach this twelve year old ever
had.
My sincere condolences to all your family. It truly is
a great loss.
-Rick Maddy (67)
********************************************
>>From: Phil Jones (69)
Thanks again to all of you who have contacted me and
expressed their thoughts and sympathy regarding the
passing of my dad.
Happy New Year to all.
-Phil Jones (69)
********************************************
>>From: Peggy Roesch Wallan (71)
To: Mike Davis (74)
Re: Denny's
Hey, have you checked out http://www.p7a77.net/dennys?
Bomber cheers,
-Peggy Roesch Wallan (71) ~ Spanaway, WA
********************************************
>>From: Dan Ham (72)
Re: Steve Piippo's B-Day
I would like to take this opportunity to wish
Steve Piippo (70) a very happy (belated) birthday, his
49th I believe. Should anyone run into him today please
take a moment to ridicule him. Steve has been a good
friend to me and somewhat a legend in his own right at RHS.
Anyway, Steve, Have a very happy B-Day.
Your Pal,
-Dan Ham (72)
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/04/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note from the Editor: Incoming mail MUST be messed up
again. Can't BELIEVE there's been no response from the
URL that Peggy Roesch Wallan (71) sent to Mike Davis (74)
yesterday. - Maren
http://www.p7a77.net/dennys
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6 Bombers sent stuff:
Ray Gillette (49), Ann Bishop (60),
Betsy Fox (63), Gary Behymer (64),
Steve Edwards (68), Steve Piippo (70)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Ray Gillette (49)
To; All those who are acquainted with Philip Raekes (49)
I hear that Phil is hanging up his robes this week
after practicing law for thirty some years (mostly in
Kennewick) and about five years on the bench. Just wanted
to wish Phil a Happy retirement and to encourage any of
you oldsters out there to do the same if you happen to
have contact with him.
Have a good time Phil....
-Ray Gillette (49)
********************************************
>>From: Ann Bishop Myers (60)
Re: Class of '60 [LADIES] Lunch
The monthly Ladies of 1960 lunch will be held at the
Emerald of Siam, 1314 Jadwin, Richland on Saturday,
January 6 at 11:30.
-Ann Bishop Myers (60) ~ Kennewick, WA
********************************************
>>From: Betsy Fox Vance (63)
Re: Happy New Year... Let's Make Things Happen
Happy New Year to all..... May it be a year full of
promise, laughter, good moments and friends. I have
relocated to Richland this past year - and in the spirit
of my wish for you all, am attempting to recreate the
sense of community and friendship I had in Missoula for 20
years. In that endeavor, I would like to ask any
interested old Bombers (keyword: old) in the Tri-Cities
if they would be interested in forming together for any of
the following activities
~ a group that would meet once a month for potlucks at
different people's homes (perhaps each month, do a
different culture - each bringing dishes from that ethnic
group - we could even consider "Denny's" an ethnic group
and go there for one of our months... :-) --- that one is
for you, Ves ) ------- or
~ any people interested in forming a bridge group -
preferably duplicate - but if not duplicate, then
contract/party bridge to meet once or twice a month ---
maybe a group combined with the potluck idea ----- or
~ a group that would be interested in meeting for TGIFs
at some local hangout.
I am open to any other ideas people have - - Ummm, if
it isn't too painfully obvious, I am trying to "get a
life" as they say. My kidlets are going off to college
(ingrates! They were supposed to stay home their whole
life and take care of mommy dearest) - and it is really a
strange feeling for me -having been gone from Richland for
37 years and now be back living in the house that I grew
up in. Talk about time travel. I still can't open the
forbidden cabinet where my father kept his bourbon.
I can't find any old hippies turned into soccer mom's
in Richland. Missoula was full of them... and my 15 years
before that in Boulder Colorado also was. I keep saying,
"peace, brother" to all these engineers and they just
stare at me. Yikes, I'm caught between identities.......
55 and trying to enter this AARP phase gracefully.
By the way, I wanted to thank all the fine people I
saw at the R2K in June for the many kindnesses that were
extended to me, during my mom's illness. Fellow '63ers --
you are an awesome bunch - and many others, as well. It
meant a lot - the warmth and friendship that was offered
to me during that very difficult time. Mom is slowly
coming back from her cerebral hemorrhage.... but, at 91, it
is a huge uphill battle.
Just had another idea for a group - - a discussion
group that gets together once a month (with a meal before
hand) to talk about issues facing us - aging parents,
children off to college or older - our own health - can we
really water ski again? - how much we all love Bill Clinton
and will miss him? - can we still tool Zip's at age 55 or
jump off the high dive at the pool? -- or go up to Tolgate
and swagger around with our 'hooks/belt' on to take us up
"High" mt? (Definitely a John Wayne swagger that happened
when you graduated to that level --- most of us are
missing a few fingers that got caught in that tow - or at
least ALMOST missing a few) -- or we can talk about how we
used to look at our green feet and toes through the neat
radiation machine at David's Shoes in Richland at the
Uptown in the 50s.
Lots we could talk about - serious and fun.
So... anyone interested, please contact me - Betsy Fox
Vance, class of '63 and, if you remember our house on Gowen St. -
rt. by the river, stop by sometime. I send you all my best - and
have so many fond memories of you .....
-Betsy Fox Vance (63)
********************************************
>>From: Gary Behymer (64)
Re: This is a test and only a test
What song did JAMES TALLEY write and sing in his album
BLACK JACK CHOIR/AIN'T IT SOMETHING that should be of
interest to Richland Bombers (;-)
Score 1000 points if you know the answer without looking it up?
Score 50 points if you look it up.
No score if you don't bother to search for it!
Score a million points if you have a copy of the album (;-)
-Gary Behymer (64) ~ Now living in Colfax, WA
********************************************
>>From: Steve Edwards (68)
To: Phil Jones (69)
I just read about your father passing on this week
and want to express condolences from the Edwards family
to your family.
Jimmy Jones was one of the "great" coaches of youth
baseball in Richland, I'm proud to have known him.
You and your family are in our prayers.
-Steve Edwards (68) ~ Eatonville, WA
********************************************
>>From: Steve Piippo (70)
To: Dan Ham (72)
Thanks Dan. 49 and holding.
Also, fellow '70 graduate, Bill Guinn. passed away.
Bill Guinn always had time for a smile, and hello followed
by sincere conversation.
-Steve Piippo (70)
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/05/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4 Bombers sent stuff:
Harry "Skip" Scott (52), Mike Clowes (54),
Rose Boswell (61), Patty Stordahl (72)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Skip Scott (52)
I was wondering is there is a copy of a booklet called
"Payday" on a B-17 where all the workers gave one days pay
to have it built. The mural is on the side of the gym. I
would be happy to know how I can obtain a copy of this.
Also, where do I send my "donation" of $12.00. A great
job is being done and the fee is so nominal.
Hello to all the Bombers.....
-Skip Scott (52)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Day's Pay mural on the side of the Art Dawald Gym is at:
Days Pay Mural
The program of the Christening of Day's Pay was scanned by
Richard Swanson (64). -Maren]
********************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
Re: Good News Dept.
In an e-mail from Marguerite Groff Tompkins (54),
those of the class on her e-mail list got the news that
Rosalie Gire Grabner (54) has survived her "valve job,"
and is doing well. Fortunately for Rosalie, the "valve
job" was done at Sacred Heart in Spokane and not the local
"Mr. Goodwrench" (even though his rate was cheaper).
Further, if things go as they are, Gordon Anderson (54)
should be available shortly to continue teaching
Tom Tracy (55) how to tie shoes and keep them tied. From
what Marguerite said, Gordon has been getting prints of
this rag, and is enjoying his "eulogy" very much. I also
understand that Gordon's wife has learned more about him
from these pages than from "Gordy" himself. And here, all
along, we thought those stories came under the "Official
Secrets Act".
Re: Bad News Dept.
In the same e-mail, Marguerite made mention of the
demise of Club-40. It would seem that there were few, if
any, who stepped forward and offered to take up the reins.
I, for one, had offered my services as a possible vice-
president, and for the reasons I stated on these pages,
felt I could not do anymore at the present. A 500-mile
commute is just a little out of reason. This year will
mark the last reunion of Club 40. We will commemorate
those who celebrate their 55th, 50th and 45th
anniversaries of course. And I am sure will make welcome
those of the Class of '61 who may want to join with us.
I have but two regrets in this matter. I regret that I
hadn't found the club any sooner, and I regret that this
will be the last.
If any of you not on the Class of '54 list who wish to
contact either Rosalie or Gordon via snail mail, contact
Marguerite for their addresses.
With those thoughts in mind, I still offer you Bomber Cheers.
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
********************************************
>>From: Rose Boswell Smith (61)
Does anyone remember when we were little kids at the
fireworks displays, did the fireworks make flags and some
other pictures in the sky? My kids and my younger co
workers think I've been smoking something. Ha.
I would send it to The Fireworks Guy but cant find
his email address.
-Rose Boswell Smith (61)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[I remember a flag between the gold posts in the Bomber
Bowl - a finale one year?? Maybe Larry Mattingly (60) -
aka, Mr. Fireworks, can tell us more... -Maren]
********************************************
>>From: Patty Stordahl (72)
Still alive in Seattle.
Over the holidays a couple of us old Bombers got
together and times were remembered and we had a blast.
Peter Brandt (72) & I played pool and danced into the
night.
Any other Bombers on the west side of the mountains
want to get together and meet at Jillians Billiards just
email me and we all can get together. I have lots of free
pool time there so let's go play and rekindle the memories.
We can also catch up on kids grandkids and any thing else
that we can think of.
-Patty Stordahl (72)
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/06/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 Bombers and 1 funeral notice toady:
Larry Mattingly (60), Frazier Botsford (62WB),
Helen Cross (62), Marianne Matthews (63),
Det Wegener (65), Len Rediske (66),
Tedd Cadd (66), Debbie Bennett (72),
Mike Davis (74), Treg Owings (76)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Larry Mattingly (60)
Re: Flags in the sky
I was involved with the fireworks both for Atomic
Frontier Days and the 4th of July from about '53 to '67/8.
Some were at "Riverside Park and later at Bomber Bowl. We
never did have pictures in the sky. They were always
within 5 to 10 feet of the ground. These "pictures in
fire" took many forms. Of course you remember the US Flag.
But we also did things like "fish-eating pelican, cop and
speeder (2 pieces), fire truck and house fire, Jumbo the
elephant squirting water, and many more. Lots of good,
entertaining fun. We did have some salute shells that
released a small US Flag under a parachute when it went
bang, but too many kids got banged up scrambling and
fighting for the flags, so we stopped doing that.
"Happiness is the sky in bloom"
-J Larry Mattingly (60) ~ Tacoma, WA
********************************************
>>From: Helen Cross Kirk (62)
To: Rose Boswell Smith (61)
I think I remember the fireworks making picture
displays (like the flag) when it used to be in the old
Bomber Bowl.
-Helen Cross Kirk (62)
********************************************
>>From: Frazier Botsford (62WB)
Re: Fireworks
I'm not Larry Mattingly (60), but I could play him on TV.
The flags/pictures were not "in the sky", but on the
ground. They were static displays of many different
"spewing" type displays (like the ones you set on the
ground that just went sppppppppptttt for a few minutes). A
couple of hundred of these laid out and wired together in
a pattern and fused together would be the flag, or other
picture or message: "HAPPY BRIS JASON". Pretty effective
for smaller displays (you have to be close enough to read
them).
-Frazier Botsford (62WB)
********************************************
>>From: Marianne Matthews Wood (63)
To: Rose Boswell Smith (61)
Re: Fireworks
I definitely remember the flag but not up in the sky -
it was between poles and near the ground, but we were
small then and perhaps it seemed up higher. We always went
to the Bomber Bowl for those and it definitely was a
highlight - I remember one night, when one of the whirly-
type spinner firework didn't get into the sky and came
through the crowd. I don't remember anyone being hurt but
it definitely was exciting. I also remember our dog, Mamie
(named after Eisenhower's wife after he attended the dam
ceremony at McNary, I believe) would get crazy with the
noise on the 4th. We tried to take her to the bowl but she
heard the booms, broke away from the leash and ran home.
What I can't remember is if we stayed for the rest of the
fireworks or went after her.
-Marianne Matthews Wood (63) ~ Bothell, WA
********************************************
>>From: Det Wegener (65)
To: Skip Scott (52)
Re: "Payday"
Skip,
A couple of years ago (6? Well, that's a couple) our
older daughter, Liesl, did a History Day project on the
"Bomber". It was in the form of a large (~3' wide x 6'
tall) poster. She had a copy of the "payday" pamphlet, I
believe, which she included on the display. The last I
knew, it was up in the Col-Hi library in a display cabinet.
She talked to all the crew and some of the people in
Richland who donated to the effort. It is a very personal
side of the story of our "mascot".
By the way, Liesl is a 2000 Hanford High grad. But
maybe some of the ol' Bomber rubbed off on her. She would
never admit it!!
-Det Wegener (65)
********************************************
>>From: Len Rediske (66)
Re: American Flags in the sky or on the ground
To: Rose Boswell Smith (61)
Hi there
I remember going to the Fireworks show many times at
the Bomber Bowl. I do remember having an American Flag and
many other ground shows that were set up right in the
middle of the field. There were spinning shows, as well as
patriotic scenes done also. I am not sure is I remember
whether they did the American Flag between the goal posts.
I don't think they did.
I was there one year when one of the spinners came off
the stand, and flew into the crown on the ground and
burned a few people pretty badly. After that all the
crowds were kept on the upper half of the bleachers and on
the hill at the north west corner of the bowl. We always
sat up there, because we could lay down on the ground and
watch the show.
A little aside to this. Right now, we live in
Vancouver, WA, which boasts the largest fireworks show
west of the Mississippi. It lasts from 45 minutes to
almost an hour. Music is simulcast on local radio
stations, plus the Portland, Oregon TV station Channel 8
shows the entire show. Not as good as being there,
however. What a blast, so to speak. Anybody down this way
on July 4, drop in for a good one. 2001 show will be the
first one that will be attended by our first granddaughter
Kately, who will turn 1 a few days before.
later
-Len Rediske (66)
********************************************
>>From: Tedd Cadd (66)
Re: Miracles of medicine...
For any who know my mother (Polly Cadd), she just had
her 4th (Fourth, yes, 1-2-3-4!) hip replacement surgery
this morning (Jan 4th). She's doing well after three hours
of surgery that included a complete replacement with bone
grafting. She's at Kadlec here in Richland.
-Tedd Cadd (66)
********************************************
>>From: Deb Bennett Bayoff (72)
The other day I was reading Bombers in Memorium and
saw that a couple of people I went to school with had died
since August. I was deeply saddened.
Martina Farris and Bob Martinson were two really
unique people.
I was in school with Martina since we were just kids.
She was quiet and was treated like an outcast. I was one
of those who treated her badly. At our twenty year reunion
I had an opportunity to speak to her. She had just lost
her son. I am so glad that I had an opportunity to connect
with her as adults, but so sorry that I waited so long to
treat her with the respect she deserved.
Bob Martinson used to hang out with Leonard Maxwell
(died in l971). Leonard and I worked at Herfey's and Bob
used to come in a lot. He always drove the neatest cars
and park in the Rosauer's Parking lot across from Zip's.
At our 25th reunion I introduced my husband to Bob and we
talked (you guessed it) "cars". Bob was a really funny and
unique person.
-Deb Bennett Bayoff (72)
********************************************
>>From: Mike Davis (74)
How many of you had to go through the humiliation of
wearing those bright yellow raincoats to school? Of
course, the outfit was not complete without the yellow hat
that draped over the ears and had the fashionable little
bill in front, and the "always three sizes too big" black
golashes. My brother, Steve (72-RIP), and I each got a
raincoat one year. We thought they were pretty neat until
one day it rained and Mom actually made us wear them to
school! Believe me, it's hard to look "cool" when you look
like a giant fire hydrant!
-Mike Davis (74)
********************************************
>>From: Treg Owings (76)
To: Rose Boswell Smith (61)
I seem to remember the flag being on the fence. I
remember them trying to make pictures in the air but could
never really see the picture. I also remember one year
they had a large pinwheel that jumped the pin and rolled
through the crowd. Anyone remember that?
Rose, were you a teacher?
-Treg Owings (76)
********************************************
********************************************
Funeral Notice:
Dick Enders ~ Class of '63
http://funeralnotices.tripod.com/
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/07/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
01/06/01 - Richland Bombers, 63 ~~ Wenatchee Panthers, 41
The play-by-play announcer (from Wenatchee's KPQ radio
station) called the Art Dawald Gym "The Bomb Shelter"
throughout the game. Anybody know when that started??
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 Bombers sent stuff:
Anna May Wann (49), Mike Clowes (54),
Ed Wood (62), Mike Rowe (64),
Det Wegener (65), Gary Bush (66),
Mike Lynch (68), Mike Franco (70),
Rick Polk (70), Gil Gilstrap (79)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Anna May "Ann" Wann Thompson (49)
To: Marilyn and Ray Hultman (47)
My prayers are with you. Take care and know there are
loads of us out here thinking about you and caring.
To: Bob Carlson (54)
Re: Club 40
That is real interesting that you volunteered to be
Vice president, I volunteered to be Secretary. Maybe you
could find someone to serve with you from the Tri-Cities
area and have co-presidents. How many others of you
volunteered to hold an office? The treasurer didn't resign
and the historian didn't resign - so what's the problem?
Are we being ignored? I am sure there are others out
there that would love to keep the club going, maybe change
the format a little so it includes all graduates or those
after 25 years, etc., but no way should such a good idea
be tossed down the drain.
I plan on bringing this up when we gals on the "West
Side" meet on the 14th in Fife.
Incidentally, Patty Stordahl (72), bring yourself to
this luncheon and lets get acquainted - we can talk about
your Aunt Crystal. There are enough of us in the immediate
Seattle area (by looking at your cities after your names)
that maybe you younger ones can pump some new blood into
the Club 40 and keep it alive.
Also Patty, maybe some of us can meet you for a game
of pool (I'm a bad shot - but I love games) Or do any of
you play golf? - Oh well that's another story.
See you on the 14th. Incidentally since we are going
to Fife instead of Sea-Tac, those that are riding with me,
let's meet at my house at 10:30. It's a good 45 minute
drive to The Executive Inn. Parking is good and location
is good so we won't have any trouble getting there.
(Unless it snows)
Happy New Year Everyone
-Anna May "Ann" Wann Thompson (49)
********************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
Re: Rosalie Gire Grabner (54)
I must eat humble pie, for in my last missive, I
grievously misspelled her maiden name. This could result
in having a incident similar to that of over a year ago
when Hugh Hinson (52) was granted an additional wife by
persons who shall remain nameless. Rosalie, please accept
my apologies for this faux pax. I do, indeed, know what
your last name is. I'll put off to "just one of those
moments."
Bomber Cheers to all
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
********************************************
>>From: Ed Wood (62)
Re: Fireworks
The ground firework display that impressed me the most
was one we called Niagara Falls -- a brilliant white
showering of sparks coming from a long cable that looked
like a waterfall. Its brightness was quite a contrast to
the dark sky!
-Ed Wood (62)
********************************************
>>From: Mike Rowe (64)
To: Gary Behymer (64)
Hello Gary,
I admit I had to look up the answer to your question
concerning James Talley, but can I get extra credit for
supplying a URL to down-load the song in MP3?
http://jamestalley.com/music/index.html
-Mike Rowe (64)
********************************************
>>From: Det Wegener (65)
To: Tedd Cadd (66)
Tedd,
Thanks for letting us know about your Mom. I'll give
her a call tomorrow!
When I think of your Mom, I think of her crossing a
street with all her little charges. She was always so
active with the kids she took care of. I'm sure they
learned a lot from her. And she is always so positive and
smiley!!
Do any of the kids come back to see her?
-Det Wegener (65)
********************************************
>>From: Gary Bush (66)
Re: Fireworks
My fellow classmate, Len Rediske (66), reminded me of
many good memories watching the fireworks in Bomber Bowl.
Hey, Len... wondered where you were these days! I also
remember when one of the ground displays flew off and
burned some of those sitting in front of us. After that
year, we sat further away.
I'd agree with Len that Vancouver, WA, has got to have
the one of the best, if not THE best, fireworks displays -
we watched it last year, courtesy of NWCN via our cable TV
service. One year, I remember seeing fireworks in what was
an empty field north of Lee Blvd. across the street from
Riverside Park (now Howard Amon). I remember seeing two
unexploded shells land near us - as a little boy, I
thought it was neat to see one of them up close. Don't
know if that was a 4th of July event or part of Atomic
Frontier Days.
Also, saw Tedd Cadd's (66) note about his mom. We
stopped in to see her yesterday. She had a lot of
visitors. For those of us who considered her like a second
Mom, she'd probably appreciate your notes of encouragement
if you can't stop in to see her.
-Gary Bush (66)
********************************************
>>From: Mike Lynch (68)
Re: James Talley Song
To: Gary Behymer (64)
Your question about the James Talley song sent me
digging through boxes and closets where no man should go,
but I was successful, so I should get about half the
million points you offered. In about 1979 a friend who
knew I grew up in Richland gave me a tape with about half
the album, including the song I assumed was named
"Richland, Washington", since Talley sings those words at
the end of about every other line. I've wondered why more
Richlanders haven't heard of it. Could it be that it
didn't become Richland's theme song because the lyrics
imply the singer's son has never seen his granddad because
the granddad died of plutonium exposure at Hanford?
Now my deep question of the day for folks who
graduated around the time you did is how did the
expression "Sure, Lloyd" get started? Was it a Richland
thing or bigger than that?
-Mike Lynch (68)
********************************************
>>From: Mike Franco (70)
To: Det Wegener (65)
Great to hear from you, please contact me. I would like to
hear about where you are, what you are doing and trade some old
Scout Camp stories.
-Mike Franco (70)
********************************************
>>From: Rick Polk (70)
Re: Bill Guinn (70-RIP)
My sincerest sympathies to the Bill Guinn family.
-Rick Polk (70)
********************************************
>>From: Gil Gilstrap (79)
Message to Sandstorm while I was typing away my 2 year
old son decided to slam my computer so I will attempt to
finish what I started because I believe an unfinished
version got sent ha ha gil
Man, I am so glad someone else remembered about the
flag at the fireworks display. I remember my father taking
our whole family out to see the fireworks and I remember
the flag. When I have told other people about seeing it
they said that it was impossible to do that. Oh well...
only in Richland, I guess. Maybe it was a nuke.
Speaking of nuke: I still have friends over in Spokane
who still ask me if everyone in the Tri-Cities has to turn
their urine over to the hanford area. I guess after all
these years and you still can't get people to learn
anything... gilly 79
-Gil Gilstrap (79)
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/08/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
13 Bombers sent stuff:
Kay Weir (37), Shirley Watts (49),
Gloria Adams (54), Linda Bowman (59),
Larry Mattingly (60), Rose Boswell (61),
Bob Rector (62), Denny Damschen (62),
Frazier Botsford (62WB), Sandra Genoway (62),
Marie Ruppert (63), Mike Davis (74),
Phoebe Sheldon (87)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Kay Weir Fishback (37)
DATE: 12/26/00
Re: Jean Weir (43)
Somebody asked about Jean - Does she belong with Gordy
(47) and me? Yes, she does. She was in the class who
didn't graduate. Dupont and the government came in here
to build the ultimate weapon (Why did they pick on us?)
and they closed the schools handed the Seniors a diploma
and said "Consider yourself graduated." and told the
people to be gone. Many people only had 30 days to get out.
Our Dad decided to go to work for Dupont and rented his
own house to live in. That's how come Gordy went to
Richland Hi. Jean lives in Seattle but also has a house on
Orcas Island where she spends most of the summer.
We also have another sister who lives in Eugene - but
no E-Mail.
So much for today's History Lesson and HAPPY NEW YEAR
to one and all.
-Kay Weir Fishback (37)
By the way my husband and his brothers are all RHS graduates.
>>From: Kay Weir Fishback (37)
DATE: 01/07/01
Re: Basketball
I had an E-Mail from Loren St. John (55). He has been
trying to find out names of some of the pre Hanford day
coaches. I guess none of your readers know - so maybe some
of you would like to. I did answer his letter at great
length but I won't put you through all of it.
The team in our school days were called the Broncs -
when the new school was established I guess everything had
to be new so the team name was changed to the Beavers. Of
course you all know the Bombers were NOT named after our
product but after the Plane bought by Hanford workers
donating a day's pay.
The coach in 36-37 was named Putnam the next one I Know
for sure was 37-38. His name was Earl Whitehead - he was
also the Supt. of Schools and taught in the high School.
After all when the district consists of two schools with a
total enrollment of between 200 and 225 students everybody
had multiple jobs.
Hope this is of interest to some of you. That is
today's History lesson from what some of us choose to call
THE REAL RICHLAND.
My dad stayed here and went to work instead of looking
for another farm and in those days everybody asked
everybody where they were from and those of us who stayed
said we were from here. People either thought we were some
sort of strange native species or were like one woman who
said "Young lady, you know there was nothing here before
the govt. came and there certainly were no schools."
-Kay Weir Fishback (37)
********************************************
>>From: Shirley Watts James (49)
Hi Sandstorm:
Even though I am a resident now of the State of
Indiana, my family still resides in Richland. I try to get
back there as often as I can...and when I come I try to
correspond my visits with Club 40 activities. It is a
marvelous opportunity to visit with old friends and
classmates at one time. I might offer some suggestions:
1. Maybe having the event every other year would make it
more special.
2. On one of our visits, the event was held next to a
swimming pool. The noise was horrendous. My husband, who
is not from Richland and has a hearing problem, found it
very unpleasant and wanted to leave because hearing
conversation was impossible. Whether we like it or not,
all of us are getting older and many have hearing
problems. If the hearing problem is nerve deafness,
background noise actually can be painful.
3. Maybe introducing a special evening where people could
dress up in their elegant clothes would be appreciated.
Almost all of the Club 40 events I have attended has been
casual. Casual is great most of the time, but sometimes it
is nice to pull out your prettiest clothes and go to
something special. Here in Evansville, my husband and I
attend many social events that are sit down dinners at
historic houses, museums, theaters, libraries, convention
centers etc. and they are extremely well attended. It is
nice to be waited on and look your best for an evening.
After all, we are casual every day - and now even at work
- so one evening that is really special is something
different.
Club 40 is a great idea. Unfortunately, I live so far
away, I can't offer my services and can't attend the
events every year. I think those who have worked hard to
make the organization a success have done a marvelous job,
and those efforts should not be abandoned.
-Shirley Watts James (49)
********************************************
>>From: Gloria Adams Fulcher (54)
To: Ted Cadd (66)
Hi Tedd,
Please give your Mom a hug for my whole family. She
and my Mother were very good friends and worked at Sears
together. Much later, your Mom was the wonderful caregiver
to our youngest children, Karen and Scott Fulcher. I never
worried a minute while they were with her. I knew they
would be well cared for and kept BUSY. She continues to be
a very special person and she's in our prayers.
-Gloria Adams Fulcher (54) ~ Chinook Pass, WA
********************************************
>>From: Linda Bowman Warren (59)
Re: "Chicago" Bombers
Greetings out there in Bomber land! Jim (59) and I
were wondering if there are any Bombers in the greater
Chicago land area. We are living in Deerfield and thought
if we could touch base with any other folks from Richland
it might be fun. We are always up for an evening
"downtown" or other activity in the Chicago area. After
reading about all the others who are able to get together
in Seattle, Richland etc., we were feeling left out. If
anyone else is game and would like to get in touch with
"home", please contact us
-Linda Bowman Warren (59) ~ Deerfield, IL
********************************************
>>From: Larry Mattingly (60)
Re: "Spinning thing" that went into the crowd.
Several have mentioned the "spinning thing" that went
into the crowd at one of the displays at Bomber Bowl. This
happened 2-3 years before I started being in charge in
1958. Here is what happened. The item was a "Pyrotechnic
Auto-Gyro". A helicopter in laymen's terms. We fired a
number of them over the years. They looked like a 2 foot
diameter bamboo wheel with several propelling fountains
attached at angles. They also had an explosive charge on
them. They were intended to be fired from a peg on top of
a post. When they reached apogee the explosive charge
destroyed them so that what might fall on the crowd would
be very small pieces. We had a couple of years between
Paul Beardsley and myself being in charge of the displays.
There were a couple of itinerant pyros that did the
display during that period. One of these, whose name
escapes me, set up the gyro that year (55/56?). They
didn't anchor the bottom of the post. They tied down the
top but not the bottom. When the gyro was lit the torque
of it spinning around trying to get up to flight speed
kicked the bottom of the post out and down it went,
sending the spinning gyro rolling rapidly toward the
crowd. I kicked it as it went by me and apparently,
knocked the explosive charge off. (We found it after the
lights went on). Anyway, it rolled into the crowd and one
or two got some minor burns, another a little more serious
burns and I think there was one with small but very
serious burns. Somebody help my aging memory. I believe it
was Judy (somebody) from class of 60 that was one of those
burned. I remember being surprised to find that out a year
or two after I graduated.
Since that fateful night I have fired countless of
them without problems. However I have always had more room
then we had in Bomber Bowl. They call them "girandoles"
now. 3 years ago I watched a pyro friend (PhD/Prof from
Cornell) launch a monster at a Pyro convention. Nearly 4
feet in diameter it went up in a myriad of colors, maybe
2500 feet before caught in a wind it came crashing down in
a parking lot 1/2 mile away. It nearly destroyed a brand
new mini-van.
"Happiness is the sky in bloom"
-J Larry Mattingly (60)
********************************************
>>From: Rose Boswell Smith (61)
Thanks for all the replies to the fireworks. Great
Fun. Nope it wasn't me that was a teacher. I barely made it
out of Col. High. Ha. What do you all remember about Mr.
Lyda. He scared me to death.
-Rose Boswell Smith (61)
********************************************
>>From: Bob Rector (62)
Re: That Ongoing Fear of Radiation
The note from Gil Gilstrap (79) or maybe it was from
the entry after his, reminded me of this persistent notion
that anything radioactive is a megadevil.
Dad was overexposed to "dangerous levels" 3 times at
Hanford, but is still humming (but a slower humm, at age
85) Worst time was when a lid blew off a container and
about 20 guys were in the room.
While machining plutonium (yea, you got that right), a
piece about the size of a pencil eraser flew off and
embedded itself in the muscle of a co-workers upper arm.
*about where your tattoo of mother would go*.
Dad took him down to good old Kadlec Hospital... they
took out the chunk of plutonium, washed it very well, &
gave him a transfusion. The machinist finally retired in
Yakima, and as of about 5 years ago(?) was still very
alive.
Pop just laughs at the lawsuits. He said, "Gee, maybe
I should sue for loss of hair?" I said, "While you're at
it, why don't you sue for loss of memory?"
-Bob Rector (62)
********************************************
>>From: Denny Damschen (62)
Are there any Bombers living in or around Everett, WA?
My daughter, Denni Damschen (93), and her fiancée, Lance
Sanders (95), are moving there when Lance gets out of
school this spring.
They will be looking for an apartment during Spring
Break and I am interested in hearing information about
neighborhoods in Everett, sections to avoid, etc.
Hopefully there are no bad areas in Everett, but we have
never been there so any info would be appreciated.
Thanks,
-denny damschen (62) ~ Richland
********************************************
>>From: Frazier Botsford (62WB)
Re: Hanford's urine -- In the 1/7/01 Alumni Sandstorm:
"Speaking of nuke: I still have friends over in
Spokane who still ask me if everyone in the Tri-Cities has
to turn their urine over to the hanford area. I guess
after all these years and you still can't get people to
learn anything... gilly 79
-Gil Gilstrap (79)"
Tell them yes, Gil, but it's delivered by air now. We
all get into a big cargo plane, and hang out the back door
and...
-Frazier Botsford (62WB)
********************************************
>>From: Sandra Genoway (Jeneaué) Spruksts (62)
Re: Fireworks 2001
I would have to say that watching the fireworks
"blooming" off of and from the Space Needle this year on
the New Years' celebration on television, it was easy to
see that this was one of the most beautiful, colorful best
displays ever (as it was advertised to be to make up for
the "missed" celebration last year, due to potential
terrorist attack fears). All of the accompanying music was
classical, starting with the theme from the movie "2001; a
Space Odyssey" (or, Also Sprach Zarathusra) and including
Strauss' Blue Danube Waltz; Beethoven's Fifth Symphony;
and ending with Mussorgsky's "The Great Gate of Kiev".
-Sandra Genoway (Jeneaué) Spruksts (62)
********************************************
>>From: Marie Ruppert Hartman (63)
Does anyone know when the Tri-City Amateur golf
tournament will be held this year? My husband, Lance (60)
always enjoys it so, but we may have a conflict with a
family wedding so we need to know soon.
-Marie Ruppert Hartman (63) ~ Bremerton, WA
********************************************
>>From: Mike Davis (74)
Maren,
This was sent to me and I added quite a bit to
"Richlandize it" Run it if you'd like! - Mike
Do you remember....
before the Internet... before semiautomatics and crack...
before SEGA or Super Nintendo... hide and go seek at
dusk... sittin' on the porch... Simon Says... Kick the
Can... Red light - Green light... Red Rover, Red Rover...
Annie Annie Over... lunch boxes with a thermos... going
home for lunch... penny candy from the store... your first
slurpee... hopscotch... patrol boys... skates with keys...
Jacks... Mother May I?... Hula Hoops... sunflower seeds...
Twister... Old Maid... Crazy Eights... wax lips and
mustaches... silly putty... saddle shoes and wing tips...
running through the sprinkler... stretch levis... Eddie
Haskell... Mickey Mouse Club... Rocky & Bullwinkle... Fran
& Ollie... Mr. Greenjeans... huge black & white
televisions with the always fuzzy screens... When around
the corner seemed far away, and going downtown seemed like
going somewhere... hating bedtime... climbing trees...
tree forts... backyard shows... lemonade stands... Cops
and Robbers... Cowboys and Indians... sittin' on the
curb... staring at clouds... making your own toy
hydroplane and pulling them behind your bike... jumping
out of the swings... jumping on the bed... pillow
fights... getting "company,"... Old Yeller (did you
cry?)... swimming off the docks at the river when you
"outgrew" the big pool... Beatles on Ed Sullivan... Jackie
Gleason... Toyland upstairs at Newberry's... walking to
the movie theater... the Cartwrights and the Ponderosa...
being tickled to death... running till you were out of
breath... laughing so hard that your stomach hurt... being
tired from playin'... sleeping out in the backyard...
being told, "Wait till your father gets home"... Not
steppin' on a crack or you'll break your Mother's back...
paper chains at Christmas, silhouettes of Lincoln and
Washington... the smell of paste in school... Flubber...
What about the girl that had the big bubbly handwriting,
who dotted her "i's" with hearts?... popcorn balls... sock
hops... room mothers... Remember when... there were two
types of sneakers for girls and boys (Keds & PF Flyers)
and the only time you wore them at school was for "gym"...
then your first pair of Chuck Taylor Converses... girls
had to wear those ugly uniforms for P.E... When it took
five minutes for the TV to warm up... When nearly
everyone's Mom was at home when the kids got home from
school... When nobody owned a purebred dog... push
mowers... When a quarter was a decent allowance, and
another quarter, a huge bonus... When you'd reach into a
muddy gutter for a penny... When your Mom wore nylons that
came in two pieces... When all of your male teachers wore
neckties and female teachers had their hair done, every
day and wore high heels... the smoke-filled foyer during
half time of Bomber Games... When you got your windshield
cleaned, oil checked, and gas pumped without asking, all
for free, every time... And, you didn't pay for air... all
those Mayfair grocery stores... S and H Green Stamps...
dip tops at Tastee Freeze... When laundry detergent had
free glasses, dishes or towels hidden inside the box...
When any parent could discipline any kid, or feed him or
use him to carry groceries, and nobody, not even the kid,
thought a thing of it... Quisp and Quake cereals... When
it was considered a great privilege to be taken out to
dinner at a real restaurant with your parents...
Carmichael Hill... knowing someone with divorced parents
was so rare... little league tryouts... getting "cut" off
a team... sitting in the front row as a little kid at
Bomber games... November 22, 1963... that distinct smell
when you walked into B.B.&M... When they threatened to
keep kids back a grade if they failed... and did!... When
the worst thing you could do at school was smoke in the
bathrooms, flunk a test or chew gum... When a '57 Chevy
was everyone's dream car... to cruise, peel out, lay
rubber or watch submarine races... And no one ever asked
where the car keys were 'cause they were always in the
car, in the ignition, and the doors were never locked...
And you got in big trouble if you accidentally locked the
doors at home, since no one ever had a key... straights
and bents Pasco-Richland Basketball games when the gym was
filled by 6:00 for the 8:00 varsity game... Remember lying
on your back on the grass with your friends and saying
things like "That cloud looks like a... And playing
baseball with no adults to help kids with the rules of the
game. Back then, baseball was not a psychological group
learning experience -- it was a game... Remember when
stuff from the store came without safety caps and hermetic
seals 'cause no one had yet tried to poison a perfect
stranger... remember Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Laurel &
Hardy, Howdy Doody, Jinx and Pixie and Dixie, The Lone
Ranger, The Shadow Knows, Magilla Gorilla, Richotte
Rabbit, Roy and Dale, Trigger and Buttermilk, Yogi, Boo
Boo and Ranger Smith... the sound of your Dad mowing on
Saturday morning and knowing you better get up and take
over... summers filled with bike rides, playing in Cowboy
and Indians, baseball games, bowling and the big pool...
and eating Kool-Aid powder with sugar... making snow ice
cream... The Man from U.N.C.L.E... Chief Jo-Carmichael
basketball games in Bomber Gym... floating down the river
on tubes... that long, long hall at Jason Lee... before
Columbia Center... Sanders-Jacobs Field... going to drive
ins wearing pajamas... When being sent to the principal's
office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited a
misbehaving student at home. Basically, we were in fear
for our lives, but it wasn't because of drive by
shootings, drugs, gangs, etc. Our parents were a much
bigger threat! But we all survived because their love was
greater than the threat.
-Mike Davis (74)
********************************************
>From the FIRST Bomber Alumni Guest Book:
>>From: Phoebe Sheldon Wildenborg (87)
[NOTE: NO E-MAIL ADDRESS GIVEN IN GUEST BOOK]
Date: Fri Jan 5 21:49:50 2001
I just wanted to say Hi to anyone who might remember
me. I am back in town. I work for Tri-cities Residential
Services. Give me a call some time. I was wondering if
there is anybody out there?
-Phoebe Sheldon Wildenborg (87)
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/09/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
15 Bombers, 1 Bomber Mom and 1 obit today:
Richard Roberts (49), Dick Epler (52),
Dick Nelson (59) and Laurie Gullickson (59),
Judy Cameron (60), Patti Jones (60),
Marianne Matthews (63), Gary Behymer (64),
Linda Reining (64), Walt Sommers (66),
Donna Seslar (68), Phil Jones (69),
Peggy Hartnett (72), Jim Rice (75),
Kim Edgar (79), BJ Davis (Bomber Mom),
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Richard Roberts (49)
Kay Weir Fishback (37) has the distinction, shared by
only a few, of being an original Richlander. She is unique
and illustrious in that claim and has so much to add to
the history of the old "home town" to so many more of us
who invaded the area in those war days with our parents,
or who, probably more common now, were born and raised
there just as she was many years ago. The pre war history
of Richland is a part of our tradition and we thank Ms.
Fishback for her time and effort.
Having said all of that, once again the record must be
preserved that the name Richland "Bombers" was selected by
the 1945 student body in a high school assembly and was
named after the "BOMB" and not after the "days pay" bomber
as Kay Weir Fishback (37) mentioned in her history lesson
of Richland. There has been adequate documentation of this
fact in the past year or so, but for new sandstorm "on
liners", the history of Richland and the naming of our
alma mater must be complete and accurate.
-Richard Roberts (49)
********************************************
>>From: Dick Epler (52)
Re: Machining Plutonium
To: Bob Rector (62)
I agree with you and your dad that the fear and
dangers of nuclear radiation are often overblown, but you
might want to recheck the details of your dad's story
about machining plutonium. The story gives the impression
that plutonium is generally machined outside of a hooded
enclosure (or maybe a hot cell), which is highly unlikely.
I was a plutonium technologist in the 308 building for
awhile and occasionally machined plutonium metal. It's
much different than machining other metals. For one thing,
the cut has to be very carefully controlled (slow but not
too slow) because the melting point (1183(F) is so low
(compare to Iron at 2800(F) that it can easily catch on
fire to produce plutonium oxide, a fine dust that is
easily inhaled. So that's one of the reasons for machining
in a hooded enclosure, which is maintained at a negative
atmospheric pressure to the room (which is at a negative
pressure to the hallway/building, which in turn is at a
negative pressure to the outside of the building). All
that tends to keep any plutonium dust localized inside the
hood.
The other big reason for a hood is the fact that the
critical mass for plutonium (about 3/4 pound) is much
smaller than for other fissionable elements (like
uranium), and it varies with the geometry of the plutonium
object and that of the surrounding environment. That is,
the critical mass can be larger or smaller depending on
such geometry. So these factors are very carefully
controlled in the hood. Critical mass, of course, is the
amount of material necessary to produce a nuclear
explosion.
The other thing that is different about plutonium from
most radioactive elements is that it's chemistry is
similar to calcium, so that the body tends to treat
plutonium the same way it would calcium (i.e., it goes
directly to the bones). Being an alpha emitter, it can do
great damage once it gets to the bone marrow where most of
the body's stem cells are created. I remember my boss in
the 308 building placing a pencil dot on a piece of paper
and telling me that if that dot were plutonium, one-
seventh of that in my bone marrow would be enough to kill
me. The health physicists tell us that the threshold for
plutonium damage is about 0.0008 microcuries, or about
0.13 micrograms. There have been cases of people ingesting
much larger amounts with no appreciable ill effects, but
that's because the doctors quickly gave them a "cocktail"
to drink that had the effect of chemically binding the
plutonium to a molecule that the body thinks is waste so
that you pee it out in your urine... using a catheter
from a hospital bed... into a special container for
subsequent disposal in an appropriate manner (not the
Richland "rose bowl").
Nevertheless, Bob, your main point, that your father
and many others who worked around plutonium for many years
have maintained their health into their 80s and 90s, is
well taken. I - and I'm sure many other Bombers - are
personally acquainted with more such people than we are
with the younger, but sicker, "downwinders" who never
worked a day at Hanford. My point, I suppose, is that
contrary to the claim of the downwinders, our government
and scientists took every precaution to protect the health
of the workers... and were even more diligent in
protecting the surrounding communities. Given that we were
all working with something we didn't know a whole lot
about, I think they were very successful.
-Dick Epler (52) ~ Mt. Vernon, OR
********************************************
>>From: Dick and Laurie Gullickson Nelson (59)
To: Linda Bowman Warren (59)
Good job, Linda! Get those Mid-west BOMBERS organized! We
need BOMBER chapters in all areas of the good old USA!
Laurie and I say Hi to you and Jim (both 59) and to all
BOMBERS everywhere.
-Dick and Laurie Gullickson Nelson (59)
********************************************
>>From: Judy Cameron Ayers (60)
Re: July 4th Fireworks
Larry Mattingly (60) described perfectly what happened
when the flying wheel went into the crowd. It is amazing
how so many people remember that. He remembered it was
"Judy somebody" that got burned pretty badly. We were all
sitting there with our friends enjoying the show,
laughing, flirting with the boys and the wheel came right
at us - pretty scary as we all scattered and ducked but
Judy Parker (60) was the one who got hit. She was lucky
she was not burned worse than it was but it was a bad burn
at that. Of course those were the days before lawsuits,
etc. so she paid for it all I am sure.
-Judy Cameron Ayers (60)
********************************************
>>From: Patti Jones Ahrens (60)
To: Anna May "Ann" Wann Thompson (49)
Re: Club 40
In September, I offered also to volunteer to help keep
Club 40 together. Your idea of adding five years to the
Club 40 is a great idea. At the All Bomber Alumni Women's
Luncheon in Fife we will have an open discussion time,
bring your ideas.
Good reminder about snow. By the internet weather for
Fife, day time temperature through next Saturday looks to
be above 45 degrees during the day. Hopefully it won't
change on us this next week-end.
Reminder: All Bomber Alumni Women's Luncheon in Fife, WA
Best Western Executive Inn, January 14, 2001
ALL RESERVATIONS MUST BE IN BY JANUARY 11, 2001
Bomber Cheers,
-Patti Jones Ahrens (60)~ Browns Point, WA
********************************************
>>From: Marianne Matthews Wood (63)
Re: Fireworks
Anyone seen the fireworks display on Lopez Island in
the San Juans? We used to live on San Juan Island so took
our boat over there one 4th to Fisherman's Bay having
heard they were really great and they were right. There is
a group on Lopez that make their own fireworks. These were
unusual displays like we'd never seen before and the
finale wasn't the many in the sky at the same time, but a
very cool ground display all along a sandy beach. I'd
never seen so many boats crammed onto Fisherman's Bay
before. It was quite fun. Many of us stayed overnight and
were treated the next morning to an extreme weather front
that blew in quickly with a great lightening display;
natural fireworks.
-Marianne Matthews Wood (63) ~ Bothell, WA
********************************************
>>From: Gary Behymer (64)
Re: Basketball
Did I miss it? An 'old timers' basketball game the
Saturday before Christmas? Who were the players? Who was
in the crowd?
-Gary Behymer (64) ~ Now living in Colfax, WA
********************************************
>>From: Linda Reining Pitchford (64)
re: remember when from Mike Davis (74) entry on 1-8-01
I remember all of these! "Not getting older, just
getting better". ;)
-Linda Reining Pitchford (64) ~ raining in Bakersfield, CA
********************************************
>>From: Walt Sommers (66)
Re: National Amateur Dodgeball Association (NADA)
Bomber friends,
Wouldn't Mr. Chitty be proud! This appeared on the front page
of the Chicago Sun Times accompanied by a picture of a man crouched
in fear with his hands covering his face -- just like old times for
me.
[URL didn't work. -Maren]
Duck!
-Walt Sommers (66)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[NADA's last rule in the above article is: "You get other players
out by hitting them with the ball. If your opponent catches your
ball, you are out. Complete rules are available at
http://Dodgeballusa.com/
"The Last Rule" is what I was *thinking* when I
attempted to catch a ball thrown by Kerry Kelly (64)...
8th grade at Christ the King... That answers this question
I had when I found out my left ring finger was BROKEN:
"What WAS I thinking?!!!!!"... -Maren]
********************************************
>>From: Donna Seslar White (68)
Haven't seen the article from the Friday TCH mentioned
here regarding a 1968 classmate, Randy Fullmer, who is now
working for Disney. Just thought I'd bring it to
everyone's attention. I don't have a scanner, so can't
send it.
-Donna Seslar White (68)
********************************************
>>From: Phil Jones (69)
To: Mike Davis (74)
Mike what a great list bring back great memories.
-Phil Jones (69)
********************************************
>>From: Peggy Hartnett (72)
Re: Mike Davis' list of remembrances
Mike
Nice job (was it hard not to include Denny's?). I
think when kids see pieces like that they say, "They are
getting old". It may be true but it also reminds me that
we had big imaginations, a level of safety now virtually
unknown, a sense of community that didn't need to be
created, parents who believed we could do and be anything
(if they didn't kill us first) and a just enough
differences that we could all find a niche, even if it
seemed impossible at the time.
Thanks for reminding us.
-Peggy Hartnett (72)
********************************************
>>From: Jim Rice (75)
Re: "Sure, Lloyd"
Mike Lynch (68) asked "...how did the expression
"Sure, Lloyd" get started? Was it a Richland thing or
bigger than that?"
"Lloyd" was the star of the radio ads for Robinson's.
Great ads, with snappy dialogue like:
"We're here in Robinson's in Uptown Richland and we're
talking with Four-Yard Frank Fergeson..."
"Hi, Lloyd!"
"How do you like my Day's Double-Knit Slacks?"
Etc.
Pretty hot stuff, eh? (Now why would my brain store
something as useless as that?)
-Jim Rice (75) ~ Mt. Rainier, MD
********************************************
>>From: Kim Edgar Leeming (79)
Re: Arts & Crafts
What a day, I spent the morning in my son's
"Kindergarten Class". The students were making their pets
out of "paper-mache" for their science fair project.
Several mom's came in to help, what a mess, but boy was it
fun. I think the last time I made a paper-mache project,
was in 10th grade, it was supposed to look like a dog,
however, it looked like a combination dog / bear. I named
it "Bog".
Does anyone have a memory of their last art project in
school?
Bomber Cheers!
-Kim Edgar Leeming (79)
********************************************
>>From: BJ Davis (Bomber Mom)
Re: << "Wait till your father gets home".. >>
This is the only objection I have to the letter Mike
sent in from my brother Bo Stephen's, with the added
Richland touches.. All the kids accuse me of saying that
and I NEVER did - not in my whole life. Those of you who
know me know I could take care of those kids myself!
Right? I expect a retraction from my beloved son,
Mr. Mike Davis (74).
-BJ Davis (Bomber Mom)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[MY Mom sure said that plenty. I can remember sitting at
the top of the stairs in our "L" house and *begging* Mom
to let us out of our room (one or two of my siblings were
normally right there with me) and *hoping* we'd get out
BEFORE Dad got home. -Maren]
********************************************
********************************************
Obit submitted by John Northover (59)
~ John Bradley ~ Class of 1965 ~
http://funeralnotices.tripod.com/
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/10/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7 Bombers and 1 Bomber Booster:
Mike Clowes (54), Jackie DeVries (62),
Marie Ruppert (63), Peg Sheeran (63),
Harvey Irby (64), Brad Wear (71),
Brad Upton (74), Vernon Holt (Bomber Booster)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
To: Mike Davis (74)
Twenty years difference doesn't seem to mean much,
especially when one remembers the games and other
fascinations of one's youth. Although I did like Rocky and
Bullwinkle (but then, who doesn't, except for the movie),
didn't care that much about "Mr. Greenjeans." Come to
think on it, Rocky and Bullwinkle transcended ages and Mr.
Greenjeans was really meant for kids.
It never ceases to amaze me what young children (from
about 2nd grade to 6th or 7th grade ages) can come up with
to keep themselves amused without adult supervision.
I remember our favorite variation of baseball; "work-
up". We usually played either before school started in the
morning or during lunch hour. Recess was devoted to
"organized" games, such as Red Rover or Mother, May I. In
seventh grade, recess was organized, particularly for the
boys into intramural games. Teams were chosen by captains
(eighth graders) and stayed together for the entire year.
We played touch football in the fall, soccer in the winter
and baseball in the spring. It was fun, but not as much as
the morning and noon pick-up games.
Your generation had television, and mine had radio
(which some wag defined as television without pictures).
And the kids who became teenagers in the sixties had
"American Bandstand." I will leave out the "lusts" of
American males aged 16 to "dirty old men" about a certain
Mouseketter.
Where are those days now? Are we doomed to "Tickle Me,
Elmo?" Personally, I liked the original "Muppet Show", but
the "wannabes" leave me cold.
Bomber cheers to all
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
********************************************
>>From: Jackie DeVries Brown (62)
Re: Remember
Thank you Mike Davis (74) for your entry on 1-8-01. It
brings back so many memories. I always enjoy your wit and
humor when you write, but some of that entry brought tears
to my eyes.
Re: Club40
I am really disappointed that they are ending Club40
when I will be eligible to join next year.
Happy New Year to all Bombers everywhere
-Jackie DeVries Brown (62)
********************************************
>>From: Marie Ruppert Hartman (63)
My Thanks to John Adkins (62) for letting me know the
dates for the Tri-City Am golf tournament.
July 20, 21, & 22 for anyone else that might be
interested. Always a great time!
-Marie Ruppert Hartman (63) ~ Bremerton, WA
********************************************
>>From: Peg Sheeran Finch (63)
Know I've asked this before, but wrote the answer down
last year, and now can't find it. Who knows the name of
other local newspapers people could buy in the Tri Cities
in the early 50s, besides the Tri City Herald? Trying to
find an old picture that was in the paper back then.
-Peg Sheeran Finch (63) ~ Omak, WA
********************************************
>>From: Harvey Irby (64)
Re: John Bradley (65-RIP)
I was saddened today to hear of John Bradley's passing.
If memory serves me, during our CKS years, John and I
lived on opposite sides of the Uptown center and would
sometimes walk home together. Occasionally, when we were
lucky and had some loose change in our pockets, we would
stop at the Spudnut Shop or Johnny's Delicatessen for an
after school treat.
I don't think I've seen John since high school.
Therefore, he and I shall remain forever young in my file
cabinet of fond memories of growing up in Richland.
-Harvey Irby (64)
********************************************
>>From: Brad Wear (71)
To Mike Davis (74)
Mike
You're turning into another Jeff Curtis (69). Growing
up in Richland was all of that and more, much more. I'm
sure others will add to the list, here's my additions:
The smell of cut grass first thing in the morning on a
summer's day, dusk till dawn Clint Eastwood movies at the
Y, hunting anything, working at French's orchard, TriCity
Raceways, CYO dances, AFFEE's physical, Regionals,
Ridpath, Gunsmoke, Trying to figure out "Satisfaction"
lyrics, Tolo, Car shows at the mall, Seasonal changes,
snow falling at night... swimming to the island, jumping
off the train bridge... jeeps in the mud flats, snow on
Jump Off Joe, sand face, Barker Ranch, Randy Raymond's
"Citation", any muscle car, Combat, Twelve O'Clock High,
The Magnificent Seven, Dirty Harry, Bullitt, getting
braces, bentz-straights, CBC dances, 9th grade dance, The
Doors, Roller Rink dances, battle of the bands, Blue
Devils, Devil With a Blue Dress, over the line, football
in the park, walking through the grave yard.
These all added to the Richland experience that my
boys will never be able to experience. It was truly a
magical place.
-Brad Wear (71)
********************************************
>>From: Brad Upton (74)
Hey Bombers... I'll be headlining at Harvey's Comedy Club
in Portland this week starting Tuesday the 9th, through
Sunday the 14th. I hope to see some of you there. If you
come to the show, please come find me afterward.
Go Bombers
-Brad Upton (74)
********************************************
>>From: Vernon Holt (Bomber Booster)
Re: Plutonium and Bombers
Wow! The Sandstorm is storming! What a great venue for
even scattered old timers to gather and share with all.
I agree with Richard Roberts (49) because you could
still see "ATOMIC BOMBERS" on the scoreboard at the Bomber
Bowl in Richland in the 70's and 80's until about 1991.
I worked at Hanford 50 years ago and am still impressed
with the safety precautions taken then. "When in doubt,
don't." Tritium release from heavy water reactors in
Canada may be a greater health hazard than present or past
problems at Hanford. But of course, all are serious long
range problems to be dealt with.
As Dick Epler (52) says, EXTREME precautions were taken
with Plutonium and Tritium at all stages. (Tritium was
separated elsewhere.)
Cancer is very widespread throughout the Unites States.
Here in New Jersey we have a real "cancer alley" near
Tom's River. A bad combination seems to be smoking with
other pollution or radiation exposure. A few of us who
never smoked are still here. ALL of my former colleagues
who smoked are gone whether they worked at Hanford or in
New Jersey only.
For me, your co-workers and loved ones, PLEASE quit
smoking.
-Vernon Holt (47 ~ but not from RHS)
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/11/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6 Bombers, 1 Bomber Booster and 1 funeral notice today:
Kay Weir (37), Helen Bartlett (52),
Marilyn Richey (53), Judy Willox (61),
Phil Jones (69), Kathy Snowhite (89),
Vernon Holt (Bomber Booster)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Kay Weir Fishback (37)
Re: old ladies remember
The first emblem the BOMBERS had was an old (dud, we
hope) conventional bomb painted green. It was trotted out
for all the games. They didn't use the nuke bomb until
some Japanese officially protested the name Bombers and
wanted the school to make the kids drop the name. That was
raising a red flag with teenagers and the mushroom cloud
started to appear on everything (for instance my
grandson's Bomber football letterman's jacket). After a
while things cooled down and they returned to the plane
logo which is on my younger granddaughter's jacket. She, by
the way, lettered in two varsity sports all four years in
high school and all four years in college.
Another thing you might not know is that Richland in
the pre-Hanford days had girls basketball and the girls
won more games than the boys. Girl's rules in those days
called for six players on a team and the guards could not
cross the mid-court line.
-Kay Weir Fishback (37)
********************************************
>>From: Helen Bartlett Sullivan Mowery (52)
My late husband, Cecil Mowery, was born in Pasco in
1935. There was no hospital in Richland at the time, where
his folks resided. His dad owned 20 plus acres on Van
Giesen Street where the grade school is presently located
and the farm house where he resided is still there. His
grandparents lived across the street and also farmed
(cherry orchard). The houses are now part of the
historical society tour, and I have some old pictures of
the area and the houses. When the government officials
arrived, they offered my father-in-law less money for the
home and acreage than the crop was worth that year
(1943??). My father-in-law fought unsuccessfully to get
more for his property, but was a bitter man the rest of
his life over this event. He had little time to relocate
his family -- eventually purchasing farm land in
Kennewick, where my hubby graduated from Kennewick High
School in 1953.
This is a sad part of Richland's history.
I presently reside in Kennewick, after graduating in
1952 from RHS (as did my four children, Karen, Katherine,
Karla and Brian).
-Helen Bartlett Sullivan Mowery (52)
********************************************
>>From: Marilyn Richey (53)
To: Peggy Sheeran Finch (63)
The newspaper that you could purchase in the 50's was
the Columbian Basin News. It was a morning paper and the
Tri City Herald was the evening paper. There was also the
Richland Villager in the 40-50s era.
-Marilyn Richey (53) ~ Richland
********************************************
>>From: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
Re: Mr. Lyda
To: Rose Boswell Smith (61)
I think very few knew Mr. Lyda as I did. No, I was
never afraid of him; and in fact, rather liked him. I
guess I got to know him pretty well when I spent the many
hours for detention filing all those durn notes from
parents for excuses. (Anybody remember that but me; and, I
wonder how many were forged? LOL!) At any rate, I liked
him until the day I went to quit school in my senior year
(knowing I was failing anyway), and he begged me not to do
that. He told me that he would waiver the credit for the
last semester and work with me for the credit needed for
the second semester. I only lacked two credits to
graduate, which I will tell you about later. Being the
bull-head that I can be, I stubbornly stuck to the idea of
quitting anyway and did so like an idiot. I noticed the
tears welling up in Mr. Lyda's eyes as the decision was
made. I knew at this point that I loved this man who cared
so much for me, and that he was not as tough as everybody
thought he was and he really did care for the kids. Every
year as school started again in September, I would think
of that incident and of Mr. Lyda and think that I should
go back to school and graduate, but I never did. I had
tried that the year after I quit ('62), but I couldn't
stand being there when all my friends had gone on, so I
quit again. As the years rolled on and events came and
went (i.e. marriage, kids, divorce, work and just life in
general) I did not ever go back to school, but still
thought of Mr. Lyda and his kindness every September.
Twenty years went by, and as the doors closed on the place
that I had worked for for so many years (Adrians) and the
kids grew into teens and were in high school, I knew what
I had to do. I HAD to graduate before my eldest child, my
daughter, did. So, in September of 1980, I went to the
college and enrolled and took the classes that I needed to
graduate from high school (Government and English), as
well as a few other courses. In January of 1981, I did
finally receive my high school diploma (no, not a GED, but
an actual diploma) and did graduate before my daughter in
June of 1981. I went on to take anywhere between 20 to 26
credits a quarter for the next two years and graduated
from college with two degrees AND a 3.85 average. Not bad
for the little quitter that only had a 2.something in high
school. So, see guys, I DID finally graduate - it just
took me a little longer than most. *G*!!
Anyway to finish this story (but a true one), I called
Mr. Lyda (he lived in Othello at the time), and told him
what an inspiration that he had been for all those years
of my life to finish high school and that I did now have a
diploma and what my average was (which was 4.0 at that
point). He had remembered me and I could hear the emotion
in his voice as he said to me "I always knew that you had
it in you, Judy, and that you could do it." He thanked me
for calling him and telling him this and as I hung up I
told him that I was now going to go on and finish college.
It was those few words that he said to me that inspired me
to go on. I let him know when I graduated from college and
thanked him for being there so long ago when a young lady
of 17 needed his caring and faith in her.
And that, Rose, is why you should never have been
afraid of him. He really was a very caring man and I owe
him a debt of gratitude that would be hard to repay. He
said the fact that I did do what I did and called him to
let him know was payment enough. I hope this story will
give you a new outlook on Mr. Lyda and soothe your fear of
him.
Thank-you Mr. Lyda from the bottom of my heart!!!!!!!!
Bomber Cheers Rose and All,
-Judy Willox Hodge (61/81) *G*
********************************************
>>From: Phil Jones (69)
To: Peg Sheeran Finch (63)
I'll start the ball rolling with the 2 most obvious
old newspapers in the area, the Columbia Basin News and
The Richland Villager. The Columbia Basin News was the
morning paper and the Herald the afternoon paper. The
Villager lasted 'til the late forties or early fifties I
think. There are a couple for framed copies in the hallway
at Kadlec Hospital between Emergency and the main lobby.
They are interesting to read.
-Phil Jones (69)
********************************************
>>From: Kathy Snowhite (89)
To: Ray Gillette (49)
Re: Phil Raekes retiring
Yes Phil has retired after 6 years on the bench at the
Benton County Justice Center in Kennewick. I attended his
retirement party representing the Juvenile Justice Center.
Though I did not work with him personally it was a
pleasure knowing what a impact he had on others and his
colleagues.
We wish him well on his retirement and best of luck.
-Kathy Snowhite (89)
********************************************
>>From: Vernon Holt (Booster '47)
Re: Machining Plutonium and Uranium
Did not want to clutter up Sandstorm again, but am
overwhelmed by the thought of a half million folks touched
by Hanford in so many unique and intense ways. Bob Rector
(62) and Dick Epler (52) sure jogged some memories of 50
years ago in the 300 Area of North Richland, seeing the
machining of oxide coated Uranium long rods into short
fuel elements or "slugs."
This is described in open literature now. Since it is
pyrophoric, machining it could set off a terrible hot
fire, so the biggest volume of cutting fluid imaginable
was poured over the diamond carbide cutting tool that had
to be replaced frequently because Uranium is a heavy HARD
metal, over 6 Mho compared to the hardest Diamond, a 10.
(A 10 is indeed the prettiest!) I still feel safety
precautions were quite adequate. I don't know anything
about machining Plutonium but Dick Epler (52) does.
Once in a while a machinist would take too big a cut or
snag a slightly dull cutting tool and a chunk of Uranium
would fly off. A dangerous projectile and there were
several minor injuries requiring a rush to Kadlec Hospital
to remove a small chunk, but I don't recall any time lost
beyond a couple hours. Amazing patriotic fervor. A Uranium
inflicted wound could be easily cleansed and no after
effect expected due to the short time exposure of tissue
to the considerable toxicity and low level radiation. I
wonder if Bob Rector maybe heard about this years later?
More serious is the most effective anti-tank weapon
ever with "depleted" Uranium (238 but little 235) shells
used in Bosnia. Kosovo and the Gulf Oil War that burn like
a volcano on impact, burn a perfect round hole through any
armor no matter how thick and make a horrendous fire
inside the tank. Uranium dust residue has been detected
some distance away and if ingested will collect in the
bone marrow and can cause Leukemia, though not as quickly
as with other toxic heavy metals like Plutonium or other
byproducts like Tritium with a shorter half-life of 12
years.
Now I fear I may be terminated by Sandstorm for
throwing sand and volcanic ash on the party.
-Vernon Holt (Booster '47) ~ Mendham, NJ
********************************************
********************************************
********************************************
Funeral Notice scanned from TCHerald
by Shirley Collings Haskins (66)
~ Sharon Beutler Goldsmith Richardson Marshall (60WB) ~
http://funeralnotices.tripod.com/
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/12/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
20 Bombers and 1 funeral notice today:
Mary Triem (47), Richard Roberts (49),
Grace DeVincentis (50WB), Millie Finch (54),
Bonnie Steeber (57), Dean Enderle (57),
Burt Pierard (59), Larry Mattingly (60),
Judy Willox (61), Rose Boswell (61),
Dave Hanthorn (63), Jim Hamilton (63),
Jim House (63), Patty de la Bretonne (65),
Shirley Collings (66), Pam Ehinger (67),
Jean Albaugh (72), Greg Alley (73),
Gil Gilstrap (79), Debra Wright (85)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Mary Triem Mowery (47)
How did Vernon Holt (Bomber booster) find this
fantastic Sandstorm site. I think it would be interesting
to hear more.
Maren, Gary and Richard - you should be very proud of
yourselves for this accomplishment. I'll be sending my
"dues" as soon as I find the right address, which I have
carefully put away so I wouldn't misplace it. Old age....
-Mary Triem Mowery (47) ~ Ft. Lauderdale and Richland
********************************************
>>From: Richard "Dick" Roberts (49)
To: Kay Weir Fishback (37)
When I was a sophomore [46-47 school year], Alan
Neidhold (48 RIP) and I were the managers of the
basketball team. Someone made us a 4 wheel cart, painted
green and gold, that we used to carry out the towels and
drinks during time outs.
The bottom of the cart held the drinks and the top was
made in the shape of a bomb with fins and the word
"Bombers" emblazoned across the bomb. There's a picture in
the sports section o the '47 annual of Alan, the cart and
me. Check it out, it's pretty neat.
Maybe someone could put it in the pictorial archives we
have and it would further support the fact that we were
named after the BOMB. It's hard to change history. I hope
that someone would set the Richland historical museum
straight. I had a "go nowhere" discussion with one of the
docents there.
-Richard "Dick" Roberts (49)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Scan that picture and send it to me. I'll put it on the
website. -Maren]
********************************************
>>From: Grace DeVincentis Spice (50WB)
Re: Susan Clifford Peterson (73)
Sue's father just returned from Seattle today and said
she's doing a little better. She'd had another setback
last week. He brought back 2 messages from her for 2
Bombers.
To: Pam Ehinger Nassen (67)
Pam - Thanks for responding to Email. What are you up to
these days. Miss your laugh and caring. Give Jerry my
best. Lots of hurdles, but organs working great! Take care
of you! Sue
To: Terry Delsing (71)
Terry - Thanks for the note in response to Gracie's Email.
Lots of complications that have been time consuming since
surgery. Organs great though. Hopefully, will be home soon
and on with life! Take care and give your Mom my best. Sue
Let's all keep Sue in our prayers.
-Grace DeVincentis Spice (50WB)
********************************************
>>From: Millie Finch Gregg (54)
Re: Happy New Year All Bombers!!
I haven't written for some time, but have certainly
enjoyed reading all of the articles others have submitted.
One of my fellow classmates, Marilyn Working Highstreet (54)
and I were talking Sunday evening on the phone, and she
told me that her oldest sister had passed away that
morning. Her older sister Evaline Working __?__ (52WB)
lived in the Seattle area and had not been well for some
time. Now Marilyn is the only Working girl left, as her
baby sister Zoe Working __?__ (56) died 2 years ago.
I thought perhaps some of you might remember Evaline
or just to let you know to maybe say a special prayer for
Marilyn and her family. She told me today, that the
funeral will be Saturday and when she comes back with the
write-up and information, she will in fact put an obit in
the paper.
Have a very good day and I will be waiting to see some
more information about our past!
To: The girls in the class of (54)
This Friday, the 12th, is our luncheon date at
Granny's Buffet. We would love to see you there. We have
such a good time and would like it to include you also!
Fond memories,
-Millie Finch Gregg (54)
********************************************
>>From: Bonnie Steeber Frasca (57)
I just finished checking my emails and had this crazy
idea of asking if there's any chance of any Bombers living
in Thailand. I'm here visiting my oldest daughter and her
family who live just north of Bangkok. Normally you would
find me in Arizona, but some time ago there were several
people who wrote in about the coincidence of running into
Bombers when they least expected it. So, are there any
Richlanders in this area?
I'll be here only until the 24th of this month, so if
there are, please get in touch.
-Bonnie Steeber Frasca (57)
********************************************
>>From: Dean Enderle (57)
Re: Help
This old Bomber needs a little help. Does anyone out
there have an e-mail address for Jerry Martin (57)?? I
tried looking at the class of '57 alumni roster but there
doesn't appear to be one listed for him. Any help would be
appreciated.
Big Bomber Cheer to everyone!!
-Dean Enderle (57)
********************************************
>>From: Burt Pierard (59)
To: Kay Weir Fishback (37)
I assume you feel that your reference to the green
painted practice bomb (to which Jim House [63] so
reverently paid homage at R2K) somehow proves the non-
Atomic Bomb origin of the Bombers nickname. You could have
cited many others like the bomb symbols on the Pep Squad
and Cheerleader sweaters. On the other hand, countless
mushroom cloud symbols were also present, even, as I
recall, on our '59 class rings. So what does this have to
do with anything? Bombs are bombs and students have come
up with clever uses of them since the name origin in Sept.
1945.
The recorded historical facts remain the same:
1. The Sept. 13, 1945 article in The Villager said the new
nickname would be "Bombers" or "Atomizers" as reference to
Richland as the Home of the Atomic Bomb.
2. The name change occurred within two weeks after the
above article (Note: about one month after THE Bomb but
nearly 1 1/2 years after Day's Pay).
3. The first Columbian (May 1946) theme was
"...APPROPRIATELY ENOUGH (emphasis added) the Atom..."
Come on people - face up to your historical roots and
admit we were named after the Atomic Bomb. I challenge any
of you historical revisionists to produce one written
document that indicates the Bomber name was in any way
connected with Day's Pay. While you are at it, how do you
explain the alternative choice "Atomizers" and the first
Columbian theme?
If any of you are interested in seeing the critical Sept.
13, 1945 article, email me and I'll send you the .JPG copy
of the microfilm.
http://alumnisandstorm.com/Mascot/BvB/1945-09-13VillagerFull.jpg
Atomic Bomber Cheers,
-Burt Pierard (59) ~ Monroe, WA
********************************************
>>From: Larry Mattingly (60)
Marianne Matthews Wood (63) wrote about the Lopez
Island 4th of July. She is right on, it is a great
display. I have known the pyro, Dewight Walters, for many
years. He makes most of what is fired from scratch. Old
fashioned hand-made canister shells are as good as it
gets. The rest they buy from several sources including my
company. I think last year they fired something like 4,000
shells. The video I have seen is pretty spectacular. I
wouldn't hesitate to recommend it if you are in that area
on the 4th.
We pyres have our own version of "spring break". The
Western WinterBlast is held at Lake Havasu City, AZ each
year on Presidents' Day weekend. We spend 3 nights
shooting and comparing notes until the wee hours. Dewight
always brings down samples of his work to test fire.
"Happiness is the sky in bloom"
-J Larry Mattingly (60)
********************************************
>>From: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
To: Peg Sheeran Finch (63)
Re: Local Newspapers [back then]
The other newspaper in the area around that time was
The Columbia Basin News. It came out in the morning and
The Tri City Herald came out in the evening at that time.
Hope this helps you out some.
Bomber Cheers,
-Judy Willox Hodge (61) ~ Richland
********************************************
>>From: Rose Boswell Smith (61)
To: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
Thanks for the info on Mr. Lyda. Interesting stuff.
Just goes to show what a little weirdo I was in high
school. I was only in his office a couple of times for
skipping school. Mostly in my junior year. But he put the
fear in me. I was a model student in my senior year. ha
To: Maren
Can you tell me who the funeral notice is for? I'll be
glad to get my computer so I can open up that stuff again.
Thanks
-Rose Boswell Smith (61)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Rose: At the very top of every Alumni Sandstorm, you will
see the number of Bombers who sent stuff and IF there is a
funeral notice you will see "1 funeral notice". Go to the
very BOTTOM of the Alumni Sandstorm for the NAME of the
person, their class year AND a link to the "Funeral
Notices" website that Shirley Collings Haskins (66)
maintains. When you are able to click on the link, you can
read the funeral notice there, but at least you can get
the name and year in the Sandstorm. -Maren]
********************************************
>>From: Dave Hanthorn (63)
To: Richard Roberts (49)
Thanks for once again keeping the history of our proud
name Bombers correct for all to know that our school was
named for the Bomb that ended a terrible bloody World War
and by so doing saved millions of American and Japanese
lives. If the people of Richland don't know and understand
this history, who will?
To: Dick Epler (52)
Thanks for your well thought out and reasoned essay on
the problems of machining Plutonium. However, I do have
one small bone to pick with one thing you said in your
article. Critical mass is, of course, the mass of a
fissionable material that it takes to create a sustainable
nuclear reaction. It took several hundred of the nation's
top scientist and engineers, a few hundred million 1940s
dollars, and about three years at another little desert
town called Los Alamos to figure out how to make a
critical mass go "bang". A couple of years ago at a
nuclear plant in Japan (of all places) they didn't follow
some well known precautions in handling fissionable
materials (as I recall, it was Uranium in this case) and
the got enough of the material together to create a
"critical mass". Of course it didn't go "boom", but it did
create enough radiation to badly contaminate the building
and to irradiate several of the workers there. I don't
recall that any of them died, but at least a couple of
them were very, very ill. Anyway, thanks again for your
otherwise interesting and informative article, and I
particularly enjoyed the way you worked in the so called
"downwinders" problem. Very diplomatic.
-Dave Hanthorn (63) ~ sunny today at Mercer Island, WA
********************************************
>>From: Jim Hamilton (63)
Lucy Foster Smith (65) called Nancy last evening to
tell her that Connie Foster McLean's (63) husband, David,
had passed away from a heart attack last Saturday. There
will be a memorial service for David on Saturday at Mercer
Island Presbyterian Church at 11:30am.
Should anyone wish to send Connie and her family a
card, their address on Mercer Island can be located via
yahoo people finder.
I knew David only as I client, but we had several
mutual friends who spoke of his energy, generosity,
community service and love of his family. I'm certain that
I am joined by many in sending my condolences to Connie
and her sons.
jimbeaux
-Jim Hamilton (63)
********************************************
>>From: Jim House (63)
To: Judy Willox (61)
My memories of Mr. Lyda are certainly different from
yours. I remember a man who allegedly measured girls'
skirts to save the morality of RHS, or the Vice Principal
who recommended that I should NOT graduate because I chose
to play golf one spring morning.
It is thoughtful that you shared your feelings that he
was your inspiration. However, I read your story twice and
see no reason to give credit to Mr. Lyda for your success.
You are the inspiration! I consider your achievement
heroic and an inspiration to all Bombers who have some
unfinished business.
I hope you can attend the class of '61 reunion this
June and that your classmates will pause to honor your
achievement.
Bomber Cheers,
-Jim House (63) ~ Houston, TX
********************************************
>>From: Patty de la Bretonne (65)
Loved the list! Don't forget lickamade, cinnamon
toothpicks, walking barefoot in the summer, Davey
Crockett.....
-Patty de la Bretonne (65) ~ Seattle, WA
********************************************
>>From: Shirley Collings Haskins (66)
To: All '66 classmates
Re: 35th Reunion
Gail Setbacken Carter (66) has volunteered to be the
chair person for this year's class reunion. She has
planned the first meeting for 7:00 PM on Monday, January
15, at the Denny's Restaurant in the Uptown. As plans are
getting off to a late start, we will need MANY volunteers
to help make the reunion "a go."
-Shirley Collings Haskins (66) ~ Richland
********************************************
>>From: Pam Ehinger (67)
To: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
I knew Mr. Lyda as did many kids in school, but I
don't ever remember being afraid of him. I had respect for
him and all the teachers there, with that goes some fear,
of getting caught at doing something wrong (which I seemed
to be good at!). I did manage to graduate. Judy, you said
you had a 2. well I got you beat! I graduated with a
1.79!! But the up side is I went on to college when I was
31 year old and got my Nursing degree and I was on the
Dean's List and VP of the Nursing class, I had a 3.5 when
I graduated! So you see you can go on and do better!
Sometimes its just a matter of being older and wiser.
If there are kids out there thinking that they can't
do it, just remember Judy and myself, (and I'm sure there
are many others out there that have gone on and did the
same as we did) have done. You too can do the same, NEVER
give up on yourself! As the saying goes "Life is to short"
you CAN do what ever it is if you REALLY want to!! Try it
you might like it!!
Bombers Rule
-Pam Ehinger Nassen, LPN (67) (82 AAA. AA Degrees)
********************************************
>>From: Jean Albaugh (72)
Re: Mrs. Harty
To: the Harty Family
My mom wrote me about Mrs. Harty's passing away on
12/27. I just wanted to send my condolences to Mr. Harty,
Jane, Mike, Pat, Wendy, David and Tina. I have many fond
memories of her. She was so willing to have kids over to
play, even though she already had a full house. It was a
fun house to visit.
I remember one time Wendy and I were making mud pies
under the tree swing. We were a mess, but she remained
calm, and didn't get mad at us. (Seems to me there was a
pretty good tree house there too.) Mrs. Harty was such a
nice lady. I know she will be missed greatly by her
family.
-Jean Albaugh (72)
********************************************
>>From: Greg Alley (73)
To: Mike Davis (74)
Thank you for your extensive list of Richland and life
memories. Although your list was partially stolen from
lists I have seen, your (richlandizing) was well done. I
could comment on many of those subjects because they
mostly all kick in with great memories but the one I
remember the most now is the Chief Jo vs. Carmichael games
of hoops played at Art Dawald. I was in CK in 1969 and the
game at the big gym was Carmichael (Dean Thompson, Pat
Hoke, Jim Casey, Ron Hall) vs. Chief Jo (Steve Neill,
Steve Davis, Brian Coyne) and they only became the 1972
State Champs. I think they may have pushed all four sets
of bleachers out for that one.
-Greg Alley (73)
********************************************
>>From: Gil Gilstrap (79)
Does anyone remember the old Carnation plant across
the street from Lewis and Clark school, where we would get
free ice cream and an indian headdress made out of paper.
Thinking about old memories, and remembering the big
pool walking all the way there, not having a dime for a
locker, standing under the cold rinse water so the pool
would feel warmer, and walking back starving to death.
gilly 79
-Gil Gilstrap (79)
********************************************
>From the FIRST Bomber Alumni Guest Book:
>>From: Debra Wright Ellis (85)
Date: Wed Jan 10 15:38:32 2001
Hey guys from 1985
Great site, I just found it today. It was great reading
what some of the classmates are doing with their lives. I
myself am a full time mommy with 5 wonderful children,
they keep me pretty busy, with P.T.A. and being a
classroom mom. I am hoping to go back to college in the
fall however to finish my Early Childhood Education
degree. If anyone has heard from Holly Hultgren please let
me know how to get a hold of her that would be great.
Thanks
Debra Wright Ellis (85)
********************************************
********************************************
Funeral notice scanned from January 11, 2001
TCHerald by Shirley Collings Haskins (66) ~ Richland
~ Mark Amacker ~ Class of 1971 ~
http://funeralnotices.tripod.com/
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/13/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
14 Bombers, 1 Booster, 1 Volunteer & 1 funeral notice:
Dick Epler (52), Marilyn Richey (53),
Millie Finch (54), Ramona Miller (54),
Tom Hughes (56), Burt Pierard (59),
Larry Mattingly (60), Judy Willox (61),
Jane Walker (62), Shirley Sherwood (62),
Dave Hanthorn (63), Jim Hamilton (63),
Debra Dawson (74WB), Mary Davidson (85),
Vernon Holt (Bomber Booster), Kathy Rawls (Volunteer)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Dick Epler (52)
To: Vernon Holt (47, but not from RHS)
I have observed the same connection between smoking
and other environmental carcinogens, but for some reason
it doesn't get as much press as it I think should.
It seems to me our parents were a healthier
generation. Our modern American lifestyle combined with an
abundance of carcinogens in our air, food and water seem
to have conspired to greatly increase cancer rates. I'm
appalled at how many of my classmates have been stricken
by cancer. Vernon, you and I are old enough to remember a
time when we never heard much about cancer. Some suggest
that what used to be called dying of "natural causes"
(like my father) is, these days, most often categorized as
a cancer of some sort. Perhaps, but too many are dying
young and for many, smoking has been a factor. It's
something that younger Bombers should think about. It's a
great world and it would be a pity not to be around to
enjoy it in your later years.
-Dick Epler (52) ~ Mt. Vernon, OR
********************************************
>>From: Marilyn Richey (53)
Re: Richland Bomb
That green and gold bomb that was brought to the
football and basketball games was set it out in the middle
of the gym at basketball. It was about 3 feet tall and had
some marks and dents in it from all the handling it
experienced. During the years of the '52 and '53 seasons,
I carried that thing around in the back of my car in the
trunk as I ran around with Wanda Wittebort (53), Patti
Badger Keller (53) and Janie Henderson Gandy (53) who were
cheerleaders those years at RHS. I always wonder what
happened to it. It should have been put in the trophy case
as the first mascot of RHS becoming the BOMBERS. Maybe
somebody knows what happened to it and it could be given
to the school as some historic part of the school history.
Re: Women's Basketball History of Columbia High School
I have had an article about some history of girls basketball.
A former RHS basketball basketball guard Steve
Chalcraft (79)? grandmother was the star player of the
girls team in l917. At that time the Richland girls team
established a reputation as one of the best teams around
thanks to a guard named Hazel Hucke, the grandmother of
Steve... She was the star player of the then Richland
Beavers. That is when they played with a half court and on
each side of the middle line on the floor. I have this
article about the team and a picture and if Steve would
like to have the article, I would love to give it to him.
So there were good teams in Richland even before most of
our parents and grandparents were born.
Prelude to BOMBER POWER.
To: Phil Jones (69)
I attended the memorial services for Phil's dad Jimmy
Jones this month at CUP Church. It was such a great
tribute to a man who loved the Bombers and followed them
all the years he lived in Richland. Since I played
softball at the time Jimmy played and pitched in the hay
day of Richland softball, I witnessed so many persons who
played with and against Jimmy in all those years. It was
such respect and tribute to him both as a man and the
competitive person on the field. I remember something he
told me very young that when you take the mound, there is
no friends when they step up to the plate. That you don't
think who is standing there but he or she has the bat and
you have the ball. What ever happens after that is in
somebody else's hands. That the game is to be played
today, discussed and then go on. That no souls are going
to be saved on this field today. It is a game to be fought
only on the field and then move on to the next foe.
I never forgot that message, Phil. He was and will be
missed by all who knew him.
-Marilyn Richey (53) ~ Richland
********************************************
>>From: Millie Finch Gregg (54)
Re: RETRACTION!!!
To: All the girls in the class of 54
Boy oh boy did I make a mistake. I guess I was just so
anxious to see you I got one week ahead of myself and said
our luncheon is today - when in fact, it is next Friday,
the 19th.
I hope not too many of you show up and find no one
there. PLEASE, PLEASE do come back next Friday, and then
you can whip me with wet noodles or something! lol
Love,
-Millie Finch Gregg (54)
********************************************
>>From: Ramona Miller Bruggeman (54)
Speaking of the 'old days'... anyone else remember the
army issue Quonset huts we used for classrooms? We had
them at the original Sacajawea just prior to the time that
Carmichael was built. I think they stuck the "older kids,"
4, 5, 6 and 7th grades out there to freeze or melt,
whatever the season, and let the little kids have the
regular classrooms. They were the real thing, not the
modular, air conditioned buildings being used now, but had
the rounded walls, bare and rough floors. Where but in
Richland or some battle front?
-Ramona Miller Bruggeman (54)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[See the Quonset huts on the Sacy web page.
http://richlandbombers.com/allbombers/0gspicsSacT.html -Maren]
********************************************
>>From: Tom Hughes (56)
Re: Fireworks
Hi Maren,
I wanted to let you know that the money for the best deal in
history is on it's way. I am including a photo that is from the
1955 Year Book that shows one of the fireworks shows at the Bomber
Bowl. Several people have talked about the one that got away. I
think it's obvious from the photo how that could happen with the
people all gathered around like that. I don't think Larry Mattingly
(60) would be allowed to do that now.
-Tom Hughes (56) ~ Auburn, WA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
{See the picture at the link below. Check out the
spectators on the grass INSIDE the track. -Maren]
1955-07-04BomberBowl.jpg
********************************************
>>From: Burt Pierard (59)
To: Kay Weir Fishback (37)
After rereading your 1/11 Sandstorm submittal, it
dawned on me that you supplied the answer to a nagging
question I've had for over two years. After my
estrangement from the Tri-Cities from 1961 until 1998, I
was shocked to find that a "mascot metamorphosis" had
occurred. I left town with the full knowledge we were
named after the Atomic Bomb and returned to find that the
Bombers nickname was affixed to a B-17 Bomber called Day's
Pay which I am not totally convinced I had ever heard of
before. Following a tip from John Adkins (62), I was able
to find the newspaper documentation of the fact that we
were indeed named after the Atomic Bomb in Sept. 1945, but
I was still confused about how Day's Pay could come out of
the blue, so to speak.
I believe you answered my question when you wrote:
"They didn't use the nuke bomb (we know that is wrong -
bp) until some Japanese officially protested the name
Bombers and wanted the school to make the kids drop the
name. That was raising a red flag with teenagers and the
mushroom cloud started to appear on everything (for
instance my grandson's Bomber football letterman's
jacket)." This must have been very upsetting to the do-
gooder, Politically Correct members of the High School
Administration and Faculty, among others, I'm sure, from
the community. Kay continues: " After a while things
cooled down and they returned to the plane logo which is
on my younger granddaughter's jacket."
I don't believe things cooled down at all. What the PC
people needed was a new mascot! I don't know how or who
came up with the idea for Day's Pay but it was the perfect
solution (for them). Here was a gimmicky War Time Fund
Raiser that spent its entire War career in the European
Theater and had no connection to Japan whatever. All that
was needed to add some semblance of legitimacy was to dig
up some old grads with shaky memories and put a new spin
on the original name change (Beavers to Bombers) school
assembly. A current RHS Administrator (name withheld - bp)
confided in me: "I have talked to some folks who actually
voted during that ASB meeting and asked them what they
were thinking. Some have said it was the "Bomb" and some
say it was the 'Day's Pay'."
After a few class graduations, people forgot about the
Bomb and it was apparently fairly easy to remove the
mushroom clouds from the football helmets, etc., and
promote the mural, floor inlay, displays, etc.
The burning question after all this diatribe is: Why
would the Japanese have protested the Bombers name if we
were named after a European airplane?
Atomic Bomber Cheers,
-Burt Pierard (59) ~ Monroe, WA
********************************************
>>From: Larry Mattingly (60)
A married couple who are very long time friends of
mine once described me as their favorite "sentimental old
fool". There are, I'm sure, others amongst who feel an
occasional touch of sentiment reading the Alumni
Sandstorm? I can't count the number of times someone has
written something that has plucked a fond but long-
forgotten item of memory from deep in my past. Patty
brought up "lickamaid" (sp?) in this morning's Sandstorm
(read at home at 5:30 this AM). That is my first
recollection of the flavor of lime. To this day lime is my
favorite fruit flavor. The green palm of my hand gave away
my penchant for these penny packages of powder. (It was a
far cry from the tragedies of the packages of powder sold
on the streets of today).
Someone else wrote about the old Carnation plant near
Lewis and Clark. I now can clearly remember standing on
the gravel nearby when the drivers were unloading the
trucks from the morning's run. A smile would nearly always
get you a "Dixie Cup" of ice cream. With it was a little
flat spoon shaped piece of wood to eat it with.
What a pleasure to bask in the memories of our youth.
My thanks to the Alumni Sandstorm, to dear Maren who does
such a great job of getting it on the net, and to all who
enjoy it to the fullest.
"Happiness is the sky in bloom"
-J Larry Mattingly (60) ~ From my office in Olympia, WA
********************************************
>>From: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
Re: Mr. Lyda Responses
Wow, so many wonderful responses to my piece about Mr.
Lyda. Very warm and nice responses; and, I thank each and
every one of you that did respond.
To: Marianne Matthews Wood (63)
Thank you. It was nice to meet you and do hope that
you and Ken will come to the reunion this summer so that I
may meet you in person. I was at the reunion last summer
too and had a real blast.
To: Vonnie Reed Hoff (60)
Thank you. But gee, I didn't MEAN to make your mascara
run. *G*!! You don't need mascara Vonnie - you were always
a pretty enough gal without it. I know what you mean by
pride as a mother, and soon I will be the proud grandma of
a 2005 Bomber and hopefully a graduate!
To: Rose Boswell Smith (61)
Thank you. Boy, did you ever start something huh? And
you were NOT a little weirdo in high school. Anybody that
would skip school once in a while can't be all THAT bad
huh?! That is precisely ONE of the reasons that I was
sitting opposite Mr. Lyda several times. The other one you
will find in my response to Jim House (63) below. Believe
me, skipping school OR having fear of authority does not a
weirdo make!! *G*!!
To: Jim House (63)
Thank you! Ah, Jim, Jim, Jim - your response was
soooooo warm and fuzzy and it made me feel good all over!!
*G*!! I'm not too sure though that you give me too much
credit, but I WILL take it, okay? LOL!! And yes, I too
hope that my story could be an inspiration to anybody that
may need it. I also remember the Mr. Lyda that you do, as
I was usually the object of his wrath over the length of
my skirts. And nearly every morning, when the skirt
lengths went up above the knees, he was right there
checking out the above-the-knee skirt that I was wearing.
He finally gave up and just let me be sensing that he was
getting nowhere with this little rebel-rouser. But I did
spend a lot of time filing those dadburn notes though.
*G*!! I am sorry if he was too rough on you however!! Oh,
and by the way, I guess I best attend that class of '61
reunion since I am on the planning committee, don't ya
think? LOL!!
To: Pam Ehinger (67)
Thank you. My graduation cap off to you, Pam. Good job
well done!! I may have been stretching that 2. average
some, but it's nice to know that I was not the only bad
student in that school. Sometimes that was the way that I
felt--like a real failure. But, Baby, look at us now!!
*G*!! Both graduating from college with nearly perfect
averages and showing ourselves that we COULD do it. A
toast to us Pam!! By the way, you were 31 when you did it;
I was five months away from 40 when I did it. Goes to show
that one really does get better, NOT older. LOL!! And as
Pam said, any of you out there thinking that you cannot do
it or are too old, let us be an inspiration to you to just
DO IT!!!!!
Bomber Cheers to All,
-Judy Willox Hodge (61) ~ Richland
********************************************
>>From: Jane Walker Hill (62)
Those of us who can't live without reading the
Sandstorm Online on a daily basis.......
Those of us who are eternally thankful to Maren for
all the time and effort she puts in each day (and night)
to see that we get a copy in our inbox.....
Those of us that want to continue to get a copy in our
inbox....... need Maren's new address, so we can send her
some $$$$$$$.
-Jane Walker Hill (62) ~ Juneau, AK
********************************************
>>From: Shirley Sherwood Milani (62)
To: Mike Davis (74)
My mom used to say "Wait 'til your dad gets home" all
the time. What she didn't know (unless he told her), was
that we ran down the street to the bus stop and the minute
our dad got off the bus coming in from the areas, we
warned him that mom was either going to be fibbing,
exaggerating, or just plain making things up.
-Shirley Sherwood Milani (62)
********************************************
>>From: Dave Hanthorn (63)
Re: Club40
Apparently I am not the only one to be saddened by
hearing of the demise of the Club40 group? I first heard
about Club40 a couple of years ago or more when I first
started reading the Sandstorm. I thought "What a great
idea! I can't wait until I am eligible to participate!"
I since have been waiting impatiently for that time, but
know with just a little over two years left to go, it
turns out that my anticipation is about to be dashed. What
a letdown!
But WAIT. Isn't it possible that some folks from the
classes of '61, '62, the Gold Medal Class of '63, the
Mickey Mouse Class of " '64 (just kidding), and the class
of '65 could jump in and hold this thing together? I, for
one, would be willing to do whatever an "out-of-towner"
can do to help keep this great idea alive. Anybody else
(especially those that are still "in towners") that feel
even a little the same way, please e-mail me and let's see
if we can't SAVE CLUB40!
-Dave Hanthorn (63) ~ Mercer Island, WA
********************************************
>>From: Jim Hamilton (63)
Re: On a lighter note
I received a Christmas card from Dick Plows, my friend
of nearly 50 years. Dick invited me to stop by his booth
at the Seattle Boat Show. I'm out of town this weekend
looking for something to snowshoe in around Lake
Wenatchee, or a line of credit at Gustav's Pub in
Leavenworth. Regardless, I'd like to ask everyone who is
gonna do "THE BOAT SHOW, THE BOAT SHOW, THE BIG SEATTLE
BOAT SHOW" (it's that Seattle radio jingle that makes me
crazy, just like the Banana Boat deal for the one day sale
at the Bon Marche, but I digress), to stop by, lay a howdy
on Richard Criag, ask for something free and say that
Jimmy sent you.
His company is Top-Knot, they make dock lines and
other neat boat handling stuff. If memory serve me
correct, the Boss for whom he actually works is his lovely
wife Marcia (a Pasco Bulldog, but she'd of made a great
Bomber).
jimbeaux
p.s. Dick's had a dog named Pat, who would have been, at
the very best, 7-6, and I still think Dick was the
original Fonzie
-Jim Hamilton (63)
********************************************
>>From: Debra Dawson Fogler (74WB)
My dad died of lung cancer at age 56. Was it smoking,
or a speck of plutonium inhaled during the 30 years he
worked at Hanford?
My step dad died of cancer at age 60. Was it smoking,
or the years he spent breathing asbestos as a
roofer/contractor?
While I am certainly no proponent of smoking, it seems
to me that men working in hazardous conditions are dying
more quickly than others. Asbestos fibers and plutonium in
lung tissue are a death sentence which works more quickly
in some than in others, but will eventually getcha.
Safety precautions and Hanford statistics are of no
comfort to my twice-widowed mother. And although I have as
yet detected no ill-effects from the deliberate radiation
GE inflicted upon me as a fetus/infant in the 1950s
(Richland), I defend the right of downwinders to protest
and litigate such reprehensible actions upon U.S.
citizenry.
People who play Annie Annie Over and Hopscotch should
never be put to risk by the industry which supports their
own family. GE didn't know what radiation releases would
do to people living nearby, so they released some "stuff"
in the 1950s, just to see. Most of what we see now is
thyroid malfunction. How dare they release this lethal
weapon without knowing the consequence? Because we are all
expendable.
-Debra Dawson Fogler (74WB) ~ Cheney, WA
********************************************
>>From: Mary Davidson Coates (85)
Hi Debbie, it's Mary Coates. You might try the 1985 list
on the sandstorm. I will keep my ears open. Do you
remember Stephanie Smith? She emailed me the other day .
Maybe she has Holly's email. Anyway, have a great day and
I'll see ya Albertsons! HA HA
-Mary Davidson Coates (85)
********************************************
>>From: Vernon Holt (Bomber Booster)
To: Mary Triem Mowery (47)
Mary,
I stumbled across the site when searching Am. Nuclear
Soc. publications a year ago on the net regarding safety
and reactor waste management, and ran across the name of a
former colleague at Hanford, searched for his name and up
came his wife as a Richland teacher and her class pic!
Then I read the Sandstorm for a long time before
kibitzing.
Probably up to a million people scattered all over the
world, half still alive, were touched in some rich way by
living in the "Richland" area. Ain't the net great?
Hanford has a long tradition to be very proud of, and
needs no revision, in spite of bad press in recent years.
I took a night graduate course at Hanford in ATOMIC
PHYSICS from a 1950 book (translated from his original
German text by a captured German, Wolfgang Finkelnburg,
interned at Fort Belvoir, VA to work off his US
citizenship requirement). He was a brilliant physicist who
knew exactly how to make an atomic bomb, the massive
effort it would require and woulda and coulda if Hitler
had not canceled his program during the Russian 1942
campaign, for more immediate weapons. We are just plain
lucky or blessed and should never forget it. He once told
me: "Vee vas better than you vas, but vee lost!" He had
lots to be proud of but we have much more to be proud of.
I hope a few of our grandchildren might read the
Sandstorm!
-Vernon Holt (Booster '47) ~ Mendham, NJ
********************************************
>>From: Kathy Rawls (Richland Citizens for Good Schools)
Re: RHS REMODEL
On March 13, 2001, voters in the Richland School
District will decide whether to modernize a portion of
Richland High School as part of an $88.5 million bond
issue.
The 100/200, 300 and Vocational/Technology buildings
will be modernized to tune of $21 million.
Bombers who can vote in the Richland School District
need to be registered and VOTE on March 13. That includes
recent graduates who may be away at school.
And those who have moved away need to get in touch
with Bombers who still live in the district... to remind
them of this opportunity to invest in their school.
For more information go to the district's site http://www.rsd.edu
SPREAD THE WORD!
-Kathy Rawls (Richland Citizens for Good Schools Volunteer)
********************************************
********************************************
Funeral notice scanned from TCHerald
by Shirley Collings Haskins (66) ~ Richland
~ Sharon Beutler Richardson Marshall, Class of 1960 ~
http://funeralnotices.tripod.com/
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for part 1. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/13/01 ~ Jeff Curtis
********************************************
>>From: Jeff Curtis (69)
Re: A Day in the Life, Part I
The morning summer sun had just cleared the cement gym
wall at Spalding Elementary and had spanked the sidewalks
on the banks of Tinkle street with a rosy heat that would,
by mid afternoon, intensify to the point where tar patches
in the road would melt and asphalt would squish beneath
the soles of your feet. Kids would doff shoe protection as
early as possible in the spring months but it would take
weeks of pavement pounding and street-heat cauterization
before their soles would painlessly withstand all the
rigorous demands of barefootin', eventually hardening to
the point where only the omnipresent goatheads could
pierce their leathery toughness. They said that you could
"run faster, jump higher", supposedly, in a pair of PF
Flyers (that kid in the commercial would leap over a five
foot fence with ease) but you could really take off and
fly like a springbok once unencumbered by any brand of
socks or shoes.
I stepped happily unshod onto the front porch and gave
Tinkle Street a thorough panning assessment. There was the
AEC guy across the street picking up the urine samples
from the anonymous metal box sitting on my neighbor's
front porch. A few houses down and working his way to the
same location was the milkman carefully placing his cream-
white glass bottles immediately next to another of the
same the ubiquitous anonymous metal boxes. I pondered for
a moment, with the pee-and-poo mentality of my impish
preteen self, the exciting possibilities of observing
(from afar) the havoc resulting from some kind of a
container mix up. Since I found myself unbreachably
stumped after a full 20 seconds of thought as to how to
actually pull it off, I dismissed the idea, no matter how
entertaining the outcome, as impractical. My mouth had a
gritty-minty feel to it as I had just put Ipana powder to
brush and brush to teeth in a completely token gesture of
oral hygiene. If they hadn't made the stuff sweet, I doubt
that I would have any true dentition left today. I flashed
for a moment remembering a presentation by Mrs.
Bumgardner, the school nurse at Jason Lee Elementary, on
the proper frequency and methodology to be employed when
one was to be brushing one's choppers. She was a regular
visitor to our home (all medicos seemed to make house
calls in those days) during outbreaks of mumps, measles,
whooping cough or chickenpox. I always felt sorry for Mrs.
Bumgardner. Not for anything to do with physical
characteristics nor with her personality. Just her name. I
assumed that if she had any horticultural endeavors at her
home, she probably would have to take a great deal of care
not to have things in that arena go badly. The last thing
that someone named Bumgardner needed was the natural (to
me, anyway) association with a brown thumb. In fact, the
delicious irony that would be evident from the opposite of
that situation would be nothing short of poetic, "Deary,
have you SEEN Mrs. Bumgardner's mums? They are the finest
blossoms the entire length of Cottonwood Street! And her
ROSES....oh, my....." The seemingly contrary association
between Mrs. Bumgardner and her decidedly un-bum garden
would play well as one of life's happy paradoxes. But for
all I knew she might have lived in one of the California
"stilt" apartments with nothing but pavement for a lawn.
Anyway, she came into Mrs. LeClair's morning kindergarten
classroom and had this huge toothbrush and huger set of
fully articulating teeth. She would then demonstrate the
proper brush strokes to be employed to maximize tooth
cleaning efficiencies. We would all return to our homes
with this new dental enlightenment and smear the
toothpaste around our molars for a couple of good
whollops, rinse, spit and call it a done deal. The
refreshing aftertaste was all the confirmation I needed to
assure myself that I had indeed scoured my teeth fully, as
well as assaulting any nasty, cavity inducing bacteria to
within an inch of their single-celled existences. I wished
then that I could, as Mrs. Bumgardner so vividly
demonstrated, hold my teeth in one hand and brush them
thoroughly outside my mouth. I could do such a better job
of it that way. You know, being able to actually see the
chunk of Sweet Tart here and the bit of Sugar Pop there
all hidden and secure in interproximal obscurity. Now, as
I roll fitfully into the second half-century of my life,
this is a desire I have completely and enthusiastically
abandoned. I prefer that all things anatomical stay right
where they started. Not many are cooperating however.
Clutched in my left hand was the gleaming barrel of a
Daisy pop-gun and in my right, a can of 3-in-one. I raised
the rifle and carefully squeezed a single drop of oil into
the small hole located part way down the barrel. Cocking
the lever, I raised the gun and aimed it right at the back
of Tommy Joe Wood's head. He was across the street hauling
out his dad's push mower, preparing to do the obvious
chore. He had no clue as to my deadly intent, being
temporarily oblivious to my presence. I pulled the trigger
and "POP!" came a loud report followed by a wisp of white
oily smoke from the end of the barrel. Tommy Joe looked
around at the source of the sound. "Gotcha!" I yelled
delightedly, "Blew your head off." I pointed out to
further emphasize just exactly how dangerous I was. I
could tell by his reaction, which was decidedly unruffled
that Tommy Joe was not impressed....or amused. "Good. Put
me out of my misery." or something to that effect was
muttered and then he proceeded to attach the clippings
basket to the back of the machine. His dad and mom were A-
number-one, world class gardeners (very assuredly NOT bum-
gardeners) and had proportionally high standards for all
things botanical including lawn care. They eventually
opened up a very successful nursery in West Richland which
is still there to this day. Tommy Joe did not share this
passion but, evidently, did share in the maintenance
duties. So off he went, lawn mower whirring away, cutting
the lawn, not straight-on but at a forty-five degree angle
to the street leaving a distinctive cross-hatching effect
which was always the signature of the Woods' front lawn.
With his brains, of course, imaginarily blown all over the
yard by my skilled marksmanship. And the three-in-one oil.
All good little children in the fifties were fairly
dripping with firearms. The Mattel Toy Company ("You can
tell its Mattel, It's Swell!) produced more ordinance than
Smith & Wesson, Winchester and Remington put together. In
addition to my pop gun I personally had double holstered
pair of pearl handled Lone Ranger six guns (complete with
mask), a Fanner 50 revolver and a Winchester lever action
rifle, both fine products from Matty Mattel. I also had an
official Zorro sword (complete with mask) that held a
piece of chalk in its tip for tagging the famous "Z"
wherever most inappropriate, but that really doesn't count
in this discussion of true firearms. I can recall no
homicide by chalk episodes then or now for that matter.
Besides, my penmanship always sucked. The Fanner 50 had a
broadened hammer lever, kind of like the business end of a
teaspoon turned upside down which allowed me to deliver a
deadly, continuous spray of fire by depressing the trigger
and "fanning" my left hand over the hammer. The Winchester
replica actually fired projectiles called "Shootin'
Shells". These were basically brass casings almost exactly
like real bullet shells but with a high density spring
inside instead of gunpowder. A plastic slug then clipped
into the shell casing depressing the spring. A "Greenie
Stickum Cap" (small circular peel-and-stick caps) applied
to the butt of the casing completed the shell. They could
then be loaded in a conventional manner into the magazine
of the rifle. A flick of the lever and a round would be
chambered. Pulling the trigger released the hammer and the
impact on the shell would 1)explode the cap and 2)dislodge
the plastic slug which would then be propelled by the
stored power of the internal spring out the barrel of the
rifle to a distance of maybe ten to twelve feet. Or into
the eye of the kid next door, whichever came first. Until,
of course, the spring was used too much and lost its zip
or you inevitably lost all of your slugs. A second cocking
of the lever would eject the spent casing for future
reloading and chamber another round. Lets see them try to
sell THOSE today. A quick browse of Mattel's website
currently touts only Barbie and American Girl dolls and a
line of Winnie the Pooh materials none of which is going
to cause any serious damage to a small child's
psychological development or eyeballs for that matter.
Those elements were vital to having any real fun when I
was a kid. The parental comment "You'll put your eye out."
almost assured an exciting diversion. Mattel made a whole
line of guns that used the Shootin' Shell technology
including an extraordinary belt buckle derringer. You wore
it on a belt as a working buckle and it looked like it had
an embossed image of a derringer molded into it. Until you
pushed out your tummy. Then a hidden lever on the back
would cause the derringer to spring out on a hinge at a
right angle to the buckle and automatically fire a single
Shootin Shell round. You could then unclip it from the
buckle, reload it and kill any of your friends that you
missed the first time around. I realize, at this writing,
that the current condition of my tummy would mean that the
derringer today would be constantly popped out of the
buckle. Maybe I'll have to stick to conventional assault
weapons instead. A good pop gun could also fire a
projectile however. By sticking the barrel into the sod of
my front lawn I could lodge a plug of grass in the end of
the barrel. Firing the weapon would then shoot the plug a
good....two or three feet. With no real pop and no smoke.
Well, no free lunch I guess.
Next door to Tommy Joe's house I spied Roger Smith heading
down his driveway. I very carefully threw my pop gun onto
the lawn and dashed across the street as I knew that Roger
wasn't doing anything as counterproductive as chores and I
might find an interesting diversion by tagging along on
whatever he was up to. "Hey Rog, whachdoin?" I inquired.
"Worms." replied Roger somewhat vaguely. "Nope, Mom got
some pills for them last winter and they're all gone." I
countered apparently assuming the direction of the
conversation. Unpleasant images associated with the color
"purple" and the term "stool" flashed in my mind
fleetingly. "No....EARTHworms...for fishin." he corrected
me. He proceeded around the back of his garage where I
discovered he had been laying a heavy dose of water from
the hose on the lawn. A pitch fork sat upright in the
middle of the soaked area buried to the hilt of its tines
in the sod. "Watch this." said Roger as he grabbed the
handle of the pitchfork and proceeded to pull it back
toward him. He then suddenly released the handle which
sprang forward like a catapult with a "booiiiingggg"
vibration. Nothing. He grabbed its handle again and
repeated the exercise. "booiiiingggg" Then, suddenly,
worms started emerging from the ground like potatoes from
a ricer. Huge ones. Big fat night crawlers, some seemingly
as big as garter snakes, started breaking the surface like
a ball of herring being chased by a school of Chinook. We
both squealed (well, I think squealed is accurate, maybe
we yelped. Yeah I think we yelped) with joy and proceeded
to gather as many as we could and placed them in an empty
MJB can in which Roger had placed a layer of dirt. Our
hands were now covered with a mixture of worm-slime and
mud and, as official card-carrying nine year old boys, we
couldn't have been happier about it. Roger put away the
worm can for use the next day as he had planned a bike
ride out to the Yakima river, just this side of West
Richland by Reils' Rancho, for some serious anything-that-
bites-even-squaw-fish fishing in the morning. We both then
climbed the large sycamore tree in his back yard and for
the better part of the next hour we played "Ripcord", our
version of the famous TV show of the same name that
featured two recurring fellows and their numerous
adventures involving their parachutes. Thinking about it,
I'd hate to have been a writer for that show. I mean, just
how many exciting situations can be centered around two
guys parachuting somewhere? They weren't in an Army
Airborne unit or smoke jumpers or anything. Just two guys
that liked to skydive a lot. On the whole, probably not
much more exciting than two kids repeatedly jumping out of
a tree. But it seemed pretty cool to me and Rog at the
time. Of course we were lacking a few basic props. Like
helmets, or jumpsuits, or an airplane and even parachutes.
But those were minor impediments. We climbed into the tree
as high as we dared and positioned ourselves in a
precarious, downward-facing posture. Feet on a lower
branch and hands on an upper one just as the characters on
TV would do on the wing struts of the airplane
"Approaching drop area." Roger would yell. "CUT!" I yelled
louder and dropped from the tree, rolling forward as I hit
the ground after the fashion of our network role models.
Now, I don't think we fully understood WHY we had to yell
"CUT". It was just one of the (few) things that the guys
did on the show. I assumed at the time that it was a
command to the pilot to "cut" the engine to reduce the
prop wash or something while our heroes leaped into the
void. In retrospect maybe that is exactly what was
happening but logic tells me that most pilots would
probably not welcome nor comply with a command from the
guy WEARING the parachute telling him to turn off his
airplane in mid-flight. Rog and I did series of trial and
error (ouch!) jumps to determine the maximum ceiling in
the tree from which we could leap without out knees
buckling (ouch!) and smashing into our chins (ouch!),
clanging our teeth together with our tongues occasionally
getting in the way (outh, outh!). As I lay in a hospital
bed recovering from disk surgery several years ago I found
myself realizing the dear cost paid for the cumulative
effects of this human "lawn dart" simulation and many
other episodes of abusive skeletal compression over the
years. But when you're nine you can walk through walls.
"Jeeeeefffff......Luuuuunnnnnnch." I could hear my mom
calling from across the street. I had worked up a pretty
good appetite what with all the morning's gunplay and
skydiving and knee banging and worm slime and all so I bid
Roger adieu and blasted off for the ranch house I called
home across the street snatching up my pop gun from the
lawn as I headed indoors for lunch.
The sun was getting pretty high in the sky now and it was
really starting to heat up. Might be a good day for a trip
to the big pool.
To be continued....
-Jeff Curtis (69) ~ Seattle, WA
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/14/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
24 Bombers sent stuff:
Mary Triem (47), Mary Lou Stines (50WB),
Sandra Atwater (51), Dick Epler (52),
Dick Pierard (52), Mike Clowes (54),
Ramona Miller (54), Dean Enderle (57),
Shirley Atwood (58), Burt Pierard (59),
Ann Bishop (60), Margo Compton (60),
Judy Willox (61), David Douglas (62),
Linda Reining (64), Ray Stein (64),
Det Wegener (65), Patti Sue McLaughlin (65),
Fritz Strankman (68), Linda Thomas (68),
Betti Avant (69), Mike Franco (70),
Rick Moore (76), Derek Bowls (84)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Mary Triem Mowery (47)
To: Vernon Holt (Bomber Booster)
Thanks for enlightening me as to how you found the
Sandstorm - it just amazes me how far and wide this
wonderful site has reached, and has drawn together so many
of us with our common heritage of being a Richland Bomber
(and Bomber Boosters). Keep contributing!
To: Dave Hanthorn (63)
Re: Club 40
Your eloquent plea to retain the Club was most welcome.
Help in leadership would need to come from the classes of
the '50s, '60 or '61 for the reason of the club's charter
which states that graduates of 40 years or more are
eligible for membership. The general feeling seems to be
that the leadership should be a resident of the greater
Tri-Cities, but I think that isn't a cast-in-concrete
requirement.
Another thought is to combine Club 40 with the great
group who staged the R2K reunion chaired by Kathy Hoff
Conrad (64). Since the latter group plans to have a get-
together each year, that makes pretty good sense to me.
With folks like Bob Carlson (54, Anna May Wann Thompson (49),
John Adkins (62), Burt Pierard (59), Patti Jones Ahrens (60),
and many others offering up time and suggestions, maybe the
club can continue another few years. As a founding member,
I sure hope so.
-Mary Triem Mowery (47) ~ Ft. Lauderdale and Richland
********************************************
>>From: Mary Lou Stines Pearson ('50 WannaBe)
Re: Mike Davis' (74) list of remembrances
Peggy Hartnett (72) recently commented that she thought
that when kids see pieces like that they say, "They are
getting old." I agree that this is profoundly true. It is,
however, SO much better to be in the process of aging
(beginning at one's birth) than the alternative, which is
indeed daunting to contemplate!
-Mary Lou Stines Pearson ('50 WannaBe)
********************************************
>>From: Sandra Atwater Boyd (51)
I remember the Quonset Huts. I went to Jefferson
Elementary and we had them there also. Not fancy either! I
do believe that even with having Quonset Huts, we were
pretty lucky to be in Richland.
I am hoping that the Club 40 will be continued!!
-Sandra Atwater Boyd (51) ~ Palm Desert, CA
********************************************
>>From: Dick Epler (52)
To: Dave Hanthorn (63)
Dave,
Your recent comments about critical mass and nuclear
explosions provides an opportunity to make a few more
clarifying comments. Like the Bomber school name, this is a
controversial topic.
Your point seems to be that, while minor nuclear
"explosions" can happen by accident, making something that
does real damage is very difficult. I agree. Nuclear bomb
chain-reactions are pretty much self-extinguishing
primarily because the fast neutrons (10^9 cm/sec) from a
fissioned nucleus split other atoms in very short time (10
nanoseconds). Thus to completely fission one kg U235 would
take about 80 generations, or 0.8 of a microsecond. In less
than a microsecond, energy equivalent to 20 kilotons of TNT
would be released, generating temperatures on the order of
a billion degrees Celsius with the associated pressures.
However, without special design considerations, the device
gets blown apart before even a fraction of that energy is
achieved. The Uranium bomb dropped on Hiroshima used a
"gun" type design to bring two non-critical masses together
in a very short time to produce a 15 kiloton bomb that only
fissioned about 2% of its material. Not very efficient.
Actually, the technology involved in building the
Uranium bomb isn't that sophisticated. The main difficulty
was all in getting sufficient weapons grade material.
Uranium, as it comes out of the ground, is 99.3% U238,
which is non-fissionable. Only 0.7 % of the stuff is
fissionable U235. So that's why they built that other big
nuclear facility in Oak Ridge, TN. There they used mostly
gaseous diffusion to extract U-235 from Uranium ore. Los
Alamos' Dr. Serber believes that most of the two billion
dollars to build the bomb went into this Oak Ridge effort.
A couple of definitions: Enriched and depleted Uranium
refers to the content of U235. If it has greater than 0.7%
it is enriched; if it has less it is depleted. A little
background: Both nuclear power reactors, like WPPSS-2, and
production reactors, like the graphite piles in the 100
areas, can run on 2% to 3% enriched Uranium, and they both
use a moderator (graphite/water) to produce SLOW neutrons
with fission times in seconds rather than nanoseconds,
which is the main reason such reactors don't produce a
mushroom cloud when bad things happen.
Building the Plutonium bomb was extremely difficult.
Using the "gun design" would have required a Pu239 purity
of 99.999%, and the stuff delivered from Hanford was only
around 99%. The problem was that impurities such as Pu240
could contribute fast neutrons to cause a premature chain
reaction more likely to produce a fizzle than an explosion.
When it became obvious that Hanford couldn't produce that
kind of purity before June '45, Los Alamos almost gave up
on the Plutonium bomb. Fortunately, Tolman (not
television's Neddermeyer) had the idea of creating a
critical mass using "implosion," which solved the purity
problem. With the implosion design, 99% purity was fine.
Even so, the task of creating an explosive lens with
precise timing was a monumental task. And that was the
reason for the Trinity test. They never tested the Uranium
bomb. There was no need.
Just two other points. First, one of the problems with
accidental criticalities is the "blue flash" (Cerenkov
radiation) generally meaning you've been radiated with
neutrons (and the Ah-Uuga horn goes off). They used to say
that if you see the blue flash, you're a dead man. But of
course that depends on distance and shielding factors. Many
survived. Second, the hazard from most radiation sources is
not much different than long-term exposure to hazardous
chemicals as common as gasoline (lead poisoning), various
pesticides and even fertilizer. Consider that while Uranium
is an alpha emitter, its chemistry is such that, if
inhaled, most of it gets eliminated in the urine. I've seen
nuclear workers in fuel processing whose nostrils were
yellow-brown with UO2 dust. I don't recommend it, but the
danger is nothing compared to Plutonium or some pesticides.
Regarding Tritium, it's a form of hydrogen gas that emits a
very low energy (18.6 keV) beta (electron) particle. It's
used commercially on watch faces (much better than radium)
and to make exit signs that show up in the dark. You'd have
to work real hard to find enough Tritium to inhale to do
much damage. More medical Iodine-131 is washed down the
sewers of Chicago every day than was released from one of
Hanford's green runs. So what's the difference between
getting sick from pesticides or from radiation poisoning?
Not a whole lot, actually. The effects are very similar. My
point is that it would be nice if the nation could gain
some perspective on the nuclear issue. As Bob Rector (62)
says, it's not the megadevil most people think. Meanwhile,
California would love to have all the electrical power
WPSS-2 can generate ... and 10 more like it! All their
ideology seems to be fading. Funny how that works.
-Dick Epler (52) ~ Mt. Vernon, OR
********************************************
>>From: Dick Pierard (52)
I want to strongly endorse Bro. Burt's data about the
origins of our school's nickname. To be sure, the mushroom
cloud symbol was not being used when I was there, as we
still thought in World War 2 terms of bombs - hence the
dive bomber type of cheers we did at basketball game, the
towel cart, and the bomb symbol on cheerleaders' sweaters.
But the only bomb we thought of was the "big" one, and the
change of the school's name in 1945 was a result of the
product of our one-industry town. When I tell my friends
around the country about the team name, they are always
amazed at its uniqueness (and as one might expect, the
anti-nuclear activists among them are appalled), but no one
ever suggested to me that the name had any other origin
than the atomic bomb.
The Day's Pay plane was just an action of wartime
patriotism and enthusiasm, and I expect similar events took
place elsewhere. Certainly it had nothing to do with the
naming of the school. Still this has been an interesting
and enlightening historical discussion and the more
youthful readers of the Sandstorm have learned about our
past from it.
-Dick Pierard (52)
********************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
Re: Quonset hut school rooms
Although I didn't attend John Ball school in North
Richland, I seem to remember that most of the building
appeared to be a series of quonset huts. They abutted
hallways that were "stick built" so the children would not
be subject to the wilds of North Richland weather. I may be
mistaken in this, but that picture does stick in my mind.
I'll bet there is someone out there who did go to John
Ball, and can give a better account.
Re: Downwinders and associated matters
Having spent a period of my life where my duties
included the "care and feeding of 'mushroom pills'", I can
readily attest to the stringent safety rules and
precautions taken. It was a matter of pride to be as safe
as possibly when handling material that could be hazardous
to one's health. This did not include tobacco products,
which were consumed with great vigor. One even had to be
careful with the cleaning solvents we used; such as
tolulene, trichlorethylene and the like. Not fun watching
the skin peel off your hands.
We did, however, curse the day when the rules were
changed to having to drink copious amounts of water in case
of accidental ingestion of material. Previously, it was
held that beer was a better "irrigation" fluid, at least it
was faster acting.
The problems we have acquired vis-a-vis carcinogens
comes, I believe, following the end of World War II by two
or three years. This is about as likely a time frame to
begin reaping the benefits of "better living through
chemistry" that gave the world all sorts of interesting
chemical ingredients (such as steroids) to make things grow
bigger, better and faster whether it was plant or animal.
There wasn't always the problems that some associate with
the eating of red meat.
Re: Club 40
It is good to read that some of the sixties classes are
interested in keeping the club alive. It is not dead yet,
and hopefully there may be good news ahead. We have until at
least September to rally around the flag, so to speak.
Re: The Bomb and the bomber.
"Days Pay" is not a myth, nor is it just a mural on the
wall of the new gym. It is the result of what the workers
at Hanford decided to do sometime in 1944; namely everyone
chip in a day's pay and buy a B-17. Timely and patriotic.
This was done, and the plane was known as "Day's Pay." It
served honorably with the Eighth Air Force in England.
Certain historical revisionists and neo-PCers would
like to have it that the Columbia High School Beavers
became the Richland Bombers because of the airplane.
Fortunately, it would appear, no one is buying into this.
Perhaps there is a tinge of guilt or remorse on their part
for what happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of
1945. They forget that a fire bomb raid on Tokyo much
earlier in '45 cause more death and destruction than the
Hiroshima bomb did (including those who died years later of
radiation). And the two bombs saved an estimated 1,000,000
American lives. That is the figure estimated by the
planners of the invasion of the Japanese home islands had
they not surrendered. Something to think about.
Bomber cheers to all
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54) "glowing" with pride in Albany, OR
********************************************
>>From: Ramona Miller Bruggeman (54)
To: Millie Finch Gregg (54)
Well, I did go to Granny's, however, don't feel too
bad, I could have looked at the calendar to see if it was
the 3rd Friday. You are off the hook with me, anyway. No
one else was there so I guess I was the only dope. OH WELL!
-Ramona Miller Bruggeman (54)
********************************************
>>From: Dean Enderle (57)
Re: Thanks
Just want to express my appreciation to the Sandstorm
and some other Bombers out there for supplying me with the
answer to a question and helping me to get in touch with
another "old Bomber". It just shows that this is a great
network of people and that no matter where in the world we
might be there remains this bond of being a Richland
Bomber and that support all of us need at some point in
time is available.
Best wishes to all of you.
Bomber Cheers!!!
-Dean Enderle (57)
********************************************
>>From: Shirley Atwood Sun (58)
To: Ramona Miller Bruggeman (54)
Re: My recollection of the Quonset Huts...
When I went to Lewis & Clark there were Quonset huts in
front of the olive trees. Being out "in the huts" was
better than being in the building. The Quonsets were like
club houses, something very special.
I was so excited when I learned that I would be in Mrs.
Eubanks' Hut in the third grade. I don't remember the room
being particularly hot or cold. I only remember the cozy
atmosphere of the room and how I loved being there, but
that might be just be because of Mrs. Eubanks. She was such
a wonderful teacher and one who made me feel very special.
-Shirley Atwood Sun (58) ~ Chatsworth, CA
********************************************
>>From: Burt Pierard (59)
To: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
Your wonderful story of stick-to-itiveness in your
pursuit of your high school diploma brought to mind one of
my favorite stories, "How Momma Became a Bomber [kinda]."
My Mom was raised in a semi-rural Indiana community
where the family business was a small resort hotel called
the Russell Inn. Her mother apparently had little use for
formal education and was opposed to Mom going to high
school instead of working at the Inn. A compromise was
struck that Mom would accelerate through high school and
finish as soon as possible. Finally, at the end of one
school year, Mom was, coincidentally, two credits short of
graduation and her mother would not let her go on to
finish. This weighed heavily on Mom for over 30 years. She
would probably have been about the class of 1928.
On Groundhog Day, 1961, Mom turned 50 and, according to
her, she was having a difficult time with it. Apparently,
she resolved to remove this lifelong stigma and wrote back
to Indiana to find out what she would have to do to
graduate from high school. She was told she needed one
credit of English and one credit of Algebra. She then
checked with Col-Hi and found out that she could register
for summer school, which she quickly did. Keep in mind that
at that time, most all the students in summer school were
people who missed graduation in June and were planning to
graduate in August.
Mom had no problem with English, being a frustrated,
unrecognized writer, but Algebra was something else again.
She was really having trouble. By the way, the class was
being taught by Aubrey Clayton, math teacher from
Carmichael. Since I was just bumming around town that
summer, waiting to go in the Navy in the Fall, and math was
always my forte and Algebra a personal favorite, I offered
to help her. This rapidly grew into daily tutoring sessions
but even though she struggled every step, she made it
through!!!
Unfortunately, in my view, but mighty important to her,
she transferred the credits to Indiana to receive her
diploma from them instead of taking her diploma from Col-
Hi. That was how she was a kinda Bomber. Maybe we can call
her a 61WB.
A footnote to the story occurred when one of the
aforementioned guys who missed their June graduation (the
younger brother of a friend of mine) came up to me in the
Pool Hall and was complaining about my mother. He was in
the same Algebra class and said that Mom was raising the
curve so high, he might end up flunking summer school,
also. I didn't have the heart to tell him I was tutoring
her.
Atomic Bomber Cheers,
-Burt Pierard (59) ~ Monroe, WA
********************************************
>>From: Ann Bishop Myers (60)
Any Lady Bombers in and around our hometown who are
interested in a "Life Makeovers" group (as seen on Oprah),
please let me know. Feel free to spread the word to others.
Group is forming right now. Based on Cheryl Richardson's
book. 52 practical and inspiring ways to improve your life
one week at a time. The group will meet every Monday
evening.
-Ann Bishop Myers (60) ~ Kennewick, WA
********************************************
>>From: Margo Compton McCord Lacarde (60)
To: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
Re: Taking a while to graduate college
I truly understand. I started college in 1992 and
finally graduated in 2000, only forty years after
graduating high school. I took the CPA exam in November,
but won't get the results until first of February. Now THAT
was hard. The one thing I found out going to college at
this age was I could not pull the all nighter anymore. Had
to homework done by 9:00 PM before I became brain dead.
Glad I finally finished, but do kind of miss it a little.
-Margo Compton McCord Lacarde (60) ~ San Antonio, TX
********************************************
>>From: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
Re: Response to the following from Vonnie:
----- Original Message -----
From: Vonnie Reed Hoff (60)
To: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2001 7:51 AM
Subj: Mr. Lyda
Hi Judy,
I have to wipe the tears from my eyes on this ode to
Mr. Lyda. My goodness what a great story. You know we
really can be and do anything we set our minds to. Good
job!
-Vonnie Reed Hoff (60) - San Jose, CA
------end of Vonnie' message-----
Hello to You Vonnie,
Thank you for the nice reply to my Sandstorm entry.
Yes, it was hard work, but I was a very determined gal at
that point. If you think that part made you cry, let me
tell you the rest of the story and really make you cry. I
was the oldest of three children that probably was a real
disappointment to my mother back then as not one of us
graduated in the normal sense of the word and walked a
graduation line from high school. At the end of my two-year
college reign, I had the opportunity to walk a graduation
line and had decided that I didn't need all that fuss and
pomp. However, my daughter urged me keenly to do so, saying
that she thought it would be neat to see. Well now, a
teenager saying that a thing is neat that an adult would do
has to grab your attention doesn't it?
So, at the end of school, I got my cap and gown, walked
the graduation line, had the picture taken and received my
three diplomas in the normal way that should have taken
place twenty years earlier. As I looked out into the crowd,
I saw my daughter, son and Mother standing there and was
sure at that point that I had done the right thing in doing
this walk. I knew that my Mother was proud of me for what I
was doing, but never until that point did I know how much.
There she stood, flanked by my children, the tears
streaming down her face and smiling from ear to ear! She
had finally gotten to watch ONE of her children walk a
graduation line!
It was then that I knew why my daughter had urged me so
to do this. She and my Mother were very close, and she knew
that it was important to my Mother. Six months later, my
Mother was proud to be watching her oldest grandchild (and
only granddaughter) walk the graduation line and two years
later she watched proudly as the two oldest grandsons
graduated. She passed away just two days after that event,
so she did not get to see her very youngest grandson
graduate as he was quite a bit younger than the other three
grandkids. The other two boys are my sister's (Deedee
Willox Loiseau--64) children and she loved all these
children as fiercely as she had her own. By the way, she
also silently thanked Mr. Lyda from the bottom of her heart
for the encouragement that he had given to her daughter. I
wonder if you would mind, Vonnie, if I shared your response
along with this reply to you with the Sandstorm readers.
Your response has touched me deeply and I would very much
like to share it with our fellow Bombers.
Once again, thank you.
Bomber Cheers to You,
-Judy Willox Hodge (61) ~ Richland
-----then Vonnie wrote:
Wow, the whole story is wonderful. Yes, by all means,
send my response along! I remember crying like a baby
too when my son walked so I know what your Mom felt.
Now I have to go fix my mascara!... Vonnie
********************************************
>>From: David Douglas (62)
Speaking of pyrotechnics in the sky, does anybody else
remember the summer of unusual sunspot activity, when the
aurora borealis could be seen in Richland? It wasn't the
'curtain' effect you usually see in pictures, but parti-
colored streamers beginning overhead and branching out down
to the horizon. I recall putting a blanket in the back
yard, concealed from all the streetlights, and watching it
for hours....
The sunspots also did interesting things to television.
We only had one station at the time, UHF. But somehow I
happened to tune to VHF - and picked up a station in
Dickinson, North Dakota. I watched for almost a week and
got many different stations, from Canada to New Orleans. I
plotted them on a map, and they made a series of concentric
arcs across the United States -the 'skip' distance of the
signal. Normally VHF signals don't bounce off the heaviside
layer (not sure if this is correct - it's been a long time
since my ham radio days), but with the intense sunspots
they did for a while.
One comment on the Tri-City Herald/Columbia Basin News
thread. Tri-City Herald was a non-union paper in the 50s,
Columbia Basin News was unionized. CBN was always trying to
put the Tri-City Herald out of business. It finally became
a 'throw-away' - they delivered it free hoping to destroy
Tri-City Herald. As a budding journalist (raised in an
anti-union family), I always felt it was worth about what
you paid for it... Anyway, CBN finally went bankrupt.
I did eventually belong to a union, by the way, the
Hawaii State Teachers' Association, serving on the Board of
Directors and twice taking leave of absence to work for the
union during representation elections. I was on the
Negotiating Committee one year, in fact, the only year the
teachers went on strike (illegal, according to the courts).
The DOE reviewed my credentials during the strike - and
sent me a letter saying they had placed me in the wrong pay
category, I owed them $5000, please send a check ASAP.
Turned out they were refusing to recognize my master's
degree from a religious seminary. They eventually gave me
full credit for it, but it rather soured me on working for
them.
-David Douglas (62)
********************************************
>>From: Linda Reining Pitchford (64)
To: Jeff Curtis (69)
Read "part one" of your entry on 1-13-01 and brought
back many memories. I, too remember going barefoot all
summer; my mom would scrub our feet with Comet to get them
clean! ;) I still prefer going barefoot! I never had the
"pleasure" of owning a BB gun or any of the others
"weapons" you mentioned, but my mom has a picture,
somewhere, of my brother and two male cousins "posing" with
their six-shooters drawn.
Thanks for the memories and I'm looking forward to "part 2".
-Linda Reining Pitchford (64) ~ Bakersfield, CA
********************************************
>>From: Ray Stein (64)
Re: Bombers
To: Burt Pierard (59) and his Bomb Squad
I disagree with your premise that "Bombers" has nothing
to do with an airplane. You need to look at the Columbians
from '45-'46, '46-'47, and '47-'48. There's bombs in there,
true, but look at the analogies to airplanes. I don't think
you've seen the annuals, because exhibit A to show we WERE
NOT named after the bomb is going to be the '45-'46
yearbook that was dedicated to the atomic bomb. I won't
have access to these yearbooks till April, but if someone
has them, please contact me. Or better yet, scan them and
let everyone see for themselves!
My main arguments may need to wait till April, but I
did want to comment on a couple of things that you wrote.
When you looked at those scratchy 1945 Richland Villager
microfilms, surely you saw the two articles on Day's Pay?
One was headlined, "Flying Crew of Day's Pay Decorated";
the other read, "Day's Pay In News Again". Read them and
you see that Day's Pay was still a big deal through the
summer of 1945, and not just old news (1 1/2 yrs) as you
seem to imply. The critical article you mention in your
last entry is not an article at all. It's the last
paragraph of a diatribe on the football jamboree. There's
no headline about a name change, and the author gives no
source for his statement that begins, "Indications are . .
." We're not talking about the Washington Post here and I
doubt the Villager had a beat reporter at Col-Hi. I think
our yearbooks are a much more accurate resource for goings-
on at the high school.
Burt, when Kay Weir Fishback (37) stated, "you all know
the Bombers were NOT named after our product but after the
plane bought by Hanford workers donating a day's pay", you
got right after her. When you heard that another old-timer,
Dale Gier (48), got up in front of 1800 students and
recalled the Day's Pay - Bomber connection, you said (in a
polite way) that he was wrong too. I know of two other pre-
(48) graduates who will tell the same story. You also
aren't impressed with the airplanes that have been on the
backs of cheerleaders forever, so I don't hold much hope
for converting you. But I do think the name Bomber
(definition - an airplane designed for bombing) goes back
to Day's Pay.
I think that after the news about the atomic bomb,
people justifiably came up with bomb symbols. Thank
goodness they stuck with the name Bombers, because that's
what takes us back to the great story of Day's Pay! Our
bomb and mushroom clouds may follow from the plane, but
more importantly they remind us of the tremendous role that
Hanford workers played in ending WWII. So you see, we've
got the best nickname and symbols possible to represent
BOTH events!
Burt, you certainly are tough on people who disagree
with you and I fully expect your wrath. I would, however,
like to meet you someday because my wife can't believe
there are two people in the whole world who would argue
about this stuff!
With Bomber Pride Inside,
-Ray Stein (64)
********************************************
>>From: Det Wegener (65)
Re: Mr. Tom Lyda
I had one "run-in with Mr. Lyda. One day in Mr. Briggs'
Spanish class I said "damn" and Mr. Briggs sent me to the
office. Mr. Lyda saw me sitting there and asked what had
happened. After hearing of my vile deed, he said, "Well,
you don't have too long to wait until your next class."
That was all. I remember, he was kind of a nonentity at the
time.
For those of you who knew him, I can give you a bare
bones rendition of Mr. Lyda's life after he left
Bomberville. I'll give you more details when I get to talk
to my father-in-law. They are very good friends with the
Lydas since my father-in-law was a principal in Othello
when Tom was superintendent. I have had many contacts with
them through my 25 years of being a part of my wife's
family. Therefore, the "Tom." I know him much better now
than I ever did in high school. He is really a nice guy.
Tom was Superintendent of Othello Schools for quite
along time. He retired from that position several years ago
and became an apple and, I believe, a cattle farmer. He
also raised horses.
I know he still has an orchard up there and has his
horses. He and his wife spend time traveling and visiting
Las Vegas and local casinos (sometimes with my in-laws)
I'll find out more and let you know. I was going to
give him copies of what you all have written. I'm sure he
will find them interesting.
To: Burt Pierard (59)
You say a couple of times in your Alumni Sandstorm
01/13 entry that Day's Pay only saw action in the European
Theater. Actually, it also served in the Pacific Theater
after the war in Europe wound down. My daughter found that
out while doing her History Day Project.
-Det Wegener (65)
********************************************
>>From: Patti Sue McLaughlin (65)
To: Jeff Curtis (69)
Jeff,
You are wonderful!!! Are you related to Bill Cosby? You
transport me right back to my summers on Cottonwood at the
end of Tinkle. Marilyn and Cheryl Rew and I would climb the
silver cottonwood tree in my backyard, by the shelter belt,
and imagine all kinds of things. Thank you for your
stories.
-Patti Sue McLaughlin (65)
********************************************
>>From: Fritz Strankman (68)
The first week of March my Dad, Fred Strankman, will be
turning 78. Although he has lived an active life most of
his years, he has had some personal and health challenges
to confront the last couple of years. He still gets around
pretty well and was recognized at The Event this summer. I
would like to ask those of you who have Fred Strankman
stories to send them in so I can put together a collection
of memories from his past to give him in March. He is not
good on remembering names but still has plenty of great
stories once he gets going!
-Fritz Strankman (68)
********************************************
>>From: Linda Thomas Richardson (68)
I am one of those "hooked" on my daily dose of Bomber
news... what a wonderful way to keep in touch! I was
interested in the medical problems some believe are related
to the Hanford operations. While I live 2,500 miles away,
my sister is still living in the Tacoma area and keeps me
updated on local news. She has mailed several articles
describing a higher than average link of neurological
diseases (multiple sclerosis in particular) to the
population raised in and around the Tri-City area.
I was diagnosed with MS over 23 years ago and was
curious to know if there are other alumni who might have
heard similar reports?
-Linda Thomas Richardson (68)
********************************************
>>From: Betti Avant (69)
Re: Jeff's hot story
Here, I just get done reading the latest Jeff Curtis
(69) story and it has been snowing here for the last couple
of hours. They say by the time it is done we will have 1-4
inches and boy is it wet and heavy. The guy on the radio
keeps saying it is good snowman making snow. Looking out
the window as I write this they are nice big, fluffy
flakes. It makes me glad that I am not on call at the
hospital today, as Goodland is right on I-70.
Here's to all of you sitting someplace nice and warm
like in Jeff's story.
-Betti Avant (69) ~ 31 degrees (but dropping)
********************************************
>>From: Mike Franco (70)
Very sad to hear of the passing of two classmates, much
too young: Mark Amacker and Bill Guinn.
My address is listed in the class of '70 directory.
Anyone who can provide information on either Mark or Bill's
passing please e-mail me.
Thanks,
-Mike Franco (70)
********************************************
>>From: Rick Moore (76)
Dear '76 ers,
I've been out of touch for, well, ever... living in
Alaska. If anyone is in contact with Antonnet Luhan (76), or
Mike Taylor, please advise.
Sincerely
-Rick Moore (76)
********************************************
>>From: Derek Bowls (84)
To: Gil Gilstrap (79)
I remember the George Prout Memorial Pool very well...
even before it was remodeled. I have memories of standing
under the cold showers for minutes on end, before jumping
in the pool for that added warmth effect. Unfortunately,
the closest route was to the five foot area, where I
proceeded on getting whitewashed. I remember going home
many times with "hazy" eyes (from the chlorinated water)
and clearing the snot/pool water mixture from my sinuses
and nose, from getting the water splashed up there.
Didn't have the hunger problems, though. I always
counted on the Tastee-Freez on Stevens Drive, to get a
humongous ice cream cone on the way home.
-Derek Bowls (84)
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/15/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
20 Bombers sent stuff:
Anna May Wann (49), Ken Ely (49),
Jimmie A. Shipman (51), Dick Epler (52),
Dick Pierard (52), Mike Clowes (54),
Doris Brinkerhoff (57), Jim Russell (58),
Steve Carson (58), Burt Pierard (59),
David Douglas (62), Charlotte Nugent (64),
Ray Stein (64), Chuck Monasmith (65),
Joni Lee (65), Betti Avant (69),
Mike Franco (70), Dan Ham (72),
Teena Stoner (79), William Wildenborg (81),
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Anna May "Ann" Wann Thompson (49)
Re: West Side luncheon
The newly formed "Bomber Babes" met today at Fife for a
wonderful luncheon set up by Patti Jones Ahrens (60). We
had a delightful time and exchanged a few ideas. As you
know Club40 was originated for those who have been out of
high school for 40 or more years. They hold reunions every
year the week-end after Labor Day at the Shilo in Richland.
As an "oldster" it was interesting to listen to them
tell how they have waited for the honor to be eligible to
"belong". Most of these gals were from classes in the
'60's. They, like myself, do not want to see Club40 end. A
suggestion that came up was that the existing officers meet
with potentially interested members at a meeting Friday
afternoon of the next reunion to be held September 7, 8,
and 9th in Richland. Say around 3:00 in the afternoon. Tell
us what is needed to keep the club going, what has been
involved by the officers during the past 13 years, etc..
The interest is very high and upbeat - it seems we have a
lot of willing people ready to take over if just told what
to do. So Norma Loescher Boswell (53), will you please get
the word out to the other officers and see if all of you
would meet with us on Friday the 7th at 3:00. Mary Triem
Mowery (47) can you meet with us at that time also? I told
them how much help you were when we were planning our 50th.
Ray Conley (46) if you are reading this, plan on attending
also, please. Also any of members of the classes that are
eligible to join Club40 or those who will be eligible in
the next year or so, plan on attending also. The members
who have kept it going for all of these years deserve our
heartfelt thanks and the "60's" are ready and willing to
help out.
Now on to our luncheon.
The "Bomber Babes" are going to meet monthly on the 2nd
Sunday of each month at the Executive Inn in Fife for a
luncheon and social at 1:00 pm. You can bring your Moms
also, this is open to all attendees or WannaBes of
Columbia High/Richland High (or whatever it was called when
you went to school). The price will be $25.00. This covers
lunch and room rental. (that is meeting room rental not a
hotel room) Reservations must be e-mailed to Patti Jones
Ahrens (60) no later than 4 days before the luncheon as she
has to let the hotel know how many will be attending. We
will try to car pool it when we find who lives in what
area. We discussed having a meeting once or twice a year
when we would include the fellows. Possibly a summer picnic
at Marymoor Park in Redmond was also discussed. You don't
have to live on the "West Side" - anyone can attend. If you
are in our area on that Sunday come join us. Carol Carson
Renaud (60) e-mailed us a picture of this afternoon but
with my lack of computer knowledge I'm hoping one of the
other gals will forward it on to the Sandstorm.
-Anna May "Ann" Wann Thompson (49)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Patti Jones (60) sent the "Bomber Babes" picture
01/14/01 Bomber Babes
********************************************
>>From: Ken Ely (49)
The class of '49 had the mushroom cloud on their class
rings. They were freshmen, in the fall of '45, when the
name was changed from Beavers to Bombers. The name change
was voted on by the student body. At that time it was clear
that the name came from the fact that the "atomic" bomb
ended the war a short time earlier. People in Richland were
very proud that they had made such a large contribution to
the war effort and that pride carried over to the student
body of the High School.
On the subject of old cars
Charlie Osborn (49) had a 1922 (I think) Model T Ford
truck that he restored in the auto hobby shop. One day a
few of us went roller skating in Pasco and it was starting
to get dark when we left the rink. He had headlights
connected but they were not fastened to the front of the
truck, so Jack Lowrey (49) and I sat on the front fenders,
holding the lights in our laps. That worked just fine until
we were leaving Kennewick and were stopped by the Highway
Patrol. I don't believe Charlie was given a ticket but he
was made to park it and we hitchhiked home. He came back
the next day to pick it up. Charlie, you or Jack can verify
this story and see if I have the story straight. I know
they both read this but we haven't heard from Charlie, yet.
-Ken Ely (49) ~ Orangevale, CA
********************************************
>>From: Jimmie A. Shipman (51)
Ref: "Columbian" 1947-1948
I didn't see any analogies about airplanes in this
"Columbian", all that I seen was several artwork pieces, of
The Atomic Bomb Mushroom Clouds actually there are 6
including the ones on the inside front and the inside back
of the Annual, one Lab Mushroom Cloud also one actual
Atomic Bomb Mushroom Cloud Photograph. There is also one
artwork piece of a Bomb with the words DANGER. The only
reference to an airplane was a photo showing a young lady
standing in front of one with the caption "It's a bird ---
It's a plane". I think the young lady is Gerri Oren (51).
Then this Forward:
"We, in this great United States of ours, have in our hands
the most powerful weapon ever known to mankind --- the
Atomic Bomb. It is ours to use as we see fit --- weather in
war, as a form of destruction, or in peace, to bring the
world riches and wonders it has never known before, thus
making it a prosperous and peaceful place in which to live.
Now, with the eyes of the world upon America and our Atomic
City of the Northwest, we present this 1948 COLUMBIAN."
I can't attest to what the earlier annuals have in them
but the above is in my 1947-1948 Columbian.
The "BOMBERS" were not named after Day's Pay, so until
there is literary evidence that the name came from Day's
Pay, why not leave it alone?
Burt Pierard (59) & John Adkins (62) have the evidence
that the "BOMBERS" were named after the "BOMB'. Let us go
on to more enlighten topics.
God Bless, Now go have a good day.
Regards:
-Jimmie A. Shipman (51) ~ Richland, WA
Looking forward to the 50th reunion
Go Green And Gold Bombers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[See the 1948 Class Emblem. -Maren]
********************************************
>>From: Dick Epler (52)
Re: Atom Bomb or Day's Pay?
Now I'm really confused. Until I read Ray Stein's (64)
eloquent defense of "Day's Pay," I didn't really think
anyone in Richland believed the Bombers were named for
anything except the Atom Bomb. But now I don't know. Ray
was and is a very classy guy. If he says it was Days Pay,
then I have to give that serious consideration. Of course I
love basketball, and it's really hard for me to believe
that anyone who has ever seen Ray play could possibly doubt
anything he thinks is true. He was pure poetry and one of
my all time favorite Bombers.
Having said that, however, I can't disagree with my
classmate of 1952, Dick Pierard, whose recollection was
that "The Day's Pay plane was just an action of wartime
patriotism and enthusiasm, and I expect similar events took
place elsewhere. Certainly it had nothing to do with the
naming of the school." That, from the history professor,
has the ring of truth to me.
When I attended Col High, and for several years after,
I never heard of Days Pay, but if someone would have
mentioned it, it wouldn't have meant much because it wasn't
relevant to the time. In the late '40s, early '50s,
everything was oriented toward the atom. If any WWII
airplane would have been honored, it might have been the
Enola Gay. Understand, those were the cold war years, and
everyone, HEW, AEC, and all Richland were patriotically and
proudly involved in producing nuclear materials (we didn't
say plutonium) in defense of the USSR's aggressiveness. We
had the Atomic Frontier Days, and many Richland businesses
were named Atomic-something-or-other. In the days of
Magneson and Jackson, Richland's "Atoms for Peace" had
major political support from the west side of the State as
well as Federal.
I hadn't heard that Dale Gier (48) had recalled an
early connection between Day's Pay and the Richland
Bombers. When did he do that? I would be happier if his
talk to the students would have happened closer to the 1945
event. Every historian knows that the passage of time tends
to distort memories to generally agree with currently
accepted versions. I wish I could have heard Dale's talk.
Possibly he was referring to a later time period.
All I can conclude is that in my day our mascot was the
Atom Bomb, and sometime later it got associated with an
airplane. I'll be interested in Ray Stein's update based on
researching our high school annuals.
-Dick Epler (52) ~ Mt. Vernon, OR
********************************************
>>From: Dick Pierard (52)
Re: Atom Bomb or Day's Pay?
To: Dick Epler (52)
Dick,
Thanks for your comments. I hope you forwarded a copy
to the Sandstorm as well, as I am sure others would be
interested in them. I appreciated hearing from an old and
very active classmate from the illustrious year of 1952,
which is, I guess, a long time ago but still seems almost
like yesterday. I vaguely remember the Day's Pay promotion,
as it occurred not long after I arrived in Washington at
the age of 10, but I cannot precisely pinpoint the date it
happened as I am away from the materials I have at home in
Indiana. Also it was mentioned in the early postwar
literature about the Hanford Project and its achievements,
but I cannot recall it being an item of public discussion
in the late 40s. If it had anything to do with the naming
of the school, it is news to me.
Incidentally, does anyone know what became of the
plane? Was it just scrapped after the war or did it go to
the air force scrap yard in Arizona or what?
Cordially,
-Dick Pierard (52)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Days Pay Mural]
********************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
Re: Jeff Curtis' (69) Day in the Life, Part I
Loved it, Jeff. I could almost smell the melting tar
all the way to Sanford St. I happened to be viewing some
old home movies taken of my boys about the time you
graduated. They too, were armed to the teeth. But I was the
only one who had a b-b gun. "You could put someone's eye
out!"
But, I gotta tell ya, Jeff, one did not mistake the
bottles used to make contributions to the AEC from milk
bottles. And it seemed to take for ever to fill the d#*n
things. But then, not every one got them. When I worked for
"Generous Extractions" right after graduation, I didn't
get mine until I was transferred to 200-West. I worked both
in the Admin. Area and the 300 Area before the transfer.
Boy, were we lucky.
Milk deliveries still go on the this day. So, can
anyone remember the name of the dairy(ies) who did deliver
in Richland in the fifties, I sure can't. However, I also
remember when grocery stores would deliver, and also carry
your parents' account, which meant that Dad paid once a
month (with no interest or carrying charge). Just don't
miss a payment or the Nunzio Brothers would pay a visit.
This grocery store was not in the "Greater Tri-Cities
Area."
It was indeed a different time and space we lived in
back then. I am waiting with baited breath for the next
installment; I just haven't figured out what bait I will
use.
Onward Bombers
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
********************************************
>>From: Doris Brinkerhoff DeFord (57)
Re: Hutments
Question: Did anyone out there besides my family call
the Quonsets "Hutments"?
I continue to enjoy the stories of the old times from
Jeff Curtis and all the others. This site is the coolest.
Bombers Forever!
-Doris Brinkerhoff DeFord (57) ~ Vilnius, Lithuania
********************************************
>>From: Jim Russell (58)
Re: Bomber nickname
I can't believe anyone is seriously buying in to
"Bomber" as referring to an airplane! When we were students
in the late 50s, our pep club insignias were bombs, not
planes. (Look at the drill team sweaters on page 97 of the
1958 "Columbian.") Our "mascot" which sat in the center of
the gymnasium was a bomb, not a plane. I for one, had never
even heard of "Day's Pay" until I started reading about it
in the Sandstorm. It may have been significant during the
war, but certainly had no relevancy in the years that
followed.
Burt Pierard (59) is right. And no PC attempt at
changing the meaning of our name can alter the fact that
our name comes from the uniqueness that carved our fair
city and gave it its whole purpose!
-Jim Russell (58)
********************************************
>>From: Steve Carson (58)
Re: Jeff Curtis' Day in the Life... part 1
Good writing and a good story, keep it coming.
-Steve Carson (58) ~ Chicago, IL
********************************************
>>From: Burt Pierard (59)
To: Ray Stein (64)
I'm hurt that you think I would direct my wrath towards
you. I'm not like that at all. I do plead guilty to
reacting emotionally in my 1/12 submittal but that was
because I thought I was being IGNORED! I can handle
disagreement but being ignored, never.
You mentioned that I must have seen the old articles in
The Villager about Day's Pay and indeed I did, but this was
when I was researching something else in 1998. I read them
with interest because, as I maintained earlier, I am not
totally convinced that I ever heard of Day's Pay before
that year.
Others from my class have made similar comments.
Curiously, you claim that the critical article about
the name change is not an article at all because it was
appended to an article about the Jamboree and did not have
a separate headline and no source was cited. This is true,
but So What? It is still a written document from the time
period in question. I agree that The Villager had no beat
reporter at Col-Hi -- Paul Nissen, Editor of The Villager,
wrote all the sports columns. Again, So What? I don't get
your point in either of these statements.
You cleverly snuck in the definition of Bomber as an
airplane designed for bombing. I always assumed that
Bombers was just a word to verbalize or personify "The
Bomb." It is kind of difficult to identify with students or
make up cheers to "The Bomb." You also promote the popular
line from RHS these days that the nickname represents BOTH
the Bomb and the Bomber but that is hard to defend when
essentially all official school symbols of The Bomb have
been removed.
To: Det Wegener (65)
I stand corrected if Day's Pay actually did see action
in the Pacific Theater. I find this a little hard to
understand if the plane was transferred back from Europe on
July 10, 1945. How much action could it have seen in the
last month of the war considering it would have to be
transferred west? It's possible, I guess.
To: both Ray & Det
I still ask the same question. What were the Japanese
protesting about the name Bombers?
Atomic Bomber Cheers,
-Burt Pierard (59) ~ Monroe, WA
********************************************
>>From: David Douglas (62)
I remember rather vividly the two quonset huts at
Carmichael, in the empty lot across Lee Blvd. I believe I
had home room and at least one other class there in seventh
grade (1956-57). It was so cold in winter we usually ended
up in the school cafeteria, as well as during a few
blistering hot days near summer. Oh, also a few times when
somebody - I shan't say who - stuffed paper in the keyholes
so the doors couldn't be unlocked....
-David Douglas (62)
********************************************
>>From: Charlotte Nugent Hardy (64)
My many thanks to Lori Simpson Hogan (70) for putting
me in touch with the Alumni Sandstorm. My grandmother
always held a special place in her heart for Lori and never
missed a summer without mentioning her even when she was
turning 100.
If I had not read the Sandstorm, I am sure I would
never have known there was a controversy about the "Bomber"
name. It would seem reasonable to me that both the Day's
Pay airplane and the "Hanford atomic bomb project" were
considered when deciding on the name "Bombers". It is so
inclusive of both projects that I think the decision makers
would have decided on the name Bombers because it
represented these significant events. (Just a thought!)
I'll be waiting for the April update.
I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday in
celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I know how
fortunate I was to grow up in a community and in a high
school where there was no racism. Shortly after we were
married, my husband and I moved to Houston. One day when he
was on a crowded bus, he offered his seat to an elderly
black woman. The bus driver (in 1968) stopped the bus, told
him to sit down in the seat or she would have to get off
the bus. Hard to believe that such things could happen in
our country, and I am so glad that it is unheard of now.
-Charlotte Nugent Hardy (64)
********************************************
>>From: Ray Stein (64)
Re: Day's Pay Bomber - Richland Bomber
To: All
There has been lots of discussion lately about the bomb
mascots. I think most people know that the atomic bomb
looked very different than the conventional bombs that you
might see being dropped from planes in WWII movie clips.
The bomb that Hanford workers helped create was called "Fat
Man" (or sometimes Fat Boy). You can see a picture of it at
http://www.csi.ad.jp/ABOMB/ It's at the bottom of the page.
Help me out on this, but most of the bomb mascots that
I have seen looked like the bombs dropped from planes
similar to our Day's Pay bomber. If someone wanted a mascot
to represent the atomic bomb, I imagine it would be "fat",
probably exaggerated, so people would know that this bomb
model definitely was an atomic bomb and not a conventional
bomb dropped by a plane like Day's Pay.
New subject:
If you look on page 4 of Bomber Mania, you'll find this
statement: "An interesting series of articles in the Herald
during the late season successes centered around the
question of what had been Richland's nickname before the
age of big flying planes. A few weeks after his initial
article, Gilmore ran a column which explained that the the
name was changed from Beavers to Bombers in 1944 and was
inspired by the atomic bomb, not an airplane."
Gilmore was a Sports Writer for the TC Herald and
apparently received a letter from a former coach that
stated the change was made in 1944. He also explained that
there was some delay in the change because lettermen had
sewed Beavers on their sweaters. He said the change was
because of the atomic bomb and he had suggested it.
Now, the only problem with this scenario is the date!
The atomic bomb was not dropped until August of 1945 and I
don't think High School Coaches knew we were making the A-
bomb out at Hanford! The coach never explains how he picked
the word bomber to mean atomic bomb.
Confusing isn't it?
With Bomber Pride Inside
-Ray Stein (64)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Bomber Mania]
********************************************
>>From: Chuck Monasmith (65)
Re: Mushroom Origins
In 1978 I had cause to be in the counselor area in Col-
Hi (to some of us it will always be Col-Hi). A plaque on
the wall noted that Bob LeClair was president of the Class
of 1965 and that we had officially adopted the mushroom
cloud as our school symbol. If my memory has not been
clouded by other mushrooms I seem to recall that it was no
big deal because the mushroom cloud was always there, just
no one had been official about it until Class of '65.
Any one else's memory more clear?
-Chuck Monasmith (65) ~ Bellingham, WA
********************************************
>>From: Joni Lee Rabena (65)
I have been reading the Sandstorm entries for the past
year and a half. I look forward to reading them each day
after work, and it's the first thing I do when I get
comfortable. The entries flood my memories with things that
I had completely forgotten. Thank you, Bombers.
Re: John Bradley (65-RIP)
I had just received some e-mail from John when I saw
his brother, Mike's (56), entry re: John's illness and
death. I, too, was a friend of John's. Even though I had
not seen him since our 20th high school reunion, he was
always one of the guys I had good memories about.
Re: The night I started and stopped smoking
I have been too ?*****? to write to the Sandstorm,
preferring to write to some people at their e-mail
addresses. But I want to relay one thank you to someone who
probably doesn't know how they helped me.
My girlfriend, Nancy Cruz Shoemake (65), and I had
taken her car to the drive-in. Not mentioning who did it,
one of us had "borrowed" a pack of cigarettes from her
sister. Now, being like a lot of the junior girls with out-
of-reach crushes, we thought Ray Stein (64) was just the
coolest! We had just lit up our first cigarette (I think we
were sharing one) and had each taken a couple of puffs when
Ray Stein and, I believe, Jim House (63) pulled into the
space next to us at the drive-in. When we realized who they
were and realizing that smoking was not high on their
lists, we immediately threw the lit cigarette to the floor
and extinguished it. I've never smoked another cigarette!
Thanks, Ray and Jim!
And, Maren, if you are not tired of hearing this, thank
you for this wonderful site.
-Joni Lee Rabena (65)
********************************************
>>From: Betti Avant (69)
Re: health problems and Hanford
Linda Thomas Richardson's (68) letter got me thinking
about an article I read in the late 80's or early 90's. It
was in Health magazine and it was all about Hanford and the
health problems they were finding several years later. In
particular as I recall it mentioned an abundance of thyroid
problems related to minute traces of radioactive Iodine
they released on periodic intervals. They believed those
traces dropped into the grass, the cows ate the grass, and
the radioactivity was passed on to humans through the milk
they drank. That was one person's theory any way. They also
talked alot about the downwinders' battles with various
cancers even though most of them were farmers and their
families across the river from the reservation (Othello and
places like that). I still have the article somewhere as I
cut it out, but I have moved at least four times since then
and it is in a box someplace that I have not opened. Well,
enough for today.
-Betti Avant (69) ~ 21 degrees and sunny,
hopefully no more snow for now
********************************************
>>From: Mike Franco (70)
To: Fritz Strankman (68)
Let me get this straight... you are requesting that
anyone who knew your dad, Fred who MIGHT have some stories
relating to him to please share those memories with you?
Sorry Fritz, I don't think you will get any more than 10 or
20 MILLION stories that are absolute treasures!!! I will
share mine later, but I can't think of a single teacher /
coach more loved, appreciated, laughed with, respected in
my years of school than the leader of "Fred's Reds". All I
can say is you should take all the stories you get and put
them in a book...you will sell plenty. The only problem you
will have is that any publisher would question if most of
our memories were really non-fiction.
I only have five words more to share at this time:
PE wrestling with Tank Roberts.
My best to one of my all-time favorite people, Coach
Fred Strankman,
-Mike Franco (70)
********************************************
>>From: Dan Ham (72)
Re: Nuclear Energy
To: Dick Epler (52)
Thank you for your very informed and insightful
explanation of how things "nuclear" work. I just wished
more people had your understanding and knowledge on the
subject. California and many others would not be in this
mess if the general public were more educated in nuclear
power. I have worked for Siemens Power Corp. for the past
26 yrs. We fabricate nuclear fuel for many commercial
reactors in the U.S. and around the world so I speak with
some experience when I say nuclear power is one of the
safest and cleanest forms of energy there is. I could go on
but there are other forums for this subject.
Anyway, thanks again for your effort in educating us all.
-Dan Ham (72)
********************************************
>>From: Teena Stoner Giulio (79)
Re: MS reports
To: Linda Thomas Richardson (68)
Linda,
I still live in the TCs area and have read several
articles and seen a few television pieces on the
concentration areas of MS diagnoses. Our area is only one
of many. To top it off, I have two family members with MS
who have lived here, one all her life, the other, most of
it. And now that I think about it, last year I ran across
someone I used to work with in the 300 Area who was
diagnosed within the last 8 years with it.
My father, who used to work for Dupont and GE, has
severe asthma (emphysema?), my mother was recently told she
has it, both grandfathers had cancer, one lung, the other
prostate and Parkinson's, both grandmothers had breast
cancer at one time or another, and one also had uterine
cancer. Yes, both sets of grandparents came here to work at
Hanford.
Coincidence? Who knows. I just consider myself
extremely lucky to be healthy and do my best to stay that
way.
-Teena Stoner Giulio (79 Bomber)
********************************************
>>From: William Wildenborg (81)
Re: George Prout pool
I met my wife of 15 years, Janet Wokal Wildenborg (83),
at the (big pool) and chased her till she caught me 8 years
later. Back in those days there were two sessions, 1 to 5
and 6 to 9:45 at .35 cents per. I remember when I was
finally allowed to use the high dive and slide, the rule
for the younger kids was you had to be able to swim across
and back the width of the pool, and breaking of rules
exacted the punishment of (crab walking) laps around the
pool.
Those were the good ole days.
-William Wildenborg (81)
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/16/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
17 Bombers 2 WBs, and 1 teacher today:
Jack Lowrey (49), Jim Grow (51),
Dick Epler (52), Dore Tyler (53),
Vera Smith (58), Burt Pierard (59),
Joel Rubey (59WB), Judy Coppinger (60),
Larry Mattingly (60), Irene de la Bretonne (61),
Judy Willox (61), Helen Cross (62),
Jane Mattoon (62WB), Sandra Genoway (62),
Ray Stein (64), Patty de la Bretonne (65),
Lynn Noble (72), Mike Davis (74),
Kenneth Scheirer (85), Lynn Dunton (Teacher)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Jack Lowrey (49)
To: Ken Ely (49)
Yes, I think I remember the headlight incident with
Charlie Osborne. Also reminds of another one (in which, for
some reason I was not involved). You, Charlie and some
others decided to burn a CHS in the Pasco hi lawn You all
attempted a getaway in Charlie's newspaper delivery truck
with "Read IT in the PI" plastered all over the truck. As I
recall you all were apprehended by the Pasco PD.
To: Dick Epler (52)
Excellent nuclear dissertation.
To: Ken Ely (49), Dick Pierard (52) and Bob Carlson (54)
You all got it right on the story behind the Bomber
symbol and name. This whole issue served to remind me of
1956 when I went on alert during the Hungarian situation.
When I parked my 86 on the hardstand at Sembadh Germany,
they wheeled out a large bomb with a little mushroom cloud
decal on the nose and proceeded to load it on my jet. I
sure knew where the plutonium for that dude came from.
Thank the Lord that none of us had to drop one.
-Jack Lowrey (49) ~ Layton, UT
********************************************
>>From: Jim Grow (51)
There was a meeting in December in Bill Wilkins (51)
office where we were planning our 50th reunion and a big
item was the Club 40. It seems that the class of '51 is
expected to step up and carry the new reformed Club40. We
are not young. We need help. It looks like the new Seattle
women's group [Bomber Babes] would be a good source of young
new blood. Hopefully Annette "Annie" Bradley Forsythe (51)
is going to be a big force in the new Club 40...
-Jim Grow (51)
********************************************
>>From: Dick Epler (52)
Re: Lessons from the Mascot Controversy
I guess I'm a little slow, but I may have finally
learned something about the generation gap and our "modern"
education system from the current mascot discussions.
It occurred to me, when reading this morning's
Sandstorm of 1/15/01, that this controversy isn't really
about finding out when, why and what happened. For many,
truth and accuracy isn't the issue. Rather it's about
defending the value system they were taught. But those who
like truth and accuracy, especially the actual
participants, want people to know why the Bombers were
named for the Atom Bomb. It's like Burt Pierard (59) said
(paraphrasing): "My efforts to support historical accuracy
are not attacks, I just don't want to be ignored." I would
guess he speaks for most of us old timers. On the other
hand, those who want the Bombers to be associated with an
airplane can't imagine having anything to do with a device
capable of ending life on Earth as we know it. I can't
fault the motives of either.
Nevertheless, if I'm wrong and the core issue IS truth
and accuracy, how do we decide what is correct? Well, we
can do what the historians do. We query sources as close to
the event as possible (primary sources of information) for
a reasonable consensus, and then crosscheck it with other
events of the day to put it all in context. Any
discrepancies found (there are always some) will require
re-querying the sources to get another consensus. Generally
the inconsistencies are easily resolved. I'm guessing that
Burt, a rather meticulous sort, did that. Now may be time
for others to do the same, in a dispassionate manner, and
that may be hard.
It's hard to unlearn the things we were first taught
even when confronted with irrefutable truth. And therein
lies the secret of any education system because it involves
K-12 kids. Consider how value systems are taught these
days: Generally, a teacher gives an assignment to write a
paper on a cultural topic where the reference sources all
reflect the preferred point of view. Most students,
especially those who want a good grade, adopt the expected
conclusions. But some just play the game, while others drop
out. This works for most religions, it worked for Hitler's
Youth Corps, it worked for the Communists in East Germany,
and works in our modern schools.
I don't remember these teaching techniques being used
when I was at Col High in '51 and '52. Neither does my
wife, also class of '52. But I see many references in the
Sandstorm from more recent Alumni whose beliefs are based
on a paper they did while in High School. And maybe that
explains a lot of the generation gap on the mascot issue.
One last thing: For those Bombers interested in
researching their family tree, using the approach of the
historians to find truth works well, providing you to do it
while the key people (grandparents, parents, older
siblings, uncles and aunts) are still alive. You'll be
amazed at the inconsistencies, but again, they can all be
resolved if you have the opportunity to re-query your
primary sources. Many of us don't get around to this until
it's too late, when most of the primary sources are gone.
In hindsight, if I had been required to write a cultural
paper in High School, I would liked for it to have been a
family history complete with historical events of the day.
If that were a class assignment, I would guess the many
papers would have made for an interesting (diversified)
discussion with some real and lasting benefits.
-Dick Epler (52) ~ Mt. Vernon, OR
********************************************
>>From: Dore "DT" Tyler (53)
Re: "BOMBERS" "Hutments"
Re: BOMBERS
There is absolutely no doubt that the name originated
with the dropping of our response to the attack on Pearl
Harbor. I am so **** tired of the cult of PCers, apologists
and revisionists that I could, (and often do) vomit.
I, and my family, arrived in Richland (from Lowell, MA)
Sep/Oct '44 just in time to start 4th grade at Sac, later
sent to Marcus (just across Lee Blvd. from home.) I have no
memory of "Day's Pay" until rather recently and I lived in
Richland 'till Jun '59 with time out for 3 yrs military.
Let's just let the Japanese and their apologists revise
someone else's history, lest I mention Nanking, Shanghai
Bataan...
Re: Hutments
I seem to remember my very New Englandish mom referring
to the Quonset Huts as "Hutmuts."
Regards,
-Dore "DT" Tyler (53)
********************************************
>From the MESSAGES page at Classmates.com
>>From: Vera Smith Robbins (58)
I've been trying to find Andrea Bennett (58) for
several years. If anyone knows of her where abouts, PLEASE
email me and let me know. Last known address was in the
Seattle area and she was married to a Gerald Miller.
I'm back in Richland after being gone 30 years. I was
in Florida for 13 years, but yearned to come home. Don't
care for the winters, but the summers are better here than
Florida.
Write anytime. Be sure to put your real name in the
subject box so I'll know it's safe to open. lol
-Vera Smith Robbins (58)
********************************************
>>From: Burt Pierard (59)
To: Ray Stein (64)
I assume that shortly after you hit the "Send" button
for your latest submittal, you realized how silly your
statements about the shape of the various bomb symbols
were. Surely you remembered that there was something called
"Security" that surrounded everything concerned with the
Project. Nobody knew exactly what an Atomic Bomb looked
like until pictures were declassified many years later!
Besides, OUR Bomb was assembled and tested at Los Alamos. I
wasn't terribly surprised to find that they turned out to
look similar to conventional bombs only bigger, much
bigger! They had ovoid shapes, tail fins, etc., and weighed
about 10,000 pounds. The only differences in shapes was due
to the two different triggering mechanisms. "Little Boy"
(the U-235 bomb) was longer and skinnier to utilize the
"cannon" method to fire a Uranium bullet into the Uranium
core and start the chain reaction. "Fat Man" (the Plutonium
bomb, OUR bomb) could not use the same method because the
reaction would start too soon and blow apart before actual
detonation. An implosion method was developed that involved
surrounding the Plutonium core with conventional explosives
and squeezing the core into critical mass, hence the
rounder, fatter shape. These bombs were so huge that they
couldn't just roll them under the "Enola Gay" and "Bock's
Car" for loading. They had to dig a pit (similar to a
garage pit) with a hydraulic lift. They then loaded the
bomb onto the lift, pulled the B-29 over it and lifted it
into the bomb bay.
I agree that Gilmore erred in his reference to the 1944
date but you defended Dale Gier's (48) exact same mistake
in the Veteran's Day Assembly last Fall. Jim Qualheim, RHS
Activities Director, confirmed the date of the name change
as September 1945 by checking the Sandstorm archives so I
believe that issue has been resolved.
I wish you luck in your quest to prove the Day's Pay
name origin by checking the Columbian archives, but
apparently, early returns (Jimmie A. Shipman [51])
concerning the 47-48 Columbian, indicate you are going to
be sorely disappointed. Just like with Florida, I'll wait
until the research is completed.
Atomic Bomber Cheers,
-Burt Pierard (59) ~ Monroe, WA
********************************************
>>From: From the MESSAGES page at Classmates.com
>>From: Joel Rubey (59WB) ~ Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, CA
Jan-12 2:52 pm
To: ALL
I am looking for Rebecca Royce (class of 1959). Please
help. Middle initial, married name, area she lives. It's
important. Thanks. She can contact me.
I did not graduate from Columbia High School. I went
through the 4th grade with Rebecca and then both our
families moved to California. I stayed there for the most
part, but Rebecca returned to Richland and graduated from
Columbia in 1959. I graduated in 1959 from Tamalpais High
School in Mill Valley, CA. I know Rebecca later returned to
California. I talked to her last in 1971 or 1972. No
contact since then. If you have any idea where she is, let
me know, please.
-Joel Rubey (59WB) ~ Tamalpais High School, Mill Valley, CA
********************************************
>>From: Judy Coppinger Owen (60)
To: Trueline Latting Taylor (60)
Trueline,
If you read this, PLEASE contact me at the above
e-mail address.
-Judy Coppinger Owen (60)
********************************************
>>From: Larry Mattingly (60)
Re: Lewis and Clark Quonset Huts
When I was in Mrs. Lester's 3rd grade class in 1951, I
believe we were in the middle hut of three. I think they
were all 3rd grade as Mrs. Eubanks had a class in one of
the others. They kept the weather out and that was about
it. They were warm enough in the middle but near the ends
it was cold in the winter. There were only 3 windows in
each side. Mrs. Lester put me in the back of the class
where I couldn't see out the window as it was just too much
of a distraction for me.
I'm not sure where the name came from but "quonset
huts" were a basic "ship in pieces and bolt together"
shelters developed by the military way back in the 30s.
The English version were called "Nissen huts". Several of
the schools in Richland had them in those early days. They
were the old version of what are now called "portables". I
think the ones at Lewis and Clark were put up after a fire
that burned part of the school in like 47-48?
Someone mentioned that they called them hutments. Don't
know where that came from, but we called them that also.
Re: Hanford tales...
Hundreds of Bombers went on the work at Hanford. It
seems like everybody has their stories of things that
happened at work. Some were funny, some were scary and some
were even hushed up and were not to be repeated. But
everybody had them. I was there from late '60 to late '69.
Toward the end of my work there I was a senior
technician working for an engineer in some very exacting
testing of some ex-reactor (hot elements just removed from
the reactor) fuel elements. We had set up a small hot cell
in the old unused T plant stack gas building in 200 W.
Whenever the elements were out of the shipping cask we
always had a radiation monitor person present. During a
test of a "Tritium Target Element" (They manufactured
Tritium for the hydrogen bomb) there was a release of
Tritium gas out of the cell. We evacuated immediately. But
urine tests showed all 3 of us had received a dose of
Tritium. Not good. However, it is disseminated through the
kidneys. The remedy was to tell us to drink a quart of
water every hour for 48 hours. Coffee, tea, milk and even
beer was acceptable. I don't know how much I actually ended
up drinking but I tried. We were not allowed to discuss the
results with each other, but my urine counts were described
as "very satisfactory". I had gotten rid of something like
95% and what was left was well below the harmful level. I
have not spent one minute of my life worrying about it.
How many hanford workers have been asked "Wow! Do you
glow in the dark?" Sometimes I just can't resist saying
"Only when I pee".
"Happiness is the sky in bloom"
-J Larry Mattingly (60) ~ from my office, Olympia, WA
********************************************
>>From: Irene de la Bretonne Hays (61)
A few years ago, I was "booted" from the Sandstorm to a
newly created Sandbox for simply mentioning that there
might be controversy surrounding the use of a mushroom
cloud to represent the student body of Richland (or
Columbia) High School. My statement (or question) was less
than a dozen words long but so un-nerved or enraged the
keepers of the Sandstorm that I and the topic were exiled.
Today, the Sandstorm allows thousands of words on the
topic, and the various meanings of the mushroom cloud and
bomb are being explored from every perspective. I'd call
that progress. We're never too old to learn. Thanks.
-Irene de la Bretonne Hays (61)
********************************************
>>From: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
To: Burt Pierard (59)
Re: Mom's Triumph In '61
Great story, Burt!! You bet we can call her a Bomber;
after all, she did take the classes at Richland High
(Columbia High School then), and boy do I wish that I had
met her back then to drag me by the ear back that summer
and graduate then. However, if I had, then I would never
had gone to college probably, so best it happened the way
it did. The part in your story about you tutoring your
Mother through math made me laugh. You see, in the second
year of my college courses, I finally decided it was time
to take the math class required even though I was dreading
it terribly!! I was absolutely terrible in my math classes,
barely passing most of them with a D. However, my daughter
had decided to go to college that year (her first) and I
begged her to take the math class with me and help me get
through it. Well, she did and soon into the course realized
just what a task she had gotten herself into!! *G*!! She
would fuss and fume at me and could not for the life of her
understand why I had a hard time catching on. I kept
telling her that to try to teach an old dog new tricks was
a hard job, but definitely not as hard as the old dog had
trying to learn them!! Well, I finally caught on enough to
get through the durn class and even ended up with an A in
the class. Today I do not seem to have as much a problem
with math as I used to. I find myself quite surprised
sometimes when I am able to help my grandson out with his
at times. I now wonder why I had such a fear of the blasted
subject!! Just takes more faith in ones self I suppose. Or
is it just senior wisdom? *G*!
Anyway, I am glad that you were there for your Mother
and that you helped her out. You is a good boy Burt! *G*!!
And did that young man that was complaining about the high
curve your Mom was creating ever graduate that summer or is
he still trying to pass Algebra? LOL!! By the way, he may
NOW know that you were responsible if he reads The
Sandstorm huh? Ah, such is life!
Bomber Best Cheers to Ya,
-Judy Willox Hodge (61) ~ Richland
********************************************
>>From: Helen Cross Kirk (62)
To: Ramona Miller Bruggeman (54)
I think they moved those same Quonset huts over to
Carmichael, and I think I was in 7th grade when we used to
go out there for class. I think it was homeroom with Mrs.
Bern. I doubt parents would stand for them now. They might
be considered unfair, and potentially damaging to the
child's education (who was subjected to such unfair
treatment). Never mind the ideas of adjusting to
circumstances, learning to decide what was really
important, and other possibly important things that could
be learned.
I was delighted to see Mrs. Bern and Mrs. Edwards, also
from Carmichael at our R2K reunion, and both of them seemed
to be doing quite well.
To: Jane Walker Hill (62)
I agree with my fellow 62 classmate, Jane, that we need
Maren's new address so we can get our $$$ into the mail. As
I find I can't go many days without reading the Sandstorm.
It's so interesting because it's about us. Jeff Curtis'
(69) piece was so fascinating. The LeClair's were our
neighbors for all my growing up. Both families were some
of the first ones on Olympia Street. I never had Mrs.
LeClair for a teacher. Boy, do I wish she was still just
down the street, because I would love to talk to her about
ideas for my preschool classes. This is a new venture for
me. I love the little kids, but the planning gets a bit
much.
-Helen Cross Kirk (62) ~ near Cincinnati, Ohio
where it has finally gotten above freezing, and
the low (instead of the high is in the 20s).
********************************************
>>From: Jane Mattoon Carlson (62WB)
To: Jeff Curtis (69)
I really enjoyed reading this -- it's every bit as good
and funny as the Jean Shepherd Christmas story (movie)
about the kid and his Red Ryder BB rifle.
I look forward to the next installment!
-Jane Mattoon Carlson (62WB)
********************************************
>>From: Sandra Genoway (62)
Re: The Green Run
To: Dick Epler (52)
Dick,
Did you work at Hanford; and in what capacity? Are you
a physicist?
There was only ONE Green Run at Hanford, when the wind
(jet stream) suddenly stopped, dropping Iodine-131 on
Richland. I was five (5) years old then and living in our
new house in Richland.
-Sandra Genoway (62)
********************************************
>>From: Ray Stein (64)
Re: Day's Pay Bomber - Richland Bomber
Thanks to all for your interest. Let me answer some of
your concerns by stating the obvious: Just because you
never heard about Day's Pay (me included), doesn't mean
that a Day's Pay - Bomber link never existed. Many people
DID know about the link, even before the mural was painted.
I received this email from a mid 60s grad. "I had the
plane on the back of my songleader bomber jacket and knew
what it stood for because my Dad was an old time Hanford
employee and knew the history of the Hanford project. Keep
enlightening those guys". (Maren, could you scan pg.123 or
130 of the 1962 annual and put the link here)
http://richlandbombers.1962.tripod.com/images/62-123Columbian.jpg
As for "those guys", unless you remember the chant:
"EA-ger . . BEA-ver .. EA-ger . . BEA-ver", then your personal
Bomber experience didn't include Day's Pay. To "enlighten"
anybody, I'm going to need to show you proof or good
reasoning from our old records. I haven't heard from anyone
with a 1946 Columbian, but I'll make my argument without
double checking my memory. Here goes:
If the name change to Bombers occurred in the 45-46
school year and not the year before, shouldn't there be
something in the yearbook about it? Especially if they
dedicated the yearbook to the atomic bomb. Wouldn't you
think that somewhere in the yearbook it would say something
like, "We are so proud of our parents role in making the
atomic bomb, that we took the name Bombers"? Or maybe, "We
had an assembly and decided to call ourselves the Bombers
because of the atomic bomb". I remember looking cover to
cover. There's lots of prose, but nothing like any of the
above.
To: Jimmie A. Shipman (51)
You said, "I didn't see any analogies about airplanes
in this Columbian". (1948) Please look in the Sports Section
- Baseball. Somewhere there it talks about the Richland
Bombers and says, ". . . The "Fly-Boys" emerged victorious.
. ." That's the kind of analogy that only makes sense if
Bomber stands for a WWII airplane.
Thanks for quoting the forward in your 1948 Columbian.
It helps to show that "politically correct" in those days
in Richland meant being all for anything to do with the
atomic bomb.
As to your comment: "Let us go on to more enlighten
topics" I do have another project in mind. I want to prove
that Kennewick Man was a cat herder, who died on the banks
of the Columbia while protecting his large felines from
some short, flat-nosed canines who lived on the other side
of the river.
With Bomber Pride Inside,
-Ray Stein (64)
********************************************
>>From: Patty de la Bretonne (65)
Milk companies in the 50s; Darigold and Carnation is
what I remember. and did anyone elses' Mom skim the cream
off the top of the bottles for her coffee?
Yes, Hutments, I remember. My Dad's shop Ernie's
Typewriter/Printing was the old Paul's Hobby Shop, with the
connected "Hutment". Where did we get that?
-Patty de la Bretonne (65) ~ Seattle, WA
********************************************
>>From: Lynn Noble Paden (72)
To: Teena Stoner Giulio (79)
It is hard to say what may have caused the many
illnesses your family has suffered. As we know there a so
many environmental and genetic reasons why people get sick.
Following a career with GE at the "N and K Reactors",
including a severe radioactive exposure in the early 1950s
which left him with leukemia type symptoms for a while, my
family and I have often marveled at my father's amazingly
good health at the age of 86. While I wouldn't suggest that
or minimize the threats or health consequences of radiation
exposure, I believe there are other environmental causes
which pose a far greater threat than nuclear energy. And --
I say this after living in the "environmentally conscience
state of Oregon" for nearly 30 years, where the Trojan
Nuclear plant was shutdown. But it's confusing because I
live near the Willamette River with toxin levels so high,
that the river life is taking on some very grotesque and
frightening new forms.... go figure that irony and
hypocrisy! Oh, did I mention that we've been asked to
conserve energy because we are in a bit of a crisis?
HMMMMMM!!!!! Now, Maren, I've tiptoed around the politics
of this, so please don't relegate me to the Sandbox just
yet.
-Lynn Noble Paden (72)
********************************************
>>From: Mike Davis (74)
To: Fritz Strankman (68)
Re: Coach Strankman
Your father is someone that I will never forget. I
played basketball at RHS in 1972. This was the year that
the varsity won their 2nd state championship and Mr.
Strankman was the Sophomore coach.
All three teams, Sophomore, JV, and Varsity traveled
together in one bus to all out of town games. The trip to
Wenatchee always involved a stop on the way home to feed
the coaches and players. It was during this stop that one
mischievous sophomore decided to take a handful of plastic
straws back on the bus. Plastic straws - spit ball missile
launchers - get the picture? Anyway the war was on, spit
wads were being launched all over the bus. Everything was
fine until the unspeakable happened - a spit ball had found
the side of Coach Teverbaugh's face!! There was hell to be
paid! Teverbaugh told the bus driver to pull over and in
his unmistakable Teverbaugh style, the coach let the
bplayers know that he was not happy. I think Coach
Strankman was a little embarrassed because it was one of his
sophomores that created the havoc. When we pulled into the
school by the gym, Coach Strankman stood up and told his
sophomore team that he wanted to talk to them in the film
room. A few of us, expecting a Strankman classic lecture
crept up to the vent in the door of the film room to hear
the upcoming lecture. Not disappointing us, it was a
Strankman classic and the line I'll never forget, hearing
it clear as a bell through the vent was the following:
"Listen up, boys! You are traveling with the best
damn team in the state and also the best damn
coach in the state..... no! wait! You are traveling
with the best damn team in the state and the best
damn three coaches in the state!"
The man was a classic! A lot of today's coaches could
learn a little from Coach Strankman. Thank you, Coach.
-Mike Davis (74)
********************************************
>From the MESSAGES page at Classmates.com
>>From: Kenneth Scheirer (85)
Dec-19 3:36 am
To: ALL
I'm looking for Chris Elder or Robert Patrick (class of
82?). Drop me a line if you've heard from them or know
where they are.
-Ken Scheirer (85)
********************************************
>>From: Lynn Dunton, teacher
Re: "Hutments"
To: Doris Brinkerhoff DeFord (57)
I remember hutments. I taught 5th grade in one at
Sacajawea until we were moved to Jason Lee when it opened.
One of the advantages was that we had efficient "swamp
coolers" in them.
During the rare times it rained, the curved corrugated
steel surface heralded its presence.
-Lynn Dunton, teacher
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/17/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
22 Bombers and one Bomber spouse today:
Ken Ely (49), Richard "Dick" Roberts (49),
Don Fisher (50), Dave Brusie (51),
Dick Epler (52), Marilyn Richey (53),
Mike Clowes (54), Tom Hughes (56),
Bonnie Streeber (57), Patti Jones (60),
Judy Willox (61), Gary Twedt (62),
Jim House (63), Gary Behymer (64),
Ray Stein (64), Judi Wilson (65),
Linda McKnight (65), Pam Ehinger (67),
Steve Piippo (70), Peggy Hartnett (72),
Rick Chapple (72), Dave Trent (75)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Ken Ely (49)
To: Jack Lowrey (49)
Yes, Jack you have it almost right. There were 6 of us
that night we went to pasco to burn an "R" on their high
school lawn. We were in Charlie Osborn's bright blue
Seattle P.I. panel truck which stuck out like a sore thumb.
After going through Kennewick, Charlie decided to take the
highlands route and it was there we were pulled over by the
Highway Patrol and returned to Kennewick. After taking our
names, they let us go and we thought we were home free, but
the next day in class, we were all called into Mr. Poore's
(Vice Principal) office. I think we were just given a
warning and sent back to class. I don't remember who the
other 4 were but maybe one of them will come forward and
identify them.
When we were young and foolish, we were young and
foolish.
-Ken Ely (49) ~ Orangevale, CA
********************************************
>>From: Richard "Dick" Roberts (49)
Re: '47 Columbian
Hi Maren,
Picture from the '47 annual showing the 'time out cart'
with Bombers painted across the bomb. I believe this is the
one that Marilyn Richey (53) mentioned that rode in the
trunk of her car in her days. I always wondered who made it
and more importantly, I wonder where it might be today.
Pictured are: The "fab five": Bud Row, Chuck
Larrabee, Orville Marcum, Junior Williams and Gene Conley.
Managers: Allen Neidhold and Dick Roberts.
1947 Columbian Pg XX
1947 Columbian Pg XX text
Re: '49 Class Ring
Sketch of the '49 class ring that appeared in our '49
annual. Another point in favor of the origin of our mascot
name, "Bombers" from the bomb and not the plane.
1949 Class Ring
-Richard "Dick" Roberts (49)
********************************************
>>From: Don Fisher (50)
Re: Bombers
If I remember correctly, we we voted to be the
"BOMBERS", we didn't like the anti-nukes trying to lead our
lives. We were all proud to be associated with the help to
end the war. Remember Germany was working on a nuclear bomb
at the same time.
-Don Fisher (50)
**********
What is it about being a Bomber that is so great? No
where have I ever seen or heard of a group of people so
dedicated to each other and their school as the Bombers
are. I think it's wonderful and I know that no matter where
you go, if you see a fellow Richland Bomber you know you
have found a slice of home. We are proudly flying our
Bomber Banner!!
-Barb Fisher, wife of Don (50)
********************************************
>>From: Dave Brusie (51)
Re: Atomic Bomb - Day's Pay Controversy
Let it Lay
On my wall in my office is two shares of stock for the
B-17 Bomber "Day's Pay". One is in the name of my Mother,
the other is in the name of my Father. I am very proud of
them. I am also very proud to have grown up in Richland,
and to know that the workers there had something to do with
the making of the bomb. I am also smart enough to know that
a person who died on the Arizona is just as dead and is
missed just as much by the family as a person in Japan
killed by the bomb. I also believe that somewhere in this
world there was somebody mauled by a Lion, or died from
Rabies after being bitten by a Bulldog. I also think that
Pirates killed some people in their time who are just as
dead.
I know that this is probably a little bit of bad humor,
but enough already. The Day's Pay served us well, and, yes,
the Bomb saved a lot of lives - both American and Japanese.
I am proud to be a "Bomber" either way.
So believe as you wish!!
-Dave Brusie (51)
********************************************
>>From: Dick Epler (52)
Re: The Green Run
To: Sandra Genoway (62)
Hi Sandra,
On 1/16/01, you asked me a couple of questions, one
explicit and one implicit. In your first question, you may
be asking if I have any special credentials to write any of
this stuff, and the answer is NO, I don't. I'm not board
certified or licensed to do anything. I have a simple BSEE
degree from WSU in Electronics, but I've worked at Hanford
on and off for 45 years, most recently at the FFTF. I left
Hanford in 1995. My only qualification to render opinions
on anything is a passion for truth and accuracy.
Speaking of which, your next question (implicit)
addressed the green run(s). In the political sense, you're
quite correct, there was only ONE Green Run at Hanford.
>From an operations standpoint, however, irradiated fuel
slugs that were run through the dissolver within 30 days of
coming out of the reactor, were sometimes referred to as
green runs, resulting in various amounts of Iodine-131
being released up the stacks. Figures vary, but some
estimate that around 420,000 curies were discharged to the
atmosphere in the first two years of plutonium production.
It was done primarily to meet the war-demands of Los
Alamos. But it was also carefully coordinated with the
prevailing winds to achieve a calculated wind dispersion of
100,000 by the time it was a half-mile from the stack.
Since the half-life of I-131 is only 8 days, in 56 days
(7 half-lives), less than 1% of the iodine would remain.
THE green run you're referring to was featured by the
Hanford Dose Reconstruction Project, published by Dr. John
Till in the early '90s. It referred to an experiment of the
same name that was performed in December 1944 as part of
Operation Bluenose, run by Walt Singlevich, to provide
calibration data for monitoring Soviet plutonium production
by the analysis of fission product gases. Again, figures
vary, but Michele Gerber, the official Hanford historian
writes that: "...7,780 curies of I-131, along with 4,750
curies of Xe-133 were released" in the Green Run. Now,
eight thousand curies of I-131 sounds like a lot, but how
much is that in real terms? Dividing 8000 curies by 124,000
curies/gram (the specific activity of I-131) yields about
0.0645 grams. Maybe you can see how the wind would be very
effective in dispersing this small amount of material.
Dr. Till's project took two years and cost $16 million.
His report clearly states that it's objective is not to
answer any questions nor propose any answers, but merely to
suggest the possible radiation effects on the general
Hanford population from the Government's *intentional
release of I-131* in 1949 (my emphasis). Lacking reliable
data, and being based purely on speculation, there was
really no valid reason to publish this report. It's only
effect, still being felt, was to unnecessarily alarm a
great number of 1949 residents including my wife. I've
often wondered how the increased stress levels might have
affected the incidence of cancer in these people. It's as
if the report's purpose was to pre-program such people to
get cancer. We know there's a connection between stress and
cancer. What we don't know is why this study was
commissioned in the first place. I'll leave that to your
speculation.
Incidentally, it was later found that I-131 was not an
accurate indicator of plutonium processing. The noble gas
Kr-85 was ultimately found to be the only fission product
that could not be easily removed from the off-gasses. And
that's what Francis Gary Powers was sampling in 1960 when
his U-2 spy plane was shot down.
NOTE: Some of the above details were previously provided by
Robert Dupay and Galen Winsor in a letter to the Tri-City
Herald, circa 1990. Unfortunately I no longer have the
newspaper clipping. Any errors, of course, are mine.
-Dick Epler (52) ~ Mt. Vernon, OR
********************************************
>>From: Marilyn Richey (53)
Re: huts at schools
I went to Sacajawea from the 4th grade with Mrs. Lane
and in the 6th grade we had to move into the huts on
grounds. I think there was 5 or 6 on the east side of the
school. The huts were not the most comfortable place to
attend classes. There was Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Margaret Bice
as the 6th grade teachers. Most of the students who had
Mrs. Bice agree she was the hardest teacher I ever had in
my years of school in Richland. But most of that I know
thought she was their best grade school teacher. She made
going to school alot easier having to attend in the huts
than being able to be in the school.. They were hot in the
spring and cold in the winter.
Re: name of Bombers
I have been going through family things that my family
kept when my brothers Don (47) and Alan (49) played for the
football Bombers from 45 - 49 and have been looking at the
programs that my mother kept. I know when my brother Don
lettered in Football the first time he got a letterman's
sweater and there was a BEAVER on the sweater as their
emblem. So that must have been the '45 season. I know they
were called the EAGER BEAVERS. So if they were the Beavers
at that time, the war was over when they changed the name.
Somebody ask COACH RISH - he was hired in '46 season
and they were the Bombers when my brother graduated in June
of 47.
-Marilyn Richey (53) ~ Richland
********************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
Re: Bombs and Bombers
Following Dick Epler's (52) excellent advice to do
research on the subject, but having only limited materials
at hand, here is perhaps an answer. Who Cares! We are
Bombers and that is that.
I can see wherein the ambiguity may lie. The symbol on
the sweaters of the Pep Club during the years 1951 to 1954,
as depicted in The Columbian for the years 1952, 1953 and
1954, is a Bomb.
The marching band, under the able direction of Gordon
Pappas, during this same time frame, marched onto the field
at half time of home games in what was known as "The Bomber
Formation"; i.e. the outline of a four engine aircraft
capable of delivering bomb(s). As an aside, the flag
twirlers simulated the actions of "the bombers" propellers.
Confusing? No. After all, the two airplanes that
delivered "Little Boy" and "Fat Man" were propeller driven
B-29's named, respectively, "Enola Gay" and "Boch's Car".
Now, to further confuse the issue, I cite the following
from Green and Gold Handbook of Columbia High School,
Richland, Washington, 1946:
Page 12 - "HISTORY
"Columbia High came into being in March of 1944 when the
students moved into it from the old high school building.
"Because of the Atomic Bomb plant bringing hundreds of
students here, a complete new system had to be established
for the school in order to accommodate all the new students.
"Activities and clubs were organized by the students
themselves. After many trials and errors Columbia High
School became what it is today--a school that you can be
proud to attend."
page 13 - "CITIZENSHIP
"At Columbia High School the students are proud of
their name, 'Bombers,' Can anyone imagine a student who is
considered successful because he creates no dissention in
his group, does nothing to hold back its progress and
interferes in no way with the work of his companions."
And who wants to go through history know as "The
Atomizers?" Weren't they those things one found (or finds)
on perfume bottles which allow the user to spray (or
"atomize") the aroma to one's body? EGad!
I think enough has been written on this subject.
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54) ~ "Glowing" with Bomber Pride
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Ray Conley (46) sent me a little "Green and Gold Handbook"
from 1946 (it's about 2.5" x 4.5"). One of these days I'll
scan it and put it on the Class of '46 website. -Maren]
********************************************
>>From: Tom Hughes (56)
Re: Quonset Huts at Sacajawea
This is a photo of Sacajawea Grade School with the
original Quonset Huts.
http://richlandbombers.com/allbombers/0gspicsSacT.html
You can see these same huts in the photo of Jim Foster
and Myself on the 1956 Class Roster pages of the All Alumni
site.
Tom Hughes and Jim Foster
-Tom Hughes (56)
********************************************
>>From: Bonnie Steeber Frasca (57)
I have been reading comments about the quonset huts
used for classrooms and it brought back memories of
freezing and sweltering at Sacajawea. I remember having
class in one but can't remember the teacher's name. The
teachers that I remember from Sac are Mrs. Hughes, Miss
MacDonald, and, my favorite, Mrs. Milton.
Of all the memories of fellow Sandstormers, no one has
mentioned the dress code. I remember the only time we were
allowed to wear long pants to school was when it was cold
and we wore them only to and from school. And, God forbid,
you DON'T put a bleached streak in your hair!
Also just a note about my request for responses from
anyone in the Thailand area where I'm currently visiting.
It was great hearing from one who I just missed that had
just passed through Bangkok (D. Theil '56) and one who is
married to a Thai lady and has visited Bangkok several
times (Dave Hanthorn '63). So thanks again Dick and Dave
for responding. You made my day.
-Bonnie Steeber Frasca (57) - Hot and humid in Thailand
while my husband is watching it snow on
the golf course in Tucson!
********************************************
>>From: Patti Jones (60)
HEAR YE HEAR YE HEAR YE
BOMBER BABES LUNCHEON
(Bomber Babes' Moms are welcome also)
To be held monthly on the second sunday of the month
Date: February 11, 2001
Time: 1:00PM
Where: Best Western Executive Inn
Address: 5700 Pacific Hwy. E., Fife, WA 98424 I-5 Exit 137
Phone #: 253-922-0080
Price: $25.00
Please send questions and/or reservations directly to Patti. All
reservations must be in by February 8, 2001. This notice will appear
twice a month.
Thank you to all the Bomber Babes for taking the BALL
to make the luncheon go forward.
Bomber Cheers
-Patti Jones (60) ~ Browns Point, WA
********************************************
>>From: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
To: Larry Mattingly (60)
Re: The Huts and Glowing
Gee Larry, I was in that same hut with Mrs. Lester the
following year that you were when I was in third grade. And
yes, it was colder than a well-digger's a** in there in the
winter. I think I MUST have had the same seat that you
vacated the year before as I also tended to do a lot of
window gazing! *G*! I had not remembered anything about a
fire at the school; I just remember them putting the huts
there because they were running out of room for all of us
"Bomber Brats". LOL!
I like your response about the "do you glow" question.
I just always answered the question with a question:
"What's dark?" Shut them up don't ya know!! *G*!!!!!
To: Helen Cross Kirk (62) and Jane Walker Hill (62)
Re: Maren's Address
There have been several inquiries lately from you
Bombers out there about where to send your dollars for the
support of our Sandstorm and I am quite happy to see that
you are aware and conscious of just how much time and
effort that Maren does put into getting us our "paper"
every morning. Let's face it, we put out money for the TCH
and it ain't nearly as much fun to read as our beloved
Sandstorm!!!! So, yes, fellow Bombers, let us support our
Queen (Maren) and assure ourselves that we keep that
"paper" coming!!!! If you cannot get her to send you her
address, let me know and I definitely will let you know
where to send your bucks!!! Ya hear that Maren?!!! *G*!!!
Bomber Best Cheers to All,
-Judy Willox Hodge (61)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Yeah, Judy, I hear ya.... I ain't deaf.... *GRIN* -Maren]
********************************************
>>From: Gary Twedt (62)
I really, really hate it when I'm stupid. Being
ignorant is a close second. Usually given enough time and
thought, I can get it. Sometimes I figure it out even
before Vanna. After all these years, I even understand most
of the lines in "Blazing Saddles". Everyone in Bomberland
gets it but me. So, I'll bite. I'll be the butt of the
joke. Just tell me please, before I really go off the deep
end, what the hell does *G*!! and LOL!! mean?
P.S. If its one of those Valley Girl things, just tell me
I wouldn't understand.
-Gary Twedt (62)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[YOU ARE NOT ALONE, Gary!!
*G* means Grin and *LOL* means Laughing Out Loud. -Maren]
********************************************
>>From: Jim House (63)
To: Joni Lee (65)
Your claim, that because Ray Stein (64) may have seen
you with a cigarette you quit smoking forever, is
impressive. That is a truly rare example of peer pressure
being cited as a reason for good to prevail over evil.
Sorry smokers. After reading your story, I plan to take my
wife and daughter to Spokane this summer in hopes Ray still
has the same effect.
Now for the hot topic. I have never been interested in my
genealogy, having always just accepted that I am a BOMBER
regardless of origin. Hopefully at some point, my good
friends on both sides of the issue will agree when the
preponderance of evidence determines who's my daddy.
Bomber cheers,
-Jim House (63) ~ currently in Texas
but not really sure where I came from
********************************************
>>From: Gary Behymer (64)
Re: Atomic Bomb or Day's Pay
I searched thru "Richland Day" program for an answer...
I see it on page 7. Let's ask any of the following...
assuming several are still alive. Bill Ziegler,
Larry Rynd, Homer Harman, Paul Beardsley (;-), Tom Purton,
Johnny Bloom, Bob Hopkins, Bob Carriger, Blake Miller,
Whit Halteman, Bob Chambliss, Jack Pierard,
Tommy Stanfield, Don Dayton, Paul Nissen, Rex Vaught,
Clint Kessel, Ed Sullivan, Chuck Hartley, Russ Stanford,
Hank Carlberg (General Chairman), Ernie Dean and a handful more.
-Gary Behymer (64) ~ Now living in downtown Colfax, WA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[I believe both Johnny Bloom and Jack Pierard are both
deceased. -Maren]
********************************************
>>From: Ray Stein (64)
Re: Coach Strankman
To: Fritz Strankman (68)
I've told this story before and it's one of my favorite
memories of your father:
In 1960, the Chief Jo Warrior football team was
unbeaten and headed for a showdown with Carmichael. At our
last practice before the game, Coach Strankman said
something like, "You know if we win this game, you have to
carry the coach off the field, so we better practice". Big
Jim Coyne (64) and Alan Jorgensen (64), I think, were
selected and they hoisted up our beloved coach as we
paraded around the field, yelling and laughing. That year
had been so much fun with our "Statue of Liberty" play and
a variety of hidden ball tricks. Well, sure enough, as
those final seconds of our victory ticked off, those big
linemen came out of the game. In short order there were a
bunch of Jr. High kids whooping, hollering, and carrying
around a man who knew what kid sports were all about!
Please give my best to your Dad,
-Ray Stein (64)
********************************************
>>From: Judi Wilson Johnson (65)
Re: Western WA Women's luncheon (aka Bomber Babes)
Thanks to the great ladies that showed up for our very
first west-side luncheon. It was such fun. Lots of great
conversations, laughter and fond memories. Everyone who
couldn't make it should try for the one in Feb. (second
Sunday of the month at 1pm at the Best Western Executive
Inn in Fife).
And a special thank you to Patti JOnes (60) for getting
the ball rolling.
Bombers really do rock!!
-Judi Wilson Johnson (65)
********************************************
>>From: Linda McKnight (65)
I am also wondering what happened with THE SANDBOX...
all this controversy about whether we were named for the
"Days Pay" Bomber or the Atomic Bomb, seemed to be the
venue for the beginning of THE SANDBOX. Oh well, I remember
my class ring had a mushroom cloud on it. The end result of
an atomic bomb explosion, but what mechanism dropped the
bomb, an airplane called a Bomber. We all know what was
being produced out at Hanford when we were growing up. We
may not morally or politically agree about Hanford's
production in those days, but we are still fiercely proud
of who we are and where we came from. We are the Bombers
and we will always be THE BOMBERS... and besides I have
always found it a real asset to not have to turn a light on
in the middle of the night to find my way to the
bathroom... that little green glow just lights the way...
Bombers Forever
-Linda McKnight (65) ~ now residing in Milwaukie, OR
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[We'll be looking for the first edition of THE SANDBOX in
2001 before too long. Al's getting it ready now. -Maren]
********************************************
>>From: Pam Ehinger (67)
Re: All this talk about our school emblem!
As the song says:
We are the Bombers
Mighty mighty Bombers
Every where we go-o
People want to know-o
Who we are
So we tell them
We are the Bombers
Mighty mighty Bombers
B O M B E R !!
Well that's how I remember it. There ain't no plane in
there!! I'd never heard of a Day's Pay until someone
mentioned it in here!
I'd hear that the kids at the now Richland High (will
all ways be Co-High to me) made T-Shirt that read: Made in
the USA, then there was the Mushroom Cloud, under it was
Tested in Japan!! I know it's not PC!! But look who started
it! We just ended it!! Sorry if I've stepped on any toes.
But our name came from THE BOMB!! No no airplane!!
Bombers Rule!!
-Pam Ehinger (67) ~ Thorp, WA
********************************************
>>From: Steve Piippo (70)
To: Ray Stein (64)
Ray,
Right on and "Two Thumbs Up." My cheerleader daughter
has an airplane and my football son and graduated daughter
have the bomb, the 'R' and the cloud on their jackets
(which aren't cheap). You serve history well!
To: Fritz Strankman 68
Toivo used to coach 9th grade football with Fred
Strankman at Chief Jo for about 14 years. I remember seeing
all those black and white 'Mid Valley League 9th Grade
Football Championship' photos in the dinky coaches/PE
office. Toivo has said many times 'Fred Strankman was one
of the best football coaches around, anywhere." Toivo felt
Fred was an excellent football coach. Fritz, you want some
stories? Give Toivo a call and he'll put them on paper for
you. Toivo's not big on e-mail.
-Steve Piippo (70)
********************************************
>>From: Peggy Hartnett (72)
Re: the mascot
So if this is from the forward to the '47-48 annual:
Then this Forward:
"We, in this great United States of ours, have in our hands
the most powerful weapon ever known to mankind --- the
Atomic Bomb. It is ours to use as we see fit --- weather in
war, as a form of destruction, or in peace, to bring the
world riches and wonders it has never known before, thus
making it a prosperous and peaceful place in which to live.
Now, with the eyes of the world upon America and our Atomic
City of the Northwest, we present this 1948 COLUMBIAN."
I want to know "whether" or not there was an editor--you
know, in the pursuit of truth and accuracy.
-Peggy Hartnett (72)
********************************************
>>From: Rick Chapple (72)
Re: Nuclear related illness
Responding to some recent comments I've been reading in
the Sandstorm about illness and the nuclear community.
In late 1999 I had a spot on my face that would not go
away and would itch and get irritated. After a couple
months I had it removed and checked. The results were
Lymphoma cancer. The first thing the Oncologist asked me is
have I ever worked around radiation. The answer was yes,
having worked at Exxon Nuclear for 4 years in the 70's. I
have lived in Southern California since 1979 and the doctor
has never heard of "Hanford", but he said the only way this
type of cancer could be on my skin is from working around
radiation. Took 20 years to show up.
Anyone else out there developed cancer from working
with nuclear fuel?
So you know, I went through Chemotherapy to be sure we
got it all and am doing very well now. I Have a whole new
outlook about life and what is important and what is not.
-Rick Chapple (72)
********************************************
>>From: Dave Trent (75)
Been reading about the genesis of our mascot with
interest. I'm sure one or the other (certainly not both) is
correct, but does it really matter? The BOMBER dropped the
BOMB that won the war and saved many lives on both sides! I
for one, am satisfied with that. I can be proud of both
origins, whichever is truly correct (not politically).
Now, can we move on to another great debate, like who
the toughest paddle guard (do they still have them at RHS?)
in school history might have been? This might be a
difficult one though, as the ones I feared most (and
therefore remember most) were 6 plus classes ahead of me!
...or perhaps we could discuss who the most dangerous
intramural basketball players were? (Although I don't
remember names, there were some mighty nasty Seniors on the
team I was on as a Sophomore. If I remember, we called
ourselves the hatchet men (mostly football players). These
guys would put a hurt on anyone, anytime, for the win! I
only know that I'm still happy to have played WITH them,
and not against them!)
-Dave Trent (75)
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/18-19/01
********************************************
=====> EDITOR'S NOTE ===== EDITOR'S NOTE <=====
The Sandstorm laptop's hard disk has crashed!
That, in short, is why the January 18 issue did not
go out on schedule. Until Maren's machine is repaired
I shall be preparing and sending out the Sandstorm.
You can help me A LOT by doing two things:
i) sign your submission (including maiden name if applicable)
ii) include your graduation year (or woulda-been year)
If you want your submission to appear in a timely
manner send it to:
mailto:sandstorm@richlandbombers.com
I receive (and have for a long time) a copy of everything
that goes to this address. If you send your submission
directly to Maren it WILL NOT be published until such
time as her computer is back in the fight and she can
review her e-mail.
Bomber cheers,
Richard Anderson (60), Assistant Editor ~ Richland
And, this said, ON WITH THE SHOW!!
********************************************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
19 Bombers today:
Annette Bradley (51), Hugh Hinson (52),
Darlene Trethewey (56WB), Betty McElhaney (57),
Stephanie Dawson (60), Judy Willox (61),
Sandra Genoway (62), Jeff DeMeyer (62),
Tim Smyth (62), Linda Reining (64),
Jim Vache (64), Marsha Goslin (65),
Rick Maddy (67), Phil Jones (69),
Steve Piippo (70), Jim Anderson (72WB),
Debra Dawson (74WB), Pamela Scott (80),
Jenny Smart (87)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Annette Bradley Forsythe (51)
Hello to all 1951 Bombers.
Although we have sent out a flier to all those for
whom we have current addresses, we want to remind all
those who read this newsletter daily, that our Reunion is
September 7, 8, & 9, 2001, at the Shilo Inn, Richland.
If, by chance, you have not received a flier, or this is
the first you have heard about it, please send me an e-
mail at the address above, and I will arrange to put you
on our current mailing list. A new flier, with
registration forms, is in preparation and is to be mailed
very soon. Yes, we are gathering in conjunction with the
Club 40 reunion at the same time.
To: Jim Grow (51)
Thanks, but I'm not volunteering to take on a full-
time job with Club 40. We all owe Dale Gier and his
faithful few a deep debt of gratitude for their 14 years
of faithfully organizing and keeping the records of the
Club 40. With the various indications of interest, I
believe we have a good chance that a qualified and
dedicated group will come forward and lead it.
Bomber cheers to all,
-Annette Bradley Forsythe (aka Annie) (51)
********************************************
>>From: Hugh Hinson (52)
To: Dick Roberts (49)
Dick, those are amazing pictures; they bring back a
lot of memories. Take care.
-Hugh Hinson (52)
********************************************
>>From: Darlene Trethewey Dunning (56WB)
I'm reading all about whether we were the Bombers,
after the bomb; or the Bombers, after the plane. I grew
up in Richland in the 50's; I don't remember ever hearing
about the plane till reading about it here. Then this
last summer I got the chance to read the caption on the
wall with the plane. Very impressive story. And very
interesting which I really liked. It's something else to
be very proud of. But when I was attending Richland "Col
-Hi" we -- I -- believed that our mascot was the Bomb and
we were proud of it at that time. It's my feeling that at
a later time in history this was not really acceptable in
our society so it was changed to the plane, so as to be
able to keep the name. I have had a hard time at times
trying explain to others why we would have wanted to have
a bomb as a mascot to brag about. I like both stories
and believe they both belong with our history.
-Darlene Trethewey Dunning (56WB) ~ Portland, OR
********************************************
>>From: Betty McElhaney Hudspeth (57)
Re: Huts
If I have counted right I was in the 3rd grade in 1947
and we were in huts on the north side of Lewis & Clark. I
don't remember being too hot or cold but remember the
good times we had. I ran into Mrs. Fellows (she was one
of my favorite teachers) at the Public Health a few years
ago and asked her if she remembered the huts. She did
and also remarked what a fun time it was. I had to laugh
when a few years ago a mother was having a fit because
her daughter was in a portable and was traumatized
because of it.
The huts were not there because of the fire as the
fire was the next year when I was in Mrs. Feivez's 4th
grade class and we were moved to the kindergarten
classroom.
I know everyone has heard enough about whether we were
named after the Bomb/Plane; the bomb was dropped by a
bomber and the bomb made a mushroom cloud and it's all
incorporated in our symbols. Right!!!!!
To: Jeff Curtis
Keep the stories coming; we have enjoyed them so much.
If you ever write a book about growing up here I will be
the first in line to buy it. It would make a great
movie, just as the Christmas Story is. Had to watch it
again this year.
Proud to be a Bomber
-Betty McElhaney Hudspeth (57)
********************************************
>>From: Stephanie Dawson Janicek (60)
I was at Lewis and Clark from March of the 1st grade
(moved to Richland from Vancouver) to November of the 3rd
grade (moved to McMurray Street and attended Jefferson).
My 1st grade teacher was the still-charming Marie
Phillips, 2nd grade teacher was Mrs Scott, and 3rd grade
teacher was Louise Fellows who later taught Home Ec at
Chief Jo. Our 3rd grade classroom was the farthest
Quonset hut as I recall (the one closest to Safeway). I
saw Louise at a blood drive last year -- hadn't changed a
bit! Speaking of Safeway, in the 2nd grade Mrs Scott
used to send one or two of us to Safeway during recess or
lunch to buy her candy. I cannot remember for sure what
it was -- were there M&Ms in 1949-1950?
I haven't noticed much reminiscing about either
McMurray (and the Shanks' circus net) or Jefferson
Elementary, or did I just miss those issues?
-Stephanie Dawson Janicek (60)
********************************************
>>From: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
To: Gary Twedt (62)
Re: Computer Jargon
Oh Gary, that was so darn funny. I feel terribly
responsible for your moment of embarassment however since
I am the one who has been using those symbols so often
lately. I guess I should send you the list of computer
jargon to redeem myself, huh? *G*!! No, ya ain't stupid
or ignorant, and I ain't no "valley girl" -- we is just
both good ol' BOMBERS through and through!! LOL!! Hey,
I always thought that you were in the Class of '61.
Weren't you? *G*!!
Bomber Best to You,
-Judy Willox Hodge (61-fer shure *g* (little grin))
********************************************
>>From: Sandra Genoway (62)
To: Pam Ehinger (67)
I believe there are two corrections to make in your
rendition of the "We are the Bombers" cheer.
We are the Bombers
Mighty mighty Bombers
Every where we go-o
People what to know-o [people WANT to know]
So we are [WHO we are]
So we tell them
We are the Bombers
Mighty mighty Bombers
BTW, this was my personal favorite Bomber cheer! And,
I later related it to stories I heard about the people of
Seattle who made it a point of "walking on the other side
of the street" (or way around) whenever they met any of
our kids on the streets (wearing their Bomber green and
gold jackets, etc.) during "State" competitions. I used
to think this was soooo funny!
-Sandra Genoway (62)
********************************************
>>From: Jeff DeMeyer (62)
Hello all,
I am looking for the following people for our 40th
class reunion:
Carol Buchanan Krinke, Doug Burns, Judy Clarke
Tembreull, Gary Curtis, Mary Jane Douglass Maxine Dowd,
Ron Dykes, Ken Elliot, Roger Farber, Randy George,
Margaret Gibson Tucker, Douglas Goldsmith, Patricia Hahn,
Clark Hall.
Any information on these people would be greatly
appreciated: City, State, phone #, or e-mail addresss.
The graduation year was 1962, from Richland (Columbia)
High School. Please send replies to .
Bomber cheers,
-Jeff DeMeyer (62)
********************************************
>>From: Tim Smyth (62)
Re: Regis Philbin
Some man from Richland was the in the hot seat last night.
Anyone know him?
-Tim Smyth (62)
********************************************
>>From: Linda Reining (64)
I miss my Sandstorm! ;( Am I the only one that
didn't receive it, or is everyone having difficulties?
Maybe the power outages in CA are affecting my receiving
the Sandstorm.
-Linda Reining (64) ~ Bakersfield, CA
"rolling" black-outs are threatened for tomorrow
and ??????? ;(
********************************************
>>From: Jim Vache (64)
For what it is worth, my recollection is that the
Columbia Basin News was started by various union
interests who were fighting the TCH's anti-union policy
for its employees -- does any one else remember the
informational picket line (usually one fellow, reading a
paperback book) at the Herald's office in Uptown
Richland? I hope this is factual enough to get into the
Sandstorm, rather than being bounced to the Sandbox!
-Jim Vache (64)
[Well ...... after a looooong meeting, the editorial
staff agreed to publish ...... but, it was a close call.
-Maren & Richard]
********************************************
>>From: Marsha Goslin Brehm (65)
To: Gary Twedt (62)
You aren't the only one in Bomberland who didn't get
it! Thanks for being the one to ask about "G" and "LOL".
I experienced both of them after reading your entry
Wednesday!
-Marsha Goslin Brehm (65)
********************************************
>>From: Rick Maddy (67)
Re: Nuclear Energy
What a fascinating subject amongst the other
fascinating subjects in here (i.e., bombs, mushroom
clouds, U235 --or was there a 9 in that one? -- Day's Pay
... or not, hot tar on Sanford, etc.). Richland alums
talking about things that as a kid I just passed off like
I would imagine many of us did. A sort of, yeah, we know
there are nuclear juices, potions, and chemistry sets out
there; and move on to the more present, important, task
of chasing girls and shooting jackrabbits (I speak for
myself here). And yes, I feel bad about the rabbits. But
now I am wondering if the FBI, CIA, NSA, UDT up the
Columbia, and BCC people ever come in here to see what
some are saying in the Sandstorm. I still see nothing,
hear nothing, and know nothing, literally. Very painless
attitude I must admit. Or am I being a little paranoid
here? We all know what "goathead" means, but do they?
To: Joni Lee (65)
As I go through life I have seen how quickly one
little thing at any given moment can change your life
forever. Can you imagine how different it could have all
been if Ray had been smoking a cigarette?
-Rick Maddy (67)
********************************************
>>From: Phil Jones (69)
Ray Stein (64) hit it on the head when he stated that
Fred Strankman "knew what kid sports was all about". It
took me a few years to realize that however.
My junior year of high school was George Rallis's
first year as Bomber head coach. He arrived with lots of
fanfare and enthusiam for his new ways. He had new plays
and new terms and new practice schedules. I was a
starting "cornerback" right off and didn't know what that
was. (It was "defensive halfback" I found out.) Rallis
had come from U of I with some pretty new fangled ideas
and methods ... that didn't work. We were pounded in
practice, had players in the wrong spots, and lost
consistently. The only group of kids in the program who
appeared to have any fun was the JV'ers, or "FRED'S
REDS", coached by ... guess who? (That name, by the way,
came from the practice jersey colors that identified the
players' status on the team. First team offensive
players wore gold, first team defensive players wore
green or black, I think, and the JV players wore red and
were perceived as fodder.) Anyway, Fred sort of defied
convention and moved kids in and out, drew up plays in
the dirt in the huddle while the system called for some
long complicated series of sets and motion and pass
patterns. At the time I sort of viewed Fred's methods as
sort of Mickey Mouse when compared with the Big-Time
varsity system and methods. But guess what? Fred's
teams had fun. And Fred's teams won games. It dawned on
me that maybe those two things are connected. Later on
Fred coached at Hanford High and was the A.D. when I
coached out there. I can honestly say that Fred didn't
get caught up in the "stuff". His teams had fun, were
well coached, and were generally successful. I haven't
forgotten those coaching lessons. Fritz, give your dad
my best.
-Phil Jones (69)
********************************************
>>From: Steve Piippo (70)
To: Ray Stein (64)
I believe Butch Bishop scored the winning touchdown in
the Chief Jo/Carmichael game you refer to. There is a
black and white photo of that Chief Jo team with you
standing up front wearing an arm cast. The original
photo is in the hands of Bill Bishop (70) who is making a
print(s) and then sending the original photo to Butch
Bishop, who lives near you in Spokane. Lots of history
in the photo. Butch Bishop was my neighbor and we little
kids in the neighborhood didn't mess with Butch.
-Steve Piippo (70)
********************************************
>>From: Jim Anderson (72WB)
To: Greg Alley
Geez Greg, how come, when you talk about the '69
Carmichael/Chief Jo game, you only mention Steve Neill,
Brian Coyne, and Steve Davis, and you don't mention
probably the two true stars of the team, the real twin
towers, Jim Bixler and myself? Chief Jo lost but, as I
recall, Carmichael cheated.
-Jim "Bo" Anderson, CJ 69 (RHS 72WB)
********************************************
>>From: Debra Dawson Fogler (74WB)
To: Burt Pierard
I grew up hearing that girls do language, boys do
math. This was a self-fulfilling prophecy in my Richland
education. I earned two D's and two F's in 9th grade
algebra at Chief Jo Jr. High (1970-71) although I was an
A-B student in all other disciplines. I can remember
venting frustration over why they use letters instead of
numbers. Numbers I can understand!!!
Years later I took algebra in college, understood all
of the concepts and procedures, and earned A's. Frankly,
I was expecting to be totally lost and to fail miserably,
but I had to bite the bullet to earn a college degree. I
was very pleased that I was as successful at algebra as
at anything else in college. Part of my success I
attribute to better teachers. Mr. Matthews and the other
one at Chief Jo weren't good at helping kids like me who
didn't understand algebra from square one. We're talking
X+1=2. I was so resistant to X that I couldn't come up
with 1 if my life depended upon it!
Part of my early failure was that mediocrity was
expected of me as a female born in 1956. Since I didn't
immediately get it (algebra), my teachers (male) assumed
I never would. Why waste time on a girl-child in a math
class? They don't have the mental capacity. Most of my
failure was that I bought into that concept -- I heard
it, had trouble, and I interpreted the problem as my own
inadequacy.
Your mother can probably relate to my own story. I
would be astonished if she's never heard that girls can't
do math. We certainly can, but it is much more difficult
when we don't get any help or encouragement. She is
lucky to have had you as a tutor. Don't forget that she
will encounter discrimination in the workplace (yes, in
2001) and will continue to need support and encouragement
to achieve her career goals, whether or not they involve
algebra.
-Debra Dawson Fogler (74WB) ~ Cheney, WA
********************************************
>>From: Pamela Scott Hobson (80)
RE: Nuclear related illness
I was born in Richland in '61 and lived there until
'81. I've recently been diagnosed with an overactive
thyroid gland (aka Grave's Disease). Since I am, in
general, a very healthy individual, I wonder if there is
any connection. Obviously, I'll never know if there is a
direct correlation, but I am curious to know if there are
other Richland natives/residents experiencing similar
health-related problems and how they are treating those
illnesses.
"Go Bombers"
-Pamela Scott Hobson (80) ~ Newport Beach, CA
********************************************
>>From: Jenny Smart Page (87)
As recently as the late 80's, our understanding of the
"Bombers" referred to the bomb, and not the airplane (all
the letter jackets and posters, etc. had "the Cloud", and
we even occassionally had someone rolling out a big bomb
shell of some sort). If my aging memory serves me right,
it's only been within the last 10 years that the emphasis
has been placed on the aircraft and not what was being
delivered across the ocean. Just another indication of
how our history is being rewritten by those who don't
want to remember what really happened because it might
hurt someone's feelings.
Incidentally, I would like to remind all you local
(Richland & West Richland) Bombers to remember to VOTE
YES on the March 13, 2001 Richland School District bond
issue. It's a well thought out proposal and will be of
benefit to all our students. It's the right thing to do
too!
Still bleedin' green & gold in the thrivin' metropolis of
West Richland,
Jenny Smart Page (87)
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/20/01
********************************************
Hoops Report:
1 2 3 4 OT
Bombers 9 27 42 60 71
Southridge 17 34 51 60 67
Whippet thin junior Andrew Fannin provided the spark in
the 4th quarter and the overtime period for Bombers to
pull out a 71-67 victory at Southridge. He led the team
with 24 points. Bombers played sluggishly through the
first three quarters -- their first lead was not until
the 2:56 mark of the fourth quarter -- but regained their
composure in time to secure the victory.
-Richard Anderson
********************************************
19 Bombers today:
Bob (Mike Clowes) Carlson (54), Gary Scholl (56),
Judy Cameron (60), Howard Kirz (60),
Fred Phillips (60), Mike Lewis (60),
Judy Willox (61), Sandra Genoway (62),
Frazier Botsford (62WB), Joni Lee (65),
Jim Blakely (67WB), Geoffrey Rothwell (71),
Jan Jacobs (71), Nancy Stillwell (71),
Jean Eckert (72), Debra Dawson (74WB),
Kim Edgar (79), Patti Felch (87),
Diana Williams (??)
********************************************
>>From: Bob (Mike Clowes) Carlson (54)
First of all, let me offer my condolences on the loss
of Maren's laptop's hard-drive. When the word first
broke there was a foolish assumption that it was Maren
who lost the hard-drive. However, I'm sure that if she
is refreshed with a few Spudnuts, her recovery should be
imminent. At this juncture I would not recommend a
"Grand Slam" at Denny's. On the other hand, it would
seem that the loss of a hard-drive in a laptop is not an
uncommon thing. But, in lieu of money, please send
flowers. **g**
For Debra Dawson Fogler (74WB)
The bit about "math is for boys, literature is for
girls" is nothing more than a mythconception on the part
of some misogynistic math teachers. But, fear not, I
did ok in math up to algebra. It was when the teacher
wanted to substitute numbers for the letters we were
adding, subtracting, multiplying, and/or dividing that I
got lost. And just ask yourself, when was the last time
you REALLY needed Pythagoras's theorem. (It's simple to
remember: pie are round, cornbread are square.)
For Jim Vache (64)
You are correct, sir. The Columbia Basin News was
started for just those very purposes. After a short
period of time, it became known as the "Washbasin Wipe."
In all fairness to the the union faithful out there, it
was not a very good paper. If anything it was more anti-
Bomber than the TCH. I believe, in the CBN's last weeks,
the number of subscribers dropped considerably, when even
staunch supporters were seen buying the TCH ... IN
PUBLIC!
Bomber Cheers,
-Bob (Mike Clowes) Carlson (54)
********************************************
>>From: Gary R. Scholl (56)
Hi to all you bombers out there.
I guess I was too busy cooking burgers at Tim's to
have worried about the Bomb; however, I went on to work
with many of them. I never even thought about the
material I was handling and where it might of come from.
I could have been loading stuff from my home town on
those airplanes and not even realized it.
I wonder how many of you pre-58 Bombers even remember
the drive-in that sat on the corner of Uptown and sold 10
cent burgers? I think it turned into a mortuary after I
left.
I lived in North Richland and West Richland for
several years and never heard of the plane until this
year -- oops, last year -- when I started to read the
Sandstorm.
Thanks for the memories,
-Gary R. Scholl (56)
********************************************
>>From: Judy Cameron Ayers (60)
Stephanie Dawson brought up something I have not
thought about for decades: the circus net the Shanks put
up in their entire back yard all summer long for all the
McMurray neighbors to play in. It was like one huge
trampoline. What fun we had bouncing around on a circus
net on a hot summer day and cool evenings with not a care
in the world! I have no idea where they got the circus
net but it was THE place to play in our neighborhood. Of
course there was no supervision and we could bounce and
jump all we wanted to with as many of our friends as we
wished. No concern for liability here. Many fell off
the circus net to the ground but I don't remember anyone
getting seriously hurt. We had a wonderful neighborhood
of kids: the Botsfords, Blanchettes, Monsons, Janoses,
Dawsons, Bostons, Henrys, Shanks, Coach Rish, and many
more all up and down the block. We constantly played
games, hide and go seek, etc., in the evenings and at
dark encompassing the entire neighborhood. And we had
our share of riding our bikes behind the DDT truck also
as it cruised the neighborhood. Our parents had it so
lucky that they could let us play anytime and anywhere
without a worry about our safety. They were not worried
about the DDT, just worried we may hit something since we
could not see where we were going while riding our bikes
in the fog. Thanks, Stephanie, for jogging my cobweb
mind. What great memories!
-Judy Cameron Ayers (60)
********************************************
>>From: Howard Kirz (60)
To: Richard Anderson (60), Assistant Editor
Richard,
I see you've finally hacked into Maren's computer and
successfully hijacked the Sandstorm. Hah, '60 rules!
Does this mean we'll all soon be getting great Johnny
Mathis [uh .... NO! -RA] and Beatles [good idea! but ....
-RA] clips with our daily dose of Bombermania or are you
otherwise engaged these days?
Best,
-Howard Kirz (60)
********************************************
>>From: Fred Phillips (60)
Re: PC Bombers
A few people have commented that the original mascot
might have been the Day's Pay, a B-17 bomber, because
being named for an atomic bomb wasn't PC.
Personally, I agree with the folks who were there when
the name was adopted. It was the bomb, not the plane.
By 1960, the bomb appeared on the sweaters of the song
leaders and the pep club, and in the middle of the
basketball court. We hung out at Atomic Frontier Days,
bowled at Atomic Lanes, and snacked at Fission Chips.
There was never any mention of an airplane, none
whatsoever, but the mushroom cloud appeared everywhere,
including the cover of our annual and on our class ring.
To many of us PC means, simply, "Proud of the Cloud."
-Fred Phillips (60) ~ Bellevue, WA
********************************************
>>From: Mike Lewis (60)
I remember John Ball school. It was Quonset huts for
sure; they looked like culverts. We entered in the
morning through the end that stuck out toward the street.
Each had a big number over the door.
There was a project; we were all supposed to bring a
project. I didn't know what was going on, so my father
built a toothpick bridge and we went to the fair and he
told everybody I had built it. I knew they all knew I
couldn't build that; it was a cantilever construction.
(I wasn't to know what that was for years.) I was so
humiliated I could not imagine existing. Eventually I
was made into a school patrol boy. Still have pictures
of the class graduation. Come to think of it, I have
also scanned both the American Modeler articles about the
Richland Rocket Society into .jpg files, about 17Mb (600
dpi color), if anyone wants them.
One image that really hangs on is of walking to John
Ball in the morning watching my oxford shoes.
A kid named Gary Gross and I played hooky one day and
we took .22 shells down by the river and hit them with
rocks until they zinged off; sounded just like the cowboy
movies. As usual, both my parents went through the
ceiling.
Also the huge june bugs, and the sand and dirt, and
the Cub Scout meetings in the trailers. One time we were
stuffing rubber animal molds with plaster of paris -- I
didn't know what was going on -- and when I went home,
there were all these OTHER Cub Scouts in MY home for
dog's sake and it was dark and I thought I couldn't go in
so I stayed outside and threw rocks on the roof and they
all came running out and chased me; tried to hide behind
the house next door but they found me.
One time there was a Cub Scout skit. They were little
vignette plays. I was, uh, to play the part of a boxer's
wife. I cannot imagine where the idea for that role had
come from although Dad had been a boxer in high school in
Arkansas. So the boxer gets knocked out in the ring and
I'm supposed to get up and hit the other boxer with my
purse and I just sit there; cannot really imagine this is
real. Mother comes over and prompts me ... I get up and
play it through.
The trailers in the summer. Oh, they were hot. My
dad made some hot wine in a little still made of bottles
and hose; it worked ... we shared it with the neighbors.
I think the cover was that it wasn't in zirconium cans.
-Mike Lewis (60)
********************************************
>>From: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
To: Marsha Goslin Brehm (65)
Gee, I didn't mean to confuse anyone, honost! *G*!!
If ya like, I would send you a list, but you may not
approve of some of the jargon. Most is okay, just a
couple that may offend.
To: Debra Dawson Fogler (74WB)
Boy, did you ever hit the nail right square on the
head Debra. My frustration was the same as yours --
letters instead of numbers! Yeah, looking at it now, it
all makes sense, but like you, I didn't get a lot of help
from the teachers at Carmichael either. So, I, as well
as Burt's mother, can relate to your story oh so well!!
It took a lot of courage to even face a math class in
college, didn't it? It sure did for me, but I bit that
same bullet that you did, even though I did have my
daughter's help. Hats off to you for rising above the
stigma and doing so well in your college math!!
To: Pamela Scott Hobson (80)
Yes, there are others with the same thyroid problems.
I was diagnosed with it in 1968. I have also had cancer,
a ruptured appendix, and a gall bladder removed. I also
have an illness that some poo poo, but those millions of
us that have it would be more than happy to pass it on to
them and let them have the experience of it. Then let's
see if they poo poo as loudly! *G*!! It will be an
ongoing controversy as to whether these things were
created by the Hanford area or not -- go figure. Me -- I
just flow with the "glow"!! LOL!!
To: Roger Gress (61)
Hey Roger, I finally got it. I now remember who Doug
Curtis was. Duh!! *G*!!
To: All Bombers
Let's give a BIG hooray and thanks to Richard Anderson
(60) for carrying on for Maren in her time of need.
Thank you Richard for delivering our "paper" in the
mornings!! We love ya!!
-Judy Willox Hodge (61) ~ Richland
********************************************
>>From: Sandra Genoway (62)
To: Pamela Hobson
Usually when persons are considered the "victims" of
nuclear fallout from Iodine-131 (irradiated iodine) they
show signs of *hypo*thyroidism (underactive thyroid)
which sometimes is an indication of thyroid cancer.
However, I think anything to do with the thyroid of
anyone who lived in the Tri-Cities and other parts of
Eastern WA, Western ID, and Northeastern OR, should be
examined thoroughly and followed carefully.
If you are interested in learning more about the
Hanford Downwinders, you can contact Judith Jurji at
[contact Sandra for info -Ed]. Also you can contact
Jennifer at the Hanford Litigation Office in Seattle at
206-285-8390 or 1-800-628-3147 if you want to know more
about this and whether you may be eligible to be a
plaintiff in this class-action suit.
Hanford studies show that irradiated emissions were
occurring during the years of about 1947 through 1986,
and you definitely were there during those years.
Let me know if you have other concerns or questions; I
will try to help.
-Sandra Genoway (62)
********************************************
>>From: Frazier Botsford (62WB)
Re: Francis Coehlo
In the late 50's, Richland incorporated. One of the
projects Francis Coehlo gave to the art class I was in
was to design a seal for the new town. My entry was a
circle with the mushroom cloud in the center with several
words around the circumference. I forget most of them,
but PEACE and WAR were prominent across the top, with WAR
being in a more pronounced font. Mr Coehlo sat me down
and discussed it, asking me if I didn't think that
emphasizing the mushroom cloud and "WAR" was glorifying
war? That while it sometimes became a necessary evil,
wasn't the emphasized "WAR" focusing too much on the
unfortunate portion of Richland's mission? Also he
mentioned that while the mushroom cloud was a
recognizable symbol, it did, in fact, also represent the
annihilation of two entire cities, innocents and all.
Did I really want to focus on this? I redid it.
While I remember many of the teachers mentioned here,
I loved Francis Coehlo. He was the most important
teacher in *my* youth. With all the classes about color,
texture, design, and other art lessons I got from him,
this lesson about humanity is what I most remember about
the man.
-Frazier Botsford (62WB) ~ (overcast and dreary in DC)
********************************************
>>From: Joni Lee Rabena (65)
To: Rick Maddy (67)
I am still extremely proud of our Bomber basketball
team and wear my glow-in-the-dark mushroom cloud t-shirt
whenever I can annoy the most people! As to your
comments about smoking, I shudder even now to think about
it.
My life has been filled with those little moments that
can change one's life forever. All you have to do is
turn right instead of left and not be afraid to look
someone new in the eyes. You must have read the
Celestine Prophecies?
-Joni Lee Rabena (65)
********************************************
>>From: Jim Blakely (67WB)
It would be nice to find out what became of our
teachers from Spalding:
1st grade -- Miss Dorothy Pugh (55-56)
2nd grade -- Mrs. Becky Remaly (56-57)
3rd grade -- Miss Sue Odekirk (57-58)
I loved Miss Odekirk because she appreciated my
intense interest in science and allowed me to draw a
full-size rendering of the Explorer I satellite on the
floor of the classroom in chalk after it was launched.
4th grade -- Mrs. Dodds (58-59)
And from Jefferson 4th grade -- Miss Holmes
I was in class at Jefferson with Bobby Wright (RIP)
who made the transfer effortless by introducing me to all
the kids. Our mothers were friends from Kadlec Hospital
nursing. It was surprising how much better the marble
players were at Jefferson. I came over with a large bag
won from Spalding and soon lost most of them.
-Jim Blakely (67WB)
********************************************
>>From: Geoffrey Rothwell (71)
Regarding Rick Chapple's (72) discussion of skin
cancer: we should all be concerned. While not a
dermatologist, I watched my mother (Dona) fight melanoma
for 10 years before she died in 1992. I feel that Rick's
oncologist's first question borders on malpractice. His
first question should have been, "Has anyone in your
family suffered from skin cancer?" If so, strike one!
His second question should have been, "Did you suffer
from repeated sunburn as a child?" If so, strike two!
The third most important factor is whether one has fair
skin (considered the third strike). How many of us used
to spend hours at "the pool" burning ourselves? Everyone
of us has been exposed to (the sun's) radiation. I moved
away from the sun's intensity in Eastern Washington, but
still avoid the sun as much as possible. Most of us have
at least one strike against us and all of us should be
using sun screen and wearing hats, and watching our skin
for unusual changes, particularly in Richland. Is there
more awareness of skin cancer in Richland these days?
-Geoffrey Rothwell (71)
********************************************
>>From: Jan Jacobs Steffens (71)
From the FIRST Bomber Alumni Guest Book:
Re: 30th reunion (?)
Hi Class of '71. How about our 30th reunion? Haven't
heard any info -- but looking forward to it! Post dates
so we all can make plans!
-Jan Jacobs Steffens (71)
********************************************
>>From: Nancy Stillwell Yoes (71)
From the FIRST Bomber Alumni Guest Book:
I just wanted to say hi to all the old (and we are
getting up there) guys and gals of the Class of 1971.
Hope all is well with everyone.
I have been married for 28 wonderful years and have
two boys. My oldest is 26 and married, and just
graduated from WSU. My youngest is 21 and in the Navy in
Japan. My husband and I live in Walla Walla. He is
vice-president for a software company and right now I'm
just staying at home.
Anyway that is a short rundown of my life. I would
love to hear from anyone of you.
Take care,
-Nancy Stillwell Yoes (71)
********************************************
>>From: Jean Eckert Imholte (72)
Re: Algebra "Overcomers"
I completely agree with Debra Dawson Fogler's
observations about math anxiety and lack of encouragement
for girls back in the 70's. It was my experience that
years later when I took algebra classes to finish college
(in a lab format with NO teacher) I understood the
concepts and aced the classes. In retrospect perhaps no
teacher was better than one who taught poorly and did not
give time to explaining things to girls who "didn't get
it". Probably the social stigma of admitting ignorance
had something to do with it too. I always had good
grades in everything else and would sooner write off math
as "stupid" than to admit to not understanding it. It
was a nice revelation to find out that I could handle
math and that it didn't have to stop me from my goals.
Goes to show you that you are only limited by what you
think you can't do.
As I recall, our teacher, a certain Mr. Unruh, did
give us hours of entertainment however. For that Kerry
Carraher and I will be eternally grateful. We were, no
doubt, utterly immature and loved to imitate his nasal
droning. Ahh ... such memories.
-Jean Eckert Imholte (72) ~ Longview, WA
********************************************
>>From: Debra Dawson Fogler (74WB)
The mushroom cloud is alive and well at Richland High
School. My nieces got their letterman jackets last year.
On the back is a big green and gold "R" with a mushroom
cloud rising above. Inside the cloud students can have
personal messages embroidered. Since they are twins, one
has "The Good Twin," the other, "The Evil Twin." I'm
sure there are a lot of interesting letterman jackets on
campus these days.
Re: Thyroid Cancer and Hanford-related illnesses
I received a few inquiries as to what information I
have about this subject. I was rather surprised that
everyone who grew up in Richland doesn't know about the
deliberate release of radioactive isotopes when GE ran
Hanford in the late 1950's. When I say deliberate, I
mean the company honchos said, "Hey, let's send some of
this stuff airborne and see what happens to the locals."
And they did. As of the 1970's or 80's, it became public
knowledge, and HEAL (Hanford Education Action League)
fought for full disclosure of the resultant health risks,
dates, kind and quantity of exposure, etc. I'm not
making this up; it's all public record.
I live in the Spokane area (HEAL headquarters), so I
looked in the phone book for their number. Alas, they
are no longer listed. I did find Hanford Health
Information Archives 1-800-799-4442. I haven't called
the number myself, so I don't know what information they
provide. Research suggests to me that any middle-aged
downwinder who develops thyroid cancer can probably trace
the disease to Hanford. We were exposed to radiation as
fetuses and children, when we were most vulnerable to its
effects. Although symptoms may not surface for many
years, it is a direct result of this early damage.
(Plutonium exposure works the same way. A speck inhaled
today will eventually result in lung cancer. It's not a
matter of if, but when.)
The type of radioactive isotope released during the
late 1950's has been found to increase the occurrence of
thyroid cancer/problems among those exposed. I believe
the thyroid gland stored the bulk of the radioactive
material, and was thus most greatly affected.
Fortunately for us, it is a highly treatable cancer type!
I have more information for those interested; e-mail
me directly.
-Debra Dawson Fogler (74WB) ~ Cheney, WA
********************************************
>>From: Kim Edgar Leeming (79)
To: Richard Anderson (60)
Thanks for picking up the ball and keeping the
Sandstorm up and running. I look forward to reading it
every morning before I start work!
Maren, good luck with your hard disk, I hope it up and
running soon. I know I'm lost when mine crashes.
Bomber Cheers!
-Kim Edgar Leeming (79)
********************************************
>>From: Patti Felch Walrath (87)
From the FIRST Bomber Alumni Guest Book:
Anyone out there know where I can find Greg Mace and
Muriel Hoppe? I'd love to get in touch with them. I'm
living in Alaska, married, with 2 kids. Megan is 5 and
Colin is 2 1/2. Anyone want to get in touch?
-Patti Felch Walrath (87)
********************************************
>>From: Diana Williams Francis (??)
Hi Pamela (and other Bombers!),
I have been fighting illness for almost 15 years. I
have hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis
(underactive and autoimmune thyroid disorder). I also
have fibromyalgia and the docs suspect lupus and/or
sarcoidosis. Many docs have suggested a connection to
Hanford and thyroid problems as well as autoimmune
disorders. I have had several docs refer to the thyroid
surgery scar as the "Hanford Necklace". Whatever -- the
good news is thyroid problems are relatively easy to
treat -- although they cause havoc on the rest of the
body!!!
I have battled poor health for quite some time,
whether or not it is related to Tri-Cities would be
interesting. I am also curious about our cancer rates.
We should not have lost Lisa Wood to such a nasty cancer.
Respectively,
-Diana Williams Francis (??)
***************************************
***************************************
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/20/01 ~ Jeff Curtis II
********************************************
>>From: Jeff Curtis (69)
A Day in the Life, Part II
Continued from Saturday 1/13/01:
"Jeeeeefffff......Luuuuunnnnnnch." I could hear my mom
calling from across the street. I had worked up a pretty
good appetite what with all the morning's gunplay and
skydiving and knee banging and worm slime and all so I
bid Roger adieu and blasted off for home across the
street snatching up my pop gun from the lawn as I headed
indoors for lunch. The sun was getting pretty high in
the sky now and it was really starting to heat up. Might
be a good day for a trip to the big pool.
[Author's note: that was a literary segue, or what passes
for one, the author being a writer of limited experience
in serialized prose. Or any prose really. I suppose
just recognizing the fact that I probably needed a segue
speaks well of my intention not to make a total ass of
myself in this forum. To term it in another manner, if
you don't understand the paragraph above, and after
reading this still wish to, you will have to check out
last Friday's Sandstorm for Part I.]
Breakfast was a fairly standard Cheerios-and-milk deal
most mornings in our home but lunch could be a rather
"iffy" affair. Making lunches for three growing boys
everyday before schooltime was no small challenge for the
woman of the house. During the school year Mom had a
cold lunch assembly-line operation going in high gear (we
were fairly religious brown-baggers) each morning before
we took off for class. It was a process with which the
engineers responsible for the "interchangeable part"
philosophy of the Ford or Colt organizations could have
found no fault. She laid out twelve slices of Snyder's
Bread ("The big white loaf with the big red band") in
pairs with three lunch bags standing at attention right
behind them. We each got two sandwiches a day and one of
them was usually a P,B, and J. The other was always the
disturbing variable. Would it be the ever popular
bologna and mayonnaise? Or the exotic olive loaf and
sandwich spread? Or....shudder....the dreaded liverwurst
and Cheeze Whiz.....gyeeeeck! We really looooooved THAT
one. Those got dumped untouched almost without
exception. What the heck is Cheeze Whiz anyway? More
like some viscous polymer compound colored with Yellow #5
than a viable dairy product. I'll bet it would scare the
bejesus out of a real cow. Maybe they drill for it. At
any rate there has to be a whole bunch of processing
associated with its manufacture. A bit more processing
and they probably could make clothing or jogging shoes
out of it. In fact, in serious consideration of those CW
sandwiches we tossed out, logic tells me that although
bread and meat have long since succumbed to the natural
process of biodegradation, the "cheeze" substance
(word....cheeze....using....loosely) is most likely still
substantially intact, leeching out from some landfill to
taint the aquifers. You know, it's probably still even
edible (word....edible.....using....very loosely), once
you cleaned it up a bit I suppose. And how could you ask
for anything that would bring out more of the natural
flavor of gooey yellow plastic than bovine organs ground
up into a speadable, pink-gray paste. MMMMM....now
them's eats!
But, as usual, I drift. Mom would start at one end of
the "bread line" slathering and slicing lineally down the
counter on her way to sandwich creation nirvana, till she
reached the far end and then would work her way back
flipping the tops on each, sliding them into their own
waxed sandwich bag and dropping a pair into each lunch
bag. I think I had a Roy Rogers lunch box for a while
but quit carrying it when the ridicule became too much to
bear. Eighth grade I think. Then three flicks of her
practiced wrist to plop in a bag of chips, and three more
to insert a Sweetie Pie for dessert (another form of
plastic food with just a touch of wax for texture) and
"Whallah"! Pretty much the same lunch I ate every school
day for ten years or so was ready for my brothers and me
to tote off to school. Don't talk to me about your
school cafeteria, hot-lunch chili recipes, or how to bake
those famous cinnamon rolls. I had COW-GUTS PASTE AND
YELLOW PLASTIC CHEEZE FOOD, BABY! Ahhh the fifties.....
Somehow on the day in question I managed to escape any
obtuse "modern" lunch food and found a quite lovely tuna
fish sandwich (it was probably a Friday) on my plate,
sitting happily on our pumpkin-orange Formica kitchen
counter. I remember the Formica color very well because
I just saw it on a Brady Bunch rerun the other night in
their kitchen. Now there's a home decorating endorsement
that's easily ignored. So that day lunch was a quick
gobbling of the three "T's": tuna, tater chips and Tang.
I loved Tang. Astronauts or no astronauts I would have
loved it. It was kind of a beverage parfait. You know,
it started out kind of wan and diluted, like Gator Aid.
Then as you drank down further it sweetened up a bit.
Finally, at the bottom, it was like getting dessert.
Depending on your preferred ratio of Tang-to-water, there
was usually a sugary sludge clinging to the bottom that,
holding that glass upside down for three or four minutes,
would ooze onto your tongue. A very sweet and very tart
glop of gluco-citric heaven.
Suitably fueled up from our midday break, my brother and
I went to our room and donned swimming suits and thongs.
Mom gave us each a towel and quarter for the pool. So,
suited up, cash in hand, and towels draped over our
necks, we headed out into the blast furnace that was a
summer afternoon in the Atomic City.
I remember Mathew Broderick in the movie version of Neil
Simon's "Biloxi Blues" complaining about the Mississippi
summer heat. "Africa hot" I think he called it. "Tarzan
couldn't take this hot," he panted. Welcome to Richland.
Scorch and sizzle, fry and refry, the desert sun did its
solar best to melt you into the ground. Or the car seat.
But it was all we knew and for those of us who had been
born and raised there, it was just the way things were.
Much like the rain in Seattle, if it keeps you from being
active, well, you just aren't going to do anything at
all. Oblivious, my brother and I headed out to
Sacramento Street, cut across the Spalding Elementary
playground, headed up Williams to the Mayfair\Pennywise
Drug parking lot, on to Swift (a real boulevard) and down
the hill to the pool. All without breaking too much of a
sweat but anxious never the less for the respite the big
pool always offered.
The Richland Municipal Swimming Pool, as it was known in
the days before George Prout was paid homage, was a
spectacle to behold. It was back then, the largest
municipal swimming pool in the state or so I was told. A
huge turquoise oasis ready to cool your heated brow in
its watery depths. And for just fifteen cents. My
brother and I handed up our quarters and received our
change. I tucked my dime into a tiny pocket on the
inside of my suit. I thought the little, hidden pocket
was pretty cool and would have found something to put in
it even if I had no change. We then took a right turn
into the men's changing room. Although some seemed to
relish the idea of wearing street clothes to the pool and
changing into their swimming togs in that room, most of
the kids I swam with felt that public nudity was
something to be unexceptionally avoided, both personally
and in the voyeuristic observation of others, if at all
possible. The horrors of Junior High P.E. and the
associated gym showers (mandatory for a grade) were
unknown to us at the time and at this age it was purely
an option, or not as the case may be. Kind of a no-
brainer. We shed our thongs and towels alongside many,
many others under a bench and proceeded to the pool area.
We still had one obstacle to overcome however. I guess
that they didn't trust us to be cleanly little tykes, or
maybe it was just a brief but brutal rite of initiation
for passage to the pool deck. But for whatever the
reason, one and all were forced like sheep (it was the
only way in) through an area where there were overhead
showers running constantly. Showers that were, I swear,
fifteen to twenty degrees colder than the temperature of
the water in the pool. Hey, we were HOT! We had just
walked a mile or so in conditions that would have had
Captain Gallant of the French Foreign Legion crying
"Mommy" in ten minutes. I think that my heart stopped,
briefly, several times a season from thermal shock
induced by the contrast in body temperature experienced
in that narrow hallway. Oh yeah, and I was SOOOO
purified once through them and out the other side.
Running as fast as you can through a shower will not wash
away much. And cold wet dirt is still dirt. Well, mud
if you will, but whatever it was, it was going with me
into the pool.
But once that gauntlet was passed, the pool beckoned,
laying before me, a huge vista of cool, sparkling,
refreshing......wow, the place was a ZOO! Hundreds of
kids leaping, splashing, jumping, yelling, dog-paddling,
and water fighting everywhere you looked. Kids on the
pool deck, kids on the diving boards, kids sitting backs-
to-fence, their backs soon to be covered with those
cyclone fence diamonds. Laughing, screaming, even rough-
housing and horseplay was at hand, signage forbidding
such activities being defiantly ignored. An invisible
cloud of chlorine hung over the entire area, its
unmistakable aroma rising from the blue waters and
invading the nostrils of the masses assembled with an
acrid chemical assault. Who cared? We ran behind the
ubiquitous mosquito sprayer each and every single time
was dragged by a jeep down our street, happily inhaling
God only knows how much DDT. Well...God and the guys
from the Benton County Mosquito Control District. A
little chlorine gas was nothin'. You could call it a
kind of Big Pool "incense".
I stood at the edge of the 3' end of the pool and
pondered my entrance methodology. To ease in and
gradually adjust to the water temperature or just go for
it and leap? It couldn't be any worse than the glacier-
fed showers that I had just endured. So I opted for the
latter, took a few steps back and hit the edge of the
pool deck on a dead run, leaped out into the void and, in
an instant and a half, was enveloped in the dense cool
water that I lived for every summer. With a loud
"SCHUUUNGK", the incredibly busy din of the pool area
instantly ceased, muffled for the moment by the blanket
of water above. Rising from the watery depths, I broke
the surface, felt my feet gain solid purchase on the pool
floor and stood up. It was the 3' end of the pool after
all and the water only came up to my tummy.
"Tweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" came a completely obnoxious
shrill from above. "NO RUNNING ON THE DECK!"....."YES,
I'm talking to YOU!" came the bullhorned voice from above
accompanied by an accusing finger pointed right at me. A
lifeguard had seen my entry technique and had not
appreciated it one bit. Too bad, it was some of my best
stuff. By the time I could react, he was already yelling
at someone else for another infraction of the rules.
Lifeguards must have gone home with throbbing headaches
every night, voices horse from screaming at us about
every little thing. You couldn't run on the deck. You
couldn't hang on the ropes that divided the three depth
areas. Only one kid on the diving boards at a time. No
climbing the towers and throwing cups of ice water on the
lifeguards. I honestly don't know HOW we had any fun.
Throughout the afternoon I worked my way progressively to
the deeper areas of the pool until I eventually found
myself in the 12' end. I grabbed the gutter and hoisted
my drippy self up to the pool deck. This was the day I
was going to finally take the plunge off of the "high
dive", the three meter board. Or was it? I had actually
lined up for it a couple of times before and then
chickened out at the last minute. Then one day I saw
what appeared to be a five year old girl fearlessly
flinging herself off the end of the board and realized
that I had to conquer this demon or I wouldn't be able to
live with myself. When you lined up for the high dive
you could climb up the ladder and wait at the top if you
were next, while the kid before you defied pain and
death. I stood on the top rung, fists clenched to the
metal pipe. I was hoping for a minute or two to build up
some nerve when the kid on the board just ran out to the
end and dropped off, easy as you please. I hesitated.
"Hey, kid....get going!" came an impatient voice from a
rather stocky kid below me on the ladder. "Okay," I
thought, "You can do this." Pretty unconvincing.
Nevertheless, I managed to unlock my fingers and step up
onto the high board. "Sweet Mother Of All That Is Good
And Sacred is it ever HIGH up here!" Way, way higher
than the absolute ceiling in Roger Smith's now famous
parachuting sycamore tree from this morning. But that
little girl did it. If she could....well I guess I had
to. I walked slowly out to the end of the board. The
pool didn't look nearly as big from up here. And the
surface of the water seemed below the cloud deck. For a
moment I wondered if it might actually be possible to
miss the water from this altitude. "Hey, get movin'!".
Chunky was getting pissed. Well, it's now or never. I
closed my eyes and stepped off the end of the board. No,
no swan dives or jackknifes or cut-aways. You kidding?
I just pointed my toes and dropped straight down.
Falling, falling, falling...."ka-WHOOOOOOSH!" and into
the water. I marveled at how hard the water had suddenly
gotten as I slapped through its surface. Down, down,
down momentarily pummeled by water pressure until my toes
touched the bottom. I opened my eyes and saw that the
surface of the water was now as far above me as it had
been below me when I was on the diving board. I allowed
myself to gently float to the surface. "ka-BOOOOOOOM!"
(I told you that this was a noisy place). The Stay-Puft
kid next in line had finally run out patience and had
executed a picture perfect, I-give-him-a-ten, can opener
just as I broke the surface. And, just as I took a gulp
of air. A blast of water filled every orifice. Eyes,
ears, nose, and throat were assaulted by hydrostatic
forces beyond my control. I really didn't care all that
much. Choking and stinging I managed to haul myself out
of the water focusing solely on the fact that I had done
it. I had thrown myself with abandon upon the fates and
had survived, no thanks to Rotundo-Boy and his can
opener. I found an open spot on the deck and proceeded
to lie out for a while, warming in the sun and basking in
the glow of accomplishment. Surrounded by shivering,
blue-lipped water babies I was at peace with the world
and, for the time being, with myself.
When I again opened my eyes I had been thoroughly baked
on my back and was lying in a layer of pool-water that
covered the deck. I noticed how warm the ever present
puddle water was and felt the rough concrete of the pool
deck poking my skin from cheek to toe. I also noticed
that each and everything I looked at was now swathed in a
fuzzy, blue-white haze. And we all know that eyes blurry
from a chlorine pickling, puckered and wrinkling skin on
the palms of your hands and berry blue lips shivering
with cold even though it was ninety-eight degrees out,
were the three universally recognized indicators that it
was time to call it a day.
I scared up my brother and headed back into the men's
room. We found our towels and dried off. I took a
mental assessment of my condition. My back was crispy
and red, my eyes bloodshot and my ears were full of water
that sloshed way down deep when I tilted my head to
either side. All in all, a pretty darned successful
afternoon. I truly felt that I had gotten my money's
worth. But wait! I remembered that I still had a dime
left and it instantly started burning a hole right
through that tiny pocket on the inside of my swimming
suit. There was no question as to its purpose. Tastee
Freeze was calling and I was listening.
You really couldn't leave the vicinity of the Big Pool
without a stop at Tastee Freeze. It was established
protocol. For that dime I could choose between a nice,
soft vanilla or chocolate ice cream cone or they could
hold it upside down and plunge it into a bowl of melted
chocolate that instantly hardened upon contact with the
cold ice cream to become, magically, the highly revered
"dip-top". They could also dribble nuts or sprinkles and
other assorted toppings to your taste but the mighty dip-
top was my fave. There was a method of properly
devouring a soft, dip-top. First, the chocolate shell
needed to be eaten carefully yet quickly enough so that
the ice cream beneath didn't have time to melt into a
leaky mess. In fact, while working through the outer
shell, vigilant watch had to be kept on the bottom edge
next to the cone part for drippage and timely licks were
in order to lap up any that managed to find its way out.
Once the eating of the shell was completed, several wide
licks, counter-clockwise around the sides of the cone and
several more in the opposite direction quickly turned the
rapidly liquefying dairy treat into a very well managed
affair. A tongue-swoop over the top, around the side to
the left, and again to the right, pause and repeat.
Never a drip, never a mess. Once I had licked and lapped
my way down till the ice cream was level with the top of
the wafer cone, I would carefully chomp away the top
portion until I had nibbled it down to the narrow
"handle". If I had been careful enough, the ice cream
that was inside the part of the cone I had just eaten was
still there and the whole thing now looked just like a
tiny, little ice cream cone which I would happily lick,
lap and nibble till I came to the waffling at the very,
very bottom of the cone. In a soft cone, this area was
also always filled with the last little bit of ice cream,
not so, usually with the hard stuff. A scoop couldn't
jam it all the way down there. But Tastee Freeze ice
cream would flow like magic and fill every crevice.
I popped the last bit of the cone in my mouth and
realized that it was time to hit the trail for home. We
had walked down to Tastee Freeze through Columbia
Playfield and I don't know why I never noticed till now
but I wasn't wearing my thongs. I didn't remember
wearing them down from the pool either. Funny the things
that slip right by you when you are focused on ice cream.
I must have left them under the bench in the men's locker
room. While I may not have paid much attention to the
fact that I was shoe(thong)less on the way down the hill,
the minute I stepped out of the Tastee Freeze parking lot
and onto the road that led to the playfield I became
instantly aware of three things: 1) the road was rough
and hurt my feet 2) the road was hot and burned my feet
3) I was facing a long walk home with burning and hurting
feet. I reached the grass and let out an audible
"Ahhhhhh." I could walk up to the top of Swift pretty
much all the way on the lawn, but after that it was going
to be bad. Any true Richlander realizes with great
humility the ramifications of finding one's self without
footwear in the summer desert. My little piggies were
going to take a beating....all the way home. Sorry. I
did check back with the Lost and Found "Department" at
the pool but my thongs were history, in all the hubbub of
the afternoon someone had....uhmmm...walked off with
them. Again, sorry. Well this was just great. The
surface of sidewalk and roadway reached their peak daily
temperature at about this hour of the late afternoon and
to make matters worse the city had been resurfacing a
good many of the streets. This process consisted of a
truck driving down the street oozing some form of black,
molten tar all over the place and then another truck
dumped loose gravel on top of it. Ironically, a dip top
with nuts comes to mind. The truck that NEVER came by
was a steam roller. The normal flow of daily traffic was
expected to eventually embed the rock into the tar and
eventually it did. But for a considerable time just the
two ruts where the cars stayed centered in the road were
the only finished paving. The rest of the street was a
gravel quarry for weeks if not months and chipped paint
jobs with little splotches of sticky, black tar decorated
numerous automobiles. It was also no fun to try to walk
on. Sidewalks were painful but much cooler than the
black surface of the street on your feet. But walking
barefoot across one of those newly graveled streets was
really a test of endurance. The folks that walk across
beds of live coals to demonstrate their self control or
faith or lack of good sense would think twice I'm sure if
they ventured out onto a newly "paved" Birch Street and
immediately had hot tar and gravel affixed to the soles
of their feet. I managed to stumble and tippy-toe my way
back to the Mayfair Grocery parking lot which was an
older pave job and covered with loose stones (ouch, ouch,
owee, ouch, ouch), not as bad as the demented repaving of
the roads but still very painful to a pair of scorched
and battered dogs. But I gritted my teeth and with a
final burst found myself inside the grocery's air-
conditioned walls. The cold floor tile immediately
greeted my abused feet with nearly instant relief. It
felt like a little piece of one of the cooler regions of
heaven and a second "Ahhhh." escaped my now very un-blue
lips.
After a sufficient time to cool the toes, I set out again
down Williams, buzzing up into yards as much as possible.
I also discovered that the white line down the middle of
the street is the coolest surface, other than lawn, on
which to walk. I tried that for a short distance but was
really not endearing myself to those behind the wheel and
was in danger of becoming a traffic statistic. So I
limped and hobbled my way on the more acceptable
sidewalks and crosswalks, finally arriving at Spalding
playground where a huge expanse of grass carried me most
of the rest of the way to Tinkle Street. Then a quick
block and a half and I was back a the little X-House I
called home. And just in time for Cap'n Cy too! Cable
TV and cool programming from the big city, Spokane, had
arrived.
While taking the final few paces to the beckoning safety
of my front lawn, I managed to plunk my left foot down on
a vine of tack-weed that was snaking across the sidewalk
and one of the goatheads buried itself in my heel.
"Yeeeeeooooowww!" Those things were the worst. They
could flatten bike tires and even pierce thongs. Next to
honeybees, they were about the most painful thing upon
which to tred. I sat down on the front lawn and plucked
the offending thorn from my now fully abused foot, also
picking off small bits of gravel that were glued to my
sole by sticky, black tar.
"Jeff, where are your thongs?" my mom asked, "And you
have chocolate all over your mouth!" So okay, maybe I
didn't eat that dip-top as carefully as I described.
Nobody's perfect.
-Jeff Curtis (69) ~ Seattle, WA
********************************************
To be continued next week....
********************************************
********************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/21/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hoops Report I
Hoops Report II
10 Bombers today:
Ralph Myrick (51), Charles Cox (56), Jay Siegel (61)
Judy Willox (61), Jeff Demeyer (62), Ray Stein (64)
Mike Franco (70), Peggy Roesch (71), Elizabeth Williams (85)
Crystal Stahl (??)
********************************************
Hoops Report I:
1 2 3 4
Pasco 15 25 34 52
Bombers 15 23 40 57
Tierney 0, Buck 10, Jones 4, Fannin 15,
Stowe 9, Kafentzis 2, Neill 11, Robbert 6
Fumble eyes admission: Andrew Fannin scored 24 points
against Southridge -- I reported the total for a player
from the other team -- sigh.
-Richard Anderson
********************************************
Hoops Report II:
1 2 3 4
Ellensburg 11 30 42 59
Bombers 36 58 80 103
Wallace 26, House 26, Simpson 2, Stein 22,
Webb 15, Smith 2, Compton 2, Ott 2,
Holmes 0, Dowis 0, Toner 6, Denler 0
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Ralph Myrick (51)
Someone wondered why Jefferson Elementary School was
never mentioned in any memories. I wondered, too. One
good reason was that most of the kids went to Hanford.
I started teaching at Jefferson in the 1968-1969
school year. I took Frank Demonay's (sp?) place. His
class was already formed in the fourth grade. Mr. Wilson
placed all the sta-nines of 7 and better in Mrs.
Orchard's fourth grade class, then to Mrs. Swisher's
fifth grade class and then to Frank's class. That is
what I walked into. And, I can tell you, that was a
great class. I think they taught me more than I taught
them. One memory from this class that really made me
proud was the time we visited the museum in the Federal
Bldg. It basically dealt with nuclear ideas. The man in
charge got these guys and gals together and started
asking questions about the atom, etc. The answers he got
back blew him away. The questions got harder and still
they blew him away, and these were just 6th graders who
were not supposed to know very much.
The next year I went down to 5th grade taking Ted
Coat's place. I also inherited the school patrol, boys
that is, because Mrs. Anderson had the girls. At that
time, girls could only patrol halls and not go outside to
control crosswalks. The next year I inherited the girls
patrol too. Girls limited to halls didn't last too long
because a young lady by the name of Virginia Gutherie
challenged me. She asked a simple question, "why girls
couldn't go outside with the boys?" I couldn't answer
her; so, the girls were assigned to go on outside duty.
And, this was not a mistake because they were excellent
patrol persons. Other sups were a little disappointed
that I did this but they came around and found out girls
were every bit as capable as their male counterparts.
Don't get me wrong, the boys were great, too. We had
about 10 posts. Our patrol was about 100 students. If
it wasn't for the competent captains and lieutenants and
a great bunch of kids, I would have had a very hard time.
I really liked doing things with the kids outside.
The 50 yd. dash just happened and every year we ran the
race, first though sixth. Even the special-ed kids got
into it and I think the whole school turned out to see
them compete and cheer them on.
We also had a marble shooting Compton. I showed the
kids the correct way to shoot a marble and bull ring
competition. The PTA sewed small sacks to hold marbles
for the winners.
At noon hour I used to take my belt off and chase all
the kids in. They ran me to death and all of us loved
it; well, at least I did.
I remember the Mother's Day program we put on for our
parents. Each one of the students presented an old high
heeled shoe. First we crushed egg shells and glued them
to the outside of the shoe, sprayed them either gold or
silver, and then arranged flowers inside the shoe. The
one performance I remember the most was when Seth Brown
sang "For Every Drop of Rain That Falls" and all the
mothers had tears in their eyes. For a fourth grader,
Seth certainly had wonderful voice.
In science, I was going to show the class how to make
hydrogen sulfide. I did, and stunk up the whole school.
Another time I was demonstrating a chemical change by
making a pile of sulfur on the science table, placing a
magnesium fuse into it, and lighting it. Mr. Perkins,
the custodian, came running down the hall with a fire
extinguisher. He thought that whole side of the building
was on fire.
Oh, yes, and I had Mr. Myrick's woodshed. At least,
that was what the kids called it. I had a wonderful time
at Jefferson and was sad to leave. Those were some of my
favorite times in the classroom, thanks to the kids and
the parents.
-Ralph Myrick (51)
********************************************
>>From: Charles Cox (56)
In reference to the drive-in that sold 10 cent
hamburgers. Spent a lot of time there. Had a lot of
fun. Had a lot of fun living in the biggest trailer
court in the world. Went to John Ball, Chief Jo, and
Col-Hi. Do not remember anything about the plane.
-Charles Cox (56)
********************************************
>>From: Jay Siegel (61)
Just for a change of pace. I am putting together a
new page for our (1961) web site and I am looking for an
annual from Carmichael for the year of 1955. If anyone
has one that I may borrow, please contact me.
Thank you,
-Jay Siegel (61) ~ Poulsbo, WA, USA
********************************************
>>From: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
To: Bob (Mike Clowes) Carlson (54)
Bob, Bob, Bob ... never will our Maren lose her
hard drive, especially when it comes to our Sandstorm!!
And as for how she could be refreshed -- a Spudnut? ... a
moment on the lips, forever on the hips (but who
cares!!); a "Grand Slam" at Denny's? ... sure to give her
indigestion in her condition of distress; flowers? ... ya
can't buy a durn thing with flowers; buy and they die;
but, money? ... yes, yes, yes, send her the money!!!
**G**!!!!
To: Jim Vache (64)
I can relate to your referring to the Columbia Basin
News as the "Washbasin Wipe" and that they were anti-
Bomber. When I got married in 1962, they called and
wanted to run my wedding picture in their paper.
However, they asked me NOT to submit it to the Tri-City
Herald as it would be a conflict of interest. To whom, I
never quite figured out, but my picture was in both
papers and the CBN was furious. When the pictures did
come out, it was I who was furious as the picture was all
crunched down and looked like hell. And this BEFORE they
knew that the picture would be in the TCH. I still have
both those pics and it would be interesting to show so
the readers could see just what they were all about. NOT
the best paper to have ever come out, huh?!!
To: Howard Kirz (60)
Bite your tongue man before you are hung for treason!!
*G*!! No one rules as far as the Sandstorm goes but our
Queen Maren! Of course Richard didn't hack into her
computer; she simply delegated the task of the Sandstorm
to one of her faithful followers!! That's what kind of
faithful Queen we have; one that does not want to
disappoint her readers and is willing to relegate the
task to keep our paper coming. I think we all can
appreciate them both, huh?! Shame on you Howard!!
LOL!!!!!!!!!! JK!! (just kidding, Gary-*G*)
Bomber Best Cheers to All,
-Judy Willox Hodge (61) ~ Richland
********************************************
>>From: Jeff Demeyer (62)
Hello all,
I am looking for the following people, for our 40th
class reunion:
Marilou Hammond, Linda Hanson, Tom Harmon, Shirley Helgerson,
Faye Heneghen, David Henery, Doug Hildebrant, Gerald Hooper,
Leslie Lang, Freddie Lenhart, Richard Lloyd, Helen Lund, Patty McCue,
Bill Maxwell, Ben Miles, Bob Mitchell, Anona Niles, Nellie O'Brien,
Paul Pedersen, Carole Petterson, Jean Porter, Lloyud Potter,
Linda Rawlings, Judith Schneller, Chuck Smith, Margaret Smith,
Stan Smith, Chuck Stade (William Charles Ward), Judy Stewart
Any information on these people would be greatly
appreciated: City, State, Phone #, or e-mail address.
The graduation year was 1962 from Richland (Columbia)
High School. Please send replies to .
Bomber cheers,
-Jeff DeMeyer (62)
********************************************
>>From: Ray Stein (64)
The discussion on internet jargon brings to mind an
incident which concerned the e-mail address of a fellow
Bomber, David Rivers (65). I correspond with David on
various issues and he keeps me posted on my friend Terry
Davis (Knox) and his career. One day my wife called out,
"you've got an e-mail from 'Never to wed'". Now my wife
has never met the good-looking and charming David Rivers,
so I was not surprised that she was mistaken about his e-
mail address. I explained David's affinity for good,
well maintained cars; I think she was nodding her
agreement when I told her his e-mail address meant "Never
towed".
With Bomber Pride Inside,
-Ray Stein (64)
********************************************
>>From: Mike Franco (70)
To: Jim Blakely (67)
Re: Transferring from Spalding to Jefferson grade schools
You noted that around fourth grade you transferred
from Spalding to Jefferson grade school and that the
marble players were a lot tougher there ... that you lost
most of your marbles in a short time. A couple of
things come to mind:
1) I seem to remember Roger Bergdahl ('bout your class, I
think) not only was really good but won some national
marble competition,
2) A lot of us lost our marbles, but for me it was during
my college years!
Anyway, I would enjoy hearing from someone who
remembers "Bergy" winning this national tournament.
Maybe my older sister Barbara might know. Of course
Bergy's family was better known as the proprietor of
"Bergdahl's Hill", the best sledding (and any other
activity requiring a hill) location in the "North End".
All my best wishes to Bombers everywhere!!!
-Mike Franco (70)
********************************************
>>From: Peggy Roesch Wallan (71)
RE: Jeff Curtis's A DAY IN THE LIFE, Parts 1 & 2
Now, Jeff, I lived two houses down from you and Tom
Woods (where you can legally stand on the corner of
Cottonwood and Tinkle) ... but my life was soooo
different. Okay, I was a girl (boring), and a Roesch one
at that (we weren't very adventuresome). I'd love to
relive those years as a boy. Well, I did have a little
revenge: I grew up and became one of those George Prout
token-girl lifeguards. Loved blowing that whistle on
obnoxious little boys. Especially loved blowing it on my
mom and dad when they came down for their evening swim.
Oh, to turn back the clock!
Nostalgiacally,
-Peggy Roesch Wallan (71) ~ Spanaway, WA
********************************************
>>From: Elizabeth Williams (85)
From the FIRST Bomber Alumni Guest Book:
Class of '84 and '85
Hello to all. Back then I was Elizabeth Williams. I
attended Richland in '83 and '84. I hung out with Karen
Pember and Kim Nolan to name a few. If you remember me
please write. I would love to chat about the old days.
-Elizabeth Williams (85)
********************************************
>>From: Crystal Stahl (??)
From the FIRST Bomber Alumni Guest Book:
To my good friends,
Hey guys, how's it going? I can't believe that
graduation is coming up so quickly. Just letting you
know that I will definitely be there. I promise!!! I
miss all you guys ... Minh, Cynthia, Barbara, Amberlee,
and so many more that I don't even know!!!! I hope you
guys are having a great year at Richland High and I wish
I could be there. Love you all!
-Crystal Stahl (??)
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/22/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7 Bombers and 1 Bomber Booster today:
Sandra Atwater (51), Beatrice "Tris" Maberry (62),
Micki Lund (63), Bonnie Timmerman (63),
Joe Ford (63), Ray Stein (64),
Jake Tate (66WB), Vernon Holt (Booster-47)
********************************************
>>From: Sandra Atwater Boyd (51)
To: Ann Pearson Burrows (50)
Of course, we remember Thelma. We loved her, except
when she yelled at us for bringing you home after curfew!
Your Buddies from the class of (51),
-Sandra Atwater Boyd (51)
********************************************
>>From: Beatrice "Tris" Maberry Jacobsen (62)
Re: Jeff Curtis II
Dear Jeff,
Your story of "A Day in the Life" was SOOOOO funny.
I just smiled at the reality of all the thoughts and
feelings you so perfectly described. I will not erase
this one from my computer. It is worth reading again for
a light moment. Thanks for taking the time to recall
these wonderful memories!
Sincerely,
-Beatrice "Tris" Maberry Jacobsen (62)
********************************************
>>From: Micki Lund Anderson (63)
I have loved reading all the nostalgic letters from
my classmates. Didn't think I had anything to add, but
when someone mentioned 10 cent burgers it brought back
memories.
In my senior year I worked at a drive-in called "Bob-
ALou's". It was on the corner of Jadwin and Gillespie.
I don't know how many would remember it because "Zip's"
was the only place for a Bomber to be seen in town. Many
interesting evenings were spent "tooling Zip's". In
later years one of my daughters worked at Zip's and met
her husband who was a co-worker there. But I digress
....... sorry. Raising 5 children and having 2 daughters
get married 3 months apart -- with the last wedding just
5 days after Christmas -- has pretty much taken what mind
I had left, as well as every last cent we could muster
up.
Anyway, Bob-ALou's would attempt to entice business
away from Zip's with its 10 cent hamburger sales. People
would come in droves and order 20 to 30 at a time. I
guess they either were feeding the Camp Hanford soldiers
or freezing them for later consumption. It was probably
the latter because the soldiers had all gone by that
time. Boy, those thawed out burgers must have been
tasty! I was the unfortunate one whose job it was to
cut up the onions and put them in gallon containers for
those sales. I had to fill at least 3 or 4 gallon
containers. The worst part was waiting on customers at
the drive-in window while in the middle of it. I always
wondered what customers thought when this pathetic
looking girl with red tearing eyes and black make-up
running down her face leaned out to take their order.
One other funny thing I remember was the pizza we
served. We had two choices: hamburger or sausage. The
"sausage" was hamburger that had some unknown seasonings
that Del would put on it while cooking it. One night
someone ordered a hamburger AND a sausage pizza. I was
afraid that the customer would figure out they were both
hamburger so I lied and said we were out of sausage. Del
said, "Why didn't you tell her we were out of hamburger;
sausage is 10 cents more?"
Thanks, everyone, for the memories. Richland was the
BEST place to grow up and being a Bomber will always be a
source of pride for me!
-Micki Lund Anderson (63)
********************************************
>>From: Bonnie Timmerman Glover (63)
With the thought of how I left Richland:
It was very hard for me; I went to Jefferson
Elementary and Chief Joseph Jr. Hi. Friends that I had
from early on during childhood years; such as Laural
Richards, Gale Wahlens, Kipp Quinlan; and friends from my
church such as John Cooms, Frosty Berg (by the way, has
your golf game improved?), Linda Belliston; and many
others.
My parents had an offer to move to California to work
for another reactor in La Jolla. That meant nothing to
me; I wanted to stay home. I had a boyfriend named
Richard Flora; he was very kind and very much a
gentleman. Dad packed up the '57 Mercury Turnpike
Cruiser and our little Sprite sports car on the back. At
least he stopped by Richard's house -- he lived on George
Washington Way -- to say a one last goodbye.
I thought so much of my life in Richland, and my
mother said to me as we left Richland (1960), "You will
come back, but it will never be the same as when you
left." She was right. Life goes on. I am glad that I
had the time where and when it was special. I am sure
that you -- proud Bomber alumni -- know what I am
thinking.
-Bonnie Timmerman Glover (63) ~ Boise, Idaho
********************************************
>>From: Joe Ford (63)
Richard (and Maren, working on a hard-drive repair,
our thoughts are with you):
Very much enjoyed the Hoops Report, particularly the
Richland-Ellensburg version. If memory serves (and
increasing age may dim some of the details), that
particular score came in the district championship game
at Eisenhower High in Yakima, about March 2, 1963.
Anyone reading this who has a clearer memory, please
correct any errors.
There was some bad blood between Ellensburg and
Richland, perhaps involving the Bomb mascot and our
cheerleaders, and an earlier losing score in E-burg. So,
when Bill Redmond (63) announced his intention to drive
to the game, in his dad's Borgward, Buell Gammell (63)
and I were eager to ride along. There may have been a
fourth (and maybe I'm inventing Buell's presence).
But there was no mistaking that b-ball game. Look at
that first-quarter score! Art Dawald let the Bombers
run, always the most entertaining style in basketball,
and the well-conditioned Theartis Wallace, Ray Stein,
Gary Webb, Jim House, and a combination of Pook Smith and
Dave Simpson scored 4.5 points a minute in the 8-minute
first quarter. The game was over after 5 minutes,
really, but Art let the team run the entire 32 minutes.
The house came down (Jim -- no pun) when the scoreboard
showed 100 points.
Theartis had a flat jumpshot that often looked like it
might clang off the front rim, and yet rarely did.
"Thea" was automatic, a study in athleticism and
concentration, and he must have scored 10 or 12 points in
the first quarter by himself, with Ray and Gary handling
the ball beautifully as always, and scoring as well.
Jim H rebounded very well, if my dim memory serves;
put the ball back in when the Bombers occasionally
missed, and was high scorer. Richland went on to State,
finished third, and showed everyone what speed, skill,
conditioning, and ball-handling mean on a fast break
team.
Very best to all.
-Joe Ford (63) ~ Olympia, WA
********************************************
>>From: Ray Stein (64)
Thanks for the updates on our current Bombers. Could
we also get the girls' scores? I noticed you ran an old
line score. Here are two old sports stories that might
be of interest. Since we lost, I've shortened the play-
by-play. From The Sandstorm, Friday October 19, 1945,
page 3:
"Atoms Disintegrated By the Blue Devils" (headline)
"Last Friday evening the Richland Atoms journeyed to
Walla Walla to entangle with the Walla Walla Blue
Devils.... Paul Crowder ... received the ball, tucked it
under his arm and made a 13 yard gain for the Atoms.
Dale Gier, the Atoms halfback was seriously hurt in the
first quarter. After he was take(n) to the hospital, the
report was given out that he had a broken shoulder
bone..... Bud Rowe from the Atoms punted. .... The last
play of the game was the Atoms sleeper play. .... At the
end of the game the final score was Blue Devils 21 and
the Atoms 0."
On the same page, only a different column, is this
game report:
"Pasco Bulldogs Gain Victory Over Richland Bombers" (headline)
"The Pasco Bulldogs gained easy victory of the
Richland Bombers. .... The Bombers again could not move.
.... The second half of the game last Friday looked a
little better for the Bombers. .... The Bombers held the
Bulldogs well in the second half. The line was
strengthened by Chuck Larrabee, Lewis Merryman, Dick
McCoy, Ken Jones, Paul Crowder, Ray Hultman and Brewer.
We hope the Bombers look better next Friday night against
Yakima."
I'll quote my source: "Wow - Same issue - same page -
TWO names - in all following Sandstorms the teams and
school are referred to as The Bombers. Not ONE word
about the name change in the Sandstorms. Before anyone
asks, there is no attribution regarding authors of
articles." After hearing about "Atoms" and "Bombers", I
went back and looked at the Richland Villager article
(see 1/12 Alumni Sandstorm). There I noticed a comma
after "Bombers". This changes the meaning of the
paragraph IF the author meant the comma to disconnect
"Bombers" from "Atomizers" and the rest of the paragraph.
Burt Pierard, John Adkins, and I are trying to sort
out the above and other references to come up with
something we all agree on. If you have something to
contribute, please contact one of us. We'll wrap this up
in the Sandbox.
With Bomber Pride Inside,
-Ray Stein (64)
********************************************
>>From: Jacob L Tate (66WB)
Thank you, Richard, for taking over the Sandstorm
during a computer breakdown! Personally, I've found that
the things break down only in time of greatest need.
As one of those WBs, I've been somewhat out of touch
with Richland since my family moved away from our Birch
residence in 1964 -- but I have sure enjoyed reading the
Sandstorm these last few weeks! Boy am I glad that my
cousin told me about it! While I have been hesitant to
add my two cents worth, I've enjoyed getting caught up
and love the reminiscing! I've found the discussions on
running behind the mosquito sprayers, flumin',
"downwinders", the "Bomber or Bomb Question", and so many
more awfully interesting! Many of the names of those who
write in I remember. For instance, who could forget Ray
Stein flying from the top of the key?
Keep up the good work and thanks again!
-Jake Tate (66WB)
********************************************
>>From: Vernon Holt (Booster-47)
Dan Ham (72) suggests [Jan 15] that nuclear electric
power plants are much safer and more economical than the
earlier Chernoble and Three Mile Island plants, and are
needed to meet the insatiable world appetite for energy,
with California merely leading the way as usual. I
agree. And spent fuel elements per se do not pose the
contamination problems that the process to make weapons
grade materials does.
-Vernon Holt (Booster-47) ~ Mendham, NJ
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/23/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTES FROM THE EDITOR:
I'm baaaaaack! Laptop is on it's way to the doctor and
I'll know more after he examines it. If it was a virus,
he'll re-format the drive and add many of my programs. If
the hard drive actually crashed, they'll replace it under
the warranty. Stay tuned....
In the meantime, "big" computer is set up. While I've
been updating files with information saved on zip floppies,
Richard Anderson (60) has been sending your Sandstorm to
you - and doing a great job, too! THANK YOU, Richard!!
In case anyone is wondering how Richard can do such a
fantastic job on the Sandstorm (just like MEEEE *GRIN*), I
gotta tell you that there's a good reason for that. He
taught me how!!! Richard could see that I was doing things
the hard way so he showed me how to format the Sandstorm
EASILY and also showed me the slick way to get it uploaded
to the website every day.
Also, since May 22, 1999, when you began sending your
entries to "owner-sandstorm", Richard has been there - he
is the other "owner" which means that your entries are
sent to BOTH of us. Pretty slick!!
It's been very comforting for me to know that Richard
can - and has - put out a Sandstorm at the drop of a hat.
Dec. 1989 National Geographic Mystery Bomber identified!
1989 Nat'l Geographic
-Maren Smyth (64)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 Bombers sent stuff:
Betty Conner (52),
Mike Clowes (54), Dennis Kline (57),
Mike Lewis (60), Helen Cross (62),
Dick Boehning (63) and Linda Belliston (63),
Leoma Coles (63), Gary Behymer (64,
Greg Alley (73),
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Betty Conner Sansom (52)
Re: You Know You've Lived in the Tri-Cities Too Long When...
Lived Too Long...
As a long-time Richlander, I can relate to this. I
don't recall having seen this in the Sandstorm, and think
a lot of Alumni would enjoy it if it hasn't been published
already. We don't have the Richland winds in Goldendale,
but we have more snow....
Thanks for your efforts in this 'best of the net'
reading! We appreciate you!
-Betty Conner Sansom (52)
********************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
To: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
Judy... Judy... Judy... I would have responded to
yours of the 21st, inst., if only I could get this
vershuginah computor to pronounce your first name in a
faux Cary Grant accent.
Yes, by all means, send Maren money for new and/or
renewing subscriptions. However, I do not think there has
been a "crashed" hard drive fund setup yet. Contrary to
medical opinion, Spudnuts ARE prescribed for "crashed"
hard drives, either personal on in one's laptop. Grand
Slams are prescribed only if your cholesterol count is
below -50. Perhaps Dick Epler ('52) could give us a more
accurate accounting of the "Grand Slam" phenomenon.
As to your comments about the CBN not wanting you to
send wedding pictures to the TCH, I can readily believe
it. And as for the quality of the picture reproduction,
it is quite difficult to make decent photo copies on a
mimeograph machine. Remember, these were the days before
Xerox. Heck, as a little kid, I had a "printing press"
that turned out better copies than the CBN did.
And as to the accuracy of the CBN's reportage, they
were in the same league as the National Enquirer, where
they would check, re-check. and check again the truth of
the matter before printing what they wanted. A prime
example was from a reported who had seen "Blackboard
Jungle" too many times. This peerless individual,
perhaps, observed a "pushing and shouting" match in By's
parking lot. By the time it had gotten to the front page,
it had become a full scale (short of nuclear war) teenage
riot, with hundreds dead, wounded and/or maimed for life.
But then, it was those "Richland juveniles" and therefore
no exaggeration was too great no matter what they did.
Let's all join in a Big Bomber Cheer and perhaps it will
cure Maren's hard drive problems.
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
********************************************
>>From: Dennis Kline (57)
Kudos to Richard Anderson (60) for the Bomber
basketball line scores. For those of us who have been gone
for 40+ years, we still remember the excitement that Art
Dawald's team generated year-after-year. It is nice to
recapture some of that. Thank you Richard
-Dennis Kline (57)
********************************************
>>From: Mike Lewis (60)
Oh, yes, there was the movie house at Camp Hanford. It
was a large building that did not have much glitter in the
grit, to say the least. All covered with sand and small
rocks. One time I went to a movie there where this joke
was circulating (One who repeats political jokes risks
political disaster but what the heck):
Did you hear about the jeep that ran over the
popcorn box and killed two kernels?
At the time I thought it was only a play on words but when
the assassinations took place later, all the obscurities
around the joke began registering with reality. Even so,
it has unsettling implications. Milder humor deals with
television common taters. Or maybe the joke is on me, and
I gotta learn my lines.
Mostly what I can recall about that movie theater was that
it was covered with sand and fine gravel - top, sides, and
all over the landscape.
Interesting times.
Hm, a Google search for "Camp Hanford" and "trailers"
returned only seven hits. There are about 70 for "Camp Hanford" alone.
-Mike Lewis (60)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interesting Camp Hanford Construction Camp Stats:
Hanford Construction Camp Stats
********************************************
>>From: Helen Cross Kirk (62)
Re: Jeff Curtis' chronicle
Jeff,
Your writing is wonderful. You bring back every
element of growing up in Richland, especially the
prominence the Pool played in our lives. (I was on swim
team for 2 years, and lived near Spalding too, on Olympia,
and we made that long trek down Swift and back home
sometimes 3 times a day: Twice to practice and once for
the open swim you so aptly described.)
Hope you do keep adding to your story!!
-Helen Cross Kirk (62) ~ Harrison, Indiana
********************************************
>>From: Dick and Linda Belliston Boehning (63)
We just wanted to do a little grandparent braggin' and
to tell our fellow Bombers that about 5 minutes before the
Super Bowl begins our 11 year old Grandson, Cameron
Boehning will be starring in a promo for CBS. Cameron
lives in Atlanta, Georgia, and was playing in a football
game when a Talent Scout asked him to go for an audition
for this promo. He went and got one of the main parts. The
promo is about a group of young friends who are playing
football, and dreaming of playing in a Super Bowl someday.
Cameron was cast for the role of Max McGee, who was a
Green Bay Packer Receiver who caught the first touchdown
ever in Super Bowl history back in 1967. Bart Starr was
the Quarterback. This was also an amazing catch, reaching
behind with one hand, while running across the middle of
the field, catching the ball and running for a touchdown.
The promo will show actual Super Bowl footage of the
entire play and in sequence, cut back and forth from the
real Max McGee to Cameron, recreating this catch and
touchdown. After the end zone celebration is over, and as
the kids begin to walk off into the distance, you will
hear Cameron yell, "Hey Guys, the Super Bowl's on!" At
this point, you will see the kids begin to run away from
the camera and into the Stadium at Tampa Bay. The next
thing you will see is the live broadcast of the Super
Bowl. At least that's what was filmed. You never know what
the final clip will turn out to be like until it's aired.
It was a great experience for Cameron. He felt like a
star for the day, even getting his own trailer, clothes,
as well as a hefty paycheck for a day's work. One thing he
found out is how long it takes to film a short promo.
Cameron is the son of our son Paul and wife Suzanne
Christensen Boehning who are both '85 "Bomber" Graduates.
-Dick and Linda Belliston Boehning (63) ~ Richland
********************************************
>>From: Leoma Coles (63)
I have enjoyed reading all the remembrances of the
great Bomber games. It does bring back a lot of memories...
When we went to state and some of us stayed at the YWCA
and had fun yelling out the windows at the sailors passing
by! No wonder they wouldn't let us back in Seattle! I have
lived many different places since then, but every time I
get back to Seattle I remember those good times!
Thanks for keeping those memories alive....
-Leoma Coles (63) ~ Everett, WA
********************************************
>>From: Gary Behymer (64)
Re: KHSiMB Communication...
PS... They advertised our R2K
------- Original Message --------
Subject: KHSiMB Communication...
Date: Sat, 20 Jan 2001 10:12:41 -0800
From: "KHSiMB"
KHS Alumni! The Kennewick High School Instrumental Music
Boosters need your help! As many of you know the Kennewick
High School Marching Band has been invited to march in the
2002 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.
This is a tremendous honor and privilege for our music
program and the community. This is a huge undertaking to
raise the funds to get 200 plus band members to Pasadena.
We estimate that we will need to raise in excess of
$250,000 before we get there! We hope to make this not
just a Kennewick effort but a Tri-Cities effort. We have
plans to approach many local businesses throughout the
Tri-Cities to get corporate donations, but we wanted to
approach our KHS Alumni first. We are asking for any
donation you can give $5, $10, $20, $100 or more. No
donation is too small or too large! Please help us get
these terrific Tri-City band members to Pasadena. Make
checks payable to KHSIMB. All donations are tax deductible
and a receipt will be sent to you, so please include your
mailing address. Send donations to: KHSIMB -Rose Parade %
Steve Burnett 1042 W 14th Avenue Kennewick, WA 99337 Thank
you on behalf of the Kennewick High School Instrumental
Music Boosters and the Marching Band students we
represent! Steve Burnett KHSIMB President
------end of original message-------
-Gary Behymer ~ Colfax, WA
********************************************
>>From: Greg Alley (73)
To: Jim "Bo" Anderson (72WB)
Who could ever forget you and Jim Bixler's
contribution to the great Chief Jo and Carmichael game and
what would have been if you have stayed at Bomberville.
To: Ray Stein (64)
Thanks for your latest entries in the Sandstorm and
coming to play at this summers R2K hoop game. There has
been some trivia lately on past Bomber games and a game
that stands out for me is my first in the big gym against
the Davis Pirates. You played against Ted Wireman (check
spelling) and Lenny Allen and as I recall you guys were
beaten well at Dawald gym. I have never met you and some
friends that know you and or met you have told me some
stories about Allen and some of his escapades at WSU. Any
good memories or trivia from that game or any stories that
are printable about playing against those two in high
school or college. Just a Bomber fan remembering.
-Greg Alley (73) ~ Live from the heart of the Atomic City
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/24/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5 Bombers sent stuff:
Judy Willox (61), Pam Ehinger (67),
Mary Jane Smith (70), Mike Davis (74),
Jan Belew (82)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
Let's give Richard a BIG Bomber thanks for delivering
our paper faithfully every morning while Maren was down
and a BIG welcome back to Maren!! We love ya both!!
To: Bob Carlson aka Mike Clowes (54)
Gee Bob, ya must have cheered loud and clear, Maren is
back up and running - even if it is from her big computer.
Ya got quite a set of lungs there, guy!! LOL!! Oh, and
I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on the Spudnuts
prescription - I know I sure can't resist them! Just had a
cinnamon roll about an hour ago!! Yum, yum!! *G*!
To: Mike Lewis (60)
Mike,
I remember that same gritty movie house out there at
Hanford. I also went to a movie there and really learned
to appreciate our great theater in uptown Richland after
that. I saw a Brigitte Bardot movie out there and stole
the poster from the movie house (well, the guy I was
dating stole it for me) afterward. I have that poster to
this day.
Bomber Cheers and Memories,
-Judy Willox Hodge (61) ~ Richland, WA
********************************************
>>From: Pam Ehinger (67)
Dear Bombers:
I need your help. I'm looking for Larry Hutchinson,
aka "Squeaky". We were neighbors and I have some things I
need to find out. But I need he's help. If any one knows
his where about I'd sure love to get in touch with him. He
lived on Van Giesen just off of Thayer.
So, Larry, if you read this please drop me a line. My
e-mail is as above.
Thanks to all of you in Bomberville. This is the best!
I've not heard of or seen another Alumni or School who
keeps in touch with each other as we do!!
Bombers Rule
-Pam Ehinger (67) ~ Thorp, WA
********************************************
>>From: Mary Jane Smith Poynor (70)
I usually sit back and read my way through the
delightful memories you all bring forth but all of the
references of John Ball school make me wonder if any of
you remember having Mrs. Smith as your kindergarten
teacher? Mrs. Smith (I called her Mom) would entertain us
kids with memories of her "John Ball kids".
I'm also wondering if anyone has plans to come north
to Alaska for either the start of the Iditarod or the
Special Olympic World Games? Both of these events begin
the first weekend in March and I would love to hear from
anyone that will be in town! I've got plans to be "on the
street with all the dogs" at the start of the Iditarod - a
truly awesome event!
-Mary Jane Smith Poynor (70) ~ Anchorage, AK
********************************************
>>From: Mike Davis (74)
Just received a couple complimentary meal tickets from
Denny's from fellow Bomber Greg "Springboard" Alley (73).
Apparently the plan was to give these to me at this past
summer's activities, but I didn't show. I'm sorry I missed
the festivities but I was at the Grand Slamathon in
Dennyton.
Change of subject:
Greg Alley mentioned Ray Stein (64) and his days as a
Cougar playing with Wierman and Allen from Davis. I have
to wonder if there has ever been another major college
basketball team that featured three starters from the same
high school conference. Anybody have any idea?
Springboard and I are waiting for the next basketball
"blue chipper" to graduate from Bomberville and declare
his choice of college. The two of us, still sitting on
four years of eligibility, plan on following the young man
to his institute of choice and match the three starters
from the same high school conference. Springboard and I
still have some "game" with the majority of that taking
place above the rim. Watch for us soon!
-Mike Davis (74)
********************************************
>>From: Jan Belew Lenkersdorfer (82)
To: Ralph Myrick (51)
Dear Mr. Myrick,
You were my fourth grade teacher at Jefferson. The
same year that Seth Brown sang that song, I don't remember
the Mothers day song but I do remember Seth getting up
every once in a while to sing for our classroom. Wow he
was inspirational... You are a very fond memory for me as
I look back at my elementary years.. I think about you
often. Every once in awhile your name gets brought up when
I am talking about my childhood with my three boys. Hope
all is great for you and your family.
You definitely impacted a lot of children.
Take Care,
-Jan Belew Lenkersdorfer (82)
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/25/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9 Bombers & 1 Bomber Booster today:
Rex Davis (49), Marilyn Richey (53), Bob Clowes (54)
Gloria Falls (58), Kay Lynch (60), Larry Mattingly (60)
Paula Vinther (69), Mike Franco (70), Steve Piippo (70)
Mike Cline (Webmaster, Bomber Boosters)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Rex Davis (49)
Re: Jefferson School
Ralph Myrick (51) suggested that we could reminisce a
bit more about some of the schools, in particular,
Jefferson. So here goes.
My folks, brother Jim, and I came to Richland in
February of 1945, which was in the middle of my 8th grade.
In those years, all the grade schools were 1 - 8
(Jefferson, Sacy, LC and Marcus Whitman) until Carmichael
was built. Someone might help me out with the name of the
woman who was the principal of Jefferson during that time.
[http://richlandbombers.com/allbombers/0gspicsJeffT.html]
It was a cold spring day and we thought we would sneak
into the gym to play some basketball and she caught us.
Scared the heck out of us.. Didn't throw us in jail,
though.
I might pass on the names of a few of the neighbors
close by our “B” house at 1604 Hunt Ave. (which was
diagonally across from the school). Rem and Gayle Ryals
lived in the “A” house next door, and on the other side of
that “A” house Sandy Woods, et al. Across the street was
Janet Graham (we had a nice visit at Club 40 last fall).
Just up the street were Rufe, Don, and Beth Pederson. That
has been a while ago, but sometimes it seems like
yesterday!!
-Rex Davis (49)
********************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
My esteemed fellow alumna, Judy Willox Hodge (61),
would suggest that the volume of my modest Bomber Cheers
are the soul cause of Maren's return to the editorship of
this beloved "rag". Fortunately, she does not disparage
the efficacy of Spudnuts as a contributing factor. Judy
even goes so far as to gloat over having one. How crueller
nor a serpent's tooth! Particularly for we unfortunates
who happen to reside in deprived areas of this land.
Granted, Maren has returned, albeit through the graces
of her "big" computer. She now awaits the verdict from the
"computer doctors" as to whether or not her laptop will
survive. Fortunate for all of us that Maren had a "big"
computer to fall back on. The only problem with "big"
computers is that they are not exactly portable.
We can only hope that it was a mechanical failure and
not some virus that did Maren's laptop in. Think of the
ramifications on that one. "Quick, Ma, the Flit! Maren's
laptop has a virus!"
However, I have yet to thank Richard Anderson (60)
publicly for stepping in and keeping our daily "Sandstorm
fix" available. Thank you, Richard.
Bomber cheers to all
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
~ yearning for a Spudnut in Albany, OR
********************************************
>>From: Marilyn Richey (53)
Re: Bomber - Pirate Basketball games in the 60s
People writing about Ray Stein (64) playing against
Davis Pirates and Ted Weirman, Lenny and Dave Allen, Al
Carmichael etc. The game I remember so well was played in
Richland. The game was a sellout and it was for the valley
playoffs. Davis was a heavy favorite to win with their
lineup. Richland had a good team but Davis on paper should
have been the dominant team. Richland put on a show that
night and pulled the upset of the year. Here was Davis
rated #l in the state.
When I played softball for years in Yakima for the
summers, Larry Pryce (who was the coach of Davis) always
used to say things about the Bombers and the fans of
Richland.
I really had a chance in I think it was the '63 season
giving him a hard time during the summer months. Until
"You beat us. Don't cry with your stories of how hard it
is to get a fair called game in Richland. There is no way
we should have beaten that Davis team but the Bombers just
flat took it to them that night." They had to escort Orv
Marcum [48-RIP] and the other official off the court as
Davis fans were very upset.
All five starters from Yakima went on to play college
ball: Ted W., Lenny Allen, and Ray at WSU. Dave Allen
played at Central and Al Carmichael played on the coast I
think.
That '64 graduating class of RHS had a different team
as I know of three players who had a 3.5 gpa playing for
Richland. All three went on to college and have very good
professional careers: Ray Stein, David Dowis (who is a
doctor) and Bill Compton.
Down through the years that has been a pattern with
the alumni from the Bombers players in all sports at RHS.
We have alot of doctors, lawyers and engineers as well as
other success in other professionals.
There is a lot of pride in those green and gold
jerseys that these guys have worn in the past.
-Marilyn Richey (53) ~ Richland
********************************************
>>From: Gloria Falls Evans (58)
To: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
Re: North Richland movie theater
I was one of the fortunate ones to live in North
Richland from 1946 to 1958. We did enjoy going to the
movie there. It was a mess but did have some good movies
there. We also had a room in the Army club house which was
the old John Ball School where we had a great time.
The Army was so great to us kids there. We had pool
tables and juke box. We couldn't have asked for anything
more. It was a wonderful life there. When it was a school,
we had the best times and the best teachers anywhere. They
worked their heart out for you, and we appreciated every
minute of it.
-Gloria Falls Evans (58) ~ Spokane, WA
********************************************
>>From: Kathleen "Kay" Lynch O'Shea (60)
Re: Used Richland furniture
Hi, Kids!
I have two armchairs from the 40s or early 50s: still
in good shape and still have the H.E.W. stamp on the
bottom. (The chairs, not me.) Do we have any means of
offering such treasures for sale? I combed through all the
addresses I know of, to no avail.
Blessings - and welcome back, Maren!
Kathleen "Kay" Lynch O'Shea (60)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[See a list of G.I. furniture original cost -Maren]
********************************************
>>From: Larry Mattingly (60)
To: Mary Jane Smith Poynor (66)
I spent 2 weeks in the Anchorage/Palmer/Wasilla area
last August-September. Nice area and great people. I
visited the Iditarod HQ and spent the morning there. No
sale, but I got them to thinking about fireworks. During
our discussions we played with the puppies and watched the
mature dogs dragging a sled (on wheels) loaded with
tourists. Judging by our conversations and the video I
saw, that has got to be one very exciting event.
I would really like to be there but I will be gone
most of February, and we try to avoid non-business time
off March through July. They did present me with one of
the first official 2001 Iditarod tee shirts to come out of
the box. So I will have to content myself to wear the
shirt and watch it on TV news for this year (sigh).
I did the State Fair in Palmer last year and will
likely do it again this year (likely two displays instead
of one), so perhaps I may get a chance to meet you then.
If it goes as planned I will have 5 days to roam in
central Alaska between shows.
"Happiness is the sky in bloom"
-J Larry Mattingly (60) ~ From my office, Olympia, WA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[http://www.iditarod.com/ where it says: "Just 1 Day
Left to Bid for a ride in the annual IditaRider Auction.
Final bidding will be held by teleconference on Friday
January 26". AND better coverage than tv, too!! -Maren]
********************************************
>>From: Paula Vinther Case (69)
To: Jeff Curtis (69)
Jeff,
I'm proud to say that I came from the same class that
produced you!!! As soon as I see anything that you have
written, I immediately print it out, grab a cup of coffee
(or glass of wine, depending on the time of day!) and sit
down for a few worthwhile moments of memories and
laughter. My husband, Paul, was a '67 Pasco Bulldog
(I know - sad, but true) and he loved your stories about
the swimming pool and Tastee Freeze. Only the names of the
streets were changed - you could have been describing his
early years growing up in Pasco!!
Thanks for the great memories and keep it coming!!!
-Paula Vinther Case (69)
********************************************
>>From: Mike Franco (70)
To: Springboard Aloley (73) & Mike Davis (74)
Re: Ray Stein (64), et al playing at WSU and your question
concerning "three players from the same conference playing
for the same major college basketball team" brings about
two points:
1) That was maybe the last time WSU was referred to as a
major college basketball program (sorry Ray, I could never
resist a cheap shot!)
2) Check out the players from Cleveland High School's
champs led by J. Oldham. I think you will find three from
that school started for Seattle U when it was still a
pretty good program.
I can't remember all the details (Gregor will fill in the
blanks) but this is the best I can do given the "rolling
blackouts" of my college years!!!
-Mike Franco (70)
********************************************
>>From: Steve Piippo (70)
To: Mike Davis (74)
In answer to your question:
Five starters from one high school attend the same
college, played in the same league/conference, playing on
the same team, winning the first men's NCAA basketball
championship. Those five all grew up within blocks from
each other and a hoop still stands on the original
neighborhood pole the five played on. Those five came
from Astoria, Oregon and played on the 1939 'Tall Firs'
UofO Duck basketball team. A couple became All-Americans.
One member of the 1939 'Tall Fir' team survives today.
-Steve Piippo (70)
********************************************
>>From: Mike Cline (RHS Bomber Booster Webmaster)
Re: "Proud of the Cloud" Mugs and Mouse pads
I don't know if you are still interested, but the
Bomber Boosters have "Proud of the Cloud" Mugs and
Mouse pads available from their site.
www.bomberboosters.com
click on Memorabilia and then on Proud of the Cloud.....
Mike Cline
Webmaster, RHS Bomber Boosters
P.S. I don't really know the status of the shirts from the
school store. It underwent New Management and I am trying
to find out if they still want shirts online. If not the
Mugs and mouse pad line may expand to include shirts also.
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/26/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
13 Bombers sent stuff:
Dick Roberts (49), Sandra Atwater (51),
Marilyn Richey (53), Gus Keeney (57),
Bob Cowan (60), Patti Jones (60),
Judy Willox (61), Cindy Ryan (62),
Jeff DeMeyer (62), Rick Maddy (67),
Betti Avant (69), Mike Franco (70),
Patti Felch (87)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Richard "Dick" Roberts (49)
To: Richard Anderson (60)
Good job. I owe you another beer at the Uptown Tavern
same as last time in '99. I couldn't believe the guy. He
came out of this beat up old van, looking like his second
home, lugged his equipment into the Uptown Tavern, laid it
out on one of the tables and proceeded to show us all the
"stuff" he could do for us. I was impressed then and even
more impressed now that I know he taught everything the
Sandstorm guru, Maren, knows.
Thanks, buddy, you're a real Bomber Bud.
-Richard "Dick" Roberts (49)
********************************************
>>From: Sandra Atwater Boyd (51)
To: Rex Davis (49)
I believe the principal's name is Miss or Mrs. (not
sure which) Johnson. I remember one time the boys were
making a lot of noise in the rest room and she just went
right in and got them under control. We thought it was
really "something" for a woman to go into a boy's
rest room!
-Sandra Atwater Boyd (51)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Confirmation of Sandra's answer is on the Jefferson web page. -Maren]
********************************************
>>From: Marilyn Richey (53)
To: Steve Piippo (70)
You mention about the 1939 Oregon basketball team that
won the NCAA tournament. I think one of them was a former
Coach and teacher at RHS and named Erling Oakland. Mr.
Oakland was an assistant football and basketball coach
and was a teacher from about '49 thru the later '50s. Then
went on to Central Washington as a administration
personnel. Later he was President of Seattle Community
South Campus in the late 60s. He was a great teacher and
related to the students. Anybody know what happened to him
or if he is still in Seattle area.
-Marilyn Richey (53) ~ Richland
********************************************
>>From: Gus Keeney (57)
To: Carol Hollingsworth (55)
Don't I remember you from the RHS Choir? Have you read
anything about any of the Class of 55 folks? Marrie
Donaldson, Elise Derricotte, Bruce Perkins, Dan Gadman,
Morris Mack, to name a few.
I'll always remember "Muscles'" Big smile most of the
years from when I was in grade school at Marcus Whitman
till I went into the Navy in Jan. '58.
Bruce Perkins and I joined the Navy together. He went
into Aviation Electronics and I went on to become an
Aviation Electricians Mate. I ran into him in Tokyo, Japan
when he came in on the Ranger. I was stationed at NAS
Atsugi, Japan at the time. ( I think it was 1961)
Gad, am I dating myself!!! Quitcher gigglin', Maren!
To: Carol Bishop Horne (57)
I Haven't heard from Neal Adams (57) Since he made
Major in the Air Force. He was a "Life-er" and in their
Research and Development, doing quite well, as I remember.
He should be out by now. Gene maybe remembers him as Pee
Wee Adams, because he was always so much smaller than the
rest of us at the time.
I look forward to seeing everyone at R2K.
-Gus Keeney (57)
********************************************
>>From: Bob Cowan (60)
To: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
Mike Lewis (60)
Gloria Falls Evans (58)
Larry Mattingly (60)
I have clear memories of what you refer to as Hanford
and which I called North Richland. My memory of John Ball
was Quonset hut after Quonset hut joined together by a
long hallway which connected all of the Quonset huts
together. Living in the trailer park was an experience and
I still have a clear recollection of the community bath
houses and shower houses and the playground for the
children that were in each block. I think the first movie
I ever went to in the richland area was out at the old
Richland theatre. I also remember a pond in North
Richland where everyone went ice skating in the winter. We
lived there for 4-5 months until housing became available
in Richland and then back to Sacajawea. These memories are
very clear in my mind from some 52 years ago. However, I'm
not sure what I had for breakfast this morning.
One last comment for Larry Mattingly (60)
When you get to Alaska this coming summer I expect a
telephone call from you here in Kenai.
-Bob Cowan (60)
********************************************
>>From: Patti Jones (60)
Welcome back Maren, even though I know you didn't leave
us for a moment. Amazing how fast you created another
computer. The Bomber way-fix-it now.
Re: Quonset Huts
Five years ago next month I moved to Browns Point, WA
a small sea town on the edge of suburbia. Browns Point is
west of Federal Way, across the water from Tacoma's north
waterfront on Puget Sound. (Browns Point is a part of
Tacoma, but when incorporated a couple of years ago we
were able to boot Tacoma as our main name.) I immediately
started walking around the point a few times a week,
especially when my grandchildren were with me. I/we would
take different ways when we walked to the beach.
On so many of my walks different things would remind
me of Richland. The roads, the friendly people, small
shopping center, and the siren for the Fire station.
On one of my walks I decided to go a different way
that I hadn't been. When the road dead ended I had to go
right. My dog Windy who always walks with me had taken my
attention, when I looked up there sat a Quonset Hut on
this small side road. I stopped and starred not believing
what was before me. The Quonset Hut had a driveway, grass
in the front, flowers and plants. On the right side was a
porch that was built for entry into the hut. Could not
believe it looked like someone lived there in the era of
the 90s.
Yet, in my mind I felt like I was in Bomberville
fairyland. Not seeing anyone around, I stood there for a
while drinking in my memories gone past of Bomberville.
After that when I walked to the beach, I most always
walked back home that way, always looking for someone to
be outside at the hut.
Finally the lady who owns the Quonset Hut was outside.
I introduced myself in awe of this woman who makes her
home in a Quonset Hut. She told me that she had lived
there for about seventeen years. In our conversation it
was just normal living to her. She seemed to have no
complaints or desire to move some where else. Obviously,
Quonset Huts will live on even if in memory.
-Patti Jones (60) ~ Browns Point, WA
********************************************
>>From: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
To: Bob Carlson aka Mike Clowes (54)
Aw Bob, I am sorry that I made you homesick and left
you yearning for a spudnut. I would send you a dozen or
so, but somehow I just don't think it would be the same.
The next best thing I could advise you would be to just
take the short trip up here and wallow in the luxury of
going to our esteemed spudnut shop and relishing the taste
while they are fresh!! *G*!!
P.S. I have gone through Albany a million times on my
way to the coast at Newport, and have actually stayed in
your city when we were unable to get motel rooms at the
coast. Maybe next time I come through....................
To: Gloria Falls Evans (58)
Didn't mean to step on any toes, Gloria. I really
wasn't disin' the theater OR North Richland. I, too, have
fond memories of that area, even if I did live at the
other end.
I was just in your city of Spokane the 5th of the
month when I went to the Starskates on Ice. Loved the
show, had a good time there in Spokane and was delighted
to find an Arctic Circle there. Couldn't wait 'til I could
go get something to eat there. And loved the shopping
there at Northtown Mall!
Will have to look you up next time I come.
To: All Bombers
Re: Abbreviations in the Sandstorm
John Northover (59) sent me an URL the other day that
has a VERY big list to all the abbreviations and smiley
signs that you could ask for. It is:
http://www.astro.umd.edu/~marshall/abbrev.html and he also
sent the warning: "Warning: File may contain material that
is inappropriate for some readers (particularly younger
ones) - caution and discretion is advised!" But it may
shed some light to those that can't figure out what they
mean when those of us that do use them put them in the
Sandstorm. Happy web surfing!!
To: All Bombers
As I write this, the new Dupus Boomer books are now
sitting at the CREHST museum in Richland and are for sale.
It is a combination of the two 1940s booklets into one
book. They sell for $6.95 plus tax and I already have mine
and am thrilled with it. It's great to have ole' Dupus
back, and I would like to thank the Donnell family from
the bottom of my heart for giving him back to us!! Would
also like to thank CREHST for their tenacity in pursuing
Dupus and getting the job done! A BIG Bomber cheer to all
involved!! If you want to check this out for yourself, log
onto CREHST Museum/ and you will find
the information that you need. Check out the two new
videos there too.
Bomber Best Cheers,
-Judy Willox Hodge (61) ~ Richland (Bomber and Boomer Land, *G*!)`
********************************************
>>From: Cindy "Ann" Ryan (62)
Bombers:
I would like to alert all of you theater buffs out there
about an outstanding play: "Copenhagen". It is currently
playing in New York and won a Tony award last year. Werner
Heisenberg, a German, and Niels Bohr, a Dane, worked on
the atomic bomb before the war. In 1941 they met in
Copenhagen. This meeting is the center of the play. Many
have speculated that Heisenberg withheld critical
information from the German atomic team. I was spellbound
because we Bombers can relate to so much of the dialogue.
Heisenberg says at one point, "It will take hundreds of
reactors to accomplish our goal; it simply can't be done."
aI saw the play in London and when I returned home my
mother added some interesting facts I had never heard
before. Enrico Fermi went by the code name of "Farmer"
when he was at the Hanford site. My father was in the room
the night Fermi took the reactor through its final working
check points. When it passed the test his words were "The
baby is born." Dad said it sounded more like "Da baby is
born" but we will charge that to Fermi's accent.
The play also went into depth as to how guilty these
men felt for creating such a monster. What a treat it
would have been to have taken my father to this play. We
then could have gone to one of those neat English pubs and
I could have gotten his perspective over a few beers. A
missed opportunity. Did anyone out there have parents who
would discuss this in later years or were we the only
family who simply didn't talk about it?
-Ann Ryan (62) [Sorry ... Cindy to most of you. I have
had great fun reinventing myself even though Ann is my
middle name. This way, if I decide to do some strange
thing and end up on the news I can just say, "Ann who?"]
PS -- March is "Colon Cancer Awareness Month". As a
survivor and an active member of the American Cancer
Society I urge all of you Bombers 50-and-over to be
tested. Colorectal cancer is the most preventable cancer
through early screening. If you have an older family
member diagnosed with colorectal cancer then you need to
be tested at an earlier age. Just subtract 10 years from
the age diagnosed and that is your testing age. I should
have been screened in my mid forties instead of waiting
until I was 50. I will give you a tip, the colonoscopy is
the most complete test but some doctors are reluctant to
order it due to the insurance. Get your doctor off the
hook and lie; just say you have symptoms -- who's to know?
This is one of those lies the nuns would approve of. If
you are putting this off for reasons of embarrassment then
I say, "GET OVER IT!" You owe it both to your family and
yourself.
-Cindy "Ann" Ryan (62)
********************************************
>>From: Jeff DeMeyer (62)
Re: 40th Class Reunion [in 2002]
Hello all,
I am looking for the following people for our 40th
class reunion:
Mildred Strode Drake, Suzann Tabbert, Lloyd Taylor,
Sue Tomlinson Yount, Rachel Anne Turk, Carl Vance,
Laurel Vlacil Murry, Mary Wamsley, Walter Webb,
Linda Whitaker Kadlec, Harold White, Dave Wilson,
Julie Wilson Benson, Kathy Wilson, Mike Wooten,
Valeree Workman Offerman, David Wright, Yvonne Wright,
Darris Yeager.
Any information on these people, would be greatly
appreciated. City, State, Phone #, or e-mail address. The
graduation year was 1962 from Richland High School.
Bomber cheers,
-Jeff DeMeyer (62)
********************************************
>>From: Rick Maddy (67)
Re: Search engines
Search engines are changing fast. Mike Lewis (60)
mentioned Google. Here is another really good search
engine. Try "Camp Hanford" in both. In the IXQuick, about
the fifth one down is a Gary B (64) hotspot. Anyway,
probably just beating a dead horse here...
Google.com/
-Rick Maddy (67)
********************************************
>>From: Betti Avant (69)
Re: Bomber basketball
I was in grade school and Jr. High when Ray Stein (64)
was in his playing days. I remember as a kid going to many
games on Friday and Saturday nights. It seems to me I
remember hearing that Ted Wierman lived in Richland when
he was in grade school before his family moved to Yakima.
Can anyone confirm that?
A Bomber and proud of it.
-Betti Avant (69) ~ Goodland, KS
********************************************
>>From: Mike Franco (70)
To: Steve Piippo (70)
Yer KIDDING!!! All five of the 1939 Tall Firs came
from the same neighborhood!?!?! Great trivia... I know one
of those players... fill us in on the rest... is Coach
really the only one left? How old is your dad? Please pass
on my best.
-Mike Franco (70)
********************************************
>>From: Patti Felch Walrath (87)
Re: Larry Mattingly (60) trip to Alaska
I moved up to Alaska soon after graduation. I have
lived on the Kenai Peninsula off and on for the last 14
years. It's a beautiful place. The Iditarod is truly a
great sport, and if you have the opportunity, don't pass
it up.
Also, the Fur Rondi is a great event, although this
year I'm not sure what will happen since we've had such
little snow.
Take care.
-Patti Felch Walrath (87)
***************************************
***************************************
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/26/01 ~ Jeff Curtis III
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>From: Jeff Curtis (69)
Continued from Saturday 1/20/01
"Jeff, where are your thongs?" my mom asked, "And you have
chocolate all over your mouth!" As I stood in the living
room of our three-bedroom ranch house I could feel the
heavy dampness of the air belching from the swamp cooler
as it chugged away, squatting precariously on the window
sill. The cool, low breeze was refreshing after my long
sweltering trek but always seemed just a bit too thick and
pushy. Probably because air with any noticeable moisture
content was a very alien sensation to those of us raised
on the arid planet Dune. And unlike those wussie Freemen
and their protective stillsuits, we could endure the
climate for extended periods clad only in swimming suit
and towel! (Author's note: That was a literary reference,
or what passes for one, the author being a writer of
limited experience. The referral is to a work of science
fiction by the Pacific Northwest writer Frank Herbert
entitled Dune. Now, so you won't have to run right out,
purchase and pour over the book to understand the
reference, suffice it to say that Dune, in his tale, is a
very hot and very dry planet the native populace of which
are known as Freemen and who wear a kind of body moisture
capture-and-recycle suit to survive in it's sere wastes.
Total pansies. There is more and I would love to tell you
all about it but in consideration of your valuable time I
suggest, if you simply must know, that you read the book.)
I turned to the large mirror hanging on the wall above the
piano in our living room and even from a distance I could
see what elicited the comment from my mom. I bore a
striking resemblance to one who is ready to take the stage
in a minstrel show. Not drooling chocolate mind you, but a
good, solid smudging was evident. I immediately wiped my
mouth on my swimming towel which brought a "Jeff...stop
that!" command from Mom. Hey, I figured that the current
chlorine content of that towel would surely bleach any
tough stain out as well as completely discourage any form
of bacterial life from gaining a foothold until such time
as it found its way into the wash.
Richland wasn't Oz (or Kansas for that matter) and
clicking my bare heels together and chanting "there's no
place like home...there's no place like home." would not
have magically transported me anywhere. No, it took a good
deal of effort and suffering to get here. But I was home
at last, those dues thoroughly paid. And just in time for
Cap'n Cy too! As my heels cooled and eyes began to defog,
I settled in for a hour or so of kickin' it in front of
the tube. Cable TV and cool programming from the big city,
Spokane, had arrived.
I remember the day the cable guy showed up and worked his
spell on our fuzzy little two channel TV set. At least I
think I remember two channels, one of which was KEPR.
After a short period of mysterious activity he switched on
the set and a crystal clear (black and white) picture
popped onto the screen. It was the skyline of a large city
in the daytime. As I watched a line of gray swept at an
angle from upper-left to lower right engulfing the
cityscape in darkness. The title of the show appeared and
a booming voice announced, "This is...... The Edge of
Night." How cool! I had never seen this show before but it
looked really interesting. That impression lasted for
maybe five minutes. Five minutes of adult infidelity,
sordid pregnancies and gossipy secrets shockingly
revealed. It really sucked. But the wonderful thing about
cable was that a simple click (or two or three or
four...)of the dial took you to another, possibly very
different program. We take all that for granted now of
course, but back then it was a fairly big deal. Mom said
that we'd never have cable. We'd never have color TV. We'd
never have more than one set. Strike three! She was
eventually wrong on all counts.
I loved the Rough and Ready Show on Saturday mornings. In
fact, the whole Saturday morning cartoon thing was
developed back then. Rough was a dog and Ready was his
side-kick cat. The cartoon was a serial and each Saturday
morning they would pick up where they left off the week
before (kind of like this story) in the midst of one
adventure or another. They found a treasure map and for
several Saturday mornings, battled a mad scientist who had
invented an earth boring machine in the Superstition
Mountains while searching for the legendary Lost Dutchman
Mine. They captured a leprechaun and ended up in Ireland
for several weeks caught up in the middle of a centuries
old feud between the little people and a race of giants.
And they were abducted by shiny, metallic aliens then
whisked away for over two months to their home planet
"Munimula" (pronounced moon-ee-moo-la) which is, of
course, Aluminum spelled backwards.
I loved it and kept coming back for more each week. I
admit my homework may have suffered a bit but as you can
see, with Rough and Ready, I was exposed to Geology,
European history and Astronomy in those ongoing Saturday
morning sessions. Educational TV in its infancy. Beany and
Cecil (The Seasick Sea Serpent) - Oceanography, Dudley
Doright of the Mounted Police - Law Enforcement, Tennessee
Tuxedo (a penguin) and his pal Chumley (a walrus) -
Zoology, yes the learning opportunities abounded.
In later years I would get home from school each day and
watch Where The Action Is, a teen rock show with Paul
Revere and the Raiders and it's host Dick Clark. It was a
little like MTV if you remove the psycho-nightmare element
that seems to pervade most of the videos on the air today.
But I guess that's just me showing my age, just as my
parents, in full protest, did when I watched Where The
Action Is. "Oh baby come on, let me take you where the
action is.... Oh baby come on...... It's so neat to meet
your baby where the action is..." Dick Clark on the other
hand, has apparently been embalmed. In fact, I am certain
that he too, will someday be leeching out of a landfill
tainting an aquifer with my old Cheez Whiz sandwich in his
hand.
But when I was still single digits in age, Cap'n Cy's show
was a weekday afternoon staple and he always had a bunch
of Popeye cartoons as a sailor theme was in evidence
throughout the show. He would always shout "cha-boon-a-
GOON-ga" before launching a cartoon, for some reason that
was never made clear, but it was kind of his signature.
You know, like Tarzan's? So I sat there that afternoon,
happily watching Popeye get the hell kicked out of him by
Bluto until he somehow managed to scrape up a can of
spinach, fuss with getting it open and then gulp it down.
The proverbial shoe then found itself on the other foot of
course, and Bluto would wind up on the receiving end of a
right solid thrashing. I sat there and pondered the
question as to why Popeye always had such trouble coming
up with a can of the original "whoop-ass". I mean, come
on. If spinach actually had that effect on you and you had
an ever present enemy the size of a gorilla with a gland
problem, wouldn't you keep a case of the disgusting
vegetable with you at all times? Heck, I'd see if there
was a way to I.V. the stuff. Popeye prevailed, Olive Oyl
was saved and Bluto vanquished. My eyes cleared up a bit
and my feet stopped hurting so much.
"Boys, dinner." came the cry from the kitchen. An instant,
dreadful tension crackled through the air like bolt of
static.
I mentioned that lunch in those days, in my home anyway,
might be (sometimes over-generously) referred to as
"iffy". Well, so it could be said of dinner for that
matter. Actually, more so. Mom had a passion for contests
and the two genres that she most favored were the "Tell us
why you use.......... (our incredible product) in twenty-
five words or less" the other being anything that had to
do with taking a perfectly good entree and uhmmm,
modifying it to suit her needs. Or, more accurately, to
her concept of the desires of Betty Crocker or the
Pillsbury Bake-Off folks. Some say that I inherited my
penchant for the written word from her but as you surely
can attest, dear reader, I have seldom if ever (okay,
never!) written anything in twenty-five words or less. Or
even close. As for the cooking contests, my dad, two
brothers and myself frequently found ourselves as the
proverbial guinea pigs, reluctantly taste testing her
latest, moderately digestible concept of cuisine-nouveau.
The Etheridges next door had some real guinea pigs. In
fact, after a couple of months they had about fifty of the
tribblesque creatures. I found that while they were pretty
cute as individuals, they could be fairly unamusing and
kind of icky in large herds. Kind of like people. I also
found that, on occasion, they ate better that I did and I
caught myself envying their diet from time to time.
Depending on the theme of the current cook-off I would
have preferred a simple head of iceberg lettuce... or just
a carrot. An unaltered, raw, all-American carrot. The
aroma wafting from the kitchen did little to stir up any
hunger cravings. Potato Poofs or Cheese Swirl Delight
(word of advice - avoid any food with the term "delight"
associated with it as you would road kill) or one of the
seemly endless variations of spaghetti noodles drowning in
tomato sauce and fried, ground beef were all terrifying
possibilities.
"Okay Mom, what good old American meal have you messed up
today?" I asked with completely rhetorical intent. She was
not amused. In reality she hadn't been experimenting at
all that evening. But the meal was still going to leave a
lot to be desired as she had settled on liver and onions
for the main coarse. Mom thought that I liked liver. I
suppose that's because I had a finely honed denial skill
in those days and could ingest it without really
considering what it truly was. What it truly was... was
pre-liverwurst. The old "Starving children in India...."
saw was going to be buzzing tonight. My brothers and I
doubted if even they would eat the stuff (it being cow and
nasty and all) but offered graciously to ship ours to them
if that meant we could be excused from the (pumpkin-
orange) counter. Again, unamused. We eventually wore her
down in pure duration and were able to leave the vicinity
of the crime but sans dessert. That was okay - it was Lime
Jell-O Delight (with carrots and raisins).
We raced outside to catch the evening action on Tinkle
Street, the street that never sleeps. Well mostly never
sleeps. Okay, has stuff going on... sometimes. The sun was
low in the western sky, dropping toward Badger Mountain
and I appreciated even then that very little could match
the wonder of a summer evening in Richland. The scorching
heat that had inferno-ized the small city throughout the
middle of the day had yielded to a comfortable, quiet
warmth that was calm and soothing. No breeze caused even
the slightest trembling in the leaves of the three huge
basswoods in our front yard. The sidewalks and streets
released stored up heat in a soft, warm radiance and
shadows stretched long, covering all things previously
brilliant in a wash of silently dimming half-tones.
Nighthawks and swallows swooped and wheeled, filling up on
buzzing insects (including those pesky mosquitoes who
apparently had held their breath during the DDT fogging)
and kids full from recent repast, be it liver or be it
normal food, swarmed to the streets to close the day with
whatever opportunity for fun and play presented itself.
Someone on the street always seemed to come up with an
interesting new diversion and then it would spread like
Skippy on Wonder Bread around the block till every kid
around had given whatever it was a whirl. Hula-hoops, yo
yos and kites all had their turn at being the "thing" of
the hour. Home-made innovations such as stilts constructed
from two-by-fours, skate boards (or sidewalk surfboards as
we called them then) crafted from one of your old clamp-on
skates, pulled apart and nailed to each end of the
underside of a piece of wood and many other clever toys
came and went as the next cool thing took its place.
We had admittedly short attention spans but fortune had
blessed us by plopping us onto the Earth at a time when,
due to several factors not the least of which was that
there were just a whole friggin LOT of us, everyone seemed
dedicated to one degree or another on appeasing us and
appeared very intent on insuring that we were fulfilled in
every aspect of our young lives. We, as I recall, did
nothing to actively discourage this endeavor. And as a
result, new and fun things were constantly churning though
our days in an almost inexhaustible manner.
I stood on my front lawn and observed, once again, Tommy
Joe Woods across the street standing near the gutter of
the sidewalk. He had something, a piece of cloth, dangling
from his hand. He carefully rolled it up and leaned way
back, his left hand and face pointing up to the sky and
his right arm cocked in a throwing posture. He tossed the
ball of cloth straight up into the evening sky as hard as
he could, maybe 20 feet or so. As it reached the apex of
its flight and began to fall, it started to unroll and
something shiny dropped out of its middle. The cloth
immediately filled with air and popped wide open dangling
the shiny object tied to strings below it. It was a little
bitty parachute! That was really cool! How did he do that?
As it drifted to the ground I could easily see its
construction. Tommy Joe had taken a handkerchief, tied
four equal-length strings to each of its corners and then
tied the other ends of the strings to two large (shiny)
washers. You rolled the handkerchief into a ball then
wrapped the strings around it till you wound it all up
tight. Then you could rear back and heave it as hard as
possible into the heavens. Sometimes the simplest things
are the most fun. I immediately raced home and swiped one
of my dad's nose rags, found some string and a bolt. That
was all I needed. In a few minutes I too, was rolling and
flinging away right next to Tommy Joe.
This activity did not go unnoticed by the other fifteen to
twenty kids in the immediate neighborhood. Soon the sky
above Tinkle street was blooming with kerchiefs of various
sizes and hues. The swallows and nighthawks continued
their soaring and swooping, fairly unperturbed by the
flack. We tried bigger ones, we tried longer strings. We
threw two (or three) at once. We replaced the washers with
one of those cap rockets; you know - it looked like a
little bomb and you could slide a cap (or five) into a
plate behind its nose so that when you threw it the cap
popped, to create a popping (bomb) version. That's what
was great about these "things" that would sweep through
the neighborhood. Everyone tried their level best to come
up with a new twist, a different approach that would keep
it interesting and alive for as long as possible. Or until
the next thing came along. Superballs. Probably still a
few of those in the rain gutters.
Steve Sterling (70), my backyard neighbor and a member of
the Torbett Street kids was a born tinkerer. When it was
innovation time, Steve was hard to best. He always had a
chemistry set or an erector set or a crystal radio
set.... he was a real "set" oriented kind of kid. And he
was forever thinking of new and better ways to improve the
"fun" status quo. He also was out on Tinkle that evening
(political boundaries were meaningless to us in those
days) and had observed with great interest the activities
that were taking place. He just groked the physics of the
whole thing. Steve figured that if a bolt or some washers
or a cap bomb could pull it off, why couldn't a real kid
(namely him) do it? He started rummaging around in his
carport and came up with an old bed sheet. He then located
some string. Unlike the washers-handkerchief design he
wanted to have a traditional harness and backpack in which
to house his "chute" so he scrounged around till he found
a grocery box.
Back in those days you were never asked for your "paper or
plastic" preference at Safeway. They would just take the
empty grocery boxes that had their tops razor-knifed off
during shelf stocking and pile them out by the registers.
The "box-boys" as they were known would grab one or two
when you checked through and neatly place all your
groceries in them. You would then have a couple of fifty
pound boxes of food to unload at the hacienda. My lower
back is glad that this is not the current methodology. But
Steve came up with one of those boxes and proceeded to tie
a piece of string to each of the corners on its open side.
He tied the opposite ends of the string to the appropriate
corners of the bed sheet. I think it was a twin. Realizing
that he had to have some form of harness with which to
affix the "chute" to his person, he added a couple of
loops of string to the closed (bottom) side of the box.
The contraption was fully complete and ready for flight
testing.
Now, though young, Steve was a big boy. It was easily
obvious that neither I nor any of the neighbor kids would
be able to fling him even an inch off the ground. Arnold
Schwarzenegger could not have flung him an inch off the
ground. Not to worry. He simply had to find a proper perch
from which to leap and deploy. He first took a long hard
look at the roof of his house but the difficulty in
actually getting up there along with the inevitable
thrashing from his parents discouraged him from that
avenue. The picnic table in my back yard was just too low
to the ground and not a sufficient test of the full
capabilities of his design. But the fence that separated
our back yards... yes, that was it. It was perfect. He
could clamber to the top of the clothesline pole and step
across to the fence top. Once there, a single step into
the void, parachute fluffs open and he floats gently to
the ground, undulating back and forth under the linen
canopy.
Mounting the fence proved to be a bit less graceful than
anticipated as the donning of the box/sheet system had
added a previously unanticipated degree of difficulty. The
straps slid down his arms as he tried to maneuver into
position and the clothesline pole swayed dangerously as
Steve tried to steady himself for the step to the fence.
But eventually he succeeded and was in position for the
attempt. It was about at this point that I began to wonder
about the ratio of Steve's weight to the strings that
would be suspending him from the sheet. You know, we
probably should have thought of that earlier but in all
the commotion, it just slid by, under the radar. I began
to feel sure that there was some twine snappage in Steve's
future and mentioned it to him. But he would not be
dissuaded. He had come this far, overcoming many obstacles
to get here and would be darned if he wasn't going to go
through with it. I have a feeling that if, at the time I
mentioned the string to weight thing, he had been on the
roof of his house instead of atop a six foot fence he may
have paid more attention.
But he was ready to go and sure enough, gone he went.
Doing my part I yelled, "CUT!" and without a moment's
hesitation he leaped off the fence with minimal fanfare
and, as it turned out, I had worried about the string for
nothing. In an instant he was on the ground in a crumpled
heap and the chute was still in the box. It never occurred
to us that if the combined length of the string and the
sheet were actually longer that the fence was
high..... well, you get the picture. Steve didn't however,
and proceeded to try the leap a couple more times, all
with the same result. Basically he was doing the very same
thing that Roger Smith and I had been doing earlier that
day while we were playing "Ripcord". It was just that we
didn't bother with trying to make a functional parachute
and accepted the fact that we were going to crash into the
lawn and...p r e t e n d...that we were wearing chutes.
Eventually Steve gave up and headed home, sheet and string
trailing on the lawn behind him, finally fully deployed. I
muttered something about how fortunate for him that he
hadn't decided on the roof thing and headed in the
opposite direction back to Tinkle Street.
By this time dusk was rapidly falling and the radiant heat
rising from the ground was more apparent in its contrast
to the rapidly increasing darkness and the cooling night
air. At that moment the streetlights above flickered to
life and represented the final punctuation of the day.
Parental Decree, "When the streetlights cometh on, you
cometh in." Most of the kids on the block operated on this
nocturnal signal and the Tinkle Street was soon vacated,
one and all having headed into their respective ranch
homes whose windows were now lit as families settled into
their indoor evening activities.
I myself had the latest issue of Mad magazine and half of
a Jolly Rancher Fire Stix stashed in the underwear drawer
in my bedroom (this is not as gross as it sounds as my
underwear were usually not anywhere near that drawer but
carefully scattered around the room). After jammying up
and brushing my teeth, I proceed to nullify the potential
benefits of both of those activities (jammys for sleeping
and tooth brushing for oral hygiene) by pulling my
blankets over my head, flicking on a flashlight and
popping the hot cinnamon candy into my mouth. I proceeded
to fold the magazine's back cover in three places along
the dotted lines provided to see what Jaffe's transformed
picture would reveal. You really have to know Mad to
appreciate exactly what that means and it would take to
long to explain it here. And for too little payoff. As I
read the mag I licked the end of the Fire Stix into a
razor-sharp blade of sugar. Those things could be
dangerous and you had to pay attention to what you were
doing or you could end up with a nasty lip incision. Full
of spicy-hot cinnamon oil. Danger candy. The last thing I
remembered was reading Spy Vs Spy and woke up the next
morning to a flashlight with a dead battery, me drooling
all over a Don Martin cartoon and a Fire Stix stub firmly
glued to my hair.
The morning summer sun had just cleared the cement gym
wall at Spalding Elementary and had spanked the sidewalks
on the banks of Tinkle street with a rosy heat that would,
by mid afternoon, intensify to the point where tar patches
in the road would melt and asphalt would squish beneath
the soles of your feet. Another day had begun.
Epilogue: So all in all it was just another day. Not your
Dickensian best of days nor the worst of days. Just a
pretty good day. It was a paradoxical day. One single day
and yet many, many, many days. Nothing special happened
yet everything that happened will always be special to me.
It was, after all, "my" day. And as I move along in this
life I realize more and more that most things we see and
do and feel and touch, and those whom we encounter and
those who encounter us are all special if appreciated from
that perspective. You get each day only once. Meted out in
individual doses to do with what you will and what you
can. And like the plastic bullets from my Mattel
Winchester, many will get lost in the lawn no matter how
careful you are to try to hang on to them. It doesn't
matter much what you have or where you are. Nor does it
make a real difference if you're old, young or in-between
except in the ability to capture the good that is
happening while it is happening and what joy you can bring
to it, if that is the path you choose to walk. I try
harder these days to smell the aroma, take in the color,
and feel the warmth of things that touch me each day.
These things are what is real. So hopefully in my
ramblings above, I have helped recapture for you a taste,
a sound, a sensation, a memory that you thought you had
lost or forgotten but now have rediscovered. So take this
day from long ago. I don't consider it my gift to you
because it wasn't "my" day after all, was it? It always
was your day, you just forgot you had it. Well, now it's
back. And it's yours to keep. Hey, try not to lose it
again, okay?
-Jeff Curtis (69) Seattle, WA
Post: I would really like to thank all of you who have
responded so warmly to this story. I usually get mail
after a Sandstorm submittal but the responses to this
rather windy entry have been very kind indeed. Folks that
I haven't heard from in years have popped up and many who
have never met me have taken the time to write to a total
stranger. It's all very gratifying. So thank you all very
much and if you don't get an individual response please
accept this as my way of telling you that I'm very glad
you enjoy these tales. And, at the risk of sounding like a
broken record, I would like to extend my warmest thanks to
Maren and Richard for the effort. Yeah, pretty much for
all the effort it must take to get this thing out EVERY
SINGLE DAY OF THE YEAR. Even God knocked off one day a
week. Well, leave it to those two to raise the bar. So
thank you Maren, Richard and everyone..... hey, I just had
a flash! I better go write this down - see ya the next
time!
-Jeff Curtis (69)
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/27/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11 Bombers sent stuff:
Annette Bradley (51), Mike Clowes (54),
Gary May (58WB), Ann Bishop (60),
Sandie Romeri (60), Annette Hall (62),
Jane Walker (62), Susan Baker (64),
Steve Piippo (70), Debra Dawson (74WB),
Kim Edgar (79)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Annette Bradley Forsythe (51)
Re: Betty Conner Sansom's Piece 1/23
Betty
You really had some great items in your list. We long-
timers can relate to every one. But, Don and I remember
you when your were a star on our North Richland UP Church
basketball team, along with your sister Laree, and Margie
Casebier, and others. Talk about being athletically
challenged - I loved being a part of the team, but
challenged I was. When I watch the girls athletic teams of
today, I just laugh at our half-court type play back then.
If you'd like to relive some North Richland memories send
me an e-mail. Hope all is well with you.
-Annette Bradley Forsythe (51)
********************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
To: Gus Keeney (57)
Put this one in the small world dept. Although I never
met him, Bruce Perkins and I served in Ranger at the same
time. And who knows, I might have seen you both somewhere
in Tokyo or Yokosuka. But then again, I guess not. You
see, I was a "black shoe", which is diametrically opposed
to being an "airdale."
To: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
Short of knocking over the pizza delivery guy and
stealing his "hot pouch", I can see no way to bring
Spudnuts to this part of the world. Guess I'll just have
to wait until the weather in the Gorge clears and make a
mad dash for yet another fix. If you do happen to pass
this way, please give a call. There is another alum in
this area, but I have forgotten her name. Maybe she will
join in this conversation someday.
Bomber Cheers to all
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
********************************************
>>From: Gary May (58WB)
Re: LOOKING
Does anyone know where Jim Smith, class of 58, is now
a days? Would appreciate any information from anyone.
Thanks in advance.
-Gary May (58WB)
********************************************
>>From: Ann Bishop Myers (60)
Re: 1960 Monthly Women's Lunch
The monthly lunch for the 1960 Women will be held at
my home on Saturday, Feb. 3, 11:30. Please RSVP to me so I
know how many to plan for. If you need directions, let me
know. I have a map I can e-mail to you. If you know of
someone who doesn't read the Sandstorm, please let them
know also. The more the merrier!!
-Ann Bishop Myers (60) ~ Kennewick, WA
********************************************
>>From: Sandie Romeri Rutherford (60)
To any "Bomber Babes" from the Graham, Spanaway, Yelm or
McKenna area:
I am looking for a ride, for myself and my wheelchair,
to the luncheon held in Fife for the newly formed "Bomber
Babes" group. Anyone out there that would like to check
out the luncheon please contact me. Would really
appreciate it.
Thanks,
-Sandie Romeri Rutherford (60)
********************************************
>>From: Annette Hall Bundrant (62)
Re: car clubs
My husband, Bob (62) and I were talking tonight, and
were wondering what was the name of the car club that Jim
Workman belonged to. Remember his car, not the club. Any
help from you Bombers out there. Thanks
-Annette Hall Bundrant (62)
********************************************
>>From: Jane Walker Hill (62)
Re: Bomber Directory?
The last few Sandstorm issues seem to have had quite a
few entries from Alaska. I often wonder how many are up
here... maybe even in the same town? It would be
interesting to have someone compile a list of where
Bombers are located, by state/town. Could that be done as
part of a webpage sign-in? You could type in the name of
your state, and a list of bombers that live there would
come up... complete with graduation year and contact
information. Just a thought.
-Jane Walker Hill (62) ~ Juneau, AK - still no snow!
********************************************
>>From: Susan Baker Hoover (64)
I just found the Sandstorm this week and am thoroughly
enjoying all the articles. Today Cindy Ryan's (62) article
caught my eye. Your family wasn't the only one not
talking! That's the one thing that sticks out most in my
mind.
If my parents even thought that I might have overheard
something I was told never to repeat it. When we would go
on vacation, I had to tell people I met that I was from
Eastern Washington or the Tri-Cities. I was never suppose
to say Richland. I remember always feeling like I lived in
a town that was very special for some reason and
definitely not like any other town.
I was born in Richland and have always lived here. I
take great pride in this city and the part it has played
in this country and the World. A couple of years ago, my
daughter and her British husband told me that I shouldn't
feel that way because of the destruction the bomb caused.
My answer to that was that the "Bomb" has made power hungry
leaders through out the World stop and think before
pushing the button. I also look at the contributions the
work at Hanford made, and will continue to do so, to
Medicine and other fields of Science.
This city has given us all that feeling of "family"
which we probably would not have had if we had lived in
another city. This feeling is so evident by the response
to this website and how many of us show up for our class
reunions.
-Susan Baker Hoover (64)
********************************************
>>From: Steve Piippo (70)
Five of the 'Tall Firs' came from Astoria. There was
'Admiral' John Dick from Eugene, Laddie Gale from Oregon,
Slim Wintermute from Longview, Bob Hardy, Archie Marshak,
Red McNeely, Matt Pavalunas, Ford Mullen, Porky Andrews,
and the five from Astoria: Earl Sandness, Ted Sarpola,
Wally Johanson, Bob Anet, and Toivo Piippo.
Yes, Toivo is 82 and the last survivor. In February
Astoria, Oregon H.S. is doing a Wall of Fame and he is
invited for 'Flying Fisherman' basketball, football and
the 1939 'Tall Firs.' West of the Rockies, Astoria H.S.
has won more basketball games than any high school. Hope
to attend with Toivo if he decides to go.
Toivo enjoys watching his grandkids, CBC Lady Hawk
basketball, Bomber football and having coffee at the local
McDonalds.
-Steve Piippo (70)
********************************************
>>From: Debra Dawson Fogler (74WB)
To: Jeff Curtis (69)
Dune (sci-fi novels by Frank Herbert) were better than
the movie, but both sources are entertaining for science
fiction lovers. It is a fascinating story of a desert
planet, survival, treachery, and "spice," the drug of
choice for the universe. Kyle McLaughlin, the star of
Dune, Blue Velvet, and the weird TV series, Twin Peaks
(Snoqualamie), hailed from Yakima, Washington. I worked
with a woman back in the 1970s who dated his father and
saw Kyle whenever he came home for a visit. He was
critically acclaimed for Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks, but
suffered for his appearance in Dune, which the critics
slammed.
Dune was a huge special effects undertaking, and I
believe any deficiency cannot be attributed to the main
actors. (Sting had a weird role and his "uncle" was truly
awful in Dune, the movie, which strayed most abhorrently
from Herbert's novels in this respect.)
The video, Dune, is worth checking out if you love
sci-fi or if you want to see a film produced by and
starring Pacific Northwest locals.
-Debra Dawson Fogler (74WB)
********************************************
>>From: Kim Edgar Leeming (79)
Re: Lived outside the RHS district, but still attended
I'm curious how many of you attended Richland High
even though you lived in another School Boundary line?
I was suppose to attend "Hanford High School", I lived
on Newcomer Street in North Richland. My neighbor and I
both attended RHS. My Junior year we moved to Kennewick, I
was suppose to to attend "Kamiakan High School". I
commuted to Richland, bad weather and all, there was now
way I was going to change Schools, my loyalty was too
strong.
Every year during registration, I had to fib, I listed
my Grandmothers address as my own so I could attend.
Bomber Cheers!
-Kim Edgar Leeming (79) ~ Poulsbo, WA
********************************************
********************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/28/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
16 Bombers and a Hoops report today:
Bonese Collins (49), Curt Donahue (53),
Marilyn Richey (53), Bill Johnson (61),
Annette Hall (62), Helen Cross (62),
Earl Bennett (63), Ray Fisher (63),
Carol Converse (64), Charlotte Nugent (64),
Patty de la Bretonne (65), Lynn Noble (72),
Debra Dawson (74WB), Vivian Good (74),
Jay Schreiber (79), Shelley Williams (84)
********************************************
********************************************
Hoops Report I -- Friday
1 2 3 4
Bombers 20 34 48 74
Eisenhower 18 37 58 86
Tierney 2, Buck 32, Jones 4, Gosney 0, Fannin 5,
Stowe 6, Kafentzis 2, Neill 15, Robbert 8
----------------------------------------------------
Hoops Report II -- Saturday
1 2 3 4
Moses Lake 14 31 44 58
Bombers 18 38 48 57
Buck 20, Jones 3, Fannin 5, Kafentzis 5,
Robbert 16, Tierney 8, Gosney
Bombers, playing without seniors Jeff Stowe and Kevin
Neill who were unavailable because of a college recruiting
visit, lost a thriller when fatigue set in during the
final minutes of the contest. The fatigue affected the
ability of Bombers to rebound effectively, allowing the
visitors to score a put-back with two seconds remaining.
Bombers were unable to get off a reasonable shot from a
length-of-the-court inbounds pass at the buzzer. Through
three quarters, Bombers played an intense and intelligent
game, avoiding fouls, and moving the ball around smartly.
All in all, a terrific effort from what was, in effect, a
six-man rotation.
----------------------------------------------------
Hoops Report III
1 2 3 4
Ballard 11 21 35 51
Bombers 15 26 35 40
Lansing 4, Frick 10, McKeown 4, Walton 13, Free 9,
Glover 0, Brinkman 0, Coffman 0
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Bonese Collins Turner (49)
Re: Jefferson Grade School
Re: Rex Davis' (49) letter
Someone else has already remembered the principal's
name. If I remember correctly, she was a tall, regal woman
with dark hair who brooked no nonsense with anyone. Some
of us either in late 7th grade or early 8th grade were
transferred to Lewis and Clark grade school in the south
part of town. I do remember being tormented by Ray Sadler
at Jefferson and I believe our teacher's name was Mrs.
Wright who was a pleasant lady. At Lewis and Clark there
were a whole crew of us in a Mrs. Bradbury's class. Janet
Hollenbeck, Jean Badenoch, Dawn Weeks, Rose Stewart (my
neighbor), the May brothers, Charlie Osborne, & Howard
Walker. Mrs. Bradbury played the piano "by ear" in a quite
rollicking manner and we had a lively time there. Bob
Fitzpatrick, Ken Barker, the Doctor sisters and Helen
Andersoon were also down on that end of town. In August of
'45 when we learned of the bomb's dropping, some younger
children on Comstock St. ran out and started a parade,
with a few small flags, the boys carrying toy planes and
guns, romping around joyously and making a great deal of
noise.
-Bonese Collins Turner (49)
********************************************
>>From: Curt Donahue (53)
To: Jeff Curtis (69)
Jeff,
What can I say? You said it it all in your epilogue.
Thanks for sharing your memories with us.
-Curt Donahue (53) ~ Federal Way, WA
********************************************
>>From: Marilyn Richey (53)
To: Betti Avant (69)
Betti,
That is right. Ted W. that played for Davis did live
in Richland when he was younger. I think Ray Stein (64)
and Ted knew each other at that time.
Ray, is that right?
-Marilyn Richey (53) ~ Richland
********************************************
>>From: Bill Johnson (61)
To: Annette Hall Bundrant (62)
Annette,
The name of the car club was "The Shifters" The plaque
was about the size of a license plate, and usually mounted
in the back window. It was a cast of aluminum that had a
silver border and silver letters on a black back ground.
On the right hand side there was a gear shift from bottom
to top with a hand on the gear shift knob.
To: Maren:
As you can see I have attached a PIC for you to do
what ever it is you do with them. You will note the words
"original", right above the words "Spudnut Shop." I am
making no claim that this is true or not except that the
woman that ran the place was about 60 and told me that she
had gotten it from her grandmother. Then again it could be
just advertising hype???? This was seen in Farwell, TX just
east of Clovis, NM when my brother (Richard-1955 shown)
and I were on a little trip.
-Bill Johnson (61) ~ Bay City, TX
-Keep a song in your heart and a smile on your face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://richlandBombers.1961.tripod.com/SpudnutFarewellTX.jpg
********************************************
>>From: Annette Hall Bundrant (62)
Re: Car Club Responses
Gosh! I did not think I would get responses so quick.
Thanks.
To: Gary Twedt (62)
I don't think it was the Shifters. Seem to think it
had Desert something in it. Wish Workman would get in
touch.
To: Jay Siegel (61)
Thanks for the memories. Sometimes it take a little
jogging to get them to come back. Boss says I suffer from
(CRS)!!
To: Sandra
I don't remember SCCA. I'll ask Bob. Will check in later
Thanks everyone
-Annette Hall Bundrant (62)
********************************************
>>From: Helen Cross Kirk (62)
To: Cindy "Ann" Ryan (62)
Hi Cindy,
Thanks for the tip on the neat play. Hope to see it
soon as I can find it in these parts. What are you doing
in London?? We felt so fortunate to live there '96-'99.
Thanks also for the important health tip. It seems we just
can't get tested enough.
Hope to see you in 2002 at our 40th!!
To: Jeff Curtis (69)
Thanks for another wonderful retelling of how great it
was to be a kid growing up in our little city. As I was a
female child growing up on Olympia Street, I have
different memories to think about, but the pavement was as
hot and the mosquitoes were as real, and we had the DDT
fog we played in also, even those of us who graduated in
l962.
-Helen Cross Kirk (62) ~ just west of Cincinnati, OH
Harrison, IN - just across the Indiana line
********************************************
>>From: Earl Bennett (63)
Earl Charles Bennett III - Gold Medal Class of '63
*Bomber Reunions Outside of Richland*
Do we become more complete persons when we revitalize
the memories and associations of long ago? It certainly
seems so. Joe Ford, a fellow Gold Medalist of '63, and I
made brief contact many months ago when I saw a note of
his in the Alumni Sandstorm. One point he made was that he
and his wife might be in DC for a conference, and we ought
to get together. I agreed, but completely forgot. Not Joe
- memory like a steel trap!
When he contacted me a couple of weeks ago we arranged
to meet at the Vietnam Memorial Wall, which is deeply
meaningful to both of us, Joe more so than I since he
served there and lost close friends in the action. While
we were exchanging current descriptions so we could find
each other, I recalled his superb memory as a noteworthy
aspect of his persona - he was always able to cite odd
bits of information relevant (or not) to whatever
conversations we would have. He seemed somewhat chagrined
to have his legacy prominently featuring trivia in my
mind, but I consider it a positive trait, and it fits with
his chosen and current profession as a Librarian and
library systems consultant (did I get that right, Joe?).
He recognized me instantly as my wife and I approached the
Wall, though his wife had not been able to make it to this
conference.
Turns out Joe and Mary had lived in DC while the Wall
was being built. He mentioned that the workers were
patient with the onlookers, who could not keep themselves
from approaching and absorbing the power emanating from
the engraved stones as they were being positioned. Joe
called it "vibrating," I don't know what to call it,
whether it's just our emotional makeup that creates the
bond to the concepts embodied in the slabs, or a genuine
metaphysical phenomenon that attaches us in some way to
the lives lovingly displayed and remembered. I know that
I've felt it the three times I've visited, and Joe is
still deeply, visibly moved though his visits number in
the dozens, at least. To my knowledge I only knew one
person who is named there, Mark Black, a few years younger
than me and who also attended Richland Lutheran Church as
I did. My wife is anxious for the WWII memorial to come to
fruition, in hopes it may help in her search for her
father.
Since we now live in central Virginia rather than the
Northern Virginia DC suburbs, my wife and I decided to
make that Sunday a full day of memory enhancement by
attending the church in Woodbridge where we were members
for seven years until '99. Sharing the love of God with
good friends is very rewarding - we affirm each other's
value that way.
We spent several hours with Joe, until he had to
attend another meeting at the LEXIS-NEXIS Conference. We
took refuge from the raw winter day in a downtown DC
McDonalds, filling in the blanks of 38 years apart and
dredging up all kinds of memories - my wife noted that our
memories seemed to be heavily focused on the girls we
knew, which I attribute to the hormonal imbalances of
youth and the lifelong vividness of memories made at that
age.
Joe promised to remember me to the other Bombers of
mutual acquaintance in the Olympia area who get together
occasionally - he named several, but the only one I recall
tonight is Ellen Weihermiller (?sp?) - I'll hold you to
that, Joe. I know I've exchanged emails with several other
Bombers in the MD-VA-DC area, but haven't set up meetings
like that. I did provide a dozen spudnuts from the Spudnut
Shop in Charlottesville, where I work, to a younger former
Bomber lady named Pam Pyle Jewett-Bullock (69) over in
Fredericksburg (in exchange for which she baked me a
fabulous, huge blackberry/apple/raspberry pie from
handpicked berries!), but didn't meet her - passed it
through her son working at a restaurant on my way to a
class.
Get together whenever you can, Folks, it feels good
and is really worth the effort. I'd like to run into a few
more memories when I come to Richland to visit Mom later
this year, and hopefully introduce my wife to Sonja and
Merle Harmon over Whidbey Island - she was so influential
in my education and career development. God bless you all.
Regards, ecb3
-Earl Bennett (63)
********************************************
>>From: Ray Fisher (63)
Re: Rosalie
Meyer and I ran into Rosalie and her husband last
Friday evening at a local restaurant. Guess what gang? The
"chair" is gone! She said they rolled it into a back room
around the first of the year and its been there ever
since. She is feeling much better and looks just great.
When she looks at her husband and you see those sparkles
in her eyes... well... that just kinda says it all.
Just wanted to share the good news,
-Ray Fisher (63) ~ Kennewick, WA
********************************************
>>From: Carol Converse Maurer (64)
To: Jeff Curtis (69)
I want to thank you for your 3 articles that you have
written. They were so very good!! I was brought back to
that time in my life when things were so much simpler. I
look forward to the next time that you inspire us with
another article.
-Carol Converse Maurer (64)
********************************************
>>From: Charlotte Nugent Hardy (64)
To: Susan Baker Hoover (64)
It has been so long since we graduated and I used to
see you every day. I enjoyed your entry. The people I have
met since leaving Richland and particularly in the last 20
years generally feel that without the dropping of the
atomic bomb that many Japanese and American lives would
have been lost due to the anticipated length of the war
and the dedication both sides had to winning. I am sure
this has been mentioned many times in the Sandstorm, but I
seem to only have time to skim it on a daily basis. I know
I miss out on a lot of interesting thoughts by not reading
it thoroughly, but I do at least take the time to check
out all the '64 messages.
My son, wife and two children are now living in
Richland. It is so ironic that they should have settled
there. He had not been there since he was two years old.
Who knows... I might have grandchildren some day that will
say they are Bombers.
Re: Umatilla bunkers
Has anyone heard about the bunkers around Umatilla
that have chemical weapons stored from the 40s or 50s that
are now leaking. I saw a documentary on that but never
heard if the government has been aggressive in solving the
problem. It was kind of a "doomsday" selection that talked
about the destruction if "something went wrong".
I need to get my money off to Maren so will get an
envelope out and do that this weekend. There is going to
be a DNA molecular genealogy conference here this
afternoon so I will either get the money off today or
Monday. I appreciate all the time and effort put into
making sure we get the Sandstorm on a daily basis. Thank
you.
-Charlotte Nugent Hardy (64)
********************************************
>>From: Patty de la Bretonne (65)
Re: Colonoscopy. The actual procedure is a piece of cake!
Don't be afraid. or embarrassed.
-Patty de la Bretonne (65) ~ Seattle, WA
********************************************
>>From: Lynn Noble Paden (72)
How 'bout those hairdos that we used to don (and some
still do -- Bill Gates comes to mind) during the fifties
and sixties. Girls changed their hairdos as often as they
changed their socks it seemed, although bangs and straight
hair - with maybe a flip at the end - seem to be the "do"
that transcended the two decades. I managed, with lots of
hair spray, the classic bun on top of my head in sixth
grade hoping it made me look a little older...
But it was more dramatic for the guys -- sporting
crewcuts set with butchwax during the fifties and in early
sixties, they let their hair grow ("long beautiful hair")
toward the end of the decade. Mid sixties found them in
vogue Beatle cuts (although some looked as though they'd
been to Moe Howard's House of Hair) coifing their bangs
with a slight curve. At Christ the King the nuns seemed to
roll with the times but would also insist upon their
grooming standards when they noticed the boys' hair
touching their shirt collars.
Today, it's fun to see that many of the hair styles of
the fifties and sixties are back -- albeit with a little
more color or spikes. And, I am happy to report that at
age 46, I no longer have the need to age myself with a
bun.
-Lynn Noble Paden (72)
********************************************
>>From: Debra Dawson Fogler (74WB)
Well this is interesting. I'm now using AT&T Worldnet
as an ISP. When I read this Sandstorm, a message popped
up: "Disorders of Thyroid Gland click here." Is somebody
watching us??
-Debra Dawson Fogler (74WB)
********************************************
>>From: Vivian Good Rogalsky (74)
Re: Living outside the boundaries
To: Kim Edgar Leeming (79)
I too bucked the system. My mother re-married in the
summer of 1972 and her new spouse resided in Kennewick, 1
block from Kamiakan. My "new" step-sister was a year older
than I was and a cheerleader there. There was no way I was
going to switch schools. The step-sis had to drive me to
drivers ed the summer of '72 till I got my license. To say
the least, that went over real big. My junior and senior
year I listed my address at my friend Kathy Praino's
house. Thought I was really putting one over on the
system. But in the end it was all worth it. I was a loyal
Bomber then and always will be. (My daughter is now a
junior at RHS).
-Vivian Good Rogalsky (74)
********************************************
>>From: Jay Schreiber (79)
Re: Debra Dawson (74WB) 1/27
The Sci-Fi channel just showed a remake of the Dune
movie; it was re-made taking up six hours of TV time (so
adjust for commercials). They showed it over 3 days and I
would have to say it was a much better representation of
the book than the original, although it may not have had
the NW connection.
If anyone out there is a likes sci-fi and was
disappointed in the original movie, I would recommend the
new version. Not sure when they will get it out for rental
or purchase.
-Jay Schreiber (79) ~ Indianapolis, IN
********************************************
>>From: Shelley Williams Robillard (84)
Re: outside boundaries
Kim Edgar Leeming (79) asked how many others fudged on
their eligibility to go to RHS.
The summer between my junior and senior years, my
family moved to the house they had been building in our
vineyards in Benton City. There was absolutely NO WAY I
was moving to Ki-Be for my senior year! I honestly don't
remember how we got around the question of residency, I
think we just never told them we moved. And here I thought
I was the only one who ever did this.
-Shelley Williams Robillard (84)
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/29/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9 Bombers sent stuff:
Mike Clowes (54), Larry Mattingly (60),
Richard Anderson (60), Janie O'Neal (65),
Betti Avant (69), Kelvin Soldat (71),
Debra Dawson (74WB), Carol Barnard (76),
Teri Haffner (86)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
To: Patty de la Bretonne (65)
A piece of cake?
Here, all along I thought it was a "pain in the ..."
Necessary, but a pain nonetheless.
We may joke somewhat about these things, more like
"gallows humor" than anything else. But such diseases are
scary, and the earlier one finds out about them, the
better.
Just wonder how many cases of skin cancer developed
from baking all day by the swimming pool? Perhaps we were
just lucky to have been able to bake in the sun BEFORE the
ozone layer got a big hole in it. Or at least before some
scientific type discovered that laboratory rats got skin
cancer from being exposed to the human equivalent of
fourhundredmillion hours of exposure to direct sunlight.
I sometimes think being a lab rat can cause cancer.
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
********************************************
>>From: Larry Mattingly (60)
To: Charlotte Nugent Hardy (64)
The US military stocks of chemical weapons including
nerve gas are presently residing in 3-4 places around the
world. Umatilla Ordinance Depot is one of the largest of
them. There is an island in the South Pacific, a depose in
the Eastern US and I think there may be one other site.
Remember the signs on the Hanford highway "If you see
these lights flashing, turn around and go back" or
something to that effect? Well they have them all around
the Umatilla Depot. These stocks consist of artillery
shells, bombs and other unspecified weapons. Rumor has it
that there periodically have been a few very small leaks.
The last I heard, the plan is to not move them but to
burn them in a special mega-million $ incinerator right on
each site. A lot of folks don't like the plan but
"experts" say the risk of an incident during moving them
through public areas would just be too much. I believe the
construction on the incinerator is supposed to start this
year. It is pretty complicated. I saw a diagram a couple
of years back. Air tight containers in air tight trucks
move the weapons to special cells in a remote operated
facility. The warheads will be remotely opened and the
chemical material fed into a series of very high
temperature burner and re-burner assemblies. Considering
the explosive "bursting/scattering" charge and the
detonators involved I suspect it will be a delicate
operation. Drawing from my experiences working with bomb
squad techs over the years, I have no envy for those who
have to operate that incinerator. Actually I have
confidence in the engineering, I just wouldn't be
comfortable working there. The older I get the less desire
I have for hazardous adventures.
"Happiness is the sky in bloom"
-J Larry Mattingly (60) ~ Tacoma, WA
********************************************
>>From: Richard Anderson (60)
Re: View from (behind) the Bench
Today's observation: "Why there are referees at high
school hoops."
Well, you've plunked down your four bucks to get into
Dawald Gym -- plenty early so you can check out the JV
game, and the 9th grade or sophomore game in the old gym -
- and you make your way to your customary spot in the
stands: four or five rows up behind Bombers' bench, about
even with the free throw line. There's about half an hour
from the end of the JV game until the start of the main
event so, while sort of watching the two teams do their
pre-game thing, you wonder about ...... what do the refs
do? Really, why are they there? The kids don't really need
them; well, it *is* nice to have somebody around to sort
out whether it is a one-and-one or two shots, but all
things considered ....
The two ill-paid referees are there to entertain you!
Generally they do this by playing straight-man to the
comedians ...... the two teams' coaches. They employ two
techniques: "the questionable call" which is guaranteed to
get the coach of the offending team to barking a bit; and
the *genuine* provocation, "the profound silence", which
leads one of the coaches to perform what I call "The
Helicopter".
Coaches learn "the helicopter" early in their career. It
consists of performing the (really amazing) feat of rising
straight up from a seated position, rotating 360 degrees
once or twice (or thrice if a veteran coach), all the
while bellowing like a bull elk in rut. All this because
some ill-paid referee did absolutely nothing! Our coach
*thinks* that the ill-paid referee really and truly ought
to have done something.
Two illustrations from the recent contest between Bombers
and Moses Lake:
i) A Bomber advances (rapidly) towards basket with
intention of placing basketball into hoop. Opponent
performs reasonable example of mugging. Ball rolls out of
bounds. Ball awarded to opponent. Result: "Helicopter"
(with garment cluster). Coach Streufert gets a "garment
cluster" for this one for a great removal-of-suit-jacket
while in mid-pirouette and throwing same beneath his
chair. Great stuff! All because the referee did absolutely
nothing!
ii) Our spiffy sophomore guard John Tierney dribbles the
ball towards the sideline and, collecting a crowd of
opponents, stops, pivots a bit this way and that, and,
finding no immediate succor from a teammate to pass the
ball to ...... resumes dribbling the ball! Not six feet
from Coach Mayo of Moses Lake! Benign silence from the
referee's whistle (it was a clear double dribble) and
...... "helicopter"! No garment cluster though; Coach Mayo
had the sense not to wear a jacket.
i followup) After a decent interval, Coach Streufert
retrieved his suit jacket from underneath his chair,
smoothed its wrinkles, and continued to listen for the
next "Silence of the Referees". (I do not know the fate of
the Bomber end-of-the-bencher who was seen to smirk, if
not outright guffaw, over the throwing of the jacket.)
Anyway, that's why they hire two ill-paid referees for
each high school hoops -- they are there to entertain you,
folks.
-Richard Anderson (60)
********************************************
>>From: Janie 0'Neal Janssen (65)
Re: Hi!
Just wanted to say Hi to Myrna Willard (not her maiden
name). Can you believe two Bomber alumni ended up in
Newberg, Oregon.
-Janie 0'Neal Janssen (65)
********************************************
>>From: Betti Avant (69)
Re: Jeff Curtis' (69) story
I am proud to say I knew Jeff Curtis in grade school.
In fact, we were in kindergarten together and the rest of
Jason Lee classes he was in my twin brother's classes.
(Robert)
When his first installment came, I wrote and said it
was snowing here (we got 6") and now yesterday with the
last one it snowed again (I haven't heard an amount but
probably another 6"). It so reminded me of my summer days.
My brothers and I had season passes to the pool and used
them almost every day. The only difference when we got to
be a little older, the neighborhood kids and us would hop
on our bikes and ride to the pool. The worst part was
after an exhausting time of swimming, then we had to get
our bikes back up the hill. I usually ended up pushing
mine.
Such were the "good times".
-Betti Avant (69) ~ Goodland, KS
********************************************
>>From: Kelvin Soldat (71)
Jeff Curtis for President!!!!!!!
-Kelvin Soldat (71)
********************************************
>>From: Debra Dawson Fogler (74)
Re: Umatilla chemical waste dump
I lived and taught in Hermiston, Oregon, which is just
east of the Umatilla chemical weapons storage site, from
1996 to 1998. A special closed-circulation air system was
installed in all of the Hermiston school gyms, which is
intended to shelter people (students and teachers anyway)
in the event of disaster. This was being accomplished
during my two years there, at the same time as the
incinerator was being constructed at the storage site.
60 Minutes interviewed some of my students at Armand
Larive Middle School in 1996 or '97, and aired a rather
scary report on the whole situation. My daughter, also a
student at this school, was frightened by the prospect of
disaster and hated the drills we had to go through even
more than I hated the bomb drills we suffered through in
the 60s.
About the time we moved back to Cheney, the
incinerator was put into operation. It is designed to burn
all of the waste buried in the sands north of Umatilla.
And there is a LOT of waste. I can't remember the figures
now, but VH7 (?) the green chemical featured in the Sean
Connery movie, The Rock, is there in massive quantity.
Tons. And one-tenth of one drop anywhere on your skin is a
deadly dose. There is mustard gas from WWI, which seems
pretty tame in comparison, and I don't know what all.
Hopefully, most of it is gone by now.
The trick with incinerating the waste was in designing
scrubbers that would absolutely prevent these toxins from
going out the stack, drifting downwind, and killing
people. Also of concern was the volatility of chemicals
stored underground for years, perhaps mixing with other
elements leaching in, perhaps erupting noxious gases
before it could be delivered to the big oven. Then there
are the disaster-movie possibilities of terrorism, trucks
careening out of control, and planes crashing into a load
of VH7. The scariest alternative, however, was to just
leave the stuff sitting there and hope for the best.
It's been a couple of years now, and the cleanup
project appears to be proceeding without disaster. The
incinerator is apparently doing its job, not letting any
bad stuff get past the smoke stack. In the event of
disaster, surrounding communities have facilities,
equipment, and foreknowledge for survival.
I don't know what the timetable is for the cleanup,
but I know there is at least one Bomber working there.
There must be many others who have more knowledge than I
about this subject; perhaps they'll respond.
-Debra Dawson Fogler (74) ~ Cheney, WA
********************************************
>>From: Carol Barnard (76)
I was thumbing through my Feb 2001 Smart Money
magazine and I turned the page and who's face did I see
but our very own Brad Upton (74)... with a big cheezy
grin. Check it out... page 120.
-Carol Barnard (76)
********************************************
>>From: Teri Haffner Bartol (86)
Re: Boundaries
A number of you talked about fudging on where you
lived in order to keep attending RHS... I just told (made
a passionate request that) my folks buy a house that would
keep me in the Chief Jo and RHS boundaries. I knew that I
did NOT want to go to Hanford under any circumstances! We
had been living in the Manor House Apartments on the
corner of GWWay and Van Giesen through my sixth grade
year at Jefferson when they finally started house
hunting... and even though half my friends were going to
be attending Hanford Middle School, I did not want to be
there... they didn't argue with me too much about my
"small" request and were able to fulfill it.
As a side note, I was in the last freshman class to go
through Chief Jo... especially as a Warrior. Both of my
younger brothers attended Carmichael... and Chief Jo was
only a block from our house!
-Teri Haffner Bartol (86) ~ Richland
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/30/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7 Bombers sent stuff:
Paul Ratsch (58), Larry Mattingly (60),
Rose Boswell (61), Carol Converse (64),
Jerry Spears (64), Rick Maddy (67),
Joe Largé (68)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Paul Ratsch (58)
Re: Backwater
Just the other day (Sunday the 28th to be exact) I was
driving along the Columbia River by Priest Rapids dam &
Wanapum dam. If the snow pack is so low this year, why is
there more water than I have ever seen backed up behind
Wanapum dam?... anybody...
-Paul W. Ratsch (58)
********************************************
>>From: Larry Mattingly (60)
To: Debra Dawson Folger (74WB)
I may have to stand corrected on the incinerator. I
was told about a year ago that the structure under
construction West of town was a natural gas-fired power
generation station. A friend that lives in Bordman also
said that the incinerator construction had not started
yet. There are a couple of Sandstorm readers that live in
the Hermiston area. Can you shed some light on this? All
of this aside, I can imagine the concerns of living near
the depot. I can vividly remember childhood terrors of
living near Hanford. That was a double threat.. if it
doesn't "blow-up" the Russians may bomb us.
"Happiness is the sky in bloom"
-J Larry Mattingly (60) ~ Tacoma, WA
********************************************
>>From: Rose Boswell Smith (61)
For the people that were inquiring about the Pedraza
family of West Richland. I just had a call from a relative
at work and asked if he was related. He said yes and that
Isreal is working at Granny's in Columbia Center. He
retired from the military, I think he said. It was quite a
while ago that were talking about him.
-Rose Boswell Smith (61)
********************************************
>>From: Carol Converse Maurer (64)
To: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
Very interesting question about how many ended up with
skin cancer from being out in the sun as much as all of us
were in our growing up years in Richland.
I was diagnosed around 11 years or so ago with "pre-
skin" cancer. I spent 2 years having those spots on my
face frozen. Went to the doctor every 4-6 weeks those 2
years. I'll tell you what, I quit laying out in the sun to
get a suntan real fast. After we moved to Wenatchee, I
only had to go to the doctor a couple times.
I still have a couple places that itch once in a
while. I just put some special cream on it and seems to
take care of it. Being down here in foggy Eureka, Ca now
helps. I'm an avid gardener and am out in the garden alot
and always seem to be facing the sun. Go figure.
-Carol Converse Maurer (64) ~ Eureka, CA
********************************************
>>From: Jerry Spears (64)
To: Richard Anderson (60)
After reading your article (and I must admit, laughing
quite a bit) I just simply had to respond.
First of all, $4 to $5 bucks to laugh at the refs is
pretty cheap entertainment. Right? Actually, we come to
support our teams and hope to have a great time talking
with other fans about this year's team, teams of the past,
and who knows what else.
I've been a player, coach and referee - and as with
everything there are many factors in play on every
decision, or non-decision. One thing I know for sure, when
one team is playing badly, it isn't everyone else's fault.
As to why refs are needed, how many people could make
these few calls correctly?
1. Player A, who is inbounding the ball reaches through
the sideline and is tied up by a member of team B... What
do you call? Who gets the ball?
2. Player B reaches through the endline before Player A
throws the ball inbounds
3. Player B hits the ball in A's hands when player A is
out of bounds prepared to throw the ball in?
4. Player B hits player A - who is out of bounds before
the ball is thrown in?
5. Player A, while dribbling, falls to the floor after
contacting player B, and still continues with the dribble
and gets up to drive to the hoop?
6. Player A jumps high into the air (straight up) to check
a shot and makes contact with player B?
7. Player B plays the man instead of the ball and creams
Player A "in flight" knocking him/her down in the process?
8. A jump ball to start the game is caught by one of the
jumpers instead of tipped, or is tipped and caught by the
same jumper. Who gets the ball? Who gets the arrow?
As a previous coach, I am well versed in the high
jump, but couldn't perfect the helicopter move. Had
trouble with the swing and fox trot too? tsk. tsk.
Quite often, coaches and fans have a direct view to
the "scene of the crime" however, they probably don't have
the view of a referee if he/she is in position. Not only
that, they don't have the backside view that refs often
have, but not always - due to the mechanics of positioning
and off ball responsibilities.
Please remember that coaches are under tremendous
pressure and have an enormous responsibility with their
teams. Like referees, the lion's share are very decent to
referees and supportive, not to mention Grrrrrrrrrrrreat
role models.
Because nothing is perfect, calls will be missed and
quite often ignored, because the stars of the game are the
kids! Over officiating is seldom required and kids adjust
to the calls. Consistency is the key. Easier said than
done, because the game may change pace suddenly, i.e. The
team that pressed in the first half doesn't in the second
half. OR one team is shooting a bizzillion percent! If the
other team isn't playing defense, they aren't going to
have too many fouls.
Refs and coaches also work together quite often to do
preventative things to help the kids keep focused and not
go ballistic. A few words or a quick sit on the bench can
often diffuse a situation that has seriousness painted all
over it. Sometimes there is a fine line between excitement
and anger.
As to your points about the lack of, or incorrect
calls, I would guess that you could easily be right... Two
refs trying to make sense out of twenty legs, twenty arms,
and under the scrutiny of possibly hundreds or thousands -
like us in the stands???? The refs are like traffic cops -
they are trying to manage the game as best they can. Also,
they (I believe) are very capable. They have been assigned
by the secretary only after getting a high rating from the
very coaches that are doing the buggie on the sidelines!
(p.s. - I did the buggie pretty well). As a coach, I was
glad they were there, even when I disagreed with them.
What the Officials need most of all? More interested
folks to help them do their job. Are you up to it? I
guarantee it will change your perspective overnight. It's
also very rewarding - 90 percent of the folks thank you
for the service and BEST OF ALL... You don't have to pay
to get the best seats in the house!!!
Peace.
-Jerry Spears (64)
********************************************
>>From: Rick Maddy (67)
Re: Larry Mattingly (60) "Drawing from my experiences
working with bomb squad techs over the years, I have no
envy for those who have to operate that incinerator... I
just wouldn't be comfortable working there. The older I
get the less desire I have for hazardous adventures."
I don’t know what makes you guys tick, Larry, but I
can only tell you that your R2K “light show” was
extraordinarily beautiful and up close and personal. I
don’t think there is one of us that do not realize the
downside of what you love doing.
Speaking of ammo dumps and the folks that clean it up:
The USofA is cleaning up the island of Kaho'olawe
presently. I do not see how they will ever get this job
finished. The island was an impact area for almost half a
century for the Navy and our allies... and who knows who
else. An acquaintance, Jim, is one of the people trying to
clean this island up from unexploded ordinance. He flies
over there from Maui every morning in a large Sikorsky
chopper and back home in the evening. Jim was in the
Canadian Army for fourteen years jerking booby traps and
bombs out of the ground until he realized he could make
more money doing this job as a civilian. Jim has been all
over the world performing this job. I am sure there are
others in here that know all about this job. He could be
in Vietnam right now doing this, but Kaho’olawe is safer
(whatever that means) and he has two children back home.
Jim has the correct amount of ego for this job and would
be the first to tell you how good he is at doing it. He
has seen a few mistakes made by coworkers over the years.
The last one was in Yugoslavia. Nevertheless, Jim has
tattoos on all four limbs. One of the more interesting
ones is a snake that runs from the top of his thigh and
curls around his leg to the lower calf. He says he just
wants to make sure the correct limbs get into the right
bag. This is not uncommon for these guys.
By the way, on Wednesday at noon they are going to
blow a 2000 pounder that we should easily hear from Big
Beach (Makena).
-Rick Maddy (67)
********************************************
>>From: Joe Largé (68)
To: Jeff Curtis (69)
Dear Jeff.
Thanks again for putting real pressure on those
synapses straining just to remember my name from day-to-
day - what wonderful memories are rekindled.
Did you ever meet a kid by the name of "Dion Sanders"
that grew up in the 1000 block of Birch Street? He and I
played together from when I was about 8 years old clear on
to Junior High (if memory serves). Anyway, I met him
again, years ago when I was living in Tonopah, Nevada. He
was the husband of a lady who I used to sing duets with at
the Tonopah Baptist Church. Both of us were flabbergasted
- boy-what-a-small-world, type thing.
The one thing he [Dion Sanders] mentioned to me was
"Remember when we used to make dams in the gutters along
Richmond and then flood them with water..." We wanted to
make our own swimming pool, you know. One of our dams
actually extended about to the center line - boy what a
flood that made. Cars were swooshing through the water
(early versions of Rooster Tails), running into our
carefully-made dams -some of which even flooded the
sidewalk. We'd have kids ride their bikes through the
ponds, much to our chagrin, setting up mini-rooster tails.
We even tried to float on boards - please read about Steve
Sterling in your previous installment to your best-seller.
The effect was about the same (fortunately, though, not
from the same dizzying height). All that we would produce
is getting our stomachs wet, which all-in-all went a long
way to curbing the "basted barbecued ribs" feeling you
endured as a child growing up in a Richland Heat Wave.
Oh, by-the-way, the other station's call letters were
KTRX (I'm KKK Kenny, from KKK Korten's).
I wasn't aware that "cha-boon-a->GOON-ga" was what
Popeye was even saying! Did you ever have Mrs. Birdsong
(Mrs. Dodds as a teacher?) She once shared a little tid-
bit of information about the longest word in the world
(that is until this German Fellow decided to have his last
name permanently changed to a historical (but dubious)
event in his family history involving aliens and
"iridium". It went something like -
"Wolfschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorf. . ." and that's all I
can remember - it went on for about 2 pages). She
mentioned about a lake in either Wisconsin or Michigan or
wherever, that was called:
Chargogagogmanchogagogcharbunagungamog - Lake. The sign
would have to be painted on a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood! I
would imagine that's where Popeye got his "Cha-Boon-a"
whatever from.
OK, Elizabeth, say this 5 times really fast -"Char -
gog - a - gog - man - chog - a - gog - char - bunna - gun
-ga - mog" - PANT!!!! Let us now pick up our tongues off
the floor and go on to our next assignment - Dentistry
with a slow, dull drill!
Well, Talk to you Later, Curt!
Tijuana Brass (and Bombers) - Forever!
-Joe Largé (68)
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
********************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 01/31/01
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
16 Bombers and a hoops report today:
Doris Palmer (49), Mike Clowes (54), Myrna Branum (57)
Sharon Panther (57), Larry Mattingly (60), Richard Anderson (60)
Judy Willox (61), Helen Cross (62), Peg Sheeran (63)
Lamont Worden (65), Jake Tate (66WB), Pam Ehinger (67)
Larry Stone (71), Laurie Hutton (72), Treg Owings (76)
Kathy Snowhite (89)
********************************************
********************************************
>>From: Doris Palmer (49)
To: Bonese Collins Turner (49)
Just a short note to Bonese. Love to hear all of the
memories of our glory days. Although I did not go to Lewis
and Clark did know most of the kids from there. Still keep
in contact with Jeanne Badenock Young, she was widowed in
2000 and is living in California. Wish she would get a
computer so we could all talk more often. Would love to
see some of your paintings, maybe someday when we are
traveling we will get by to see them.
-Doris Palmer (49)
********************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54)
To: Paul Ratsch (58)
The reason for all the water behind the dams is that
later this spring they will siphon it out, filter out all
the old salmon scales, bottle it and sell it to California
as "Wanapum Pure" or something of that sort. Remember,
them poor folk down there are being deprived of our
electricity, so we gotta do something to help them out.
To: Carol Converse Maurer (64)
I have a friend who is a retired dermatologist, and he
has looked at me and said I have a non cancerous lump on
my face which should be removed. Since it is benign, and I
don't really like pain all that much, it is still there.
Probably as a reminder of all the "fun in the sun" I had
in my youth. I am glad to hear that you don't have to go
to the doctor so much any more. And don't worry, facing
toward the sun (even behind the clouds) in Eureka is a
natural thing. Don't they have fewer sunshine days there
than in Seattle?
Bomber Cheers to all
and hisses to "Zebras" who can't make good calls.
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes (54) ~ in cloudy Albany, OR
********************************************
>>From: Myrna Branum Willard (57)
To: Janie O'Neal Janssen (65)
What a surprise to meet you here in the Sandstorm.
We'll have to get together some time and do our nails or
color each other's hair. That would be fun.
-Myrna Branum Willard (57)
********************************************
>>From: Sharon Panther Taff (57)
Re: The Pedraza family
Yes, Israel (our family called him Izzy when he ran
around with my brother Don) is the cook at Country Buffet.
At least he was a few months ago when he came out and
talked with my grandson and I. He had a restaurant at
Vantage for many years.
Pappa Joe Pedraza lives in the TriCities and sometimes
attends our church with one of his daughters.
Ofelia Pedraza Bowls lives in Richland with husband
Dave. Dave is into mini storages.
Cristella Rodriquez ?? (her mother was Mrs. Pedraza)
lives in Pasco.
Gloria Pedraza ?? relocated from California to the
TriCities with her husband.
Rachel Pedraza Vasquez ?? is deceased as is the Mrs.
Pedraza we knew as children.
I'm not sure where Lydia Rodriquez?? or Evangeline
(Banjo) Pedraza?? now live. I believe Lydia lived in
Connell for a period of time.
There was also a cousin that lived with them -
Herminia and we called her Minnie.
Our family was invited to their family reunion 2-3
years ago at Howard Amon Park where all the daughters and
cousins and extended family were in attendance. It was
quite a fete to renew acquaintances from the early 50s.
Re: skin cancer
YES! I have had quite a few. I had one cut out and
another burned off. Both leaving scars. Then another
doctor suggested a special cream that you apply morning
and night for 3 and a half weeks and it worked a miracle.
The doctor said it was like a chemical peel that women pay
hundred of dollars for. When I complained that I had been
really faithful about using protective creams, sunscreens
and hats since I was around 30, he said that the damage
done to my face and hands was done before I was 20 years
old. I was one of those kids who dearly loved the water
and swam every minute I could get away either to the pool
or the river. Another side affect of the sun is a skin
condition called actinic keritosis - bumps on the skin -
hundreds of them especially on my feet, legs and back. No
way to get rid of them but to sand/buff them off and that
is painful.
-Sharon Panther Taff (57)
********************************************
>>From: Larry Mattingly (60)
To: Rick Maddy (67)
Working with bomb squads isn't a normal downside to
the pyro business. I choose to do it because I have the
experience and it can be very interesting work, albeit
sometimes dangerous. Both state and local bomb squads and
lately the Feds (BATF) have utilized me as a guest
instructor a few times a year at various places in the
West. I have a "Post Blast Investigation" course coming up
in late May. We set off various explosives (both
pyrotechnic and high explosive) (yes, that's the fun
part) in cars, buildings and other examples, and then bomb
techs practice analyzing the scene and establishing what
actually happened and what explosives were used and how it
was set up. Very interesting work. And very exacting from
an "evidence" standpoint.
Your comments about cleaning up the island were right
on in this day and age. Big as it is the clean-up of
Hanford is actually a small part of a huge problem. There
are numerous sites in both the US and around the world
like that. Both radioactive and non as well as explosive,
not to mention chemical. A few years back several agencies
in the NW formed an informal committee to find a place to
establish some kind of explosives disposal area. This
would have been available primarily to civilian and law
enforcement use, but we found both Ft. Lewis and Yakima
Firing Center were already too contaminated with un-
exploded ordinance. Some areas are totally restricted to
no entry and other field areas require a certificate from
an "Un-Exploded Ordinance Recognition" course for entry. I
have been on the ground in both places and was amazed at
the number and variety of items lying on the ground in
plain sight, not to mention what might be under the
surface. Of course you don't touch anything. Clean-up will
cost millions. So basically we all just take care of our
own problems unless we have massive quantities. (Our
"burning barrel" can be a riot (of non explosive items)
the first rainy day after the 4th of July. One good thing,
at least everybody I know in the business has long ago
stopped "burying it somewhere" and now actually burn it or
blow it.
To: Joe Large (68)
Re: Lake Chagogamog (short version)
I believe it was Morley Safer on 60 Minutes (?) a fair
number of years ago, that did a piece on that lake and
it's name. I don't recall where the lake was, but he said
that loosely translated the name meant, "you fish on your
side and we will fish on our side".
"Happiness is the sky in bloom"
-J Larry Mattingly (60) ~ Office -Olympia, WA
********************************************
>>From: Richard Anderson (60)
To: Joe Largé (68)
Joe,
If you were to travel from Norwich, Connecticut, where
I was born, to Fitchburg, Massachusetts, the home of my
paternal grandparents, you would pass by Lake
Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, which lies
just north of the state line. I do not know what mascot
the high school in Webster, the closest town, has; I
particularly do not know if any discussion of its origin,
or of charges of historical revisionism, or of political
correctness attended the selection and naming of the
mascot.
-Richard Anderson (60)
********************************************
>>From: Judy Willox Hodge (61)
To: Larry Mattingly (60)
Larry,
My husband worked on that incinerator down in
Hermiston and when it was all but done, he was laid off.
That was in July of 2000, and a week later he went down to
Klamath Falls, OR to work on the Co-gen plant down there.
I have to reasonably assume that this must mean that the
incinerator should be done at this point. When he first
started there, they had an incident (notice that I DIDN'T
say spill or leak) that made several of the men very sick,
one of whom was pretty serious. However as these things
usually go, it was never clear as to just WHAT it was that
made them sick, but it did result in my husband and many
others getting laid off since they could not work around
that area and that was where the work was at that time. He
was only supposed to get laid off for two weeks, but that
soon turned into two months, so you do the math. *G*!! The
town of Hermiston was quite upset that they had not been
informed of things that went on out there. When James did
go back to work, they were plagued with one bomb threat
after another that either sent the men home or had them
out in a field away from the plant sitting in cars for
hours. And, it got da-- hot out there. Anyway, I think
that your friend in Boardman must be mistaken about the
incinerator, and may be thinking of a co-gen plant that is
to go in around that area of Boardman soon. This may be
the construction that he is thinking of. I may not live in
Hermiston, Larry, but I hope that I did shed some light on
this subject for you. And yes, Hermiston does have it's
concerns.
To: Rick Maddy (67)
You have every right to worry about working at that
incinerator, Rick. See my entry to Larry Mattingly (60)
above. And, oh yes, I do so very definitely realize the
downside of Larry's profession and the danger that goes
with it. I think that he is to be admired for what he does
and the jeopardy he puts himself in to please the throngs
of people that he does. A big Bomber kudos to him!! It is
probably because of my husband's profession and some of
the places that he has worked in that I do realize the
dangers more so than some others. The incinerator was only
one of the menacing places that he has worked at; he was
right in the line of fire of the toxic cloud in Moses Lake
when the refinery there burst it's pipes, killing two and
putting two more in serious health. Luckily his refinery
escaped the worst threat, but again the stupidity of NOT
being warned that they were in serious danger reared it's
ugly head! Then there is always the place he worked at the
longest; the fertilizer plant in Finley. And if you all
think that you have worries over Hanford and places like
it, well, as James always said," Baby, you ain't seen
nothin' yet if THAT sucker ever blows up!" How well that
was shown in the Oklahoma City bombing huh?! And that was
just a few bags; we are talking railroad cars full out
there! So, I guess that all we can really do is live right
and put our faith in the good ole' Boy upstairs named God
and hope for the best in life. Right?!!
Bomber Best Cheers,
-Judy Willox Hodge (61)
********************************************
>>From: Helen Cross Kirk (62)
To: Joe Large' (68)
Joe,
Are you one of Dennis Large' little siblings? You must
be, as my aunt and uncle lived right across the street at
l035 Birch, if memory serves me right. I always remember
your brother being one of the nicest kids and I remember
our early "group" dating in junior high, when Dennis and I
were part of the "group", both of us actually being on a
"date" with someone else. This was acceptable to our
parents. We went to each other's houses for dances. I
remember one night when we all thought we would die of
embarrassment, as we were all sitting there watching late
night T.V. and the word "brassiere" was mentioned. In our
sheltered environment, at least all the girls wished the
earth would just swallow us up just then. Please give my
best to Dennis, wherever he is.
Joe, you are also the only person I know, who actually
lived in Tonopah, Nevada. We went there one time in the
early 70s for their Tonopah Days and stayed in the
Tonopah Hotel, which at that time was a wooden structure
about 6 stories high. We were on the top floor and the
bottom floor was a gambling casino. One we walked the
stairs to our room, we just prayed there wouldn't be a
fire, as we didn't have a rope that long to get up to the
ground. I remember sitting in the window sill of our
UNairconditioned room watching the contests of skill and
strength down below like "log-rolling". It is one of our
fond memories of life before kids and older age set in.
Again my thanks to Maren, for coming up with this idea
of an e-mail newspaper. I am certainly hooked on getting
my daily dose of Bomberville trivia.
Glad I'm a Bomber, where ever the name really came from!!
-Helen Cross Kirk (62) ~ West Harrison, IN
********************************************
>>From: Peg Sheeran Finch (63)
To: Jeff Curtis (69)
My question for you is "Did you take notes as a kid or
what? HOW do you remember those little things like fire
sticks (Danger Candy)? I think I had a similar incident
with one getting stuck - in a book, I think. And as far as
the handkerchief parachutes... we made ours out of Dad's
hankies and Mom's old thread spools (instead of washers).
Amazing to me that she had one for each of us kids (there
were 6 of us), and I think I've emptied a thread spool
once in 20 years. We also used them to blow bubbles using
the dishwashing liquid. What ingenuity someone had!
-Peg Sheeran Finch (63) ~ Omak, WA
********************************************
>>From: Lamont Worden (65)
Re: Slow but sure, I'm getting there!
Dear fellow Bombers,
Just wanted to give you an update and ask the simple
question, "Is there anyone else out there who is as far
behind in keeping up with this electronic "Sandstorm" as I
am?"
After the fantastic R2K reunion this past summer I
fell dismally behind in reading the onslaught of messages
that poured in to the Sandstorm. At one point in Oct or
Nov I think I was four months behind. My "Hotmail" account
with Microsoft was on the verge of being cut off because
it was overflowing with messages from "vegas68".
Then came the incredible election fiasco, followed
immediately by the birth of our first grandchild (12/1/00)
and, of course, then the holidays were upon us.
Now, I've caught my breath and have been reading 5-7
Sandstorms each day for the past few weeks. I'm
pleased/embarrassed to announce that as January draws to a
close I have today finished reading the last of the
November entries. You that are all "caught up with you
reading assignments" will no doubt think the wonderful
entries I've been enjoying about Zip's, Mr. Piippo, the
Roller Rink, Columbia River flumes, A&W, Miners, Fireworks
awards, etc., etc., etc. is all "ancient history."
Don't fret. What you are typing today, I'll probably
be reading before St. Patrick's Day gets here. Remember,
I'm ONLY two months behind now, and gaining fast. Anyone
else sharing my dilemma?
Anyway, THANK YOU faithful contributors. Your missives
may take a while to get to my eyes and heart but they sure
are appreciated. Keep 'em coming. I can hardly wait to
read what Jeff Curtis (69) wrote less than a month ago.
BOMBERS RULE; THE MEMORIES ONLY GET BETTER!!
-Lamont Worden (65) ~ Greenacres, WA (Somewhere east of Spokane)
********************************************
>>From: Jake Tate (66WB)
Re: Was electricity free?
With all there is in the news lately about the power
shortages I can't help but think back to my childhood in
the "Atomic City." I am not sure if I imagined this or not
but I seem to remember that somewhere, sometime I was told
that electricity used to be free to Richland residents. As
I recall, I was told that it was a by-product of the
"area." I do clearly remember that when we lived in the
Precut and the Prefab that we heated with portable
electric heaters. I remember that because of the
interesting waffle like design burned into my brother
Terry's (62) rear end when he sat on one. Strange what one
remembers, isn't it? Is there anyone out there with a
memory more clear than mine who could verify my
recollection on the "give away?"
Also, there have been several articles in our Yakima
newspaper lately about the possibility of rebuilding the
reactors in the area to generate electricity. I'm curious
as to how such a thing would be received in the Tri
Cities.
-Jake Tate (66WB)
********************************************
>>From: Pam Ehinger (67)
Re: When were we first called Columbia High, Col-Hi for short?
I've been talking to Mike Cline about putting "Col-Hi"
on some of the things the Bomber Boosters sell because not
all of us graduated from Richland High. So I need some
help from our older alumni. When did we first get the
name of Columbia High, what year - month and year would be
great.
I believe it was in 1982 That the name was changed to
Richland High, is this right?
Mike and the Bomber Booster club are willing to do
this for us, if I can give him the right dates.
Thank you all for your help!
Bombers Rule
-Pam Ehinger (67) ~ Thorp, WA
********************************************
>>From: Larry Stone (71)
To: Paul Ratsch (58)
Re: Backwater
Could the answer be that due to warmer temperatures,
there is more of the snow pack melting earlier in the
year. And the water is being held back at the dams for as
long as they can hold it to make it last longer? If you've
traveled through the mountains and seen the the snow packs
this year compared to other years, it would be obvious
that we are in for a long dry summer.
-Larry Stone (71)
********************************************
>>From: Laurie Hutton (72)
To: Jeff Curtis (69) regarding "A Day in the Life"
Lori Killand Whelan (72) alerted me to your "series"
on the Sandstorm. I knew it would be good from her
description and I was not disappointed. Your "A Day in the
Life" was so cool. I loved reading it and made a copy for
Mom & Dad. They are in AZ right now but I know they'll
enjoy reading it when they return. I vaguely remember Mark
with some guns but what I remember more (and I think you
used to participate) was him and his buddies shooting
baskets and the vibration would shift all my glass
figurines, etc. from their spot I had so carefully placed
them in. Horrors they got shifted a quarter of an inch!!!
You've been gone from the Sandstorm for awhile so it's
good to hear your voice again.
-Laurie Hutton (72)
********************************************
>>From: Treg Owings (76)
Re: Backwater
To: Paul Ratsch (58)
Paul,
I work for the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
I have been doing snow surveys for a 8 years. The reason
there is so much water behind the dams is because they are
trying to save as much water for the summer as possible.
When the snow pack is normal or high they release more
water in preparation of the snow melt. This helps prevent
flooding in high water years and reduces the drought by
storing water in low water years. The snow pack on Mt.
Hood and Eastern Oregon is about 60% of normal. If we do
not get more snow our rivers will be low which affects
salmon and steel head along with irrigation and other
wildlife and fish.
-Treg Owings (76)
********************************************
>>From: Kathy Snowhite (89)
Re: Hoops Scores
Let's not forget the Hoop scores for the ever
impressing "Bomber Girls Basketball Team." I attended the
game Friday and did it ever bring back memories playing in
the "Big" gym. I will never forget Teverbaugh making us
run those hard awful lines before practice. Any way, for
the interested, the girls beat Eisenhower 54-46 which put
them in 3rd place. Saturday they played Walla Walla
beating them 71-33 now putting them in 2nd place, just
behind Kamiakan.
I think they deserve a big Congratulations and the
best of luck.
On to State Girls!
-Kathy Snowhite (89)
********************************************
********************************************
Hoops Report
1 2 3 4 OT
Davis 15 30 46 62 69
Bombers 10 30 52 62 74
Tierney 8, Buck 19, Jones 9, Neill 12, Stowe 6,
Fannin 0, Robbert 17, Kafentzis 3
With 31 seconds left in the overtime period, and the issue
very much in doubt, John Tierney stepped to the free throw
line and shot the front end of a 1-and-1. The ball kissed
the front of the rim, gave a desultory bounce and ......
Bombers started this affair slowly, giving the fans a
sense of foreboding during the first quarter, before
sorting everything out in the second period and tying the
game at half time -- six players spread the twenty second
quarter point output almost equally. A good sign.
Shifting gears a bit, Bombers opened the third quarter
with three spot-up 3-point goals -- opening up the court -
- then going inside to rangy Nathan Robbert who responded
with eleven of his seventeen points. Davis, shooting well
from the free throw line, clawed back into the game,
threatening to take it away from Bombers until Travis Buck
buried a 3-pointer at 2:00 to restore the balance. Then,
with four seconds left, Buck stole the ball at the Davis
end. A length of the court inbounds pass resulted in a
non-shooting foul; the subsequent in-bounds play sort of
fizzled; and we went to overtime.
The first minute of the four minute overtime period
belonged to Davis. Then Buck took charge: *our*
swashbuckler drilled two 3 pointers and a pair of free
throws, giving Bombers a one point lead.
...... and another desultory bounce, and a bit of circling
around the rim before ...... it dropped in! Two point lead
and another shot; no drama this time: swish. Finally, with
ten seconds left, Jeff Stowe swished two free throws with
a minimum of fuss, and the victory was ours. An exciting
game, well officiated, fun to watch.
***************************************
***************************************
That's it for the month. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
December, 2000 ~ February, 2001