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Alumni Sandstorm Archive ~ May, 2006
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Richland Bombers Calendar website
Funeral Notices website
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 05/01/06
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4 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber funeral notice today:
Jim Jensen ('50), Frank Whiteside ('63)
Carol Converse ('64), Linda Reining, ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Tim Reining ('71WB)
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>>From: Jim Jensen ('50)
Re: Gratitude
I'm deeply grateful for the kind words and thoughts which have been
expressed to me concerning the loss of my sweet wife.
The last few days have been hectic with more to follow until we lay
Alliene to rest in Clovis, NM, the place where she was raised. It was
her desire to be placed next to her Mother's grave. Our family will be
gathered together from locations throughout the western US and we will
pay our respects on May 4th.
I'll respond to the condolences as soon as things settle down a bit.
This Bomber's heart is filled with thanks and appreciation for my fellow
Bombers.
Love to all,
-Jim Jensen ('50) ~ Katy, TX
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>>From: Frank Whiteside ('63)
Re: Jim Jensen ('50)/passing of his wife
I just had to publicly express my sympathy to Jim Jensen and his family
on the loss of his wife of nearly 50 years. While I haven't met Jim
in person, we have exchanged e-mails/forwards for quite some time. I
consider him to be a good friend and fellow Bomber and sincerely feel
the pain of his loss. I hope we get to meet in person someday. May our
thoughts and prayers be with him and his family.
-Frank Whiteside ('63) ~ Bayou Gauche, LA where we finally had some
heavy rain and wind. Thank goodness we just finished the final
minor repairs on the house. We really needed the rain. The yard
turned green overnight and must have grown an inch. Just hope
heavy rain and wind stay away after June 1. Don't want to test
the 140 mph wind struts I had installed on my garage doors.
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>>From: Carol Converse Maurer ('64)
To: Bonnie Allen ('59)
That '50s website that you sent to us in yesterday's Sandstorm was
really something. I throughly enjoyed it.
-Carol Converse Maurer (Boomber Bomber class of '64)
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>>From: Linda Reining, ('64)
to:Jim Jensen('50)
was sorry to hear about the loss of your wife. take care and know that
Bomber hugs and prayers are with you and your family at this time.
to:George(Pappy)Swan(59)
loved your recent story, regarding the elves and the party at Bonnie
Allen's('59)house. I was laughing so hard---you have such a way of
putting thoughts into words, I can actually "see" you falling down the
stairs and all the other misfortunes that happened. keep 'em coming!
they are so much fun to read and anticipate.
Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber class of 64)........the blasted heat has
arrived in Bakersfield, CA, we have gone right from Winter to Summer, no
Spring at all!!!!!!!! was in the 80's Saturday and Sunday----supposed to
be in the 90's for Monday!!!!!! Carol Converse Maurer('64)come on
down---the weather is just what you asked for. *grin*
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Funeral Notice scanned from the TCHerald
by Shirley Collings Haskins ('66)
>>Mike Hall ('68) ~ 12/8/49 - 4/26/06
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 05/02/06
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5 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber funeral notice today:
Dave Brusie ('51), Millie Finch ('54)
Tom Matthews ('57), Margo Compton ('60)
Irene de la Bretonne ('61)
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>>From: Dave Brusie ('51)
To: Clarence Fulcher ('51) and Gloria Adams Fulcher ('54)
Sorry to hear about your son-in-law. We will call you tonight,
Dave & Carol
To: Jim Jensen ('50)
Jim, my prayers are with you.
-Dave Brusie ('51)
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>>From: Millie Finch Gregg ('54)
Re: Grandma Gets To Brag
Greetings Bombers - I just had to write and let everyone know that one of
my granddaughters, Britny Gregg ('09) is now a BOMBER CHEERLEADER!! She
found out over the weekend and of course is so excited. I must say my
son, Scott Gregg ('78wb) if pretty proud himself. Anyway, just a little
fun mixed with life and its challenges. Have a good day
-Millie Finch Gregg ('54)
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>>From: Tom Matthews ('57)
Re: Ray Juricich (RIP)
Bill Berlin's ('56) mention of double clutching reminds me that the year
I took driving instruction from Juricich, we had the first automatic
transmission cars used in the program. He told us once in a prior year, a
student on her first drive managed to shift from first to third smoothly
without touching the clutch, much to his surprise.
On my first drive, after I got in the drivers seat, he told me to turn
left on..., right on..., then left on..., and after the fourth or fifth
turn on his lengthy list, I let him know I had no clue where I would be
turning so I just nervously sat there. "How long have you lived here? he
asked. "Since Kindergarten" was my answer. Unfortunately, I still have
that same difficulty with street names today. And I never did quite get
that parallel parking bit perfect, although I can always picture him
explaining it as i attempt to do it.
The most interest event was when a student was driving with two or three
of us learners in the back seat. She got a green light and was turning
left, but made the turn so slowly that a car approaching had to slow down
before we got out of the way. It happened to be a Richland Police car.
He turned after us, put the light on and siren, and we pulled over.
Juricich, was puzzled at this, and annoyed. The officer checked her
drivers permit, looked at us in the back seat and said, "You know, there
is only supposed to be one passenger when the driver has a learners
permit." At that point, Juricich asked the officer if he would come
around to the passenger side and he got out, taking with him the
Washington State Driving regulations book. There was a short and direct
discussion which we could not hear, but when our teacher got back in the
car, it was evident who had the law on his side! The police car drove off
without further ado.
Yes, a great instructor and he is missed.
-Tom Matthews ('57) Kirkland, WA
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>>From: Margo Compton Lacarde ('60)
Re: Employee Occupation Illness Compensation
To: Mike Brady ('61)
My sister and I were involved in this for four years. Then we were also
rejected for compensation for our father's (bone cancer). We wrote
appeals twice and both times were turned down again. Hope you have better
luck. Don't know anyone who has received compensation.
-Margo Compton Lacarde ('60) ~ San Antonio, TX
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>>From: Irene de la Bretonne Hays ('61)
The Support Group for Bombers Taking Care of Parents met last Friday and
agreed to meet again at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 5 at the Richland Community
Center adjacent to Howard Amon Park in Richland. Members of the group
asked that I remind you that the group talks not only about the challenge
of taking care of parents, but also--and equally important!-- about how
to care for yourself while dealing with the loss, grief and personal
challenges associated with a parent's illness or decline. For those who
may be wondering, this is the group founded by Betsy Fox Vance ('63) a
few months ago. I'm serving as the spokesperson for today.
Please join us at 7 pm Friday, May 5 at the Richland Community Center.
-Irene de la Bretonne Hays ('61)
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Funeral Notice scanned from the TCHerald
by Shirley Collings Haskins ('66)
>>Darrell Plumb ('73) ~ 2/27/55 - 4/27/06
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 05/03/06
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5 Bombers and 1 Lion sent stuff:
Dick McCoy, ('45, '46, '02), Ken Ely ('49)
George Swan ('59), Patti Jones ('60)
Gary Brehm ('64-KHS), Dave Fowler ('76)
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>>From: Dick McCoy, ('45, '46, '02)
Re: Ray Juricich ('RIP)
This is late, as I am just getting around to some back emails. I would
like to add to the many testimonials to Ray Juricich. He was indeed a
gentleman, and so ancient that he went back to my time. It seems he lived
in that B house (Symons?) forever. Thanks to Tom Tracy ('55) and Jim
Doyle ('49). Your comments were right on. Good bye to a great man.
-Dick McCoy, ('45, '46, '02)
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>>From: Ken Ely ('49)
Happy birthday to my little sister, Kathy Ely ('62)
Hope you have a wonderful day, filled with sunshine.
With love, your big bro, Ken.
-Ken Ely ('49) ~ Orangevale, CA where it is warming into the high 80s
and is finally drying out.
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>>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
Re: Achieving Regularity
Some folks look at life and ask, "Why?" Nowadays, I look at life and ask,
"Why not?" Some see fairies, some see "big white wabbits," and some talk
to imaginary friends. I see elves with a regularity. In fact, if an old
guy like me could achieve a similar regularity in all other aspects of
life, he would probably be totality free from concerns like taking large
doses of fruit and fiber and would probably remember birthdays and
anniversaries, etc.
One regularity that I have thoroughly perfected applies to the results of
my hunting adventures. By now, most Bombers are well aware that I am a
devout outdoorsman. Hunting, fishing, hiking, camping ... if it occurs
outdoors, there is a good chance that I'll be out there doing it ...
fairly regularly. Yet, Mrs. Pappy regularly asks, "Rather than go
hunting, why don't you just go to the super market and buy some meat?"
Obviously, she regularly fails to grasp the true calling and lure of the
great outdoors. However, don't tell her but I am afraid she probably
makes a good point.
There is a certain regularity that I wish to address here. When I go
hunting, I regularly experience everything but ... the intended results.
Some hunters go hunting and come home with their quarry with great
regularity. I go hunting and generally come home with nothing but bizarre
memories, with great regularity. Take for example, a very recent turkey
hunt.
My friend, Vinh, and I went turkey hunting on the Klickitat River.
According to the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife,
wild turkeys are expanding their range throughout the state. Our great
adventure began when I told Vinh that I would pick him up about 5:00 AM.
I arrived at his house at 5:45 AM, after scouting all of the streets
where he did not live, near The Columbia Center Mall (but officially in
Richland contrary to some popular opinions). I could have been right on
time but I felt it was important to determine if there were any turkeys
living in Richland now (they are very active early in the morning). Some
folks would mistakenly think that I got lost.
We loaded Vinh's gear and headed out. However, we immediately noticed
that my little old 1990 Ford pickup "Ranger Ricky" seemed to be limping
(a noticeable noisy and bumpy lameness coming from his left rear "leg").
Not wishing to take any chances, we diverted 180 degrees to Burbank and
transferred all of our gear to "Henry," my other old pickup, a 1981 Ford
F150 4X4, more roomy but also much more thirsty (for gas). It was now
about 8:00 AM as we cheerfully told each other, "Go west young man (and
old man)."
We rolled down the highway, in happy conversation (yelling at the top of
our lungs). You see, Henry, highly reminiscent of an old man (like me),
makes a lot of different noises. Turning off at Toppenish, we headed
south over Satus Pass, through Goldendale and Blockhouse (which must have
some history behind it with a name like that), to the eastern rim of the
rather deep Klickitat River canyon. I decided to show Vinh one of my
secret spots ... where Henry immediately got himself stuck in a mud bog.
You know, when you get a 4X4 stuck ... you're really stuck. It was about
then that I realized that I had neglected to transfer my come-along hoist
and Hi-Lift jack from Ricky to Henry. One would think that by now with
all the experiences those two old pickups have had with me that they
would have reminded me to put 'em in. Anyway, Vinh and I stuffed all the
dead branches and rocks we could find under the kinda bald tires and I
jumped back in and revved Henry up and ... buried him deeper. Well, this
story goes on and on and becomes a bit repetitious, so let me just say
that a kindly local who, while mumbling something about city slickers,
did pull us out and then disappeared rather quickly after asking if I
went four wheeling ... regularly?
With undaunted courage, Vinh and I drove on down to the bottom of the
canyon. I would take Vinh to my other secret spot, known but to few and
where I seldom saw other human beings. As we wound down the steep and
curvy dirt road, I describe to Vinh the numerous past hunting adventures
that I had regularly enjoyed there with it virtually all to myself.
Rounding the last curve and rolling out on the flat near the river, we
were suddenly transported back in time to the mid to late 1960s.
Henry skidded to a stop like a balking horse confronted with a bear on
the trail. Vinh and I sat, speechless with lower jaws resting on Henry's
padded dash as we gazed at a brightly colored, ribbon-clad maypole.
Hundreds of brightly colored ribbons fluttered from the trees. Between
the trees were parked probably about 100 cars, old VW vans, and one large
gaily colored, yup you guessed it ... bus. Now, those were just the
inanimate objects. Liberally, (I mean very liberally) sprinkled -- No,
I mean crowded -- throughout the whole area were a few hundred of the
original, children of, and grand children of (and probably even some
great-grand children of) ... Hippies!
Now, I have been to numerous rodeos, county fairs, and a goat ropin' or
two but, "I ain't never seen nothin' like that" since my much younger
days. Vinh and I, in our camouflage turkey hunting clothes, were sure
that we had driven through a time warp. As we sat there, a young lady
in typical flower child attire approached and said, "Welcome to the May
Festival, you're late, last night was the big party but there are
probably some topless ones still running about!" "Uhhhhhh ... can you
give us directions?" I stammered. "Oh, they are here and there," she
offered. "No, I mean to the next campground. We're looking for turkeys."
I said. "We got lots of turkeys here" she gave us a grin and a wide sweep
with her arms. We hurriedly thanked her and Henry slowly and carefully
crept around the campground loop through the smiling, waving, yet
sometimes staring throng of most authentically clothed, flower people
and back up the hill ... outta there.
On up the river, we found another camping spot where we were more or less
alone but the turkeys were pretty much nonexistent or had all gone down
to the "Hippie May Day Festival." We put in a few miles, looking for
and calling turkeys but all we heard were the echoes of our own turkey
calling. Two hunters proudly displayed the rattlesnake skin and rattles
they had taken from a not so friendly buzztail.
We had a good camping experience and some enjoyable conversation around
the campfire that night. Each of us slept well in our own little bivouac
tents that night knowing it was still cold enough that rattlesnakes would
not be a concern until the sun was well up over the canyon rim and they
were re-charged with solar energy. We tried some more turkey calling in
some other areas but nobody gobbled back.
Late that afternoon, as we drove homeward through the hills of the Yakima
Nation Reservation, we saw two wild horse stallions fighting over a small
herd of indifferent mares. Laughing loudly and discussing our adventures
and misadventures, over Henry's various noises, we roared into the night.
We had survived one more of Pappy's all too regular hunting escapades.
-George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ Back in contemporary times in Burbank, WA
pondering if I really saw what I think I saw. Know what I mean, Vern?
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>>From: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60) and Vera Smith Robbins ('58)
Re: All Bomber Luncheon Richland
The luncheon has been moved up a week because Mother's Day falls on the
normal luncheon weekend. Reservations (preferred) by Friday, May 5, 2006.
Plenty of room for last minute Bombers. Reservations can also be made by
phone.
WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 2006
WHERE: JD Diner, 3790 Van Giesen, West Richland, WA 99353
Used to be Coney Island
(Light green building just past the Yakima River bridge heading west
from Richland on the right side)
TIME: 1:00 P.M.
PRICE: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served all day.
Prices range from $4.50 - $13.95 (add drink, tax, and tip)
Bomber spouses and friends are welcome! Looking forward to also seeing
out-of-town Bomber visitors.
Class of 60:
I know that the class of '60's luncheon is the same day. Being as the
'60's luncheon starts at an earlier time please feel free to come join
the All Bomber Luncheon any time.
Out of town guest.
There is an out of town Bomber who will be joining us for lunch. Many of
you know the Bomber. I believe it is the first time for this Bomber to be
at a function in a while.
Bombers Have Fun,
-Patti Jones Ahrens ('60) and Vera Smith Robbins ('58)
Message from Patti at West Richland, WA: The wind has finally
died down. Saturday night's dust storm reminded me of the dust
storms when growing up in Richland. The family would be sitting
on the front porch of Birch enjoying the summer weather. Mom
would start picking up the lawn chairs. This was always a key to
follow suit going inside for cover. Within minutes the wind
would blow in with the dust swirling in it's brown hues. To this
day I always wonder how she knew? I swear she had a sixth sense
about the storms. Do not remember the weather men being able to
predict the wind as well then.
To: djJeffMichaels ('65)
Re: Yokes Fresh Market
I stand corrected on the spelling. From what I have heard they grow
their own beef and sell it. So Yoke's instead of Yolks would make much
more sense. The market is opening tomorrow. Will learn much more then.
With Wal*Mart and Yoke's within five minutes either, I have good choices.
The only problems is my daughter works in Western Washington for QFC
(owned by Kroegers) which also owns Fred Meyers. I should be shopping
there according to her. I miss QFC since I moved here but Yokes sounds
like a good second.
Lots of talk about the growth of Pasco. Will have to drive out there
some time just to see it all. I was a Real Estate Administrator when
San Jose had the same growth years ago in the Almaden area. Finally
decided to drive out in the area one day to see what all the paper work
I was handling was about. Boy, was I surprised to see that practically
a whole new town had grown up over a short period of time. With the
influx of people this area will definitely keep growing. Plenty of
desert for it to happen.
To: Linda Reining ('64)
Re: Yoke's Market
Thanks for the tips about the market. If I have to bag my own groceries
I won't be shopping there. **grin** As the prices have crept up in the
stores, I think it up to the store to do it.
To: Millie Finch Gregg ('54)
Re: Granddaughters and Cheerleaders
Congratulations to your granddaughter Britny for being chosen to be a
cheerleader for the Bombers. My granddaughter is a student at Stadium
high school in Tacoma. She was chosen to be a Varsity Cheerleader for
the high school next year. One proud grandma I am. Would be neat if the
schools played each other. From what I have discovered so far I think
Stadium is in the larger schools of the state? I have written the school
to find out all of the details. Will be following all the games. Patti
-Patti Jones Ahrens ('60)
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>>From: Gary Brehm ('64-KHS)
To: Mike Brady ('61)
In 2002 I filed a claim for compensation on behalf of my father, who
passed away with prostate and bone cancer in 1992. We know he was exposed
in 1955 to radiation, they took all of his clothes, scrubbed him down and
he went through a decontamination process. He came home late that day
wearing a blue jump suit. I just received our final rejection about two
weeks ago.
I would love to hear from anyone who has actually been successful in
winning any type of monetary award from the federal government.
-Gary Brehm ('64-KHS) ~ Kennewick
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>>From: Dave Fowler ('76)
Re: Winds and Power Outages
Last week has brought high winds and a good old fashioned dust storm to
Richland. It still amazes me now how the sand can still find its way into
the home. Sneaky stuff!
The wind blew hard, the farmers turning their field and a wall of brown
rising high into the sky. Only a slight breeze at first with the winds
picking up. And then it happens! The trees sprouting their new growth of
leaves begin to show their underside, and the branches moving in slow
rhythm. Giving way to a constant bow. The brown wall on the horizon
falls. Quick, shut the windows and doors! It comes, how I love the sound
of a roaring storm. Soon everything takes on a hue of tan. The dust/sand
swirling through the streets. Human life has retreated behind closed
doors. The only movement outside is the wind and sand.
Years gone by they would have called it a termination wind. There was
far less ground coverage, enabling the sand to blow more freely. Days
when those less dedicated to this otherwise oasis would call it quits,
resign from their jobs and go back to whence they came.
Today, I hear it called just another spring wind. The weathermen and
women call it "a bit breezy today with gust up to 45 miles an hour".
Breezy, and I ask myself, where did they grow up? In all my travels
a wind like this would have made the national news. For here it just
another spring wind, breezy. Just on the chance I checked the weather
channel.
Now our great nation has little understanding of the Pacific Northwest (PNW).
As previously mentioned, I spent 20 years in the Air Force. It always
amazed me how little the rest of the nation knows of the PNW. The weather
channel, as if there are only a few hundred people living "out there"
report "and there's rain in the PNW". Really! Could it possibly be that
we also have our nations only rain forest? Do they not know that our
mountains are so tall that they create a rain shadow. That, when they say
"there is rain in the PNW" it only accounts for less than 1/10th of the
PNW. No, they have a perception and the facts prove it. There is rain in
the PNW! So I must let it go, and to those who say "I really couldn't
live there it rains to much". I say your right, there really is rain in
the PNW. Keep quiet! It would be way too crowded if they all really knew.
Yet somehow the place is growing at a most disturbing rate. The wind
blows once again and the people seem to blow in to. I only wish I could
rake them up with the fall leaves.
We experienced a power outage in the area between Thayer and Jadwin on
Sunday. It surprises me that when the power goes out people race outside
to ask the neighbors "did your house loose power"? I suppose it is an age
old question. The winds had subsided between fronts. The power was out
and like my childhood the people came out and ask "did you loose power"?
I must admit I asked the question to my neighbor, as if I were special.
Why? I don't know! Working in a power plant, when the power goes out is
a time to shift gears and the work and training really have to kick in.
Sunday I was off and I returned to a person of unknowing. "Did your house
loose power" I asked?
Now I could tell you stories of termination winds and power outages that
I remember as a kid growing up in Richland. What are yours?
-Dave Fowler ('76)
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 05/04/06
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6 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber funeral notice today:
Lora Homme ('60), Carla Bosher ('64)
Dennis Hammer ('64), Linda Reining ('64)
Janis Cook ('68), Mike Lynch (’68)
BELATED BOMBER BIRTHDAY 5/3: Kathy Ely ('62)
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>>From: Lora Homme Page ('60)
To: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
Thank you, Pappy, for bringing some wonderful, lighthearted fantasy into
my life which is made up of a fair amount of grim realities. I love the
stories of elves and the accounts of your adventures, indoors and out.
You always bring a smile to my face and frequently, laughter out loud.
-Lora Homme Page ('60) ~ In that other town across the river and
up the road from home.
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>>From: Carla Bosher Viken ('64)
Re: Employee Occupation Illness Compensation
My sister, Debbie Bosher Neuroth ('67), and I were also involved for
approximately four years and ultimately were rejected. Our father died a
long, painful death from lung cancer, it was very disappointing that no
responsibility was ever taken. After the recent 60 Minutes program on the
Hanford Washington Clean-Up Project, I'm suggesting that the 60 Minutes
crew also investigate the above, it sure couldn't hurt.
-Carla Bosher Viken ('64)
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>>From: Dennis Hammer ('64)
Re: Yoke's
Yoke's used to be a warehouse store, that is probably where the self-
bagging came from. They have completely changed and are now more of a
high-end store. If they don't have a bagger, the checker will bag the
groceries. Also, there no self-checkout stations. I suspect Wall*Mart
backs up the checkout lines on purpose in order to get more people to
check themselves out. I refuse to check myself out at any store; the way
I see it: a) I want to deal with a real live person, and b) if I check
myself out I am doing the store's work. So, if I check myself out, I
get to go clock myself in, and I get paid for it. Yoke's stock a lower
quantity of each product, but a wider variety of products. You can get
things there that you have a hard time finding in other stores. You
can even get Lefsa there, don't know if Lutefisk is carried because I
wouldn't be looking for that. There is a large wine section, emphasizing
Northwest wines. I have seen "Cheap Red Wine" (really it has a plain
brown label with the words "Cheap Red Wine" printed on it in what looks
like stencil, to a $170 bottle of wine. If you really want to save money,
watch for the "Fresh Friday" sales that are usually average about one
Friday a month.
OFC was bought by Fred Meyer, then shortly thereafter Fred Meyer made the
huge mistake of selling themselves out to Kroger. Just about one year
later Kroger came into Fred Meyer's main office in Portland and fired
most of the upper management. Then they started making decisions on how
to run the company from Kroger's main office in Cincinnati and the whole
place has been going downhill ever since.
Re: Dust storms
I remember about winter of '86, '87 we had a combination dust storm and
snowstorm at the same time. When the snow melted a few days later the
cars were so covered with so much dirt you could hardly tell what color
they were. I have told people that who moved here later about that and
they think I am telling them a tall tale.
Sometime about '75 got up in the morning and it looked like it had rained
mud in the night. Had to clean the windows just to see to drive. That
evening everyone seemed to be washing their cars and there were huge
lines at all the car washes. Fortunately, I was lazy and did not get mine
washed, because it happened again the next night.
-Dennis Hammer ('64)
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>>From: Linda Reining ('64)
gotta be Maren who will be the mystery guest at the Richland Bomber
Luncheon on Saturday, May 6th. this was too easy, Patti Jones Ahrens(60).
*grin*
[GUESS AGAIN, Linda!! I'll be watching Jimmy Buffett at Jazz Fest. -Maren]
re:Government compensation
my dad died in 1991 of liver cancer, which was attributed to his exposure
to radiation(I don't know how much radiation he was exposed to, but I
remember times when he wasn't able to come home cause he was "hot" and
had to stay at work)---my stepmother was awarded the compensation in
2004---her claim was never denied, but she had to fill out lots of
paperwork and answer lots of questions(in writing and over the phone)and
they also requested papers from the doctor that treated him and also his
autopsy records---my dad had requested tissue samples be sent to
Hanford---I don't know if that helped prove her case or not---it took
over two years to get the compensation.
re:winds and power outages
I remember walking home from school when those sand storms would "hit"
and the sand felt like bee stings on my bare legs!!!!! I remember always
trying to remember to carry a bandana so that I could cover my mouth and
nose and try hard to barely open my eyes, so that they wouldn't get full
of sand! even remember walking backwards, thinking that would help----
never did!!!!! I can remember my mom swearing that the Ranch house had
cracks in it, cause the storm door and storm windows were closed, TIGHT,
and still the entire house would have sand all over the window sills,
floors, and furniture!!!!! also remember when the power would go out, we
would go outside, look up and down Elm Street and then watch the rest of
the neighbors come outside, and everyone would ask, "power out?" then,
lawn chairs and blankets would be brought outside, and everyone would sit
outside, til the power came back on, was usually cooler outside than
inside the house! seemed to always happen on the hottest day or night---
we didn't have "air", and always had the windows open during the summers,
but still seemed cooler outside than inside. IF the power went off during
dinner time, my mom would make a trip to Mayfair(?--it was next to
Densow's Drugs)on Wright Avenue, buy hot dogs or hamburgers, potato chips,
and soda. then my dad would "fire" up the bbq and we'd have dinner. we
liked those times, cause it was the ONLY time we got to have soda with
dinner, otherwise, it was MILK!!!
Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber class of 64).......Bakersfield,
CA..........speaking of power outages, power went off at 3:30 Wednesday
afternoon and it affected over 47,000 customers--was off for three hours
and I it took me two hours to go 22 miles!!!!!!!! I was trying to get
home from my grandson's doctor appointment----stoplights were out and it
was bumper to bumper traffic---worse than being in Los Angeles during
"rush" hour traffic!!
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Janis Cook Tames ('68)
I, too, feel very frustrated with the Hanford Compensation Act. I filed
a claim on behalf of my dad and was also turned down due to only a 35%
chance of radiation. My dad died of complications due to COPD and bladder
cancer. Although his primary job was in an area where it was uncommon to
be around radiation, many times he was "pulled" away and put on other
jobs when strikes occurred. During these strike periods, the hours would
be long and arduous and certainly doing tasks that were unfamiliar to
some of these men. The phone calls and paper work were daunting and the
amount of records that were needed that are no longer available, who
keeps medical records for years? Several times I was asked to provide
duplicate paper work, for what? Only to be turned down. I feel like my
parents would feel that they had been treated unfairly. I also know of
no one who has received a penny, but MANY who have also been denied. The
amount of workers who have passed with cancer seem so over whelming to
me.....
-Janis Cook Tames ('68) ~ in Richland where it is another typical
beautiful sprig day!!!
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Mike Lynch (’68)
Re: More on the Community Center
To: Gene Horne (’57)
Truly the best boxing coach there ever was, mentions the early years of
the boxing club at the Community Center. But I remember us returning
there for a year or so around ’67 or '68. We worked out without a ring
and I even remember fighting an exhibition there with Gene's neighbor
(can't remember his name) for some kind of ladies club. Now that was
weird! Being a teenager I never thought much about our frequent moves –
Community Center, Christ the King, HS old gym, Community Center again,
and Pasco (at two different locations). Could it be that we weren't that
desirable a group to have around? Back then I also never thought about
who paid for some of those locations, all the equipment, and those trips
to Spokane, Lapwai, Walla Walla, etc. I know it wasn't me or my parents.
But I have thought about it many many times as an adult. So, thanks to
Gene, Mr. Sullivan, Dickie Robertson, Andy Roebuck, and a lot of others
for bringing us up. We mostly turned out pretty darn good.
-Mike Lynch ('68)
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****************************************************************
****************************************************************
Funeral Notice
>>David Bishop ('67) ~ 2/20/48 - 4/29/06
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 05/05/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9 Bombers sent stuff:
Millie Finch ('54), Dick Avedovech ('56)
Burt Pierard ('59), Mina Jo Gerry ('68)
Cole Kids ('50, '55, '63, and '66)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Patti Cole ('52)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Janice Wise ('71)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Millie Finch Gregg ('54)
Re: Hanford Compensation Program
I will get my two cents in also regarding this program. It has been
approximately 6 years since I filed, and of course have been denied,
appealed and denied.
However, in the meantime, this is information that maybe everyone isn't
aware of: Our Senators (Murray and Cantwell) started the ball rolling
asking DOE to take a look at their absolute 50% or nothing criteria.
That is still in the works. I also personally met with Doc Hastings and
presented my story to him and asked him on behalf of the Hanford workers
to please join Cantwell and Murray and stay on this case with DOE. I
have since written each one of them a letter, and periodically I will
telephone their offices to let them know I have not forgotten that
they are supposed to be looking in on this for us. It was actually the
Senators themselves who started the ball rolling.
I even suggested that if a person didn't come back at 50% (38.9% I had)
then pay the worker that percentage of the money instead of just giving
them zero. I think 38.9% is pretty high in a case like this.
So I am suggesting to all of you out there who have claims pending, don't
give up, but keep pressing them to continue to follow this through. One
of the articles in the paper about this stated that when it was final,
they would also be looking at all the claims that have been denied. So
lets band together and let them know we are a force to reckon with!!
-Millie Finch Gregg ('54)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dick Avedovech ('56)
Re: Cheap Red Wine and Fred Meyers
To: Dennis Hammer ('64)
Dennis, I have also found a bottle of "Cheap Red Wine" and bought 2
bottles: one to try, and the other for a friend in Wisconsin who likes to
kid me about loving fine wines. He used to say to me "What's wrong with
a cheap wine? So when I saw him at a corporate meeting I gave him his
wine and we had a good laugh. I tried the wine and although it wasn't
necessarily a fine wine, it was certainly drinkable.
As for Fred Meyers when it was Fred Meyers, I think I have supplied
the salaries of a lot of people over the years from everything from
prescriptions to building materials, but unfortunately, the attitudes
of the management have taken a definite down trend. My son-in-law
worked there briefly and the supervisor he worked for was constantly
on his back. Even though the manager liked him and his work ethic, the
supervisor demanded he be fired. Apparently she did not want a male in
her all female department - and the management allowed her to do that.
Regarding dust storms, when I was about 16 or 17 I took my mother's
Pontiac convertible (with the top down) out to the desert to hunt jack
rabbits. About a mile from where I parked the car, I could see the dust
storm rolling nearer and nearer in my direction. I raced back to the car
but the dust storm beat me. I had about an inch of sand in the car when I
left, and it took me a week to get it cleaned up. And to top it off, I
didn't even see a jack rabbit.
-Dick Avedovech ('56)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Burt Pierard ('59)
To: Linda Reining ('64) & others who wrote about the storms
Re: Sand Storms (much more severe than the Dust Storms we have now)
The most severe Sand Storm I recall occurred (I'm guessing here) about
the summer of 1946, maybe a little later. I was just a little tike of 5
or so and we lived on the Southeast corner of Thayer & Rochefontaine. My
Mom had sent me to Randall & Doyle's Groceteria (Williams & Thayer, the
building before it was Campbell's, Mayfair, Salvation Army) to fetch a
bottle of milk (remember when milk only came in glass quart bottles). I
was decked out in my cute little sunsuit, consisting of shorts & straps
over my shoulders, and barefoot, of course. As I strolled happily to the
store, I failed to notice the menacing brown wall to the West which must
have been there. Anyhow, the storm hit just as I was leaving the store on
my return journey of the short block home. The sand was indeed stinging
my mostly bare body & I recall not being able to clearly see our house. I
only made it as far as the corner (still on the Pennywise side of Thayer)
when I stopped and was crying in the howling wind. I don't know if Mom
had heard my crying or was just concerned and looked for me. In any
event, she came running across the street to try and shield me from the
sand with her dress. She told me in later years that she had been wearing
a summer dress with a slip underneath and the sand was stinging her
skin through her clothing -- she could only imagine the pain I was
experiencing.
Afterwards, I recall the newspapers making a big deal about the storm
having approached Hurricane standards with gusts nearing 75 MPH. In
addition to numerous prefab flat roofs being blown off, I recall one of
"The Big Trees" at Putnam & McPherson being almost totally uprooted and
blown over to the East.
Bomber Cheers,
-Burt Pierard ('59) ~ Richland
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Mina Jo Gerry Payson ('68)
Re: Hanford Compensation
My mom had applied for compensation when there was an office in
Kennewick. The claim was turned down because dad died from cirrhosis
of the liver, not any form of cancer. Now she has received information
that her claim will be reviewed under Part E which deals with toxic
substances. We are currently at a standstill. Of course there are no
medical records. Dad was a millwright and worked at all the reactors on
maintenance as well as the purex plant. If anyone who has been through
the process or is currently working on a claim has any hints on where to
go for the needed info, besides the doctors, we would appreciate hearing
from you. They gave us 30 days to resubmit the claim. Please contact me.
-Mina Jo Gerry Payson ('68) ~ Richland where the sun is out and it is a
little breezy. Headed outside to clean the barbecue or
weed the flowers. It's spring!!!
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Cole Kids ('50, '55, '63, and '66)
Happy birthday to our sister Patti ('52). You are always so thoughtful
and loving... we couldn't ask for a better sister.
Love,
-Barbara ('50), Karen ('55), Judie and Jackie ('63), and Johnny ('66)
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 05/06/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 Bombers sent stuff:
Nola Davey ('56), Judy Link ('59)
Dolores Moody ('60), Donna Bowers ('63)
Dennis Hammer ('64), Donna Fredette ('65)
Shirley Collings ('66), Gary Christian ('67)
Betti Avant ('69), Mandy Holmes ('97)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Myrna Bolin ('63)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Brad Pugh ('66)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
I hate to be a "pain in the b...," but it is Fred Meyer. There is no
"s" on the end. Thank you, I feel better now
-Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Judy Link Crampton ('59)
Re: Hanford Compensation Program
This is for anyone and everyone who reads the Sandstorm. I've been
reading the last week about all the denials for compensation. It seems to
me that all of them came in at less than the 50% or greater probability.
Is there anyone who was denied that had a 50% ruling? And if you were
still denied what reasons did they give you? We have recently received
our 50% or greater ruling and am now waiting for the final board to
approve. I certainly do agree that partial compensation should go to
those who have less probability. That really does seem like a fair way
to deal with the problems. Good luck to all of you who are appealing or
waiting as we are.
-Judy Link Crampton ('59)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dolores Moody Stewart ('60)
Re: Jimmy Buffett [Buffett ends with two t's. -Maren]
Maren,
Knew you were a woman of many parts, but had no idea you were also a
parrothead. Enjoy!
-Dolores Moody Stewart ('60)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Yesterday's Jazz Fest line up included Little Feat on the Acura state
(where I was) and Little Feat invited Jimmy Buffett on state to do a few
tunes with them. Jimmy said "This guy used to be my boss!" He was great
and I get to go again to see an entire program of Jimmy Buffett. -Maren]
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Donna Bowers Rice (Gold Medal Class of '63)
For those of you doing research about the overexposures to their parents
while working at Hanford, one needs to look up and read the ICRU Journal
(International Journal of Radiation Units). If you read back over 40
years of how and with what they measured the radiation with and how many
things were judged inadequate, you can begin to have an appreciation of
all that was not measured properly. I used to be able to go online and
read at my leisure, but that is no longer possible-you have to be a
radiation physicist to do so now. Some of the titles I found most
interesting were not even online and I had to make a trip to U. of Ill,
as this journal (and its precursor journal in total) is only found in
about 5 libraries in the US, and none notated in Wash. State as per
the ICRU info. Although the ICRU people tell me that there are only 5
libraries in the US, I was told by a government physicist at Hanford that
this journal exists at the WSU extension library, but I do not know if it
goes back until the 1940s. Having dealt with x-rays, I can tell you they
are not always as completely accurate as a lay person would believe. So I
was interested in just how accurate their measurements were. What I found
out is that if the epidemiologists had not done some studies because
they noticed the high level of cancer deaths at Hanford, that this whole
question would be moot. I praise the epidemiologists for questioning our
government. The Hanford TLD is and was different than others across
the world/country and the radiation standards deviate from country to
country. This becomes a fascinating subject to follow and then you couple
that with the unique exposures of our parents. My dad was over exposed
6 times, the last at 20,000 cnts. per minute to his left thumb-which 7
years later developed a hangnail that turned into amelonotic melanoma,
which spread throughout his body and killed him 1 1/2 years later. The
fact that he had right below the legal whole body dosage, belies the fact
that he dealt directly with radiation on a daily basis for at least
the majority of his 30 year career at Hanford (1950's radiation was not
adequately counted by todays standards) and even epidemiologists of this
time cannot adequately measure long term radiation exposure coupled
with higher levels of sporadic overexposures on a body that ages. There
are just no long term studies that show this. Radiation math does not
account for the inadequacies of measuring biological entities, its just
not finite enough and especially so when it comes to DNA (in my dad's
case of skin cancer they are still arguing over what depth they need
to begin to biochemically measure radiation). I have 2 engineers in my
family so quite often we have some lively discussions about mechanically
measuring the human body. When my son's Mechanical Engineering textbook
author (Dr.Wolfram) comes out with a new 4" thick textbook whose premise
is that our mathematical formulas that we are currently using do not FIT
human biology, I know I am on the right track.
I have been at this correspondence nightmare for 4-5 years now. I have
not gotten a determination yet about my father. But in my appeal, (which
it sounds like I will be doing as I hear how many people have been
turned down), I plan to sight the journal entries that most question the
government's assumption that they have done everything in their power to
adequately inform the person receiving the radiation, (when they did not
even adequately know just how dangerous this stuff is long term, or just
what exposures to which particular chemical can cause what). How they
measure radiation is critical to the thought process! Years from now some
epidemiologist (not government) will get to the bottom of this, but my
father who died at age 59 -- when everyone else in his family lived
till their late 80s and early 90s -- died an early death due to the
inadequacies of the system. All the probabilities in use today are
inadequate and are an injustice to the people overexposed.
Sincerely,
-Donna Bowers Rice (Gold Medal Class of '63)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dennis Hammer ('64)
Re: 75 mile per gallon car
Some years ago there was some discussion of the King Midget automobile in
the Alumni Sandstorm. Someone in the Tri-Cities has one, and there is a
short video (2.20 minutes) on the KNDU website about it. Click on "Car
gets 75 miles per gallon. . . "
http://www.kndu.com/
About 20 years ago I saw one at the Portland old car swap meet. It was in
just about the same condition as he describes his when he found it. Who
knows, maybe it was the same one. While I had wanted one since I was
a kid, there was no way I was willing to find the parts needed and do
that much work to get it running again.
More information on the King Midget can be found at.
http://www.kingmidgetcarclub.org/
-Dennis Hammer (Boomer Bomber class of 1964)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Donna Fredette ('65)
Re: Sandstorms
You know, I don't really remember being caught in a sand storm! I
remember looking out the window while the sage brush rolled down George
Washington Way but don't remember sand storms while I was a girl living
on Chestnut Street. I do remember the thunder and lightning storms though
very well! I remember being awakened at night out of a sound sleep with
the sounds of very loud thunder. You wouldn't have wanted to be outside
during one of those storms!!
I have always loved the wind, I remember it howling all night and then a
beautiful summer day. There were many beautiful summer days growing up
and many beautiful cold winter days with lots of snow. I remember jumping
in the leaves my Dad raked up in the yard in the fall and the forsythia
blooming in the spring. But I do not remember the sand storms! I don't
remember any sand in the house at all. Maybe I just didn't see it because
I was so used to running around barefoot and being a kid.
The only thing is I don't remember sand storms when I was a teen either!
I only remember wind and tumbling sage brush! ha
Bomber Cheers!
-Donna Fredette ('65)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Shirley Collings Haskins ('66)
Re: Fred Milton ('66)
I read with interest an article from Thursday, May 4, TCHerald that
Fred Milton ('66) still has the area's longest-standing shot put record
at 61-4. He set it in 1965 ... 41 years ago! Milton is the only 60-foot
thrower the Tri-Cities has ever produced. Awesome, Fred!
The Class of '66 is the Best!!
-Shirley Collings Haskins ('66) ~ Richland, where our 40th Class Reunion
will be held June 23-25
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****************************************************************
>>From: Gary Christian ('67)
Re: dealing with the government.
Reading all these entries about claims with the government have depressed
me even more. Funny that even after paying taxes for forty, fifty or even
sixty years, the federal government is so reluctant to help those who
keep it operating. (If you can call it that). I for one, think it is
almost criminal to routinely deny the claims associated with the work
our fathers and sometimes mothers performed.
But I will soon be facing something similar and I am not looking forward
to it. With late life onset of Muscular Dystrophy, I find it more and
more difficult to do even the most menial of tasks. I can no longer
travel for work and visit our clients as I cannot walk for any real
distance and climbing ladders or stairs is out of the question. I also
have trouble swallowing which has changed my diet completely to avoid
choking. The duties of lawn mowing and gardening have now fallen to my
wife and grown sons. And to my dismay, my sons have to lift me into the
boat so we can do a bit of trout fishing.
I belong to a OPMD support group and a number of those people are now
disabled and are collecting Social Security Disability. But they had to
jump through hoops to collect and I suppose I will as well. Not a single
one of those people were approved for disability the first go round. And
every one of them had to retain attorneys to represent them during the
appeal process. They then had to pay a large amount of the benefits to
the attorneys. What is wrong with this scenario? I have been paying into
SS since I was sixteen years old! I have just over four years to go till
I can retire. Why is the federal government so reluctant to give back
what is ours? It's not like I am going to get rich on what they would
give me. In fact, the disability and loss of income associated with that
will probably force me to sell my home.
-Gary Christian ('67)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Re: Washington state quarter news
For those of you who may have brought up the site to check out the
designs. 45% of the people voting voted for the leaping salmon with
Mt. Rainier in the background, 40% for the salmon, apple, and outline
of the state, and app. 14% for the Indian Orca. The governor endorsed
the vote of the people and her decision will be sent on to the mint for
final approval. It will be released next year.
Re: A quick note to Lowiq and Bogart
About coming to visit your friends at the pond, sorry it's not there
right now. It seems it is just an area for water run-off and currently
is pretty much dry. I'll let you little guys know when it is full once
again.
Anyone out there live in the Port Townsend area? I have a job interview
up there next Friday and in looking at their website it looks like there
would lots of things to do and see. Thanks.
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA ~ where I have been enjoying my morning
walks and ran into a raccoon the other morning (believe he said
his name was "Rory Coon")
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Mandy Holmes Taylor ('97)
Hello from Southern California! I hope everyone is well or is on their
way to wellness....
I have two questions today that I hope fellow Bombers can help me with.
The first is easier:
Are there any good books about the history of Hanford and the Tri-Cities?
I found a book on Leslie Groves and it sparked my interest (again) in the
place I still call home.
The second requires some background:
I am in graduate school and in one of my classes we discussed the movie
"Atomic Cafe" which is a montage of clips dealing with the advent and use
of the atomic and hydrogen bombs. All in all, it served to show that
"nukes are bad" and how dare we have them, much less have used them. I
do not mean in any way to minimize the pain and suffering of those who
tested and were victims of atomic use because I know that it is beyond my
scope of imagination. I also know the effects of radiation, but I won't
get into things here. I also don't want to open a debate on whether or
not atomic weapons should or should not have been used. I also don't
want to open up a debate on what RHS should be symbolized by.
Coming from a nuclear town, I had a different view of things and,
essentially, I felt ashamed of having come from one. And then I bristled
at that shame because I love my home town and am proud to have been a
Bomber. My question, then, is this: How do you explain Bomber pride,
including mushroom cloud symbol and the school crest if you are "proud
of the cloud," when in an anti-nuclear crowd? If you're not "proud of
the cloud" or have issues with it, which is perfectly fine, how do you
explain pride in such a school, especially when we have generations of
Bombers who declare Bomber pride all over the nation and throughout the
world?
Again, I'm not interested in debating the merits of one symbol over
another. I would simply like to know your thoughts or experiences. I
showed my professor the RHS website and our symbol and our crest and
she was... impressed, awed, shocked, dismayed... I'm not sure how to
have read her expression.
Anyway. Thanks for letting me ramble and ask questions. I hope things
are well with everyone!
Still green and gold-veined,
-Mandy Holmes Taylor ('97)
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
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ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 05/07/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
14 Bombers and 1 Richland Historian sent stuff:
Carol Black ('48), Larry Christenson ('54)
Nola Davey ('56), Mike Brady ('61)
Bob Cross ('62), Ann Engel ('63)
Freddy Schafer ('63), George Barnett ('63)
Deedee Willox ('64), Dennis Hammer ('64)
Gary Behymer ('64), Linda McKnight ('65)
Rick Maddy ('67), Betti Avant ('69)
Don Sorenson (Historian)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jeff Hartman ('59)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Kathy Clark ('67)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Laverne Vandenberg ('76)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Carol Black Foster ('48)
Re: Fred Meyer
To: Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
Nola: Thanks for making me laugh out loud as I read your entry in this
AM's Sandstorm about the spelling of Fred Meyer.
I can't figure out whether it is because I spend half my life in Fred
Meyer or whether it was because my mother (Leola Black (RIP) a former
Carmichael teacher, spent half my life correcting my pronunciation,
spelling or usage of the English language.
Anyway, I feel better now too.
-Carol Black Foster ('48) ~ Bellevue, WA
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****************************************************************
>>From: Larry Christenson ('54)
Re: Hanford Claim
I too have a claim or had claim concerning my fathers cancer. He had
cancer of the tongue and had half of it removed. When they first came
out with this information I filed a claim and went through the whole
process and got no where and my claim was rejected. I guess there were
four or five rejections. Seems like this is happening to quite of few of
us. I just don't know. Good luck to those still trying.
-Larry Christenson ('54)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
To: Shirley Collings Haskins ('66)
Shirley, we met at CK School, where we both worked in the school
cafeteria. Do you remember me? By the way, the Class of 1956 is
THE BEST!!!
-Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Mike Brady (Class of '61: "Ahead of the Curve")
Re: Hanford Memorial
Let's build a Hanford memorial with names of all the men and women who
died as a result of exposure to radiation while building the atomic bomb.
-Mike Brady (Class of '61: "Ahead of the Curve")
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****************************************************************
>>From: Bob Cross ('62)
To: Mandy Holmes Taylor ('97)
I feel that the atom bombs that the Hanford project help create caused
Japan to end their fight with us saving many thousands of American lives.
The knowledge that we had the bombs and were not afraid to use them
probably weighted heavy on the German command at the end of the war in
Europe. Thousand of people came from all over the country to work on the
war effort at Hanford just like they did in other parts of the US and
created a weapon that help end the war. Of that we can be proud of.
After seeing the destruction that the bombs did, many of us are thinking
that we hope and pray that the bombs will never be used again. I for one
am not ashamed of our heritage but am in the no-nukes camp now. We have
learned that we can make weapons that can destroy thousands of lives in
a single bomb, aren't we great. Let's not do it again!
The mushroom symbol and the name Bombers shows pride in the effort of
many people and what was accomplished back in the '40s, not a celebration
of the destructive power of the weapons that were created. Be proud of
Richland and Hanford but hope no one uses the bombs again.
-Bob Cross ('62)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Ann Engel Schafer ('63) and Freddy Schafer ('63)
Re: Portland /Vancouver Bomber Luncheon
http://alumnisandstorm.com/Lunches/Current-PDX/00.html
Those present at Bomber lunch were Linda McKnight Hobin ('65),
Spouse Dennis Hobin,
Peggy Wellman ('66), Richard Swanson ('64),
Alan Porter ('67), Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54), Fred Schafer ('63),
Ron Holeman ('56), Lola Heidlebaugh Bowen ('60).
Camera shy: Jo Heidlebaugh ('74) and Ann Engel Schafer ('63).
The next meeting will be the Bomber Picnic on August 12 th at Lewisville
Park. All Bombers and family are welcome
-Ann Engel Schafer ('63) and Freddy Schafer ('63)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: George Barnett ('63)
Re: King Midgets
To: Dennis Hammer ('64)
Hi Dennis, (and ALL other Bombers) I happen to have a friend who has
a King Midget here in Tucson. It sits in the desert at the foot of
Mt. Lemmon, behind his shed. It is quite dilapidated but no real bad
rust, and all the mechanical parts are still there. It would require a
total off frame restoration, however, that wouldn't be hard as there
really isn't much to the little cars. You have fired me up, I think I
will call him up and see just what it would take to buy that little gem.
I will have to eat some crow, as I'm sure he will remember my slurs and
pugnacious puns regarding his purchase about 1969? of this little putt-
mobile. I think he paid about $100.00 including an Arizona title.
Bye Geo.
-George Barnett ('63)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Deedee Willox Loiseau ('64)
Re: High Mileage Cars
To: Dennis Hammer ('64)
My chosen sister (Carol) sometimes drives her hubby's car; he bought a
hybrid. It runs on battery up to a certain speed, and then switches to
gas. Since it's on battery around town, it's very quiet. It has a screen
that shows what's behind the car when backing up (a real improvement over
my Toyota's tinted windows with tinted-window canopy). Don't know what
the MPG is, but it's gotta be better than my Toyota pickup. And speaking
of gas prices, diesel has sky rocketed over gas. Unfortunately, we bought
a diesel Ford F350 a few years back to pull our 5th wheel. Needless to
say, we aren't planning any great trips this year. Hope future diesel
(and gas) prices will be better, cuz I hate staying home.
-Deedee Willox Loiseau (Bomber Baby Boomer, or is that Boomer Baby
Bomber, or is that Bomber Baby Boomer - oh well, I know it's '64
... I think.), Burbank, WA, where the weather has turned warm
(not hot yet, thank God), and I'm lovin' it.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dennis Hammer ('64)
Re: "Way out west"
Seems like two, or three, or four weeks ago; I don't know, to quote
Kermit the Frog, "Time sure is fun when you're having flies," there was a
mention in the Sandstorm about a lot of people back East don't seem to
recognize there is part of the country in the west. I was going to send
in my story, forgot all about it so I will do it now.
I was driving around and just before getting to my destination heard the
lady on the news say just before the commercial break, "when we come
back, news of a snow storm way out west." Well, I live in the west, so I
drove around a little longer to see if it was going to affect us in the
Tri-Cities. When they came back, you know where the snow storm was. . . .
Ohio.
-Dennis Hammer ('64) ~ Way out west in Kennewick, WA. Better not go for a
walk after dark; I might fall off the edge of the World
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Gary Behymer ('64)
There was life after Bomberville & college... For myself, Uncle Sam
greeted me with open arms mid-August 1968. Basic training - Forth
Lewis... Radio training - Fort Ord and then off to radio teletype
training in - Augusta, GA. aka Fort Gordon... This all leads up to
another website to be built... of which I finally did two weeks ago.
I've found 12 of the members of the 511th Military Intelligence Company
(Fuerth, Germany) that I worked with + the commander of the current 511th
contacted me for some history of the Company. I've done 6 newsletters
(ala the Alumni Sandstorm) and it appears all are having a great time
with it (;-)
I came across a German fellow who volunteered to take some photos for
me... those pictures include the buildings where I worked and the
apartment where Janis & I lived for a year.
Life continues to be good!
http://krookmcsmile.tripod.com/511thMICompany.html
-Gary Behymer ('64)...somewhere in downtown Colfax, WA
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Linda McKnight Hoban ('65)
Hi Maren - For the Sandstorm, you parrothead you!! I do wish I were in
Margaritaville, right now!!
[Buffett was great! Needed a nap when I got back, tho. Hence the
lateness of today's Sandstorm. -Maren]
To: Mandy Holmes Taylor ('97)
Being "Proud of the Cloud" is more about being proud of your school and
your town. All those years ago during the actual creation of Hanford and
the making of the products to fuel the atomic bomb, the people came from
somewhere else. And, I bet a lot of them wished they were somewhere else
when they hit the barren desert where it was either too hot or too cold,
and either too windy or too sunny. And the wind blew, and blew, and blew
some more. We moved to Richland in 1954 from Southern California, in
October. We didn't even have winter coats, because who needed winter
coats in Southern California where we played baseball in our shorts on
Christmas day!?! Not so in Richland. My mother cried her eyes out while
she was shoveling sand out of our house on the very last street in North
Richland, which was Catskill. We had no lawn, and across the street was
the desert. Mom was very unhappy, but there was work, and lots of it. We
were a unique group, all from somewhere else, where our Dads and Moms
couldn't talk about what they did at work, and had to leave bottles of
urine on the front porch for a truck to pick up. But, we had the best
education available and the best doggone basketball team in the whole
state more times than not.
Mandy, I think you need to tell your professor that it isn't because
of the Bomb that makes us so special, though that is why the Richland
Bombers came about. It is an attitude. It is a feeling that not any other
place in the whole wide world can duplicate. It is being Green and Gold
and very, very proud. Many people don't agree with what happened to end
World War II, but that's the way it was. Because of our uniqueness and
our pride, it goes back to the words of our Crest, which says it all:
CREST: (Top Cloud) "The nuclear burst symbolizes the attainments by
educated men and reminds us of responsibilities shared by all men in all
of life's endeavors and that man alone does not control the forces of
this world."
There is a great deal of history to be had in Richland. I think if you
haven't had a chance, study all the information available on the website.
The children of the Manhattan Project is also a good source.
Good luck with your project!! I know it is hard to make outsiders
understand. It may help to ask your professor what her opinion is of the
website after she reviewed it, and also what others do in regards to
their alma maters. I can guarantee if you ask just the question, "does
your school have a website?" Or, "Do graduates from your school meet for
lunch all over the nation on a regular basis?" Maybe, then they'll get
it. Because we are Bombers, we are all like brothers and sisters, or
friends of friends. We go beyond the years we graduated. And, we don't
really talk at all about "the Bomb" unless someone tries to steal our
mascot away!!
Bomber Cheers,
-Linda McKnight Hoban ('65)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Rick Maddy ('67)
Re: Nukes
To: Mandy Holmes Taylor ('97)
Hi Mandy,
Thanks for the refreshing questions. This will be fun. An explosion (no
pun intended) of Sandstorm posts coming with mass (not critical) answers
and opinions. These questions you ask have been turned inside and out in
the Sandstorm over the past few years. If you are willing to start from
day one and read through the years, then all your questions will be
answered.
Trying to explain to the "granolas" and people who read the morning
paper for objective news in our world that the Col-Hi mascot is an atomic
bomb/mushroom cloud that represents world peace in our time is a waste of
your time. The PROUD OF THE CLOUD refers only to the peace symbol that is
our mascot. Those that try telling you the mascot represents thousands
of dead and suffering Japanese and Hanford workers are misinformed. That
would be like a pack of strikes in a child's hands that burn down an
apartment complex and a lot of people too with the conclusion being a
match is bad. Tell your college professor that her time would be better
served changing the minds of thousands of cheering Washington Redskins
fans that their mascot is distasteful and make sure you are wearing an
RHS sweatshirt when you tell her. Perhaps educating people that flip that
filter cigarette out their car window that goes down the drain then out
to sea or in the river kills our food source would better serve the
student. Starving to death is bad. There are none of us born and/or
raised in the Tri-Cities that do not know that if America is backed into
a corner we will use this bomb again, whether the professor, you or I
like it, or not. The atomic bombs will not go away, no matter how hard
anyone pretends they will. Just ask Iran. Nukes are not bad when used in
moderation. I like putting my forehead on the bat end, spinning around
and around, then flipping the lights and getting that strobe action going
for fun like everyone else... electricity serves a good purpose, or am I
speaking for myself? Build a dam and destroy an ecosystem. Dams are bad.
I guess we could go back to gas lamps, but then we got O1 robbing O3 in
the ozone. O1 is bad. Not enough whales to light up that 4500 square foot
home for two anymore. We also know the affects of Agent Orange and other
herbicides. Herbicides are bad. Anyone that owns a fish tank and sprays
inside their house with the multitude of cans of aerosol spray with the
multitude of fragrances, paint and cleaners watch their fish die. We know
the affects of those cans. They are bad. Where are the aquarium fish
rights folks? Guns don't kill people, people kill people. People are
bad. Therefore, people with nukes will not register them in the state of
California. Alcohol related deaths on our highways have killed and maimed
thousands more than any nuke ever did... so far, and marijuana is against
the law. Pot is bad. Where is Abbie Hoffman when you need him? Where are
the war protestors on college campuses? Okay, I know from experience that
somewhere between 300-500 Americans need to die weekly like in the first
few months of 1968 before the college kids get nervous enough to protest.
Where is TRUTH? Can you imagine someone actually having the nerve to tell
us what the TRUTH is... as if they actually believed they knew it. So
many questions, so little time.
-Rick Maddy ('67) ~ College is the last time anyone will care what you
have to say.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Re: interview questions
Perhaps someone out there can enlighten me about questions during a job
interview. I know as a prospective employee one should not ask about
salary and such. What are the guidelines for people conducting the
interview? I do know they can't ask about marital status, pregnancy
status for females, etc. Here's two I came across the other day that I
thought were totally inappropriate and caught me off guard. I had done
most of the interview with the department director and then we went in
and talked with the administrator for a bit. He asked me if I had any
medical insurance and also what I thought my previous employers may say
about me. Is this a common practice, or was he "wrong" to even ask such
questions? I had never encountered this in the past and if it is brought
up by someone else, what do I say? I know honesty is the best policy, but
these were 2 questions I thought were a bit much.
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Don Sorenson N A B
Re: Radiation at Hanford
To: Donna Bowers Rice ('63)
I read your May 6th post today. You hit on something I've thought about
for some time. Yes you are right they have changed the dosimeter for
Hanford workers at least four times I know of. First was the film badge,
second was a film badge with some absorbers to help measure the deep
dose. Those were around for quite a while until someone developed the
TLD chips in the late '60s and distributed in the early '70s. (It was
the first dosimeter I wore when I started in '77) Now we have a different
kind that we use that was introduced about 7 to 10 years ago. During that
same period the exposure was reduced from 3 REM a year to 500 millirem a
year. You can go above the 500 for the year with some signatures and a
maximum of 1500 a year. Well with that said, why did D O E reduce the
exposure levels at around the same time these new dosimeters were issued?
I don't know. But what I do know is the early film badges your parents
wore were not of the same caliber we have today. So if the folks who are
calculating the exposure to determine payment are they adjusting the
exposure based on what they know with the newer dosimeters. And if they
are not it is strongly suspected they know the lifetime exposure would go
up. Now something some folks may not know the workers at 234-5 dealt
with neutron exposure a lot. In fact it was a major concern to Health
Instruments (Radiation Monitoring). Special pencils were issued to them
to measure this exposure at the main badge house. I would disagree with
skin contamination issues. But I do believe our bodies makeup will play a
role in who gets cancer or not.
Chemicals are another issue that is not explored well either. Many kinds
were used at Hanford's laboratories and process facilities. Safe handling
was taught with the use of goggles, face shields, aprons and gloves. But
ventilation and chemical hygiene were lacking. Many chemicals were stored
on the shelves in the lab rooms and used on the bench top. NOX fumes from
the separations plants could be smelled while you walked from the bus and
you could smell them in the labs themselves. Inversions were the main
culprits for this. The bottom line is this you really need to study the
effects of radiation and understand how they reconstruct the radiation
dose. The University of Washington received a large portion of
documentation of radiation exposure at Hanford from Dr. Herbert Parker.
I know someone who is well versed on the subject of radiation, but he
would be for hire so I can't provide the name here.
-Don Sorenson N A B
*******************************************
*******************************************
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
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 05/08/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
13 Bombers sent stuff:
Keith Maupin ('47), Terri Royce ('56)
George Swan ('59), Bill Moyers ('60)
Michael Waggoner ('60), Jim Yount ('61)
Donna Bowers ('63), Linda Reining ('64)
Donna Fredette ('65), Betti Avant ('69)
Nancy Nelson ('69), Mike Davis ('74)
Jennifer Frank ('02)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dick Coates ('52)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jim McKeown ('53)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dennis Barr ('58)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Pete Overdahl ('60)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Patty de la Bretonne ('65)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mike Hogan ('70)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Keith Maupin ('47)
To: Mandy Holmes Taylor ('97)
Mandy, your question is one concerning the power of symbols to trigger
emotions and reason seldom enters into any discussion about a symbol.
Usually, the stronger the symbol, the greater the emotion, and the more
heated the discussion.
The "Mushroom Cloud" triggers emotions, but "Cardinal" does not – unless
you are a Stanford University student. Symbols mean something other than
what they are. To define a symbol one must look beyond the obvious and to
properly understand the meaning of the symbol one must always consider
the context. Spartan is a term with many definitions and in many usages
it is not a symbol. It becomes a symbol when used as a school nickname,
but a Michigan State Spartan is not a San Jose State Spartan. The
definition is largely determined by context.
For another example, consider the symbolic skull and bones. It appears
on poisons as a visual warning. It was used by pirates on their "Jolly
Roger" and to mark the graves of Knights Templar as well as by early
Christians in the catacombs. The Masons use it as a symbol of rebirth and
man's mortality. In modern times it was used by Nazi SS troops and by the
Skull and Bones Society at Yale University. While the symbol is the same,
what it represents is not. This is true of all symbols. The meaning of a
symbol is established by that group who chooses to use that symbol - and
the meaning is not determined by the definition outsiders assign to it.
Recently in the United States there has been controversy generated that
is critical of some symbols, and that criticism is not confined to
complaints by some Native Americans. Saxons, Devils, Demons, Cadets,
Pirates, Rebels, Savages, Earwigs, Brewers, Bombers, 1836 – all these
school nicknames have been condemned by some group or other. Is that
reason enough to change the nicknames? Maybe yes, maybe no. But the
decision must be up to the group that claims the symbol as their own. It
is only insiders that, through their experiences, can fully appreciate
the meaning of the symbol.
-Keith Maupin ('47)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Terri Royce Weiner ('56)
To: Nola Davey Meichle ('56) and Carol Black Foster ('48)
Cheers to both of you! I could not resist smiling at your insight on the
pronunciation of "Fred Meyer". Now if we can just get the rest of the
world to say "Nordstrom" and "Boeing" without the offending "s" we'll
have made an important contribution, after all!!
-Terri Royce Weiner ('56)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
Re: Goin' to the "Opry"
I have not attended the opera for some time. Ummm, come to think of it, I
don't think that I have ever attended an opera. However, I once attended
an operetta, I think. Anyway, it was one of those musical "thingies."
Lately, I have harbored a deep suspicion that in my "seasoned," as
opposed to "older" years (Thank you very much, my friend, Bonnie Allen
('59)), I suffer from a severe need to develop some class. All of my
erratic life, I have recognized that I lacked couth. I had decided to do
something about it. Obviously, too old to attend Couth School, I would
have to tackle this one myself.
I had learned of the staging of the musical play, "Bye Bye Birdie," in
Omak, WA, presented by the Okanogan Valley Orchestra & Chorus. And, it
was going to take place over a time period when I would be in the area,
once again attempting to hunt ol' Tom Turkey. So, I was looking forward
to the weekend. Friday night, opening night, May 5 arrived and I was
excited. I would embark on my mission to obtain some couth and class.
I had been in the deep woods for two days seeking the elusive "Tommy T"
but seeing only Tillie and Trixie, two hen turkeys that persisted
in hanging around. Now, based upon my vast experience of adolescent
endeavors with the opposite sex, I could only conclude that those
Okanogan Tom's didn't dance, either. But, the usual refrain, "I had a
good time," applied. For two days, I got dirty, sweaty, and tired so I
was happy -- It's a guy thing. I even had a campfire on Thursday night,
popped a cork (something that I seldom do anymore), and serenaded the
half moon on a clear, star-studded night. Hey, I was all alone in my
solitude so I wasn't bothering anyone. Well, I may have offended a couple
of hoot owls as they kept "hooting" which sounded suspiciously, a lot
like, "booing." But, the coyotes joined in whenever I got to the chorus.
So anyway, after two days of a lotta singin' and little huntin' in the
"outback," come Friday, I must say for an old (I mean seasoned guy), I
cleaned up pretty well with a bucket of water and a bar of Lava Soap ...
so I could make a presentable appearance at the Omak PAK (The Omak, WA
Performing Arts Center). I was of fine spirit. Yet, I had this strange
feeling that I was somewhat like the old hermit who came out of the hills
and into town to see a traveling "Opry" show.
I demonstrated my newly acquired couth by picking up my "Reserved" ticket
at the "Will Call" window and purchasing a raffle ticket. I entered the
PAC theater and seated myself near some friendly looking folks ...
who immediately sniffed the air and moved a few seats away from me.
I calculated they wanted a better view of the stage.
I smiled all around at the friendly folks looking at me as I adjusted my
8X42 Nikon Monarch (genuine guaranteed waterproof) Hunting Binoculars,
complete with elastic "stopem flopem" shoulder straps. Yeseriee Bob! None
of them floppy little opry glasses on a stick for this newly seasoned
"opry goer." I was indeed ready for the show. Beaming with delight and
projecting an aura of outright sophistication, there I sat ... in my
camouflage turkey togs.
Waiting for the lights to dim and the curtain to rise, I reflected on my
good fortune. A few days in the woods and now a night in the theater. It
ain't every day an old mountain man like me gets to see a musical and has
a friend playin' one of the lead parts. Peg Sheeran Finch ('63) would be
playing the part of Mae Peterson, Albert's domineering Mamma. I looked
about, proclaiming, "I know one of the stars!" as people moved yet
another seat away.
Well, to make a short story a little longer, the director provided
comments, the curtain rose and the show was underway. It was great! I
really enjoyed it. I am far from a critic of the fine arts but it seems
to me that a play or musical has to be good if, like with a good book or
movie, you find yourself losing track of the presence and all that is
around you as you become absorbed into the story.
I had heard of the show, "Bye Bye Birdie" but prior to seeing this
presentation, I knew little of it. The write up in the program states:
"Bye Bye Birdie -- What is it about? Rock and roll superstar Conrad
Birdie is being drafted and his Mama's boy Agent, Albert Peterson manages
to stage a publicity stunt in which Conrad will kiss one lucky girl from
Sweet Apple, Ohio before going into the army. Our Mama's boy Albert
Peterson has to deal with not only his Mama, but the love of his life
Rosie Alvarez, and the turmoil of high school love and growing up.
Enjoy!"
Hmmm, sounds strangely, somewhat, familiar to me as I think back over my
school days. Peg tells me that there was a movie made, of the same title,
many years ago, starring Dick Van Dyke, Ann Margret, and Conway Twitty.
The character of Conrad Birdie is based on Elvis Presley and was named
after Conway Twitty. The song, "Bye Bye Birdie" is not in the stage
musical but was only added for the movie.
The entire cast was very good, from adults right down to a couple of tiny
tots. Some entire families, participated in the production, not just on
stage but behind the scenes as well. Of course, the only one that I knew
was Peg. I remember her sister Katie Sheeran ('61) from Bomber Days.
However, I did not meet Peg until after she dropped me a line, in
relation to my Sandstorm writings, about her husband, Dick's, turkey
hunting exploits about a year, or maybe it was two, ago. As I become more
seasoned, the years seem to race by at an increasing rate. Dick was the
first turkey hunter in the State of Washington to take all three species
of wild turkeys in a single season (not an easy feat)! Later, in the
area, I had dropped in to meet both and have enjoyed knowing them ever
since.
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Swan/060508-PegSheeran.jpg
Peg played her part phenomenally. Each time a character finished a song,
the audience clapped. Each time Peg completed a scene or song, the place
roared. She sings three or four songs with a lot of speaking lines in
between. She brought the house down when she climbed into a garbage can
calling for the trash pickup to just take her away while singing, "A
Mother Doesn't Matter Anymore" and when she lay down on the railroad
tracks in her attempt to keep Albert from marrying Rosie.
Upon final curtain call, the whole cast was on stage receiving accolades
when Peg "Mae Peterson" comes out -- center stage, obviously the hit
character, and really brings the house down. She has a hit performance
there!
During the intermission between Acts I and II, I had actually won the
raffle prize, a "Bye Bye Birdie" Tee Shirt, so I donned the Tee over my
camies to appear more classy. Following the performance, the full
cast gathered in the lobby. Having become an instant fan of my first
personally acquainted stage star, I received her autograph in my souvenir
program and she posed with me for a picture. A copy is included along
with a more formal picture of Peg in character that was featured in the
program pamphlet.
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Swan/060508-Pappy-Mae.jpg
If you live within driving distance of Omak, you have another chance
to see this show and Peg's wonderfully funny performance. The show is
performed again on next Friday and Saturday evenings, May 12 & 13 at
7:30pm and the final show is on Sunday (a matinee), May 14 at 3:00pm.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students.
I got on the road about 10:30 PM and drove through the night singing my
seasoned heart out to Roger Miller's "Walkin' In The Sunshine," my new
personal theme song, arriving home about 2:30 AM. A few hours of sleep
and off to the Bomber Luncheon in West Richland for yet another mini-
reunion with Bombers, especially two that I had not spoken to since 1959.
But, that's a "whole 'nother" story. Seasoned life's pretty good livin'
here, in or near Bomberville.
-George "Pappy" Swan ~ Burbank, WA where today it's overcast and
threatening rain but that's OK -- Being a "seasoned" individual,
I need to rest up and tell the elves all about Pappy's latest
great adventure.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Bill Moyers ('60)
Re: King Midgets
I recall that Furman W. Potts (owner of the Rainbow gas station on GWWay,
located between the Village theater and Ernie's Typewriter) had one of
those King Midget putt-mobiles very briefly. He probably took it in as
a trade on set of tires, or maybe on a used car he had for sale. I was
working for him at the time, and remember driving the Midget home several
times for lunch and then back to work. I think we also drove it on
occasion to Taylor Auto Supply (on Stevens, near the Skating Rink and
Taste Freeze) to get parts, just for the novelty of driving it. I don't
think it was even close to being "street legal", so we drove residential
side streets whenever possible to avoid being seen and ticketed by
Richland's finest. I'd guess that was about 1960 to 1962.
Anyone else remember seeing it around Richland about that time?
-Bill Moyers ('60) ~ in rainy Vancouver, WA
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****************************************************************
>>From: Michael J. Waggoner ('60)
Suggestion to Mandy Holmes Taylor ('97), on how to respond to critics:
The atomic bomb and the hydrogen bomb were terrible weapons. I am very
sorry that we had to make them (Hanford made plutonium, both for atomic
bombs, and for the triggers for hydrogen bombs) and that we had to use
the atomic bomb. But we need to put that in perspective. First, in the 31
years before those bombs, we had two world wars with conventional weapons
and in each war tens of millions of people were killed. In the 61 years
since there have been no world wars, although there have been far too
many little wars and small-area mass killings.
Second, we dropped the bombs on Japan to end World War II and to save
hundreds of thousands of American lives, lives of parents, grandparents,
and great grandparents of legions of U.S. citizens who would never have
been born had the bombs not been used and had an invasion of Japan like
those of Iwo Jima and Okinawa been required. Although the bombs killed
hundreds of thousands of Japanese, many times that many Japanese would
have died in an invasion, so although our purpose was to save American
lives, we saved far more Japanese lives.
The people of Richland, as of the United States as a whole, can be proud
of what the dedicated workers of Hanford accomplished. We all should be
ashamed of the little help that they are getting for the chemical and
radiation injuries that they sustained in their nation's service to bring
about a more peaceful world.
-Michael J. Waggoner ('60)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Jim Yount ('61)
Re: 8th of May
A special greeting on this special day to all Bombers who are also
Cougars. I was wondering of some of our more senior members might
remember the early traditions of the "Hooray, Hooray for the 8th of May"
celebrations at WSU/WSC. I remember being told that at one time, there
were actually parades, floats of sorts, and parties/dances. I know that
by the time I graduated in 1966, the history was long standing, and
that the Field House, student housing, and Women’s closing hours were
principal elements. I'm guessing that nowadays the frustrations and
whimsies of those more restrictive times would be lost on the current
generation.
Any good memories out there?
-Jim Yount ('61)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Donna Bowers Rice (Gold Medal Class of '63)
This is in reply to Don Sorenson (Richland Historian) about exposure to
radiation. My Dad was involved with pens and with different chemical
baths. He referred to his exposure as "spills" and asking those in the
know just what he was exposed to-I get nothing. You would think the
Unions would know, they do not! When you are dealing with weapons grade
plutonium and different chemicals, you get a nuclear soup that I don't
even know that they knew how potent it was. And different Nuclear Plants
used different chemicals. The secrecy surrounding all this really works
in the governments favor. The man that developed the Hanford TLD is a
leading "Linear-no threshold" advocate and there is quite a controversy
over that concept in the physics world. I am by no means as well versed
in this subject, but I KNOW that the human body is not linear and has a
tipping point in all reactions. This really is such a fascinating
subject.
I was told by an ombudsman (appointed by Congress for the Public's
Interest from Boston) that the probabilities of death were based on the
deaths from the bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima/Nagasaki. That
seems way off base, because our father's exposures were nothing like that
one-time incidence. Can you confirm or deny this? And do you know on what
they used to base the probability of death?
-Donna Bowers Rice (Gold Medal Class of '6#} ~ I have been in
Birmingham, Alabama. the past 2 weeks visiting my daughter-enjoying
Southern hospitality. It truly is a beautiful little city!
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>>From: Linda Reining ('64)
to:Mandy Holmes Taylor(97)
re:"Proud of the Cloud"
I had written an entry to send, hit the wrong button and deleted the
entire article! but Bob Cross(62)and Linda McKnight Hoban(65)said exactly
how I feel, so I won't rewrite what I had written. take pride in your
town, your school, your mascot, and the fact that we were and are a
diverse group with a common bond that holds us all together.
-Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber classs of 64).......weather in Bakersfield,
CA is okay for now----only in the mid 80's and we have had a mild breeze
blowing, so that is helping keep the temperatures cooler.
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>>From: Donna Fredette ('65)
Re: Bomber Loyalty
To: Linda McKnight Hoban ('65)
Well said.
Bomber Cheers!
-Donna Fredette ('65)
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>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Thanks to those of you who responded to me regarding interview questions.
I guess I can see why someone may want to know what previous employers
might say about you. It still doesn't make sense about the insurance,
however. I wonder what would have been said if I had said no. That
is the only time that question has ever been asked of me during an
interview. Oh well, I'll just let it go for now.
Maren, glad you had a good time with Jimmy Buffett.
Bomber rahs rahs to everyone.
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA
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****************************************************************
>>From: Nancy Nelson Wyatt ('69)
Re: Interview For Betty Avant ('69)
Betty, As a former employer, I know the question of Medical Insurance is
not right to ask. And the question of how you feel your previous employer
would say about you is ok. He/she will talk to your previous employer
anyway. He just wanted your aspect on how you felt.
As for Mike's suggestion on a Hanford Memorial, My parents are still
alive and not in good health but I think the Memorial is an excellent
idea. I remember Dad coming home with the "Green Suits" on several
occasions. He was power supervisor for the areas where the radiation
was. I am real sorry I missed the [60 MInutes] episode on the Hanford.
Wish I could have seen it.
Will be home for a weekend around Mother's Day to visit my parents. Maybe
some of the Bombers could get together. If I don't make Mother's Day, It
will be the following weekend.
Everyone have a good day and week.
-Nancy Nelson Wyatt ('69) ~ in Northeastern Washington, Colville to
be exact where it is sunny now and rain this afternoon and the
fishing is excellent.
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>>From: Mike Davis ('74)
With great sadness I am announcing that my sister-in-law, Jennifer
Maiuri Davis ('86) passed away this morning [5/7/06] around 3:55 am.
She struggled on Saturday with her breathing, but was never in pain.
She looked very peaceful and is finally done battling this horrible
unforgiving disease.
Jennifer is the most courageous and determined person I have ever known.
She battled this disease with every ounce of her strength. We have all
learned and grown for this experience and are better people because of
her. She brightened our lives and she will forever remain in our hearts.
All of us in the Maiuri and Davis family would sincerely like to thank
all of you for the incredible support you have given us through this
rough time. Jennifer was an incredible woman with the most wonderful
friends that anyone could ever have. She is at peace now.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
We love you, Jen.
-Mike Davis ('74) ~ (speaking for all the Maiuri family and the Davis
family)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Jennifer Frank ('02)
To: Mandy Holmes Taylor ('97)
Mandy,
I guess I am going to add my input here and tell a little story—mine too
requires some background… I graduated in 2002 from RHS and have one more
year left in my college career at Boise State University. I grew up in
the RHS gym and stadium, and I am so proud to be a Bomber. When my sister
was 3, a friend of the family told her that she was going to have to be a
Hanford Falcon because of where she lived. She said "I am NOT going to be
a Hanford Falcon, I’m going to be a Richland Bomber!" She then told my
parents they were going to have to find a new house because she was not
going to go to school at Hanford. She graduated from Richland as the
class of 2005. It’s all about the Bomber blood.
Anyway, my sophomore year I had to take a history class that covered all
aspects of the war. Of course when the atomic bomb comes up, a small riot
begins, it never fails. I sat in class one day and listened to A group
of individuals share their opinions and as always I just sat there and
smiled, continuing on with whatever I was doing. About 15 minutes into
the conversation a gentleman raises his hand and says "have you ever been
to Hanford?" Of course, I perk up because I have a feeling this about to
get into something I actually know about. He goes on to say how you can't
even get into the town of Hanford and that there is a high school in
Richland, (which he then points out "isn't even Hanford") that has their
mascot as the Bombers. Everyone gets offended that such a place existed
and people began talking about going there and petitioning to get the
mascot changed because it was so disrespectful and so many other things.
I am not normally a talker in class, especially lecture classes with 300
people in them, but they had surpassed a line that I was allowing them
to go up to. I had taken a class, in a much smaller capacity, from this
professor before, so I raised my hand and asked if I could come to the
front of the lecture hall. I had been back to Richland about two weeks
prior for something for my younger siblings and my mom had given be a
window sticker of the "R" and the mushroom cloud… it was still in my bag.
I handed the sticker to my professor for her to put on the overhead so
everyone could see it... you should have heard the gasps. I went on to
explain that I grew up in Richland, that the town of Hanford doesn't
really exist anymore, hasn't in years. That you can't go to see it
because it is in a certain radius of what at one time was a nuclear
"camp" basically. I told them about the old foundation to the school and
how people moved from the bunkers to real homes in Richland. I told them
that they weren't the only ones who hated the fact that our mascot was a
Bomber and that our symbol was an "R" with a mushroom cloud – just like
they could see on the board. Every year someone tries to get it changed.
I went on the explain that Richland High School is a HUGE extended family
that spreads world wide. It doesn't really matter if you got to graduate
from RHS or not, because once you went there and knew people, you were
part of the group. I told them about the luncheons that many of the
alumni attend and about the Alumni Sandstorm and the stories and memories
that everyone tells. And I told them about the pride that comes with
being a Bomber or having family or friends who are Bombers. That, by no
means are people overjoyed with the fact that so many people died from
the bomb, some feel it was necessary, and others don't. The fact of the
matter is that, at the time that the Manhattan Project was in effect,
very, VERY, few people knew what was going on. There are so many people
in Richland that are feeling or have felt the affects of what the Nuclear
Radiation did to them and/or their families. I then told them about the
Day's Pay, and the amount of pride that went into that plane and that it,
too, is another version of our mascot. I answered some questions (to the
best of my ability) after I was done on my soapbox and I couldn't believe
that I had done that, but you know what? I have had a few more classes
with the gentleman and even though he still doesn't agree with the
dropping of the bombs, he understands that times were so different and
that fear and patriotism can drive many people to do things that may
never think of doing otherwise.
Being in Boise, we get some different, cultured movies at a theater
called "The Flicks." They have a movie there now called something to the
affects of "If the Confederacy Would Have Won." During the movie they
make a point to say that one countries terrorism is another countries
patriotism. I had never thought about that, but it's true.
I don't know if this helps, but seeing as how I'm in school too, I
thought it might help to shed a little light on something. Sorry if I
just rambled on and it did nothing for ya! If it helps, then awesome!
-Jennifer Frank ('02)
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 05/09/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber funeral notice today:
Curt Donahue ('53), Bill Lattin ('58)
Burt Pierard ('59), Larry Mattingly ('60)
Patti Jones ('60), Katie Sheeran ('61)
Linda Reining ('64), David Rivers ('65)
Betti Avant ('69)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Twins: Bill & Mary Bailey ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Val Trent ('70)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Curt Donahue ('53)
Re: Proud of the Cloud
The remarks by Michael Waggoner ('60), Bob Cross ('62), Linda McKnight ('65),
and Jennifer Frank ('02) were all "right on" on this subject. We who grew
up in Richland have very much of which to be proud. We have a heritage
that is unrivaled in history. I believe that the strong bond that has
materialized among the alumni (no matter the graduating year) is the
result of that unique heritage as well as the fact that many of us and/or
our parents came together from all over this great country. I guess
that we just have to be patient with all those people who will never
understand of what and why we are proud or what bonds such a diverse
age group of people together like we are.
But, now for a really important matter: My wife and I have to travel to
the Midwest this summer to, among other things, attend the marriage of
one of our grandchildren. With the high price of gasoline, it would be
most helpful if each of you could send me $1.00. Whatever is left after
fueling up, I will send to Club 40 Scholarship Fund. Thank you very much!
-Curt Donahue ('53) ~ Federal Way, WA
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****************************************************************
>>From: Bill Lattin ('58)
I saw the note from Michael Waggoner ('60) and it reminded me of
something I read recently.
Stephen Ambrose wrote his last book "To America" as a set of personal
reflections after a half-century of teaching history and writing books on
history. He started his career as a critic of Truman's decision to drop
the bomb on Hiroshima and ended his career saying "Thank God for Harry
Truman. For his courage and decisiveness". Page 115. What caused Ambrose
to change his mind? Historical documents reveal that the Japanese
government was ready to defend the homeland to the last person and that
the defenses were modeled after what they had learned in Iwo Jima and
Okinawa. When Ambrose interviewed Colonel Andrew Goodpaster, the man who
did the projection of 800,000 US losses to invade Japan, he concluded
that the estimate was low. The Colonel had used the numbers from Okinawa
and multiplied by the larger force in Japan, but Hirohito and the
Japanese military leaders had more ambitious plans to defend the main
island, including using women and children to meet the Marines on the
beach with sharpened bamboo stakes. They thought that they could inflict
enough US casualties to force the US to negotiate a settlement on more
favorable terms.
All this to say that my dad was proud of the role he played working at
Hanford; and as bad as the war was, the bomb saved 800,000 to 1,000,000
US casualties and as Michael Waggoner pointed out, untold Japanese lives.
-Bill Lattin ('58)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Burt Pierard ('59)
To: Jennifer Frank ('02)
Re: Your dissertation on the Bombers
Congratulations on your fantastic telling & defense of the Bombers'
Story. My only criticism is your description of Day's Pay as "another
version of our mascot." Day's Pay is not our mascot and never was. Day's
Pay was a Hanford Construction Workers event (little or nothing to do
with the Operations people in Richland) and practically everybody who
contributed, never even lived in Richland. The Day's Pay as a mascot
fabrication started with the arrival of the "mural" in 1993 and was
spearheaded & perpetuated by 4 anti-nuke teachers who wanted to get rid
of the "R-cloud." (Their earlier ploy, in the '80s, was to claim that the
Bombers name was adopted for a generic bomber airplane in 1944, before
the bomb was dropped, but that was easily proven as false.) But even
then, they hadn't dreamed up the Day's Pay Fraud yet. By the time you
graduated, the drumbeats for the Day's Pay mascot had been going on for
nearly 9 years and it is a credit to you to appreciate the tradition of
the "R-cloud" which was designed and trademarked in 1972 and adopted as
the Official School Symbol by the students in an all-school vote in early
1989.
Thanks for the wonderful story.
Bomber Cheers,
-Burt Pierard ('59) ~ Richland
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****************************************************************
>>From: Larry Mattingly ('60)
Re: A very Happy Birthday
All of us are always concerned with the health, happiness, and welfare of
our children. 5 years ago today I dried my tears of happiness and wrote
of my number 2 daughter's winning her battle with a nasty stage 3
lymphoma cancer. It was her birthday. Of course you are never really sure
how long the victory will last. The big C has a sneaky way of coming
back. So this year it is an even happier birthday as the doctors
pronounced her 5 year comprehensive exam totally clean. A very Happy
Birthday to Sandra. After we settled down from that news she told me she
was homesick for the mainland and would be leaving Honolulu in a couple
of days and moving back to the Phoenix area. She is Chief Financial
Officer of a heritage jewelry firm with 8 stores including Tokyo and
Paris. Her boss refused to let her resign, and so instead of looking for
employment in the Phoenix area, he bought her a completely equipped
office for her home and she will telecommute. Additionally she will
become the Chief Financial Officer of FireLinx, Inc., our new firing
system company, and with HQ in Tahoe and the sales office in Tacoma, she
will telecommute for that also. So I am off to bed in the relief of a
truly happy day.
"Happiness is the sky in bloom"
-J Larry Mattingly ('60) ~ From home where I have been planning logistics
to move myself and another pyro engineer, 2 techs and nearly 1
ton of equipment to Shanghai China in Oct. We have been asked to
use the new firing system on a giant display of 9 barges and 2
land positions firing about 40,000 shells. I am in awe of this
opportunity offered to me by a pyro friend from New Zealand.
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****************************************************************
>>From: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60)
To: Linda Reining ('64)
Re: All Bomber Luncheon - Richland
Good try about the out of town guest. The whole mystery was not about
the out of town guest. As you will see in the following write up about
the luncheon.
To: All Bombers
Re: All Bomber Luncheon - Richland
Marie Ruppert Hartman ('63) has now joined Vera Smith Robbins ('58) and
myself to put on the luncheons. Marie will be doing the photography from
now on. Thanks Marie for stepping up in your busy schedule to help.
As I mentioned in last week's announcement, there would be an attendee
from out of town. His name could not be mentioned as he was working to
get another Bomber at the luncheon who did not know that another out of
guest would be at the luncheon. David Mansfield ('59) came from Oregon.
David got Bonnie Allen ('59) from Mill Creek, WA to attend. The surprise
was for "Pappy" George Swan ('59) who did know that Bonnie would attend.
If too much was said before, it would have given away the surprise. The
three had attended their 40th class reunion but none of them saw each
other at the reunion. They had not seen each other since they graduated
in 1959. David and I started emailing a couple of months back. This
was all set up through emails.
Wow! I sure hope I said all this right!!!
We had many other surprises happening through out the luncheon. Sometimes
I have everyone introduce themselves and the year they graduated.
Announcements come also during this time. Introductions turned into more
surprises with a lot of laughter. Everything from who lived where in
Richland, to how many children, grandchildren, great children, siblings
and who were neighbors. Some of the Bombers had gone to school from grade
school through high school. The U shaped table arrangement made it easier
for group pictures.
Bombers in attendance: Myself, Bonnie Allen ('59), David Mansfield('59),
Jackie Devries Brown ('62), Eileen Shaw ('62), Barbara Stookesberry Long ('60),
Marie Ruppert Hartman ('62), Kathy Hoff Conrad ('64), Ralph Bean ('59) and
spouse Barbara, Barbara Isakson Rau ('58), Glen Rose ('58) and spouse
Carol, George "Pappy" Swan ('59) and spouse Jeanne, Derrith Persons Dean ('60),
Vera Smith Robbins ('58) and James Smith ('58).
To: Bombers hosting luncheons
Re: Pictures
A special thanks to Doug Ufkes ('68) who hosted the last luncheon in
Arizona. Doug and I were in email contact some before and after the
luncheon. Doug (If it was just you Doug let us know. Want credit to go
to whom it belongs) or another Bomber came up with the idea to have the
pictures taken at the same time as the Bombers sign in. Then it is easier
to put the picture and name together for the Sandstorm. It flowed very
well to do it this way so far. Hope this helps you also Maren.
Bombers Have Fun
-Patti Jones Ahrens ('60), West Richland, WA ~ Where we now have two
lights on Bombing Range Road. One at Van Giesen, second at
Bombing Range road where the new Yoke's market is. The spelling
of Yoke's is by the sign in front of the market. Haven't watched
the local news much the last few days but was told by a Bomber
that there is talk on the news about renaming West Richland to
Red Mountain, WA
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>>From: Katie Sheeran Johnson ('61)
Have to brag about my sister Peg ('63) being in the play of "Bye Bye
Birdie" in Omak, WA. Never knew she was so talented. We went to the
Matinee yesterday and she was great! Heard a few people say she was
absolutely "priceless".
You made us proud, Peg!
-Katie Sheeran Johnson ('61)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[See the picture of Peg that Pappy Swan ('59) submitted yesterday:
http://alumnisandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Swan/060508-PegSheeran.jpg
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>>From: Linda Reining ('64)
re:Bye Bye Birdie
have seen this movie many, many times, but I don't ever remember seeing
Conway Twitty in it(don't think he was). it starred Dick Van Dyke, Janet
Leigh, Paul Lynde, Ann-Margret, Bobby Rydell, Maureen Stapleton, and Ed
Sullivan.
this was also done as a play at Col-Hi in my senior year, I think. I
think Sandy Bloom(class of 64)played the lead role of Kim and it also
starred Karen Webster(class of 64)as Mama Mae Peterson---she did an
awesome job and we laughed til tears rolled down our cheeks, she was
almost better than Maureen Stapleton! saw the play three times----once
during school hours and then on both Friday and Saturday nights.
when my youngest daughter was in high school, she was in this play during
her senior year--she played one of the participants doing the "Telephone
hour"---think it must be a play that is always done in high schools.
*grin*
would have loved to have seen Peg Sheeran Finch(class of 63)portraying
Mama Mae Peterson--thanks for the critique, George(Pappy)Swan(class of
59). *grin*
Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber class of 64).......Bakersfield,
CA.........weather is still nice---only in the 80s and a breeze is still
blowing, which is helping to keep the temps lower.
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>>From: David Rivers ('65)
Re: Proud of the cloud
I'm a Bomber thru and thru. Always was always will be. I have three
college degrees... big whoop... I'm still proud of the cloud... I have
seen war first hand... I'm still proud of the cloud... I saw my father's
legs that looked like they were made of alligator hide from an incident
through which he was the only survivor... an incident I might add that
according to Hanford history must never have happened... musta been his
imagination that he was lucky enough to have been holding a big piece
of masonite which protected everything but his legs and he must have
imagined those other two guys dying... I'm even more proud of the
cloud... I'm proud of Maddy ('67) who should have every reason to hate
anything to do with war and war tools... I'm proud of McKnight ('65) for
the way she expressed herself and the love and devotion Bombers have for
each other... I've met a ton of college professors and most appear to be
fairly well meaning... few have experienced much of life tho some have
experienced all kinds of things like death camps and such... I have a lot
more understanding of the latter than the former... I've experience a
whole bunch of life... lots of it was bad bad bad... imagine having a
shotgun pointed at your head while some guy robbed you and raped your
girlfriend... imagine seeing friends die... imagine finding friends
dead... it's all life but it doesn't make me think of the entire world
as a bad place... and I'm still proud of the cloud. I'm sorry that hind
sight is so narrow in its focus... it is so very easy to point one's
finger and be shocked and dismayed when one hasn't experienced the
horrors of war... but I'm sorry folks... this world has been experiencing
war of some kind or another since man first saw that hot chick over there
by that other man and hit the other guy with his club... is there any
excuse for war? Who knows... It all comes in increments... defending
one's self is ok... aggression is bad... what about some defense and
some aggression... where do we draw the line? But I'm still proud of the
cloud. When I got sober I was told to practice the three Cs... Don't
criticize condemn or complain... hard to do but when you can, it is so
nice... All I know is thanks to all Bombers... those who built it and
those who have lived in my home town... the best damned home town in the
world... bar none! And I'm still proud of the cloud!!!!!!! So there!
-David Rivers ('65)
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>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Now we all know the face to the name, thanks Pappy. I'm glad you enjoyed
the musical. I started going to the Richland Light Opera productions in
junior high and always tried to go to every performance while I was still
in Richland. There were times when I wished I could act, sing, or play
my instrument better so I could be a part of it. I could have joined the
crew or something but just never did. Local talent is the best. While at
CBC my speech teacher was member of the cast of Man of LaMancha.
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA
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Funeral Notice scanned from the TCHerald
by Shirley Collings Haskins ('66)
>>Bill Gaines ('65) ~ 12/6/46 - 4/29/06
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 05/10/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4 Bombers and 1 NAB sent stuff and 1 Bomber funeral notice today:
George Swan ('59), Peg Sheeran ('63)
Roy Ballard ('63), Jason Fleming ('86)
Don Sorenson (NAB - Not A Bomber)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Chuck Lollis ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Don Andrews ('67)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Suzanne Christianson ('85)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dwayne Bussman ('98)
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NOTICE: Pictures from the All Bomber Lunch
http://alumnisandstorm.com/Lunches/Current-ALL/00.html
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>>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
To: Curt Donahue ('53)
I love your ingenuity in coming up with a unique way for a "seasoned"
Bomber to deal with rising gas prices and finance trips by calling for
indirect donations (all for a good cause, of course). This concept has
merit. I salute you, my fellow seasoned Bomber. Now, if I may borrow the
idea, let's see ... what trips do I have coming up?
To: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60)
You said, "Wow! I sure hope I said all this right!!!" You got it about
99.9% right. All four of us had emailed each other to some extent. Bonnie
Allen ('59) and I had exchanged emails after she wrote to me requesting my
"Pappy's Parting Shots" file of stories. She and David Mansfield ('59)
had also reconnected and had been exchanging emails, as he was emailing
with you also. Then David contacted me as to whether I could attend the
luncheon in order to surprise Bonnie, especially since she had weathered
the storm of my three-part description of my adolescent agony of attending
a party at her house way back in the seventh grade. So, the surprised one
was actually supposed to be Bonnie. However, being the fair damsel and
astute Bomber that she is, I think she had a suspicion that something was
up. And, it was Bonnie who strongly suggested that I stop referring to
myself as "old" so we more or less agreed on "seasoned." Anyway, it was
great fun and I enjoyed very much the mini-reunion with Bonnie and David
as well as you and the other Bombers. It is true that Bonnie, David, and
I all attended the Class of 1959's 40th reunion and somehow failed to
connect with each other then. Therefore, the three of us had not really
seen or spoken with each other since 1959. As David indicated, "One goes
to those events, gets caught up in reconnecting and the first thing
you know its midnight." In my case, by then, I have turned back into a
pumpkin, the mice ran off, and I have to walk home 'cause I still have not
found and become reacquainted with many classmates. So, I am left looking
forward to (and hoping God keeps me around until) the next one. But,
thanks to Maren and Richard for "Alumni Sandstorm," the Club 40, and the
mini-Bomber reunions (in the form of Bomber luncheons) all over the world,
we don't always have to wait until the next class reunion to reconnect
with many of our fellow Bombers. And, BTW, don't believe everything my
spouse (the love of my life ... I might add), Jeanne, said about me. I
mean, just look at this seasoned face. Would I be likely to fall for
something like calling what turned out to be "Dial a Prayer" as a result
of a young lady giving me her personal phone number? OK, that might be
true. Moving on ... Now, I think that I got it all right. I don't always.
Consider the following:
Re: For the Birdies
To: Linda Reining ('64)
I confess! I Googled and you too, are right! I could find no mention of
Conway Twitty being in the movie, "Bye Bye Birdie." So, I reread the
program for the Omak PAC production and found that it says that "The
character of Conrad Birdie was NAMED after Conway Twitty" (makes sense Con
... Twitty/Birdie) and the character of Conrad Birdie is based on Elvis
Presley. I repent. Guess that's what happens when a "seasoned" Bomber like
me attempts to come outta the hills, attend an "Opry," and write a review
of a Broadway type play. I'll stick to my daytime job ... being retired.
*grinin' back at ya*
To: Katie Sheeran Johnson ('61) and Peg Sheeran Finch ('63)
Katie,
You have every right to be proud of your sister, Peg. As I sat there,
mesmerized, on opening night, I kept thinking, "That's Peg up there making
me and the whole audience laugh our hearts out and I know her." She is
indeed talented and absolutely "priceless!" Now, as a result, I have
decided to check out local stage productions. I have never been much for
that sort of thing before. I guess an old (I mean seasoned), eccentric guy
can learn a new trick or two. Thanks Peg, you are truly an inspiration!
-George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ where again the sun shines nicely, Lowiq is
again hard at work on something u