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Alumni Sandstorm Archive ~ August, 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 ~ 08/01/06 ~ SANDSTORM BIRTHDAY - 8 years
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13 Bombers and one NAB? sent stuff:
JoAnn Cawdrey ('49 & '50), Betty Conner ('52)
Dick Pierard ('52), Wanda Wittebort ('53)
Lois Weyerts ('56), Burt Pierard ('59)
Pappy Swan ('59), Marilyn Baird ('60)
Ed Wood ('62), Freddie Schafer ('63)
Gary Behymer ('64), Linda Reining ('64)
Shawn Schuchart ('78), Nancy Peterson (NAB?)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Ann Engel ('63)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: MaryAnn Weiland ('63)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dennis Haskins ('66)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Anne Peterson ('69)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Paula Saucier ('71)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Kim Edgar ('79)
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>>From: JoAnn Cawdrey Leveque ('49 & '50)
Carole Weeks Cawdrey ('52) is nearing death in the hospital in San
Rafael, CA near their home. Jerry ('48) and their children are all with
her - I'm going over tomorrow. She has a very aggressive form of stomach
cancer. They removed her stomach on June 10 and she has never recovered
from the surgery. She and Jerry have been married over 50 years. Please
keep her in your prayers.
-JoAnn Cawdrey Leveque ('49 & '50)
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>>From: Betty Conner Sansom ('52)
Re: Diamonds Variety Store
Reading about Richland's "olden days" - where we walked to school,
uphill, both ways, peppered by sand, or sliding on snow, in dresses - and
my kids accused us of having to fight dinosaurs and saber-tooth tigers -
is a great read.
I went to work at the Uptown Diamond's Variety (NOT five and dime!)
shortly after they opened, in early summer of 1951. I worked there until
shortly before graduation in 1952.
I can't remember everyone who worked there at the time, but the Manager
was Harry Kinney, who was a great boss. The office manager/bookkeeper was
Liz Crittenden, a classy lady. Stock boy was Marvin Gray, who drove in
from Grandview each day. (He previously worked at a Sunnyside store where
Mr. Kinney managed, and was persuaded by Mr. Kinney to move with him.) I
remember Boots Wittebort very well. Great sense of humor, and a dedicated
worker. There was also Ester Allwine, and Lucille _?_, and Exxie Trimble.
It was a great place to work, and like someone else mentioned - I was in
charge of "Seasonal" goods, and the candy counter. The "seasons" were
much different than today's world. When I went to work, they were doing
summer goods: swim suits, beach towels, and all such merchandise. Later
that summer, we celebrated by bringing in school merchandise. All the
stuff kids were told they needed and the stuff they really needed. We no
more were through that until it was Halloween. When that was clearly out
of the way, Thanksgiving merchandise came in. I remember all the napkins,
and paper plates, and "china" plates, and Pilgrim and Indians and Turkey
candles. On Friday after Thanksgiving, the Christmas merchandise was
brought out. Tons of tree decorations (Did you ever notice that the glass
balls were of such thin glass that even picking one up caused it to
break? We had so much breakage of those as they came in! And little kids
were brought in to help speed up the destruction of them. Mothers not
watching kids -- same as today, I fear.) The toy counter was right
between the Seasonal tables and the candy counter, so I had that, also.
Keeping all that tidy, while coping with busy children, and measuring
candy, was challenging, and exciting. I loved the work.
I walked uptown from Columbia High daily, and sometimes I had to walk
home from there to my home on Wright, by the Nazarene Church. If the
weather was bad, and my dad was on the right shift, he would sometimes
come and pick me up.
At that time, the entire corner of the building was all Diamond's
property. On the sidewalk to the North of the building, was C.A.
McCartney's Optometry office, (now owned and operated by Myles
McCartney), and a shoe repair, first owned and operated by the Barfuss
family. (later taken over by Mrs. Barfuss' sister and her husband, the
Haws family.)
There was Hughes' clothing store for women, Blocks's shoes, McVickers
Jewelry, Spudnuts, Skewes Furniture, A-Z Fashion, and others I can't
think of, that all got a great share of the salary I got at the time,
which was 65 cents per hour! Minimum wage. At Christmas, when I was paid,
I was overwhelmed by getting a $20 bill in the pay envelope! I was sure
it was a mistake.
Memories! What a great thing to have!!
-Betty Conner Sansom ('52)
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>>From: Dick Pierard ('52)
Brother Burt Pierard ('59) deserves our thanks for once again resolving
a historical problem about Richland. One of the most important things we
who work in this field know is how untrustworthy memory can be. I know
personally how easy it is for me to forget things or distort what had
happened. That is the reason why historians view published memoirs by
prominent figures with a healthy measure of caution. You need the hard
evidence--contemporary pictures and written materials. He has done
exactly that with the dime store situation and it seems to me that the
issue has now been laid to rest.
-Dick Pierard ('52)
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>>From: Wanda Wittebort Shukay ('53)
Thanks to Jerry Dudley ('53) who let me know about your races on the
Columbia River. I logged onto KNDU.com and watched live some of the
Atomic Days Boat Races on the Columbia. Boy was there a crowd. Said
these boat races started in 1964. The coverage was great. What a
dangerous sport - can't imagine going 225 miles per hour.
-Wanda Wittebort Shukay ('53) ~ Looked like the Tri-Cities were having a
beautiful day at 76°
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>>From: Lois Weyerts Harrold ('56)
Re: Woolworth's
When I was a junior in high school I worked during the Christmas holidays
at Woolworths and it was located on the GWWay side of Uptown Shopping
Center. My memory doesn't allow me to be more specific than that! It is
tough getting old.
Re: After reading yesterday's Sandstorm
I stand to be corrected as I read the Sandstorm of July 30th and saw the
pictures of the 5 and 10 cent store in the Uptown on the GWWay side. That
is where I worked and not at a Woolworths Store. I also worked part of
the time behind the candy counter which was at the front of the store.
Thanks for getting my memory straight!
Re: Class of '56 50th Reunion
It is not too late to register for our 50th Reunion that will be held at
the Club 40 Reunion on September 8, 9, and 10. Be sure to come to our own
special celebration on Saturday from 1:00 to 5:00 at the Community Center
near Howard Amon Park. We are looking forward to seeing all of you there.
If you lost your information you can contact me at my email address
above.
-Lois Weyerts Harrold ('56) ~ in Richland where the days are very
pleasant now-not the triple digits we had last week!
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>>From: Burt Pierard ('59)
Re: Musings about memories & factual accuracy thereof
As I dig deeper and deeper into the history of our beloved hamlet, I have
come to the startling conclusion that the least reliable historical
sources are memories from "those who were there" (this includes myself,
at times). I have discovered that our memory can be insidious in that it
will take a glimmer of recollection and then our mind, completely on
its own, will fill in incredibly, vivid details of things that never
happened. I'm no expert here, but I believe these are properly termed
"false memories." I have learned, the hard way, to never rely on my own
memories unless I can find some way to document them or they are the only
thing available. A recent (few years back) example of trouble I got into
by relying on my own memory was my claim that the old Richland Methodist
Church (the "Belfry" Church) was used as the original facility of
Southside United Protestant Church. The next day, several old
"Southsiders" jumped on to the Sandstorm to inform me of my error. Upon
checking with the Church, I found that the Belfy Church had been part of
the original site lease (and subsequent sale) to SSUP but the first
Sanctuary Building was moved on site from the Air Force Base in Spokane.
Lots of documentation exists of these transactions. Another example of
how my memory failed me was trying to pinpoint the date of the Pennywise
Drugs Fire. I had a "vivid" memory of working there for the 1955
Christmas Season & seeing residue items from the "Fire Sale" in the back
store room. After wasting weeks of poring through Tri-City Herald
microfilms of the whole year or so prior to the 1955 date, I called the
Richland Fire Department and they graciously searched through their old
Log Books to find that the date of the fire was actually MARCH 19,
1956!!! My memory was TOTALLY FALSE. Using that date, I was able to find
extensive TCH coverage in the next day's (March 20, 1956) edition.
When the documentation happens to confirm a memory, it is easy to say
(like Dick McCoy ('46) did in the 7/31 SS) "Why didn't you ask me?"
Also, I would like to apologize to anybody who has interpreted any
attempt on my part to clarify the record as a personal put down. That was
certainly not my intention. I know of at least one occasion when this
occurred (can't remember who or when - damn this memory thing) when the
original submitter felt that I made them feel "stupid." Thousand pardons.
To: Wanda Wittebort Shukay ('53)
Essentially all the old pics of Richland posted were found by Maren or me
on the DDRS (Declassified Document Retrieval System). These are scans
from Robley Johnson's (RIP) govt. file negatives. Robley had a real eye,
so to speak, for history (probably a goodly portion was part of his
job). Unfortunately, some of the negative packets were undated and we
historians have to resort to devious means to date them. Usually, this
consists of searching the background for known dated structures or if
known dated structures are not there yet when the pic was taken. For
example, the "Uptown Tour" pics are known to have been taken sometime
after March 7, 1950 since the Spudnut Shop was open when they were taken,
and sometime before May 20, 1952 since the Newberrys' (and Penneys')
construction had not started yet. As an aside, I was able to date the
April 1945 Phone Book (which only had "April" on the cover) by observing
that it included a "Pierard listing" on Swift Blvd. where we lived from
Dec. 1, 1944 to Dec. 1, 1945, hence the April Book had to be 1945.
The existence of all the DDRS pics is known to the TCH (that's where
Maren & I found out about them) but the files are a little tricky to
search due to vague or incorrect captions and can take a lot of time.
I'm sure Don Sorenson (NAB) will agree with that statement.
As to Robley, there exists a presumably large amount of other Richland
pics (suspected because I have many Robley B&W 8x10 glossies that are
not in the DDRS) that were probably in his personal negative files but
unfortunately, after his death, the negatives were spirited away to Texas
by a family member who for some reason, is denying access to them.
Also, the store you remember in 1951, was probably McKays - or in the
building (or part of the building) that used to house McKay's.
Bomber Cheers,
-Burt Pierard ('59) ~ Richland
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>>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
Re: New Subject
I yield to my esteemed classmate, Burt Pierard ('59), Guru of Bomber
History, on the terminal tale of the Newberry's tiles and the question of
"Was there really a genuine Woolworth's store in Bomberville?" However,
secretly, I still harbor the belief that there was a balcony and there
"coulda" been a Woolworth's.
But, I can whip a dead horse only so long before my thoughts begin
recycling and pondering some new great question of life. Driving back
from the recycle center a while ago, life's next great quandary occurred
to me, "Are cell phones ruling our modern lives and creating unsafe
situations on today's highways?" Hark! An inquiring senior citizen
contemplates the mind-bending issue when not contemplating his naval
after a good meal.
As Darby and I cruised along, Burbankward-bound, we were discussing the
upcoming hunting season, albeit a bit of a one-sided conversation. I get
so excited when it comes to talkin' huntin' that Darby has a hard time
gettin' a word or a woof in edgewise. Our conversation was distractingly
interrupted when a fellow in a cowboy hat, driving a one ton flatbed that
had a definite ranch or farm look about it, slowly eased (at about 45
mph) up beside me and just kinda marked time in that position. You see, I
was stuck behind a cattle truck that had pulled out in front of me and
took a long time in getting up to speed. I noticed that the traffic was
really piling up behind us. Then, I noticed that the cowboy in his four-
wheeled mount was ... on the cell phone. Then, I recalled that the driver
of the cattle truck was on his cell when he pulled out. A guy in a white
pickup was about two inches off the cowboy's rear bumper. They must
have known each other as "Whitey" was gesturing wildly and apparently
attempting to yell something to "Cowboy." But, I could tell that Cowboy
was the strong and silent type, as he unflinchingly maintained the same
speed, like an unruffled gunslinger sauntering down main street at high
noon. Then, I guess he decided to be courteous to the traffic on his six,
as he pulled directly in front of the cattle truck (maybe they were close
friends also). "Cattle truck" hit his brakes. And, even though I drive
like an old fogey who distinctly remembers and practices Mr. Juricich's
insistence on leaving a car length for every 10 mph, Darby and I stood on
our noses briefly, but avoided slamming into all those stinky cow butts.
Thank you Mr. Juricich, wherever you are!
All of the impatient traffic streamed past with the drivers waving at
Cowboy (you know that casual one fingered flip way that cool laid back
country boys sometimes greet one another with). Man, everybody seemed to
know Cowboy!
The point is that I don't know how many times I have narrowly avoided
accidents with drivers talking on their cell phones. Again, thank you Mr.
Juricich for teaching me "Defensive Driving." It appears as though, when
a lot of people get on their cell, while driving, their attention divides
or they go into a trance. And they pretty much forget that they are
behind the wheel of a chunk of metal going down the road and seem to
lose awareness for other vehicles. Often, it seems as though every other
vehicle is being driven by a person who is also talking on their cell.
They have not begun to surgically implant cells in people's ears have
they?
I don't own a cell but here's the kicker. I am shopping for one (actually
two -- one for me and one for Mrs. Pappy). I need one. I want one. Twice
I have had breakdowns in the middle of pretty much nowhere and had to
walk out to find a phone rather than be able to just call for assistance.
Once, after darkness arrived, I was forced to walk after frantically
waving my flashlight at approaching headlights coming at me, up a nearby
hill.
Well, I soon began my 11/2 mile trek in chest waders, to find a phone,
after I realized that there was no hill that high and I was trying to
flag down an airliner climbing out of Pasco. It would seem as though, it
is time for Jeanne and I to finally accept the inevitable and move into
the age of modern cell phone technology. With fires all over this summer,
smoke signals just seem to go unnoticed. It's like getting a busy signal
with no call waiting. And then, Mrs. Pappy and I would be able to
communicate when we have the need.
The big question in my mind is, "How many accidents occur, caused by
drivers who are on their cell phone at the time?" Other questions
include, "Will I fall into these traps that I observe other driver's
being caught in? What happened to that possible law that cell phone users
would have to pull off the road to send or receive a call or get the
hands free type of head phone?"
I'm thiiiinking about getting something like a "Go Phone" or a "Track
Phone" where you purchase the phone and then you just buy more minutes as
you use them up. And, apparently, you have no contracts to deal with and
none of that losing the minutes that you don't use up within a month. Do
any of you Bombers have experience with this type of cell phone system or
comments as to the pros and cons of going that way.
To: Dave Fowler ('76)
Let's touch base via our personal email and see if we can pick a day
during your "off time" to finally meet and share those quiet memories on
a peaceful river. I might even put a hook on my line.
-George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ Burbank, WA where I'm wondering, "If I
get a cell phone, can I get pizza delivery service in my duck
blind or to Dave's boat?" "Hey pizza dude!"
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>>From: Marilyn Baird Singletary ('60)
The two sides of the Uptown Theater in the tour, must have been taken
at different times as the one side of the mar key offered "Valentino"
w/Eleanor Parker and Anthony Dexter. The other side offered "Joan of
Arc" w/Ingrid Bergman and Jose Ferrer.
After Graduation my first job ever was taking inventory in the "5 and
Dime Store" on GWWay. I can still remember counting the washers and
screws, nuts and bolts. My Mom got me the job and to this day, I don't
know if she was helping me or punishing me. Then off to J.J.Newberry's
to buy a set of luggage with my first pay check.
I remember getting coupon books from Thrifty or Pennywise (can't remember
which store). Mom and I would enjoy picking up items offered in the books
and having lunch.
Marilyn Baird Singletary ('60) ~ on extended vacation in Bomberville and
loving it.
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>>From: Ed Wood ('62)
Re: Spudnuts in Denver!
A Spudnut shop opened recently in Denver. They spell it Spudnutz, but
use the same potato flour (potatoe for Quayle fans) recipe. I paid them
a visit last week and rediscovered the taste I've been missing. It's an
independent shop on the corner of 44th and Ward Road in Arvada. They hope
to establish a few more locations in time, if this one takes off. I wish
them luck!
-Ed Wood ('62) ~ Morrison, CO
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>>From: Freddie Schafer ('63)
August 1st is Ann's birthday... send her greeting if you have time.
Thanks,
-Freddie Schafer ('63)
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>>From: Gary Behymer ('64)
For those of you who have never seen the Robley Johnson print "Desert
Sky", here is one for sale on eBay.
-Gary Behymer ('64)...at the corner of Main & Canyon in downtown Colfax, WA
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>>From: Linda Reining ('64)
re:"hypothyroidism"
my oldest daughter is 39 and two years ago, she was diagnosed with
thyroid problems---she was given radioactive isotopes and we all had to
stay away from her for 24 hours--she will be on thyroid medication for
the rest of her life. she wasn't born in the Tri-Cities--she was born in
Seattle, but spent 2 years in Richland when she was a toddler. my
youngest daughter, who was born in Richland, has no thyroid problems, and
neither do I. am wondering if it can be hereditary. have an aunt who has
thyroid problems and she worked at Hanford in the 40's. she also has a
granddaughter who was diagnosed with thryoid problems.
to:Dave Fowler('76)
I really do think we were all fortunate and privileged to have grown up
in Richland. we lived two doors down from Jim Ard and his family(they
lived on the corner of Cottonwood and Elm and I lived on Elm), and I
remember his mom and dad would discuss the difficulties they had in
Chicago, but as soon as they noticed we(kids)were listening, they would
change the subject. they were part of the neighborhood and I don't think
they ever felt any discrimination--anyway, I never remember hearing
anything about it and neither Jim nor his sister said anything, and IF it
had happened, kids would have said something--we didn't know enough to
keep secrets. *grin* IF Mr. and Mrs. Ard faced racism at work, we were
never aware of it, but being Richland, I really doubt that it ever
happened---I just don't think our town got involved in all that---we were
too busy living. *grin*
Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber class of 64).......we have finally gotten
back down into double digits in Bakersfield, CA and we are supposed to
stay this way for a while. still anxious for Winter---have had all the
blasted heat I want for this year!!!!!!!!
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>>From: Shawn Schuchart Mabley ('78)
I've been on vacation for a week in beautiful Whistler, BC, and am now
trying to catch up on work and Sandstorm.
In response to Rick Maddy ('67), how wonderful to know your family
history so in-depth! I have a few dates written down regarding my
paternal side but really know nothing about my mother's side other than
she's from Oklahoma and the family can't agree on what type of Indian
blood we have in us (Cherokee, Chickasaw, or some other Ch-sounding
type).
Re: Stores in Richland
I noticed from the pictures from the telephone book listings that there
were quite a few stores on Biddle. I don't recall ever having seen a
Biddle street in Richland. Does anyone know where this was located?
[Biddle was an East/West running street just north of Downtown
Thrifty drugs and the Richland Theater (and MAY have made a 90°
turn in front of the Theater and headed north to Lee - somebody
will correct me if I'm wrong on the 90° turn part). North of
Biddle was CC Anderson's (later (I think) the Bon). Key words are
"WAS". I think ALL that is now parking lot and that might have
happened whenever they changed The Greenway to The Parkway? -Maren]
I don't remember much about the Downtown other than The Bon used to be
there at some point and then later a fabric store. Since I lived on
Kimball not too far from the Uptown I spent a lot more time there but
still don't recall much. Newberry's was where I would buy birthday/
Christmas presents for my family and friends. At the other end by the
theater was the drugstore that sold the Shari's perfume that my sister,
Tami ('68), wore. At least I think that was the name of the perfume. I
would get a plate of French fries with my sister Mary and she would
distract me and pour catsup all over the French fries, thereby making
them all hers because I hated catsup. To be fair, she probably only did
this twice, but in my mind she "always" did this to me! Probably my
strongest memories of the Uptown are walking past the cemetery to get
down there--how I hated walking by there, especially the upper part where
there were trees that seemed to whisper to me as I walked past--at least
I always hoped it was the trees doing the whispering!
-Shawn Schuchart Mabley ('78) ~ Walla Walla, WA
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>>From: Nancy Peterson (NAB?)
Re: Fred Strankman (RIP) Petition
Hello all Richland Bombers,
A petition is being sent to you in hopes that you would support the
naming of the new High School Hanford Gym after Mr. Fred Strankman.
Mr. Strankman served over 33 years as a dedicated teacher and coach.
Beginning in 1955 he taught at Chief-Jo Jr. High until 1966 as football,
basketball, baseball and track coach. Fred taught at Richland High from
1966 to 1972 again as teacher, football, basketball and baseball Coach.
He started up the new football and basketball teams when Hanford High was
opened in 1972 and assumed the Athletic Director position until 1981.
Fred passed away in September 2005.
Please indicate your support by replying to npetersen618@verizon.net with
a "YES, I support this petition". If you live in the Richland area you
may sign a petition book located at the following business: Les Schwab on
Stevens Drive, The Spudnut Shop, Malley's Drug and Buck Skin Golf Course.
You may also call Dottie Killand at 509-375-0194 and leave a message.
Thank you for your prompt response.
-Nancy Peterson (NAB?)
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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 ~ 08/02/06
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9 Bombers sent stuff:
Burt Pierard ('59), David Mansfield ('59), Helen Cross ('62)
Carol Converse ('64), Kathy Hoff ('64), Linda Reining ('64)
Robert Avant ('69), Dennis Strege ('71), Vic Marshall ('71)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Rufus "PJ" Pedersen ('48)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Janet Wilgus ('59)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dick Staley ('69)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Earl Hall ('70)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dennis Strege ('71)
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>>From: Burt Pierard ('59)
To: Shawn Schuchart Mabley ('78)
Re: Biddle St.
Let's take care of the easy one first. Maren's somewhat shaky explanation
of where Biddle St. was is essentially correct. Biddle, did indeed, run
east from Goethals (now Jadwin) past the Thrifty Drug Store and then
turned north to Lee Blvd. Across Lee was the Greenway (now the Parkway).
Biddle became an extension of the Parkway when it (the Parkway) was
built. The east-west portion of this Parkway extension was eventually
replaced with a parking lot.
To: All you Bomber History Sleuths out there
Yippee! Now that we have fully resolved the question of the Richland
Woolworths (it was never there), we have a whole new historical line to
pursue, namely the Diamond 5 cents to $1 Stores, Inc. Uptown Store.
From Betty Conner Sansom ('52), we get that the store opened in early
summer 1951, and from Richard Anderson (Deputy SS Editor), I received a
copy of a Dec. 2, 1954 TCH advertisement mentioning that Diamond had 4
stores: Pasco, Kennewick, Uptown & Downtown. Our task, all ye fellow
sleuths, is to determine how McKays (or a portion thereof) became the
Diamond Store.
Let's gather what documentation we have found. We know from the undated
Uptown Tour that a McKays store existed (after Mar. 4, 1950 when the
Spudnut Shop opened) on the GWWay side, abutting and just south of the
south walk-thru (Davis Furniture was the 1st business north of the walk-
thru). We also found an ad in the 1952 Columbian for McKays which listed
its address as 1331-1335 GWWay. This is a little troubling since I
consider Betty's reference to the summer before her senior year as a
solid benchmark for her memory. Why was the McKays ad in the spring 1952
Columbian? Maybe they subleased part of the store to Diamond? Did Diamond
have the rest of the store south of the eye doctor? To further complicate
the issue, Richard provided a listing from the Polk Directory for Diamond
at 1331 GWWay. Come on Betty, we need more help here.
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Pierard/060802_2Dec1954TCH-Ad.jpg
Bomber cheers,
-Burt Pierard ('59) ~ Richland
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>>From: David Mansfield ('59)
Re: Cell Phones
To: George "Pappy Swan ('59)
First before I get all tangled up in typing this, cell phone cards do
work. I have used AT&T cards for my old cell phone and Nonie (my wife) is
using a TracPhone card. She purchased a block of minutes for a one year
period and is very happy with the cost and the service.
I have a concern when I see cell phones being used in cars, trucks and
on John Deere tractors. My thought is this, "Does that driver see me and
my vehicle?"
I had two hands free cell phone systems installed in company cars before
I retired. They both worked well. Each had a microphone located on the
driver's side visor and the speaker was under the seat. The incoming
signals were amplified so reception was good. I got a lot of business
done riding the highways and byways of Oregon. One downside, these
systems cost about $300+ installed.
The other downside, both of the phones I had were more "hands free"
than the head sets that are available today. However, a hand was still
required to punch a button and subsequently take one's eyes off the road
to see what you are/were punching.
There is another concern with the use of cell phones in vehicles
unrelated to hand use either holding the phone or punching in numbers.
That is the actual telephone conversation itself. If one is having a
heated telephone conversation with someone, one's concentration is not
on driving the car, hay wagon or JD Tractor. I personally have had many a
car phone conversation, hung up and then not remembered driving the last
20 or 30 miles down the road, a bit scary.
So, what's the answer. Get a cell phone, make sure it has a workable
voice mail. Then when you're driving and a call comes in, pull over to
the side of the road and answer the call. If you can't pull over right
then let the call go to voice mail and call the person back when you can
get off the road. I am sure Ray Juricich would approve as well.
-David Mansfield ('59)
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>>From: Helen Cross Kirk ('62)
Greetings from the home by the little lake back home in Indiana!! We
have had some wonderful travels this year. I wrote in how great I thought
North Dakota was (but I don't think the entry arrived.) We spent a few
days in Towner, N. Dakota where my mother was born and my parents met.
And we met a 2nd cousin and his 84 year young wife there. They haven't
left Towner, but it is a dying town I'm afraid.
I had fun reading old newspapers, and found some articles about my
mother's family, and a few mentioned my dad, as a contributing member
from the high school to the newspaper. And I got to visit the family
cemetery on my mother's side out in the country. It was a neat trip down
memory lane.
Then we had a great drive on to Happy Day Lodge NW of Chapleau, Ontario,
Canada where we went to a fishing lodge/RV/camping spot for a week off
Windemere Lake. This fishing wasn't as great as Warren and Harry had
hoped, but Barb and I had fun the few days we spent in the boat. (Funny,
my lips got the worst sunburn I remember... and I know it was hotter, and
I took less care not to burn when I was a teen-ager in Bomberland...)
but I just went for a semiannual check and no pre-cancerous spots were
found... good for another few months I guess...
It was pretty up there, and we couldn't believe all the lakes driving
across the top of lake Superior. If Minnesota has 1,000, then Ontario,
Canada has a million would be my guess. Beautiful territory. We didn't
see any moose, and only one bear... and a few walleye and pike fish...
but it got warm enough to need air conditioning in the RV. I know, aren't
we pansies...
But we were spared the heat wave until we ran into it in Sagninaw, MI,
and it's been with us ever since. We got home at 2am, after spending the
afternoon on an antique shop cruise, and it was about 82°... and it's
still hot, but trying to rain now. In the midwest that's how the heat
is usually broken with a good rain storm which will be welcome here.
So Washington here we come... my mother-in-law still requires attention,
so to Brewster we are heading... after a wedding in Chicago... so I see
another hectic drive across Wyoming and Montana... but we will be in
Washington a while this time, so I get to visit places and friends back
there more, starting with our Cross Reunion August 12th. We Bomber
Crosses will try to make it to the picnic that day, same time, so don't
know if it's possible...
My son will live in our house some, as well as a couple we met at
Seminary in Dayton... Warren wanted to teach me how to cast in our little
lake, but now we don't have time... story of my life... after almost 6
years of living by a lake and never fishing once, now we want to fish
and we have to leave...
I won't be able to make the September reunion... I will be on a boat
in the San Juans that same date... darn, but the San Juans win... I've
hardly been there 2 whole days in my life... so I'm looking forward to
it... we'll be with friends in a boat...
So again I say, there is so much here in the good ole US of A to see and
enjoy, I feel so fortunate to have seen as much as I have, but I look
forward to more, as we scout for new roots, untraveled roads, unvisited
antique shops... and enjoy friendly people all along the way.
I'm writing to Carol Rice Forister ('62) to see where she used to
work in Uptown Richland prior to graduation in l962. It was either the
JJ Newberry's or Woolworth's...
Happy Belated Birthday (7/27) to my cousin by marriage, Ellen Bohringer ('66).
That's the latest from the house by the little lake in Indiana where a
cool breeze is saying it might rain... I hope so... Incidentally, I hear
more birds here by my little lake than we did at the fishing camp in
Canada...
-Helen Cross Kirk ('62)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Carol Converse Maurer ('64)
Re: Cell phones
Hey, Pappy, I have to agree with you about cell phones. We don't have one
either, but for emergencies, now that would be good. A go phone would be
good and, like you, I would like to know more about them. Now, I've never
heard of a "track" phone.
Maren, you are right about the 90 degree turn, but I didn't know that the
name of the street was Biddle. Yes, the Bon came into CC Andersons later
on. See, your memory is very good about all that.
-Carol Converse Maurer (Baby Boomer class of '64) ~ We've really cooled
off this week, but still haven't had to turn on the heat. I
know, I know, Linda, this really sounds strange, but since our
house if over 100 years old, it doesn't keep heat in.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Kathy Hoff Conrad ('64)
Mr. Paul Beardsley, a leader and long-time resident of the City of
Richland, passed away this afternoon, Tuesday, August 1st.
He was the father of Chuck ('56-RIP), Paula ('62), Janice ('64) and
Nancy ('65). And a 2nd Dad to many of us who were always hanging around.
He always called me Blondie and I loved him dearly.
-Kathy Hoff Conrad ('64)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Linda Reining ('64)
to:Shawn Schuchart Mabley('78) re:Uptown cemetery
know exactly what you mean about having to walk by that cemetery! my
brother(Tim, 71WB)used to hide in there and he knew I wouldn't come in
after him, and he also knew I couldn't walk home without him, so I would
stand on the outside of that fence and yell and call him all sorts of
names and threaten to leave, but he would just stay in there, laughing
and telling me to come find him! there were times when I wished he was
older, so I could have been the one to aggravate him! *grin*
re:distorted memories
man, am I glad to know I am not the only one who has this symptom! *grin*
re: Woolworth's----in MY "mind's eye", I can "see" my grandmother and I
shopping in THAT store clear as a bell and "swear" that we did! but with
all the evidence to prove me wrong, I have to concede that there was
never a Woolworth's in Richland! but, it is also gratifying to me that
others "saw" the same thing--some even claiming they worked there! *grin*
Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber class of '64)........cooler temperatures are
still here in Bakersfield, CA---in the 90's for the rest of the week and
possibly through next week, and very low humidity, too! might just escape
rolling blackouts that the "governator" has said we are destined for!
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****************************************************************
>>From: Robert Avant ('69)
Had to say Happy Birthday to "Annie"... Hard to believe prom nights were
that long ago
-Robert Avant ('69)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Dennis Strege ('71)
Happy Birthday to Dick Staley ('69) and Earl Hall ('70). It doesn't seem
like a year has gone by since my last birthday wish to my long time
friends.
-Dennis Strege ('71) ~ Richland
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Vic Marshall ('71)
Re: Fred Strankman Petition
First of all, I wanted everyone to know that Nancy Petersen (listed in
the 8/1 Sandstorm as "NAB") is an RHS Alumni. Her maiden name was Nancy
LaRiviere and she was a member of the class of 1968. I also wanted to
reemphasize the effort that is underway to honor Fred Strankman's memory.
Those of us who were lucky enough to know Fred , remember him as a humble
man, devoted to the overall development of the kids he worked with.
In addition to being an outstanding athlete in his own right, Coach
Strankman embodied the qualities we cherish in great teachers.
The primary reason we need everyone's help in this project is because the
Richland School Board, that sterling example of how NOT to run a school
district is trying to proclaim a moratorium on naming buildings in the
school district. Apparently the current school board does not have any
sense of the history of the community or of the contributions that others
have made through the years. It will be interesting to see if this group
can see it's way clear to listen to the will of the people and that's
where your help is needed.
For those of you who knew Coach Strankman or think we should honor
those who contributed so much to Richland Schools, your "vote" is very
important. Please e-mail Nancy at npetersen618@verizon.net and let her
know you are behind this effort, or you can email me and I will forward
your vote to her. Even better, if you are in the Tri-Cities area, stop
by Les Schwab or the Spudnut Shop in Richland and sign the petition.
Please lend your support to this fine effort. Thanks!!
-Vic Marshall ('71)
*******************************************
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/03/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8 Bombers sent stuff:
Charlie Cox ('56), Burt Pierard ('59), Helen Cross ('62)
Earl Bennett ('63), Carol Converse ('64), Ken Staley ('68)
Betti Avant ('69), Larry Crouch ('71)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Larry Noble ('60)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Amanda Engel ('97)
BOMBER ANNIVERSARY Today: Bill Johnson ('57) & Joyce Lynn Green ('57)
BOMBER ANNIVERSARY Today: George Zielinski ('65) & Debra Anne Crane ('71)
BOMBER/LION ANNIVERSARY Today: Gary Behymer ('65) & Janis Cook ('65 Lion)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Charlie Cox ('56)
Re: Golf
Just to let my classmates know, that I got another 'HOLE IN ONE' today.
#6.
-Charlie Cox ('56) ~ Georgetown, Texas - Where it is hotter then He----.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Burt Pierard ('59)
Re: McKay's
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Pierard/060803-00.html
To: Betty Conner Sansom ('52)
Re: More McKay's/Diamond stuff
Maren & I just found 8 pics taken inside McKay's. The negative roll is
dated March 30, 1951 and appears to be pics of the Grand Opening. (As an
aside, remember what a big deal a Grand Opening in early Richland was?
Complete with arc lamp searchlights, live radio coverage, etc.) The
inside pictures look like it filled most of the store (there were two
front doors so some other business may have moved into the north portion,
next to the walk-thru). You stated in the 8/1 SS that you started working
at the "Diamond Variety Store" in early summer 1951, just a few months
after they opened. Take a look at these pics and see if they trigger
any memories, i.e., did you actually work at McKay's? If so, everything
else fits. McKay's probably survived until at least 1952 (remember the
Columbian ad showing the 1331-1335 address?) and sold at least the south
portion to Diamond before Dec. 2, 1954 (address 1331). We also found a
pic of a "Columbia Book Store" in the north third (addressed 1335) in an
undated Richland Promotional booklet that we guessed (from cars in some
of the pics) to be about 1955. By the way, the partially obscured middle
business next to the book store (presumed to be 1333) appears to be some
sort of insurance business.
To: Marilyn Baird Singletary ('60)
Re: Different Uptown Theater Marquees in the Uptown Tour pics
Congratulations Marilyn! You passed the test. Those are exactly the kind
of details that certified Bomber Historical Sleuths look for and you are
obviously one of the demented fact chasers like us. If one was really in
to this, they could go search the TCH microfilms to find theater ads and
pinpoint the pic dates within a few days. In this case, all we know now
is that the two pics were labeled in sequence in one negative roll. If
you look at the shadows in the pics, you see that the first one was taken
late in the afternoon and the second was taken somewhat early in the
morning. I would surmise that Robley worked his way to pic #1 by the end
of one day and came back another day to continue on around the block. The
marquee may even have changed that night or maybe later, who knows? As I
mentioned, they were in sequence on one roll of film..
Bomber cheers,
-Burt Pierard ('59) ~ Richland
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Helen Cross Kirk ('62)
The rain didn't come, after the clouds blew in and all, it stayed in the
80s last night, and the AC is on and it's not even noon... hope we don't
get a power failure...
Happy Belated Birthday to Tom Hughes ('56) my former neighbor and
trampoline artist, I remember being so impressed when the team practiced
in your yard. (or we went to see you practice someplace??)
Still packing and getting the car serviced. I'll be up all night, I'm
afraid getting ready....
How embarrassing. I forgot Allen's birthday at the end of July. I did
remember it Allen, but it was too early,and now I'm late again... See
you the l2th for our reunion? Hope so... Love, cousin, Helen
-Helen Cross Kirk ('62) ~ in the house by the little lake in Hot
Indiana... with fewer birds, they don't like the heat either...
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Earl Bennett ('63)
Re: Pappy Swan's ('50) question
My wife and I didn't join the 21st century communications onslaught until
last summer, just before my wife was about to head for Florida alone to
return a rental and pick up our repaired vehicle (trucker backed into
us in a parking lot and crunched the hood and many engine compartment
elements with his forklift wheel). We opted for T-Mobile and pre-paid
minutes like you are considering. There are advantages and disadvantages
to weigh. First, be really careful to determine which company gives good
coverage where you're likely to be. T-Mobile may have the best signal
coverage from a world-wide standpoint, but there are huge dead spots
(e.g., most of the Carolinas, Georgia, and non-urban Florida, in addition
to big chunks of our home state, Virginia, if you're not near a big
town).
The second caution, and this may apply to other companies as well, is
that the pre-paid minutes expire pretty quick (2-3 months in our case)
until you've purchased $150 worth of minutes - mind you now, that's for
EACH of our two phones - at which point they last for a year. We've
figured out that our rate of usage (about 80 minutes each per month)
is about right for what we have left until the current expiration in
January. At that point we may look for a provider with better coverage
locally, or consider other kinds of service. My wife has to get tough
with her mother about calling her at the cell phone number just to chat,
since that uses up our minutes.
Mother-in-Law forgets, because their cell phones are on a monthly
subscription plan with scads of free minutes they never manage to use up.
The advantage, of course is the total outlay being much lower than your
average plan membership. Since our primary use is to locate each other
when we didn't clearly specify a place to meet, or to ask "do you need
anything while I'm at ..." it works out pretty well for us. I can't take
mine into work (classified facility), so I don't give out my number much,
and my wife is paranoid about people calling her and using up her minutes
too fast, so she doesn't either.
I agree with you about the hazards of distracted drivers - many locales
are passing laws about that, and not fast enough, in my opinion.
Regards, ecb3 - from central Virginia, where the California heat wave hit
us two days ago and will be here through tomorrow; numbers not quite as
high, but the humidity goes way past stifling (friends have trouble
believing Washington state has a section where 40% humidity is muggy).
-Earl Bennett ('63)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Carol Converse Maurer ('64)
To: The Beardsley Girls
I am really sorry to hear about the passing of your dad. He had a full
and wonderful life. Like Kathy Hoff Conrad ('64) said, he was like a 2nd
dad for a lot of us who spent time at your house. Living next door to
you in 7th grade, I was one of those kids who was at your house a lot. I
remember all the good times we used to have.
-Carol Converse Maurer (Boomer Bomber class of '64) ~ Eureka, CA
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Ken Staley ('68)
We dined in a local cafe that has been in place for decades (Hills in
the Kennewick Highlands) last night and they served, with the meal, a
wonderful home made yeast roll...
Which, of course, triggered memories of Spalding Elementary and those
wonderful turkey gravy/mashed potato days which were, as always,
announced by the smell of home made yeast rolls... and from there, some
incredible memories of that wonderful place.
-Ken Staley ('68)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Re: cell phones
To: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
Pappy,
I said I'd never own a computer but was convinced of how "neat" they are
at my 30th reunion. My next 2 nevers were a digital camera and a cell
phone. I now own both of those items, too. I got the cell phone last fall
as I had a daily commute from Lacey to Madigan Army Medical Center. Thank
goodness I never had to use it while traveling but it was great comfort
knowing I had it just in case. Since being unemployed I have used the
cell phone for my long distance calls, since I didn't sign up for long
distance service with my LAN line (I usually use pre-paid cards for that
and still have some time left on a couple of them). They can be a life
saver. Good luck in whatever way you choose to go.
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA
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****************************************************************
>>From: Larry Crouch ('71)
Re: Coach Strankman
Vic Marshall ('71).....Vic keep on kicking them, we here in Colorado have
our fair share of people who know what's best for all of us, too. I have
never seen or met so many people with NO sense of history (I'm not even
sorry... if I offend anyone get over it) I actually like to offend people
it's in my nature. Vic how can we long distance BOMBERS put the pressure
on the school board? Keep us posted.
-Larry Crouch (Class of '71 and still offending.....................)
*******************************************
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/04/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8 Bombers sent stuff:
Betty Conner ('52), Stan McDonald ('53),
Dorothy McDonald ('53), Mike Clowes ('54)
Tom Hughes ('56), Jim House ('63),
Gary Behymer ('64), David Rivers ('65)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Roger Fishback ('62)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Ken Dall ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jim Heidlebaugh ('65)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Judie Heid ('68)
BOMBER ANNIVERSARY Today: Mike Sams ('65) & Mary Bennett ('69)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Betty Conner Sansom ('52)
Re: Re-thinking
I didn't have time yesterday to get on and correct myself. (My "self"
often needs a nudge here and then, and a chance to re-state a fact.)
So... It WAS McKay's when I worked there! I was uneasy about that name
almost immediately after writing, and was going to correct myself.
Several things got in the way, so - Forgive me, everyone. Hope this
clears up the whole problem.
I put my application in during the Open House, and was called a short
time later.
I also remember Stella Belande ('53) came to work there a few months
later. Wonder if any of the original crew are still around? (Harold
Kinney had the Insurance Company for several years.)
Thanks for your thoroughness, Burt and Maren!!!
Always a Bomber!
-Betty Conner Sansom ('52) ~ From Goldendale, WA where it is nice and
cool this morning. We love this kind of weather, but we do need
rain. Fire hazards are all around us on our 62 acres of forest.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Stan McDonald ('53) and Dorothy McDonald McDonald ('53)
To: Jerry Dudley ('53)
Jerry, those of us who know you, are extremely sorry to hear of your
physical problems of an extremely serious nature. We all recall you and
know you as everyone's buddy or pal. You have been a source of much
amusement and good times over the years. Know that we are all "plugging
and praying" for you and trust that you will be assured of the admiration
we feel toward you.
Best wishes for you with whatever comes your way. We all love you.
Sincerely,
-Stan McDonald ('53) and Dorothy McDonald McDonald ('53)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54)
Re: Downtown Stores
My curiosity has been somewhat satisfied with the picture Burt Pierard
'59, furnished to yesterday's Sandstorm. I am guessing that the street
running in front of the building is Jadwin (nee Goethals). And if this
is the case, this would be what I knew as "The Mart" (believed to be the
home of french fries and gravy). Goes to show what happens when one just
goes there and doesn't look at the store name.
[Burt's pictureS yesterday (8/3) were all about the subject
line of his entry: McKay's. McKay's was in UPtown. -Maren]
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Pierard/060803-00.html
However, with all this scholarly research, has anyone come up with the
name of the "variety" store that was across Lee from CC Anderson's? Could
this have been the Diamond 5 & 10? I have vague recollections of a Five
and Dime being in that area.
[Questions answered in the 7/30 Sandstorm. -Maren]
http://alumnisandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Pierard/060729-00.html
Or maybe that was the bacony of the Richland and/or Uptown Theater.
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54) ~ the temps are rising in Mount
Angel, as the folks in Silverton (4 miles south) get ready for
Homer Davenport Days this weekend. By way of a plug, my son,
Sean, and his group "Greatful Fred" along with the Chicks from
Mile Six will be performing on Saturday from 3 to 5 PM.
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****************************************************************
>>From: Tom Hughes ('56)
Re: Trampoline Photo
To: Helen Cross Kirk ('62)
You mentioned the trampoline I had set up in our yard on Olympia. I found
this picture of me, up in the air, over our yard.
http://alumnisandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Any/060804-Hughes-Trampoline.jpg
-Tom Hughes ('56)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Jim House ('63)
To: Charlie Cox ('56)
Congratulations on your sixth hole-in-one. I believe I have played that
course in Georgetown. Did you get the hole-in-one on the hole where you
go through the clown's nose or did you get it straight through the
windmill?
-Jim House ('63) ~ Mead, WA (the Beverly Hills suburb of Spokane)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Gary Behymer ('64)
Re: [AHF] Invitation to Los Alamos Events, October 5 to 7, 2006]
From the http://www.atomicheritage.org/ website:
Join us for a dedication of the "V Site," built to assemble the
Trinity device and Fat Man in August 1944. Thanks to a Save
America's Treasures grant, the Los Alamos National Laboratory is
now completing renovation. We hope to have tours "behind the
fence" to let the public see these properties for the first
time. Dinner will be held in the historic Fuller Lodge, the
heart of Manhattan Project social life. Saturday will feature a
day-long program on "The Manhattan Project: Creativity in
Science and the Arts." More information about the events will be
coming soon, so please keep checking back!
-Gary Behymer ('64)
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****************************************************************
>>From: David Rivers ('65)
Re: Big Fat Liars need love too
So I admit it... I missed Ann Engel Schafer's ('63) birthday on the
first... I did send her an email tho... so now I'll hafta wait a whole
nuther year to publicly shout HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANN to the world... so
now hear it is another birthday coming up... I could forget this guy's
birthday and then tell a big fat lie and say I forgot it but he gave
such a mushy sweet get well card that I guess I shouldn't do that to
him especially since I don't wanna be called a big fat liar and have
everybody make fun of me and shun me for being such a creep and big fat
liar... no no that would never do... next thing ya know I'd find a big
mess a sheet metal screws all over my driveway for me to run over...
this guy is big on sheet metal screws and we found out when he took auto
shop... sheet metal screws for everything... need to hold your motor
mounts to your frame? Sheet metal screws... need to hold your traction
bars to the frame? sheet metal screws in the floor give a similar look
without all the hassle of welding and bolting and such... as long as your
car can't go very fast anyway who cares... so I guess what I'm saying is
that even tho Kathy Hoff Conrad ('64) has known the birthday boy longer
than I have... I still gotta say he's my pal... and for a Beta Male he
ain't all that bad to have as a pal... so for JIMMY HEIDLEBAUGH ('65)
let's all say HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON THE 4TH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-David Rivers ('65)
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/05/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5 Bombers sent stuff:
Dick McCoy ('45), Marguerite Groff ('54)
Nadine Reynolds ('61), David Rivers ('65)
Michelle Speer ('96)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Susan Erickson ('59)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Sue Nussbaum ('63)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mary McCue ('67)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Dick McCoy ('45)
Re: French fries
Just to make it clear department...
Altho the "Mart" probably did serve gravy and french fries, the
introduction to Richland of those delicacies was the "Cafeteria"
in 1943. Same building, different name.
-Dick McCoy, gravy and french fry aficionado. ('45)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Marguerite Groff Tompkins ('54)
This entry is to report that Class of '54 has lost another classmate.
"Jack" John Allan Sitton's obituary was in the August 3, 2006 Tri-City
Herald. I didn't know John well, but I'm sure many of you did. I expect
that the full obituary will be listed in the Alumni Sandstorm. That makes
3 classmates lost in the last couple of months: Durward Petry, Jim Byrd,
and Jack Sitton. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families.
-Marguerite Groff Tompkins ('54) in Richland where the weather has been
just beautiful.
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****************************************************************
>>From: Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61)
Re: The Tree
http://alumnisandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Pierard/060729-00.html
Maren, thank you for republishing the link to the pictures of Newberrys
under construction and of current resident Jo-Ann. That reminded me I
have a comment about the tree in the pictures.
Are we sure this is the same tree? {NO! I'm not sure at all. -Maren] It
looks to me like the Jo-Ann picture shows the tree moved to the right of
where it was in the Newberrys picture. I know that often pictures give
an optical illusion and these two pictures are from slightly different
angles but it looks like this tree is now situated at the center of the
building but was originally located where the light post now stands. I
suppose it could be the same tree but it looks like it was moved from its
original home. It also looks to have a rather small trunk for a 50+ year
old tree.
Also thanks to Burt Pierard ('59) for his post about memory August 1.
I was truly convinced that Woolworth occupied the space before the
Newberrys store arrived but the historical pictures proved that was
a false memory. I have a brother, Stan Reynolds ('69), and a sister,
Carolyn (or Kari) Reynolds Fox ('59) and I am amazed sometimes of the
different but vivid memories they have from mine of some of our growing
up experiences. I am sure that each of us have a bit of truth in our
memory of the incident. In recollecting a happening some detail that was
unimportant to me was of great significance to them so their memory
retained it and embellished it over time. But this is what makes getting
together to reminisce.
I have absolutely no recollection of the Diamond store downtown but one
of my favorite stores was the shoe store. I remember they had an X-ray
machine that you stood in to assure that the shoes being purchased fit
properly. I was very disappointed when they stopped using that machine.
-Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61) ~ From sunny Tucson, AZ. Last week we had
almost 4 inches of rain at our house but it settled the dust and
cooled the temps to the 90s.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: David Rivers ('65)
Re: "Big" sisters are so cool..birthday on the 5th
Nuther birthday... this girl was one of my dearest friend's "big"
sister... she was not big at all and was one a them Bomber Babes little
brother's friends dream about... one of my favorite songs from the day is
"Image of a Girl" by the Safaris... the words started out: As I lie awake
resting from the day... I can hear the clock passing time away... Oh, I
couldn't sleep for on my mind was the image of a girl I hope to find...
Woooo oh oh oh oh... da da da da da da... (the da das are just music
playing)... so anyway... that song is perfect for this birthday girl...
'course for a kid like me I may have had a bit of an overactive
imagination... This girl's brother was like a brother to me... I
practically worshipped him... that word is way too strong but I shore
thought a lot of him... so much that in 7th grade Terry Davis('65) and I
peroxided our hair to look more like him... instead of blonde tho we came
out screaming red heads... I mean the kinda red kids think is cool these
days... it was NOT cool back then and as soon as the blisters healed we
had Brian Johnson ('65) cut our hair off... all of it... so... now it's
time to wish Susan Nussbaum Reeb ('63) a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
-David Rivers ('65)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Michelle Speer Miller ('96)
Re: 1996 Reunion
The RHS class of 1996 will be having our ten year class reunion August
25-27th. Any Bombers who would like to come, are more than welcome.
Tickets are on sale through our website:
http://rhs1996.home.bresnan.net/index.htm
-Michelle Speer Miller ('96)
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/06/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5 Bombers and 1 NAB sent stuffm 1 Bomber funeral notice today
Ken Ely ('49), Marguerite Groff ('54)
Gary Behymer ('64), Maren Smyth ('63 & '64)
Betti Avant ('69), Bill Conner (NAB-'58 Roosevelt Hi-Seattle)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Caroline Westover ('52)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Kay Lynch ('60)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mike Sheeran ('66)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Ken Ely ('49)
FYI - Lt.Gen James Mattis ('68) has been reassigned to Camp Pendleton,
CA. He will be the new Commander of the 1st. Marine Expedientiary Force.
I have no recollection of a 5 & 10 store in downtown Richland.
I do remember the Cafeteria serving French Fries & Gravy.
-Ken Ely ('49) ~ Orangevale, CA where the temperatures are "normal" again
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Marguerite Groff Tompkins ('54)
I do remember the Diamond Store on Lee Blvd. During the 2nd. World War
there was rationing of a lot of things like chocolate, etc. I remember
that occasionally we would find out that the Diamond store was selling
Hershey bars and/or double bubble gum. We would jump on our bikes and
hurry to the store. Then, we would stand in a very long line just to buy
a few of those cherished delicacies. Looking back, it seems like another
whole world. Like it was someone else that I'm describing. At 70 I can
hardly imagine being 10 or 11 years old. Is it just me, or do others feel
that way? I have a photo of a celebration parade that we neighborhood
kids put together when it was announced that the war in Germany was over.
We dressed up (I was a majorette) and marched or rode bikes through the
neighborhood. Currently I'm going through a lot of old photos and a lot
of forgotten memories are returning. I am enjoying the memories of a
great childhood. From all the memories I see discussed in the Sandstorm,
I think I'm not alone in knowing how fortunate we were to live in the
little government town of Richland.
Time out for a commercial: Hey, class of '54 there isn't nearly enough of
you local folks signed up for Club 40 2006. Come and join us for at least
Friday night. You still have time to register.
-Marguerite Groff Tompkins ('54)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Gary Behymer ('64)
Re: Columbian Yearbooks
Here is the note that I send out to everyone that contacts me, searching
for a back issue of a Columbian yearbook.
"Check eBay... leave a note on Classmates.com - message section... chat
with your alumni assocation... place an ad in the Tri-City Herald and
check with the school (sometimes they have extra copies sitting around to
sell at $25.00 to $40.00. (If you really want a copy... offer the school
$100.00. Money still talks.)
Good hunting!"
The 1960 Columbian MAY be the hardest to get your hands on? I believe
that's the issue with Sharon Tate as a sophomore + a princess for
homecoming. It should sell for $350.00 to $500.00. IF it were autographed
by Sharon... it might go for $1,000.00?
FYI... Earl Franks, whose Dad was with the Army & who attended Chief Jo
in 7th & 8th grade (1959 & 1960) also attended the same American H.S. in
Italy where Sharon Tate graduated from. (;-)
Re: Happy Birthday Alumni Sandstorm
A long long time ago... no this is not 'American Pie' but rather the lead
in to another birthday. The Alumni Sandstorm is 8 years old this month!
Happy Birthday, Bombers!
http://alumnisandstorm.com/htm1998/1998-08-Aug.htm
Re: ...still MOre from Behymer
August 6th...61 years old today...'Little Boy' 61 years old on August 9th
http://www.atomicmuseum.com/tour/dd2.cfm
-Gary Behymer ('64)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Maren Smyth ('63 & '64)
Re: Club 40 - Sept 8, 9, 10, 2006
OK, classes of '63 and '64, time to get with it and send in your
registration for the party!! I'm the only one on the list from class of
'64 and Marilyn Swan Beddo is the only one on thelist from class of '63.
Check out the list at: http://richlandclub40.org/2006Attendees.html
NOBODY is on the list from classes of '65 and '66 -
Cheerleading Department: COME ON, BOMBERS? LET'S GO!!!
ESPECIALLY all you locals!! PLEASE!!
Bomber cheers,
-Maren Smyth ('63 & '64)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Re: shoe store
As I recall the shoe store with the X-ray machine was David's. It seems
odd to me, anyway that I ended up as an X-ray Tech. for my chosen
profession. It wasn't my original one, but when the US Army offered me
training in it, I jumped at the opportunity. I have been doing it ever
since and my have things changed with it over my 30+ years.
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacy, WA
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****************************************************************
>>From: Bill Conner (NAB)
I found this web site by looking for "Petrified Watermelons" and found
a response from Larry Mattingly (1960) from Tacoma, WA. I'd like to
contact him and discuss the "watermelons". I saw them back in 1950!
Coincidently, I am a friend of a Reed Galbraith ('63).
BTW, Keep the "Bombers" logo FOREVER!
-Bill Conner (Roosevelt High School - Seattle - 1958)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
Funeral Notices
>>Connie Smith Price ('65) ~ 11/22/46 - 7/23/06
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/07/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8 Bombers sent stuff:
Dick Pierard ('52), Gloria Adams ('54)
Mike Clowes ('54), Nola Davey ('56)
Sonny Davis ('62), Freddie Schafer ('63)
Brad Upton ('74), Maggie Gilstrap ('74)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jim Bobo ('56)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Michael Peterson ('77)
BOMBER ANNIVERSARY Today: Fred Schafer ('63) & Ann Engel ('63)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dick Pierard ('52)
I was saddened to read of the passing of Paul Beardsley. He was one of
the last of the old-timers who had been a living link to the past of
Hanford/Richland. He was one of my dad's pals and an important source of
information for Brother Burt in his endeavor to keep the story of old
Richland alive and to tell it accurately. I am sure he will be greatly
missed and may he rest in peace.
-Dick Pierard ('52)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Death Notice from the 8/3/06 Tri-City Herald. -Maren]
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/obits/story/8036836p-7929955c.html
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Gloria Adams Fulcher ('54)
I worked at both the Diamond 5 & 10 at the corner of Lee and The Parkway
(wasn't the Parkway then) and Newberry's. I worked at Diamond during the
Christmas season in 1950 and I worked at Newberry's in 1954, stocking
shelves before they opened for business.
When I left Diamond I went to work at the Richland Theater as an usher,
working or Mr. Dietz. He was a very nice man and a good boss. When I got
promoted to cashier at the theater, I got a raise from 35 cents an hour
to a HUGE .50 per hour. That was big for me. Bought my first Janzen
sweater at Hugh's with my first pay check. A black one, of course.
Clarence has started his chemo treatments and we're thinking positive
thoughts and deep in prayer. He has a great attitude and that's and lot
of what can help him along with prayer.
-Gloria Adams Fulcher ('54)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54)
Re: the "Boy is my Face Red" Department
All right, it was a semi-senior moment when I mistook McKay's for the
Mart (buildings look similar). But I knew where the Richland, Village,
Uptown and North Star Theaters were. And Both the Uptown and Downtown
Thrifty Drug Stores, The Spudnut Shop, the Fission Chips joint, Korten's
record department and By's Burgers; who needed anything more.
Marguerite Groff Thompkins ('54) thought it might be a good idea if a few
more members of The Class of '54 were to show up for Club 40. Here's your
chance to show off those new togs you got at Catus Jacks out by the Wye.
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54) ~ it was 87 today in beautiful Mount
Angel, OR Homer Davenport Days are ending in Silverton, OR and
Mount Angel is gearing up for Oktoberfest beginning the 14th of
September.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
I thought the shoe store with the X-ray machine was the Bootery, run
by my classmate, Carol Purkhiser Fleming's parents.
-Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Sonny Davis ('62)
Re: Not mentioned
How come nobody is talking about Hope Solo!?
History Channel Monday night @ 9:00... Secret cities. Richland, WA,
Tennessee & New Mexico. Should be interesting and informative.
-Sonny Davis ('62)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Freddie Schafer ('63)
Happy Anniversary, Ann. Thanks for 42 wonderful years... you are what
makes the best part of me me. Let's have at least 40 more.
love ya
-Freddie Schafer ('63)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Brad Upton ('74)
Re: False memories
It's funny what we remember only to find out that it isn't true... or
maybe the facts have changed a bit. I have a memory of Mike Davis ('74)
at 175 pounds... there's no way that was ever true... but I do remember
a Denny's.
-Brad Upton ('74)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Maggie Gilstrap O'Hara ('74)
Maren
With tears in my eyes I must tell you the sad news that Susan Butcher
passed away. What a great and wonderful woman. I will always fondly
remember sitting at her table at the Iditarod banquets and later after
the start of the race watching her very well-behaved dogs circle our
tents on the frozen river.
May God bless her family tonight and always.
-Maggie Gilstrap O'Hara ('74)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Articles in the Anchorage Daily News. -Maren]
http://www.adn.com/
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/08/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber funeral notice today:
Curt Donahue ('53), Marguerite Groff ('54)
Nola Davey ('56), Missy Keeney ('59)
Jim Armstrong ('63), Betti Avant ('69)
Mike Davis ('74), Dave McAdie ('79)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Bruce Strand ('69)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Grant Ranlett ('69)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gordy Edgar ('78)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jennifer Harden ('96)
BOMBER ANNIVERSARY BIRTHDAY Today: Jim Adair ('66) & Kathie Moore ('69)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Curt Donahue ('53)
Maren,
Are others at Comcast not getting the Sandstorm? The last one I received
was on Friday. I've gone to the website to read then however.
Thanks,
-Curt Donahue ('53)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Yes, Curt... comcast is at it again -- bounced everybody 2 days in a
row. We're working on it. -Maren]
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Marguerite Groff Tompkins ('54)
I have a very faint memory of one time the foot x-ray machine was used on
me. My mom bought me a pair of shoes and I guess she wanted to make sure
there was some growing room in them. It was kind of strange to see my
toes wiggling inside those shoes. My memory puts the machine at a shoe
store on the east side of the street directly across the street from CC
Andersons. I Don't remember the name of that street but at the west end
of it was our beloved Richland theater. Ok, someone set me straight. I
have no faith in my memory. And, again, maybe it was just my imagination.
You tell me.
-Marguerite Groff Tompkins ('54)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
Could someone please tell me the whereabouts of Alvin Strege. I know
he is very ill. The Class of '56 will be signing a card for him at our
reunion and would like a mailing address.
Also, does anyone know when and where Lester E. Parker died.
-Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Missy Keeney ('59)
Re: Sharon Tate ('61wb-RIP)
To: Gary Behymer ('64)
Gary the yearbook with Sharon Tate's picture as sophomore homecoming
princess is the 1959 Columbian. Judy Reese was homecoming queen that
year.
-Missy Keeney ('59)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Jim Armstrong ('63)
Re: 5 & dime
I remember a 5 & 10 downtown. There was a neat lady who worked there
named Maizie. It was across the street and north of C.C. Anderson's. I
met him once when I was a little kid at his original store in Boise
Idaho. He was an old man then and liked to hand out shinny new pennies
to the kids in the store with their parents. The dime store later became
PayLess then Pay n' Save.
-Jim Armstrong ('63)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Re: Shoe Stores
I remember the Bootery. The reason I thought it was David's was they sold
little kids' shoes and it was the kids they used the X-ray machine with.
Did the Bootery sell childrens' shoes? My first pair of "adult-sized"
shoes we got at JC Penny's and I had to show them off to my neighbor.
They had really pointed toes and were especially good for kicking male
classmates who were harassing my friends. It got me in a bit of hot water
with the teacher, she simply told me to stop kicking the boys and they
were to stop bothering my friends, no trip to Mrs. Peterson's office.
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Mike Davis ('74)
To: Brad Upton ('74)
Yeah, I must agree with you, Brad. It's funny the things we remember
long after they have passed. For example, parting your hair.
Another memory, Brad. Remember back in the day when you ended up sitting
between two of your idols at a Bomber game. What an experience!!!!
Yeah, the good ole days.
-Mike Davis ('74)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dave McAdie ('79)
Re: A Couple of Items....
Hi Bombers,
Boy, it seems like forever since I had anything to write here …. But I
still keep reading.
First - to all of the McKay's/Diamond folks. I don't know all the
specifics because I have only been here since 1975, but the picture
that Burt Pierard ('59) had of McKay's
http://alumnisandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Pierard/060803-00.html
is definitely from the GWWay side of Uptown. In the first picture notice
the NBofC (that later became Rainier Bank) directly behind it and on the
left side of the frame is the back side of the Uptown Theater. I noticed
that the building that houses my folks' camera store (Sunland Camera) is
not even there yet. A major portion of McKay's later became a Sears store
and now houses a few different businesses. Uptown Vision Center currently
occupies the right hand corner of that building.
Pappy - there was a balcony in the old Robinson's store on the North end
of Uptown (on the GWWay side opposite of Newberry's) and there was a
balcony in the old Grigg's store on Jadwin (by DQ and Ernie's Printing).
Second - a little personal bragging. My son's 12-year-old All Star team
from Kennewick American (KAYB) qualified for the Cal Ripken World Series.
They leave this coming Friday for a 10-day trip to Aberdeen, Maryland to
participate as the Pacific Northwest Regional Champion. The Cal Ripken
division of Babe Ruth Baseball is 2nd in size and participation to only
Little League. This year KAYB is sending both their 10-year-old team and
their 12-year-old team to their respective World Series. The 10-year-olds
are currently in Lafayette, LA. I think it is pretty awesome that one
league is sending two teams to their World Series. Anyone interested can
follow the action at
http://www.brlworldseries.com
Our boys are looking forward to this opportunity to take their game to
the next stage. Any Maryland, or D.C. Bombers can check them out starting
on 8/13 - we play the first pool game of the series at 12:00 on Sunday.
GOOD LUCK BOYS!!!!!!
-Dave McAdie ('79) ~ Kennewick, WA
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****************************************************************
****************************************************************
Funeral Notice
>>Tonnya Shane Andrews ('82) ~ 1/19/64 - 7/28/06
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/09/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12 Bombers and 1 NAB sent stuff:
Shirley Rae Drury ('51), Betty Conner ('52)
Wally Erickson ('53), Gwen Ganse ('54)
Mike Clowes ('54), Jerry Swain ('54)
Nola Davey ('56), Pappy Swan ('59)
Patti Jones ('60), Carol Converse ('64)
Nancy Nelson ('69), Robert Avant ('69)
Steve Aagaard (NAB)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gary May ('58WB)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Marj Qualheim ('60)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gay Wear ('69)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51)
Re: That 5 & 10 in Boise
To: Jim Armstrong ('63)
You said yesterday:
"I remember a 5 & 10 downtown. . . . It was across the street
and north of C.C. Anderson's. I met him once when I was a little
kid at his original store in Boise Idaho. He was an old man then
and liked to hand out shinny new pennies to the kids in the
store with their parents. The dime store later became PayLess
then Pay n' Save."
We moved from Boise to the Tri-Cities, to Kennewick, when I was about 10
(63 years ago)(I must be 12 years older than Jim Armstrong quoted above),
to live in my great-uncle Henry Kramer's fruit shed (housing was at a
premium or non-existent) when Dad was recruited for the original
construction work at Hanford. One of my favorite trips when living in
Boise was to that 5 and 10, where there were aisles of fascinating stuff
and ladies who sat in a row in a center brightly-lit elevated section
mending ladies stockings with their two hands held mid-body high using
some sort of darting motion. I could have stood all day watching them. My
mom and all female relatives mended their own and ours, I don't remember
the name of the store in Boise, nor the one in Richland north of CC
Anderson's and I had thought that it was JC Penney who gave out pennies
to the children in his Boise store. Probably a mistaken memory. Why do
these little glimpses plague us? Perhaps because we want to get it right
in our memory? Was it Rick Maddy ('67) of the wonderful family history
who pointed out the fallacy of relying on memories when doing research?
How true.
Another wonderful conclusion to a downtown excursion in Boise was to a
small place in mid-town Boise that had a soda fountain where we could
have a milk shake for 17 cents. In Kennewick, my mom's sister Edna, who
joined us later with her two sons when we had moved to a real house, but
when there was still not housing available in Richland, waitressed at
the Pollyanna, in downtown Kennewick. It was another treat to eat at the
Pollyanna. When we finally moved into Richland to 1429 Kimball, I don't
recall eating out anywhere. Incidentally, that same "A" duplex was later
the home of Walt Menefee's ('49) family. If I could persuade my little
brother Larry Drury ('57), to join in these memories, he could add things
I'm sure I am missing. Was there a restaurant in Richland in those early
days where any of your families ate?
~Best to you all, and especially to Clarence and Gloria Adams Fulcher,
('51 and '54) Thank you for the update, Gloria.
-Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Betty Conner Sansom ('52)
Re: Entry of Jim Armstrong ('63) yesterday
The "sweet lady" you remember is my husband's (Douglas ('52) Mother.
Mazie Sansom. She passed away in 1997. She worked at the 5 & 10, then
at Newberry's, and then at J. C. Penny. She was Top Caliber in being a
great Grandmother.
I passed the letter along to my children, and all of them were impressed
that you would remember her and her name after all these years! Thanks
for your thoughtfulness.
-Betty Conner Sansom ('52)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Wally Erickson ('53)
Re: Visiting friends in the Tri-Cities
Last week I had an opportunity to go to Richland with my step-daughter
for a couple of days. She's a para legal and they were working on a case
in Richland. I was able to have lunch with Norma Loescher Boswell ('53)
at the new restaurant Anthony's Homeport above the Richland Yacht Club
Marina. Afterwards I met with Gene "Mick" Mikulecky ('53) and his wife.
The next day I had lunch with Viva Webster Metz ('53) and her Mother. The
Webster's lived across the street from us on Putnam St. It turned out to
be a great time for me to get caught up with some of what's going on in
the Tri-Cities. I have to tell you, I was amazed with all of the new
growth and homes going up the hills nearby. Even though I was there for
my 50th class reunion three years ago, I guess I never took the time to
really look around. The population of the Tri-Cities has to be near
150,000... easily. In taking a ride towards West Richland, I was very
disappointed in the condition of the old "riding academy" sitting there
ready to fall down. Isn't there something that can be done to save
this... there's so many memories for many of us and so much history.
Shouldn't it be an historical building????? Wasn't it there before
Richland?? I had a great visit with my classmates, it was a great two
days!!
To: Marguerite Groff Tompkins ('54)
Re: X-ray machines in the shoe department:
We could be talking about two different businesses. I do remember there
was a shoe X-ray machine in CC Anderson's near the shoe department. My
Mother Dorothe worked for CC Anderson's during the Holidays. And my Dad
worked for Safeway across the street; so many times I would walk over to
see my Mom working there and check out the shoe X-ray machine. Looking
into the machine you could see your bone structure in your shoes with a
green light background.
-Wally Erickson ('53) ~ Waiting for it to cool down some, so I can
continue with my outside chores. South of Coeur D'Alene with
blue skies...the Lake water temperature is perfect for swimming.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Gwen Ganse Brodaczynski ('54)
Re: Shoe Store
To: Marguerite Groff Tompkins ('54)
Marguerite, if memory serves me the store you remember was the Shoe
Salon, it was next door to Klopfenstein's Men's Apparel in Downtown
Richland. Both stores had doors opening onto GWWay and also Biddle
Street which is or was the name of the street between C.C.Anderson's and
the above stores. I remember the Shoe Salon having an x-ray machine and
also C.C. Andersons. (I think these were the only places in town to buy
shoes early on.) Somewhere along the line they figured out that all those
x-rays were bad news for kids and the things disappeared.
-Gwen Ganse Brodaczynski ('54)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54)
Re: History Channel's Lost Cities
Well, I could have watched "The Closer" instead of this hour. Interesting
first half on Oakridge, but boring; then it moved on to Los Alamos and
went further down hill. No mention of Richland and/or Hanford except at
the beginning. Their map had Hanford seemingly in California or Nevada.
There was one nice picture of a pre-fab on stilts in Oakridge; be
interesting to know if it is still standing and what remodels were made.
-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54) ~ the weather guessers promise lower
temperatures and the gas companies promise higher prices because
of rust spots on the pipeline.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Jerry Swain ('54)
Re: Shoe department X-ray machine.
Classmates,
The C.C. Anderson shoe department had a shoe fitting flourescope (X-ray
machine) when my dad (Mel Swain) was made the manager in 1945. He took
over for Howard Krystel who was the first Department store facility
manager. We moved into our house at 310 Cullum which was the house
Mr. Krystel vacated. The Diamond store across the street from C.C.
Anderson's to the North was where I had my first (and only) NSF check
returned. I was so embarrassed that I rushed right to the store with the
$9.00 (the amount of the check) the day I was notified. I have never
bounced a check since (48 years).
-Jerry Swain ('54)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
Yes, the Bootery sold children's shoes. They had a neat place for kids
to sit. If memory serves, which it probably doesn't, the railings along
the stair steps were baseball bats.
-Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
To: Dave McAdie ('79)
Ah ha, Ah ha! Two balconies! ... Two! See! Supporting evidence. There
coulda just as easily been a third ... in that thar theater! And, (This
is probably before your time Dave) wasn't the "old Robinson's store on
the North end of Uptown (on the GWWay side opposite of Newberry's),"
originally the J. C. Penney's store? The very store where my mom bought
my beloved "Foremost" blue jeans (worn proudly with my U.S. Keds
Tenners)? You know, the blue jeans made from heavy canvas-like material
that hardly ever wore out (except for a boy's propensity for finding
nails or other sharp objects that could rip the knees right outta them)?
Otherwise, the stitching always gave out before the material even thought
of surrendering to my active life style. Couldn't afford "Levi's" until
later in life, but even now; I prefer "Rustler's" (about a third of the
inflated price and twice as comfortable).
To: Nancy LaRiviere Petersen ('68)
Re: Coach Fred Strankman Memorial Petition
Nancy,
You asked that I send this to Alumni Sandstorm, so here it is:
I live in Burbank, a sub, sub, suburb of Walla Walla in Walla Walla
County. However, in my day, I was a Chief Joseph Warrior and of course
graduated as a Richland Bomber (Class of '59). So, I think that earns
me the right to comment on the petition to name the new Gymnasium after
Coach Fred Strankman. I think it is a great idea to honor such a fine man
who steered many a young person on their way to a good life, whether they
were athletes or not. He certainly was a positive influence on my life.
I was one of those kids who could have easily let his life go either way
(good or bad) but thanks in part to Coach Strankman, I served honorably
as a Marine and served thirty plus years as a Research Fishery Biologist
with the United States Government and consultants. I have not physically
resided within the confines of Richland, WA for about forty years but
home is where my heart is. Whether my vote counts or not -- I proclaim a
"YEA!" for naming the building after Coach Strankman. And, I would hope
that the Richland School Board would keep in mind that today, more than
ever, kids need to be kept aware of positive role models, especially
those who had a hand in shaping their own communities. After all, those
very kids may someday be coaches, leaders, role models for future
generations, or even school board members.
"YES, I support this petition"
-George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ Burbank, WA where occasionally,
disconnected memories of my early life in Bomberville surface
and echo through the caverns of my slightly twisted mind. Blame
it, today, on the now, hot westerly wind delivering the faint
hint of smoldering sage and cheat grass, ignited in last
night's lightening and thunder display (something else strangely
reminiscent of the early days of a young "Bomber to be"). In my
early days in Richland (before the trees grew tall), I remember
sitting on my front porch with my dad (on the Southeast corner
of the Wright and Symons Streets intersection), well after dark,
watching the red-orange wavy lines of prairie fires burning up
and over Rattlesnake Mountain. I seem to recall that it was
pretty much of an annual thing. Now, when there is a fire out
there, people act like ... it never happened before.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60)
Re: Weather in Bomberville
The lightning and thunder storm last night was beyond what I remembered
seeing in years gone by. When the lightning struck it was a quite a show
out my front window of the house. For over an hour the lightning didn't
seem to move. The lightning struck and three or four minutes later it
would strike again. First across the sky very low. Then it appeared
striking toward the ground. Absolutely captivating. From what I
remembered about lightning it was about six miles away. Yet, I felt it
was right in my front yard. This went on for more than an hour. Later,
news proved the lightning was more than six miles away. A pole was hit
in Finley which sparked a fire. The fire was under control right away
by the fire department. Lightning, another show of the beauty of the
Bomberville desert.
-Patti Jones Ahrens ('60)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Carol Converse Maurer ('64)
Wasn't the shoe store that had the x-ray machine in the Uptown? I
remember having that used on me. Was there a store named "Buster Brown"
or was that just the brand name of Shoes? Perhaps David's was the name of
the store.
[David's did sell Buster Brown shoes. -Maren]
Well, I was very disappointed in the "Secret Cities" program on the
History Channel last night! We only got a spot on the map and stating our
name. It was like we had nothing to do with the bomb at all. I've noticed
that before that Los Alamos is always named, but we aren't. Frustrating.
Perhaps its being kept a secret still *grin*.
-Carol Converse Maurer ('64)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Nancy Nelson Wyatt ('69)
Well, I don't write often but do read every day.
Betty: There was a David's Shoe Store in Richland. Mom and Dad bought
Bob's ('65-RIP) and my shoes all the time there as I had such narrow
tiny feet. It was on the East side of the Uptown stores.
I remember going to the Thrifty store and getting candy when we were
going to go to the movies and in the back was a little soda fountain
where they made the best banana splits.
Papa, we still havent made it together yet. I have been so busy up here
I havent even made it to mom and dad's yet. Hopefully within the next
month. This week am putting up Garlic pickles and bread and butters so
will be busy again.
Hope all is well with everyone and happy writing.
-Nancy Nelson Wyatt ('69)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Robert Avant ('69)
Re: Susan Butcher (RIP)
Just thought I would pass along some thoughts on the greatest female
athlete of this century; whom I managed to meet a few times when she
would come to the "city" of Wasilla where I was living. She made tough
an understatement. She had a full time job in keeping her kennel going
and all the water she used was bucketed from the stream that ran down
from her place... and she did it by hand... by herself..everyday. She
had a great open smile and the "eyes of an assassin." She and Bill Gates
could have traded jobs and their competitiveness would have equaled the
results they achieved in their own field. I know she went down fighting
left a great legacy for her two daughters to enjoy.
-Robert Avant ('69)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Steve Aagaard (NAB)
Hello,
You may want to let your readers know that the latest RHS renovation
photos are up at:
http://www.rsd.edu/bondprojects/rhs/photos3.html
-Steve Aagaard
Communications Manager
Richland School District
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/10/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber funeral notice today:
Dick Avedovech ('56), Tom Hughes ('56)
Pappy Swan ('59), Dennis Hammer ('64)
Gary Behymer ('64), Linda Reining ('64)
Joanne Boyd ('67), Linda Thomas ('68)
Bruce Strand ('69), Betti Avant ('69)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Helen Bartlett ('52)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mack Richardson ('52)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dennis McGrath ('63WB)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Rod Collins ('67)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dick Avedovech ('56)
Re: CC Andersons
To Jerry Swain ('54)
Thank you, Jerry, for rekindling some good memories of your dad and CC
Andersons. When I was a little kid, my mother, younger brother and I
went to CC Anderson's for shoes. When my mother and the salesman were
not looking I went over to the X-ray shoe machine, turned it on and was
fascinated at looking at my feet. I got in trouble for that one, but I
thought it was a terrific machine. A hundred years later, when I was
teaching pathophysiology to nursing students, as an experiment I used
dental xrays on the shaved-backs of mice to induce skin cancers, which
in about 6 months, got the expected results. However, I never got skin
cancer on my feet. Years later I did get a mild case of polio and as a
result have a 2 size difference between my right and left foot, but the
virus did not come from those X-ray machines.
As a side note, while in high school I worked for your dad in the men's
clothing department. And then when I returned from Army Reserve active
duty, I worked again for your dad for a year in the very same shoe
department where I got in trouble many years before. I also remember one
year, while shoveling snow on the sidewalk by the South entrance of CC
Andersons, my friend, Jay McCue ('56) was on the roof throwing snowballs
at me. Those were fun days!
-Dick Avedovech ('56)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Tom Hughes ('56)
Re: Marian Ruth Hughes
This is to let everyone know that my mother, Marian Ruth Hughes, Bomber
Mom to Lenora Hughes Bejarano ('55), Howard Hughes and myself, passed
away yesterday, August 8th at 3:30 PM in the Auburn Washington Hospital.
She was 88 years old and had been in poor health for some time. Howard
had been her caretaker since our father died in 1988 and it is hitting
him pretty hard.
-Tom Hughes ('56)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
To: Carol Converse Maurer ('64) and Maren ('63 & '64)
Can you remember? "Bark Bark Bark!" "I'm Buster Brown and I live in a
shoe. That's my dog Tye,..." (followed by something like either, "look
for him in there too!" or "he lives there too!"). Also, "Plunk your magic
twanger Froggie!" Boiioiingg! Then in his deep "ker chunky" voice,
Froggie gives forth, "Hi ya kids, hi ya, hi ya!"
I probably have it all mixed up in my interlocking memory caverns (so
much to recall -- so little surviving gray matter) but listening to the
Buster Brown Shoe Radio Show (in my U. S. Keds) was almost as important
as the "Lone Ranger," the "Green Hornet," and the "Cinnamon Bear" to a
kid growing up in Bomber town.
-George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ Burbank, WA where the smokey smell has
subsided, the air is much more pleasant, and the temperature is
once again (for a few days) of a comfortable level for an old
desert rat. The same ol' desert rat, who once again arms himself
with the implements of defense, and ventures forth to battle the
invading hordes of unwanted vegetation around the puddle. But,
elves are swimming, elves are playing, the hot sun is shining
but it's not raining!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Don't remember Buster Brown, but I DO remember: "Pepsi Cola hits the
spot... 12 full ounces that's a lot... twice as much for a nickel too...
Pepsi Cola is the drink for you." -Maren]
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dennis Hammer ('64)
Re: Shoe fitting fluoroscope
From the "Museum of Questionable Medical Devices."
http://www.mtn.org/quack/devices/shoexray.htm
You can click on the picture for a bigger view, but a better view can be
found here of what appears to be one made by the same manufacture:
http://www.orau.org/ptp/collection/shoefittingfluor/shoe.htm
When these machines were mentioned in the Sandstorm about three years
ago I mentioned that there was one on display and the Washington State
University Tri-Cities branch campus. I don't know if it is still there,
but it was located in the Library near the stairs that go up to the upper
level, displayed with an old seismograph and some other old equipment.
It is more square than the ones shown in these websites. There were no
signs on identifying what it is, and considering the age of most college
students, I'll bet 95% of the people who walk by it have no idea what it is.
I remember shoe stores in Walla Walla had them, but I think they
disappeared before 1960. I do not remember seeing any in the Tri-Cites
after we moved here in 1961. All states had banned them by 1970.
-Dennis Hammer ('64) ~ I wonder if Clark Kent checked the fit of his
shoes this way.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Gary Behymer ('64)
Re: Richland/Hanford on film...
Speaking of 'great' movies... here are (3) that you need for your
shelves!
- Termination Winds - captures the memories of residents of early
Hanford, White Bluffs and early Richland
- War Construction in the Desert - Depicts the original World War II
construction of the Hanford Engineering Works
- Alphabet Homes: The Story of Richland - captures the history of the
ABC homes from personal interviews with residents of the
original government houses
All available from the CREHST Museum
http://www.crehst.org/giftshop.htm
-Gary Behymer ('64)...somewhere in downtown Colfax, WA
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Linda Reining ('64)
re:History Channel's "Lost Worlds"
I was very disappointed in this program, too. I had missed it at 9:00
P.M., so stayed up til 1:00 A.M. to watch it---what a BIG waste of time!
they spent the better part of the hour on the facility in Tennessee and
then about 15 minutes on the facility in New Mexico! only mention
Richland got was in the very beginning of the credits---just a blurb on
the map! did notice the prefabs. maybe, like Carol Converse Maurer(64)
said, "we" are still a secret!
re:x-ray machine
I remember that, but am not even going to venture a guess as to which
store had them---after all, I "swore" that Richland had a Woolworth's.
*grin*
does anyone remember buying shoes at the government store "in the area"?
my dad would take me there and he would buy my shoes----I remember they
were brown and looked "military"----they weren't high-tops, but they were
plain, brown leather? with brown soles and laces.
re:lightning storms
you can have those----they scared me when I was a kid and they still give
me the "heebie jeebies"!!!!!!! don't like thunder, either! my mom used to
sit in front of her picture windows at her place in Northen Idaho and
watch them all the time---she would get electrical storms, too. we'd
unplug the TV, turn off all the lights, unplug the phone and then she'd
sit and watch all the "flashes of light" across the sky for hours!
me?????? I'd be in the bedroom under the covers!!!!!!!! *grin*
Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber class of 64)..........cooler temps are still
"alive and kicking" in Bakersfield, CA, but we are due for triple digits
by Thursday---supposed to last a couple days, then we'll be back down in
the 90's. just have to "get through" September and October, then we'll
get colder temps and I will be a "happy camper" once, again. it is
usually cold enough by Halloween that kids wear jackets when they go
trick-treating.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Joanne Boyd ('67)
Hey Class of '67!
Do we have a date yet for our 2007 reunion?? I've already made some
reservations for next summer and my daughter is trying to figure out
when her 10th reunion is and what weeks we have open. If someone hasn't
yet decided... how about the June 25th/26th weekend, or the one with
Desert Nights... or is it Summer Nights??
I'm also willing to help!
-Joanne Boyd ('67)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Linda Thomas Richardson ('68)
I'm not sure why but while reading "Pappy's" entry today, his mention
of Rattlesnake Mountain, brought back memories of the "Canal" in North
Richland... it has been so long since I have been back, I don't know if
it is even there any more. We used to drive that way to go to Yakima to
see family. I remember on occasion seeing someone drive down the road
beside the canal with a sky rope tied to the back of their vehicle and
someone water skiing down the canal... was that a reality or am I just
having "senior moments'?
-Linda Thomas Richardson ('68)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Bruce Strand ('69)
Re: Wasilla, AK
To: Robert Avant ('69)
When were you in Wasilla? I was in Wasilla and Palmer from '86 to '94.
Three of my kids, grandkids and ex- are still there in the Mat-Su.
-Bruce Strand ('69)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Re: Shoes
Yes, Nancy my brothers and I always had Buster Brown shoes, too. I'm
thinking it was there (David's) where we also got our first pair of Hush
Puppies. They came out when we were in grade school I believe. It was
in the Uptown on the GWWay side. It seems there was also a David's in
Kennewick, but I don't know if it was managed by the same family or not.
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA where I awoke to some rain
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
Funeral Notice
>>Ron Eliason ('75) ~ 3/29/57 - 8/3/06
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/11/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
16 Bombers sent stuff:
Dick McCoy ('45), Jo Cawdrey ('49 & '50), Dick Coates ('52)
Kay Mitchell ('52), Dick Wight ('52), Patti Mathis ('60)
Nadine Reynolds ('61), Helen Cross ('62), Bill Scott ('64)
Carol Converse ('64), Jeff Michael ('65), Mike Botu ('65)
Robert Avant ('69), Mark Saucier ('70), Brad Wear ('71)
Mike Davis ('74)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: George Stephens ('58)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dick McCoy ('45)
Re: Shoes
There was a xray machine in a shoe store on GWWay near the theater. On
the way to the movies, we would delight in taking a shot of our feet till
they tossed us. We did it so many times my feet still lite up at nite.
Yes, Maren, those were the words of the Pepsi jingle. "Twice as much for
a nickel, too" refers to the stingy 6 ounces of the Coke bottle. To this
day I prefer Pepsi, even tho they are now both 12 ounces, tho not for a
nickel.
-Dick McCoy, from the Pepsi bottle class of 1945
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Jo Cawdrey Leveque ('49 & '50)
Re: Carole Weeks Cawdrey ('52)
I just returned from the Bay area. My sister-in-law, Carole Weeks Cawdrey
passed away on Friday, August 4. She was heavily sedated for pain and, in
the end, just slipped away. Her family was with her. We will all miss her
very much.
-Jo Cawdrey Leveque ('49 & '50)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dick Coates ('52) and Kay Mitchell Coates ('52)
My granddaughter, Mandy Hedges ('97) phoned this morning to let me know
that Valley, WA where we are now living, was mentioned on the Today show
this morning, They were recapping the big forest fire yesterday that was
at our back door. Boy!! What a scare we had! Bet she is the only person
in Pocatello, ID (where she is attending college) that knew where Jump
Off Joe Road, Valley, WA was located!!
The fire started down in Valley and worked it's way up to Jump Off Joe
Road - the road where we live. For all those Bombers that know we live
on the road with the crazy name, I just wanted to let them know we are
safe. I received phone calls today from relatives in Richland and even a
Bomber!!! Jan Bollinger Persons ('60). We became acquainted with Jan and
Gary Persons ('57) through the Spokane Bomber Luncheons.
We were told to prepare to evacuate yesterday, so packed up important
items and the animals and were ready to roll out of here. We were able to
remain at home due to a shift in the wind, but this shift caused the fire
to go to East Jump Off Joe Road where our oldest granddaughter lives. She
did have to evacuate but returned home today to find her home untouched
by the fire. We are all very grateful and appreciate the prayers and
concern that came our way.
-Dick Coates ('52) and Kay Mitchell Coates ('52) ~ From the top of our
mountain near the VERY small town of Valley, WA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Been there... done that. Kept my car loaded up and pointed in the
"leaving" direction for about a week. They even staged 3 or 4 fire trucks
from all over Washington my yard for 3 or 4 days. The kicker was the
bus load of fire fighters. The kids got off the bus with their little
shovels and headed up the side of the mountain behind my place and
disappeared. When bus driver tried to turn around he got stuck in the
sand... shoulda stayed on the gravel driveway! August, 2001, and one
very scary week. Glad you're all safe. -Maren]
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dick Wight ('52)
Re: Dime stores in Richland
Well, so much for a good memory! I SWEAR I worked for Diamond Variety
Stores in DOWNTOWN Richland (classmate Betty Connor ('52) says she worked
for it UPTOWN. She mentioned Marvin Gray. Marvin and I joined the Coast
Guard together in January '52 Marvin and I went to boot camp together and
served on the same ship for awhile, along with Bill Tracy ('52). We had
become acquainted as we worked for competing stores, and were often sent
to "spy" on the other store - check prices etc. We sometimes did the
price checking by phone, and "stole" a half hour or so once in awhile
to have a Coke or something on "company time". Marvin, by the way, is
battling cancer over in western WA... He became an educator after USCG
tour and college at CWU.
I was a stock clerk for the downtown store, worked 5 days a week after
school and all day Saturday. Manager was a Mr. Joe Perrier, a friend of
my father and a stockholder in the company who tried to convince me
that there was a potentially lucrative future in the business. I recall
helping two class of '51 girls get Christmas season jobs there - Jo
Gibson and Lou Ann Lee. The store was located toward the south end of
the block, on the west side of the downtown building complex. I SWEAR it
was Diamond Variety Store. I remember getting a pay raise from 50 to 65
cents per hour in '51.
-Dick Wight ('52)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Dick -- You're right... Check out the last two pictures taken 4/23/52
and you can see that's the Diamond Store. -Maren]
http://alumnisandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Pierard/060729-00.html
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Patti Mathis Wheeler ('60)
Re: Canal
I don't remember who sent in the entry, but I do remember a canal,
although it was in West Richland. A bunch of us use to go out there, set
up our blankets, food, etc. then hop in, pull up our knees to our chest
and float away. The current was pretty strong, but I don't remember
anyone getting lost. *LOL* Then we would walk back to the blankets,
stretch out and burn the heck out of ourselves. What were we thinking?
-Patti Mathis Wheeler ('60)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61)
Re: X-Ray Machines, Shoe Stores & Banana Splits
Thank you Gwen Ganse Brodaczynski ('54) for remembering the name of the
Shoe Salon. I was pretty sure that it wasn't David's or the Bootery that
had the X-Ray machine but just could not find the Shoe Salon in my memory
bank. My memory thinks that both David's and the Bootery were in the
Uptown shopping center instead of Downtown. My husband, Dave ('61)
remembers a store in North Richland that had an X-Ray machine but his
mother would not allow the kids to get their feet X-Rayed. He remembers
that other kids "played" with the machine but he was not allowed. What a
deprived childhood!
When I was in high school I used to work at the soda fountain in the
Thrifty store next to the Uptown Theater. Nancy Nelson Wyatt ('69), I
can't tell you how many banana splits, hot fudge sundaes and shakes I
made during that time. I remember that when the movie would let out we
would always get a huge rush and people would want either ice cream
treats or french fries and a coke. We only had the hard ice cream and you
had to dig it out of 5 gallon containers. Only people that ordered meals
would leave tips. I would go home sticky all over from making the treats
for the folks. Who knows, maybe you ate one of my banana splits.
-Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Helen Cross Kirk ('62)
Greetings from Post Falls, ID where we are regrouping before heading
into Brewster, WA where our cell phone doesn't work, nor does my mother-
in-law have internet, though some of our friends there do have it, so I
know I'll be able to get on line.
We've just had another interesting great, if too hurried drive across the
states. Stopped in Fargo, ND long enough to set up shop in one of the
local antique malls... so if driving by, do go in and visit the Morehead
Antique Mall. We've visited tons of stores and malls, and my husband
really likes this one, and since he doesn't have anything to do, he
decided he'd put some of our overstock in and display it...
I'm eager to have more time to visit here in Washington state. I'm going
over White Pass tomorrow when I head down to BattleGround for the Cross
Reunion, and maybe the Bomber one...
Washington is always beautiful, but I must say, we passed a lot of
interesting and beautiful country traveling around this past month...
To: Tom Hughes ('56)
Tom, thanks for the memories and the photo on the trampoline in your back
yard. You really were high-flying. Do you know who was standing there
watching you in the photo? It sure looks like it might be my uncle Bob
Cross who will be 89 at the end of this month....
It will be fun to see more of Washington state and friends these next few
months.
-Helen Cross Kirk ('62) ~ think we'll take that ferry over Lake Roosevelt
this afternoon too, as we've driven to Brewster so many times....
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Bill Scott ('64)
Re: History Channel "Lost Cities"
I'm coming in late on this, not having read the Sandstorm the last couple
of days, but I was absolutely fuming after viewing the History Channel
program Monday night. I stayed up an hour past my bedtime only to see
Hanford completely ignored. What the rationale behind this could be, I
can't imagine. The program also gave the impression that the plutonium
for the Nagasaki bomb was made at Los Alamos instead of Hanford. I just
can't understand how the makers of this program could brush off Hanford
like it never existed. It's insulting to our parents, who worked out
there to help win the war. This isn't the first time Hanford has been
slighted. The Paul Newman film, "Fat Man and Little Boy" concentrated
on Los Alamos, giving Hanford only the barest mention in one sentence.
I logged a vehement protest about "Lost Cities" on the History Channel
website http://www.historychannel.com/. I encourage more of you to do
the same. Maybe the makers of the program will get the message. Hanford
lives.
-Bill Scott (Boomer Bomber Class of '64)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Carol Converse Maurer ('64)
To: Pappy Swan ('59)
o, I don't remember the Buster Brown song. I do remember the section
for the kids though in David's. I remember the x-ray machine and also
the fence going up a ramp. While living in Kennewick a few years after
getting married, I used to shop for my shoes at the David's shoe store
in downtown. [
[WHOA, Carol! I hope you're talking about downtown KENNEWICK
as the David's I remember was in UPTOWN. -Maren]
Wow! Maren - that's great remembering the Pepsi-Cola song. Never heard
that either.
[I'll sing it for ya sometime, Carol. Maybe you'll remember
after you hear the tune. OK. I'm sure just about anybody ELSE
can carry a tune better than I, but you'll get the idea. -Maren]
Do they still make Hush Puppies shoes I wonder? Um.. I'll have to check
it out. I've had a pair of them before and they are soooo comfortable.
I now get Tom McCann's? shoes at K-Mart. Remember the shoe store in
Columbia Center Mall?
-Carol Converse Maurer (Boomer Bomber Class of "64) ~ Still cool here in
Eureka and the fog stays later and later each day.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Jeff Michael ('65)
Hey there Bombers and Bomberettes...
Pappy Swan ('59)... hey, lokka dere. You're right, there's a third
balcony in Bomberville... it's in the Art Dawald gym!! AND there's
pictures to prove it! Right there on the RSD website. Ray Stein ('64),
Jim House (63) and the hoopsters of old can plainly see people have been
wearing their street shoes on the floor, too. In fact there's a great big
pile o junk where the floor aughta be!
As for lighting; I have two quick notes. First, when contemplating a move
from Colorado where we had thunder/lightning storm every third or fourth
afternoon during the summer; my soon-to-be wife said: "we never get
lightning in San Diego." That's why we went there, more for other reasons
than the electricity in the air, and within the first two years, the
front page of the Trib was plastered with a huge full color array of the
sky in bloom (naturally). There weren't many episodes. but there was more
than "none".
Also, when my mom was a little girl growing up in Lewiston, ID, they
would get some doozies in the summertime. My gram hated them... would
practically run and hide. Mom was outside sitting on the front porch on
one occasion. Grandma was inside peering cautiously out the front window.
There was a flash of lighting and an eerie halo of light around my Mom's
body, following immediately by a huge clap of thunder. Mom was OK... gram
needed clean undies. I, of course, did not witness the event, but have
heard the tale many times.
Well, it's a busy time here at DJ central. I had did an extended weekend
at church youth camp in Silver Lake (didn't know it existed) by Medical
Lake. Escaped town without an evaluation at the hospital, but did
experience my first ride on a "tube". Got launched at 49 mph and skipped
across the lake like a flat rock. The guys on the boat said a bounced 5
or 6 times. It was AWESOME!!
Got 4 gigs this weekend, maybe I'll see you at one. Then Tuesday, it's
off to San Diego to return the granddaughter and dog who came here with
us after 4 July. I'll tell ya all 'bout the concert I'm helping promote
the 28th of August in my next post. Some of your kids or grandkids in the
Walla Walla/Tri-Cities area might be interested. It includes 4 Christian
rock bands.
-dj jeff Michael '65, on the road to Ritzville to meet a client for a
wedding next spring. Weather guessers say it will be a bit
cooler today... goodie!
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Mike Botu ('65)
The foot flouroscopes that I remember were in the CC Anderson's downtown
department store. They had quite a large shoe department. My mother would
always take me there and check every single pair of shoes they tried
on me. (maybe that's why my feet stayed so small). They also had those
vacuum tubes to put the money in and wait for change to come back from
some far away mystery place. They were the only official scout supply
store in Richland and we had to buy all our cub scout accessories there.
(ouch... all this recall made my head hurt).
If anyone wants to see the history of Buster Brown shoes just look at
http://brownshoe.com/history/ for a complete chronology of their company.
-Mike Botu ('65)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Robert Avant ('69)
Re: Wasilla, AK
To: Bruce strand ('69)
Lived about 1/2 mile up Lucille when I was there from 1992 - 2000 and
worked in Anchorage, shopped at Safeway (not much at Carr's) and hung out
at the Mug Shot Saloon(the family choice in Wasilla). Snowmachined and
fished on Big Lake and launched at Burma landing on the Little Su'...
and miss it every day..
-Robert Avant ('69)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Mark Saucier ('70)
To: Linda Thomas Richardson ('68)
Re: Water Skiing behind cars on canal
Great memories from the past. We used to ski behind a number of different
cars on the canals back in the day. Weir boxes created real problems when
you were tied off to a trailer hitch. By far the best set up was when the
rope was tied to the top of the roll bar on Rupert Bledsoe's (70) bright
orange dune buggy.
-Mark Saucier ('70) ~ Pittsburgh, PA - a beer drinking town with a
football problem
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Brad Wear ('71)
Re: Water skiing behind cars
To: Linda Thomas Richardson ('68)
No, you were not imagining seeing water skiers behind cars on the various
canals around the Tri-Cities. It was a common event during the summer.
You just had to watch for the ditch rider, bridges, and steel posts. You
could go really, really, really fast, too. It was almost as much fun as
jumping off the train bridge over the Yakima.
-Brad Wear ('71) ~ back in Kennewick for the duration.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Mike Davis ('74)
I was sitting watching Sportscenter last night and hear a knock at the
door. It was my old buddy, Brad Upton ('74). It was great to see him and
gave us the opportunity to shoot the bull for an hour. He looked great. I
think he put on a little weight, but that was mostly from the hair plugs!
-Mike Davis ('74)
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
****************************************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/12/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
13 Bombers sent stuff:
Shirley Rae Drury ('51), Curt Donahue ('53)
Mary Rose ('60), Judy Willox ('61WB)
Carol Converse ('64), Linda Reining ('64)
David Rivers ('65), Patti McLaughlin ('65)
Pam Ehinger ('67), Claudia Stoffel ('68WB)
Betti Avant ('69), Larry Crouch ('71)
Brad Upton ('74)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Nat Saenz ('71)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51)
Re: About shoe x-ray machines, etc.
Thanks to Dennis Hammer ('64) in the 8/10 Alumni Sandstorm for the links
to the sites explaining with pictures about the shoe x-ray machines.
The exposure danger with the devices was more to the shoe clerk (and
the parent with many children) who had often to look through the ports
allotted to them than to the child who may not that often been fitted
for replacement shoes. I had totally forgotten those machines and how
interested I was in seeing my foot bones. I don't understand why the one
link lists them under quack devices. They weren't, but were potentially
hazardous and often leaky.
http://www.mtn.org/quack/devices/shoexray.htm
http://www.orau.org/ptp/collection/shoefittingfluor/shoe.htm
Another dangerous thing I recall doing as a small child occurred first
when we lived in the east-central mountains in Idaho where our dad toiled
in the gold mines of Atlanta and Quartzburg. I would roll mercury from
a broken thermometer in the palms of my hands, watching its curious
silvery-violet properties. The memory makes me shudder. None of the
ordinary people we knew had a clue about its danger, or perhaps I just
never showed my folks what I was doing. A regret that I have now that our
parents are gone, is for all the questions I never asked them, about so
many things. So I take opportunities to tell our kids and grandkids
stuff. Makes me quite talkative.
An appreciative thank you to the old (and some new) friends who've
corresponded by Email and in these pages. In a way all of this has been
better than a reunion because of the frequent and in-depth revelations,
and the memories stirred.
-Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51) ~ Early a.m. greetings from Kennewick from
one who has never lived away from the Tri-Cities, going on 63 years
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Curt Donahue ('53)
Re: X-ray Machines
I worked at both the Shoe Salon Downtown and The Bootery Uptown and the
only one of those stores that had the machine was the Shoe Salon. I quit
the Shoe Salon when the owner had me dying the Green and Gold women's
shoes, that didn't sell, black and wouldn't mark them down. Today that
would result in a federal investigation.
-Curt Donahue ('53) ~ Federal Way, WA
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Mary Rose Tansy ('60)
I have been reading all of the entries regarding the stores at Uptown
and Downtown and it brought back memories of the restaurant I worked in
during high school. It was Ward's Ice Cream located right next to the
Tiahitian Room. It was owned by the parents of AW Harness ('60). AW and
his father made homemade ice cream and it was delicious. AW would save
some back for us sometimes and we would eat it before it was frozen. It
was wonderful - think I gained about 10 pounds working there.
They served lunches and dinners also and his mother made the most
wonderful homemade pies. I remember Rick Johnson ('59) coming in every
Saturday morning and having two pieces of pie - I think it was her lemon
pie. A lot of the local business people would come for breaks and/or
lunch. I remember them coming from Davis Furniture, Parker Hardware and
Stanfield Florist. They were all very nice people.
I also remember getting a raise to $1.00 per hour. This would have been
in 1959 I think. Fun days and fun times!!!
Oh, another subject I have been wondering about is if anyone remembers
the lack of grandparents living in Richland. Until the houses were sold
you couldn't live there unless you worked for the government, city, etc.
As I remember, when people retired they had to move out of the city so it
was extremely exciting when a grandparent came to visit. It didn't even
have to be your own - any grandparent would do. The one I remember the
most was the mother of Ed Dawson (father of Ed ('50), Jack ('52), Donnie
('55-RIP), and Delores). They were our neighbors and willing to share
their grandmother. (Mine were all the way back in Arkansas and we only
saw them about every 5 years.) I remember she was so interesting to talk
to and also look at as we were not used to seeing elderly people. I must
have been very young when these memories took place.
-Mary Rose Tansy ('60)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[You're so right, Mary. Our grandparents lived in Salt Lake City, UT and
didn't visit often. Our next door neighbors' grandfather lived in Seattle
and was able to visit them often. We called him "Gramps", too, and he
was grandfather to the Williamson kids: Coralie ('60), Jay )'63-RIP),
and Christy ('65). Gramps was a pretty cool grandpa. -Maren]
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Judy Willox ('61WB)
To: The Classic Class of '61 and Other Bombers
Re: Our 45th Reunion and Club 40 Reunion with Entertainment by Bill
Johnson ('61) on Friday, the 8th of September and The Easy Swing
Band with John LaChapelle on Saturday, the 9th of September
It is a little less than a month away now before our 45th class reunion
along with the Club 40 reunion is due to be celebrated, and it concerns
me that I see so few of you registered. A really great committee has
worked hard to put this together for you, Classmates of '61, and I wish
that you could all attend and make this as swell of a reunion as we had
at our 40th.
Remember how much fun we had and how well it was attended? This could be
too; and since we are going to have a little of what we had at the 40th,
it would be great to have you show up and enjoy the entertainment that
our own William Lane Johnson, aka Bill to all of us, is going to provide
for all of us. He has worked hard to put together a medley of tunes
that is going to represent not only us, but each class in attendance
before and after us who are members of Club 40. I think it is going to
be a delightful show and I wouldn't miss it for the world. On Saturday,
we will have the band who normally plays at the Senior Center on some
weekends; and joining them at out request is John LaChapelle, the
wonderful guitar player many of us know and love. That too, is a treat to
be heard and I have had the pleasure of listening to him a few times in
the last year. This band is so easy to dance to, listen to, and to visit
by as they play at just the right level to make it all enjoyable. I have
heard them play and really enjoyed them and the fact that sitting right
in front of them, I could still visit with those at the table.
It also concerns me, since the registration is so low at this time, that
we could run into a problem behind the scenes. If quite a few people
should happen to just show up at the door, we could run short on dinners
on both nights as we give the Shiloh the count about a week ahead of
time so they can also plan accordingly. Also, the tables are set up
according to the count, and this can lead to problems with seating if
pre-registration is not accurate and too many walk-ins show up. So
please, get those registrations in so we can assure you a pleasant and
enjoyable time for out grand 45th.
On another note, this could be said to ALL of you classes out there.
Please get those registrations in so our treasurer can have her books
straight, and the person who does our name tags can have your name tag
done up nicely. And we want ALL of you out there to have a place to sit
and a dinner provided for you. It's all up to you out there at this
point. So hope to see many more of you registered in the next couple of
weeks, so we can have a very enjoyable time all the way around. See you
all there.
-Judy Willox (Classic Class of '61) ~ Richland ~ where our notorious
wind is rearing it's head this evening and it is still hot!
Bring on some rain!
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Carol Converse Maurer ('64)
To: Bill Scott ('64)
Way to go on writing a comment to the History Channel about the "Lost
Cities" program the other night. After reading your comment, I went
directly to the website you had put in and wrote my comment. Will be very
interesting to see how they respond, IF they respond.
Yes, Maren, I was talking about buying shoes at David's in Kennewick when
I was an adult and living in Kennewick. In fact, I STILL have the pair of
shoes that I bought. My comment about the x-ray machine, fence and ramp
was the David's shoe store in UPTOWN Richland growing up in Richland.
Looking forward to hearing you sing the Pepsi song! When's our next
reunion? *grin*
-Carol Converse Maurer (Boomer Baby Class of '64) ~ Eureka, CA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Trips to either Pasco or Kennewick were few and far between for us, so I
didn't know there was a David's in Kennewick. Dunno when the next '64
reunion will be, but I'm going to Club40 next month! Are you? -Maren]
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Linda Reining ('64)
re:History Channel/"Lost Cities"
thanks, Bill Scott(64)for the web address to lodge a complaint! I just
did that----not sure it will do much good, but I voiced my disgust at
Richland/Hanford being ignored during that entire program---I had missed
it at 9:00 P.M., so I stayed up til the 1:00 A.M. showing--what a waste
of time! after the first 30 minutes or more had been spent on the
facility in Tennessee, I kept thinking they'd spend the last 30 minutes
on New Mexico and Richland, but we didn't even get mentioned!!!!!!!! what
a flippin' rip-off!!!!!!
Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber class of 64)......triple digits returned to
Bakersfield, CA on Thursday and Friday, but supposed to be back down in
the 90's for the weekend and the rest of next week.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: David Rivers ('65)
Oh my oh my... how could that happen we wonder... how could people forget
about Hanford... could it possibly be that Hanford has forgotten about
itself? I've mentioned before about the Manhattan Project Heritage
Association and all they do to preserve our collective history (Oakridge,
Los Alamos and Richland)... trouble is... the folks who support it all
come from Los Alamos or Oakridge... Richland has created its own ghost
town image thru the refusal to stand up and be counted... cept for the
few of us who proudly wear Richland clothes, have Bomber tattoos... Put
the logo on everything we own (I just had some folding chairs painted
with the logo so I can use them at car shows)... display Bomber logos on
our cars and the like Richland has just drifted away into oblivion...
The folks from Los Alamos and Oakridge remain steadfastly proud of the
Manhattan Project and their part in it... Richland might as well be in
Oregon or California or maybe Colorado for the way we have refused to
embrace our past and remain proud of the accomplishments made there...
I'm not going to convince all the anti Fatman folks out there of the
necessity of our acts but I do not believe we should shirk from the fact
that Richland was what it was... I bought two shirts from the Heritage
association with the logo and Hanford on it... I am sure there haven't
been many more than the two I bought (one for me and one for Heidlebaugh
('65)... with Hanford on them... the rest... probably hundreds all say
Oakridge or Los Alamos... I'm damn proud of my town and its history... it
is a damn proud history and I will not be taught or told by some Johnny
Come Lately that I should be ashamed. History is what it is... but for
those who would like it to be forgotten... sounds like it has been...
I have pictures of Oppy, Bockscar, Fat Man and all kinds of other
historical stuff on my walls at work and at home... I revel in it.
(I even have a key to one of the cabanas from the old DI on my wall...
Thanks Lyman ('65)... it's historical but not 'zakley for the same
reasons) Why should the rest of the world acknowledge Hanford for its
roll in History if the people of Hanford refuse to do so?
-David Rivers ('65)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Patti McLaughlin Cleavinger ('65)
Yes, the foot fluoroscope is on display in the library at the
Consolidated Information Center on the WSU-Tri-Cities campus (not
in operating condition, of course).
-Patti McLaughlin Cleavinger ('65)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Pam Ehinger ('67)
Dear Pattie Mathis Wheeler ('60)
I believe the Canal you're talking about is or was called the West
Richland Canal, or Ditch. It was or is the irrigation water for the
farmers out there. I know it well! A bunch of us use to swim in it and
in my senior year I got to know it more closely than I wanted! It was the
last weekend before school was out and I was taking my little sister's
friends home from a slumber party! (Remember them?) And well we had a cat
that had been sick and Dad asked me to take it to the vet to see if he
was better. So I had 3 or 4 kids in the car plus the cat and a dog! Well
I dropped one girl off and was turning back onto Canal Rd, when the cat
had a VERY BAD accident at my feet and it was VERY LOOSE and he brought
it up my leg across my lap an on to my shoulder! When I turned my face
away from him I ended up heading straight for the canal! Well to make
this short, I ended up driving my parents' family car (1949 Ford 4 door)
in to the West Richland Ditch! We all and the animals too made it out
safely! The car ran great after the bath it got! So Ya see I know it all
too well! There were nuts that even went water skiing, they were pulled
by a car that ran along side of the Ditch! Crazy Crazy people and I do
believe some of them are still alive an out there in Bomber Ville!
Bombers Rule
-Pam Ehinger (The Blue Ribbon Class of '67)
ps. I'm still willing to do anything I can to help with the
planning of Our 40th Reunion in 2007! Drop me an email
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Claudia Stoffel ('68WB)
Re: Perseid Meteors, 7pm, Saturday, 8/12
http://www.space.com/ -- Click the NIGHT SKY link
Heads up, the perseids are coming.
[From the website:]
Saturday, 8/12
Perseid Meteors, 7:00 p.m.
Typically one of the best meteor showers of the year, with 90 to 100
meteors per hour at peak, the timing this year is not perfect. The peak
is predicted at 7pm EDT, but the radiant or point where the meteors
seem to come from, is low to the North at that time and of course it is
still daylight. The best placement comes shortly before dawn, well up in
the northeastern part of the sky. Unfortunately the best placement of the
radiant doesn't fit well with the time of peak. Also, by the time the
radiant is well placed, the light from Waning Gibbous Moon drowns out the
fainter meteors.
-Claudia Stoffel ('68WB)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Re: Shoe Stores
I wish to make one last comment about the shoe store with or without
X-ray machines. I never indicated that David's was in the downtown
shopping area. I said it was in the uptown area on the GWWay side. I
googled David's and there is still the one in "downtown" Kennewick. Just
curious though, where exactly was the Shoe Salon, that name doesn't ring
a bell in my memory?
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Larry Crouch ('71)
Re: Water Skiing behind cars
To: Brad Wear ('71)
Oh Brad don't you just shudder thinking of the stuff we did, Ralph pulled
me once 55 mph behind his hot rod jeep in his ditch was maybe 35 feet
wide, jumped off the RR Bridge, the huge irrigation flumes dropping into
the river go down them on tubes, Oh and by French's I think it was called
bubbles it was Irrigation siphon you would dive in and go under roadway
and pop up on the other side it leaked sun light through wood planks and
if you opened your eyes all you could see was bubbles.
I have always believed God Looks out for stupid people I must be proof of
that.
-Larry Crouch ('71)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Brad Upton ('74)
Yes, it's true... I dropped in unannounced on Mike Davis ('74) on
Wednesday night. I was shocked, absolutely shocked, to find him sitting
in his La-Z-Boy watching Sportscenter. Mike says that maybe I've gained
weight... who am I to argue with one of the world's experts on that
subject? It was great visiting and catching up. He hasn't lost a hair and
I don't think there's a gray one in there either.
-Brad Upton ('74)
PS. I'll be at the Bite of Oregon tonight (now last night) and
tomorrow (that would be tonight)
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
****************************************************************
Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/13/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
14 Bombers sent stuff:
Carol Black ('48), Jim Jensen ('50)
Nola Davey ('56), Dave Hanthorn ('63)
Dave Sowden ('62wb & '63wb), Roy Ballard ('63)
Dennis Hammer ('64), Gary Behymer ('64)
Linda Reining ('64), Nancy Erlandson ('67)
Rick Maddy ('67), Linda Thomas ('68)
Betti Avant ('69), Dave Fowler ('76)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jim Clementson ('57)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gary Persons ('57)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Carol Black Foster ('48)
Re: History Channel/Lost Cities
I am so sorry I missed the Lost Cities program since I am from East
Tennessee, not far from Oak Ridge, and it sounds as if Oak Ridge was
covered well.
My mother, Leola Black (RIP), former Carmichael teacher worked one summer
at Oak RIdge, possibly thinking of changing professions, but that sure
didn't work out as she taught school for about a hundred years, so to
speak. And my Dad ended up working for DuPont, GE and DUNG before he
retired.
The thing I remember about Oak Ridge is when it was discovered what it
was all about, the Hillbillies quit their jobs! (I can say Hillbillies
since I am one.) That was a pretty desperate measure for them since there
was very little work around Oak Ridge and to quit a good paying job was
unheard of.
Another thing I have wondered about is did anyone else get ratted out
to their fathers at work for driving too fast, etc.?? Someone was always
telling on me to my Dad at work in the 300 Area and he never would tell
me who it was, even after I was grown.
[It was one of the bus drivers in my case. -Maren]
I am one of the Crazy Crazy ones who used to surf the irrigation ditch
behind a car. That was fun!! When I was young, I thought I was invincible
and I must have been, thinking of all the things I used to do and got
away with them, too. I am not so brave anymore but I notice that I still
do sometimes shock people around me.
I wish there were more '40's entries to the Sandstorm. It seems as if it
all began in the '50's.
Bomber's Cheers (as Maren says)
-Carol Black Foster ('48) ~ Living in Bellevue, WA (sometimes known as
Blahvue, WA)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[I must give credit where credit is due. I picked up "Bomber cheers"
from Norma Loescher Boxwell ('53). -Maren]
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Jim Jensen ('50)
Re: August 9, 2006 Postings
To: Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51)
Interesting that you mentioned Boise (and again on 8/12). Loved that
place back in the '40s. It was my family's oasis in shuttling back and
forth between sites in Washington and our one-time home in Salt Lake
City. Unless it was in the middle of the night when we drove through we
always stopped for our main enroute meal in Boise. When we went through
at odd hours we picked up stuff to go at a roadside place in Glens Ferry.
Our older daughter and her family (son and family, two daughters and
families) picked up stakes from Sealy, Texas about five years ago and
moved to Meridian - later to Boise. It's a beautiful spot!
You also mentioned the Pollyanna Cafe in Kennewick. Back in the "good old
days" it was just about the nicest place in town. That was well before
the opening of the Black Angus in the Kennewick highlands. You asked if
anyone remembered eating places in Richland in the early days. Frankly I
can't think of any place other than the "Cafeteria."
http://allgallery.tripod.com/0000s/DormCafeteria.html
When we lived in Hanford it was a rare treat indeed to make the Richland
trip - there to enjoy countless choices in grub offered at the counter
and then having the opportunity to sit down while eating.
To: Robert Avant ('69)
You mentioned living in Wasilla, Alaska. Beautiful place. My wife and
I wintered over in '85-'86. We lived in the Outlook Apartments in
Anchorage. We thrived on visits to Wasilla to spend time with our older
daughter and her family. They lived on an acre not far from the center
of town, very close to a home which sported a hangar for its monoplane.
After turning off from the Palmer/Wasilla road we turned left to go to
their place and after passing by Popeye's twisted and turned left again
to avoid their neighbor's runway. Our daughter's family lived in a two-
story home (beautiful wood exterior) with a story and a half, heated
garage... big window at the front of the house... small barn for their
horses... surrounded by pines... beautiful setting.
Bombers have fun!!!
-Jim Jensen ('50)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
Re: Death of Classmate
Another classmate of 1956 died July 26, 2006, Bonnie Thaves.
Fifty-seven have died that we know about.
We hope to see more of you at our reunion. You can still send in a Bio.
Sincerely,
-Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dave Hanthorn (Gold Medal Class of '63)
To: All '50s and '60s Bombers
RE: Nostalgia
Do you remember, back in the day, whenever you had occasion to head west
from Bomberland to Seattle, what the first thing you just HAD to do as
you crossed over the pass to the wet side of the state? That's right, you
had to start tuning around on your car radio dial, until you found, yeah,
that's it, yeah, right there... "K-J-R, Seattle, Channel 95" and there
was that incredible voice, the one and only, Mr. Pat O'Day, spinnin' the
hits and lettin' all us crazy teens know what was important in the hip
world of Rock 'n Roll.
Just last week I was watching the Seafair Hydro Races, and there was that
voice, and suddenly I felt like a teen again. Pat has been the "color
man" for the hydro races on the local TV stations for some 40 years now,
and he's just as great as ever. On a lark, I "googled" Pat O'Day and
found plenty of web sites that had info on Pat and KJR, and I learned
even more what a living legend he is and all the remarkable contributions
he has made over the years to the radio, dance, and rock 'n roll scene in
the Pacific Northwest. The man was (and still is) a giant in his field
(broadcasting).
But best of all, I found a way for all of us who have fond memories of
Pat and KJR to get a taste of what it was all about back in the day. It
turns out that there is a company called "Increase Records" that has
published a series of CDs called Cruisin', one from each year from the
mid fifties thru the seventies, and each year featuring a different DJ
from a different radio station from a different city. And the great thing
is, the "Cruisin' 1966" CD is all Pat O'Day and KJR from that year. It
is complete with Pat, the KJR "jingle", station breaks, commercials and
the popular and some not-so-popular hits of the time, and everything we
listened to on what was the greatest teen radio station in the Pacific
Northwest. I ordered it from Amazon right away, and it just got here in
the mail today, and I put it on the stereo just as soon as it arrived,
and no doubt about it, its a classic. What a thrill it is to be back with
Pat as we were over 40 years ago. Its like having an instant time
machine.
This CD may not be the best one to buy if you just want to hear the big
hits of 1966 (the "BillBoard" CDs are better for that), but if you want
to reminisce about Pat O'Day and KJR from the "glory days" of Northwest
rock 'n' roll, its hard to imagine something better. Well, actually I can
think of one thing that would have made it better, and that would have
been having one or two "cuts" from one of the great NW rock bands of the
day, like the Fabulous Wailers, for instance. But even with that small
shortcoming, this CD is definitely a "must" for all you fifties and
sixties Bombers with a fond memory of Mr. Pat O'Day and "K-J-R, Seattle,
Channel 95".
-Dave Hanthorn (GMC '63) from sunny and warm Mercer Island, WA
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dave Sowden ('62wb & '63wb)
Re: Bomber Lunch in Forest City, NC
Keith Hunter ('63), His wife Ruby (NAB), my Wife, Marilyn (NAB) and I
got together on 8/11/06 for a Bomber lunch in Forest City, NC. Keith &
Ruby moved here a little over a year ago from California to be closer to
the grand kids. Marilyn and I moved here 11 years ago to buy a business.
We have both come a long way to end up about 10 miles apart.
The only other known picture of Keith and I together was 1961 when we
were in 3rd period P.E. together. Keith hasn't changed a bit but the
years were not so kind to me. As I recall that P.E. class, the boys use
to sing in the locker room. Something like:
"Ha ha ha,
Hey oh,
tuba tuba tuba
ha ha ha ha
ha ha ha ha
hey oh."
Keith says he has no such memory, but mine is vivid, anyone else from that
class remember that the way I do?
We had a good time Keith & Ruby... let's do it again soon.
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Any/060813-Sowden-00.html
-Dave Sowden ('62wb & '63wb)
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>>From: Roy Ballard ('63) and Nancy Erlandson Ballard ('67)
To: David Rivers ('65)
Bravo you said it so well. I have to agree with you on what you said and
the way you said it. One should never be afraid of the past, it is what
it is and we should be thankful for it. Life is too short to try and be
politically correct... to try and make one's self something that you are
not. I say thanks for the past, it was great and we (Nancy and I) are
damn proud of it.
-Roy Ballard ('63) and Nancy Erlandson Ballard ('67)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Dennis Hammer ('64)
To: Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51)
Re: About shoe x-ray machines
Some four or more years ago (Anyway it was before I saw that shoe x-ray
machine at the WSU Tri-Cities Library.) I read an article in the paper,
or maybe I heard it on the radio, about the "Museum of Questionable
Medical Devices." It talked about several of the devices they had and
ended by saying that they had one that actually did work, the shoe
fluoroscope, it was just that using it was not the best thing for one's
health.
Re: Hg
Mercury, periodic table of elements symbol Hg, used to be commonly called
quicksilver. See... I did too learn something in High School Science
classes. As I remember it was quite common for kids to get a hold of
Mercury. My dad would from time to time bring a little home for me in
a glass medicine bottle. He worked at the flour mill and I assume he
brought it from there; I don't know how other kids got theirs. If he
brought it from the flour mill I have no idea what it was used for there.
It was fun to play with. Put it in something like a jar lid, knock it
into little balls, then move them around and they would join as they
touched. Remember when all coins larger than nickels were made of real
silver (periodic table symbol Ag--no, I don't remember them all, probably
only about 15 of them). You could rub the mercury on the silver and it
would become real shiny. After a few days it would then turn yellow.
Good guess, after writing this, I found a periodic table of elements at
Wikipedia was able to recognize 16 of them. If anyone else would like to
check how well they remember them, here is a site, hold the mouse over
the symbol at the bottom part of the box and the name of the element will
appear.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periodic_table_of_elements
-Dennis Hammer ('64) ~ From a Bomber outpost in Kennewick near the Lion's Den
P.S. Update on the periodic table of elements: As soon as I sent
the entry to the Sandstorm and the window closed the periodic
table was on the screen and I recognized two more. I went
through it again and got 24 of them right. I don't know how I
missed those other 8, must be because I played with mercury when
I was young.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Gary Behymer ('64)
Kennewick Lion/Richland Bomber?
Help! I'm searching for George Winfield Smith Class of 1957-1959? ...or
perhaps a 'would have been'... 'should have been'? This individual is
NOT the Geroge W. Smith listed for the Richland Class of 1959... his
middle name was William.
-Gary Behymer ('64)...at the 3rd stop light going South in downtown
Colfax, WA
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Linda Reining ('64)
re:playing with mercury
I remember doing that in Mr. Anderson's 6th grade classroom at Spalding
Elementary. he gave each one of us in the class a ball of mercury and we
rolled it around on our desks and played with it----I even remember it
rolling onto the floor--didn't know the dangers then, but I agree, "God
watches over fools"---we were extremely foolish and Mr. Anderson should
have known better, but maybe, he didn't know the dangers, either. I have
mercury(?) fillings and my dentist wants to remove them and replace them
with porcelain or whatever they use, now. told him those fillings have
been in my mouth since I was 10-11 years old and IF they were going to
kill me, I'd already be dead! besides, who can afford to have that many
fillings replaced???????? not me---have NO dental insurance, so they'll
stay in my mouth til they are replaced with dentures. *grin*
to:David Rivers(65)
re:Hanford
I agree---too many refuse to accept the fact that Richland was part of
the war effort and want to change the facts---IF the people of Richland
had the pride that those on this web site had, the town would ooze with
Bomber pride, but too many want to hide the fact----not "politically
correct"---just pay attention to how many want to change the name of our
mascot! I am "PROUD TO BE A BOMBER" and I wear my Bomber t-shirt with
pride---I also have a pair of sweats and a windbreaker showing my Bomber
pride. my kids, grandkids, and friends hear all the time how proud I am
to be from Richland! wish others, especially those that live there, had
the same pride! too many in "higher places" are trying to change things
and I fear there aren't enough of "us" to keep it from happening!
Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber class of 64)........Bakersfield, CA
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Rick Maddy ('67)
To: David River ('65)
Hanford who?
-Rick Maddy ('67)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Linda Thomas Richardson ('68)
I have been surprised to read in the last two days, mention has been made
of family, or extended family that either started or wound up back here
in Arkansas---it really is a great place to live! At some point a great
deal of our families must have migrated to the Pacific Northwest.
It is a wonder we all survived--water skiing on the canals... and I do
remember jumping off the train bridge into the Yakima River--WATCHING---
I was never brave enough! Nor was I brave enough to attempt sliding down
the flumes in the Columbia River--I remember my sister wearing cut off
jeans over her swimming suit to preserve the bottom of her bathing suits,
and thereby convince my parents she would never consider sliding down
those dangerous things!
-Linda Thomas Richardson ('68)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Re: Tahitian Room
I remember the first time I ate at the Tahitian Room. As you recall a
month or so ago I wrote about my cousins' trip to see us from South
Dakota. Well their 6 family members, our 5, and Jean Bruntlett ('62) with
her parents went there to eat one night (I'm thinking it was a Friday
night). At that age I had never eaten Chinese food before. The only thing
on the menu I knew anything about was liver with either onions or bacon.
We were at a very large table (probably several put together in the back
room) and were awaiting our meals. The waitress was bringing the first
plates of food when she dropped them on the floor. Needless to say some
of us had to wait a bit longer for our food. It literally was "on the
house". I believe that place is still there albeit with a different name.
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA where this morning's walk was a bit cool,
but felt good
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dave Fowler ('76)
Re: Yakima River Delta
While fishing the other day the topic of the Yakima river delta came up.
After some discussion and friendly debate we have come to the conclusion
that our memories are a bit different. When did the Yakima river channel
move? I'm sure it use to run next to the point and the Bateman's island
west side was a back water pool. Years ago I thought there were only a
few small islands in the delta. Pappy, when you get a day we'll have to
go out and drowned some worms.
Any help in straightening out this fickle brain will be appreciated.
Thanks
-Dave Fowler ('76)
*******************************************
*******************************************
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 ~ 08/14/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6 Bombers sent stuff:
Dick Roberts ('49), Wanda Wittebort ('53)
Helen Cross ('62), Shirley Sherwood ('62)
Earl Bennett ('63), Carol Converse ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jim Collings ('62)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Richard Swanson ('64)
08/14/1045 ~ WWII ENDED -- PEACE! OUR BOMB CLINCHED IT!
http://alumnisandstorm.com/Mascot/BvB/1945-08-14VillagerFrontPg-2.jpg
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Richard "Dick" Roberts ('49)
Carol Black Foster ('48) asked about people ratting on her to her dad
about her driving. I sneaked my parents' car (1946 Ford sedan) one
evening without their knowledge. I was about 16, I guess, and drove
to a buddies house, Mel Stratton ('49), to show off. My dad was a bus
driver, drove in town, and when he got home from his swing shift, he
asked mom why she was parked in front of the Stratton's house. Big
trouble! Those bus drivers were a cagey lot.
Cheers,
-Richard "Dick" Roberts ('49) ~ from Grover Beach, CA, where the weather
is always mild, today about 72°
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Wanda Wittebort Shukay ('53)
For all the questions to Maren as to why they aren't receiving their
"dailies". Unbelievably dumb senator.
Title: Sen. Stevens' hilariously awful explanation of the Internet
http://www.boingboing.net/2006/07/02/sen_stevens_hilariou.html
-Wanda Wittebort Shukay ('53)
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>>From: Helen Cross Kirk ('62)
Greetings from the mini-Bomber CROSS reunion!!! We didn't make it to the
official Bomber picnic held elsewhere in BattleGround, but the Bomber
Crosses who made it to our Cross Reunion had a great time. We were hosted
by Bobby Cross ('62) here at his alpaca ranch in BattleGround, and we all
appreciated the indoor toilets, and air conditioning we've done without
for years at Rooster Rock where all we Crosses used to congregate this
one day of the year.
I hope Bobby being much more computer savvy than I will submit a photo of
us. But Allan Cross ('59), Bobby and I ('62), Carol Cross Llewellyn ('64)
and Duane ('79) all had a great time sharing old memories of growing up
together in Richland. Our folks, Roy ('65) my brother (who did not grace
us with attending our one-day-a-year reunion), and I actually lived with
our cousins for 6 months in their "A" house on McPherson while our Ranch
house was being built. And Allan being older has more memories than we do
of that.
I'm happy to report that we have actually started moving my mother-in-
law into her new home in Wenatchee. So Warren and I will be here in
Washington state for a while getting her settled in, and winding up some
other things.
I love being in Washington State. I drove down 161 near Sumner, and it
is so neat. I drove real close to Mt. Ranier at one point. I used to have
a Kirk relative who lived in Lacey awhile back, and I wish I'd visited
you there, Ellen Bohringer ('65), as it looks like such a neat area. But
actually, all of Washington looks so neat to me... I should have been a
Washington State spokesman... all these years. I have been an unofficial
one...
-Helen Cross Kirk ('62) ~ enjoying looking at the pine trees & mountains
in this great dry heat..
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****************************************************************
>>From: Shirley Sherwood Milani ('62)
To: Mary Rose Tansy ('60)
I remember my Uncle Ed's mother very well. Wasn't she the most
interesting woman? My cousin, Delores, and I stayed with her a week or
two one summer and worked in a Quaker gas station washing windshields.
That is my memory of it anyway. Uncle Ed and Aunt Norma lived not too
far from us and my folks and they did lots of things together. It was
heartbreaking when they moved to Kennewick. We always called Uncle Ed
Knucklehead. We loved him dearly. Before my dad died in 1964, we used
to drive to Grandview often to visit his mom and dad. My sister, Susan
('63), and I stayed with them every summer until they kicked us out for
misbehaving. My mom's mom was in Yakima and we would go stay with her
now and then too. I never realized until much, much later what a good
time my mom and dad must have had when we were gone.
Such great memories!
-Shirley Sherwood Milani ('62)
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>>From: Earl Bennett ('63)
To: Dave Sowden ('62wb & '63wb)
I remember that chorus, and its melody, running through my head right now
- it was from a hit song, I think, but I have no memory of the title or
the name of the group (definitely a group, and I think the lines went in
an echo repetition pattern). My memory says "duba" vice "tuba," but hey,
nonsense syllables are not critical to our survival.
On another note - has anyone successfully played the Cinnamon Bear for
grandchildren, either in the daily episode format from Thanksgiving to
Christmas as we experienced it with the radio, or in some other manner?
I'm thinking about trying it for our nearest grandchildren, if there's
any hope of not boring them to tears (TV is a tough act to follow, but I
believe in exercising imaginations).
Regards, ecb3 - from central Virginia, where we have had unseasonably
mild and pleasant low-eighties for high for several days, and relatively
low humidity (for here), which makes waiting for the next bout with the
kidney stone less unpleasant. The doc says it's small enough to pass
(it's my first), but the cussed thing doesn't seem to have moved from the
top of the ureter in a week and a half.
-Earl Bennett ('63)
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>>From: Carol Converse Maurer ('64)
I, too, played with mercury as a kid. My dad built boats at home in our
basement and I'm thinking he must have used it somehow with them. This
tells you how much they didn't know - he would throw it on the ground way
out in the back yard. That's where I would play with it. Never mentioned
anything to my parents about it. I just thought it was so much fun to
separate it, then make it all go back into ball. Good thing we didn't
have any cuts on our hands at the time playing with it.
Carol Converse Maurer (Baby Boomer Class of '64) ~ in sunny Eureka, CA
*******************************************
*******************************************
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 ~ 08/15/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8 Bombers sent stuff:
Anna May Wann ('49), Dick Harris ('49), Shirley Rae Drury ('51)
Patti Jones ('60), Bill Johnson ('61), Donna Nelson ('63)
Shawn Schuchart ('78), Amanda Ruck ('02)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dave Moore ('60)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Ann Thompson, aka Anna May Wann ('49)
Re: Bomber Picnic in Battle Ground 8/12
Another beautiful day, great food, great people (Bombers, of course) and
a lot of people who missed it.
Three of us traveled from the Seattle area, John Irl French, Char Dossett
Holden (both class of '51) and this old lady from class of '49. Irl did
the driving. This is close to 400 miles round trip and where were the
people who had to travel less than 20 miles to attend? Wherever you were
you missed a good time. The Lewisville Park was a nice change (don't
tell my son-in-law who is Park Ranger at Battle Ground State Park)
Lola Heidlebaugh Bowen ('60) and Jo Heidlebaugh ('74) do a great job in
setting this up every year, arranging the barbeques, bringing the meat,
paper products, pop, etc. They need a big round of applause for keeping
this area of our State in touch with each other. We picked up a couple
of new and good recipes from these great cooks that attend. One of the
attendees was Peg Wellman Johnson ('66), which brings up another subject:
To the members of Class of 1966 you attended your 40th reunion this
summer (and to those who did not get the chance) you are now eligible to
join Club 40. Club 40 is made up of Richland High graduates (or would
have beens) who have been out of high school at least 40 years or more.
We meet the second weekend in September in Richland for a big reunion.
This usually includes classes from 1944 through the current 40th year
graduate (this year 1966).
The '66 people who ran your reunion for you this summer have decided to
not turn the list of your names and addresses over to Club 40 to add to
our database. Therefore, we have no way to contact you about future Club
40 events.
Your names, addresses and phone numbers are never given out without
your permission. They are never released for any commercial purposes,
it is only for our use to send out the twice yearly "Duststorm" and
registration forms for the September reunion. Our dues are only $5.00 a
year which covers the price of the "Duststorm" mailing and items like our
name tags at the reunion. Therefore, if you are interested in learning
more about Club 40 e-mail
Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54) ~ bobsown1@hotmail.com
Judy Willox ('61) ~ judywillox@charter.net or
myself ~ ann.thompson1@comcast.net
We would love to have you join our club.
-Ann Thompson, aka Anna May Wann ('49)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Dick Harris ('49)
Re: History Channel/"Lost Cities"
I watched the "Lost Cities" presentation on the History Channel and
recorded 99% of it. I missed the very first part and it picks up with
Roosevelt signing the order to create the Manhattan Project. Anyone
particularly interested in borrowing it can send me an E-mail and I'll
get it in the mail and if there is more than one, I'll fire-off an E-mail
to the first person and have them send it to the next one.
When you consider the subject, "Lost Cities," they had a particular goal
to discuss the investigation of a former temporary city, near Oak Ridge,
where the evidence is fire hydrants, sewer lines, old toilet bowls, etc.
The temporary city of Hanford (Construction Camp) has never been lost,
nor has the site of the former White Bluffs townsite. Finally, the
original town of Richland was basically just increased in size and more
rural homes were either demolished or utilized as "tract houses."
However, since the documentary went into such detail on Oak Ridge and the
U-shaped Magnetron Building and the Diffusing Process Building (Largest
building in the world) and the resulting Uranium for the first Atomic
Bomb, that was dropped on Hiroshima, one would have thought they would
have covered the Hanford Works project, along with all the details of
the detonators and actual bombs, that were constructed and tested in
Alamogordo and Los Alamos. The story of the construction of the nuclear
reactors, particularly B-Reactor, online within 13 months after the
successful demonstration by Fermi's team of a sustained fission process at
Hanford was amazing. Then the chemical process resulting in Plutonium for
delivery to Los Alamos is a story in itself. Of course, the whole story
would have filled a documentary series, and obviously, this wasn't their
goal. So, it is true, Richland and the Hanford Project got slighted!
I was very interested in the story they did present on Oak Ridge. Many of
our fellow Bombers, who were in Richland in the early days of the project
will remember that many of our classmates came from Oak Ridge and the
Tennessee Project. However, I never learned much about the details of this
project, which were covered to a great extent in this documentary of
"Lost Cities," and is readily available in books and online. One book
that I picked-up in one of the museums in Los Alamos, last fall is "The
Making of the Atomic Bomb," by Richard Rhodes. It is very comprehensive
from covering the discovery of atomic theory, to thwarting of Germany
from getting heavy water from Norway's Norsk Hydro Project, to the
research that was going on in Germany, Hungary, Britain, U.S., Canada,
Japan, etc., and finally the production of the Uranium and Plutonium in
Tennessee and Hanford, respectively and the making and testing of the
atomic bomb in New Mexico.
The amazing part is that through the sacrifice of many and a lot of luck,
we were able to get the atomic bomb, before either Germany or Japan,
who were both working on this goal. Even though my parents were not
supporters of Franklin Roosevelt, I have to give him credit for taking
the great political risk he took in making the decisions, he made!
Another book some might be interested in is "Inteprid," which was the
code name, given to Sir William Stephenson, the go-between for Churchill
and Roosevelt. It was written by another William Stevenson (same name
but different spelling). It is an amazing history of WWII and the allied
effort. It gives lots of insight to the Manhattan Project and keeping the
Axis from getting the atomic bomb, before we did.
-Dick Harris ('49)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51)
Re: Traveling back home memories; grandparents
To Jim Jensen ('50):
Hi, Jim, Enjoyed your Alumni posting of 8/12. I've been trying to follow
the link to the cafeteria, but it's not working. Does it work for you?
[Cafeteria: http://allgallery.tripod.com/0000s/DormCafeteria.html -Maren]
Also would you elaborate on this partial sentence?: "Our older daughter
and her family (son and family, two daughters and families)"? I'm not
understanding it. Having on July 23, four weeks ago, made the trek from
Kennewick to Idaho Falls, and back the next day, I can appreciate that
loong one on further yet to Salt Lake City.
We used to drive back from Kennewick or Richland to Boise area to visit
relatives and then Baker, OR, was our midpoint. Bored, Larry ('57) and
I would squabble in the back seat until our dad would threaten to pull
over. I always watched Dad's left eye. When it narrowed, watch out!
I don't remember him ever even spanking me. He controlled me with his
consistent loving kindness, his demeanor and his left eye. Our mom would
sing to keep him awake, because we usually left immediately after he came
off work. We heard tunes from her girlhood, like "Fishy, fishy, under the
ice, when the girlies came skating by, wasn't that nice!", "Bye, bye,
Blackbird," and "Red Sails in the Sunset." She would also declaim verses
from Poe's "The Raven," which gives me goose bumps to this day, and
"Hiawatha." Trouble was, she had an off-tune singing voice, and I either
inherited it or assimilated it from the drill. I haven't heard my brother
sing, lo, these many years so I don't know if his was affected.
Do you remember Cabbage Hill in those days? How scary it was, but if you
were there in daylight, the view from the curves and turnarounds was what
I'd imagine we'd see if we ever were in an airplane looking out.
To: Mary Rose Tansy ('60)
Re: grandparents in Richland
Paula Sue Doctor Werry ('51) had an in-house grandma, I do believe. Her
mother's mother (I might even be wrong about whose mother she was), a
elegantly lovely lady, lived with the family, I think, in one side of a B
house, south of the grocery store that was several blocks south of Lewis
and Clark. Probably the rule about not getting to live in Richland was
different if you were part of a family with a primary breadwinner. Other
than that instance, I don't recall any resident grandparents, either.
Our only living grandma would come by bus from her place on the road
between Idaho City and Boise to visit us. It was quite a trip for an
older lady in not-too-good health, so it didn't happen often enough or
last long enough.
Thank you all for the memories,
-Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60)
Re: All Bomber Luncheon - Richland
http://alumnisandstorm.com/Lunches/Current-ALL/00.html
The luncheon was overwhelming with a bigger group of Bombers and spouses
than have attended since started in June 2005. More than Club 40 weekend
last year. I thought maybe there would be about 10 for August. There were
8 from class of '60. The following Bombers were in attendance (the list
goes clockwise around the tables):
DeeDee Willox Loiseau ('64), Dena Evans Harr ('64), Glen Rose ('58),
Carol Rose (spouse), Bill Hightower ('49) who flew his plane up from
Texas. Also Bill came from the furthest away. Shannon Gross Craig ('50),
Vera Smith Robbins ('58), Marsha Lawell Hathcox ('60), Kaye Ivers ('60),
Daryl Johnson ('73) and wife Deanna. They enjoyed so much last month they
came back again. Next month is their first year Anniversary. Bombers can
help them celebrate this month. Derrith Persons Dean ('60), Lora Homme
Page ('60), George "Pappy" Swan ('59), want Jeanne, "Pappy's" wife
to know you were missed, Marie Ruppert Hartman ('63), Marilyn Baird
Singletary ('60), Mostly known in school as "Cookie". Must be a story
behind her nickname. Fred Klute, ('58). Yeah, I got your last name right
Fred. Patti Snider Miller ('65), Kaylene Henjum Livingston ('60) was a
surprise after Mary Judd Hinz ('60) and I had been talking to her about
coming to the reunions for a while. She might even make Club 40. Mary
Judd Hinz ('60) who will be at Club 40. If you haven't seen her and her
husband dance they are great. Patti Jones Ahrens ('60), Betty Bell
Norton ('51).
The luncheon will be held on Club 40 weekend. Please if you know you are
coming make a reservation by emailing me. The luncheon announcement will
be in the Sandstorm the week before and the week of the luncheon.
Re: Bus Drivers
To: Dick Roberts ('49)
My dad, Harold Jones, was also a bus driver. Looking back through the
years of him driving bus and my going to school I have memories of
different things dad would come home and say. A lot of it was the bus
drivers seemed to know all the movement of people around town. I do know
when the bus drivers took breaks they talked about who saw who. Seemed
none of us could get by doing anything without one of them seeing us.
Probably a very good thing that they were the eyes and ears of Richland.
Right after I was sixteen and had gotten my drivers license, dad decided
to have the 1949 Plymouth painted (the car I was to drive all through
high school. He said the color was "egg shell blue". When the car was
ready I had to go to Uptown for something so he dropped me off telling me
he would be back in a while. I was out front of the store waiting for him
close to the Spudnut shop end of Uptown on the east side. I looked up
seeing dad and the Plymouth driving towards me. My mind was buzzing when
I saw the color. Oh no... now I will always be seen. Dad laughed when I
got in the car telling me the color was different than what they had told
him. I'm thinking, oh no, I have been had. The color was Thunder Egg
Blue. The brightest blue color for that era that anyone could think of.
Yes, from there I was told by dad every time I was seen by a bus driver.
What was good at that time is I worked for C.C. Andersons which became
The Bon Marche while I was working there. I worked there from 1958 to
September of 1962 when I moved to San Jose. This way the bus drivers
didn't have anything to report about me because I was at work. The swing
shift drivers must not have seen me in the evening when I was supposed to
be at the library.
Bombers Have Fun
-Patti Jones Ahrens ('60) ~ From beautiful Bombing Range Road area,
West Richland, WA
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Bill "Lane" Johnson ('61)
To: The "Classic Class of '61"
To: my Bomber Family Brothers and Sisters:
Ya, I really mean that. Wow 45 years since we graduated and I still look
forward to coming home to visit with all of you. I am a little saddened
that I don't see more of us signed up. Is there a reason for that? Are
there one or two people that you just don't care about visiting with? The
opposite side of that is that for every one person that you may not care
to visit with I'll bet that there are 5 or more people that would love to
visit with you if you came. For me personally, I truly can't think of one
person that I don't care to see. I got rid of all of that 25 years ago.
When Rick Donnell ('61-RIP) passed, whom I have known since kindergarten,
I was saddened that I hadn't taken the time to stay in closer touch with
him. Now more recently my friend Ray McMillan ('61-RIP) has left us. I
for one plan on being at every reunion if I have to come in a wheelchair,
and I am hoping that more of you will be coming to our 45th and the 50th
when we have one. After all we are the "Classic Class of '61" so try to
come. Guys a handshake and a howdy will do. Girls, I am not married and
need a hug. :-)
Your friend and fellow Bomber family member
-Bill, aka "Lane" Johnson ('61)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Donna Nelson ('63)
Helen:
There are a few Bombers in Wenatchee, East Wenatchee and surrounding
area. I agree about how beautiful it is here. We've got trees and desert
within minutes... over 100° and below 0 in the winter but always have
sunshine.
We're overdue for a Bomber lunch too. Anyone can organize it by calling
a restaurant and posting time, date, and place.
-Donna Nelson ('63)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Shawn Schuchart Mabley ('78)
It's amazing to me how much I don't know about Richland when I read these
entries. A dormitory and cafeteria?
Note to Tami Schuchart Keller ('68)--When did Mom and Dad first live in
Richland?
From reading these entries, the teens in the '40s, '50s, and '60s must
have had all the fun. I had heard about the Flume from my older sisters,
but by the time I was a teen I think they had put a "cover" on it so that
people couldn't slide down it. Or else my dad just told me that and I
just believed him! About the only summer fun we had was floating the
Columbia from Leslie Groves to Howard Amon and driving out to Bateman
Island, which I don't believe you can drive out to anymore. I also
remember my dad taking us out to one of the islands in North Richland to
camp. I also miss the many docks we used to swim from. But mostly I miss
the Columbia. Walla Walla may be the "land of many waters" but there is
nowhere to swim here!
-Shawn Schuchart Mabley ('78)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Amanda Ruck ('02)
Samantha Semmern, class of 2002, passed away this weekend. She was in
a car accident; hit by a drunk driver.
-Amanda Ruck ('02)
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/16/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7 Bombers sent stuff and 2 Bomber funeral notices today:
Pappy Swan ('59), Marilyn Baird ('60)
Ann Engel ('63) and Fred Schafer ('63)
Lynn Johnson ('63), Linda Reining ('64)
Dennis Strege ('71)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: John Bruntlett ('54)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Roger Gress ('61)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Tim Avedovech ('61)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Kathie Roe ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Kirby Belcher ('75WB)
08/16/77 - Elvis died -- "Before Elvis, there was nothing." -John Lennon
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
Class Reunion Poem - Author Unknown -- the entire poem sent by a Bomber
spouse for publication in the Sandstorm. The poem is online at:
http://www.life.uiuc.edu/biophysics/CBCBWebPages/cindy/reunion/ClassReunionPoem.html
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
To: Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
Re: The passing of Bonnie Thaves Valley ('56)
Thanks for calling to my attention the passing of your classmate, Bonnie
Thaves Valley ('56) who died on July 27, 2006. Bonnie and her sisters,
Marlene Thaves Knaplund ('57) and Carolyn Thaves Morris ('58) were my
friends when growing up. They lived almost directly behind our house.
Through my jr. high and early high school years, our house was a
gathering place for the neighborhood kids. We had a piano that I and
my much younger sister, Marilyn Swan Beddo ('63) were supposed to have
learned to play. Ron Monk ('57) got the best use out of that piano when
he put thumbtacks on the striker pads so that the piano sounded like
a honky-tonk bar room piano. My house really jumped on many of those
evenings as the Thaves girls sang to Ron's accompaniment. I like to think
that Ron was in training at my house for his later performances at the
"Gaslight" and such. I could neither play nor sing, I just sat in awe of
Ron's playing and in praise of the "beauty of older women," the Thaves
girls' who hardly noticed me, since I was just a kid then. Years later,
Bonnie thoroughly soothed my broken childhood ego, when we bumped into
each other at a grocery store and she recognized me. Yes! There is a
God! Through the years, Marlene and Carolyn came home to visit but I was
always away. I have not seen them since Bomber days. I remember Bonnie
and her sisters as good friends.
For those Bombers who knew the Thaves family and may have missed the
announcement in the Tri-City Herald, the memorial service for Bonnie will
be held in the chapel at: Einan's Memorial Gardens, 915 Bypass Highway,
Richland, WA, 943-1114 on August 19, at 10 a.m. Graveside services will
follow.
-George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ Burbank, WA
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****************************************************************
>>From: Marilyn Baird Singletary ('60)
On Saturday, Aug 19th from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM (this next week end) the
3rd annual West Richland gathering of friends will be held at Flat Top
Park at the foot of Flat Top. This is an opportunity for all Hicks and
Hickettes (their words) to get together and reminisce about water skiing
the canal, sliding down Flat Top on the hood of a car, jack rabbit
hunting, finding agates or just enjoying a good movie at the drive inn.
[Anyone interested, contact David Rodriguez ('69), LaNell Keck,
or Elena Hernandez. Phone number and email address deleted for
the privacy of David, LaNell and Elena. You can send Marilyn an
email and she will give you that information. -Maren]
Time is running out so please contact one of these three to find out what
you need to bring besides your lawn chair, a drink and pictures you would
like to share. Another great day to come so don't miss out.
-Marilyn Baird Singletary ('60) ~ Enjoying the fine weather in the Tri-
Cities and don't miss Northern Calif at all...Well maybe a little..
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Ann Engel Schafer ('63) and Fred Schafer ('63)
Re: Portland/Vancouver Bomber Picnic
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/Lunches/Current-PDX/00.html
The Picnic was held a Lewis River Park in Battle Ground WA. Good
weather, good food, great company. Once again Ann Engel Schafer ('63) was
there but managed to go all day without getting her picture taken.
Pic #1 Freddie Schafer ('63)
Pic #2 Mary "Mom" Heidlebaugh
Pic #3 Lola Heidlebaugh Bowen ('60)
Karyl Carlson (spouse)
Irl French ('51)
Ann Thompson, aka Anna May Wann ('49)
Pic #4 Son Filip Schafer and grandkids Brando, Gavin
Pic #5 Jo Heidlebaugh ('74)
Pic #6 Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54)
Mary "Mom" Heidlebaugh
Karyl Carlson (spouse)
Pic #7 Ann Thompson, aka Anna May Wann ('49)
Char Dossett Holden ('51)
Pic #8 Freddie Schafer ('63)
Peg Wellman Johnson ('66)
Char Dossett Holden ('51)
Pic #9 Lola Heidlebaugh Bowen ('60)
Pic #10 Marilyn Mabee Welter ('61)
Mary "Mom" Heidlebaugh
Pic #11 Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54)'
Irl French ('51)
Freddie Schafer ('63)
Pic #12 Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54)
Freddie Schafer ('63)
-Ann Engel Schafer ('63) and Fred Schafer ('63)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Lynn Johnson Andrews ('63)
Re: Grandparents in Richland
On the topic of few of our grandparents actually living in Richland as we
were growing up, one exception that I have always thought about is Karen
Kleinpeter's ('63) grandmother who lived with her family in the yellow
house at 1625 Howell. And whenever I think of Karen's grandmother, one
particular event stands out.
It must have been about ninth grade ('59 or '60) that several of us
decided we were going to try a little adult sophistication and have a
mixed drink party, with several of us donating whatever we could snitch
from our parents' alcohol cabinets -- the trick was to steal enough to
give our taste buds a good test, but not to take so much that our parents
would notice the loss of good alcohol from their supplies... In those
days, we thought a "mixed drink" was several kinds of alcohol mixed
together, such as gin, vodka, rum, and beer. So, Karen, Kathy Rathvon,
Dianne Kornberg, Peter Baugher and others (come on, Karen, you can name
some others???) assembled with our stolen liquids in Karen's basement,
knowing Karen's parents were out of the house, but never thinking about
her grandmother who was also present there in the house.
Well, we were just mixing together those golden liquids in the basement
when Karen's grandmother must have heard our whispers and laughing, and
came down the stairs to the basement to investigate. I will never, to my
dying day, ever ever forget her "Ah HAH!!!" And of course we all left
the house, and somehow the next day all our parents knew all the gorey
details of our "party," although it did not really last very long at all.
Well, so much for grandmothers in Richland......
-Lynn Johnson Andrews ('63) ~ Sherwood, OR - finally I am coming out
of the closet -- I have always referred to myself as Class of
'63 but always wishing it had been so -- I am really a Class of
'63 Col Hi wannabee -- but finally admit that though my heart is
in Richland, I actually graduated elsewhere....mea culpa.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Linda Reining ('64)
re:grandparents in Richland
when my mom and her two sisters moved out from Minnesota, in 1943, to
work at Hanford, their parents came with---my grandfather bought a 2-
bedroom prefab on Winslow. my grandparents had been working on the Al-Can
Highway(my grandmother did the cooking and washing for some of the men
that worked on that highway)and when they found that their daughters were
leaving the farm and moving to Hanford, they asked them to wait and they
would all go together---he was in his 50's--have no idea what he did when
he worked at Hanford, he died from cancer when I was 5. a few years
later, my grandmother's brother and mother came to Hanford----my great-
uncle worked there til he retired. he was a janitor and wore Oshkosh
overalls everyday, with a white shirt underneath.
Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber class of 64).......double digits in
Bakersfield, CA----but we are getting lots of smoke from the fires on the
grapevine---they had both sides of I-5 closed for quite a few hours on
Sunday---too much smoke to be able to see, clearly. the fire is still
burning---they think it was arson--it has destroyed over 1500 acres of
the forest in that area--and threatening homes in the small town of
Gorman.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dennis Strege ('71)
Re: Class of '71 Reunion
Thanks everyone for coming to the reunion. I think everyone had a great
time. Here are some pictures to prove it. Pictures provided by Doug
Crawford ('71), thanks Doug:
http://bombers71.tripod.com/35th_reunion/index.album?i=0
-Dennis Strege ('71) ~ Richland
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Funeral Notices
>>Bonnie Thaves Valley ('56) ~ 3/22/37 - 7/27/06
>>Carole Weeks Cawdrey ('52) ~ 8/11/34 - 8/4/06
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/17/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8 Bombers sent stuff and 3 Bomber funeral notices today:
Jim Jensen ('50), Nola Davey ('56)
Irene de la Bretonne ('61), Leah Collins ('61)
David Rivers ('65), Gary Christian ('67)
Betti Avant ('69), Tamara Lyons ('76)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Charlotte Carlson ('52)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Judy Boggs ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Verna Gore ('69)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Jim Jensen ('50)
Re: Cafeteria and Boise
To: Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51)
When commenting about my older daughter and her family I believe I wrote:
"My older daughter and her family (son and family, two daughters and
their families) pulled up stakes in Sealy, TX about five years ago and
moved to Meridian, later to Boise." Or words something like that. I was
indicating the composition of my daughter's family and saying that all of
them (four separate households) left Texas for Idaho.
I enjoyed hearing about the singing going on in your family car when
traveling back and forth - Tri-Cities area and points in Idaho. Because
my folks did the same thing I wondered how many Bombers and/or their
parents helped pass the time that way back in the '40s? As your mom did,
my mom often employed the singing gadget to keep dad awake. Our trips
were often all-nighters and talk radio was essentially non-existent. In
the early and mid-'40s there were no "clear channel" radio stations so
there were a lot of "blind spots" in radio listening in the middle of the
night away from larger cities.
I don't recall hearing of Cabbage Hill.
The Cafeteria pictures, courtesy of Maren Smyth ('63&'64) and Jimmie
Shipman ('51), were great. Brought back a lot of memories. Along with my
old buddy, Bill Hinson ('50-RIP), I worked at the Cafeteria off and on
for a few years. My first job was washing walls and overhead pipes. When
my employer thought I handled that o.k., I graduated to pots and pans
(grin) and then the big time: Line Backer!!! Not the football kind, but
the guy who kept the serving lines stocked and overnight prepared things
and cleaned things for the breakfast rush. Hey... somebody had to do
those things.
Bomber Cheers,
-Jim Jensen ('50) ~ Katy, TX
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****************************************************************
>>From: Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
Working on a class reunion is never-ending. Does anyone out there in
Bomberland know about our deceased classmates: Kelsey Stage Babich and
Karl Warburton. Thanks.
-Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Irene de la Bretonne Hays ('61)
Re: Bomber Dad
It just occurred to me that there may be some Sandstorm readers who live
outside Richland who knew my dad well, perhaps even worked for him or
with him in business--who are unaware of his death. [His obituary can be
seen online at: www.einansfuneralhome.com]
He was the father, grandfather, and great grandfather of a total of 9
Richland High School students and 1 Col-Hi teacher (me). He also was a
community advisor to the development of the Richland High School printing
class which later became a program that is now offered at Tri-Tech.
-Irene de la Bretonne Hays ('61)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Leah Collins Davis ('61)
To: Bill Johnson aka Lane Johnson ('61)
Sorry to report I will be unable to attend the any of the upcoming
functions, but if you have the time please feel free to contact me
either by phone or e-mail.
My home phone is [deleted for Leah's privacy. Email her for her phone
number. -Maren]
-Leah Collins Davis ('61)
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****************************************************************
>>From: David Rivers ('65)
Re: I wuz stranded in the Jungle....
Oh this time it is true... I swear on a stack a Old Skool Rodder
Magazines... there I was stranded in the jungle and trying to get a
flight back to Vegas... no no... back to Richland... and the passenger
service person was a former employee of the Discovery channel... I said
I need to get to Richland so I can wish one of my bestest girl friends
happy birthday and maybe take her to dinner and give her a very very
special 21st birthday... the ticket lady said "Richland?" oh we have no
record of Richland in our computer and I know it is accurate because I
brought it with me from when we were doing the show "Lost Cities" about
the Manhattan Project and Richland isn't there... in fact it was never
there and all the powers that be in Richland have confirmed that it does
not and never has existed so you can't go there... I said "I was born
there.".. she advised that I was mistaken and none of the Sorry 7 were
born there... especially not Heidlebaugh ('65)... she said the fact that
Heidlebaugh was not born there is proof that none of us were born there
and I would just hafta come up with a new home town... I asked if maybe
she had it under Hanford... No... a thousand times no now get over it
boy!... Woe is me... what would I do... so I accepted a ticket to Las
Vegas... and even then I encountered problems... I had to throw away all
of my luggage... they said that everything I owned was capable of being
turned into a bomb and that I would hafta fly butt nekud back to Vegas...
not wanting to miss this lovely lady's birthday I got on the plane in my
pin feathers... and flew here only to encounter a time zone change which
explains why this message to the Sandstorm and Bomberdom comes a day
late... it's true... every word of it... so
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON THE 16TH TO KATHIE ROE TRUAX ('64)!!!!
-David Rivers ('65)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Gary Christian ('67)
It was a year ago today that I leaned of the passing of my friend,
Karen Schildknecht Mateo ('67).
Karen, my wife Deborah and I miss you very much. Enjoy your ride on the
wind, my friend.
-Gary Christian ('67)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Re: Grandparents
My grandmother moved from California to live with my family in the late
1950s. I remember we only had one half of our "B" house at that time. My
parents put in a room downstairs and that's where their bedroom was. I
shared the smaller bedroom with my grandmother and my brothers shared the
larger one. My aunt and uncle followed a year or two later. I think they
stayed with us for awhile until they took over the managership of the
Lewis Hotel in Pasco. They moved to Pasco and my grandmother eventually
got her own apartment. We took over the whole "B" house as we needed
more space (so each kid could have their own bedroom) and we turned the
excavated portion of the basement from two bedrooms into a "den".
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA
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****************************************************************
>>From: Tamara Lyons Zirians ('76)
Re: '76 Reunion
I would like to personally thank all those responsible for planning
our '76 Reunion this past weekend:
Merrie Wyrick Schilperoort
Carol Barnard
Dave Kelly
Julie White Evans
Rhonda Rose Connolly
Mark Fisher
Dave Koontz
Jocelyn Langlois
Thank you for all your planning and hard work!
-Tamara Lyons Zirians ('76)
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Funeral Notices
>>Marion Monson Vladimiroff ('60) ~ 6/3/42 - 8/12/06
>>Samantha Semmern ('02) ~ 9/11/83 - 8/12/06
>>LaDonna Hamblin Greco ('70) ~ 8/13/52 - 8/12/06
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/18/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6 Bombers sent stuff:
Richard Roberts ('49), Marguerite Groff ('54)
Nadine Reynolds ('61), Carol Converse ('64)
Tami Schuchart ('68), Marjo Vinther ('77)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jack Moorman ('54)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gary Carlson ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jacki Shipman ('75)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Richard Roberts ('49)
Jim Jensen ('50) wrote about the family singing in the car on long trips.
My mom and dad both liked to sing, they knew a lot of the old songs and
did this a lot. That's where I learned a lot of the "old" songs. Carol
Tyner ('52) and I did this to some degree with our four kids. I'm not too
sure what they learned, although most of them, along with their spouses,
are in some kind of entertainment either as a business or as a hobby.
Cheers,
-Richard Roberts ('49)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Marguerite Groff Tompkins ('54)
Class of '54 gals. Today is our lunch date at Granny's. Hoping to have a
much larger group this month. It's probably the last chance to see our
snow birds before they start their migration to the southwest. The food
is good and the company is even better. Oh, did I warn you folks in
Phoenix - Larry Christenson ('54) and wife Nanette (NAB) recently settled
there. Well, maybe not totally settled, but there just the same. We will
miss them here.
Oh, and a belated Happy Birthday to John Bruntlett. I'm always happy when
another '54 friend joins the rest of us 70 year oldsters. Yes, I know,
some of you have been 70 for a while and may even be 71 already. I'm
still getting use to it but have found that it doesn't hurt as much as I
thought it would.
-Marguerite Groff Tompkins ('54) ~ It's been beautiful in Richland.
I am not looking forward to winter.
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****************************************************************
>>From: Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61)
Re: Grandparents & Travel in the '40s and '50s
My parents were the only adventurers in their families who moved away
from the rest of the family. My Mother's family lived in Colorado and
my Dad's family lived in Colorado or Oklahoma. Because it was so far to
travel in those days, no one came to visit us - we always had to go visit
them. Every other year we would travel to Colorado and sometime also to
Oklahoma. In the off years, we visited the National Parks of the west.
We would leave after Dad got home from work on Friday night and drive to
Baker, Oregon to spend the night. The next day we would drive until it
got dark and stay somewhere in Wyoming (if we took the northern route)
or Utah (if we took the southern route). We would then drive to Denver
or Colorado Springs usually arriving mid day Sunday. We would also sing
every song imaginable (sometimes making them up as we went along) to keep
dad awake. My sister and I took along little notebooks to record all the
different state license plates we saw. Whoever saw it first and called it
out got to count it in their notebook and the other had to keep looking
for a different car and license. Whoever had the most different states
recorded won the game. I don't remember there being a prize for the
winner but it was fun. We also recorded the train engine numbers we saw
to see if we would see the same train at a different times on the trip
and always counted the number of cars in the train. I still count train
cars when traveling by car. A shaving cream manufacturer advertised along
the highways with a series of small signs on fence posts that made up a
clever saying and the last sign in the series said "Berma Shave". We
would look for these little signs and read them out loud to help pass the
time. There is not a historic marker between Richland and Denver that was
not visited by the Reynolds family. These were the only stops made other
than potty, gas and food stops. When we stopped for the dinner meal we
were not allowed to order a hamburger so my sister and I usually ordered
a hot beef sandwich. It was a real treat for us to eat out because we
only did it on vacation. There was also a resort called Little America in
Wyoming that had many, many, many bill boards advertising it before you
got to it. These bill boards made the resort out to be the best place on
earth. The main attraction at the resort was penguins on the premises.
This always seemed strange to me because it was in a desert. We begged my
parents to stop each time we passed but they said it was a money trap and
we had to keep going or we would never make to Grandma's house. I have
many fond memories of both the trips to visit relatives and the National
Parks. Another thing I remember was going through the mountains (all
2-lane winding roads) and seeing logging trucks with only 1 log on it
because the tree was so large in diameter. By comparison the log trucks
of today appear to be carrying tooth picks.
Since most of our parents who moved to Richland in '44 were in their late
'20s and early '30s, one seldom saw an elderly person in Richland. I have
a very vivid memory of my first trip to Spokane and thinking an awful lot
of old people lived there. To me, Richland was "normal" for the amount
of elderly people in the population and Spokane was "abnormal" for the
amount of elderly people in the population. Reality was that I had it
backwards.
-Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61) ~ where the Tucson Monsoon is winding down
and temps warming up again. We are also looking forward to the Club40
Reunion. Come on Class of '61 let's us get our attendance up!
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Carol Converse Maurer ('64)
To: Jim Jenson ('50)
Cabbage Hill was a very crooked highway that can be very scary going
over it, especially during the winter. Do they have a separate lane for
the semis coming down? I can't think of the town that it is close to now.
Carol Converse Maurer (Boomer Bomber Class of '64) ~ Eureka, CA where
we're in the fog this morning. Hopefully, it will burn off later on
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Tami Schuchart Keller ('68)
To: Shawn Schuchart Mabley ('78)
Hi Shawn, so fun to read your entries in the Sandstorm!! Mom & Dad moved
to Richland about 1947. You are absolutely right those of us growing up
in the '40s, '50s and '60s did have all the fun!! Growing up in Richland
created for me the most wonderful and incredible childhood. I loved
everything about it and wouldn't trade my life for anyone else's in the
whole wide world!!
I love you baby sister!!
-Tami Schuchart Keller ('68)
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>>From: Marjo Vinther Burt ('77)
I want to make sure my classmates are aware that Samantha Semmern ('02-RIP),
who was killed last Saturday in a car accident, is the daughter of our
classmate, Linda Fastabend ('77). Her obituary was posted in the 8/17
Sandstorm. Services are today (Friday) noon at Central United Protestant
Church.
-Marjo Vinther Burt ('77)
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/19/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11 Bombers sent stuff:
Dick Harris ('49), Shirley Rae Drury ('51), Marlene Maness ('57WB)
David Mansfield ('59), Patti Jones ('60), Tom Verellen ('60)
Dennis Hammer ('64), Gary Behymer ('64), Linda Reining ('64)
Betti Avant ('69), Christa Moore ('75)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: John Ward ('61)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Clark Riccobuono ('71)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Linda Barott ('71)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Dick Harris ('49)
Re: Nadine Reynolds Cochran's Memories of Trips from Richland to
Colorado! (Another diatribe from Dick Harris!
I too, remember the frequent trips to Denver from Richland, following VJ-
Day and cessation of gas rationing. In addition to the Burma Shave signs,
that kept us entertained, we also enjoyed Fearless Farris Discount Gas
promotions, along the way. My recollection was that Fearless Farris had
stations in Boise and in Salt Lake City. He would use a cheerful looking
skunk in many of the promotional signs, saying, "Feerless Farris, he
sells gas for the less, the Stinker!" One time in Boise, they had baby
skunks in a box that customers could view, while being stopped for fuel
at the station.
Between Boise and Mountain Home, a particularly uninteresting, sagebrush
covered area for miles and miles, he added a couple of outstanding focus
points. He'd installed signs that said, "Petrified Watermelons, take one
home to your Mother-in-law!" Immediately, you would see and area littered
with boulders, about the size of a good sized melon, very smooth and
probably left by the ancient flooding of the area.
Similarly, another distraction advertised "Rest rooms ahead." Shortly one
would see two 55 gal. barrels, placed upright and strategically a few
yards apart, with one signed "Men," and one with "Women." The offering
price of the gas was very attractive!
There is still "Little America," 31 miles west of Rock Springs in Wyoming
on I-80 and old U.S. Highway 30. It it a lively truck stop with Motel
accommodations, restaurants, convenience stores, etc. In those days, we
didn't have the freeways, I-84 and I-80 through Idaho and Wyoming; we
took old Highway 30 from Boise, through Mountain Home, Jerome, Pocatello,
and Montpelier (almost on the Idaho/Wyoming border. Then, Kemmerer, Rock
Springs, Rawlins, and Laramie, then south on U.S. 287 to Fort Collins and
Denver.
Rawlins, WY holds special memories. On the way to Richland from Denver
in August of 1944, my mother and war-bride, sister-in-law from Texas were
driving our '36 Ford Tudor, Flatback Sedan, pulling the home-made trailer
with supplies for the trip and some personal and household goods. Dad
had been in Richland since March and had just received word that a newly
assembled, three-bedroom prefab on Longfitt would be ready for occupancy.
We stopped in Rawlins for the first night out of Denver and Mom
negotiated for a unit at a "auto-camp." It was one of several units
joined together with gabled car ports. The units were on a hillside and
thus a rather steep wood staircase saw us into the front door. Mom didn't
pull into the narrow carport, because she didn't want to maneuver the car
and trailer back out the next morning at an early hour. Anyway, after we
had our dinner in the unit and then sat out on the stairway to get away
from the terrible heat in the unit. After it cooled some we went to bed
to be able to leave early the next morning.
My next memory of Rawlins, was returning to Wenatchee from Denver in
1985. We had visited my 90 year old Mother in an elderly-care home in
North Denver on her birthday in November We had left Denver listening to
the Denver Broncos playing the Seattle Seahawks on the radio and a heavy
snowstorm was upon us. We could see the eerie lights of the Stadium in
the distance as we left town. We soon got into heavy, driving snow and
finally got into Laramie for the night.
The next morning, the Wyoming Freeway Chain Sign was lit and we learned
that this sign meant that you didn't have to put on chains, but if you
had an accident or caused an accident because of lack of chains you were
eligible for a fine. We chose to avoid putting on the chains as we were
quite confident of the capability of our relatively new '85 Honda Accord
with front wheel drive and Goodyear Winter Tires. We hadn't driven more
than a mile before we saw the first car in the ditch. Then it was a semi
tractor and trailor and so it went until we stopped for lunch in Rawlins.
The restaurants were crowded with drivers that had been scared out of
their wits with the conditions, especially the side winds that made
vision troubling. So we ate and listened to many stories of close calls
with disaster.
Then with everyone recommending against driving westerly again on the
freeway, we headed for Rock Springs. We hadn't gotten far before we
saw the first semi, blown over by the winds. Then another and another.
Actually the Wyoming Highway Patrol had warned against truckers driving
empty as they would likely encounter heavy winds. We finally got to Rock
Springs. We had one close call as I was passing a semi on the inside lane
and his wheels threw up snow so fiercely that I lost all perspective for
a few seconds. I found us heading straight for a metal pole that was used
for marking the median and somehow I managed to miss it with a slalom
maneuver and safely back into the lane. I didn't try to pass any more
semis that day.
When we got to Rock Springs we learned that the freeway was closed for
west-bound traffic. We got the same motel unit that we had stayed in the
previous week going the other way. Only this time we payed almost twice
the price. We were happy to get a unit and watched "An Officer and a
Gentleman" on the TV once again. So, there was another memory of Rawlins
in the bank.
In 1994, I led a Rotary Group Study Exchange Team to Tasmania, Australia
for 6 weeks. The GSE Committee Chairman and I have become close friends
and we have returned to Tasmania three times since then and friends
including this gentleman have come to Wenatchee a number of times. He had
been a Team Leader for a GSE Team to the Rotary District that includes
Northern Colorado, Western Nebraska, and all of Wyoming. He had seen
most of this part of our country and enjoyed the hospitality of western
American Rotarians and their families very much. I asked Maurice Hill
what most impressed him about this District. I expected him to say,
Estes Park in CO or perhaps Jackson Hole, WY, but he said "Rawlins, WY!"
I told him that I considered Rawlins the "Armpit of the Nation" (a little
hyperbole never hurts!) So I said "What impressed you so much about
Rawlins?" He replied that he had met the most enthusiastic human being
that he had ever met in Rawlins. The Team had come to Rawlins and was
scheduled to make a presentation to the local Rotary Club at noon. They
were very disappointed with the low attendance when they were to make a
presentation about Tasmania and Australia. But they made the best of it
and were taken on a tour of the old Territorial Prison in the afternoon.
Here is where he had met the enthusiastic person who was the tour leader.
When this non-Rotarian heard about the disappointment in the turn-out
at the Rotary meeting he started to make some arrangements. Before they
knew what was happening they learned that there was another presentation
meeting scheduled for that evening and this guy had invited half of
the town! So they gave their presentation to a full house and enjoyed
themselves very much. Maurice said "How could I do anything but like
Rawlins!
Maurice subsequently came to Miami for Rotary District Governor training
and took his wife to visit a few of his friends from the CO, NE, WY
area and to see some of the sights. Yes, he took her to the tour of the
old prison and guess who their tour guide was. He recognized Maurice
immediately and said, "Your Maurice Hill from Tasmania!" I agree with
Maurice, how could anyone with those experiences forget Rawlins?
Just after the middle of September, 2000, I was driving alone across
Wyoming to attend the memorial service of a niece who had just succumbed
to pancreatic cancer in Denver. Wouldn't you know it there was a freak
early snowstorm and the freeway was closed easterly at Rawlins. It stayed
closed for 2 1/2 days! So I talked to lots of Rawlins residents while
killing time there. I learned that our friend from the Territorial Prison
Museum Tour had changed careers and was now a Catholic priest. Of course
I reported this to my friend, Maurice in Tasmania who said that he wasn't
surprised. Yes, we remember Rawlins!
-Dick Harris ('49)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51)
Re: More about Cabbage Hill
To: Carol Converse Maurer ('64) and Jim Jensen ('50)
Cabbage Hill overlooks the area east of Pendleton, OR in the Blue
Mountains. The name came from the early highway's resemblance to one
side of a giant head of cabbage. There were many, many abrupt switchbacks
as the road descended from the summit (Deadman's Pass) to the flat
floor of the landscape. You wouldn't recognize it today. The four,
sometimes five lanes, divide into separate highways for eastbound and
westbound traffic with hardly any switchbacks that I recall, just curves.
They do still have places where trucks that lose their brakes can divert
uphill into the side of the mountain to stop themselves. I thought it is
now called Emigrant Hill, but in Googling it, I only find Cabbage Hill.
I've sent a photo from a live camera at Deadman Pass into the photo
section of Alumni Sandstorm..
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Any/060819-Drury-CabbHill.jpg
And here is a link to some map information where you can check out the
highway and satellite views.
Thanks for the memories, they're all so interesting!
-Shirley Rae Drury Crume ('51)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Marlene Maness Mulch ('57WB)
Re: Cabbage Hill
Cabbage Hill is on Highway 84, between Pendleton and LaGrande Oregon. I
was driving a Kenworth truck and came upon two semi trucks side by side
going about 10 mph. I couldn't downshift fast enough and the engine
died, losing power to the brakes. My husband, Miles ('56 RIP) was in the
sleeper. I yelled at him and he jumped into the driver's seat and got it
started again just as we were starting to roll backwards. Not to worry -
I'm no longer driving a semi on the highways.
-Marlene Maness Mulch ('57WB) ~ Prescott, AZ
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****************************************************************
>>From: David Mansfield ('59)
To: Linda Sargent Evans ('67)
I have either lost your e mail address or corrupted it. Send me an email.
Thanks,
-David Mansfield ('59)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60)
Re: Samantha Semmern (RIP '02)
I am so sad and angry to have such a young girl's life taken so quickly
by a drunk driver. A Bomber full of life.
My son, grand daughter and myself were at Howard Amon park when the
sirens wailed and wailed. It wasn't long before they calmed down. I
suspected maybe a fire. We were on our way to my home in West Richland
when traffic slowed down Van Giesen before crossing the bypass. Police
cars were all over the place. Then we saw the car that Samantha was in.
Hers on the east side of the bypass and the car that hit her on the west
side of the bypass. I won't go into description of what the car looked
like. The memory I have will be there for a long time is enough. Being
victim myself to drunk drivers hitting the cars I was in has stayed with
me for years. I also physically have lived with the results for years. I
will never understand. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't drink and drive. Tell
everyone you know. Not one drink or the legal limit and drive. If they
don't understand tell them to educate what alcohol can do. The saddest
part of all is the drunk driver usually walks away unscathed physically.
Pray for the family and friends whom it will take a long time to get
through the grief process if they do.
Re: Mrs. Foust (now Burroughs) 4th grade teacher starting in the
'50s at Spalding school
To: All Bombers
For the Bombers who knew or had Mrs. Foust (now Burroughs) as a 4th grade
teacher, she has agreed to come to Club 40 on Friday night. She has asked
me to put in a Sandstorm entry regarding a statue that was given to her
by a student. She has kept the statue all these years but can't remember
who gave it to her. The statue is a school marm with a stick. She wants
to thank the student. If you are the Bomber who created the statue or
know who did you are welcome to email me so I can let her know who it is.
If you are going to Club 40 you can let her know it is you.
Re: Club 40
To: All Bombers
Three weeks away! Check the sign up list by going to the Bomber home
page. Scroll down to Club 40, click into the home page, scroll to
attendance. What fun to see who is coming as the sign ups come in.
Attendance is growing daily. I am looking forward to seeing many Bombers
that have signed up that I haven't seen for years or rarely through the
years.
Bombers Have Fun
-Patti Jones Ahrens - West Richland, WA where August has been good to us
with the weather.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Tom Verellen ('60)
Re: Cabbage hill
I can see myself around age 8 thinking; a whole hill made of cabbage.
Really wasn't that one of the names for the hill southeast of Pendleton
that we also called "Deadman's Pass" which is a lot cooler than cabbage.
Our family made those vacation trips to Colorado the first one was in a
'36 Chevy. All of the siblings had assigned seating and no wiggle room.
In later years we all appreciated the swamp cooler that hung in the
side window to provide a little relief from the drive across Idaho and
Wyoming. I have tried to describe to my children and grandchildren what
is was like to travel on those two lane highways but I don't think they
can get it. I think one of the reasons nobody from back there ever came
to visit was because there was nothing on any of the maps (like the edge
of the earth). Some things are better now than in "the good old days."
-Tom Verellen ('60) ~ the end of summer in the rear view mirror.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dennis Hammer ('64)
To: Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61)
Re: Travel -- Little America
I remember Little America very well. We always stopped there, usually
only for an hour or so. I don't remember any real penguins, but maybe
either I didn't see them, or they were no longer there. I think this
"Little America" was named after the scientific and exploration base in
Antarctica which was also named "Little America." If that is the case,
then that probably explains the penguins. I remember stopping in 1963 and
about 40 to 50 feet away a cowboy pulled up in a new Pontiac convertible.
It had those slab sides and painted that really dark blue that was so
dark it was almost black which was a popular color in those days. Even
though it was new the sides of that car were covered with horizontal
scratches running from the front to the back. The picture that came to my
mind was this cowboy herding his cattle driving his convertible through
the sagebrush.
Here is a postcard from Little America that I got in the '50s. That nice
sign with the penguin is long gone and there is just a little ugly
generic sign now.
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Any/060813-Hammer-LittleAm.jpg
It is interesting that your parents would not stop because it is a money
trap, and my parents did stop. Nobody can stretch a dime like my parents.
My mother even washes out her zip-lock bags and uses them again. We also
only eat out on trips, and even then, if it was a short trip they would
pack our food, and we would find a picnic bench at a park or rest stop.
Re: Travel -- Tree Growing in Solid Rock
Somewhere between Cheyenne and Little America the freeway will split and
between the Eastbound lanes and Westbound lanes there is a tree growing
out of a solid granite rock. My research indicates that it was discovered
in 1868 by surveyors for the railroad and word is that the railroad route
was diverted to preserve the tree. Railroad engineers would pour a bucket
of water on it as they passed. The railroad was relocated and the old
railroad became a wagon road, which became a highway, which is now I-80.
Here is a photo I took in the '50s of the tree.
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Any/060813-Hammer-Tree.jpg
The last time I was there was 1977. We went to Iowa and took my wife, her
mother, and three nieces. Good thing we had one of those good old big
cars with a big trunk. I had a made diagram of just how to pack all that
luggage in the trunk. Left mother-in-law and nieces in Iowa while my
wife and I made a side trip to see my relatives in Missouri. It was dark
the first time we went by and on the way back I was afraid we would miss
it again. We got there just after the sun had gone down, however, enough
light to take silhouette of the tree and rock. The photo came out very
good, maybe even a little artistic. I wish I knew where that slide was, I
would scan and sent that one, but I have boxes and boxes and reels and
reels of slides all over the place.
A few months ago (29 years later) the one of those nieces was having a
get-together for one of her sons who was heading back east for some
special Army training. When I found out the route he and his wife were
taking, I mentioned he would be going by that tree in the rock. His
mother then said, "I remember that!!!" I asked him to look for it and let
me know if it was still there. I have heard that he did call back, said
it was still there, and seemed to be quite excited about it.
-Dennis Hammer ('64) ~ On Safari in Lion Country (Kennewick)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Gary Behymer ('64)
I'm a 1st year baby boomer (1946)... None of my grandparents ever came to
Richland... then again 3 of them died before March of 1943 when my folks
came out from the DuPont 'black powder' plant in Indiana. (1938, 1940
and 1942) Grandpa B was born in 1867 & died in 1954. I never had an
opportunity to meet him. For many pre-1970 grads there weren't many
Grandparents alive & IF they were... there wasn't a lot of extra monies
to go some place.
Anyone know what is located on/near 45th & University Way in Seattle?
HINT: when dorm food got bad at the U of W we would make a run with 7 or
8 'guys' to have dinner...
Re: John Bixler ('64)
Spotted the following familiar name while reading Walt Crowley's book
"rites of passage" aka "A Memoir of the Sixties in Seattle."
Chapter 12 Page 109 'Dumping Johnson, Dropping Pianos'
"Not So Straight John" Bixler joined us that spring, and also began
taking pix for us. (John's first appearance was an ad to sell his Bugati
motorcycle; his next appearance was to beg whoever stole it to please
bring it back." (John worked for the Helix.. an 'underground' newspaper.)
http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=1990
...a different direction
I spent my junior & senior years in McMahan Hall at the U of W - room
501... anyone else live there?
https://hfs.washington.edu/student_housing/residence_halls.aspx?id=305
-Gary Behymer ('64)...at the 3rd stoplight heading South on Main Street
in downtown Colfax, WA
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****************************************************************
>>From: Linda Reining ('64)
re:car trips
we sang songs on long trips, too. my daughters do the same with their
children. when we(my two daughters and their three children)traveled to
Richland for my 40th class reunion, we sang songs the entire trip---my
grandchildren thought we had lost our minds---played a lot of the "golden
oldies" and "danced in our seats", so that might have had something to do
with it. *grin* we also play the license plate game---we even bought "car
bingo" and the kids play that, too, when they aren't watching TV in the
car OR playing hand-held video games.
re:Burma Shave
there is a web site(the exact address escapes my memory at the moment)
where you can find all those old sayings. we would read those signs all
the way from Richland to Minnesota and back, again.
re:counting train cars
I STILL do that---especially, if we are stuck at a railroad crossing.
my dad would only stop at truck stops, claimed that if you drove by one
and it was full of "truckers", then it was a good place to eat. my
brother and would always order the "silver dollar-size pancakes". didn't
matter if it was breakfast, lunch, or dinner. *grin*
Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber class of 64)........still only 90's in
Bakersfield, CA, but we are due for more triple digits next week. man, I
am sooooooooo ready for Winter! we got our PGE bill for the month of
July----over $600!!!!! 14 straight days of temperatures OVER 105 and MORE
a/c usage is to blame!!
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>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Carol,
The closest town to Cabbage Hill is Pendleton. You wouldn't believe it
but it is all 4-lane interstate now. It still has some curves to it but
not like it did years ago. I have come down and gone up it several times
while living in Kansas and coming to Richland for visits. I can say I
don't miss it. As a kid those kind of roads made my carsickness worse,
but since I have been driving I don't get even queasy.
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA supposed to get into the 80's the next several days
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Christa Moore Kirkendall ('75)
Re: Ron Eliason ('75-RIP)
I read the obit on the Tri-City Herald about our fellow 1975 RHS grad,
Ron Eliason. I haven't seen him since high school and didn't really know
him while at RHS, but would like to send condolences to his family and
friends. 49 is way to young to die!
Also, condolences to Linda Fastabend ('77), on the tragic death of her
daughter, Samantha Semmern ('02-RIP) What a tragedy to lose a child in
such a horrific way.
God bless you all.
-Christa Moore Kirkendall ('75)
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*******************************************
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 ~ 08/20/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6 Bombers sent stuff:
Jim Jensen ('50), Marguerite Groff ('54)
Pappy Swan ('59), Janet Tyler ('61)
Nadine Reynolds ('61), Carol Converse ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Loretta Ostboe ('55)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mary Jean Mattson ('60)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: John Choate ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Steve Jackson ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jerie Ehinger ('69WB)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Margaret Surplus ('69)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Jim Jensen ('50)
Re: "Old Time" Traveling
Reading the accounts posted by "older" Bombers concerning Cabbage Hill,
singing and THE highway - US 30 - is interesting and entertaining. I
truly appreciate the experiences shared with all of us. Shirley Rae
Drury Crume's ('51) provision of a picture and the map put things in
perspective for me. My family's first exposure to Cabbage Hill (never
knew it was called that) was on a by-gone New Year's Eve. My dad was
driving and pulling our trailer house - in heavy fog. Never saw what
awaited on the other side of the guard rails. The next time all was clear
and dad, as he was disposed to do, was enjoying the scenery so much
that we crept far too close to the rickety, inadequate guard rails. My
Mom's fists were clenched so tight her knuckles were white. She was so
frightened that she couldn't speak. My sister, Julie (WB '57 RIP) and I
sunk down near the floor so that we couldn't see the precipitous sights
my dad was describing with joy. Julie and I would repeat our head-in-the-
sand escape every time we went over the Hill with dad at the wheel. When
I drove home on leave (from the Air Force) in 1956 I found the Hill, the
scenery, etc. relaxing. We always called that treacherous stretch around
Cabbage Hill "The Pendleton Mountain.*
To: David Rivers ('65)
Your account of 8/17 concerning the "flight" adventure was priceless.
Great dialogue. I always enjoy clever humor. Thanks for sharing your own
brand.
Bomber Cheers,
-Jim Jensen ('50)
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>>From: Marguerite Groff Tompkins ('54)
The subject of grandparents and other extended family members has made me
realize how fortunate our family was. My mom was raised in Spokane and my
dad in Wenatchee. They met and were married at Grand Coulee where dad was
employed in the construction of Grand Coulee Dam. In 1943 dad got a job
at Hanford. We lived in Sunnyside until 1945 when we moved to Richland.
Throughout all the years of our childhood, my siblings and I (Phil
Groff ('58); Bill Groff ('61 - RIP) and Marilyn Groff Taylor ('63) had
the privilege of having lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins in either
Wenatchee or Spokane. We were fortunate to have a wonderful warm
relationship with paternal grandparents in Wenatchee (maternal
grandparents were deceased). As a family we visited in Spokane and
Wenatchee several times a year (with thanks to dad's long weekends)
and they would also visit us. I didn't realize the just how unique our
situation was. Of the generation proceeding us, there is one aunt still
living. She was the baby of my mom's family and turns 90 in October.
Thanks Patti Jones Ahrens ('60) for discussing the terrible accident
that caused the death of Samantha Semmern (RIP '02). I have several
grandchildren from those just starting to the ones that have been driving
for a few years. I never forget to pray daily for their safety. Of course
I have to voice my concerns like to "drive safely; watch for idiot
reckless and/or drunken driver, and, very important: "Don't you drink and
drive!". Hopefully this terrible accident will remind our young ones that
they are vulnerable and that they need to be extremely vigilant (which in
this case probably wouldn't have made a difference). Too bad that those
who drink and drive don't believe that they could possibly kill innocent
people. They think that they don't really have a problem and drive just
fine with a "few" drinks under their belt. Sorry for the "soap box".
However, I want my family protected. Fortunately my grandkids respect me
and I rarely hear an "Oh Grandma!!"
-Marguerite Groff Tompkins ('54) ~ Happily in Richland where the weather
continues to be beautiful. My only complaint is that a neighbor
had a very tall tree cut down. From my vantage point, it was
beautiful, growing high in the sky. But - I wouldn't want it in
my yard!!
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>>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
Re: Trains, Little Brains, and Small towns
Some of my "Puddle Pals," Jan Bollinger Persons ('60), Lora Homme Page ('60),
and Patti Jones Ahrens ('60) were trying to top each other about who came
from the smallest town. So, I offered some of my early history:
Y'all are just plain "getta down an' getta funky" city slickers compared
to my upbringin.' I was born in Wellington, Kansas (jus' north of the
Oklahoma border) but spent my first 5 (little brain) years livin' north
of there in Riverdale with a population estimate of 12 or 13. Ya see, the
population was unstable cause Uncle Nelson could never make up his mind
if he was gonna be a cowboy in Colorado or a farmer in Kansas, so he
kinda wandered back and forth on his Harley Davidson mount, "Ol' Booger."
Riverdale was a short detour from the Texaco Truck Stop down on the
main highway to Wichita. It was just a spot in the road with a lot of
mud puddles and ruts during the spring thunderstorms. It was always
celebration time when the county road grader passed through town. At that
early age, I learned what was meant by, "Too wet to plow" (or grade).
By 1930s and '40s standards, Riverdale was a thriving little Kansas
farm berg among a crazy-quilt of farms and fields. It had a one room
schoolhouse, a couple of houses, a grain elevator, and a general store
(that my aunt operated and lived in the back portion). The store also
housed the post office, actually a cage with some little boxes (with
little doors equipped with little combo lock knobs). Aunt Gladys was
also the post mistress. She was ahead of her time. She was a multitask
performing lady. The store was most modern, considering the territory,
as Aunt Gladys had a pop machine. Well, actually, it was a metal box that
held water and ice (when she could get the city boys in Wellington to
deliver ice). In that box, a young boy could find "sodee pops" with
exotic names like Grape Nehi, Coca Cola, and Root Beer. There was a big
potbelly wood stove, with "Eisin glass" windows in the door, sitting in
the middle of the store with chairs sittin' 'round it. Always, there was
a coffee pot sittin' on the flat top. A galvanized tub of cool water with
a dipper hangin' on it perched on a nearby table. Farm folk from all
around gathered there to get their mail, buy a few goods, visit with Aunt
Gladys and each other.
And, the local telephone "One Ringee Dingee-type" switchboard (operated
by Bessie Weaver) was in a tiny house across the road from the Riverdale
General Store. As a young boy, I was most impressed. Bessie must have
been a smart lady. I'm thinking psychic, even. She seemed to know
everything about everybody who lived for miles around. I'd say she was
a local historian. But, the locals did not seem to appreciate that fact
or view her in the same light as a young boy did.
Now, friends, neighbors, and fellow Bombers, the railroad track ran right
next to the store. The train delivered the mail, but it never stopped.
Mail delivery consisted of the mail car dude pitching a locked canvas bag
out the door as the train roared through Riverdale, which Aunt Gladys
deftly dodged (most of the time). The mailbags were very similar to those
that the Butch Cassidy and Jesse James gangs often tried to steal, not
too awful many years before. Often the bags were quite heavy, depending
on what the farmers and their wives had mail ordered. One time Aunt
Gladys was slightly deficient in deftness. The mail bag knocked Aunt
Gladys on her Kansas Keester. We carried her (well the adults did, while
I drug the mailbag) back to the store on a spare door. A little water
dribbled from the dipper on her face and all was, once again, well in
Riverdale.
You are probably asking yerself 'bout now ... What about the outgoing
mail? Aunt Gladys always had to get the locked bag full of outgoing mail
from "Where are we, again," Kansas to Anywhere, USA over to the tracks
before the train whistle sounded close. It always toot-tooted a warning
way down the tracks. She hung the bag up on a U-shaped metal thingy,
mounted on its side, atop an iron pole, so that the open part of the U,
faced the train (as it went by). As the train came by making a "chuuuka,
chuukkka, chukkka" sound with the black coal smoke and steam rolling out
of the stacks, the engineer always waved, blew the whistle and rang the
bell. In those days, I was thoroughly convinced that it was all for my
entertainment. Anyway, here comes the mail car with the mail clerk/dude
hanging part way out looking for us and waving. There was a metal arm
that he would swing out from his door on the side of the mail car. It
caught the canvas mailbag with a loud "Whack!" and the mail dude swung
the bag in and the letters from "Where are we" were well on their way to
Monkey Wards, Sears and sawbuck, the Burrrpee seed company, and more than
once it took my orders for Captain Billy's Whiz-bang contest entries
and wondrous items advertised on radio shows, and such. Years later, it
finally occurred to me ... why so many things arrived "broken" in the
mail.
To this day, as I have mentioned before, the only train that I ever rode
was the "Bullet Train" in Japan. Such a shame, it was just not the same.
How well I remember seeing steam locomotives throughout the West, puffing
up hills and mountains, running downgrade, or puffing into the stations,
with a big final expulsion of steam (as if saying, "I need a break!").
Too bad they don't have trains and towns like that anymore. Today's
trains and towns just don't have intriguing personalities in the manner
that the old ones did. Perhaps, that's 'cause personalities like Aunt
Gladys and Bessie Weaver are long gone like the locomotives.
-George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ Burbank, WA where it was about 100º today
and there are a few more than 13 people living around here but not
by much (and not counting elves). And, I am pondering yet another
of life's great questions, "Did my brain grow ... any?"
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>>From: Janet Tyler ('61)
To: Christa Moore Kirkendall ('75)
Re: Ron Eliason ('75-RIP)
Ron's father and step-mother live next door to me. When I last talked to
Dale Eliason on Sunday, he told me they hadn't yet heard the cause of
death, but expected to hear soon. Dale also commented on the large number
of people at the service and how surprised they were at the turn out.
-Janet Tyler ('61)
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>>From: Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61)
Re: Dick Harris ('49) Rawlings, Wyoming
We too, had an adventure in Rawlings while traveling to Denver. This must
have been in '51 since my brother, Stan ('69) was still a baby in arms.
There was road construction starting at Rawings and going east. All
morning we had seen taxi cabs being transported going west. Instead of
using a car transport truck like today one driver was driving two taxis
connected by a tow bar. It had been several hours since we had seen a
group of these taxis. The road was, of course, a two lane road. For some
reason the roadway was being built up 8 to 10 feet. All of a sudden, we
see one of these taxis passing a string of cars and he was coming our
direction in our lane. He tried to drop back in behind one of the cars he
was passing but hooked his front bumper with the back bumper of the car
he was passing and could not get loose. The taxi he was towing started to
swing back and forth. My Dad got as far to the right as he could but
because the roadway was raised he had to be careful not to roll over the
embankment. We thought that the swaying taxi would be swayed away from
our car when it passed but no such luck. It swayed right into the left
front fender of our car and scraped the full length of our car. This was
in the days before seat belts. Mom was holding my baby brother trying to
protect him and smashed her head on the rear view mirror and windshield.
She also smashed her knee on the dash. My Dad held on to the steering
wheel and came through the crash okay. My sister and I were thrown around
in the back seat receiving bumps and bruises. The taxi driver had gotten
behind the rest of the drivers and was trying to make up time. Our car
had to have repairs before it could be driven and we spent 2 days in
Rawlings getting checked out by a doctor and working out the details of
the car repair. We left the car in Rawlings and finished the trip by
Greyhound bus. Both Mom's eyes turned black and she had trouble walking
with the banged up knee. You should have seen the looks people gave my
Dad when we got on and off the bus. I am sure they thought he was a wife
beater. When we came back through Rawlings, we picked up the car but it
was missing its left front fender. We could not drive after dark on our
way home because we had no headlight. In spite of it all we had a good
visit with the relatives and a memory of Rawlings I will never forget.
-Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61) where Tucson's weather is beautiful
(temps in the 90s)
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>>From: Carol Converse Maurer ('64)
Re: Cabbage Hill
LaGrande was the town that I was trying to think of when I submitted my
2 cents in the other day. I could see in my mind's eye just what the
highway looked like, but couldn't think of the town. Sounds like the
improvements are like the improvements they did going down all those
switch backs from Moscow, Idaho into Lewiston/Clarkston. All that area
around Cabbage Hill is so pretty. Also called "Deadman's Pass".
-Carol Converse Maurer (Boomer Bomber Class of '64) ~ Eureka, CA
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/21/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2 Bombers sent stuff:
Pappy Swan ('59) and Lynn-Marie Hatcher ('68)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Don Fisher ('50)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Twins: Larry & LaVerne Osterman ('51)
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****************************************************************
>>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
Re: Recollections of Cabbage Hill and Choo Choo Trains (on the other side)
I remember bits and pieces of some my family's "Wagons East" trips. In
the late forties and fifties, we traveled back to Kansas (to see extended
family members and determine if Aunt Gladys was still nimble enough to
survive flying mailbags) or just to LaGrande, OR to see friends who were
also immigrants from Kansas. All of those trips had something in common
... Cabbage Hill and Emigrant Pass.
We seldom traveled in winter. But, I do remember some "puckery" trips to
LaGrande in the snow. Traveling in the warmer season was better in many
ways, but brought other concerns. Most folks traveled with "a load,"
several family members and lots of "stuff." The climb out of Pendleton,
up and over Cabbage Hill always revealed numerous vehicles lining the
sides of the road with steaming radiators, and virtually every car and
truck had one or more of those canvas water bags hanging from the hood
ornament or door handles. We experienced the overheating phenomenon a
couple of times and so did Dad's ol' Ford. Everyone seemed to pull off on
the West side of the road near the summit at Emigrant Springs for a drink
of cold spring water, recharge water bags or thirsty, hot radiators, and
congratulate themselves for, once again, conquering Cabbage Hill. Today,
I think water is still available at the spring. But, with the freeway now
in place, the reliability of modern vehicles and coolant systems, the
spring is all but forgotten, as the traffic streams by, unless one takes
the off ramp into the Emigrant Springs State Park.
I always like to ponder what the reactions would be from folks back in
history if we could go back and bring them forward to see what became of
their "world." It's a kinda lopsided thing as, we have the advantage of
history books and handed down stories of their exploits, but they, then,
were like us now, in a sense. We can surmise and predict what life will
be like a hundred or two hundred years from now, but ... Just think about
life in the forties and compare it to contemporary life. "We've come a
long way Baby!"
On those trips of yesteryear, since the old highway was built, pretty
much, to follow the wagon roads which followed or were followed by the
established railroad route, a boy could watch for "Puffer Billies,"
chugging up mountain passes. In those days the diesel engines were
rapidly replacing the old steam locomotives. But, I recall the
locomotives were still in use in those Blue Mountains of Oregon. I think
the old locomotives pulled the train cars up to the top of the pass to
"Meachum Siding" at the upper end of "Railroad Canyon" where the modern
engines took over. Our friends (from Kansas), lived in a tiny cluster
of houses called "Perry," located a few miles out of LaGrande on the
northerly route. Perry is still there and can be seen from the freeway.
The houses are occupied, but our friends are long gone.
Anyway, I remember seeing long trains pulled by two or more of the old
steam and black smoke belching train engines. A memory that I recall
every time I pass through there is of being a boy lying in bed, in Perry,
marveling at the late night sights and sounds of an old locomotive way
up or way down the Grande Ronde River Canyon. First came the lonesome,
mournful, far away train's steam whistle. That was my signal. I would get
out of bed and pull up the window shades. The distant mountains would
eerily reflect the approaching head lamp, that seemed to sweep the
mountains like a coastal lighthouse or an airport beacon, appearing and
disappearing amid the now dim glowing mountains. As the train approached,
it would blow its whistle at each distant crossing. The light grew
brighter, the sounds more loud. Suddenly bursting round the bend, comes
the one-eyed monster in the night as the little mountain pocket called
Perry exploded into light, whistle blowing, and bell ringing. Rushing
onward through the crossing, the engine, with its firebox under the
boiler, glowing in the night, quickly created the reverse effect of it's
approach as it grew more distant. Usually, the train was composed of many
cars and even though the engine was soon long gone, the cars rattled
and clicked by for minutes that seemed like hours. Sooner or later, the
caboose always clicked by and the glow of its red taillight grew smaller
until going out of sight, and the night once again ... returned to
mountain silence.
Often there would be another train following or another would wake me
later in the night. But, eventually, I would fall into a deep contented
sleep, probably the result of intense daylight hours spent fishing,
exploring the mountains, mushroom picking, catching frogs, snakes, and
salamanders, and ... you know ... all that stuff that little boys do.
Looking back, I surmise that the inhabitants of Perry, then and now, must
get used to the trains of the night. The trains have changed but the
tracks are still where they were and the new trains make their own noise
and light in the night. All I know is that, those were sights and sounds
that I will never forget and unfortunately ... probably never experience
again.
However, I have heard of old trains that still run "out there" in places
like Durango, CO and up Provo Canyon south of Salt Lake City, UT. I think
next summer, I will locate one of these trains and go ride it. That way,
when I get to the Pearly Gates and Saint Peter asks, "What have you done
with your life?" I can answer, "Well Sir, I once rode a real train!"
-George "Pappy" Swan ('59) ~ Burbank, WA where now, on a calm,
finally cool, night, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish
the difference between the sound of a diesel train engine on
the distant tracks from that of a laboring tug boat out on
the river.
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****************************************************************
>>From: Lynn-Marie Hatcher Peashka ('68)
Re: Raising Grandkids
Well, I have read about it, of course -- the growing phenomenon of
grandparents raising their grandchildren. And in fact, several of my
patients are doing just that, so I hear about it face to face on just
about a weekly basis from one or another of them.
But READING and HEARING about it are both altogether different than DOING it!
Eldest son, Seth ('93 Hanford WB), has been ill for some time. The
problems have become increasingly worse over the past two months to
the point where he is going to have to be hospitalized for an extended
period, followed by a lengthy recuperation.
He and his wife, Sarah, are parents to Asher (2.5 years) and Noah (4.5
months). The long and the short of it is that family is family, and there
is simply no way that the kids could deal with this illness, and "be
there" for the their sons the way they want and need to be.
Noah is a placid, easy infant (thanks be to God!), and is still easy
to tote around to doctor appointments, hospital visits, etc. His sweet
disposition and easy going nature seem to be unaffected thus far by the
ramifications and impact of Seth's illness. We are praying that will
continue to the be case.
Asher, however, is a VERY verbal, sensitive kid. He talks like a 4 year
old, and in many ways seems to think like one, too. As a consequence,
with a Daddy too sick to really be "Daddy" right now, and a Mommy with
her hands completely full with an infant and sick Daddy, Asher has really
been suffering from all of this.
Last Monday, 8/14, Sarah called. The breaking point had been reached,
and she asked if they could take us up on our offer to take Asher for a
while. At this point, we are looking at three months or so -- but that
depends on how fast Seth is able to get back on his feet. It could be
much longer. Once Seth can handle it, he, Sarah and Noah will be moving
to Clarkston (from Everett), so we can all be just 1/2 hour apart.
Anyway, Asher is loving life on the farm. But when Thomas and I got
married (two months after Asher was born), we did not really expect to be
raising another little one. Nikolai (our youngest -- Thomas' bio son, but
we all consider him "ours") is 17.5, and going into his senior year.
The first 5 days have gone well enough -- although as Thomas pointed out,
it is much like becoming new parents again. We have to change our lives
around to accommodate the needs of a toddler. We are tired!!!!! Our hope,
of course, is that after a few weeks, we will all be in a rhythm, and
things will begin to roll smoothly. Who knows -- we might even have some
time to ourselves again by then!!
In the meantime, we would like to hear from any other Bombers with
experience at raising grandkids. Tips and hints and encouragement (and
prayers!) appreciated.
Thank God Asher is a sweet, smart little guy who worships his Opa, loves
his Grandma Lynnie, and thinks "Unca Nik" is the greatest playmate of
all time. (Thank God for Nikolai -- who loves Asher, too -- and doesn't
object at all to pitching in with his care!)
Wish us luck -- and write if you have suggestions!
-Lynn-Marie Hatcher Peashka ('68) ~ Haven Farm - 18 miles east of
Lewiston, Idaho
PS -- Forgot to mention that tomorrow is Asher's first day of
day care (in his life), and I have to go back to my office for
the first time since he got here. It's been a while since I have
been the working "mother" of a 2 year old. I am NOT looking
forward to the exhaustion that can come along with that!
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/22/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7 Bombers sent stuff:
Dick McCoy ('45), Michael Waggoner ('60)
Helen Cross ('62), Linda Reining ('64)
Ken Staley ('68), Brad Wear ('71)
Deryl Johnson ('73)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Kathie Moore ('69)
BOMBER MOM BIRTHDAY Today: BJ Davis
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****************************************************************
>>From: Dick McCoy (The Tin Can Class of 1945)
Re: Hiway 30
It always irks me how hiway 66 is so overstated when hiway 30, the
"Nation's Main Street", has been forgotten. I remember when it was called
the "Lincoln" hiway, and while it did not have a TV series, it did have
a radio series, about tales along the hiway. And like 66, it had a song.
30 ended at the circle turnaround in Seaside OR. No more, as the circle
is restricted to people, I suppose too many RVs tried to make it.
-Dick McCoy from the Tin Can Class of 1945
Much depleted. (Me and the Class)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Michael Waggoner ('60)
Re: steam railroads
To: Pappy Swan ('59)
Colorado has at least three trains with steam locomotives and narrow
gauge tracks:
Georgetown Loop (near I-70 just west of Denver). The loop was needed,
because the mountains are very steep, and trains can go up only slight
inclines.
Durango to Silverton (SW Colorado). There was an armed robbery of this
train several years ago, with the desperados escaping on horses, perhaps
the last horse-back robbery of a steam train in the U.S.
Antonito, CO to Chama, NM (southern Colorado). These trains only
operate,from late spring to early fall, so please check the schedules
before,planning a visit. Riding one of these trains is a great
experience.
-Michael Waggoner ('60)
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>>From: Helen Cross Kirk ('62)
I am so sorry that I won't be able to attend the Club 40 Reunion,
especially on Friday night to see one of my favorite teachers, Mrs. Donna
Foust.
To: Mrs. Foust
I had you in 4th grade at Spalding and I will never forget several
things from that fun year... one was when you showed us slides of your
wedding and you were riding in a donkey cart, all decorated. Am I
remembering any of it right? You may know me better as the gal at the
Densow's photo department with Wayne Kaiser l959-'62 (on every other
night and every other weekend.)
I am up here in Wenatchee helping to get my mother-in-law settled into
her new home at Colonial Vista, and we have seen the horrific smoke from
the forest fires up north of here. Spoke with a friend of mine in Twisp,
WA Sunday, who assures me they are safe... Sad to know it's burning up so
much of our beautiful Washington forest.
Hope to get to one of the Bomber luncheons soon, now that I expect to be
here for a few months....
-Helen Cross Kirk ('62) ~ Happy to be in Washington for a while... my son
assures me the cats and the little lake are fine in the dried
out lawn back home in Indiana.
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>>From: Linda Reining ('64)
to:Lynn-Marie Hatcher Peashka(68)
re:raising grandchildren
I have no first-hand knowledge, but do have very, good close friends who
have raised their grandson from the day he was born---their youngest
daughter is messed up on drugs, so when she came home with the baby and
basically left him on their door, they stepped up to the challenge and
raised him---they have since adopted him. he is 10 years old. they were
in their mid-50's when they had to start over---their daughter was 19 and
they thought they were going to enjoy their "twilight years" traveling
and being lazy, but that wasn't to be. the only advice I can give you is
what I have seen them do: lots of love; lots of hugs and kisses; a little
discipline(*grin*); LOTS of patience(we never seem to have enough, once
we have joined the ranks of grandparent); and to make sure you take TIME
for yourselves. they had to take advantage of other family members and
friends who would offer to "pinch-hit" so they could take a much needed
break from the "drag" of being full-time mom and dad to a frolicking
baby, then rambunctious toddler, and then "all-boy"! they did take
advantage of pre-school, which helped a great deal! they will also tell
you that they wouldn't change a thing, now! it was, and still is, rough,
but the good times far outweighed the struggles. take care and enjoy the
small rewards that helping to raise this little boy will bring into your
lives.
Re:"Lost Worlds: Secret Cities of the A Bomb" Reply from the History
Channel to my e mail expressing my disappointment in their leaving
Richland out of the program.
Thank you for your comments on our documentary programming. We
at The History Channel take great pride in these programs, and
were disappointed to learn that you felt vital material was
omitted from LOST WORLDS: SECRET CITIES OF THE A-BOMB.
Documentary producers must weigh factual evidence and present
what they find relevant to the shape of their shows. Sometimes
what one person considers irreplaceable may be considered
unusable to the producer based on his or her focus. This does
not mean the omitted material is unimportant or incorrect but
merely not supportive of the producer's thesis.
Another constraint, of course, is time. Few subjects worthy of
exploration can be globally scrutinized in an hour or two. Even
multi-part documentaries cannot tell the "whole" story (hence,
the myriad programs extant on--for instance, World War II,
ancient Rome, and branches of the U.S. military).
While we will take your comments into consideration, The History
Channel is very proud of its reputation as a responsible
programmer, and as such we stand behind the content and focus of
this documentary.
We appreciate your feedback on History Channel programming.
Cordially, Viewer Relations
[Here's all they wrote to me -Maren]
Thank you for your recent comments concerning The History Channel
program LOST WORLDS: SECRET CITIES OF THE A-BOMB.
It is important to us to receive feedback from our viewers, and we
appreciate your taking the time to contact us.
Linda Reining(Boomber Bomber class of 64)........we are still having 90's
in Bakersfield, CA, but they say triple digits are still in our future.
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>>From: Ken Staley ('68)
To: Lynn-Marie Hatcher Peashka ('68) and all grandparents raising grandkids
You might look into a group called RAPP... Relatives As Primary Parents.
This is a group of people our age *sigh* who find themselves suddenly
primary care givers. Mostly, they offer information. Best of luck.
-Ken Staley ('68)
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>>From: Brad Wear ('71)
To: Pappy Swan ('59)
Re: Trains
George, you need to go to "Helper" UT. It's on Highway 6 that runs
between Provo, UT and Green River, UT. Helper is aptly named, as it was
where trains would pick up the helper engine needed to pull the load
up over the mountain. That stretch of highway is one of my favorite
trips when I go to and from the great state of TEXAS. The scenery is
incredible. You can then go on down to Moab, UT and be truly amazed.
-Brad Wear ('71)
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>>From: Deryl Johnson ('73)
To: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
Re: J. C. Penney and Jeans
You wrote on August 9 about the Robinson's store on the corner due east
of Newberry's in the Uptown Shopping Center. Yes, it was J.C. Penney's
before that. In fact, when I was in eighth grade at Chief Joseph Jr. High
School, my mother bought my first suit there. I needed it to go on my
first date, which happened to be at a Valentine's banquet.
As for jeans... we couldn't afford "Levi's" back then either. My parents
had too many children (or childurn as Mom still likes to say) to clothe.
Our jeans came from Sears Roebuck and had white circles stitched on the
back pockets. I still remember being teased by the "Levi" crowd at Chief
Joseph for wearing "circle-pocket pants."
Oh... and the Sears Roebuck where we got the "circle-pocket pants" was
also on the east side of the Uptown Shopping Center, located somewhere in
the center section if I remember correctly.
Like you, I can afford "Levi's" now, but often choose "Rustler's". You
can't beat the price and comfort. (The only "Levi's" I have happen
to be a pair I found at a garage sale... brand new for only $15.00.)
That's my two cents worth. See you at the next Bomber luncheon!
-Deryl Johnson ('73)
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/23/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3 Bombers sent stuff:
Jim Jensen ('50), Ann Clatworthy ('54), Betti Avant ('69)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jim Spears ('53)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gene Horne ('57)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Donni Clark ('63)
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>>From: Jim Jensen ('50)
Re: Trains 'n' Such
Pappy Swan's ('59) postings are always interesting, entertaining and
thought provoking. I particularly enjoyed his vivid description of
train travels and sounds on 8/21. It brought to mind my own train rides,
primarily during the '40s. What a marvelous way to move around in those
days. I've always been a window watcher - an occupation that is usually
not possible in commercial air travel. There were additional benefits in
train travel... convenient bathroom facilities... the dining car... a bit
later, observation decks... Pullmans... people to watch. At the height
of WWII there were always a lot of servicemen on trains. As a youngster
fascinated by the military (always wanted to be a soldier) listening to
GIs tell each other training and war stories was a special treat. I think
people were nicer to each other in those days. The whole matter of train
travel was just another aspect of a more genteel life style.
A belated happy birthday wish to Don Fisher ('50) on 8/21. Don was a
gifted and dedicated athlete during his Bomber years. He was tough on
the football field (nickname was "Tarzan") and a humble gentleman off
the field. Many more, Don.
-Jim Jensen ('50) ~ Katy, TX
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>>From: Ann Clatworthy Hogshead ('54)
To: Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61)
Re: Soda Fountain at the Uptown Thrifty Drug Store
I also worked at the Uptown Thrifty Drug Store in my senior year of '54.
I made a banana split, served it to a man (wearing a black and white
striped railroad cap and overalls) and went about waiting on others when
I remembered I hadn't put the banana on his banana split! I quickly
grabbed the dish and corrected my mistake, the man, with spoon still in
hand hadn't noticed the missing banana. Everyone at the counter had a
good laugh.
-Ann Clatworthy Hogshead ('54) aka Weyerts ~ In Fort Valley, VA where it
is so dry, walking across the lawn makes crunching sounds. Saturday,
we ride our trike to Popes Creek in Maryland to eat seafood.
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****************************************************************
>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Re: Penny's and Robinson's
If I'm not mistaken (which I have been in the past) Penny's and
Robinson's were side by side for a while. Robinson's was on the corner
of Symons and the GWWay side and Penny's was next to it on the alley.
When Columbia Center opened the Penny's stores from all 3 cities merged
and went out there. After Penny's left, Robinson's took over that whole
area as I recall. I used to buy most of my material for my clothing at
Penny's and occasionally would go over to the one in Pasco to try and
find something different. In the 7th grade in Home Ec. class there was
an 8th grader who not only had the same pattern I chose but the exact
same material. I made a lot of my clothes in school just to "be different".
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA where at least it has cooled down some
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/24/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2 Bombers sent stuff:
John Richardson ('58), Nancy Mallory ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Nancie Millius ('69)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Vicki Case ('69)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Don Wade ('70)
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>>From: John Richardson ('58)
To: Betti Avant ('69)
Re: J.C. Penny's & Robinson's
Betti you are absolutely right, the two stores were originally side by
side as you described it in Tuesday's Sandstorm. I was the Assistant
Manager at Penny's in the early '60s which meant that I had a title but
no additional pay. The two stores remained that way until they opened the
Penny's Mega store at Columbia Center Mall. You probably recall that
Penny's had a balcony and I believe that it was the only store in the
Uptown group of buildings that did. As you walked into Penny's the
men and boys section was on the left side of the store with the shoe
department in the back and the women's and girls section was on the right
with some house wares in the back. In the balcony area was as I recall
infants ware and yard goods along with the customer service counter.
Newberry's was directly behind both the Robinson's and Penny's stores
and I recall going out the back door of Penny's and into the back door
of Newberry's to go to the lunch counter. I used to go over early in the
morning and there was a lady named Butch who made fresh baked cinnamon
rolls and were they ever the best. You use to be able to buy two large
hot cinnamon rolls and a cup of coffee for 25 cents and refills of coffee
were free. She also made a cold style hot meat loaf sandwich which meant
that everything on the sandwich i.e. lettuce, tomato mayo and bread were
cold and the meat loaf was piping hot with a little gravy. I believe that
Butch was the lunch counter manager until Newberry's finally closed
their doors and I think that she ended up working at the Spudnut Shop.
I have been thinking about the cost of things in the '50s in comparison
to prices now and it seems that everything has increased by a factor of
ten. You use to be able to buy a huge By's Burger for 35 cents and now
a burger of that size and quality will cost $3.50 to $4.00. Gas was .25
to .35 cents per gallon and now it is reaching $3.00 per gallon. When
my parents purchased their Ranch house from the government it was right
at $10,000 and now those houses are selling for ten times that or more.
I just wonder what it will be like for my as well as all of your
grandchildren.
I want to thank all of you who write in because the memories that you
stir up are really great. Most of all, a Big Thanks to Maren and Richard
for all that they do for all of us, you two are the best.
-John Richardson ('58)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Nancy Mallory Johnson ('64)
Re: Cabbage Hill
I remember going over the Cabbage hill road -- it did us in (at least
it did in one brother and sister and me). Those old roads were not made
for folks who got car sick. We usually stopped in Pendleton (to see an
aunt and uncle) then it was over the mountain to LaGrande (ultimate
destination was Union which was not far from LaGrande). In the old days a
pit stop at the summit was out in the trees! I have told folks (who have
not driven in mountains) about overheating cars, the water bags and even
(later at least) the runaway lanes for semis. It's almost as much fun as
telling them there is a desert in the evergreen state!
Re: grandchildren with you
I have kept my granddaughter since she was a baby (I was the day care).
Later (both of my kids were already out of high school) I had two nieces
and a nephew (14, 13 and 10 at the time) come to live with me. It's hard
to go back to getting up for school buses and doing homework, etc. Taking
care of a baby again is harder, too. My granddaughter is 7 now and I
usually take her to school and pick her up. I wouldn't trade being near
her for anything. My kids didn't get to see their grandparents very often
(2000 miles will do that).
-Nancy Mallory Johnson ('64) ~ it's still hoooot here in TN
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/25/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6 Bombers sent stuff and 1 Bomber funeral notice today:
Millie Finch ('54), Terri Royce ('56)
Jeff Michael ('65), Lynn-Marie Hatcher ('68)
Betti Avant ('69), Nancy Nelson ('69)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jerry Swain ('54)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Sharen Manolopoulos ('72)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Greg Stone ('80)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Millie Finch Gregg ('54)
Re: Extended Family Living in Richland
My Dad moved our family to Richland in 1943 from Denver, CO. I am sure
my Mom thought he had moved her to the end of the world from beautiful
Colorado. Originally my Dad had been from Iowa, and that is where his
family lived.
Well, it didn't take long for the family decided to visit us in WA and
my Uncle Charles came in 1945 when he returned from WWII. He was really
messed up, so my Mom and Dad helped him overcome his alcohol problem.
Soon after that my uncle Dwight came and with him came his 2 children
(ages 1 and 2) Both Bombers, - Mark ('62) and Mary ('63) Finch. He needed
help while he looked for work, and went to work for the Richland School
district and worked at Jefferson his whole career.
Now if that wasn't enough people coming in, the next thing I knew, here
comes Grandpa Finch. Boy, was I in trouble, because he didn't like me and
my little cousin. He thought the boys were wonderful - oh well! My Dad
fixed a small front bedroom up for him, and that was his place to live
until he moved to my Uncle Dwight's house where he died in 1965.
Finally the baby brother arrived from Colorado with his family. However,
they never lived with us, but moved to Yakima. Eventually my uncle who
arrived first helped him to build a house for his family, and then they
built one big enough for 2 brothers, 1 sister and in Yakima and finally
Dad and Mom's house was empty. By this time all 3 of us kids had left
home, and now Mom and Dad could enjoy themselves.
So our house bulged at the seams, but boy do I have some wonderful
memories with my uncles and auntie and cousins.
Re: CLUB 40
I need to let you know I will not be able to attend this year. I miss
everyone already too. However, just give me a few special thoughts, as I
will be in Seattle having major surgery. Look out next year though - if
all goes well, I will be there with bells on. Carry on Class of '54 and,
Maren, I am sorry to be missing you this year.
Best regards,
-Millie Finch Gregg ('54)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Terri Royce Weiner ('56)
Re: Media star from '56
I have been reading the Seattle PI's series on a young woman who worked
on an Alaskan fishing boat. Her feet were mangled when a fish-grinder she
was cleaning was accidentally turned on. A helicopter, and then a C-130,
braved the storm's high winds to rescue and transfer her to Anchorage
where the orthopedic surgeon who had to amputate both legs below the knee
was our own GEORGE RYNEER, MD ('56). Good going, George! It's always nice
to see a classmate doing his job so well (and still working at our age)!
-Terri Royce Weiner ('56) ~ n wonderful Seattle, where we're finally
getting "good roll" on all our cascade-foothill golf courses.
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Jeff Michael ('65)
Re: Life is a Winding Road or When you come to a Fork in the Road, Take It
Hey there Bombers and Bomberettes... what a long, strange ride it
continues to be...
Re: Carol Converse Maurer ('64)
So, here I am in sunny San Diego (well, it took until 9am for the "marine
layer" to withdraw from El Cajon towards the waters of the Pacific
today), catching up on about ten days of Sandstorms. (By the way... ask
Rick Maddy ('67) or David Rivers ('65) if you want an explanation of the
Marine Layer... I was in the Air Farce.) Yeah, just kinda got busy the
last few days before driving the RV down here to get granddaughter Maxine
back for school. Starts earlier here... takes longer to educate kids in
California, I guess.
Any-whoo... I'm reading all this stuff about Cabbage Hill, which I don't
think I ever saw as a kid. And I sez to meself, I sez "mebbe I should
drop a line about the old Lewiston Hill to the folks at home." Then, what
to my surprise rises up in the next post, but my (old---as in long ago)
neighbor, Carol Converse Maurer, 'llowing how that was some paradise of
switchbacks. Used to take nearly an hour to get from Lewiston (grandma's
house) to Genesee (Auntie Pat's house) not counting the one or two stops
for water intake to the radiator of the old DeSoto (there's a brand for
you. Now one makes the flight in less than 15-20 minutes. Far less
queasy, but not nearly so spectacular.
In those days long ago before I actually got to race cars, when I sat at
my desk reading the adventures of drivers on the Mille Miglia, I would
operate my accelerator, brake and clutch of cardboard with my pencil and
eraser, "H" pattern four speed shifter and imagine that the Lewiston Hill
had been closed for a day for racing. It was so like the Pike's Peak
Hill Climb, which I later witnessed in person as several of my friends
competed on it. I never did road courses in a car, only on motorcycles.
My car racing was confined to short-track round-d-rounds and figure 8's.
But then I digress.
We went to Lewiston from Richland 6 to nine times a year. "The folks"
came to our house 3 or 4 times a year. I remember looking longingly out
the front windows of our Ranch house waiting for grandma and grandpa to
come up Cedar from Olympia, Cottonwood, Elm and the By-pass. There were,
of course, no cell phone warnings of imminent arrival on those pre-
historic times!
On very rare occasions we would jaunt down the gorge to Portland to see
Dad's folks. Dad didn't like Portland, or any other big city, for that
matter. Still doesn't, in fact. He moved there a while back and returned
to the Tri-Cities in less than a year.
VERY occasionally, we would go to my oldest cousin's house in Seattle. I
remember the roar of the Thunder boats on Lake Washington and the Seattle
World's Fair. I still like going to the Theater and other buildings left
from that Exposition.
Oh, and yes, Mom would sometimes sing on the road. I would sing, too,
a rather painful experience for everyone. I can't remember my Dad ever
singing when I was a kid. I've heard him sing a time or two in church
since I joined the ranks of older folks. Mom and Auntie Pat were known
for making-up ditties and singing them while prepping food or riding in
the car. Most of them were not suited for publication in those days, but
would make way too mild lyrics for today's rap songs!
AND NOW, Ladies and Gentlemen, FOR THE LATEST TWIST IN THE ROAD. I was
telling some friends at church in Bomberville that after this trip to
return my granddaughter to SoCal for school, we would be staying home
until Christmas time. I have a gig to do here for Hewlett-Packard,
and was going to stay until after New Year's. Well... out of the deep
mystical darkness of the future comes a phone call from my former boss
at the boatyard. "Hey, Jeff, whatcha doin' these days... yadda yadda
yadda... I just bought an old wooden 85' boat that needs quite a bit of
restoration. You'd be just the guy! Would you like to spend the winter
down here? Flexible hours, take off and go home if you want, come back
when you want, show-up when you want..." Well, since we had just bought
an elderly motor home, and found we liked travelling in it, we figgered..
how do you say no to an offer like that?
Donna has one child here who is pretty ill, a stressed-out, over
committed single mom for a daughter and two granddaughters in their
early teens. She has been praying for a way to help her daughter and
the girls, but didn't want to be here a long time again without me (what
a sweetheart). Work is slow for me in the Tri-Cities during the winter...
so... I think we will continue to be vagabonds in a land-yacht.
To: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60)
guess it will be awhile before we get to go swinging, unless we squeeze
it in during the first couple weeks of September while Donna and I sort
out the "necessities". We'll probably offer our house up for rent,
furnished. We have NO IDEA what will happen next. We sorta operate our
lives as though we are on a tandem bicycle. Donna and I are both in the
back seat pedaling in unison. The handlebars and front seat are managed
by God. Makes for a scenic tour with some turns I never dreamed of.
On that note, I'll close. Blessings to all.
dj jeff
-Jeff Michael ('65)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Lynn-Marie Hatcher Peashka ('68)
Re: so far so good
Thanks to all who wrote to me privately or posted to the Sandstorm,
offering encouragement and info on various resources and groups available
to grandparents who suddenly find themselves raising grandkids.
Asher's first week with us has been eventful -- started day care, learned
to feed farm animals, etc. He is much more relaxed than he was a week ago
-- but still is undergoing a lot of transition in a short period of time.
And it shows, sometimes. Hard on a kid of only 2 and 1/2. Hard on Grandma
and Opa, too!
Anyway, thanks, again to everyone who wrote. We soldier on!
And as Asher says, "Cowboy Butt" (which is his version of "Cowboy Up")
-Lynn-Marie Hatcher Peashka ('68) ~ Haven Farm - 18 miles east of
Lewiston, ID
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****************************************************************
>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Re: Balcony Areas
A thought just came to me while I was listening to the Mariner-Yankee
game. It was mentioned that Penney's was the only store with a balcony.
Actually Newberry's also had an area on the 2nd floor. When I decided I
wanted a school desk my parents got an unpainted one in that area. It
also was Santa's Work Shop area in the Christmas season. There were also
stairs leading up inside Newberry's on the Robinson store side. If one
went up them there were some offices and when you followed it around and
came down the stairs on the other side the door to the outside was
between Robinson's and Penney's.
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA
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****************************************************************
>>From: Nancy Nelson Wyatt ('69)
I remember when school got out and my brother Bobby ('65-RIP) and I had
1 week to play with our friends before the trip to Texas for the summer.
Mom would take us there every year to see our grandparents. We spent the
whole summer there and it was the best part of the year. Our grandparents
would not travel anywhere as neither one drove and my papa Rees said he
would not fly cause there was no grass touching his feet.
We would always stop at Little America, WY for breakfast. I remember one
year, dad came with us in the car, we stopped for breakfast and I had
pancakes. They were the silver dollar ones, the small ones. Anyways, dad
was pouring the syrup over them and the lid came off and I got a syrup
bath. We all got cleaned up and got a new breakfast on the house. Then
off on the road again.
When dad didn't drive with us, he was working at Hanford but he got his
2 week vacation later and flew down to join us and drive back home.
I remember Cabbage Hill. I thought it was neat but scary at the same
time. I would sit in the back and go to sleep.
In my memories of Penney's and Robinson's store, I was a thinkin' they
were on opposite sides of the Uptown. Penney's faced GWA and Robinson's
faced Lee. But old age is creeping up and I might be mistaken. One more
question I need to ask Mom and Dad about.
Hopefully, I will be down to my parents' around the 25th of September
for my birthday and have my 9 year old granddaughter with me. Will be
her first time down there so she is looking forward to it.
-Nancy Nelson Wyatt ('69) ~ where the fires are burning and it is 90
today in Colville, WA
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Funeral Notice
>>Bruce Brunelle ('62) ~ 1944 - 8/16/06
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/26/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5 Bombers sent stuff and one Note from the Editor:
Nadine Reynolds ('61), Helen Cross ('62)
Carol Converse ('64), Gary Behymer ('64)
Betti Avant ('69)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gene Keller ('50)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Richard Twedt ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Sharon Hopkins ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Sharon Sasser ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Joyce Soehnlein ('67)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Merle Huesties ('72)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gauin Moore ('82)
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****************************************************************
EDITOR'S NOTE: Bomber Offspring could become Alaska's first female governor
Sarah Palin, daughter of Sally Sheeran Heath ('58) and Chuck Heath
('56-Sandpoint, ID), is the new Alaskan Republican gubernatorial
candidate. Sarah won the Republican primary with some 51% of the vote and
is running against Democrat Tony Knowles in the November 7th election.
You can read the full story online at:
http://www.adn.com/front/story/8116758p-8009239c.html
Also read more about Sarah at: http://www.palinforgovernor.com/
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****************************************************************
>>From: Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61)
Re: Memories
It has been very interesting to read so many recollections of Richland
in the early days, adventures on the canal, store locations and names,
vacations, grandparents, trains and all the things that make up our
lives. It strikes me that even though our lives are very unique they
are still also very much the same.
My father worked at the DuPont Arms plant in Denver and was offered an
opportunity to transfer to Richland, Washington in 1944. My parents
being young and full of adventure thought this seemed like a wonderful
opportunity. My mother was born in a small town named Ivanho in OK. When
she was a month old the whole town moved across the Oklahoma state line
to be near the railroad and became Follette, TX. My grandparents did not
stay in Texas very long before settling in Springfield, CO. If you have
never been through the south east corner of Colorado you may be surprised
to find it looks a lot like south eastern Washington. When my folks were
weighing the pros and cons of whether to accept the Richland position or
not one of the pros was that it was in "The Evergreen State". I do not
believe that was the tipping point but it was a factor. My parents
decided that accepting the transfer was the proper decision. The housing
in Richland was in the process of being built but the workers were
immediately needed so Dad went on before the rest of us. The folks sold
their home on Pearl Street in Denver, put most of our belongings in
storage and Mom, my sister (Carolyn, aka Kari ('59)) and I moved in with
relatives. Finally the word came that Dad had secured housing for us and
it was time to join him in Richland. Our new home was a "B" house on
Judson. Mom got our belongings out of storage and had them shipped to
Richland. Then our small little family, without Dad, boarded a train
headed for Washington. I was too small to remember the train trip but
have been told it was filled with great anticipation of seeing Dad again,
seeing our new home and seeing the beautiful state of Washington with
towering trees standing in a lush carpet of green. Well, imagine Mom's
joy of being reunited with Dad melting away to horror after getting past
seeing and embracing Dad only to realize she was surrounded by sagebrush
and sand instead of towering trees on a lush carpet of green. I am not
sure what Mom's expectation of a house was but I am pretty sure it
was not an unpainted, cedar shake house surrounded by sand instead of
grass and trees. Just having our family reunited after many months of
separation was enough to overcome the initial shock of seeing our new
home and the surrounding desert. I am very glad my parents stayed in
Richland, the home of the Bombers, because it was a wonderful, unique
place in which to grow up.
-Nadine Reynolds Cochran ('61) ~ where Tucson, AZ temps are in the 90s
but with the monsoon still in action it is not a "dry" heat.
Looking forward to the Club 40 Reunion and seeing old friends.
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****************************************************************
>>From: Helen Cross Kirk ('62)
I was just shocked to read Bruce Brunelle's ('62) funeral notice today. I
did know he had cancer, but I guess I forgot about it, in the difficulty
of trying to deal with my mother-in-law's move to Colonial Vista in
Wenatchee.
I remember Bruce from grade school at Spalding. I guess he and Jimmy
Spencer (also '62 RIP) are parts of my childhood I think of from time
to time. Like when I read of Mrs. Foust, my very beautiful 4th grade
teacher, I remember my private version of life at Spalding Elementary
School.
My condolences to Bruce's brothers. He always seemed to soldier on so
to speak, and was a constant of coming to reunions, etc. I guess as we
get older we are losing our constant bearings that we like to take for
granted.
When I go see my dad's grave marker at Einan's Desert Memorial Gardens
I also go by and say hello to Jim Spencer and my favorite aunt, Phylis
Cross, and Carol Rice's father, who died in 1962 when we had just
graduated... and see so many other names of people who I knew growing
up in Richland...
-Helen Cross Kirk ('62)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Carol Converse Maurer ('64)
To: Betti Avant ('69)
I seem to remember where Santa's workshop was in Newberry's. Didn't you
go up the stairs and around the corner was Santa? That's how I remember
it. Can't remember if you could look up there from the first floor and
see Santa or not.
Wow - Jeff Michaels ('65) - sounds like you and Donna will have a great
time spending the winter in San Diego. Much nicer than being in the snow,
right? I just love the way things turn out when one is having God be
their 'centers'!
Carol Converse Maurer (Baby Boomer Class of '64) ~ Eureka, CA
The sun is suppose to come out earlier today and be warmer
these next not couple of days, but, I'm NOT holding my breath
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Gary Behymer ('64)
Re: Alumni Sandstorm August 19th...
"Anyone know what is located on/near 45th & University Way in Seattle?
HINT: when dorm food got bad at the U of W we would make a run with
7 or 8 'guys' to have dinner..."
OK... since no one asked... I'll tell you anyway... it's Herfy's. "I
would gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today." -Wimpy
Lot's of burned acres near Colfax today... but no one hurt. No homes lost.
-Gary Behymer ('64)...located in 'smokie' downtown Colfax, WA
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****************************************************************
>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Re: Lee Blvd.
Nancy, Sorry to tell ya but Lee ran through the downtown shopping area.
Uptown was bordered by Jadwin on the west, Symons on the north, GWWay
on the east, and Williams on the south. Lee cut through that area of
downtown and one had to cross it to continue onto the other end of the
Parkway.
Re: Website
Here's a cute little site... it'll get ya laughing for the day.
http://mysthillarium.com/anthology/remedies.htm
Bomber greetings to all.
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/27/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 Bombers sent stuff:
Tom Hughes ('56), Mike Ragland ('57)
Larry Mattingly ('60), Bob Rector ('62)
Mac Quinlan ('62), Tom Hemphill ('62)
Betti Avant ('69), Nancy Nelson ('69)
Robert Avant ('69), Kellie Walsh ('77)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mark Saucier ('70)
BOMBER ANNIVERSARIE TODAY: Ron Holeman ('56) & Leslie Swanson ('59)
BOMBER ANNIVERSARIE TODAY: Jack Sinderson ('53) and Jan Nussbaum ('55)
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>>From: Tom Hughes ('56)
Re: Some old post cards
I found these postcards while going through my Mother's papers. I thought
some Bombers would enjoy them.
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/htm2006/Xtra/Any/060827-Hughes-00.html
-Tom Hughes ('56)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Mike Ragland ('57)
Re: 45th and University, Seattle
Gary Behymer ('64) mentioned Herfey's. Entire chain has been long gone
for many years. Now there is a bank, two empty store fronts and some
retail on the fourth corner. Still a lot of restaurants, but you have to
go across the freeway to Dick's DriveIn to find anything like a Herfy
burger. The University District has been taken over by a lot of street
kids, many of whom are armed. I built the game center that has become
Tower Records just a few doors up from 45th on University. Only a couple
of the restaurants are still the same as in 1996. Businesses are closing
at a rapid rate in the area.
The University of Washington is buying the Safeco Tower and even Safeco
is moving to better places.
-Mike Ragland ('57)
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>>From: Larry Mattingly ('60)
Wow, nearly 3 weeks of Sandstorm entries to read. I am on my 3rd trip
to Alaska since the 4th. This one is for the Alaska State Fair. Jackie
has a house here in Anchorage so we have a place to stay with all the
amenities.. About 3 weeks ago the hard drive failed in my relatively new
Dell laptop. Between being constantly on the go and poor communications
with Dell service folks I have been without. Finally last week I reached
the Dell NW Zone Service Rep and she listened to my diagnostic results
and error codes and informed me that my hard drive was completely lost
and no data would be recoverable. Arrrrgggggg! However I do have the
"Immediate Fix In Place" warrantee and she sent one off to me that day.
Just as I was getting into the car to go to SeaTac for this trip, DHL
delivered the new drive. I finally got time yesterday to change out the
drive and load the stack of Software CDs. It was nice that they were out
of 30 Gg hard drives and I had to take a 60 Gg or wait several weeks.
Now I have to start rebuilding my address book and files. I do have
some of the pictures on CDs. Any Bomber alums that have occasionally
corresponded with me, please send me your e-mail address. Needless to
say I will do a better job of backing up from now on. The only thing I
saved was the 15 chapters of my book. I am writing a manual for display
pyrotechnicians. I have been working on it for several years. Now I know
why many authors live quietly in remote areas. I live such an active life
that I find little time to just sit and write. My last backup was corrupt
for some reason, maybe the HD was going bad, but I had the book on a
separate CD. I have ordered a small external HD and back up program.
Alaska is saturated from weeks of nearly steady rain. The Little Su River
is way over it's banks. Highest level on record was 14 feet. It was at
18 feet last Saturday while we were setting up a display for Houston's
Founders' Day celebration. The mud was deep and incredible to work in.
While we are still getting occasional showers it has calmed down some and
water levels are dropping
As it always is, it was fun to read everybody's entries. Commenting on
all the memories they brought would make this impossibly long. So here
are just a few.
First I need to publicly think Maggie Gilstrap O'Hara ('74) for her help
in cleaning up after the fire in our equipment storage container near Big
Lake, Alaska. She showed up with brooms for sweeping and plastic buckets
to replace the burned ones holding some small steel parts. The fire was
one of 3 set the same night by an arsonist. Fortunately little of real
value was lost as the volunteer fire dept. responded quickly. 2 of them
are part of the crew who work on shows up here with me. We shoveled out
the burned materials and I had to run off to catch a plane. Hey Maggie
send me your phone number again and the least I can do is buy dinner and
a toddy for your help.
While I will be home a couple of days before, I will miss Club 40
again this year as I have a display to fire that Saturday for the City of
Newcastle. Then I am off on another plane to Nashville, TN for the annual
meetings of the American Pyrotechnic Association. While back east I am
going to take a few days off to drive up to my birth place, Louisville,
KY and visit relatives some of whom I have not seen for 30 years or more.
As I remember the last 2-3 times we traveled US 30 we did not even take
a map. Rock Springs, WY was the first night stop and Columbia, MO was the
second night. And like most we always got gas at Little America. I always
liked WY because of all the fireworks stands. I saved my money for the
trip and filled the corners of the trunk with both pretty and explosive
goodies. Somewhere I have pictures of the "petrified watermelons".
Sometimes we came back the northern route and that required a stop at
Wall Drug. One time the people in the motel room next to us in Rock
Springs were the Mathis family that lived on Casey St. As I remember
Billy was a year or two behind me and Sandra a year or two ahead. They
lived like 4 doors away when we were on Casey. Sure enough we all had a
good laugh when we found out they were in the next room the next night
in Columbia, MO. They were going to TN to visit relatives, and we were
off to Louisville, KY.
During the discussion about balconies I did not see mention of the one in
CC Andersons. I remember vacuuming that one amongst all the girdles and
other undergarments. And they also had one of the foot x-ray machines. I
was always disappointed as my folks would not let me look at my own feet.
They were all taken out of service a few years later. I do remember a
story on the news many years ago, that someone had dumped a number of the
machines in a remote area of the Midwest and some boys discovered them
while playing and broke into them and got radiation poisoning from the
source powder. At least I think they were foot machines, but they were at
least x-ray machines of some kind.
OK have rambled on enough for now.
"Happiness is the sky in bloom" (and dry ground)
-J Larry Mattingly ('60) ~ Off to play tourist and explore for a couple
of days until the next show on Monday.
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****************************************************************
>>From: Bob Rector ('62)
Re: Rector has BFI Certificate, Sport Pilot License and New & Bigger Powerchute!
Semi Public NOTICE: Christmas in August, Robert has new toy:
This notice is for those who may be interested in a ride in my new
Cadillac. This ship is a "Powrachute" (funny name) Pegasus Deluxe with
dual controls, huge Quantum 550 sq. foot Canopy, dual cushy seats,
electric start, bigger water cooled engine, 550 pound payload, slow
speed of 28 mph, cruising altitude is usually about 200 feet for the
best views.
Yes, it is illegal for me to charge you for a ride. Bring your camera.
Bring fresh sense of Spiritual venture... heaven is not very far up.
Mornings and evenings when the winds are calm. Just give me a call or
email and I'll put you on the list.
The best gift is the gift of flight,
-Bob Rector ('62)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[I Googled "Powrachute Pegasus Deluxe" and found a few sites. -Maren]
http://flybyranch.com/ http://www.easyflight.com/pc/peg.html
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****************************************************************
>>From: Frank "Mac" Quinlan ('62)
Re: Steam railroads
To: Michael Waggoner ('60)
Thanks for the information. I’ve always been intrigued by steam engines
and am almost hypnotized by the sound of the whistle, especially if
you get a chance to hear it at night. There's nothing else like it. I
remember going to Pasco several times with a friend of my father's
(Johnny Holman) to watch them pull trains in and out of the roundhouse.
I would just watch and he would take pictures. I took pictures once,
but they're long gone. This was probably around 1957 or 1958. I don't
remember when they stopped using the roundhouse, but it couldn't have
been very long after that.
-Frank "Mac" Quinlan ('62)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Tom Hemphill ('62)
Re: Looking for Bill Finney ('62)
Hey Bill Finney,
Are you still running a B & B in Eastern Oregon? We will be in your
neighborhood next week and would love to stop by for a visit.
-Tom Hemphill ('62)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Yes, Carol you are right about the upstairs area of Newberry's. One would
go up a long flight of stairs, turn a corner, and up a few more stairs
before getting into Santa's area. I'm thinking they sold furniture up
there when it wasn't Christmas time... at that time it was the large toy
section. You couldn't see it from below, either, unlike Penney's where
their store's balcony was open to see from below. I haven't been in there
in a long time, I know it's a fabric store but don't know if they use
that second floor area or not any more.
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA supposed to be in the 80s for the next
several days
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****************************************************************
>>From: Nancy Nelson Wyatt ('69)
Well, Betti, like I said, I was never really good with street names.
*LOL* Thank you for pointing that out to me. All is well here now.
-Nancy Nelson Wyatt ('69)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Robert Avant ('69)
Re: Sarah Palin
My first vote in Wasilla, Alaska was for Sarah Palin for mayor. I never
knew that her "roots" were in Bomber Land; but that may explain her
obvious intelligence and good looks. Actually; she was opposed to making
the bars close at 2am rather than 5am. She had several other positions
that distanced her from the fool who was the mayor. She was an excellent
mayor and can certainly hand Tony "Your money is no object" Knowles his
bu** in a sling. Good job Richland and Sandpoint alumnais!
-Robert Avant ('69)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Kellie Walsh Patterson ('77)
To: Carol Converse Maurer ('64)
I seem to remember Santa's Toy shoppe on top of Thrifty's. Was there one
in Newberry's, too?
I loved going to the Uptown Shopping Center. In fact, I'm told that as
a toddler, I managed to escape the grown-ups at the "B" House we used
to live in, adjacent from the ball park, and ended up crossing GWWay
*yikes*! My sister Jeannie ('63) found me next to Newberry's, I think.
As a little kid, mom used to take me into Parker's Hardware, A&Z, the
Bootery, and David's Shoes. I also remember a store, facing GWWay that
had fine china and collectibles, like Hummels and such. Can't remember
the name of it. I'm sure someone here will.
-Kellie Walsh Patterson ('77)
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/28/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8 Bombers sent stuff:
Gloria Adams ('54), Nola Davey ('56)
Larry Mattingly ('60), Betsy Fox ('63)
Jeanie Walsh ('63), Bill Scott ('64)
Betti Avant ('69), Teresa Barber ('78)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Dave Henderson ('60WB)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Gary Behymer ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jim Felder ('67)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Gloria Adams Fulcher ('54)
To: Kellie Walsh Patterson ('77)
The shop you remember was Lancaster's. They had wonderful things.
-Gloria Adams Fulcher ('54)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
To: Kellie Walsh Patterson ('77)
The name of the shop with the lovely gifts, fine china, etc. was
Lancasters.
-Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Larry Mattingly ('60)
Re: our web page
This is my 48th year in Display Fireworks and Special Effects. During
most of that time I took few pictures. I do have lots of memories of
venues in many foreign countries, and probably 25 states. Most of this
was traveling by myself and working with local crews.
Now I have a “significant other” who lives and breathes pyrotechnics as
I do. Jackie Whedbee is a lady of many talents. 25 years as a Graphics
Artist. She is also a Professional photographer, Videographer, Marketing
Consultant, and multi-state Licensed Pyrotechnician.
We have had a number of adventures in the world of pyrotechnics and she
has taken a fair number of pictures. I did take a few also. Jackie has
recently developed a web page for us. Some of these pictures have been
posted to the page. It can be viewed at
http://home.gci.net/~larry-and-jackie/index.htm
-Larry Mattingly ('60)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Betsy Fox Vance ('63)
Awwww right, awwww right, Mr. Robert Rector ('62) -- sign me up for a
ride in the big caddy ---
Your ol' buddy from Natches Church Camp
-Betsy Fox Vance ('63) ~ Living in the same old Gowen house I lived in
in 1950 [phone number deleted for Betsy's privacy. -Maren]
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****************************************************************
>>From: Jeanie Walsh ('63)
To: My little "nick-nook' sister, Kellie Walsh Patterson ('77)
Yup you crossed GWWay and you were looking in the window at Newberry's.
Everyone else in the family headed for the river...
-Jeanie Walsh ('63) ~ Sunny Simi Valley, CA, Home of the Ronald Reagan Library
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****************************************************************
>>From: Bill Scott ('64)
To: Kellie Walsh Patterson ('77)
I don't know about the shop facing GWWay selling fine china and
collectibles, but you might be thinking of Lancaster's China Shop
around the Symons side near Newberry's. My mother worked there for
several years in the fifties. I also well remember the Christmas time
toy department upstairs in Newberry's. I remember one year one of the
hot toys was "The Visible Man", a foot-high male figurine with clear
plastic skin, revealing all the internal organs beneath. Don't remember
if they dared to make it anatomically correct.
-Bill Scott ('64)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Re: CC Andersons
Did CC Anderson's (CCA) become the Bon Marche at some point? Was CCA on
the Parkway or GWWay itself? I seem to recall the Bon being down in that
area of downtown before Columbia Center opened and it moved out there.
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA
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****************************************************************
>>From: Teresa Barber Wise ('78)
Happy Birthday DP. You’re only as old as you feel. In the words of Henry
David Thoreau "None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm"
Make it a good one.
-Teresa Barber Wise ('78)
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/29/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 Bombers sent stuff:
Michael Ragland ('57), Lee Williams ('58), Steve Carson ('58)
Suzie Gunderson ('60), Judy Willox ('61wb), Helen Cross ('62)
Carol Converse ('64), Dennis Hammer ('64), Bruce Strand ('69)
Lynn Noble ('72)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Judy Crose ('58)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Bonnie Webb ('59)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: David Gilbert ('61)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Anita Fravala ('73)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Brenda Belcher ('76)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Kristi Strege ('00)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Michael Ragland ('57)
During my high school years, there was a guy everyone called Toad. I
think his last name was Jensen. Toad had all the records of every hit
group from the era, all 45s. He was invited to every party because he
brought the music. He had a portable record player and his cases of
45rpm records.
My parents lived in a "K" house behind Densow Drug Store. We had a full
basement with an outdoor entry. My parents were very liberal for the
times and allowed us to have parties with alcohol in our rec room in
the basement and Toad was always invited. He was the music man. I don't
remember him ever having a girl friend, but everyone liked him a lot.
Anyone remember him and know what happened to him?
-Michael Ragland ('57)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Lee Williams ('58)
Re: Rector ('62) has BFI Certificate, Sport Pilot License and New and
Bigger Powerchute!
Sounds like a great new venture. I appreciate the offer but since I never
know when I'm getting down that way I'll just have to "wing it" (pun) on
setting up a reservation.
Take care
-Lee Williams ('58)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Steve Carson ('58)
To: Larry Mattingly ('60)
Very interesting web site.
-Steve Carson ('58)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Suzie Gunderson Chiles ('60)
Re: Larry Mattingly ('60) & Jackie
Awesome pictures... too bad you didn't pick up a camera in the early
days, Larry. Thank your lucky "blooms" you now have Jackie.
-Suzie Gunderson Chiles ('60)...in very smoky Omak, WA
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****************************************************************
>>From: Judy Willox ('61wb)
To: My 1961 Classmates
Re: Our 45th Reunion
Where, oh where can my classmates have gone,
Oh where, oh where can they be?
With their smiles so great, and and tales on their slate,
Please come, you I want to see.
Who: My Classmates of 1961
What: Our 45th Reunion at the Club 40 Reunion
When: September 8th, 9th, and 10th (that's this year folks :o))
Where: The Shiloh Inn in Richland, aka Bomberville
Why: Because I love you! And Bill does too, he's gonna sing for you.
How: You just gotta sign up and get those reservations in. Simple as
that.
See you all there.
-Judy Willox, Classic Class of '61 ~ Richland ~ Still hot, but not as hot
as it could be. Great weather for a reunion. :o)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Helen Cross Kirk ('62)
To: Tommy Hemphill (another '62er)
Yes, Bill Finney (also '62) is still at it with a B&B in Joseph, (I
believe, Oregon.) I haven't been there yet, but I was just talking on
the phone with Cathy Wood Stevens (another gal from '62, she and I go
way back to Spalding, and forward to now) and she and her husband, Bob,
(NAB) were just at Bill's place to celebrate a big 40th anniversary!!
To: Robert Rector (also '62)
Bob, I wish I had enough nerve to go up with you in your caddie.
I was just in CUP church today and do you know they have a skate park
on their grounds, or what used to be their grounds? I tried to tell the
secretary I spoke with that I used to belong to CUP, in fact I was so
insulted when my dad told me I was no longer a member, as I hadn't been
active in their church for years. I guess I thought you kept a lifetime
membership in the church you were raised in...
Hope to see you all at our big 45th in 2007!!! Hey, John, when are we
going to start this shindig rolling???
-Helen Cross Kirk ('62) ~ I was driving from my mother's to my mother-
in-law's today and I think Vantage is one of the most incredible
landscapes I have ever seen...
Oh, my cousins, (Allan ('59), Bob ('62), Carol ('64), Mary Jane
('68-RIP), and Duane ('79)'the kids of my Uncle Bob of McPherson
fame just helped their dad celebrate his 89th birthday, or
rather some of them were with me to help him celebrate, and my
brother, Roy, ('65) and his daughter, Karin, ('09 Kennewick?)
even joined us to celebrate the affair....
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Carol Converse Maurer ('64)
To: Larry Mattingly ('60)
The pictures on your website were fantastic! You guys did a very good job
with the site.
To: Betti Avant ('69)
CC Anderson's (CCA) was on the Parkway. The Bon Marche was in the CCA
building until Columbia Center was built. I also remember the drug store
being right across the parking lot of CCA. I think it burned down after
we were out of high school. Not exactly sure what year.
-Carol Converse Maurer (Baby Boomer Class of '64) ~ Eureka, CA - where
its felt like winter. Mid '50s for a few days. Burrrr!!!
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Dennis Hammer ('64)
Re: Portland Log Cabin
In the last couple of weeks things keep being posted in the Sandstorm
reminding me of something. Things like begging our parents to stop
someplace, the size of logs on logging trucks, Monkey Wards and Sears
and Sawbuck, and Portland. So I might as well write about it.
My dad always called them Monkey Wards and Sears and Sawbuck, and while
we would buy stuff from both, he always preferred Wards.
Every time we went to Portland it seems like we would stop at the large
five or six story high Wards retail store. Across the street from Wards
was a huge log cabin. I would always ask if I could go across the street
and look at that log cabin. At first I did not know what it was other
than a big log cabin. It was the Forestry Building built for the Lewis
and Clark Exposition in 1905 and was 205 feet by 108 feet. I always
asked, and the answer was always no. Then in 1964 we were getting into
the car ready to start for home; I think by then I had given up asking.
To my amazement, dad asked me if I wanted to go look at that log cabin.
I don't remember why, but this one time I was in a hurry to get home, so
I said not this time. I have been kicking myself now for 42 years because
just days later, not even a week, on August 17, 1964 it burned to the
ground.
http://www.ohs.org/collections/library/Photo-Gallery-LC-Expo-Forestry-Building.cfm
-Dennis Hammer ('64) ~ In Kennewick, the insignificant suburb of the
mighty Bomberville
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Bruce Strand ('69)
Re: CC Anderson's
To" Betti Avant ('69)
CC Anderson's did become the Bon Marche. I don't know the name of the
street but it was the one just before GWWay in Downtown. I remember
sitting on Santa's knee there and getting my Cub Scout uniform when it
was still CC Anderson's. Wow, that was a while ago.
-Bruce Strand ('69) ~ Back in Tempe, AZ and 105° after a trip to Virginia
and the "other Washington" (DC).
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****************************************************************
>>From: Lynn Noble Paden ('72)
To: Lynn-Marie Hatcher Peashka ('68)
God Bless you and your hubby for opening your heart and home for your
sweet little grandchildren. I have one grandson who I'd do the same for
if anything happened to his parents.
My parents, Betty and MR Noble did just that when my sister, Becky ('69-
RIP) and her husband, Gary, died suddenly in a car crash caused by a
drunk driver in 1971. Becky's son, Greg, was just two years old at the
time. I am their 6th child and was a senior in high school and I'm sure
they thought they were also going to cruise into their retirement years
after I went off to college. But that isn't what they would allow. Greg
lived with them until he left home and went to college.
At age 37, Greg is now back with them returning the care and love my
folks gave to him. My parents are now 92 and 87, living in Kennewick and
still doing quite well (my mom still drives and so fair warning to
everyone in Kennewick...) and both are very independent, fortunately.
Greg cooks for them, does chores around their 2 acres and in their home
and looks after them. He does this while maintaining a more than full
time job as a surveyor with an engineering firm. But it has given him
much satisfaction to be with them and to care for them in their twilight
years. He loves them as his parents and they love him as their 7th child.
It has been a huge relief to my brothers and sister and me having him
there with them. Greg is an amazingly smart and loving guy due to his
genetics but more so due to my folks loving influence.
And so, a long story short is that sad things happen for very wonderful
reasons -- whether it becomes obvious to you now or later. Again, you're
amazing for opening your life and heart to your sweet little people. God
Bless.
-Lynn Noble Paden ('72)
*******************************************
*******************************************
That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/30/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
12 Bombers sent stuff and 2 Bomber funeral notices today:
Nola Davey ('56), Nancy Stull ('59)
Patti Jones ('60), Derrith Persons ('60wb)
Richard Anderson ('60), Katie Sheeran ('61)
Roy Ballard ('63), David Rivers ('65)
Betti Avant ('69), Mary Jane Smith('70)
Vic Marshall ('71), David Flaherty ('76)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Kathy Hoff ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Patty O'Neil ('65)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Teresa Barber ('78)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
To: Michael Ragland ('57)
Re: Toad
He is happily married to a woman named Carole and still lives in
Richland. He goes by the name of DeVearl, aka Dev, now. He is a fellow
classmate of mine of the great Class of 1956.
-Nola Davey Meichle ('56)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Nancy Stull Jewell-Knutson ('59)
To: Mike Ragland ('56)
I think you might mean Toad Tadlock. Toad, aka Jim, is alive and doing
quite well in West Richland. I’m sure he and his wife, Carole Wickstrom
('59) will be at Club 40; they usually are.
-Nancy Stull Jewell-Knutson ('59)
****************************************************************
****************************************************************
>>From: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60)
To: DJ Jeff Michael ('65)
Re: Your move
Ahhh you think there isn't a swing time coming. Leavenworth would be
perfect. Maybe we can still meet at Spalding also before you go. The
Swings are the greatest. Whoops! I think I just gave away what the swing
time is! I have found another Bomber who probably would swing with us.
Found her and her daughter at the Roller Rink in Bomberville on Friday
night. Boy, did walking in the Roller Rink bring back memories!
Especially when Fats Domino was singing at the Roller Rink one night. I
think it was about 1957. Already emailed the Bomber about Bungee Jumping
and Firewalking.
I sat at Howard Amon on one of the swings Friday evening and had dinner.
One Seagull joined me until I threw out some lettuce to him. Other
Seagulls decided to join us. The one Seagull stayed with me for about an
hour after he chased off the other seagulls. The swing chairs are such a
delightful experience. Almost fell asleep I got so relaxed with the calm
of the river and the swinging back and forth.
Sad to hear you are leaving us here in Bomberville, but fun for you.
Hope you can make a luncheon before you go. I'm sure much will bring you
back to Bomberville. Wish you and your wife the best on your journeys.
Re: Club 40
A short week and a 3 days away. Bombers who haven't seen the who's
coming list please look. http://richlandbombers.com Scroll down the home
page to Club 40. It will make you want to be at Club 40 when you see the
growing list. The Club 40 team and class reunion committees have done a
wonderful job getting the attendance. Not forgetting the behind the
scenes work they all do so well.
-Patti Jones Ahrens ('60)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Derrith Persons Dean ('60wb)
Re: Bomber lunch
Well, August is almost over...
The BF Fair closed...
The kids are back in school...
ITS TIME FOR THE CLASS OF '60 TO HAVE LUNCH TOGETHER!!!!!
When? - Saturday, September 2nd
Time? - 11:30 am
Where? - 3 Margaritas, 627 Jadwin, Richland
Come on... let's talk!
classmate,
-Derrith Persons Dean ('60)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Richard Anderson ('60)
Re: "Toad"
It appears that the moniker "toad" has been given to more than one Bomber
over the years. It feels "warm and fuzzy" to me to report that one Bomber
was "never 'toad'" .... the estimable and inimitable David Rivers ('65).
-Richard Anderson ('60)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Katie Sheeran Johnson ('61)
Did anybody see that Danny Klepper ('60) passed away. It was in the Tri-
City Herald Sunday. I have great memories of Danny and his family.
-Katie Sheeran Johnson ('61)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Roy Ballard ('63)
Re: Toad
To: Mike Ragland ('57)
The "Toad" label at one time was attached to Terry Jones ('64), brother
of Kip Jones who is around your time.
And to Helen Cross Kirk ('62): the landscape of Vantage reminds me of
when I was at the Dead Sea and climbed Masada and saw all the wonderful
site and history there. But the landscape there is even more barren than
Vantage... very beautiful in its own way.
-Roy Ballard ('63)
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****************************************************************
>>From: David Rivers ('65)
Re: group hug
Ok... I KNOW it looked like I forgot Kathie Moore Adair's ('69) birthday
on the 22d... and it LOOKED like I missed Richard Twedt's ('64) birthday
on the 26th and it must have APPEARED that I missed Gary Behymer's ('64)
birthday on the 28th... Fooled ya huh... no way... I saved them for
today... because the birthday girl loves a party... ya see the birthday
girl today is what Joan Baez called an Organizer in her song about
uuuuuuuuh organizing... yeah... and this girl is the queen of the
organizers... she has made woodstock look like a small informal
gathering... this girl and a lovely young thing she is... and yeah...
she's known Heidlebaugh ('65) longer than I have... gaaaadssss how many
lies has he told HER? She probably thinks he was born in Washington DC
and is the illegitimate son of Andrew Jackson... oh well... anyway...
this girl has managed to get kids together from all over the world just
to join hands and sing "We are the Bombers mighty mighty Bombers...
everywhere we go oo people wanna know who we are so we tell them...
"kids from all classes have accepted her invitation to join in the Bomber
festivities so she always has been and will remain VERY special to me
(yeah to Heidlebaugh) and to all of us... she is one of the first girls
Ricky Warford ('65) introduced me to when we got to Col-Hi (I still
remember exactly where we were standing!!!!!!!!!!!!)... so OK... I'll get
on with it...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON THE 30TH TO KATHY HOFF CONRAD ('64)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-David Rivers ('65)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Betti Avant ('69)
Thanks to those who let me know that CC Anderson's became the Bon Marche,
I just hadn't remembered the Anderson name. I do know the street was
the Parkway. Carol, I remember when that drug store burned, it seems it
was a Thrifty Drug Store. I don't think it burned totally down, however.
Pennywise drug caught on fire when I was a kid [3/19/56. -Maren] and I
remember going there afterwards and the smell from the fire was something
I never forgot. A lot of those old buildings are still standing albeit
with different store names. I guess they built them to last a very long
time. Look at the houses they built, so many of them not even looking
like the original and others you know when you look at it you know what
kind of house it is. Ah, the days of growing up in a great city,
Richland, WA, USA!!!!
-Betti Avant ('69) ~ Lacey, WA supposed to be rainy in the next day or
two (we shall see)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Mary Jane Smith Poynor ('70)
To: Kellie Walsh Patterson ('77)
The fine china and Hummel store was Lancasters. My mom's favorite line
if she ever brought my sister and myself into the store was "look with
your eyes, not your hands"!! All I remember about the store was all of
the glass shelves and bric a brac. Wonder what it was like to have to
dust all those shelves.
-Mary Jane Smith Poynor ('70)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Vic Marshall ('71)
Re: Becky Noble ('69-RIP)
To: Lynn Noble Paden ('72)
Thank you so much for the update on your nephew Greg and your parents.
Becky and my sister Chris Marshall ('69) were close all through CKS
and high school and I remember having a major crush on Becky during my
adolescence. I visited Becky fairly often during 1970 and 1971 with your
paramour- Bill Ayotte ('71) and got to know her pretty well. Gary ('68-
KHS) worked a lot of evenings, as I recall, and we would stop by and
visit so I got to see quite a bit of Greg when he was a baby. After that
terrible Thanksgiving night tragedy, so close to our own "dispersal"
after high school, I pretty much lost touch but always wondered what
became of Greg.
Thanks for the update. I'm not exactly sure if I would call the events
providential but, it would seem, the love has come back around.
I'm sure Becky is watching from somewhere - in blue jeans and sweater...
smiling.
God bless
-Vic Marshall ('71)
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****************************************************************
>>From: David Flaherty ('76)
Happy Birthday TB you look the same as the girl I walked home 30 years
ago. The years have been good to you!
-David Flaherty ('76)
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Funeral Notices
>>Andrew Gottschalk ('98) ~ 4/17/80 - 8/23/06
>>Danny Klepper ('60) ~ 2/17/42 - 8/25/06
*******************************************
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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Alumni Sandstorm ~ 08/31/06
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3 Bombers sent stuff:
Dave Sowden ('62wb & '63wb), Brad Upton ('74), Kellie Walsh ('77)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Bill Lattin ('58)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Howard Kirz ('60)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Donna Kirz ('68)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Rick Valentine ('68)
BOMBER REMEMBERED Today: Shelley McCoy ('63) - 8/31/02
http://rhs63.tripod.com/RIP/RIP63McCoyShelley02.htm
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****************************************************************
>>From: Dave Sowden ('62wb & '63wb)
To: Patti Jones Ahrens ('60)
Re: Fats Domino in the Roller Rink 1957
I remember that Fats Domino concert. Three or four of us sat on the
railing surrounding his stand with our elbows and heads on his piano.
Late that night we actually fell asleep while he was still singing
and playing. We were 12 or 13 years old (perhaps the youngest there)
and had never been out that late before. I can remember being so tired
I wished he wouldn't play so loud so I could sleep. What wonderful
memories. Thank you for bringing it up.
-Dave Sowden ('62wb & '63wb)
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****************************************************************
>>From: Brad Upton ('74)
This is kind of short notice... but then again, so was the booking. I'll
be opening for Joan Rivers this Saturday night at the Northern Quest
Casino. I believe it is in Airway Heights out around the Spokane airport.
Show time is 8:30 PM!
-Brad Upton ('74)
PS. Don't expect to see Mike Davis ('74) there.
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****************************************************************
>>From: Kellie Walsh Patterson ('77)
To: Mary Jane Smith Poynor ('70)
Ha, our mom probably winced over the thought of dusting those shelves
too. Dust drove mom crazy, and Richland had plenty of it.
When school got out this June, and the kids were coming home from school,
I thought about the age old tradition of "smearing the 6th graders" on
the last day. Kind of a right of passage, where the 7th graders would
pin-down a 6th grader (soon to be in Jr. High) on the way home and smear
his face with lipstick. Walking home from Jefferson through the years, I
remember watching this happen year after year... 7th graders hiding
behind bushes, waiting to pounce or chase the innocent victim. I, too,
got smeared, and I remember the butterflies in my stomach in anticipation
of the walk home. Anyone else remember this?
-Kellie Walsh Patterson ('77) ~ Flanders NJ, where it's been raining for
5 straight days now.
*******************************************
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That's it for the month. Please send more.
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ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø
July, 2006 ~ September, 2006