Alumni Sandstorm ~ 03/25/05 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7 Bombers sent stuff: Jim Grow ('51), Jim McKeown ('53) Derrith Persons ('60WB), Jan Bollinger ('60) Judy Willox ('61), Helen Cross ('62) Lloyd Swain ('66) ******************************************************* ******************************************************* BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Virginia Brinkerhoff ('54) BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Karen Davis ('76) BOMBER CALENDAR: Richland Bombers Calendar Click the event you want to know more about. ******************************************************* ******************************************************* >>From: Jim Grow ('51) To: Virginia "Jinnie" Eckert Stephens ('58) Your maiden name caught my eye. Could you possibly be the younger sister of a girl who lived up on the corner of Van Giesen and Marshall in the '50s? Quite a pretty looking girl if I recall correctly but one who for some reason would not have a thing to do with me.. I do remember her looks though--tough as nails but a pretty little thing. Awhile back I noticed in here that some Harmon fellow was possibly talking about this same girl as he lived in the same Van Giesen area. They were supposedly going out in the bushes in a Van Giesen cherry orchard on a fruit picking scheme. Boy, one thing I do remember is she sure would not go out in the bushes with me. She would not even give me the time of day. I remember I was broken hearted but she never even seemed to notice. A hard hearted little girl to say the least. In fact that's all I got from her -- the least and nothing. One could safely say I was broken hearted. On a trip to Spokane I had her name tattooed on my left leg but an airplane wreck ten years ago took that part of my leg. My vision is so bad I would not be able to read it anyway. I would be interested in knowing if this girl might possibly be your older sister. I remember she came from a large family and probably had little sisters. Oh, one other thing I remember. Her father did not like me either. What's with this Harmon fellow anyway. When I heard of the incident I wondered. A little girl who is pure as the driven snow out wandering around in the brush pretending to pick fruit. Sounds fishy to me. This can not be the young little angel of my childhood dreams. What is going on here. What would her father think and I am not referring to what he thinks about me. I refer to what he does not know about this Harmon fellow. -Jim Grow ('51) ******************************************************* ******************************************************* >>From: Jim McKeown ('53) Re: Lois Rediske (Bomber Mom) To the Rediske Kids, Boy, your note brought back a lot of memories for me. I remember your Mom and Dad, since we lived next door to you on Acacia, across from Spalding grade School. You guys were just little tykes when we were in High School. I believe our address was 1307, but not sure....I remember when your Dad brought home the first TV in the neighborhood.....it had a screen about 4 or 5 inches wide, but, it created a stir....we all slipped next door to watch. Hope your Mom improves and is able to go home. -Jim McKeown...banner class of '53 ******************************************************* ******************************************************* >>From: Derrith Persons Dean ('60WB) Re: an up coming event ATTENTION CLASS OF '60 Planning meeting reminder Place: Sterlings, GWWay, Richland Time: 6:30 pm Date: Wednesday, March 30th, 2005 Who: Class of 60, men and women Let's plan to have a fun time!! Happiness is sharing life! -Derrith Persons Dean ('60WB) ******************************************************* ******************************************************* >>From: Jan Bollinger Persons ('60) Re: What a Party! The Bomber spirit was alive and well in Spokane last Sunday, as 30 alumni and guests stood to sing "Happy Birthday" and applaud teacher Vera Edwards when she arrived with her daughter Gay Edwards ('64). A more timid lady of 85 years might have felt overwhelmed at finding herself the guest of honor and center of attention, but not our Mrs. Edwards! She rose to the occasion with delight and hugs all around, and only a bit misty-eyed. Never known for being shy, we weren't too surprised when halfway through lunch, she volunteered to give a speech. (What a perfect guest of honor!) It seemed a good time for her remarks just before she cut her birthday cake, and she considered where to stand for her delivery. When told she could stand anywhere she chose, she wondered if that included ON the table! Yes, this was the same Mrs. Edwards we knew and loved, and she's still a beautiful, classy lady with a great sense of humor and lots of wisdom to share. Following Mrs. Edwards' speech, Gay presented a handsome album to her mother, a large collection of memories submitted by former students and reprinted on colorful stationery. Another Bomber presented her a report card from 1954 and asked if she wouldn't like to reconsider her comments on that 7th grade report. Mrs. Edwards denied any recollection of Jan Bollinger Persons ('60) ever being "over-talkative" as was recorded; however, the consensus of the assembled Bombers seemed to be that it was probably a very fair appraisal! (Now, why would they think that?!!) Nine Bombers from the Richland area were in Spokane to congratulate the birthday lady: Dan Haggard ('57) and spouse Marj Qualheim ('60), Vera Smith Robbins ('58), Judy Willox ('61), Nick Nelson ('56), Derrith Persons Dean ('60), Connie Dean O'Neil ('60), Kaye Ivers ('60), and Marsha Lawell Hathcox ('60). All of those alums had attended the Bringing Down the House party on Saturday night and were still in high spirits! Gary Behymer ('64) came from Colfax, and Sue Elliot Homan ('62) and spouse Tom came from Hayden Lake, Idaho. The Coates family was represented by three generations: Richard Coates ('52) and spouse Kay Mitchell Coates ('52), their daughter Julie Hedges ('75), and granddaughter Melissa Hedges ('02 WB). Spokane Bombers attending were Gloria Falls Evans ('58) and spouse Jim, Ralph Bean ('58) and spouse Barb, Rick Valentine ('67), Jim House ('63), Linda Davis Brede ('67) and spouse Doug, Ray Stein ('64), and Bomber friends Don and Jackie Rappe. As usual, Gary Persons ('57) and spouse Jan Bollinger Persons ('60) were on hand to blow up green and gold balloons. After the party, ten Bombers regrouped at the Persons house for more talking and laughing, and six of us played dominoes into the wee hours of Monday. It was a day and night of nonstop fun! Thanks to all who participated! -Jan Bollinger Persons ('60) and Gary Persons ('57) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [Spokane Lunch website: nineofhearts.tripod.com/lunch.html] ******************************************************* ******************************************************* >>From: Judy Willox ('61) Re: RHS Journalism Class fundraiser this week at Barnes & Noble http://richlandbombers.com/Xtra05/RHS-JournalismFundRaiser.jpg This voucher can be printed and used at Barnes & Nobel for the valid dates. If customers use the voucher when making purchases at the Columbia Center Mall Barnes & Noble between March 18th and March 25th, 2005, the RHS Journalism will receive a percentage of those sales. Any funds raised will be used to help subsidize the cost of Journalism students attending this year's National convention that is being held in Seattle this Spring. The convention will be a great skill building event for our journalism students. -Judy Willox ('61) ******************************************************* ******************************************************* >>From: Helen Cross Kirk ('62) As I was just catching up on the week's worth of Sandstorms I've missed, I was saddened to learn of fellow classmate, Robb Abrams ('62) cancer, and I have sent to Maren to learn of all his addresses possible. The last time I saw Robb was at the end of our last reunion in 2002 and he looked very healthy, heading off for Egypt, I believe. I know I really appreciated all the mail and support I got from Bombers and others when I had breast cancer last May, and I had a very good prognosis, so let's get Robb all the good wishes that we can to boost his morale. (I will send prayers for him too. I have heard of some very seemingly lost cases turning out good lately, and will be praying that this will be another one.) I just had my first mammogram after having had the surgery last May for the removal of a non-invasive cancer. And I wanted to again urge everyone to have their mammogram done if a year has passed. I don't know how often they (the medical profession) urge men to have this done, as I have known men who have had breast cancer. Incidentally, I was just giving my health history to another doctor for my son, Ryan, who has high blood pressure at 24, and the doctor said to me to be sure to have checks done for colon cancer as they often go hand in hand. Lately, I am wondering if I can even get all my check-ups done in one year, before it is time to start over, but of course, it is better to be healthy and preventing medical illnesses, than to be treating them. Glad to hear that the Northwest is having some rain, as it was sure dry when I was out in February. We have been having some back here too, but that is nothing out of the ordinary. A sunny day with temperatures above 60° is what is unusual here. However, my crocuses are now blooming and the daffodils look to be ready to bloom any day now, so spring is coming to the Midwest, at least to the house by the little lake in INdiana too. Happy Easter blessing to one and all, and belated St. Patrick's Day greetings too. We didn't get to celebrate this year, as I was busy learning how to make Russian pieroskies for our Russian dinner at our church. For my first attempt at yeast dough since I had home ec in Carmichael, they didn't turn out too badly. Also greetings to you Wendie Walker Vermillion ('62) As I was going down the gorge alone the beautiful Columbia River going to Portland, Oregon in February, I was thinking of all the classmate living in the Portland area and how lucky they are to be living in such a beautiful spot,and your name came to mind. Soon we, too, will be having our 45th reunion and can catch up!! -Helen Cross Kirk ('62) ******************************************************* ******************************************************* >>From: Lloyd Swain ('66) Just wanted to say a few words regarding bringing down the house event. I couldn't attend because Charter broadcast the two media classic basketball games live on channel three that night. What I believe lacked was advertising and promotion tantamount to making events like this successful. Most of the local cable, television and radio media will give at least two for one commercials but you do need a budget. I know you all put in a heck of a lot of hours and it is disappointing when folks don't show and especially when the state band shows up. I am sorry the attendance was so low. -Lloyd Swain ('66) ******************************************************* ******************************************************* That's it for today. Please send more. *******************************************************