Alumni Sandstorm ~ 05/28/05
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10 Bombers sent stuff:
Dick Wight ('52), Mike Clowes ('54)
Tom Tracy ('55), Bill Berlin ('56)
Tom Verellen ('60), Jack Gardiner ('61)
Linda Reining ('64), Patti McLaughlin ('65)
Darlene Napora ('69), Marjo Vinther ('77)
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BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mike Clowes ('54)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Twins: Bob & Roberta Grout ('66WB)

BOMBER CALENDAR: Richland Bombers Calendar
    Click the event you want to know more about.
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>>From: Dick Wight ('52)

Re: cherries

All the entries about cherries dredged up a distant memory. I was in
the school agriculture program from its inception (1950??) and the
school had about 80 acres of farm land between Richland and North
Richland, much of which we were able to get back under irrigation -
the water system was more or less in tact, though not used since '41 
or '42, I guess. Anyhow, several of the old cherry orchards did exist 
on govt. property and we "ag" students were offered an opportunity to
try and resurrect several of them. I chose an orchard on the NE edge
of town, just north of what were then called the "ranch" houses -
can't recall street numbers. I THINK the cherries were Royal Annes
(light colored, pink tinged)(or do I mean Queen Anne?). I got Dick
Meyer ('51 - but not an "ag" student) to help me. We knocked down the
weeds with a tractor, renewed some irrigation trenches and got the
water system working (more or less) in the early spring. When the
cherries ripened, we ran an ad in the paper for pickers - sat in the
shade with a scale and paid the pickers (mostly high schoolers, I
think) perhaps 3-4 cents per pound. We sold the cherries to a coop in
Kennewick, made a few bucks.

-Dick Wight ('52)
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>>From: Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54)

Re: Gym/Swimming Pool

As usual, Dick McCoy (of all those years) has again tried to hammer
the lid down on this lovely myth. However, Tom Tracy ('55) is more
correct in saying that Coach Dawald would NEVER allow such a thing 
to exist in HIS gym. There were stories during the construction of 
Chief Joseph that did include the possibility of a swimming pool 
beneath the gym floor. Why not, considering all the other goodies 
that went into Chief Joe.

So, is this urban myth, or is it lore of a bygone era where the
government billfold held an unlimited amount of cash? But then, we 
all know cold pizza has less calories than hot. Don't we?

-Bob Carlson, aka Mike Clowes ('54) ~ the weather guessers have 
              predicted 90 plus in the valley today, but with rain 
              coming back on Monday.
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>>From: Tom Tracy ('55)

To: Betty Hiser Gulley ('49)

Sure enjoy your historical comments about Richland. Hickenlooper was 
a party pooper. Wonder if Hickenlooper would have been kinder if we'd
have had a corn on the cob party while he was reviewing Carmichael's
budget? Or perhaps let him take a dip in our underground pool? For
molding a city from sandstorms, we deserved an under-floor pool.
Carmichael turned out state-of-the art, regardless. Some forward
thinking scientist encouraged the contractor to put UV lights in the
room heater/ventilators... we could see the blue light glow during
cloudy weather... it is now being installed in advanced Heating/
Ventilation A/C Systems in the most posh facilities everywhere. Wonder 
if it kept us healthier... Anyone have the attendance records of 
Carmichael? Can't remember being sick during Jr. Hi years.

Remember the health advanced health classes that told about a few
differences between boys and girls at Carmichael... probably something
else outside the budget of Hickenlooper. Boys were separated from
girls for the presentations. It promised to be a star wars special.
Maybe the girls' session was worth the one-hour tutorial. The textbook
style presentations assured participants that none of the children at
Carmichael would ever be compromised by a grasshopper, frog, bird, 
bee, or flea. It should have been entitled. The Stork's on the Roof 
and we Can't Get Her Down.

Thanks again Betty

Lorin St. John ('55), a true historian for the class of '55, has the
best records of our school years in Richland. This writer appreciated
the copies of sports pages from Sandstorms, newspapers and class
events from '48-'55 plus the basketball records of RHS from day one 
to present. In my first Richland encounter, we had the benefit of the
angel, Mrs. Thompkins, our 4th grade teacher. She knew how to help
friends make friends who stayed friends. She was heaven-sent for sure.
In Richland people from everywhere amazingly made everyone feel at
home. Our class had students like Jean Von Krosigh, one of the
brightest minds in any Richland class. Bill Leach was an academic star
as well. Kent Fleishman and Loren Claunch were model students. Mrs.
Thompkins made sure everyone shared their background and experiences.
We learned a lot about our friends and Mrs. Thompkins sought the best,
emphasized and nurtured the talents of her students. She was truly
loved.

Happy Memorial Day to Bombers everywhere

-Tom Tracy ('55) ~ in Boise, Idaho where its 87, but the cool mtn air 
       is dropping in... to welcome Ray Stein ('64) and family from 
       Spokane are dropping by Boise to honor his son and son's 
       beautiful Idaho bride this week. Congratulations Ray... tell 
       your son we enforce a 'no jogging' policy for all brides-to-be 
       in this region...
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>>From: Bill Berlin ('56)

Re: Bing Cherries

My Great Aunt Blackshire lived in Wheeling, West Virginia and was the
President of Wheeling Stogie Cigar Company, a favorite of my Dad and
Jimbeaux's ('63) dad, Jim. When the Bing cherry crop was ready out in
Benton City, my Dad would round up brother Bruce (Kennewick '61) and
out we would go for our cherry picking adventure. I ate so many of
those things that the farmer would weigh me checking in and checking
out and charge four cents a pound for the difference. If he had
weighed me a few hours later, he would have owed me money... if you 
get my drift. If that is what having a baby is like, women really are 
the strongest sex.

We would then box the cherries up very carefully, nail them shut and
send them back to West Virginia by Railway Express (remember them?)
and they made it in very good shape. Auntie would reward my Dad and
"Ham" Hamilton with three or four boxes of Wheeling Stogies, enough 
to last a year. She also told me that she would take those wonderful
cherries up into the hills around Wheeling and trade it for "corn." 
I thought that was really stupid because you could buy corn in every
grocery store in Wheeling and it was only later, much later, that I
realized there was a difference between "corn" in the jug and corn-on-
the-cob. I even asked Jim Russell about "corn" and he said that he
thought there was some "corn" around the hills in Silverton, Oregon
but was not sure of the difference either.

So there you have it folks. Bing Cherries turning into Wheeling
Stogie cigars and both turning into "corn." Isn't bartering a great
way to save cash?

-Bill Berlin ('56) ~ back in Anacortes, WA where it is going to be in
      the upper 80's again today. Too hot for paradise but lends for 
      great barbecuing on the porch... with a Wheeling Stogie in one 
      hand and a wee dram of "corn" in the other. Life is really just 
      a "bowl of cherries." 
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>>From: Tom Verellen ('60 a class that ends in zero)

Nobody ever got sick eating wild blackberries. They are to few and
far between. If you are eating them straight off the vine it is best
to wipe spiders off but the residual webs don't seem to do any harm,
any harm. Now cherries it is best to eat whole so you won't notice 
the one half worms that may be lurking in the uneaten half. Oh did I 
say too much?

-Tom Verellen ('60 a class that ends in zero)
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>>From: Jack Gardiner ('61)

Re: Tri-City Raceway

Can anyone who lives in the Tri-City area tell me if they have a
racing season at the TRI-CITY RACEWAY, out near West Richland.

-Jack Gardiner ('61)
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>>From: Linda Reining ('64)

To: Betty Bell Norton ('51)
Re: Helen Burns Nash

Is this the Mrs. Burns that taught P.E. at Col-Hi? Or is this the Mrs.
Burns that taught Steno? I don't have my annuals with me (they are in
storage), so I can't look up the first and last name, to figure out
which Mrs. Burns this is.

Re: Blackberries

When we were stationed on Vashon Island (first husband was in the
Coast Guard), we had blackberries growing all over the "station" and
we picked them till we had a freezer full of blackberries---they were
delicious! Only thing I hated, besides the thorns, were the blasted
garter snakes that would slither in and out of the bushes! Learned how
to make a cobbler and we had blackberry cobbler almost every night,
topped with vanilla ice cream. YUM!

-Linda Reining ('64) ~ 90°+ in Bakersfield, CA and only going to get 
                  HOTTER!!!!!!!!   ;(
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>>From: Patti McLaughlin Cleavenger ('65)
mailto:res8avsj@verizon.net

CLASS OF '65 AND EVERYBODY WHO WENT TO SCHOOL WITH US FROM
KINDERGARTEN ON - where are you? If you have not received an
invitation to our 40th reunion in your mail, it's because we 
do not have your correct address. Please send it to me! We want 
to see ALL our childhood friends, nemesis, mentors, crushes, 
tormentors, partners-in-crime. Too many of you have cell phones, 
so we REALLY can't find you. We miss you.

-Patti McLaughlin Cleavenger ('65)
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>>From: Darlene Napora Shuley ('69)

To: Jeff Curtis ('69)
Re: Swim Lessons

I distinctly remember my teeth chattering at morning swim lessons at
the big pool. I was so stiff with the cold that it took me two summers
to learn to float. I did, however, enjoy getting to walk to and from 
the pool with all the big kids from our block. I remember one game 
we played of trying to spit our bubble gum into open car windows…
Luckily, I don’t remember anyone being successful. Those poor car
owners would have been ready to strangle us and rightly so…

Re: Fruit

All the talk about fruit (Bing Cherries, etc.) reminded me of going to
Cannery in Sunnyside. My Godmother, Phyllis Surman, (also a 2nd grade
teacher at Christ the King) grew a lot of fruit on her property.
During the summer, she would pick us up (my sister, Shari ('67), my
brother, Matt ('72-RIP) and me) very early in the morning (felt like
4am, but I’m sure it was closer to 6am) so we could be at the Cannery
when it opened and before it got too miserably hot. Peeling peaches
was hard work and you got peach fuzz up to your elbows. The apricots
were much easier. My most favorite job was stamping "Peaches" etc. 
on the cans, which was worth a fight with my siblings to get... As I
recall, Phyllis donated most of the canned goods, and thus our hard
work, to different charities and religious organizations. 

I also remember wondering who could possibly live in Sunnyside
because all I ever saw of the town was the inside of the Cannery. 
Life is very funny… My husband, Keith Shuley, who I met WSU, is from
Sunnyside…

-Darlene Napora Shuley ('69)
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>>From: Marjo Vinther Burt ('77)

Re:  The Big Pool  
 
Loved re-reading Jeff Curtis' (69) memories of swimming lessons at 
the Big Pool! I remember them that way exactly! I also remember that 
on those cold mornings, as we hung on to the gutters while shaking
convulsively from the cold, that the instructors wore sweatshirts
and/or jackets, and sometimes sweatpants!!! One thing Jeff wouldn't
have any memory of - because he's a boy - is the adventure of having
to wear a swimming cap! That's too bad for the rest of us, because I'm
sure he'd have another hilarious entry for that subject! I remember
that there were basically two types - one was much easier to don than
the other. The easy one was very stretchy and had a surface of little
pillowy/quilty things on it (sorry, but my brain just can't come up
with a better description than that - but you girls know what I'm
talking about!) The other was a much stiffer type of rubber, and was
downright painful to put on. Removing them was even worse. You could
make a wig with the hair those things pulled out. My sister Paula ('69)
had a really fancy one I remember... it was black and had these
ridiculous white and pink rubber flower decorations all over it. I
think my Mom had one like it as well, in shades of green. I suppose
the decorations were intended to make one appear chic, but to this 
kid they just made you look like you had a huge head! Thank goodness 
the days of the swim cap requirement are gone! 

About 20 years ago a co-worker of mine (who was new to Richland) asked
me where the George Prout Memorial Pool was. "The what?" I asked.
After a bit of back and forth I realized he meant "The Big Pool"! It
goes by no other name in my book!

-Marjo Vinther Burt ('77)
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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