Alumni Sandstorm ~ 03/01/15
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10 Bombers sent stuff:
Shannon CRAIG ('50), Dave RHODES ('52wb)
Curt DONAHUE ('53), Ann BISHOP ('56)
Ed QUIGLEY ('62), Duane LEE ('63)
Bill SCOTT ('64), Deedee WILLOX ('64)
Jim HEIDLEBAUGH ('65), Mike FRANCO ('70)
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6 days till the Ceremonial Start of Iditarod 2015 in Anchorage
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Elwin "Gene" BOYLE ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Anna DURBIN ('69)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Pat HAMMOND ('71)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Patricia INGHRAM ('72)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Sheri LUKINS ('75)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Deana SHIPMAN ('77)
BOMBER CALENDAR: Richland Bombers Calendar
Click the event you want to know more about.
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>>From: Shannon CRAIG Hightower ('50)
Thanks so much, Maren. So glad you were interested in looking up
my little brother and talking to me. I thought that was what this
sandstorm was all about... and am glad for it. I don't know what
anyone has a problem with... guess I missed that one.
-Shannon CRAIG Hightower ('50)
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>>From: Dave RHODES ('52wb)
Hi Maren
I am sorry that people have become so narrow minded that if people
write things they disagree with they are dropping out. I often
times have read articles that I did not agree with, but I also
believe that those persons had the right to their own opinions. I
recently paid my next years dues and I intend to continue as long
as I am still alive.
My good friend and classmate Dick WIGHT ('52) and I do not always
agree on things,but by golly we are still friends and I hope that
we always will be.
I only attended Col Hi from 1948 until we moved away in June of
1950. My happiest and most fun times were when I lived here. I
was one of the so-called trailer trash from North Richland. Our
fathers were heavy construction workers and as their jobs were
finished we moved on.
My next stop was a little railroad town (Wishram) where my
stepfather took a permanent job with the SP&S Ry Co. The school
there was so bad that I was sent to Stevenson, WA to live with
my Grandparents. I worked there all the summer of 1950 as a
section hand. One month after school started my Grandfather was
transferred and I lived with a family where I was treated very
well.
I need to backtrack a little bit. You see I had been nearly beaten
to death by my stepmother, so I came to Richland to live with my
mom and Stepfather as a ward of the court with the stipulation
that I had to live with a family member. I finished my junior year
at SHS (Stevenson High School) and my sister accidentally told my
Stepmother I was living with a Foster family, and the court sent me
to Renton to live with her and my Dad. The day I graduated I left
them and went my own way.
This is probably not very interesting unless you had the same
experiences. I am proud to say that I am a Bomber. GO BOMBERS.
-Dave RHODES ('52wb)
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>>From: Curt DONAHUE ('53)
Re: Biggest Giant, Cliff Thompson
Some days ago I wrote about this over 8-foot man, Cliff Thompson,
being at the "Y" Grocery Store when I worked there. He was selling
replicas of his wedding ring for fifty cents and I bought one, but
have lost it in the many moves. If you bought one of them, he gave
you a little booklet that told all about him. That I still have. I
felt like a really small child working around him all day that day
he was there. About two years later, while I was going to school in
Portland, OR, I saw him drive by in a 1948 Dodge Coupe. It looked
like he was sitting in the back seat, his seat was so far back. It
was specially modified for him.
Maren found the following - everything that's in the little booklet -
on the internet:
http://www.sideshowworld.com/41-GG/65-C-Thompson-A/CG-Cliff-Thompson-ABC.html
Thanks Maren for all you do!!
-Curt DONAHUE ('53) ~ Pasco where the sun is shining brightly
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>>From: Sara Ousley, aka Ann BISHOP ('56)
I guess I'll throw in my "opinion" of the latest events. I agree
with most of the others that the AS is NOT the place for true
political discussions. Some of the entries are "boring", but most
are not. I didn't have the advantage of growing up in Richland. I
tell folks I grew up "everywhere west of the Mississippi" and that
is mostly true. When I was 5, I'd had a birthday in 5 different
states. Col Hi is the ONLY school that I spent more than a few
months in and that was for 2 years and 9 weeks! I went to as high
as 5 schools in one year, from the ArkLaTex to several schools in
Washington. My mother was rather strict, so I wasn't allowed to go
to the "hang outs" enjoyed by the rest of you. Because of that, I
never had any long time close friends. You are all so blessed. So,
that being said, why is there so much hostility among us? No two
of us are always in total agreement... not even among CLOSE
friends or family. Why can't we just get along and tolerate/
embrace our differences, grow from them and enjoy the things we
do agree on and the great, funny and sad memories we each have?
I don't personally know 99% of you... just 2 or 3, but through the
AS, I have become familiar with a lot of you and prayed for all
who asked for prayer. I guess I'm kin to what is called a 'prayer
warrior' in my Christian circles. I find most of the entries
informative, entertaining, funny (i.e. 'tooter') and sometimes
sad. Those I have no interest in, I just scroll through. No
biggie. I, for another, am sticking with the AS. Thanks Maren for
your mighty efforts.
O.K., so I'm off my mini soapbox!
-Sara Ousley, aka Ann BISHOP ('56)
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>>From: Ed QUIGLEY ('62)
Re: Subscription. . .
Wow; seems as though I unintentionally tweaked a couple of people,
but I'm happy to see that it inspired a few entries!
Let me set a couple of things straight: 1. I DO appreciate all of
Maren's hard work, and have told her so. I helped set up a free,
Mac-specific, free help website, along with 16 other people from
all over the world, back in... immmm... 2003(?); it took us about
8 months to get it up and running, and for the next 7 years, I spent
2-4 hours a day doing what Maren does. At the end of the 7 years,
after a year of dealing with the back-biting and political intrigue
that erupted amongst the administrators, I bailed. I'm happy to say
that http://www.techsurvivors.net continues on, to this day, but
without my help. So, yes, I know well how much work she puts into it,
and how much time it takes out of her life.
2. My decision to suspend my subscription has absolutely nothing to
do with be offended with anything that anyone has said (I firmly
believe that being offended by someone is a matter of choice!), so
it's not a matter of "taking my ball and going home", nor have I been
bored with the Sandstorm. As a matter of fact, I have found myself,
in the last 24 hours, questioning my decision, because I too, have
made a couple of friends that, was I not a subscriber, would not
have. I miss Pappy's entries (what a great imagination!), enjoy
Larry MATTINGLY's ('60) entries (man, I wish I could play with
fireworks that big, and get paid for it!), and many others' who
keep us up to date on what's going on in their lives, so, who knows,
I may change my mind and be back, but I'm glad that with that last
entry, I sparked some more activity here! :)
-Ed QUIGLEY ('62)
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>>From: Duane LEE ('63)
Re: Bomber Hoops
Decades ago there was a fan at the Bomber basketball games who
would stand up just before the tipoff and in a big, booming voice
would proclaim "Gooooo Yeeeee Bombers". This would be followed
by a loud cheer from the raucous Bomber student section. He was
great. There is a guy who is doing it now also. I don't know if
he is a relative of the original "crier" or just a loyal fan
carrying on the tradition but it is a welcome part of each game.
Richland put on a real clinic in the second half of their game
with Kentridge tonight [2/27]. The Chiawana gym was packed! Landon
Radliff, the team spark plug, pumped in 28 points.
Re: New 12 Plex
They are building a 12 plex theater in "Richland" since we haven't
had one since the Uptown was shut down. The theater will be
located across the Yakima on the border of West Richland but still
technically in an expanding Richland. There was yet another move
to change the name of West Richland to Enterprise but was shot
down because it would be cost prohibitive.
Re: Hanford High
Our grandsons attend Hanford High. It is a great school and they
have a lot of team spirit. It just always seems strange to me to
attend their sporting events when they play their big 4A cross
town RIVAL Bombers.
Re: Spudnuts
Had to stand in line outside the Spudnut shop today for 10 minutes
just to get in the door but the wait was worth it. Hope that place
never shuts down or goes hi-tech.
Re: Original '63er
Last but not least, a big shout out for Maren and the job she is
doing every day. Thank you from all of us. She really can't help
being such an over achiever since she is claimed by one of the
best classes ('63) to ever come out of Bomberville. Keep up the
terrific job Maren. We appreciate you.
-Duane LEE ('63)
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>>From: Bill SCOTT ('64)
Hats off to Margo COMPTON Lacarde ('60) for defining the proper
nature of the Alumni Sandstorm in yesterday's edition. She nailed it.
Sheesh, as if there were not enough other venues on the internet for
"thoughtful discussions". The problem with those is that they seldom
stay "thoughtful" for very long. Sooner rather than later, in today's
polarized society they degenerate into name calling, religious and
political posturing, vituperation, and hate speech. There's already
too much of that on facebook, which is why I seldom look at it
anymore. Too hazardous for my blood pressure. I'm sure that isn't
what facebook's founder intended.
It has taken me a long time to realize how unique we boomer Bombers,
who are the most frequent contributors to this venue, were and are.
Not to brag, please don't misunderstand. But we really did grow up
in Norman Rockwell's America, a place where you didn't need to lock
your door when you went out on the town (we didn't), crime and
homelessness were virtually nonexistent, and the schools were
excellent. Perhaps the reason the boomer reunions are so successful
is that for so many of us, our classmates are like an extended
family. Why? Because most of our parents worked for the same
employer, employment was stable, and so many of us went through
school together from kindergarten through high school. It took me
years to realize that you don't get that in other towns. I'd hate
to see anything introduced into this forum that would drive a wedge
between Bombers. I like the Sandstorm just as it is. Maren's done an
incredible job of balancing all this over the years, and were it not
for her, would the Alumni Sandstorm even exist? Let's keep it as it
is, a refuge from controversial topics, where classmates can stay
connected over the years, and talk about shared experiences and
common memories growing up in a town like no other.
-Bill SCOTT ('64)
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>>From: Deedee WILLOX Loiseau ('64)
Re: Opting Out
Maren makes a good point: who wants to deal with the political
stuff?! I'm as political as anyone else, but the place for airing my
views is NOT the Alumni Sandstorm.
We did have a "Sandbox" where we could write anything we wanted, but
no one wanted to edit or handle it, so it died. If any of you "opting
out" people want to take it on, do so, and quit complaining about
what ISN'T in the Sandstorm as opposed to what IS there. I don't mean
this to sound mean or nasty, but the Alumni Sandstorm has been
operating for many years, and I appreciate Maren's efforts on our
behalf.
-Deedee WILLOX Loiseau ('64) ~ Burbank, WA where the days are
warmer, but the nights still nippy.
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>>From: Jim HEIDLEBAUGH ('65)
Re: Herding cats
Hi Maren, THANKS for all you do. John C. said it right, "herding
cats". Says it all. Great cats, and they are our cats.
-Jim HEIDLEBAUGH ('65)
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>>From: Mike FRANCO ('70)
To: Donna BOWERS Rice ('63)
WOW, so the Auditor of Missouri supposedly committed suicide and
his being accused of being Jewish may have affected his political
ambitions? And he "looked Jewish"? That's pretty interesting. And
our family moved to Richland in 1954. As one of a very few Jewish
families in town we knew the other Jewish families very well. If
the Baugher family was Jewish I never knew about it. It's not
impossible, but I am surprised to learn that.
[and I had no idea the Franco family was Jewish till
recent years of this Alumni Sandstorm... never knew it
when your dad removed my appendix. -Maren]
As far as political issues being surfaced here:
I kind of like that this forum is relatively politics free. I read
newspapers, watch news, read online journalism, follow financial
issues, education issues and POLITICS is everywhere. I find that
politics is not only everywhere but it often seems to carry a
complete lack of civility. I welcome this forum being as free as
possible of that discourse. After all, there is no lack of other
sites and venues for any and all political discussion.
Hope to see a few Bombers in Tacoma next week for some hoops
-Mike FRANCO ('70)
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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