Alumni Sandstorm ~ 04/17/15
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10 Bombers sent stuff:
Dick WIGHT ('52), Curt DONAHUE ('53)
Norma LOESCHER ('53), Duane LEE ('63)
Earl BENNETT ('63), Joe FORD ('63)
Marie RUPPERT ('63), Peg SHEERAN ('63)
Susie DILL ('64), Shannon WEIL ('82)
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BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mary JONES ('56)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Bob THOMAS ('64wb)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jim VACHÉ ('64)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Shari NAPORA ('67)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Mary Jane SMITH ('70)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Tim JOCHEN ('73)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Twins: "Jumbo" & "Wig" DAVIS ('82)
BOMBER BIRTHDAY Today: Jeff JANICEK ('88)
BOMBER LUNCH: '54 Girls, 11:30, Rosy's (3rd Fri)
WEEKLY BOMBER LUNCH: Mostly '52ers, Noon, Sterling's GWWay (Fridays)
BOMBER CALENDAR: Richland Bombers Calendar
Click the event you want to know more about.
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>>From: Dick WIGHT ('52)
Re: David RIVERS' ('65) FBI story
Geez, David... I kinda' get it now. A warning: The 3rd thing
you lose as you get to my age is your sense of humor, and I
have trouble remembering what the first two lost things were.
And worse: I gave up my chain saws 8 years ago thereby barely
avoiding a maiming injury or worse. Can't even help with your
downed timber. Is it here in Richland?
Regards,
-Dick WIGHT ('52, I THINK)
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>>From: Curt DONAHUE ('53)
Re: National Medical Screening
To: Ray STEIN ('64)
I took the Building Trades National Medical Screening (BTNMS)
Program in 2013 and was found to have COPD and Beryllium
Sensitivity for which I applied to the Department of Labor for
compensation. I worked in all the areas during 1954 through
1957. Subsequently it was determined through additional
testing that the Beryllium Sensitivity had now become Chronic
Beryllium Disease, for which I have now received a substantial
compensation payment and free medical benefits for all
medications, doctor's visits, oxygen supplies, etc. associated
with my lungs. This disease is incurable and takes years
sometimes to develop (as mine did). I encourage anyone who
spent any time at all out on the Hanford Project to interview
for the BTNMS Program. If approved for the medical screening,
take it. If anything at all is found that qualifies for
compensation under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness
Compensation Act (EEOICA} to file for compensation and I
encourage doing that through an attorney. I have found one that
is very successful in obtaining compensation. If you contact me
directly, I will pass the name to you.
In the early years there seemed to be more concern about
radiation exposure than there was to chemical exposure, and,
in particular, Beryllium exposure. Contractors are still
having difficulties with gaseous exposures to this date.
-Curt DONAHUE ('53) ~ In sunny Pasco where the temperature is
expected to reach 70 today.
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>>From: Duane LEE ('63)
The ever popular Howard Amon "kiddy" pool getting a fresh
coat of paint from Manuel PARDINI ('70). A sure sign Spring
has arrived in Bomberville.
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/Xtra/Lee/150417-Pool_Paint_Job.jpg
-Duane LEE ('63)
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>>From: Norma LOESCHER Boswell ('53)
Re: A Gardening Bio
I just wrote a partial bio for the Rose Herald newsletter of
the Tri-City Rose Society and thought I'd also send it to my
Bomber friends. Local gardeners may be able to attend the 7-9
p.m. meeting on April 27 (Sandberg Event Center, West
Richland).
Our speaker, Norma Boswell, is a Master Rosarian, Horticulture
Judge and Arrangements Judge. In her small garden space she
grows 60 roses, mostly miniatures. She says, "I bought the
house in 1973 before I fell in love with roses. Even now,
people in my planned community are not allowed to get rid of
their lawns and plant other things. Houses are too close
together to permit garden expansion. Pre-installed sprinkler
systems were designed to water the lawns of two neighbors at
the same time."
Following the suggestion of two great Tri-City Rose Society
friends and mentors, Jim Campbell and Leona Mattison, Norma
joined the American Rose Society in 1977. She decided to learn
about every type of rose it was possible to cram into a rocky
berm and tiny house-hugging, driveway-hugging strips. Out came
pre-planted junipers and in went a few hybrid teas,
floribundas, climbers, a polyantha, an Old Garden Rose and some
shrub roses, with miniatures tucked underneath and between.
Year after year, some were removed and given to friends and
neighbors, and new ones were added.
Dorothy Campbell and Leona Mattison belonged to a local garden
club called Garden Genies, and they invited Norma to join. She
added dozens of "companion plants" to her crowded beds. After
many years of training and experience, she recently qualified
as a Master Judge. Because learning and giving back have always
been important to her, she served for six years as a
WSU/Extension Master Gardener and would have continued doing
so, had she not been recruited to teach creative writing to
senior citizens through Columbia Basin College.
Norma prefers open-air gardening to exhibiting roses, because
she has always enjoyed watching insects and likes to have
plenty for them to eat. "Aphids feed all my insect friends,"
she says. "The roses that remain somewhat intact by show time
won't be perfect, but my entries and arrangements will be
cleaned and groomed to enchant the casual observer."
Norma has judged so many shows over the years in the Pacific
Northwest District of the American Rose Society that she knows
exactly what judges expect to see in a blue ribbon entry, and
she'll show and tell at the April meeting.
She hopes you will be inspired to sniff out, spiff up and
display every possible contender from your own rose garden at
the combined Tri-City Rose Society / Pacific Northwest District
Show.
Bomber cheers,
-Norma LOESCHER Boswell ('53) ~ Richland
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>>From: Earl BENNETT ('63)
Re: Dick WIGHT ('52) - If you have not been closely associated
with David RIVERS ('65} for at least several decades - and in
some cases for most of his life - there is no chance you will
understand all, or even most, of his obscure references to
people, places or events. He even creates nicknames for persons
from those obscure references, so you have to know the rest of
the story in order recognize even half of the cast in his posts
(maybe intentional to protect the guilty?). I assume I won't
understand some of it whenever I enter upon one of his
protracted - but always entertaining - essays.
Re: Background Investigations - while Q clearances may be
entirely the province of the FBI (never had one, don't actually
know), it is true that D.O.D. and many other background
investigations for security clearances have not been handled by
the FBI for at least the last three or four decades. Several of
the investigators who have asked me about individuals who named
me as a reference on their application forms stated right up
front that they were not government employees, but contractors,
and we know that FBI agents are government employees. And of
course, no one would ever lie about that - right? I have to
admit, I've never closely examined the ID that the
investigators flash when they begin such interviews.
Regards, ecb3
-Earl BENNETT ('63)
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>>From: Joe FORD ('63),
Re: Compensation for cancer and agent who helps with filing
Hello, fellow Richlanders,
Any of you whose families worked at Hanford and suffered from
or died of cancer may want to look into the Energy Employees
Occupational Illness Compensation (EEOIC) program. Here's a
link: http://www.dol.gov/owcp/energy/
EEOIC compensates employees and their heirs who qualify. The
amounts vary by outcome, but $150,000 is the standard amount
for a cancer death. My parents both succumbed to a form of
cancer found eligible.
Susie DILL Atlee ('64) alerted us to a specialist who helps
with a very complex EEOIC registration and eligibility process.
His name is Tom Purcell, and he's guided lots of folks through
the EEOIC maze. I recommend Tom and his work to anyone who
believes that their own illness or that of a family member may
be related to Hanford employment.
Tom Purcell
Purcelltb@verizon.net
817-999-9226
Best wishes from Olympia, where the weather is great for rides
(and my wife tells me it's also good for setting out dahlia
bulbs).
-Joe FORD ('63),
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>>From: Marie RUPPERT Hartman ('63)
Re: Southend memories
We moved into Richland in the late '50s from our farm outside
of West Richland. Daddy bought a "B" house on Casey Ave. (213 &
215) for us as my mother was battling cancer and needed to be
closer to her doctors.
There was a drainage ditch running through the park like area
behind our house between Craighill and Benham streets. We (I'm
the oldest of us six kids) used to catch polywogs in it in the
spring and try to raise them into frogs in jars and buckets and
even an old laundry tub. Most of them made it and we'd release
them back into the small stream. I remember listening to the
chorus of frogs and crickets in the summer evenings. We'd make
tents with blankets and sleep in the backyard when it was too
hot in the house until the mosquitoes drove us back indoors.
The ditch has long been covered, but I think of those days each
time I drive past that area of town.
Now when you mention south Richland it isn't where we lived,
but the area across the Yakima where we used to go to shoot
jackrabbits. The house we live in now is in an area of north
Richland where my husband used to go goose hunting. We don't
see pheasants or jackrabbits when we drive around, but the
place is over run with squirrels. Don't remember squirrels, or
pelicans for that matter, when we were growing up here.
Goodness, I'm sounding like my grandmother! Blame it on being
70!
Several hours later, Marie wrote this:
Oops! I meant to say Casey Ave. between Benham and Comstock,
not Craighill. Craighill runs parallel to Casey.
[This section of the 1949 Topal map of Richland
tells the story (I can see Connie PHILLIPS' ('64)
"house" on the Craighill/Benham corner. - Maren]:
http://AlumniSandstorm.com/Xtra/15/0417-Southend1949map.jpg
-Marie RUPPERT Hartman ('63) ~ in sunny, chilly, breezy Richland
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>>From: Peg SHEERAN Finch ('63)
Re: Ray STEIN's ('64) entry re: NSSP
Ray's entry of 4/15 sure interested me about the National
Supplemental Screening Program. Though I never worked at
Hanford, 4 siblings did. I think when one of us develops a
malady as we age, we wonder if there's a connection to exposure
to Hanford's air / water, etc... I was chosen to be in the
Thyroid Study years ago, (born and raised in Richland), and am
aware of the various cancers for which they're compensating.
But to my knowledge, no one has spoken about OTHER problems.
Movement disorders have developed in 4 of us, and I'm wondering
if any others have experienced this neurological condition.
"Dystonia" is the diagnosis - tremors, and to our knowledge,
our parents and grandparents did NOT have this,. Certainly NOT
going after compensation, but would like to know if there's a
connection. Any other Bombers affected this way?
-Peg SHEERAN Finch ('63)
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>>From: Susie DILL Atlee ('64)
To: Ray STEIN ('64), and all former Hanford employees or
families of former Hanford employees&
No, I didn't do the free medical exam. However, due to my work
on the "reservation" I was entitled to and received EEOIC
compensation for contracting breast cancer as a result of my
work there. My brother and I also received EEOIC compensation
for my father's death from colon cancer, resulting from his
work at Hanford. I posted this information here before, but I'm
posting again…for a couple of reasons. Your post, Ray, made me
think of it; and I received a note that Joe FORD ('63) also
recently received EEOIC compensation. I also want to mention
that Tom Purcell (the gentlemen mentioned below) is the real
deal! The most he is entitled to is 2% of any settlement, which
is very clearly stated in a provision of the EEOICP act. And,
my brother and I gain nothing, no commission, finders fees,
etc., from recommending Tom. We simply want you all to
understand this program is available, and is not a scam. Below
is the information I posted previously regarding EEOIC
compensation.
"Regarding the Department of Labor's (DOL) Energy Employees'
Occupational Illness Compensation (EEOIC)…
This program has previously been mentioned here in the
Sandstorm. Congress passed The Energy Employees Occupational
Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) to provide
compensation to persons who have become ill as a result of work
at atomic weapon facilities. The law became effective July 31,
2001. Part B of the EEOICP was enacted to provide compensation
to workers with beryllium disease, silicosis, or cancer (almost
all types of cancer are covered, as are cancer-like diseases of
the bone and blood such as polycythemia, myelodysplastic
syndrome, and thrombocytosis).
Employees, or their survivors, whose claims are approved
receive a lump-sum payment of $150,000 and medical benefits for
the covered illness. The medical benefits apply to worker
claimants only. As long as a deceased worker has a surviving
spouse and/or at least one child (biological, adopted, or step)
or grandchild, claim is just as valid as any living worker
claim. In vast majority of cases, only 250 days on the job is
required; and worker's smoking history has no bearing at all on
eligibility. In most cases, office workers are just as eligible
as hands-on workers and the same adjudication rules are
applicable.
I wanted to let you all know this program is still in force.
My brother and I recently successfully participated, and were
represented through the process by a gentleman named Tom
Purcell. If any of you want further information, please contact
Tom via email: purcelltb@verizon.net. Or, via phone: 817-999-
9226. By the way, written into the EEOICP Act is a provision
that a Rep (helping you with a claim) is entitled to no more
than 2% of any settlement reached."
-Susie DILL Atlee ('64)
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>>From: Shannon WEIL Lamarche ('82)
Re: Ray STEIN ('64)
I also received the postcard from the D.O.E., so decided to
take NSSP on their offer of a free medical exam. What did I
have to lose? After spending 15-20 minutes on the phone
answering a myriad of questions (most of which I didn't know or
remember the answers to), they told me to wait a week or two
for someone to call to schedule my physical at a location
nearest me. That was about a week ago, so I'm still waiting.
Since I was an "Inquiry into Science and Engineering" student
(from '81-'82) mainly housed in an office building in the 300
area, I didn't think I was really exposed to anything except
what a primitive UNIVAC computer might emit, but I do remember
touring an FFTF reactor (after which, upon discovering I was
only 16 years old at the time, my boss kind of freaked and told
me never to tell anyone I had been at FFTF since I was under
18... how could he not know??)
-Shannon WEIL Lamarche ('82)
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That's it for today. Please send more.
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