Learning the Drill
Eureka resident Bonnie Mantel stood near the chain link fence that surrounds the parking lot and held up her camera, snapping shots of her son, Jacob, a freshman. She was apprehensive when he first told her he wanted to enroll in the program but said she’s now happy he did.
“Overall, to succeed in school, it’s important to be part of something,” Mantel said. “Whether it’s band or sports or this, students do better when they’re involved in a group.”
A recent Marine Corps boot camp grad — and Eureka High alum — also was on hand Monday, working as an assistant to the local recruiter. Should Measure J pass next Tuesday, this freshly minted Marine would not be allowed to recruit any student under 18, nor would any other military personnel. (An identical measure, Measure F, is on the ballot in Arcata.)
“I don’t think they should [pass] that,” Mantel said. “As much as I don’t like wars, there needs to be a military. And kids can choose. That’s what this country’s about, is choice.”
Capt. Wenceslao carefully watched the cadets’ formation as they marched, chanting “Left! Left! Left, right, left!” He quizzed the officers on the chain of command and on the 11 orders of the sentry. He inspected uniforms, posture and appearance. When the inspection was complete, cadets were ordered to fall out. They gathered around Sgt. Smith and Capt. Wenceslao, who told them to keep working hard and to study.
The inspection ended in time for cadets to make it to third period. As they fell out of formation, Public Affairs Officer Elise Joanne Brunette, a junior, said they could have performed better. “Most of the guys will need haircuts,” she said. “We’ll get docked on that. And on the knowledge as well.”
As the students walked back toward the school, they seemed to shake off the test, relieved to be finished. Chatting and laughing, they looked just like any other group of teenagers, except for those snappy uniforms.
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent short stories
June 11, 2009
Eye of the Beholder
June 11, 2009
Double Down
May 21, 2009
Pearls and Swine
Hank Sims
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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