Glenwood News: Mom Prom a hit with residents

There was a great turn out for the 2024 Klickitat County Livestock Growers banquet on March 23. The event was held at the American Legion in Goldendale, where Legion members prepared a delicious prime rib dinner. Several families from Glenwood were in attendance. Both the lower and upper halls were full of ranch families and their friends. We all had a lot of fun seeing old friends, enjoying the raffles, and seeing so many people honored this year.  

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March 16 was a wonderful, magical night in Glenwood. The classes of 2027 and 2028 hosted a 2024 Mom Prom in the school gym that made the night so special for lot of moms, aunts, grandmas, and friends who attended. And it was great fun for the dads and grandpas, too. Friday afternoon the gym was buzzing with activity as members of the classes, their advisor Lori Avila, along with moms Catie Kielman, Jamie Webster, Billie Patterson, and Bo Arnold, and our wonderful school nurse, Robin Campbell, worked tirelessly to set everything up and decorate it beautifully.  

Jaecee Hoctor is also one of the class advisors but was a bit under the weather and unable to be there in person.  She was involved in all the pre-planning and gathering supplies and gave more advice over the phone that afternoon. I’m sure it was disappointing for her to not be able to attend. Younger kids were there helping, too, carrying chairs to the tables and putting dress covers on them, helping to blow up balloons for the balloon arches, and whatever else they could do. When done, the gym looked absolutely beautiful and truly magical.

During the evening, Dom Leonardo and Amber Keyes were selected as prom king and queen. Although Jaecee wasn’t able to attend, her husband Josh was there as their daughter Jocee’s date. What a special evening for her as she and her dad won the country swing dance prize. Next year Jocee and all those other eighth graders will get to actually attend their first high school prom, but this is a night they’ll all remember for sure. Also making the evening special for Jocee was having her grandparents, Joe Davitt and Vicky Ramsay, there, dressed to the nines. Joe and Vicky won a prize for best disco dancers.

Others winning prizes were Jose Avila and Erica Thompson for best dressed man and woman, Dom Leonardo for best vintage tuxedo, Cindy Whitefield for pretty in pink and for it also the occasion being her first prom, Jamie Webster for best high heels, Geraldine Schut for coming from the farthest distance to attend, and Anita and Bun Wellenbrock for the couple together for the longest. Bun and Anita were Glenwood High School sweethearts and have been married for more than 60 years. Everyone was delighted to see they are still great dancers after all these years. I apologize if I’ve forgotten to mention any other prize winners.

A huge thanks goes to Kendrick Lester and his daughter for donating their DJ services for the evening. For those who don’t know, Mr. Lester is the Klickitat School superintendent. I have heard that the music was awesome all night long. And another huge thanks goes to photographer Patty Knapp, who donated her time and a free 8x10 photo of all those attendees who came to her photo booth. Patty also offers photo packages to those who want more than one photo. When not taking photos at the photo booth, she roamed around photographing the dancers and all the fun.  

Lori would also like to thank Josh and Jocee Hoctor, the Webster family, and all the others involved in the tear down and clean up after the prom. Most of all, a very special thanks to Lori and Jaecee for their planning and preparing for this amazing evening, along with all the eighth and ninth graders who hosted. Many of those kids and their parents had to get up Sunday morning and prepare to take their 4-H animals to the fairgrounds in Goldendale for the Sunday pre-show. I’m sure they were all very tired by the end of the weekend but those kids and all their moms made a wonderful, memorable night for so many ladies and their dates.

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That week was a great one as the Glenwood School Educational Support Personnel (Public School Employees) were celebrated all week long for their service to the Glenwood School. These are the para-educators, custodians, cooks, and bus drivers who work very hard to keep our school programs running smoothly. In Glenwood we have long-time para-educators Emma Jane LaVallie and Taunie Wilson who have been working at the Glenwood school for more than one generation of students. We also have KyAnn Kessinger who teaches preschool in the mornings and fills in to assist in other classrooms after preschool when needed. He also drives the school bus when needed.

Long-time school cooks Kim Thomas and Pam Keithley continue to serve up delicious foods for the students every day and also go above and beyond for special occasions outside of regular school hours to bake and serve delicious cinnamon rolls and other goodies. Butch Hallenbeck has been one of our very reliable, safety-conscious bus drivers for several years and Rachel Throop is the other great bus driver. She also serves as a para-educator when not driving the bus.  

We have amazing custodians, Lori Avila and Catie Kielman, who keep our school looking clean and safe every single day. When there is an evening event at the school, I feel proud when visitors for games and other occasions find a nicely kept school and sparkling clean restrooms. All of these Educational Support Personnel belong to the PSE employees’ union. I don’t know how many other school districts have 100% membership but it is something to be proud of here.  

Although Debbie Woodward is not a Glenwood School employee, she has devoted several years to our school as a special ed para-educator through Educational School District 112 and has made a huge difference in the lives of our Glenwood students. Debbie is always available to assist PSE and the school as a whole whenever and wherever needed, whether it’s taking admission at the door for special events, helping prepare a barbecue dinner for the Welcome Back to School night, or any other occasion. Emma Jane told me Debbie is very well respected as part of their group.

These dedicated employees were honored in many ways during that week by the administrative and teaching staff to show their appreciation. They want to express their thanks here but I’m sure they also expressed it in person throughout the entire week. Our PSE are the best and our school is so lucky to have them all.

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Mary Pierce writes about the community of Glenwood every other week in Columbia Gorge News. Please send any news items to gmpierce09@gmail.com.