One of my favorite people to write about in this column, Shane Scott, continues to show what a talented young cowboy he is. I wrote about Shane in early June as he was the No. 9 pick in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) draft. He was selected by the Texas Rattlers and is the youngest rider to ever be drafted to the PBR.
Shane, son of Amy and Shawn Roggenkamp and Trevor and Courtney Scott, and grandson of Oop and Diane Burgin and Marilyn and the late Mike Scott, just went to the last National High School Rodeo Finals of his high school career. While the bull riding didn’t go his way this year, it was thrilling to watch Shane ride to the championship for the second year in a row in the saddle bronc event.
As if this year hasn’t already been incredibly awesome for Shane, he recently received a full ride scholarship to Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas. Congratulations, Shane. We’ll all continue to follow your career and root for you from Glenwood.
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While our other Glenwood kids, Joslyn Arnold, Peyton Sanchey, and Blake Masden did not have the success they hoped for at the National Finals, they all represented Team Washington very well. Joslyn was dealing with illness but did not give up. She worked hard in both her breakaway roping and goat tying, which demonstrated a lot more stamina than many of us could have shown under the same circumstances.
Joslyn has continued to recuperate from the rough ear/throat infection that plagued her at Nationals, but plans to be back on the rodeo circuit quite soon. Peyton has been having great success in rodeos this summer. Last weekend was a busy one for her as she competed in three rodeos in three days — Madras on July 26, Thunder Mountain Rodeo in Longview on the 27th, and the Longbeach Rodeo on the 28th. While things didn’t go as she hoped in Madras and Longbeach, Peyton finished second in women’s barrel racing, taking home a nice chick. They are all very dedicated to rodeo competition and we are very proud of them here at home.
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Glenwood High School students recently completed the 2024 Youth Engaged in Sustainable Systems (YESS) program. This program is made available through the Pacific Education Institute (PEI), which states, “The YESS program model is grounded in collaboration between PEI, school districts, skill centers, and local community partners. YESS high school participants earn school credit and a stipend while building their job skills and exploring careers in natural resources or education. Over their program, students’ classroom time is paired with hands-on service activities at community partner sites.
“Upon course completion, teachers provide each student with a signed ‘document of competency’ that rates their proficiency in a variety of entry-level industry-related skills. These documents of competency were designed by PEI with guidance from industry leaders and research on natural resource or education workforce development trends. Students can use this document to craft their resumes and better articulate their skills when applying for jobs.”
This year three Glenwood students — Christian and Tomei Tomeo and Giana Jackson — participated, gaining new skills in forestry and ecosystems management. I had the privilege, once again, of attending their end-of-program presentations and was very impressed with all three. They created slide presentations showing where their assigned timber plots were located, what tree species their plots contained, what posed threats to the trees, and how they would treat their plots to maintain a healthy forest.
The students took a field trip to Mount St. Helens to see the effects of the timber devastation 44 years after the eruption and what has been done to restore the forest and ecosystem there. They also traveled to the Lava Nursery in Parkdale to see how tree seedlings are grown for distribution to forests in the Pacific Northwest.
I spoke to our new superintendent/principal, Mr. Rogers, the next day to see what he thought of the program and the presentations. He said he was very impressed and feels it’s a great program and a great opportunity for our high school students. A huge thanks goes to Ms. Eldred and Mrs. McFall, the Glenwood School science teachers who oversaw the summer program. Also, thanks to Dave Wasgatt for taking the students to the tree nursery, and to Mt. Adams Resource Stewards and the Department of Natural Resources for helping make this program possible.
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On Saturday, July 26, a fire began in the Dallesport area. Resources from various county fire departments were requested. Jon Cole, our Glenwood Fire Department chief, informed me that our department sent one brush truck to that fire. They had already dispatched a brush truck to the Big Horn Fire near Bickleton a couple days before that.
Jon said, “There are a number of fires in the region. Fire danger is high and firefighting resources are getting limited.”
The Glenwood Fire Department is always looking for volunteers! If anyone is interested in joining, swing by the fire hall on the second and third Wednesdays at 7 p.m. During this time of very high fire danger and limited resources, everyone is cautioned to be very careful with equipment in fields, brush, or timber.
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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.
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