Returning to Royal Roots

ROYAL CITY - The Royal City SummerFest last weekend, dedicated to the 50 years of Royal High School, was everything organizers had hoped for, and then some.

People from all over the United States and at least three foreign countries attended the SummerFest Royal Reunion.

They came from all over Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, Florida, Louisiana, California, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona and Colorado-that's 13 states - plus Mexico, Italy and Papau New Guinea.

They returned to their Royal City roots to renew old friendships that began in 1965.

"Not everyone registered," said Louise Andersen, registrar. "In fact, looking at the pictures being posted on Facebook, only about 30 percent of the people attending signed in."

The evening started with a meet and greet that lasted for two hours, and it was a little difficult to get people to move to the food line, they were having so much fun visiting, said Cara Hoyt, chairman of the event that took place at the RHS cafeteria and the RMS gymnasium.

A special donation from Royal Slope Seniors was used to honor past and present teachers, instructional assistants, bus drivers, and custodians at Royal. Violet plants were handed out by local Ms. America candidate Noemi Walker.

Walker raffled a Mariner blanket for travel expenses to the competition in August. It was won by Bob Eckenberg, of Mattawa, class of 1985. Mattawa students like Eckenberg attended RHS through the 1988 school year, finally getting their own Wahluke High School in 1989.

At that time, the superintendents of Royal and Mattawa Schools were Dr. LeRoy and Mrs. Shirley Bauer respectively. They came to the area as a married couple and lived at Beverly. Both were in attendance this weekend.

"The weather couldn't have been more pleasant", said Leslie Fanning of the SummerFest Committee. "I walked out of the gymnasium to see a cloud cover and shade over the entire area and was overcome with emotion. I had been praying for cooler weather.

"But then it thundered, and I said, 'Oh no, I forgot to say no rain.' Thankfully, it didn't rain."

More than 700 people were served by the Saddle Mountain Supply staff and volunteers, made up mostly of the Ted and Jean Christensen family, at the BBQ.

"The line kept coming and coming for the entire two hours," Lisa Christensen said.

The Christensens prepared enough food that there was enough to be able send 41 meals out to Royal and Mattawa firemen that were battling a blaze off of Beverly Burke road above Beverly.

With DJ Dale Roth acting as MC, the RHS band, under the direction of Erich Mietenkorte, performed the RHS fight song, and the RHS cheerleaders led the fight song.

Royal's Got Talent included Distinguished Young Woman Jennifer Valentine, her court of Charity Robbins and Lucy Aguirre and all of the contestants doing the "At the Hop".

The talent presentation also included Alison Gilbert, Mercedes Smith, Zumba by Sandy, Moriah Christensen, Adi Espino, Bailey Workinger, the Slag Callahan and Amy Davies duo, with Riley Christensen as MC.

Name that tune was very popular among the younger set, and a few older people. Fifty prizes were won, many with just one or two notes being played.

Prizes were donated by: Judy's Restaurant, Royal City Harvest Foods, Esmeralda's Beauty Shop, Antojitos KDY, Kally Carter's Beauty Shop, Potholes General Store, Royal City Subway, Mac's Mocha, Ronna's Pies, Garden Grill and Studio 61. Fireworks culminated the evening with a crowd estimated to be in the 1,000-1,200 range.

A prize donated to the festival by the MarDon Resort, announced at the reunion, was won by Gustavo Aguirre. He will be able to throw a party at MarDon, having won a one-day pontoon boat rental.

Saturday morning began bright and early as the Royal Education Association, under the leadership of Brent Whitaker, served the annual free full Knight breakfast.

"We served between 650 and 700 people," Whitaker said. "We upped our food order by 20 percent."

A few of the Run Royale participants were seen chowing down before their 5k began at 7 a.m. There were enough runners that $1,500 was raised for Linda Hebdon, school cook at RHS who is battling ampullary cancer. The runners were given a cool dry fit souvenir shirt as a reward.

In the men's division, Humberto Jiminez finished first at 18:51; Curtis Grant second at 19.35; and Eduardo Garcia third 20.19.

In the women's division, Elizabeth Guadarrama took first in 23:18; Sarah Stubblefield second in 24:15; and Faye Butler third in 24:55.

In the youth 1-mile division, Kenia Orth finished first at 9:57 with Alberto Beltran on her heels at 10:03, and Jaylen Frank at 11:24.

In addition to the cash prizes, Katie Penrose, daughter of Linda Hebdon, added some prizes.

Another benefit for Linda, a unique handmade quilt of Royal City sport, band, reunion, and dance t-shirts was made by Kimberly Mead and raffled off by volunteers. This project raised $1,100, and the winner was a 1972 graduate Elaine Piercy Reynolds from Ephrata.

The Royal City float, "Girl on Fire" was a crowd pleaser, but the most emotional entry of the parade was undoubtedly the 48 memorial banners of Washington State servicemen who lost their lives in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. They were carried by community members and RHS football players.

"That one had me crying," parade audience member Marilyn Forester said.

Grand Marshal Ken Kallenberger, the first Royal High principal (1963-1982), led the parade on a float with his wife Pat and several grandchildren.

The Grand Marshall's Float went to Sax Fleming and the Sax Mobile. The Queen's Award was given to the Othello DYW float.

Three classes had float entries: 1965, 1975, 1968.

All-day armbands were popular as youngsters enjoyed the blowup toys in the park. The human gyroscope and the rat race balls were favorites.

The Ping Pong ball drop, by Paul Davies, went very well for his first attempt. The balls were increased for this reunion crowd from 350 to 500, with three bicycles instead of one, and 10 additional prizes.

The grand prize bike winners were Aran Garnick, Kimberly Pineda and a Soap Lake boy whose name was misplaced.

That boys' entire family came to the SummerFest after reading about it in the newspaper. Another of the boys won a second-level prize in the ping pong ball drop.

"The entire family said they had a great time," Fanning said.

Two new events: the DYW Pony Rides, and the 4-H tractor pull event were also popular with the children.

Pickles, Pies, and Preserves winners were: Pickle: Carol Irwin; Pies: 1st, Reese Burke, 2nd, Hollin Garnick; 3rd Asher Garnick; Preserves: 1st, Clinton Garnick, 2nd, Susan Piercy; and 3rd, Aram Garnick.

Winner of the Peoples Choice award for the Quilt Exhibition was Leslie Fanning with a quilt made by her sister, Rachel Perkins.

Sandra Godoy, exhibition director, said that attendance at the quilt show was up over one-third from last year's first show. Her son engineered a system out of PVC pipe that made display much easier than the fruit tree ladders used last year.

The last-minute Royal Court 3-on-3 Hoops Classic, organized by soccer coach Paul Olsufka, attracted eight teams. Look for results in a separate story.

Saturday's stage entertainment included Sam's Dancers, Rocklyn Road, 4 x 8 Square Dancers and Zumba by Sandy, concluding with Conjunto Admiracion, a ranchero Mexican group with three members of the Celis Family. Yesenia Celis Calderon graduated with the Royal High class of 2009. An estimated crowd of 300-400 attended.

Antonia and Antonio Martinez, now of Texas, and parents of Cruz Martinez, Royal High class of 1975, returned to the community where they raised their children and drove truck for Sunfresh Farms. Antonia is now 81 years old, but she danced three songs in a row.

Another cultural event, the Dancing Horses, wowed crowds with a substantial group of steeds and a brass band for accompaniment. David Gonzalez said the horses dance better with a louder music. So they hired a band.

The Karaoke contest was held at the Royal City Moose Lodge.

Meanwhile, at the Royal Community Center, another group gathered for a potluck, acoustical guitar entertainment by Slag Callahan and the 9 p.m. Glowball Golf Tournament. See results in separate story.

Seven Royal High classes held their own reunions on Sunday.