Category Archives: Trona Events

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Trona Tornado

All Class Reunion 2022

As many of you know the Trona High School alumni generally hold an all class reunion every five years. If it had not been for COVID-19 there would have been a reunion in 2020. The reunion committee decided it would be best to postpone it until 2021, however, since COVID-19 is still a concern the committee decided to postpone it one more year until the fall of 2022.

I am a member of the graduating class of 1961. There were about 19 or 20 graduating classes that came before us and 60 that came after us. That now seems pretty amazing to me. My sister, Patricia, graduated in 1953. I can remember some of her friends and the friends of my brother, Joel, who graduated in 1956. I can remember about 90% of the class of 1961 and just a handful of underclass-mates that were in school at the same time I was.

I guess my point is that there are a heck of a lot of alumni that I don’t know and I’m pretty sure the same is true of everyone else. It is seems almost unbelievable that there are people that are willing to put in the hard work of making all class reunions happen. With any luck in 2022 we will all be able to get together again with the people we know and maybe meet some of the ones we never knew.

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Trona High School Class of 1968 50th Anniversary Reunion

The THS Class of 1968 is having their 50th Anniversary Reunion April 13-14, 2018 at the 4 QUEENS HOTEL & CASINO in Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Class of 1968 is having a reunion in Las Vegas and has decided to open up their celebration to the THS Classes of 1966, 1967, 1969, and 1970 and OTHER interested Trona High School graduates.

For everyone that wants to join the party, the Host Class of 1968 is planning a Registration Reception for all classes on Friday (4/13) night at the Royal Pavillion, located inside the 4 Queens Hotel & Casino.

A Buffet-Style Banquet Dinner for all classes is scheduled for Saturday (4/14) night at the Longhorn Room, located inside Binion’s Gambling Hall, across the Fremont Street Experience from the 4 Queens Casino.

GENERAL PROGRAM:

Friday Evening Royal Pavillion, 4 Queens Casino

5:00 pm – 10:00 pm Check-In (get name tags and programs), Informal Mixer, Reception Room with tables and chairs, finger foods, photo exhibits and memorabilia.

Saturday EveningLonghorn Room, Binion’s Gambling Hall

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Visiting, Cash Bar, Welcome Announcements

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm BuffetStyle Banquet Dinner (three entrees)

7:30 pm – 10:00 pm Class Photo, Group photos, Informal Visiting & Rockin’ Out (bring your favorite ‘60s music)

Los Angeles Girl Scout Council “Mojave Primitive Encampment”

Every year around Easter a group of scout leaders bring girl scouts out to a desert to camp, hike, rappel, etc. They originally camped up in the Great Falls area, but sometime in the 80’s they moved their camp to the Indian Joe’s area.

A former participant named Cindy wrote the following description:

It was the highlight of the week for the older girls to get to rappel down off the big rock that sat up over that little waterfall and spring. It was deep in the canyon. (I have pix if you’re interested). I first went in 1980 or so, then returned as an adult to help teach rock climbing in the early 1990s. We’d also hike to a place called the Mule Flats, up in the Argus Range somewhere? It was worth the hike because a small pipe had water running out of it and you could wash your hair! (The only water down in the camp was from the water buffalos the Navy would bring in for us from China Lake and we had to be frugal with it!)

The “flats” part had low grass covering it (said to have grown from the hay seed brought up to feed the mules and/or grown from seed in the mule’s’ poo?) I have many fond memories of that place. One year, the Space Shuttle landed at Edwards while we were at the encampment. I remember hearing the sonic booms as the shuttle and escort jets flew overhead. I think that was the same year we saw the aurora borealis (1982 I think?)

One year we boiled (106 degrees) and on another year at the Mule Flats we froze (woke up with my breath frozen to the inside of my ground cloth! I saw a bobcat one night and, of course, heard the burros. We’d also have a slideshow night where this old man came out and showed/told us about the history of the area. I can’t remember his name. (Indian Joe or something?)

Anyhow, I’d love to see a post on this topic. I’m sure there are literally THOUSANDS of women from the Los Angeles region who have similar memories of the place too. Thanks for listening!

FROM THE MPE.CAMP WEBSITE:

2016/2017 IMPORTANT DATES – HERE NOW!

MARCH 2017

8th by 11:59PM                  Camper Responses due via e-mail to mo@mpe.camp or via the desert acceptance reply form
11th @ 7:00PM                   First Desert Patrol Meeting (MANDATORY!) with applications and payment due @ Torrance Scout Center
23rd @ 7:00PM                   Backpackers meeting for all 2nd+ year campers planning to backpack

APRIL 2017

7th @ 6-7:30PM                  Load truck at Columbia Park in Torrance (Prairie Avenue @ 190th Street)
8th @ 6AM                          Adult staff & MISCs leave for desert
9th @ 6:30AM                     Campers leave for desert from Columbia Park (sharp!)
13th at 6PM                        Campers return from desert at Columbia Park
29th @ 7PM                        Ice Cream Social at Torrance Scout Center

Cindy, thanks a lot for bringing this to my attention and for making this post possible.

FORMER TRONANS CLUB PICNIC 2016

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2016 has come fast, hasn’t it? It doesn’t seem like two years since the Centennial Celebration, but it’s time again to plan for the 2016 Former Tronans Picnic. This year the Picnic will be held on October 8th. That’s the second weekend in October. The Searles Lake Gem and Mineral Show will also be at that same time, so be sure to walk through and see some of our local artists and their presentations.

We would appreciate hearing from you whether or not you plan to attend. Let us know how you and your family are doing and be sure to verify your address, phone number and email address (if you have one). Thank you to all who made donations to cover our expenses last time! Please get your response forms in by 30 September at the very latest.

TIME AND PLACE

Our Picnic will be held on Saturday, October 8th beginning at 10:00 AM at the our usual meeting place, the Trona Elementary School (the Round School) on Athol Street.

FOOD

Sack lunches (sandwich, chips, fruit cup, dessert) are available for $8 each. Please include payment with your response as these lunches must be pre-ordered. Beverages will be provided by the club.

The Trona Community Church always sponsors a pancake breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. The cost is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children seven and under. It is a great way to start your morning!

The Trona Elks will have a deep-pit BBQ (beef or pork) Saturday evening from 3 p.m. until gone. If you’re interested, call the Trona Elks and let them know. Food is also available at the Trails Drive-in and at Esparza’s Family Restaurant (old Theater) on Main Street.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

The Searles Lake Gem and Mineral Society will be celebrating their 75th annual Gem-O-Rama on October 8th and 9th. Free Plant Tours by bus at 11, 11:40, 12:20, 1 p.m. and 2:30 on Saturday only. For additional information, please refer to the flier included in this letter.

The museums of the Searles Valley Historical Society – Old Guest House, History House, and the Trona Railway, will be open on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. The Fire Museum will be open on Saturday only.

LODGING

Pinnacle Inn Clarion Inn Comfort Inn
84368 Trona Road 901 N. China Lake Blvd. 507 S. China Lake Blvd
Trona, CA 93562 Ridgecrest, CA 93555 Ridgecrest, CA 93555
(760) 372-5795 (760) 446-7910 (760) 375-9731
Hampton Inn & Suites Spring Hill Suites (Marriott) Heritage Inn & Suites
104 E. Sydnor Ave. 113 E. Sydnor Ave 1050 N. Norma
Ridgecrest CA 93555 Ridgecrest CA 93555 Ridgecrest CA 93555
(760) 446-1968 (800) 741-5072 (800) 843-0693
Best Western China Lake Inn
400 S. China Lake Blvd
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
760 371-2300

Camping is available at Valley Wells for a nominal fee (only for the weekend).

We’re looking forward to seeing all our friends. Please let us know by returning the enclosed attendance form.

See you at the Picnic!

Nicki (Weidenbenner) Johnson

Enclosures

The Former Tronans Picnic? takes place October 8th, 10AM – 2PM in the Trona Elementary (round) School. All Former Tronans are invited to come and it’s FREE! PDF forms (Info on the Picnic, a RSVP form, and the Gem and Mineral Show, also on the same weekend) can be downloaded here:

2016 Letter Download

2016 Letter Response Form Download

Gem Show Flyer Download

 

 

Hotels in Ridgecrest

For those of you who don’t do Facebook here is the info on the hotels in Ridgecrest:

Springhill Inn and Suites, 760-446-1630 discounted rate of $99 per night
Hampton Inn and suites, 760-446-1968 discounted rate of $99 per night.
Clarion Inn (formerly Carriage inn) 760-446-7910 has a rate of $85 per night, breakfast included.
Best Western, 760-371-2300 has a rate of $74.99, breakfast included.
Heritage Inn, 760-446-6543 has a rate of $75 per night.

Veterans they can on base for 45$ at the base hotels.

These rates do not include tax. When making reservations state you would like the rate for the Trona all classes reunion. You may be able to get a cheaper rate with AAA or AARP. These rates will be effective, at most hotels, until mid September, so make your reservations early. This is not a complete list of places to stay in the area, just the ones offering a discounted rate.

A Message From the Reunion Committee – THS All Class Reunion 2015

The Trona High School All Class Reunion will be held during Homecoming Weekend on October 9th and 10th, 2015. This will be the same weekend as the Gem and Mineral Show and will be filled with many activities. We are only in the early stages of planning, but we know the dates are needed so that travel arrangements can be made.