Augusta High School - Wapiti Yearbook (Augusta, MT)

Page 32 text:

SENIOR CLASS HISTORY In the fall of 1978, 29 new inmates were brought to the Augusta High School Penitentiary, all on four year terms. We quickly gathered ourselves and chose Robin Cloninger to represent us to Warden Easton with Cheryl Baldry to help. Shona Anderson was chosen to keep records and Bert Goodman to collect our bail pioney. We began preparing for the big prison bash, homecoming. We chose Robing Cloninger and Billy Cyr as our candidates and built our float, “Elks Got A Tiger By The Tail.” We didn’t quite have the hang of float building yet, and finished last. That year we lost Kirk Jones, Billy Abele, David McGuire, Tim Purdy, and Alan Hammel to paroll and Robby Orr and Leon Micheal to Maximum Security. As we started our second year, six new inmates joined our cell block. They were: Kenny Everhart, Sis Halverson, Bob Salisbury, Dina Schlie, Lehni Smith, and Rick Triplett. Paula Fusaro was given the job “head inmate” with Jeff Coleman as her right hand man. Maria Thompson was given the job of Rail Collector and Cheryl Baldry represented us at the inmate meetings. The big prison bash rolled around again and this year we picked Jeff Coleman and Lynn Grander as our candidates and our float was “Make Flour out of Power.” We were still pretty bad at float making and finished last again!! Again this year, some of us were lucky enough to get out. Lesley Dailey and Aaron Christensen were transferred to other prisons and Kenny Everhart, Dina Schlie, and Rick Triplett all escaped. We started our third year with great anticipation, only two years left! Six new inmates were admitted to cell block ’82; Lori Jackson, Lynna LaRoque, Kelly Smith, Stacey Willard, Jim West, and Mike Jewell. Tim Purdy was readmitted for violating paroll. This year we chose Brad King as our fearless leader with Bert Goodman to help and Brent Hitchcock was to keep our gold. When the prison hash rolled around again this year, we were ready! We elected Lehni Smith and Bill Anderson to represent us there and Lehni Smith was chosen as Queen! Our float, “We are Still The One,” finished last again though. On April 26, 1981, we put on the annual prom; traveling to an adjacent prison, Lincoln. We chose “The Best Of Times” as our theme and the song, “The Best of Times” by Styx. We had the band Jester play us a little “Jailhouse Rc[ck”. It was a success. We made money! That year, Bert Goodman was given suspended sentence and released, Sis Halverson got out on good behavior, Bob Salisbury escaped, Mark Kauffman and Lori Jackson were transferred to other prisons and Bryon Morgan was captured by Browning Indians during a prison riot. We finally began our last year!!! Billy Cyr was chosen to carry the ball and chain with Lehni Smith to help. Paula Fusaro passed the collection plate and kept records. Jeff Coleman and Cindy Lame protected our interests a at the inmate meetings. To Join us in our final term were: Angie Martin, Ray Armington, and Theresa Peele. Bryon Morgan was recaptured and returned to cell block ’82. This year we were ready for Homecoming. We had Mary Melaney and Noel Fryberger as our candidates and our float was “Socket To Em.” We were very successful with our float coming in first and Mary being named Queen and Noel Prince! We even won the spirit award at the Pep Rally! Half way through the year, inmate Kelly Smith was caught without a hall pass and was sent to a maximum security prison in Great Falls. On March 12, 1982 we put on a play for the whole prison called Vaudevilles My Home. It was also a great success! On March 26 disaster struck. We were all put into maximum security for the rest of the year for going skiing. On April 30, we were honored at the annual Prom with Robin Cloninger being named Queen, Scott Pond being named King, Billy Cyr being named Prince and Cindy Lame being name Princess. Our term at A.H.S. was almost up. Brad King was name top inmate (valedictorian) and Maria Thompson 2 (salutatorian). FINALLY, on May 23, 1982, we turned in our bail money and were released to go our separate ways, the last class with a combination of inmates from Lincoln and Augusta. We will always have fond memories of our four years spent on Cell Block ’82.

Page 31 text:

23

Page 33 text:

PINNOCHIO MISSOULA KIDS THEATER 25