Etna Union High School - Nugget Yearbook (Etna, CA)

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B TEAM-FIRST ROW: Mr. Preston, Jesse Bigham, Ernest Bigham, SECOND ROW: Alva McBroom, Stafford Smith, Bob Gilmore, Seth Sam Smith, Lee Wade. Wagner, Gene Branson. A TEAM-FIRST ROW: Mr. Johnson, Jerry Campbell, Jack Taber, SECOND ROW: Art Halliday, Bob Martin, Doug Mathews, Chester Sam Branson, Monty Griffith, Milton Wolford. Berryhill, Harold Hiertager. This page sponsored by: SISKIYOU DAIl.Y NEWS PETER'S TRUCK LINES Yreka, California Yreka, California

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l 2nd Place Short Story After Death - Life! lt was the midmorning of a brilliant day in late March, l947. The blinding lights of the operating room shone on the white-swathed surgeon and his staff, but focused on the small covered form on the high table. sl' 'k 'k This event in the life of the seven-year old girl had been building up for some time. At first she had complained pf a sore th r o at, then aearache. The family doctor, who was also a suregon, could not seem to fincll anything causing these conditions, al- though they lwere serious enough to keep the child out of school one, two, and sometimes three days a week. One morning, when she was dressing for school, she said, Mcltmmie, my stomach hurts! Where, dear? her mother asked. The child! pressed her right side. Ouchl As soon as the other children were on their way to school, the mother and child started for the doctor's office once more. After noting this new development, the doctor de- cided to perflorm a tonsilectomy and an adnoidectomy in addition to the appendectomy. 'k it 'k The scalpiel which gleamed in the steady hand of the tense-faced surgeon hesitated suddenly as the an- esthetic nurse whispered, Doctor! No respiration! 'k 'k 'k In a small room down the hall sat a sweet-faced woman with a Bible in her hands. Her eyes were closed and hier lips moved in prayer: Oh, God, if it is Thy will, dion't let anything happen to this youngest of my eight precious children. k 'k 'k In the operating room a sudden flurry of activity replaced the usual calm, efficient atmosphere. Please, God, if it is Thy will, help me to save the life of this child! this from the surgeon, for the child had completely ceased breathing, and the blue-gray pallor of death was creeping over her face. For ten agonizing miinutes the doctor had applied artificial res- piration withr no response from the patient. Then-a gasp. And another. Soon with the help of tanked oxygen which had been rushed to her side at the first indication of trouble, her breathing became more regular. s 'k it sl' The surgeon, accompanied by surgical nurse and the ta-nk of oxygen, carried the child in his arms, to the room where her mother was waiting and praying. The limp form was laid on the small, white bed. 'k 'k 'k Within twenty-four hours, the doctor had released the child, rather than the usual five days. Further proof of the miraculous ressurection and healing of this child wars in evidence when she began to swing and generally pull monkey-shines on the horizontal bars in a nearby park within four days. When the in- cision was dressed a week after the operation it was found to be entirely healed. Moreover, sh.e hadn complained of a sore throat at all after this operatior 'k 'k 'k Following the check-up, the doctor and nurse stoo looking out the window at the retreating figures c the mother and child. Shaking her head as she turner away the nurse murmured, l still maintain that as sh lay on that operating table, she was as dead as sh will ever bel -by Robin Fishe 2nd Place Essay A Year to Remember On a hill near Callahan stands an old lonely pine- completely undressed by a recent fire. Where it onct stood proudly harboring the nest of a little sparrow ii its motherly arms and brown dress, it now stands witl bare arms outstretched, telling its fate to all who see ii Fires! Floods! lt seems incredible that a few hour of nature's destructiveness can completely wipe ou years of man's laborious work, or a hundred years o natural growth. However, as the summer rolled intl fall of 1955, disastrous tires occurred in several place throughout the county. With the beginning of winter floods had taken their toll. One of the largest fires occurred in the Kidde Creek area. Everyone in Scott Valley came to witnes it. Their first thought might have been for the beauty -For truly it was a beautiful sight. During the day th smoky atmosphere gave the sun a red glow making i look like a ball of fire. At night the reflection lighter the sky for miles around as would millions of burninr candles, completely outshining the stars. Their seconr probable thought was one of sympathy for the deer birds, and other animals that had made their homes ii these forests. Floods also caused considerable damage within thi valley. A snowstorm piled the snow to considerabl depths in the mountains. Then around the middle o December, warm rains melted the snow in the mour tains. The banks of the river could not hold thi mounting water and it overflowed. ln one situation near Callahan, the approach ti the new bridge on the Callahan-Cecilville road wa washed out. Unfortunately this bridge had been buii up the river with a middle support which caused tht debris to act like a dam forcing the water to the ap proach. The two other bridges crossing the Soutl Fork River were also impassible. For' days, while thi water was on the rampage, several families wert stranded in their homes across the river from towr As the water rushed on down the valley, it took thi top soil of the farmer's land, scattered debris, destroyer fences, and caused thousands of dollars' worth o damage. Yes, i955 is surely a year Scott Valley will lonq remember. For those who were not affected persor ally by the floods, not one charred tree, but man! have been left as reminders of the fires of '55. -by Margaret Hayden