Welcome Home
by Heather Leach

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    Many school district employees and community members showed up to support the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Brigade on their return on March 25th.  Teachers and their kids gathered around a “Welcome Home Billy” sign, waving little flags to show their appreciation.  Yellow ribbons adorned the fences and bridges around the town.  The troops were escorted through the town by police as well as fire trucks and motorcycles.
    Reedsport wasn’t the only town that showed their appreciation for the troops.  Portland, Eugene, North Bend, and Coos Bay also joined in.  The McCullough bridge was decorated with thousands of yellow ribbons to show their support. 
    After spending one year in Iraq, 13 buses left Fort Lewis, Washington to drop off soldiers at armories along the way to Coos Bay which was their last stop.  There were around 1000 people along the parade route to welcome the soldiers home after their year of fighting over seas.

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by Michele Kirk

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    With thoughts of next year's yearbook in mind, Heather Leach and Mandy Foote traveled to Kennedy School in Portland on Thursday, March 24th, in hopes of a few fresh ideas.
    After selecting a seat from the many comfy couches in sight, John Cutsinger stepped to the podium for what would be many presentations.  "We sat there for like five hours, I was so grateful we had couches to sit in," said Heather. 
    These presentations included things from concept, coverage, content, and design strategies to cutting edge planning and production tools.  They even had things for the advisor's and leaders.  Freshmen Mandy Foote commented, "It was really great because it gave me so many new ideas to use in yearbook.  Plus, by this time of the year you need something to reboost your energy and this workshop sure did it for me!"
    Currently PageMaker is used to create the yearbook although next year InDesign will be used.  Cutsinger gave Heather and Mandy many new tips and ideas to bring back and share with the rest of the staff.  "I wish there would have been two of me," said Heather, "One of me to see everything and another to write it all down!"