• Page Eight ROCKETEER Sept. 17 is deadline for Desert Empire Fair parade entries Next Friday, Sept. 17, is the deadline for entries in the 26th annual parade which is coming up on Oct. 2 and will be a highlight Of the 1976 Desert Empire Fair in Ridgecrest. " Fifty States for Freedom" is the theme ofthis year's celelration, which will be held frlm Sept. 29 through Oct. 3 at the Desert Empire FairgrOWlds in Ridgecrest. Parade entry forms can be obtained at the Ridgecrest City HaJJ, at the Kern County Administration Building, corner of N. China Ulli:e Blvd. and Coso Ave., in Ridgecrest, at the Desert Empire Fair office on the fairgrounds, or requested by calling the fair office, 37S-8000. According to Gene Richardson, chairman of this year's Desert Empire Fair parade, a total of 47 first place trophies will be awarded to the winners in various categories of the parade competition. In addition, second and third place winners in each division will receive rosettes. Special awards this year will include the Lee Wengler Memorial Trophy that will be presented to the youth group that enters a float which best carries out the theme of the 1976 fair, as well as sweepstakes awards for the best marching band and float, in ad- dition to a mayor's trophy. The major parade competition categories are bands,majorettes and drum majorettes representing high schools and elementary schools, color guards, drill teams, floats, decorated vehicles, novelty non-«juestrian entries, Bicentennial entries, and a wide variety of categories open to equestrian WELCOME MAT OUT - A membership coffee on Tuesday morning will launch a busy sc_1e of actlvlll.. by the Women's Auxiliary of th. Commissioned Of· ficers' Mess. E.-mining a posl.. relaled 10 the them. of WACOM's upcoming sociAl se.son, "Followthe Yellow ~ick ROId" (from the "Wizard of OZO) are (at left) Kay O'Brien, co-dlalrman of the membership coHee, and Shirely Averett, who is in c....l1I. of decoralions, and (at right) J..n Boyd, WACOM's hospitality chairman. Laura Puma,alsoa co..chairman of the membership coHee, was unable to be pr.....1 for the photo. -Pboto by Ron Allen C:;edy '6 Rms Riv WACOM's fall schedule to begin Vu' to be presented with membership coffee on Tues. Fri., Sat. at COM The fall schedule of activities for the Two special showings of Bob Randall's "6 Women's AtWl.iary of the Commissioned Rms Riv Vu" will be presented tonight and Officers' Mess will begin with the group's tomorrow night at the Commissioned Of- annual membership coffee on Tuesday, ficers' Mess by the China Lake Players. from9:30tol1:30a.m., in the Mojave Room The shows, which will begin at 8 o'clock of the COM. Free baby sitting for this event both evenings, will be free for COM will be provided at the OIapei Annex. members and their guests. Reservations WACOM officers and members will be on can be made by phoning the COM at 446- hand to welcome prospective new members 2549. and invite them to "Followthe Yellow Brick This adult comedy will star Sandee Sch- Road" in search of many new and fID\-filled warzbach (as Anne Miller) and Loren activities that have been planned for the Dorrell (as Paul Friedman), two people coming year. who find themselves locked inside an In addition to the regular luncheon apartment that each was looking at. Both meetings on the second Tuesday of each are married, and what their spouses don't month, several evening events are heing know won't hurt them. planned, along with a few bus tours. Richard Miller, the unsuspecting Women members of the Commissioned husband, is played by Bill Bennison, while Officers' Mess and women dependents of Janet Friedman will be portrayed by Jan the members are eligible to join WACOM. Austerman. ROWlding out the cast are Judy Membership in WACOM not only entitles Voono, Diderot Ausseresses and Diana those interested to join in the monthly Lottee. The play is being directed by Robbie luncheons and fun-packed evening events, Robbins. but enables them to become an active Big band era singer to perform at college Kay St. Germain, a popular singer of the Nostalgic songs sung in the '305 style will big band era who shared the spotlight with be performed by Miss St. Germain as she the biggest names in show business, will presents ber renditions of such favorites as perfonn in the Cerro Coso College lecture "Stardust," " Come Rain or Come Shine," hall tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. "As Time Goes By," "Up a Lazy River," and "Goody Goody." As the introducer of "I Only Have Eyes For You," she will share her musical past with interesting sidelights and behlnd-tile-scenes anecdotes of the big band era. Miss St. Germain was a radio star with Eddie Cantor, Bing Crosby and Jack Carson and sang at Anny camps during World War II. She was also a "gbost singer" for such movie stars as Ann Sheridan, Barbara Stanwyck and Linda Damell. Her TV ap- pearances have included roles on "The Beverly Hillbillies," " Green Acres/' Petticoat Junction," and the " Danny 1bomas Show." General adJnission tickets are priced at $2 wbile Associated Student Body card- bolders will be admitted for $1. They may be purchased at the Gift Mart in Ridgecrest, the Station Pbannacyat China Lake, and at . the college switchboard. They will also be available at the lecture hall box office tomorrow night. participant in sponsoring and supporting the Thrift Shop. Last year's profits of $5,1MIO were donated to the Navy Relief Society and to various other charities. WACOM also sponsors an annual Christmas Holiday Bazaar from which all profits are donated to charities chosen by organizations involved in the bazaar. Kay O'Brien and Laura Puma, co- chairmen of this year's membership coffee, have asked to be contacted about any prospective members who may have been overlooked. At subsequent monthiy meetings that have been scheduled, new members will be welcomed on Oct. 12. Tentative plans for this meeting, which will feature presen- tation of the NWC environmental protection film entitled " Desert Stewardship," call for table settings illustrating special seasons of the year. Rear Admiral R. G. Freeman III, NWC Commander, will be the guest speaker at the WACOM luncheon meeting in November; husbands of members will be guests at the regular meeting in February. In March, a sew-your-own fashion sbow will be held during the noon luncheon meeting, and in April there will be a talk about desert wildflowers by Tilly Barling, head of the NWC Natural Resources Office. Special evening activities on the WACOM calendar of events include a professional fashion show on Nov. 5, a wine-tasting party in January, a candlelight dinner party in March, and the annual spring dlnner~ce in May. Tryouts set for CLOTA's 'Prisoner of 2nd Ave: Tryouts for " Prisoner of :Illd Avenue," a comedy written by Neal Simon that is to be presented locally by the Community Light Opera and Theatre Association, will be held on Tuesday and Thursday, Sept. 14 and 16, starting at 7 p.rn. The tryouts will take place in the CLOTA hut, which is located at the comer of S. China Lake Blvd. and Upjobn Rd. in Ridgecrest. Additional information, or copies of the script, can be obtained by contacting Alan Kubik, the director, after working hours by calling 375-2124. September 10, 1976 SHDWBDAT MOVIE RATINGS The objective of the ratings is to inform parents about the suitability of movie content for viewing by their children . IG) . ALL AGES ADMITTED General Audiences (PG) · ALL AGES ADMITTED Parental Guidance Suggested (R) . RESTRICTED Under 17 requires accompanying Parent or Adult GUArdian CS · Cinemascope STO - Standard Movie Screen Regular starting time- 7;30 p.m . Program SUbjKf to chilnge w ithout noti ce - please check marquee. FRio 10 SEPTEMBER "MOVI NG TARGET" (92 Min.) Ty Hardin, Michael Rennie (Drama ) Jason is an inlernational ly known thief. He has iust been flown into Athens to be transferred to another prison. Members of a mob aid his escape aoo force him to do a little job for them. Jason cannot refuse or he will be accused of murder . No rating available. SAT. 11 SEPTEMBER " CRIME AND PASS I ON" (92 Min.) Omar Sharif, Karen Black ( Drama ) Omar Sharif is an international in- vestment counselor -Nho, due to his financial manipulations, is in deep trouble. To Sharif. trouble instills in him an insatiable sexual urge, demanding immediate satisfaction regardless of time or place. So when Karen Black, his Girl Friday and lover, confronts him w ith the latest cr isis, she is forced to subm it 10 his urge. Later, Black tells him of a multi-millionaire financ ier's personal interest in her and an idea is born. (R) SUN. 12 SEPTEMBER " GATOR " (116 Min.) Burl Reynolds, Jack Weston (Action Drama ) M ischievous moonshiner (Rey- nolds) is r eleased from prison only to put Durston County's organized crimelord (Jerr y Reed ) out of business and into jail. Reynolds, 'N'ho faces a hefty priSon term if he doesn't agree, infiltrates Reed's gang and finally gets hold of Ihe documents thai will put his former buddy in jail. This f ilm is played with humor and is replete wi th action. (PG) MON. 13 SEPTEMBER " A DOLL'S HOUSE" (95 Min.) Cla ire Bloom, Anthony Hopkins (Drama ) The love story Of a flighty wife and a pompous husband. (G) TUE . 14 SEPTEMBER. " BOBBtE AND THE OUTLAW" (84 Min. ) Marioe Gortner, Lynda Carter (Action Adventu r ei The story opens on a rodeo " qu ick-draw" competition. The winner is a would· be gunSlinger (Gertner). who idolized Jesse James. After stealing a souped.up Mustang, Gortner leads a slate trooper on a wild car chase. He then meels a shapely drive·in waitress who travels along with him. They go to a friend for financial aid and as a resull meet up with unlawful characters. Except for Gortner's girlfriend, they all eventually meet violent deaths. (R) WED. 15 SEPTEMBER " THE PASSENGER " 1\19Min.) Jack Nicholson, Mar ia Schneider (Drama ) A television journalist. feeling himself a failure, takes another man's idenlity - not knowing his new life is threatened by an assassin. ( P G) THURS. 16SEPTEMBER "THE WtNDS OF AUTUMN" (105 Min. ) Jack E lam, Jeannette Nolan (Adventure Dr.ma ) Jeannette Nolan and three Of her sons plan an escape for their brother from county prison. Having succeeded, the f i ve then set out on a cross-country trek. While enroute they brutally massacre a family, leaving behind one unknown survivor who vows revenge and takes Off in their pursuit. ( PG ) FRt. 11 SEPTEMBER " COTTER" (90Min.) Sherry Jackson, Rip Torn (Drilmil l A young man by the name of Colter is thrown out Of the rodeo for failure to protect a bronco rider. Hewas intoxicated at the t ime and his iob as a clown was to attract the attention of the animal when a rider fell off. Cotter heads for his home town. AlthOUgh in famil iar surroun- dings, his troubles still sta y w ith him. No rating available. ~ u .s . Gove-rnmefll Printing Office-: 'H 1976 "'2 1 N0A10 - . From : PLACE STAMP HERE To : • ADJ2 Ashley B. Drinnon Blueiacket of Month honor goes to Drinnon Jet Engine Mechanic Second Class Ashiey B. Drinnon, of the Naval Air Facility's Power Plants Shop, has been named the Naval Weapons Center's Bluejacket of the Month for September. A member of the Power Plants Shop for only about two weeks, ADJ2 Drinnon's job is to repair and maintain the reciprocating engines of 0-131 Convair and U-3 Cessna aircraft. For the year and one baH prior to beginning his present assignment, he did similar work for the NAF Line Division, along with training 0-131 air crew members and U-3 plane captains. In addition, he built a " quick inventory tool box" which was specially marked so as to make it easy to determine which tools were missing from their proper places. Active Member of Team lccordlng to U. T. A. Harrell, ADJ2 Drinnon's fonner division officer, " He expends great amounts of seemingly end- less energy in carrying out his assigned tasks and is a highly active member of the division team ... He has a quiet but firm approach to his supervisory duties and is highly respected by all of his co-workers." " I like my job because I very much enjoy working on airplane engines," says Sep- temher's Bluejacket of the Month. " I've always liked mechanics, and airplanes give me more of a thrill than motorcycles or cars, for instance.II A native of Fairfax, Va., ADJ2 Drinnon worked as a motorcycle mechanic in his hometown before entering the Navy in July 1974, " in order to learn a trade and something about airplanes." Although he's not certain at the moment whether he'll (Continued on Page 3) , nwc IOcke'eel Nlve l We.pons Cent.r (h intl Lake C.litorMi. September 10, 1976 Vol. XXXI , No. 34 BURROUGHS HIGH LIBRARY DESTROYED - Only a burnt oul shell remains of the Burroughs High School library building as the result of a fire, believed to be of incendiary (arson) origin, thaI was discovered shortly before 4 a.m. lasl Saturday. Despite this calamitous event, the new school year began as scheduled on Tuesday, but a number of makeshift arrangements have had to be made in an effort to compensate for the loss of the library building and the special facililies thel ....d been housed there. Burroughs High librar, destro,ed b, fire 3 da,s before opening of new school ,aar Tuesday's opening of the 1976-77 school year at Burroughs High School got off on a bleak note as the result of a fire that destroyed the school library building and its contents early last Saturday morning. Arson is suspected as the cause of the blaze, which had completely engulfed the building before it was spotted shortly before 4 a.m. Johnny West, a Ridgecrest police officer, was driving along China Lake Blvd. when he noticed flames shooting up into the air and radioed in the alann. Two fire trucks - one a 1,250 gallon-per- minute and the other a 500 gpm pumper - were dispatched from the Kern County fire station in Ridgecrest, along with the City of Ridgecrest's fire truck and a crew of eight volunteer firemen. Under a mutual aid agreement, fire fighting equipment from the Naval Weapons Center also responded im- mediately when notified of the need for assistance at 4:07 a.m . Rushed to the scene were two of the China Lake Fire Division's 750 gpm pumper trucks, a rescue truck and an ambulance - a total of 13 personnel under the direction of Fire Chief W. R. Knight. With the library building burning out of control, the first job of the fire fighters, all of whom were under the control of BattsJion Chief Scotty Wallace, of Kernville, was to insure that the blaze didn't spread to any other buildings on the Burroughs High campus. In conjunction with their counterparts from Ridgecrest, the China Lake fire fighters joined forces in the dual task of extinguishing the blaze and keeping it frlm spreading. The firemen were able to save.a room at the east end of the library that was used as the high school curriculum office and also contained some audl~visual equipment. Elsewhere, however, the 160 ft. long by 40 ft. wide structure and its contents were a complete loss. Based on architect's figures and the results of an inventory that was made a year ago, the cost to replace the building is estimated at $326,880, wbile the library's (Conlinued on Page 3) EHects noted of extended period without rain in local desert area By Tilly Barling Head, NWC Natural Resources Management Office Deserts, characterized by aridity, are in a perpetual state of drought. Here on our Mojave Desert some years may be drier than others. The effectiveness of rainfall is strongly affected by 'lie season of the year in which it falls, since the higher temperatures of summer cause more rapid evaporation than the cooler conditions of winter. Locally the Mojave Desert is largely a result of the rain-shadow of the Sierra Nevadas to the west. Our average rainfall frOOlI946 to 1973 is only 2.88 inches a year. Critical months for rainfall to produce good vegetation are November and December. November of 1975 had no measurable precipitation, December was the same and 1976 commenced with no rain in January. Pattern Repe.led This pattern two years in succession decreased the ability of both desert annual plants and shrubs to make normal growth to produce food for wildlife. combination of temperature and moisture triggers gennination. When all conditions are right the annuals will appear, blossom and make seeds in a few colorful weeks. These are what olcHimers on the Mojave Desert remember as "good wildflower years." The same optimum conditions spur growth of perennial desert shrubs, some with colorful blossoms, others In- conspicuous. Ute Web Based on V.getatlon To understand the significance of a year of good vegetative production one needs to look beyond the brief encbantment of the multi~lored carpet of wildflowers on the desert and its surrounding hills. At the base of the life web on the desert is vegetation - food for the primary consumers. Primary consumers are insects, secretive little rodents, many birds and other her- bivores. This is the sector of the animal population tflat depends on green plant food and on seeds for both moisture and nutrition. Without moisture and nutrition these animals can be pushed to the margin of survival. PRECIOUS LIQUID-Allwater-