LOWER LAKE ? Representatives of the National Guard stopped by Lower Lake High School (LLHS) with its bass boat simulator Tuesday. The visit was made in promotion of the Forrest L. Wood bass tournament that begins today on Clear Lake.
The tournament, which is sponsored by the National Guard in its Western Series Division, carries a grand prize of as much as $100,000, depending on number of entries. The tournament will run Wednesday through Saturday. Daily weigh-ins will be at 3 p.m. at Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa. Final weigh-in will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Walmart in Clearlake.
Saturday”s weigh-in station will feature the “Family Fun Zone.” The National Guard will host an array of family-oriented activities including the bass boat simulator, a rope obstacle course, paintball gun shooting gallery and more. Admission is free.
Brian MacFarlane, program coordinator, said that the National Guard”s appearance at LLHS on Tuesday supports the organization”s efforts to reach out and gain interest among the nation”s youth. “We”re looking for interest among our youth. More than anything we are trying to promote job training,” he said. “A lot of people get stuck after high school and don”t know what to do. It can be tough especially in these hard economic times.”
MacFarlane continued, “There are over 300 jobs in the Nation Guard, from nursing to truck driving. There are many opportunities and we pay for college.”
MacFarlane said LLHS students were receptive to their visit. Students received access to free merchandise as incentive to entice their visits to the National Guard Web site at www.nationalguard.com. The Web site provides information ranging from the National Guard”s mission to career opportunities in medicine, clergy, combat support and services, communications and more. “Whatever your dream job is, there”s a corresponding career in the National Guard that will train you for it,” the National Guard states. “It”s a tough world out there. But guard members have advantages. We place you ahead of the pack. Employers are looking for experience and leadership and when they see the National Guard on your resume, they know you”ve got it.”
Konocti Unified School District (KUSD) Community Coordinator Harriet Rogers said Tuesday”s visit by the National Guard and promotion of the fishing tournament brought with it a perfect message to precede Red Ribbon Week, which is next week in the KUSD. “I look at it also as promoting our lake. The kids are always complaining that they don”t have anything to do. We have this beautiful lake and there are so many things (the youth) can do to enjoy it,” she said. “This ties perfectly into Red Ribbon week because it promotes something healthy for them to do.”
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
