Bi-County prom a “roaring” success

photo credit: Sound By Steve

By Liv Stecker

A swirl of glitter and taffeta hailed more than 16 schools that were represented at the annual By-County Prom at Fairchild Air Force Base on Saturday, March 14^th. Hundreds of 9^th-12^th graders traveled by bus, limousine and SUV to the “Funspot” on base, where students were able to catch a break from dancing and go bowling, take some swings in the batting cage, and pose for professional prom photos. Schools from as far away as Selkirk and Northport, and including members of the regional 2B and 1B sports leagues were present and accounted for. It’s a chance for schools with small classes to mix and mingle with students from other small schools – and not total strangers, since these kids see each other all year long at sporting events. Schools present included Almira-Coulee-Hartline, Creston, Cusick, Davenport, Harrington, Inchelium, Liberty, Lind/Ritzville, Northport, Odessa, Reardan, Selkirk, Sprague, Wellpinit, Wilbur, and Wilson Creek. Hundreds of high school students, dressed to the nines, put on a parade of glamor and imagination, with the “Roaring 20’s” theme. The dance floor was packed while Sound By Steve, a DJ from nearby Davenport, rocked the tunes and the candid photos all night long. A steady stream of old and new music, much of it by request, kept the partyers on their toes. The collaboration prom is facilitated through the 2B Bi-County Principal’s Association, and organized by all of the schools involved, headed in part by Jim Evans of Almira-Coulee-Hartline. Fairchild Base’s Funspot is a multi-activity hub that includes a snack bar and roller skating rink that converts to a massive dance floor, along with plenty of room for the dancers to catch their breath and take a break. Administrators see the prom as a chance to experience something bigger than individual proms in the small schools would allow. Pooling the resources of so many different places makes for quite the party, in a safe and well-organized structure. Traveling from out of town, plenty of willing teacher and parent chaperones, and strict rules on the Air Force Base give administrators some relief from worries about traditionally risky after parties and student accountability. While many couples came to the prom together, a lot of students showed up solo, or with a group of friends, excited to connect with acquaintances from basketball and volleyball, and to meet new people that they don’t spend the whole school year with, side by side. The revelers danced until midnight and then made their way happily to the various pumpkin-coaches that carried them back home.