On duty
Tuba City High cadets work the parking lot at the western fair
By Ann Griffis
Special to the Times
TUBA CITY, Oct. 20, 2011
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More accurately, it was a long three days' work.
Gunnery Sgt. Tim Shaner, the program's instructor, has coordinated parking at the fair for the past 10 years as a fundraiser for the cadets.
Persuading thousands of fair visitors to pay a fee of $3 and park in the areas designated for that purpose is up to the cadets. For new cadets, it was no small feat to convince family, friends, and other visitors to park exactly where the glow stick pointed.
"Some people argued with me," said Mary Holmes, a sophomore in her first year with the cadets. "I tried to be as nice as possible. I can be rough and get mean but another cadet reminded me to be firm but polite. The people ended up listening."
"There's always got to be a first time," said Shaner. "It's something you can't teach them in the classroom. It happens when it happens."
All cadets were required to work at least three 7-hour shifts during the fair, which ran from Oct. 13 to 16. Some of the 43 cadets worked consecutive shifts, up to 18 hours and some stayed for six or seven shifts.
Cindy Copas, a Philippine student new to the district and the cadet program, was eager to tell her "war story" about her job to collect fees.
"Some people were really rude about the money," she said. "They said I should just let them go without paying. Instead, I waved them to the exit, or I let Sheldon Phillips handle it. He knows what to do."
Khaley Johnson is new to the district but no stranger to the Marine Corps. Johnson lived on a military base until she was nine. Her father, on hand throughout the fair, has been a cadet instructor at Tuba City High for three years.
"Some people going to the Ye'ii bicheii ceremony didn't think they would have to pay," she said. "Unless they had a green slip that was given to performers, I couldn't help them. I said, 'I'm only doing what I've been told to do.'"
Holyan Sandoval, a senior and battalion commander for the cadets, agreed that the way to handle uncooperative drivers was to remain calm and "continue doing what you're doing."
Saturday night was the most challenging shift because people were trying to get to a variety of events all happening at once.
People on their way to the rodeo, powwow, country-western dance, mud bog, Ye'ii bicheii, center stage performances, and the carnival sat in a single lane of traffic on the highway. By the time they reached the fairgrounds, some showed signs of road rage.
"You do tend to get mad, but you have to control yourself," said Sandoval. "It's rough out here. People can get mad. You just do your job. You learn to communicate with people."
Sandoval is signed up to be a combat engineer with Army Airborne following high school graduation and has a ship date already.
He stayed overtime with Shaner, working until 2 a.m. to help people exit.
"Four thousand cars came in individually," Shaner said. "When the powwow was over, 4,000 cars were trying to leave all at the same time. Some who ignored the cadets and parked at their own peril in sandy areas had to be helped out."
Thomasina Dinehdeal, a freshman in her first year of the cadets program, learned the importance of being firm but polite with drivers.
"I was working at an intersection," she said. "I was trying to stop a vehicle to let another one go. The first driver ignored me and kept going. It almost caused an accident!
"I learned to step in front of the vehicle," she said. "(Shaner) showed me."
The Tuba City cadet program receives part of the proceeds from parking fees in exchange for their work throughout the annual Western Navajo and Coconino County fairs. This year, the money will be used for a trip in April to Camp Pendleton, the Marine base in California.
Sleeping in Quonset huts and eating in the chow hall may not be a reward in itself for all, but the trip will end at Disneyland or Knott's Berry Farm. MCJROTC parked 4,000 cars at 43rd Annual To'Nanees'Dizi Dine' Fair.