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ALL who came out made it another successful event for CREST.

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This event did have some unexpected extra activity which CREST members came to the rescue (literally sometimes).

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We had several first aid responses in the parking lot. Most were minor; one required stitches and was bandages and referred to a medical facility.

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We had one (which was not over the radio so not well known about). It was a woman with a scarf near the rest rooms of the stadium waving a knife over her head acting crazy. I happened to be alongside a police car in the street talking to the officer. He was reluctant to leave his position (Sgt. fear?) and decided to call it in instead. I headed over toward the restrooms and "patrolled" on my 3-wheeler scooter up and down the passageway. It appeared unfounded until I learned the suspect was apprehended at the end of the street and given a ride for the night.

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In the afternoon we were given knowledge of a missing bus driver. He was seen to be delirious and acting strange. We put the word out on the radio and were watching for him while the parking lot members did a search of the lot. We didn't find him. After about an hour I approached an officer at the end of La Palma Rd. and informed her of the missing driver for Bus 25. I had completed an inside check of the bus in case he was sleeping in the back. The bus was open and empty. The students for that bus had gotten a ride from their other busses. A relief driver was expected to return the bus. The officer radioed the call to their dispatch but that was about all the action taken by them. Two ladies I was in contact with were searching all over. The 73 years old driver's son arrived at our Gate 1 asking for information. I took him in the golf cart and we began a search based on information from his sister who was in phone contact with "someone" who was with him in a parking lot. Didn't know which one. The son and I began a drive around all the parking lots at the stadium general area. Nothing! Soon we hear sirens from Fire at the end of La Palma. We headed that way. They stopped across Anaheim Blvd almost directly across the street from us. We took a look. Sure enough the two ladies searching found him on the ground in front of a parked car in a small parking lot large enough for about 4 cars. The ladies were in tears and fire personnel (ladder and ambulance) had the matter under control and we reunited the son with his father. Many thanks from him. I learned later the man was taken by the ambulance for treatment and the relief driver arrived and took Bus 25 back to the barn.

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This was an excellent training opportunity for our new members who have never worked a CREST event especially this one. The event only consisted of 20 school bands competing this year instead of the usual 32+ like in 2018. All our numbers are reduced this year. For example, there are 6 classes of band generally divided by size in categories 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A. This year we had 2 1A bands vs 8 in 2018 but only 4 in 2A vs 8 in 2018. 3 in 3A vs 6, 3 in 4a VS 6, 5 5a VS 4, but Zero in 6a vs 3 in 2018. So we lost a majority of our BIG bands this year and also a lot of BIG support vehicles including only 1 semi vs 2 in 2018. The bus count was 51 this year vs 84 in 2018. It was very obvious in the evening looking across the parking lot at all the vacant real estate which is normally wall to wall bus and trailers. One year we even ran the busses 3 wide all along Swan from Carl Karcher to La Palma closing the street with the very last bus turning right making just enough room to park. This year we even accommodated our own member vehicles and many single vehicles belonging to thee bands.  Usually we cannot do that due to lack of space.

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This year we did have to contend with bands practicing all over the lot creating some challenges for us trying not to run traffic through their practice areas. We had one complaint which I think we were able to get on the same page with the director. The parking lot has a priority of 1) Busses and 2) support trailers/trucks. That's it. No promises for practice real estate and certainly no room for single vehicles offering transportation only. Most of the bands recognize this except for a new arrival which we indoctrinate.

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Our volunteers did great! Did you read this sentence? OUR VOLUNTEERS DID GREAT!!! I wish to personally thank each and every one of you.

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On the other side of the coin I must mention a great number of non-volunteers from the team. This was an ALL HANDS event. We obviously excuse for certain conditions. Obviously if you are required to be at work we don't wish to jeopardize your job. Six of our members explained this situation with them participating. Also if you are out of town (the area), we cannot expect you to be there. Five of you expressed this fact. One was hospitalized with an infection. One had deaths in the family (COVID) but came out anyway to participate. What a great gesture. I'm not going to say who this was. One just had another stroke. Two had other school activities for the family member. One had post surgery but came out with limited mobility. So that leaves over 50 who did not volunteer.

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Ed 25