A swingin' good time

The first prom off the school campus in the past 14 years was a "blast," at least according to the prom king and queen who were crowned two hours into the event Saturday night at Genoa Lakes Golf Resort.

"It was a nice environment," said senior Shannon Arnold, daughter of Kim Arnold, secretary at the superintendent's office for the Carson City School District. "It was beautiful how they set it up. I had a great time and it seemed like everybody else did too."

Arnold and her group of a dozen friends dined beforehand at Minden's Barone & Reed, a steakhouse serving not only steak, but chicken, pasta and seafood.

"It was really good," Arnold said.

The 18-year-old spent about three to four hours that afternoon getting ready for the evening's affair, including having her nails and hair done. Although she knew she was one of six nominees for prom queen, she was surprised to win.

"At first, I didn't really hear it when they announced my name," she said. "My friends heard my name before I did and they were screaming and were excited. They had to announce it again."

Seth Carter, the prom king, was also surprised to win. He and his friends ate at D.W.'s in Genoa before heading to prom.

"It was really good," he said. "I had shrimp scampi."

Carter said he thinks he was chosen as prom king because he gets along well with many different people.

"It was a very great night. I think it was enjoyable."

Afterward, he went over to a friend's house and finally after that was able to get out of his tuxedo. The 18-year-old Carson High School senior plans to enter the Navy after graduation and wants to be an engineer on a submarine.

"I think prom was a better atmosphere (at Genoa Lakes)," he said. "It was a nicer place to be."

Arnold plans to attend Western Nevada Community College after graduation and then transfer to the University of Nevada, Reno. She is thinking of studying health nutrition.

No glitches were reported at prom, which was well-staffed by administrators, including Carson High School Principal Fred Perdomo.

"There were zero problems," Perdomo said. "In fact, we received a lot of compliments from the golf course about how good the kids were behaved. I haven't heard any negatives yet from the students, I think they were just so happy it was somewhere other than gym."

The DJ from West Coast Entertainment in Reno played pop tunes in the tent where students danced; pictures were taken by students throughout the night; a professional photographer shot memories in a downstairs room at the golf resort; hors d'oeuvres were served in a room in the main lodge where the Mile High Jazz Band from Carson City played.

"I was talking to some people who were in student council," Arnold said. "They said more tickets were sold this year than a couple years before."

Both she and Carter have been receiving congratulations through much of the week for being crowned queen and king.

"I think prom is something you really prepare for your whole high school career," Carter said. "It's one of the big things that happen and you want it be a special night."

And now that it's come and gone, he's ready for the next phase of life.

"It's kinda hard to really want to be at school," he said. "I'm ready to get out."