February 2008 pdf

Pottery: Students create works of art using clay

Dance and Cheer: cheerleaders, Dancers, Rock Post Falls Competition

page 5

page 8

Volume 85, iSSue 5

Sandpoint HigH ScHool

February 8, 2008

Obama wins Bonner County caucus

Students Hannah Vogel, Dashiell Paulson, and Natalie Craig elected as Obama delegates to Boise cameRon hay

Copy editor

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all photos by heatheR allen

n TOP: Democrats listen as the vote tallies are announced. n lefT: Senior Hannah Vogel and newly christened delegate for Obama cheers at hearing Obama’s commanding lead in the Bonner County caucus. n aBOve: Hillary supporters start a chant before their speaker takes the stage.

Massive budget cuts lead to district-wide lay-offs teachers from the school, B.J. Biddle and Bonni Herrington, are already planning to retire at the Staff reporter end of the school year, but additional cuts in the number of teachers would come in the form of Due to rising costs and a decrease in funds, the Lake Pend Oreille School District (LPOSD) RIFs (Reduction in Force).

“Principals do not decide which teachers lose will need to cut down its budget substantially their positions. That is determined by a collective next year.

According to next year’s proposed budget bargaining agreement negotiated with the teachavailable at the district website, a drop in student er,” Cvitanich said. “According to this document, enrollment, loss of federal forest dollars and a teachers are retained on the basis of seniority and rise in salaries and other costs will amount to a certification.”

Sandpoint High School Dean of Students Bill loss of $2,223,500 in the budget.

A 2.4 percent drop in student enrollment Barlow retired at the end of the 1st Semester this throughout the district will result in a loss of year, but the district will need to cut two more $800,000. The total loss of over two million is administrator positions from the budget unless there is a change.

8.6 percent of the district’s entire A number of areas of the budget. budget cut are still up for “…these are potential budget debate and could lessen the reductions. It does not mean the Our number one goal is to not need for cuts. potential cuts listed in the [bud- have any teachers lose their “If more dollars accrue get] will occur,” Superintendent job while still maintaining to the district, decisions Dick Cvitanich said. “At this the educational integrity at will be made on where to point there is much discussion Sandpoint HIgh School build back programs. That that will take place.” is likely to be in the number The district added $620,000 -Becky Kiebert of teachers,” Cvitanich said. in revenue to the potential budAccording to the proget through various means, but Principal posed budget, the outthat still leaves $1,603,500 to be lined staff cuts amount to handled through staff reductions, according to district business manager and $1,546,000: still over $50,000 short.

“If we do not receive any more money, we will treasurer Lisa Hals. Hals also indicated that staff and staff benefits comprise 84 percent of the dis- need to find cuts within the budget for approximately 75,000 dollars,” Cvitanich said. “That will trict general fund budget.

The planned budget would incorporate a dis- be difficult because 85 percent of the district trict-wide loss of three administrators, 16 teach- budget is connected to staffing.”

The District administration is working to keep ers, seven certified staff, and 7.5 classified staff.

The budget also breaks down how many teach- education standards high.

“Our number one goal is to not have any ers each school will be losing. Sandpoint High School will lose four teachers, the most in the teacher lose their job while still maintaining the educational integrity at Sandpoint High School,” district.

According to Principal Becky Kiebert, two Kiebert said.

Ryan Williams

“

”

he Bonner County Democratic caucus ended with a wild finale February 5 as Barack Obama swept 428 of the 590 votes cast and 11 out of Bonner County’s 13 delegates to the state convention. As the final tallies were announced after the recaucus, there was riotous cheering from the Obama camp, which comprised nearly two-thirds of the Panida theater’s main floor.

“All throughout the state, Obama is coming in three to one over Hillary,” Vice Chair of the Bonner County Democratic Caucus Laura Bry said.

Bry attributed Obama’s victory to both his visit to Boise on February 2 and to an aggressive calling campaign.

“They [the Obama camp] won because Obama’s people called three to four thousand people in Idaho.”

The caucus opened at 5:30, and an announcement came at 6:30 that attendance was so high that all observers were being asked to leave to allow for more voters to attend.

“We turned no one away,” Bry said. “We hit 500 people and we decided to just keep going.”

During the first hour of the caucus, many of the voters walked around the main floor of the Panida, where they conversed with local democratic politicians, debated with one another on issues, and discussed why they were there. Reporters for the Cedar Post counted approximately 20 SHS students attending.

“I’m here to see more about the candidates, get some more information. I lean more towards Obama,” senior Courtney Brown said.

“I’m here because I really like politics. I really like being involved and what’s going on because ultimately the poltics that are happening today are going to passed onto our generation as we get older,” senior Chelsea Johnson said.

“I’m uncommitted,” senior Justin Knowles

said. “I’m here to figure more about what’s going to happen in the future.

Even those who were not Democrats were initially invited to observe the caucus.

“I’m here just to learn. We are for Mitt Romney,” sophomore Minta Kramer said.

The caucus was divided into an initial caucus and a recaucus, where voters were allowed to change their pledges to different candidates.

During the initial caucus, Clinton had 79 votes, which failed to qualify her for even one delegate; after the recaucus, Clinton had 99 votes, which gained her two delegates. Voters who were for John Edwards or were undecided were also present, and their numbers shrunk substantially during the recaucus as many in their ranks went to either the Obama or Clinton camps.

The caucus ended with the election of the individual delegates. Out of the eleven delegates elected to vote for Obama in the state convention, three, Dashiell Paulsen, Natalie Craig and Hannah Vogel, were SHS seniors.

“I feel extremely energized. I feel like I’m on the top of this huge, giddy adrenaline high,” Vogel said.

Like many of voters who volunteered to be a delegate, Vogel was not an Obama supporter from the start, but felt that he helped her find her political voice.

“I wasn’t that involved until maybe New Year’s or Christmas. I felt I missed the starting date.

Then I watched his Iowa caucus victory speech and I was almost moved to tears...I feel that even if Obama doesn’t deliver all that he promises to do to help this crippled participatory democracy, I do think think his message and attitude of hope and change is what this country needs.”

Regardless of the primary’s outcome, Laura Bry remains optimistic for the increasing turnout at the Bonner County Democratic Caucus, which more than doubled since 2004.

“We’re gonna book the fairgrounds for eight years from now.”

Pregnant teens tell their story Rachel Kennedy

Staff reporter

F

or many teenagers in high school, empathizing with the problems or worries of their fellow classmates is easy.

Between academic stresses such as grades, parents, friends and obligations to extracurricular activities, most everyone knows, at one time another, exactly what everyone else is going through. But for some teens, there’s an aspect of their lives to which few people their age can relate: motherhood. For this report, names have been changed to protect the individuals interviewed.

“Looking back, I don’t think I was ready to be a mother…I wasn’t ready then or now, but I’ve accepted and embraced it. I’ve forgot about my teen life,” Jane , a local 17-year-old mother, said.

Another local mother-to-be, Sue, had an equal mix of feelings when she first found out about her pregnancy. “[I was] happy, scared…I didn’t want to tell my Dad, and I kept it from my Mom [because] it was unplanned.”

When breaking the news to their parents, each girl was faced with different responses.

“My mom was shocked, [and] not mad at all, just disappointed. My family didn’t get mad or judge me,” Jane said.

“My Dad didn’t want me to keep it, but my Mom was happy, which was really unexpected,” Sue said.

Both decided to keep their child.

“I’ve never been for abortion, [and] I thought about adoption [but] I couldn’t put myself through that,” Jane said.

“I’m a Christian, that’s always been my belief and it [abortion] was never an option. It never crossed my mind,” Sue said.

hillaRy nusbaum

n learning: Junior Sierra Rodriguez continues to attend Sandpoint High School along with other young soon-to-be mothers.

Neither mother expressed regrets regarding the decision to keep their child, although Jane is saddened by the lack of sensitivity involving the matter.

“I enjoy it [motherhood] so much. I guess my only regret is when people start rumors, [saying] I’m a bad Mom, or when they judge me. I’m kind of a sensitive person…I don’t think anybody likes to be judged.”

Sue also acknowledges that there will be difficulties ahead.

“It’ll be hard, [there’s] things to get and do, but I have a lot of support.”

Because of this support that each girl has, they both plan to continue with their education.

“I’m gonna finish school, unlike some of my friends [that have gotten pregnant]. That’s a plus,” Sue said.

Jane hopes to graduate early and start working toward a bachelor’s degree at N.I.C., where she can take advantage of a daycare program.

Page 2 February 8,2008

Briefly: News around SHS Pennies for patients raises money for leukemia The student council will be entering Sandpoint High School into the national Pennies for Patients campaign. Pennies for Patients is a fundraiser to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma society.

“We’re going to have a competition between the classes to see who can raise the most money,” student Council member senior Eric Czirr said.

The classic fundraising method for Pennies for Patients is collecting people’s spare change, and the Student Council is planning to have jars for each class.

Webb resigns as NHS adviser Pam Webb, who has been the NHS adviser for the past three years, has recently resigned from her position. “It was a tough decision. I really like NHS,” Webb said.

Webb resigned is because she believes that she doesn’t see enough of the members. Contact between members and adviser is accomplished through e-mail, but Webb says that the members would better benefit from an adviser, “who sees students on a more daily basis.”

“Some kids I never get a chance to know. [I like] to get to have real personal contact with kids, [but] I don’t get an opportunity,” Webb said.

When Webb took the position of NHS adviser, it was voluntary. The new adviser, however, will have to put in an application to be chosen for the position, which may involve a stipend.

“Different names of people [who would put in an application] come to mind, [but] they’re already involved in other organizations,” Webb said.

Webb will stay on as adviser for the rest of the school year, and hopes to be able to train the new adviser sometime before the end of the year.

However, should there be difficulty in locating a different adviser, Webb said she is willing to retake the position.

S

Cedar Post

TAND

Casey Dunn

Staff writer

A chapter of STAND, a nationwide antigenocide organization, was recently formed at Sandpoint High school.

“Travis, this guy from U of I (University of Idaho), came to the school and did presentations in a lot of classes and he suggested starting a club,” said senior Alison Fister.

“He [Travis] had mentioned that we could start an organization here, so I went in the foyer and asked if anybody had approached him about that,” said junior Liam Mooney. “He said no, and I said, ‘well, put my name down and let me know if anybody else is interested.’

After that we just started meeting and some other people got involved and we wrote up a constitution and got it started.”

The group’s focus is to educate the community about the ongoing genocide occurring in the Darfur region of Sudan.

“STAND’s main purpose is to raise awareness...and just get people interested.”

Mooney said. “It’s found that it’s not so much that Americans don’t want to help; it’s that they simply don’t know, because there is very little media on the ground there.”

“December fifth is the national fast for Darfur awareness day, so all of stand, which is a national group, participated in that,” Mooney said.

“It was to raise awareness...for all the people that are going hungry, just to make us thinking about more what’s going on and make us more aware of the current situation [in Darfur],” junior Vicky Vardell said.

One of the more obvious demonstrations was the mural on the wall by the “D” lockers, which was put up just before Christmas break.

“We put a wall commemorating all the people that have died in Darfur so far. Each square represented 100 people and there were 4000 squares,” Vardell said.

While the group has made progress to furthering the club’s cause, the club itself has had some disagreements.

“Basically we’ve just had problems getting it together and working out issues within the club,” Vardell said.

“There were just come communication things going wrong,” said U.S. History teacher and former advisor Debbie Smith. “Their hearts were in the right place.”

The problems within the club eventually resulted in Mooney resigning as President.

Many members resigned along with him.

“That’s why a lot of us left too, because we wanted the club to be not so much an issue of power but an issue of raising awareness,” junior Emily Thompson said.

The remaining members have made some changes to the club. Rick Rhodes is now the sole advisor, whereas he and Smith had previously been co-advisors. Also, the club is considering removing the position of President.

“We kind of are thinking we don’t need a President; no one should have power over the

Students in the STAND anti-genocide club raise awareness for greater cause.

GraphiC by isaaC Dunne

rest of us. I think we can all do better without it,” Fister said.

STAND remains an active club that is still eagerly accepting new members.

“The meetings are Wednesday’s after school; just show up,” said Fister. “There’s not a process to join.”

Meetings will be held in room E8.

Joint grant creates new counselor position, office Casey Dunn

Staff writer

The Lake Pend Oreille School District (LPOSD) and the Panhandle Allaince for Education (PAFE) have come together and passed a strategic partnership grant program to allow Sandpoint High to hire one additional counselor.

Principal Becky Kiebert and counselor Cindy Albertson wrote the grant.

“The grant provides a part time counselor second semester this year, and they will become full time the second and third years,” Albertson said.

The position will be a career/college guidance counselor who will be certified through the state of Idaho and have a masters degree in counseling.

According to the grant, “The primary focus of this position will be developing and maintaining programs and services that will increase all students’ readiness, competence, and confidence in securing post-secondary college and/or career plans before leaving Sandpoint High School.”

“Counselors are responsible for three areas

of student development academic, career, and social/emotional,” Albertson said. “The three counselors will still be responsible for the three domains and [the new counselor] will be solely focusing on career development.”

The grant establishes a three-year collaborative partnership between PAFE and LPOSD. PAFE will fund the half-time position for the first year, PAFE and LPOSD will split the cost for a full-time position during the second and third years, and LPOSD will take over all costs in year four.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, up to 85 percent of jobs will require at least two years of education beyond high school in the near future.

“We’d like to see 100 percent of our kids going to post secondary training,” Albertson said.

The grant also includes funds to create and maintain a highly functional career/counseling center and the new counselor will help to develop the area.

The grant is for a total between $72,924 and $116,820 from PAFE, depending on the salary of the counselor.

Petal Talk

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Once Again GraphiC by alex GeDrose

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New to store men’s consignment quality clothing.

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Cedar Post

Page 3

February 8, 2008

Our View Education is not something we should take for granted

A

high school, more than anything, is a place for learning.

More than just awarding diplomas, it provides students the ability to obtain jobs.

More than just a gym for athletes, it teaches sportsmanship and skill.

More than being a legal necessity for minors to attend, it promotes the positive future of the country.

Why, then, would our school district have a lack of money?

There are myriad reasons, but they boil down to these facts: we’ve lost federal force dollars and about two percent of attendance while we’ve gained costs in salaries and other expenses.

There isn’t a whole lot the student body can do about inflation or federal force dollars.

Similarly, it is difficult to change attendance when there are four feet of snow on the ground and students at home trying to prevent the spread of communicable illnesses, not to mention the

enticement of snow-covered Schweitzer.

So the factors affecting our budget cuts are out of the control of individual students, but what we can control, what we must control: is our attitude.

Attitude, of course, is a tacky phrase that almost every person in a mentoring/leadershiptype role overuses.

“Think positive!” and “Attitude is every-

thing!” are phrases that have rattled around in our brains for at least as long as we have been in public education.

But in this case, the case of budget cuts, attitude really is everything.

Don’t take for granted the teachers who have gone through years of schooling and being underpaid just to inform you about the world around you!

Gender and race have no relevancy in democratic primaries

Grammer Nazis offer misguided criticism “Did you do good on your math test?”

As soon as the question left my mouth I knew I had made a mistake. The cold hand of fear crawled up my spine and gripped my heart. Had I been too loud? Did anyone catch my mistake? Was there a Grammar Nazi lurking somewhere in the depths of my math class? If there were, they surely would have spoken up and informed me and everyone else in a loud, icy tone oozing with superiority, “Well. You meant to say ‘Did you do well on your math test?’”

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term of the species, Grammar Nazis are a dangerous love child between the modern stick-to-the-status-quo English class and a society which no longer places value on manners. The Grammar Nazis’ sole joie de vivre is demonstrating to others their superior knowledge of the more obscure intricacies of the English language by pointing out the inability of others to ‘correctly’ speak their native tongue.

Speculation abounds as to what makes Grammar Nazis tick. I would guess that these passive aggressive pedants are motivated by a deep and irreparable inferiority complex.

Grammar Nazi, we know your mother didn’t compliment you enough as a child, but it’s okay to end a sentence with a preposition.

Have a hug, enter the circle of healing.

The main beef I have with Grammar Nazis isn’t their use of knowledge as a tool for inflating their own egos, it is their zombie-like devotion to a field that was never meant to be set in stone. Language evolved as a means of communication, grammar’s only function should be to aid that communication. Not bothering to distinguish between good and well or beginning sentences with conjunctions does not impede communication, so what’s the big problem? Grammar Nazis are the muscular dystrophy of language, they prevent English from growing and abandoning its arbitrary and superfluous rules.

Sure, ancient world history doesn’t always seem to have relevance to your life, nor do mathematical equations tend to help you when you are trying to explain to your parents why it is imperative that you must go out with your friends instead of doing your homework.

But world history and mathematical equations, if nothing else, do open those metaphorical doors of opportunity.

With Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as two of the frontrunners for the democratic candidacy, our nation is seeing something entirely new. I won’t argue that the fact that Clinton is a woman and Obama is African American deserves some attention, but only in regards to its groundbreaking nature.

Clinton’s gender and Obama’s race, however, are being included as factors when determining the two candidates’ electability. I often hear people question whether America is ready for a black president or a women president as if it were a factor important enough to influence their vote.

If it is true that race or gender is actually an

With Cameron Hay Ring… ring… ring…click.

Hello, Mr. Hay. This is a representative from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). We are calling because we have received evidence that you have violated copyright law. No, you didn’t share music over a peer-to-peer network, or burn a music CD to give to a friend at school. Instead, you committed an even more heinous crime: you ripped music to your computer from a legally purchased CD. Now, we know that you’d need to do this to actually put music on your Zune without re-buying it, but because we feel like it, we are suing you for all you’re worth, which is a lot, apparently. Expect a visit from our attorney soon. Have a nice day. *Click* This is the spooky dream I had one night after eating spicy fajitas and reading Time Magazine. The story which inspired my terror and indigestion dealt with the legal case of the RIAA against Jeffrey Howell. Howell was sued primarily on the grounds of illegally downloading songs over the internet, but in one particularly frightening section of the legal

influential issue when it comes to the elections, then I have grossly miscalculated the United States’ progress in social equality.

I am not naive; I realize that our country is certainly not lacking in misogynists and racists, but the people I hear asking this question are neither. I seriously doubt that this question is meant to imply that white males are the only people that Americans are willing to elect, but what else is there to deduce from it?

If we are not motivated by racism or sexism, what is so worrisome about having a woman or a black man as a president? Are we worried that Hillary will nuke a few countries while she is PMSing or Barack will attend Israeli- Palestin-

ian peace talks with his Sean Jean track suit and fresh Nike kicks(forgive the stereotypes)? This notion is ridiculous and so is any speculation as to whether race and gender are important factors in choosing a commander in chief.

By asking whether or not the country could elect a black man or a woman, we make this question as reasonable as asking whether or not we are ready for a president who will ban the use of electricity. The latter is a legitimate concern while the former is not. What should be asked instead is whether or not there is too much misogyny or racism in the U.S. for an African American or woman to become president. I believe that the answer is no.

Fight the music briefing by the recording industry, the plaintiff stated that MP3s made from legally purchased CDs are illegal.

I didn’t get it. Was the RIAA just trying to make more money? Was I in danger of becoming one of a myriad of average Joes being juiced for liquid cash? As it turns out, yes.

The well-equipped legal team of the RIAA has already sued 20,000 people for various copyright infringements, ranging from making 30,000 copies of Metallica CDs to my own personal injustice of ripping. The civil suits themselves are often for gigantic amounts, such as the case of Jammie Thomas of Minnesota, who was sued for $220,000 dollars for sharing 24 songs illegally. That comes to $9250 dollars a song!

I don’t have a problem with the recording industry going after big copyright offenders.

People who share music online like that are, in fact, stealing. But maybe the RIAA needs a good, legal bruising to stop them from sucking more blood. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some Weird Al Yankovic to rip to my computer.

Morgan Wills Editor in Chief

Chelsea KardoKus Assistant Editor

laura loCKWood Arts & Culture Editor

MiChael Tiberi News Editor

Will hughes & niCole Van dyK Sports Editors

grahaM PayTon Graphics Editor

KaTie MeeK

Advertising Manager

anna Thorell Office Manager

riCK rhodes Adviser

Editorial Policy

Just say no to crack If I told you to say no to crack, you may very well think that I am attempting to shield you from the harm that will most certainly result should you choose to partake of cocaine. But it is not narcotics I speak of, oh no. The crack to which I refer will result in a far worse consequence than addiction, the brunt of which is heaped upon, not the “users” themselves, but innocent bystanders. These people I am alluding to are in fact those individuals among us who choose to put on display the crevice found at the edge of one’s back and the beginning of one’s hinny, which is to say, the butt-crack.

The butt-crack was, at first, primarily associated with construction workers or plumbers, and generally considered a faux pas of the fashion world. But in recent years, the display of one’s backside has extended to people of all ages, particularly those in the throes of puberty. I for one cannot walk the hallways of SHS without viewing, at least once a day, some person who,

upon leaning over to put books into their locker, exposes a region of themselves best left covered.

And each time I happen to land my gaze, quite by accident, on the heinous sight, I must attempt to control my involuntary gagging and get through the rest of the day with my vision scarred. Yet despite my own noticeable displeasure of the sight, not to mention that of a number of my peers and teachers, individuals continue to wear their clothing in such a revealing manner as to promote nausea and/or ocular damage in those unfortunate enough to view such.

So why does the display continue? Surely it is not for lack of material with which to adequately hold up one’s pants?

As far as I can tell with my own limited understanding, it is considered “fashionable”. Perhaps the males who have this issue desire to imitate the “gangsta” images which they are convinced will portray them as “tough”. I’m not entirely certain as to the incentive of female types for such

a display, but conceivably, some feel the urge to show off their skimpy-yet-oh-so-cute undergarments recently purchased at Victoria’s Secret.

But whatever the reason, here is the reality of the situation: You are not admired for flaunting your behind. Whatever your goal may be, I can assure you, such is not going to be achieved by putting your fanny out in the open for all to see.

All it serves to prove is that you lack the dignity to care enough about your appearance to take into consideration the negative effect that it can have on people, leaving the rest of us to assume that you will lack such dignity in all aspects of your life.

So join me in saying no to crack. Rise above the conforming rear-displaying individuals who populate the hallways! Show the world that there’s more to a person than their hindquarters! And above all, if only for the sake of your fellow human beings, keep the entirety of your buttocks covered.

The Cedar Post is governed by the same legal rights as the professional press. Under the First Amendment, we reserve the right to free expression and freedom of the press. The student newspaper of Sandpoint High School is an open public forum for the students of Sandpoint High School and the community of Sandpoint, Idaho, with its editorial board making all decisions concerning its contents; it is not subject to prior review by administration, faculty, or community members.

Unsigned editorials express the views of the majority of the editorial board.

Letters to the editor must be signed, although the staff may withhold the name upon request. The paper reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all letters are subject to law governing obscenity, libel, privacy and disruption of the school process, as are all contents for the paper.

Opinions in letters are not necessarily those of the staff, nor should an opinion expressed in a public forum be construed as opinion or policy of the administration, unless so attributed.

The CP strongly encourages you to voice your opinion through the student paper.

E-mail your letter or bring it by E8.

Sandpoint High School 410 South Division Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208) 263-3034 ext 244 shscedarpost@hotmail.com

Printed by the Daily Bee

Page 4 February 8, 2008

Cedar Post

What do you think about the early hype over the elections?

These are phrases Cedar Post staff members have heard from students of SHS. The views expressed in Word for Word are not necessarily shared by the Cedar Post.

Karina olSon

caSey Dunn

Staff Reporter

Staff Reporter

Sex before marriage is irresponsible

Max Horn FreShman “I think it’s important because there’s a woman and an African American running for the democratic party.”

Stitsel SLydia ophomore Sophomore “I don’t really know anything about it.”

Cedar Fisher Junior Junior “It’s good! There should be more hype; people should actually care.”

Having sex before marriage isn’t just irresponsible, it’s repulsive. The bottom line is that sex is something special that is meant to be saved for a couple who have committed their entire lives to each other . To waste it within any less of a relationship is to cheapen and degrade what is meant to be a fulfilling, tender, loving experience. Why? Because all too often, sex between non-married couples is a selfish act focused on oneself, not the other person. It ends up being more of a “recreational” activity, a kind of casual way to have some fun. If you have sex before marriage, that’s all sex is and all it will ever be for you. It will be just like making snow angels and coloring with your little sister; incredibly entertaining, but lacking deep emotional impact.

Premarital sex often ruins what might otherwise turn out to be a longer-lasting, meaningful relationship. People say that sex will help them feel close to their boyfriend/ girlfriend, that it will make their relationship stronger.

Well, I believe they’re usually wrong. Many times, people just feel used and exploited after having sex with their girlfriend/boyfriend. I know this from other’s experience.

During a relationship, all is generally well until the couple has sex for the first time. Afterwards, however, one (or both) of them ends up thinking to themselves, “Wow, he/ she was just in this for the sex. I can’t believe I was so easily manipulated.” What a confidence booster.

The other, slightly more obvious reason not to have sex before marriage is that SEX IS HOW YOU MAKE BABIES!! Every time two unmarried people have sex (contraception or not) they run the risk, however small or large, of getting pregnant. And once a teenage girl gets pregnant, she is forced to either endure the long and often humiliating process of going through with the pregnancy, or worse, kill an innocent unborn child through an abortion. Pick your poison.

Oh, and there’s the little insignificant fact that there are now over thirty STD’s, none of which, according to a Family Health International study, condoms are 100% effective at preventing. Including incurable ones like AIDS, which can be LETHAL. Like, it can KILL you.

Knowing this and still choosing to have premarital sex anyway is, in my opinion, incredibly immature. Yes, it feels good. Supposedly, so does smoking marijuana and huffing markers. But do such experiences change your life for better or for worse? Do they ultimately help you or hurt you? It’s the same with sex between people who aren’t married. It’s called control, people. Learning control is a part of growing up, and if you’re too juvenile to contain your urges, then you’re far too childish to be in a relationship in the first place.

I am not saying teenage relationships are wrong. I’ve been in a few myself. I’m also not saying sex is wrong.

What I’m saying is that there is a time and place for sex.

Marriage.

The Abstinence-only approach to sexual education is unrealistic

hacked.

• If you don’t listen to one thing I say all day, make it this.

• I feel obligated to throw up.

•Oh my god you’re ruining my life! Now I’m going to go paint my toenails now.

•I want him to want me so much • You mean ‘sick’ like ‘cool’ or ‘sick’ like ‘gross?”

• He was only interested in her glassware.

• I’m passionate. Actually, I’m not, but I AM curious.

• Valentines is where you rip your heart out and give it to your lover.

• Is it the same time here as the sun? Yeah. Only hotter.

”

• Carrot cake’s like the nerd of the cake world.

• If you don’t have voluntary love, you don’t have patriotism.

• You may not be a great president but . . . .

Students raise genocide awareness

This is where your thoughts go. Feel passionately about something? We are your public forum.

Drop a letter with your thoughts and name in room E8 or e-mail shscedarpost@hotmail.com

“It doesn’t seem over hyped to me. It just makes me laugh.”

• I can’t do this problem. My calculator’s been

Letters to the Editor

“If more younger people are involved then it will be a more acurate poll in the United States over all.”

Teacher

• You could be fileted one day.

Abstinence-only is the current sex ed of choice, particularly in conservative northern Idaho, where the mantra spouted by Christian leaders and staunch moralists is “save it for marriage”.

However, this argument is flawed. People should not be ruled by moral absolutism; sex should be a private matter between two people who are highly committed to one another. Sex before marriage is not wrong, dirty or evil. It is part of having a strong relationship and is perfectly fine for people in committed relationships.

As a culture we have a sexual dichotomy. In the media and on television we glorify promiscuity; however, in school systems and in general, we advocate abstinence. This discrepancy in messages seems to lead to a population torn between the wantonness portrayed in the media where sex is used as a tool to sell shows, clothing, even cologne and the moral absolutism espoused by abstinenceonly advocates. The problem with this is that it leads to a misunderstanding about sexuality and turmoil, particularly for younger people about how they should behave. The education provided in many cases about sex is similar to the spoof seen in recent film ‘Mean Girls’. In other words ‘if you have sex you will get pregnant, and you will die’.

The abstinence-only approach seems to be to make sex into a fearsome and shameful beast, which is not what it is at all.

Obviously, sex is a large emotional commitment, I feel that many times that is overlooked in sex education classes, it isn’t just a physiological act, and emotional connection plays a huge part in sex. Younger teens are not ready to deal with the possible consequences of sex and the emotional aspect of it, I am in no way advocating younger teens to go out and have sex.

I feel that our culture has in many ways tampered with the perception of sex, twisting it either into a recreational activity or a looming beast that no one should ever acknowledge. Sex is a natural part of life, people have been doing it since there were people (which is good, because as painful as it is to think about NONE of us would be here without sex), and when two people love each other very much… it is more than perfectly acceptable.

Alex Crossingham Senior

Mary Bird

“

• I feel like I’m making cookies in my lungs.

Veteran thanks students and teachers for warm welcome Dear Editor, I am a a loss for words trying to thank all the adults and students that welcomed all of us Veterans into your school on Monday, November 12th. It was truely heart warming to see all of the students standing and applauding and cheering.

All I can say about our young students today, is that I have no problems or concerns about our Country. It is definately in good hands.

Mr. Wilbert E. Remmers

VeTeran

For over three years now, a U.S. labeled genocide has been occurring in Sudan, more specifically in the region of Darfur. To date over 400,000 innocent civilians have been murdered and over 2.5 million displaced from their homes. In 2003, two Darfurian rebel groups launched an attack against the Khartoum government in response to ongoing poverty and neglect in the region following a civil war.

In response, the Khartoum government started deliberately and systematically killing those in Darfur because of their ethnic background. Since then, the government has armed and trained a supposedly separate militia called the Janjaweed. A few of the Janjaweeds’s genocidal acts include rape, displacement, organized starvation, threats against aid workers, and mass murder. There has been very limited action by governments to force the Khartoum government to stop supporting the genocide in Darfur.

Over the past few years, some groups have sprung up to counter the government’s inaction, including Save Darfur (savedarfur.org) and STAND (standnow.org). About a month ago a representative from STAND (Student Anti-Genocide Coalition) came and spoke about the situation in Darfur at Sandpoint High School. In response, a group of student have come together and formed a local STAND chapter at our school.

After a great start many members decided to leave the local chapter due to bad organization and no decisive direction, but recently a small group of students have come together and reorganized. One of the main new focuses in STAND is to raise awareness about the situation in Darfur and work on convincing businesses to divest.

We welcome anyone who is interested or wishes to rejoin under the new organization to attend our meetings every week in room E8. Also, anyone interested in getting involved or with questions can email us at sandpointstand@gmail.com. Thank you,

Brian Wolcott

Senior

February 8, 2008

Cedar Post

Page 5

Snow day formula revealed

Large amounts of snowfall leave students wondering: what exactly determines a snow day?

Chelsea KardoKus Assistant Editor

T

here is a more precise procedure in calling a snow day than one may think.

“The number one reason for calling school off is the safety or our students,” Superintendent of the Lake Pend Oreille School district, Dick Cvitanich said. “It’s not so much the snow depth, we’ll continue to go to school if there are 12 or 13 inches of snow.”

Cvitanich starts the process of finding a possible snow day by calling a federal government weather reporting service in Spokane. They tell him their best estimate as to what the weather will be like overnight in the Sandpoint/Clark Fork area. Cvitanich then relays the reports to the bus barn so the bus drivers can go check the

current conditions of the roads throughout the district. At 4:30 a.m., Cvitanich’s alarm goes off so he can see what has happened overnight. “[Then] I decide ‘hmm, I can go back to bed’ or ‘I need to get ready to start making phone calls,’” Cvitanich said.

Stretching from Southside Elementary to Clark Fork High School, the length of the district also presents a challenge in determining a snow day.

“We could have really bad weather in one part of our district and good in another,” Cvitanich sa id.

If in fact they do decide there is a chance of cancellation, Cvitanich hears from the bus barn and gets their reports of the snow depth, how hard the wind is blowing, if the roads are iced,

etc.

“If we don’t think it’s safe enough to go, then we begin canceling school at that time,” Cvitanich said.

Although there have been three snow days so far this year, Cvitanich has received a number of complaints from students and parents alike.

“I think that the person who decides lives where it’s plowed in the morning. So he walks out with his coffee and nice bathrobe and he thinks ‘yeah the school needs money’ so he just calls it for school when it shouldn’t be,” freshman Matt Miller said.

Contrary to popular belief, the school does not lose money if there is a snow day.

“We have a small number of days where the state understands that we’re going to have bad

weather, and in our state, we aren’t charged with making those up,” Cvitanich said. “The safety is the number one overriding concern for us; we don’t lose money.”

Even though the weight of deciding a snow day rests on Cvitanich’s shoulders, he stil understands the joy of having one.

“When I was in school I loved a snow day I would wait to listen to the radio and when i would start snowing at night I always enjoyed the fact of a snow day,” Cvitanich said. “Now would like to have a snow day myself, because I absolutely love to ski. But my job is not as a skier; my job is as a school Superintendent, and we want to make sure students are in school and I’m at work.”

Potter y shapes students’ educational goals Kat Vardell Staff reporter

Sandpoint High School’s pottery program gives students the opportunity to enjoy a creative, hand-on art experience and for others to begin a pursuit that will last past high school.

“It’s really fun, and I enjoy doing it,” pottery II student and sophomore Ashley Anderson said. “You do a lot of things with clay and design.”

“I don’t think most people could afford to be a hobbypottist, so I think it’s amazing the school offers it,” independent study pottery student senior Isabella Guida said.

The center of this opportunity is Sandpoint High School’s 15-year pottery teacher Dan Shook.

“I started [pottery] when I went to college at the University of Idaho,” Shook said, who has also made the ceramic figures for one of the Festival of Sandpoint posters, many life size sculptures and countless pots.

Shook believes pottery is a valuable skill to learn.

“There’s a lot about this whole process- life lessons, little metaphors, how the clay behaves, timing, all that”.

Several students in pottery plan to continue it after high school.

“I’ve had a few people who’ve gone from here and really gotten into it,” Shook said. “I’ve gotten a few of them at least talking about at least minoring”.

Guida is one of these students.

“I think I’m going to minor in ceramics in college,” she said. “I think it’s the most functional form of art”.

Some students at the high school,

leigh liVingstone

n rounding it out: Student Mackenzie Wilson laughs while completing her creation.

including Guida, take an independent study class for pottery, which gives them the opportunity to work on wha they want to improve.

“You set what you want to do- your goal for the semester,” Guida said. “Mostly [Mr. Shook] doesn’t give you assignments- you give yourself assignments [and] he helps you.”

In Pottery I, students begin by learning the basics o using clay.

“We start off with hand-holding techniques then pretty quickly get into the wheel,” Shook said. “They learn al about the technology of clay and glazing and everything”.

A large part of pottery is being able to use the wheel which takes practice.

“Doing it over and over- just practicing it a lot,” Anderson said about what is required to improve.

In advanced pottery classes, more complex techniques are stressed.

“You need to have mastered the wheel to be good at i and then have creativity,” Guida said. “And then I think the trick is to be able to hold yourself still . . . Throwing on the wheel takes incredible patience.”

Later on, some students even get to make their own glazes.

“There’s different formulas you find online,” Guida said “It’s all these chemicals coming together, and it’s the neates thing ever”.

n Smoothing the edgeS: Devin Jacobson carefully shapes her work of art on the wheel.

leigh liVingstone

Aikido Club

An introduction to a blend of styles in the soft, non-competitive, non-combative art of Aikido: fluid like the tao of water which seeks its own path of least resistance. Associated with Kootenai Aikido Kenkyukai, Nelson, British Columbia.

Mondays and Wednesdays 6:00-8:30 PM Sensei: Lenny Thorell (15 years) (208) 263-8334

Page 6 February 8, 2008

Cedar Post

Various students rise early for morning activities ryan Williams

Staff writer

T HeatHer allen

n reading: Homeschooled senior Jacob Vaniman reads the scriptures during early morning seminary.

he typical high school student wakes up with little time before classes start, wolfs down a quick breakfast, if anything at all and heads to school. However, many committed students find themselves up before the sun. Dancers, Mormons, cheerleaders, and students in early bird classes all fall into this category.

The dance team practices at the school at 7:00 a.m. each day.

“The beginning of the school year is always a little tough, but it’s just a routine now,” senior

and dance team co-captain Kaylee Suto said.

Consolidating practice time in the morning does have its benefits, though.

“It’s really nice because it keeps afternoons wide open for other activities like jobs and homework,” Suto said.

Senior and dancer Hailey Woodruff agreed.

“It enables me to do other sports like tennis,” Woodruff said.

Senior Todd Stoner gets up at 6:00 a.m. every morning so he can get to his early bird drafting class by 7:00 a.m. He finds it hard, he said, “especially on Mondays.”

However, like many of his fellow early-

Students knit and crochet Paulina GraloW

Assistant Sports editor For some, winter is the best and busiest season because of skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and other snow-filled activities. But for those who don’t participate in those activities very often or just find them enjoyable, knitting and crocheting are alternatives that many people use to pass time not only in the winter months, but also throughout the year, regardless of whether or not they ski.

“I don’t ski or snowboard, so it’s just something to do when you’re watching a movie or talking or hanging out,” senior Isabella Guida said.

Popular items to make are hats and scarves.

“If people ask me for stuff, then I’ll make it,” Hillary nusbaum sophomore Brennen Chasse said. “I maybe make n Handiwork: Junior Sophie Miller uses her hands to create a work of art. two hats a year.”

Although hats and scarves are the most common, Knitting and crocheting are very similar, yet they have a they aren’t the only things that can be made. key difference that sets them apart. While knitting uses two “[I also knit] leg warmers and funny things like that,” needles, crocheting only uses one and is generally considered Guida said.

Knitting and crocheting can also be helpful around the easier.

“It’s a lot faster and it’s way easier to pick up and to teach holidays. yourself how to do things,” Guida said.

“I give them to people as gifts, or I use them,” Guida With spare time in winter, knitting or crocheting may be said.

And there remain alternative uses besides gifts and an interesting choice for something to do.

“You can be doing nothing but making something which personal use. is neat,” Guida said.

“I sell them,” Chasse said.

birders, he looks at the bright side.

“I get out early and can go skiing,” Stoner said.

Mormon students must go to Seminary at 6:30 a.m. every school day.

“I wake up at 5:00 a.m. every morning,” junior Garrett Benion said. “I’d rather have that [than going to seminary after school] because then you have time to hang out with friends.”

Not all Mormon students like getting up so early, however.

“Yeah, it’s very hard,” senior Casey Nutt said. “I think it would be nice to be able to sleep in.”

Teenagers say ‘I do’ Kat Vardell Staff reporter

While the average high school student is usually thinking about things like homework, college or friends, some at Sandpoint High School have something else on their mindmarriage.

Junior Tela Tompkins has been engaged to her boyfriend of six months, senior Corey Stevens for about a month.

“It’s way quick, but that’s okay,” Tompkins said.

Tompkins understands that such young engagements are unusual but believes that hers is right.

“When you find that person you’re going to be with forever, it’s a lot easier,” Tomkins said.

Another engaged student, junior Lindsey Brauer feels similarly.

“If you find the person . . . go for it. I mean, you shouldn’t take it lightly, but if you’re 100 percent sure that person is the one, why not?” Brauer said.

Neither Tompkins nor Brauer plan to disrupt their high school education to get married.

“We’ll probably get married after I graduate,” Tompkins said.

Brauer was proposed to about three months ago at a movie with her boyfriend “We were sitting in Alvin and the Chipmunks, and he got down on one knee,” Brauer said. “Then the whole theater started applauding.”

Tompkin’s proposal was appropriate to the day- Christmas eve.

Stevens took Tompkins into town where all the Christmas lights were up. “He made me close my eyes,” Tompkins said, “and he proposed to me.”

Sweeney Todd a tepid but entertaining bloodbath

I try to make it a habit of refraining from doing movie reviews, but with the sudden and unexpected attention that director Tim Burton’s “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” has been getting, I couldn’t resist. At the Golden Globes, it won for best film musical, and Johnny Depp snagged best actor. Many claim that the film is guaranteed even more Oscar loot.

To be totally frank, I don’t really understand why.

Now before all of you diehard Burton fans start waving your Jack Skellington dolls down my throat and attempt to set various parts of my body on fire, let me explain.

The story of Sweeney Todd has become a newfound fascination for me. What I find most beguiling about the story is it’s not entirely fiction. In the late 1700’s, Fleet Street did have a barber by the name of Sweeney Todd who DID dice up his customers, gave them to his widow-friend, Mrs. Lovett, who DID cook them up in meat pies and DID sell them to people who DID eat them.

You may throw up all over this column…now.

The point I’m trying to make here, is that Sweeney’s story is nothing new. Fictional representations of the demon barber have been everywhere. Then, in 1973, playwright Christopher

Bond decided to take an already gruesome tale and ruin it even further by making it a love story.

Six years later, playwright Stephen Sondheim basically stole the idea of the play and decided to make it one notch worse: turn the thing into a musical.

Don’t get me wrong, I like musicals. But let’s take a moment to reflect. We have a story that closely resembles Jack the Ripper’s, and we’re turning that into a musical by the hands of Sondheim? This is the same man who made “Westside Story”, a play dedicated entirely to a horde of middle-aged men dancing around onstage in such a way that the actors went home every night and cried themselves to sleep at the newfound loss of their masculinity.

The surprising tidbit: the play isn‘t bad--it‘s not great--but not bad. I read it before I saw the Burton adaptation, and you can even rent the filming of the play at the public library.

However, I’m still not entirely convinced it made the best transition from play to movie. Burton fancies himself qualified to direct remakes even after the excruciatingly dull “Planet of the Apes” and the even more unnecessary “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, during both of which I was so bored, I spent more time trying to tie knots in my hangnails than actually watch the movie.

Depp must have signed his soul off to Burton some years ago, because a Burton movie without Depp is like a rehab center without Lindsey Lohan. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Except, Depp is a terrible singer.

This is when radical Johnny fan-girls rip at my throat and scream, “But he got a Golden Globe for best actor in this role!

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And he‘s hot!”

I’ll admit that Depp is a great actor, but, again, a terrible singer. Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem if “Sweeney” wasn’t an OPERA. And, unfortunately, OPERAS entail SINGING, which, as noted before, Depp CANNOT do.

In fact, most of the actors seem out of place due to their lack of vocal talents.

This is not to say that Burton’s “Sweeney” is a bad movie.

The sets are jaw-dropping, the costumes are fantastic, and it’s just overall eye-candy with an over-the-top, but unique story.

I’d recommend it, but I wouldn’t say that it will change your life. It was good--it definitely didn’t deserve any awards--but I’m willing to give it a modest thumb up.

If you like the story, but hate singing and despise color, I’d recommend the original 1936 “Sweeney” movie that I was able to find by some grace of God (and the help of Netflix). The only downside is you don’t get to stare at Johnny Depp in eyeliner for two hours if you go this route…

Page 7 February 8, 2008

Cedar Post

Cortney Cleveland Freshman at SHS discusses her frequent moves across America

Karina OlsOn

was in the military; he’s just used to it, but he says he’s trying to get out of that habit.”

Changing locations often means experiencing a shift in Freshman Cortney Cleveland is new in town, yet for her that isn’t an unfamiliar feeling. Cleveland long ago gave up culture and surroundings, some are minimal other shifts trying to tally up how many times she’s neatly packed her are more dramatic.

Moving so frequently Cleveland has learned to adapt life into a recycled cardboard box and uprooted herself. to meeting new people and accumulating a new group of Cleveland estimates she has moved 20 to 25 times in her friends at each new place.

14 years.

“Usually meeting friends in elec“When I first get to a new place, I miss tives, I try to just start a conversation, the old place. When I lived in Boise, I but I’m kind of shy,” Cleveland said. didn’t want to move to Minnesota because “I usually don’t make friends until the it was much smaller, but I got to like it bet- I’ve been in one school second week. I think moving so much ter,” Cleveland said. “I think I like smaller for a whole year five made me more shy because I had to be towns better; my parents trust me more to times; the rest I was in the new kid so many times, people are be out and about and it’s much more calm. two to three schools for always asking questions and staring at Everyone knows everybody else in a way. the year. me funny the first couple of days.”

It’s harder in bigger cities, people in small“I’ve been in one school for a whole er towns are friendlier, they don’t judge as -Cortney Cleveland year five times, the rest I was in two to much as people in big cities. In the city there Freshman three schools for the year,” Cleveland are so many kinds of people” said. “Moving is really difficult because “I can remember a few [places], like Boiwe have all of our things in a U-Haul se and Port Orchard, but I can’t remember and are following in a big van but it’s still crowded but its n work it: Cortney Cleveland dances in her PE class. from when I was really little,” Cleveland said.

Carly riCKarD The strain of moving even a short distance from home is not so bad.”

“I usually have to help take care of doing laundry and large, yet Cleveland has lived in four states, Idaho, Washuick acts cook sometimes and stuff, it’s never quiet.” ington, Oregon and Minnesota.

• Freshman • Has seven siblings “ I like to read a lot, just to get away from [my siblings].

“I can remember a few [places], like Boise and Port Or• Has moved about 20 • Most enjoyed living in chard, but I can’t remember from when I was really little,” Or I listen to music, it’s easier. I can’t really read unless it’s times Minnesota Cleveland said. “My dad is just used to moving. His dad quiet and they can listen with me.”

Staff reporter

“

”

Q

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Carly riCKarD

we r

he popular video game “Guitar Hero” has become a nationwide sensation.

The latest version of the game, “Guitar Hero 3,” sold over 1.4 million copies during the first week it was released, and sales topped 5 million copies within the first three months. So what is it about this game that has gotten today’s gamers so addicted? There are several theories.

“It’s just fun,” Judah Lutz said.

“I love it because it’s challenging and it has a lot of songs that I really like,” said Brenan Weme. “The controller is nice because it makes you feel like you are actually playing guitar. It’s amazing.”

“Guitar Hero kind of made it easier for kids to start playing and get them more interested in music,” Robbie Carne said. “And the fact that it’s a video game really helped it. Video games are already really big, and then they incorporated music into it which made it even bigger.”

Cooperative and competitive modes let you share all the axe-wailing action with a friend.

“It makes it a lot more fun,” Carne said.

“You don’t have to just sit there while your friend is playing,” Weme said. “You can play with them.”

“You get to laugh if you make a mistake,” Jessica Tucker said.

The game seemingly has but one drawback, a retail price ranging between $90-100, depending on the game console. Many feel that it’s worth the high price tag. n the logistics: The “I think it’s worth it,” Lutz said. graphic on the left shows Some think otherwise. the controller used in playing “No, it’s not Guitar Hero. Players of the worth it for 100 game press buttons on the bucks,” Tucker plastic guitar’s fret board to hit said. “Just have scrolling musical notes on the someone else screen while strumming the buy it and lever on the guitar’s body to play with control rhythm. them.”

CO

The Sandpoint Community Cancer Services [SCCS] has established a new group designed to provide a safe place for children to share their experiences, fears, and concerns relating to a family member with cancer. This group will become available March 14.

“It’s a pilot group. It’s exploratory,” lead facilitator Bambi Lassen said. “I’m exploring the needs of the community.”

Lassen plans on using various activities to allow easier communication from the children. One of the biggest objectives of the group is to help children be better equipped to express their feelings.

“I would like to do team-building exercises to make the kids feel comfortable talking,” Lassen said.

Currently, the group is designed for elementary and junior high kids, but Lassen is receptive towards forming a group for younger children and another for high school students.

“It’s such a small community that I don’t want to limit it yet,” Lassen said.

Because it is a nonprofit organization, most of the services provided are free. Kids are asked only to turn in a permission slip.

“I want to have an open relationship with the parents,” Lassen said. “There may be a need for a parent support group while I am with the kids.”

Those interested in the support group can find the Community Cancer Services center at 1215 Michigan St. The group will be held on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month at 4:00-5:30 p.m. More information can be obtained by calling 255-2301.

“There may be an end date, or it might be an open door,” Lassen said. “We’ll see what the community presents.”

Staff reporter

n

Staff reporter

Casey Dunn

lO

alex GeDrOse

Teenagers play into new Guitar Hero craze

Dil

New cancer support group introduced to youth in Sandpoint

F

n PlAY AwAY: Freshmen Garret Dunn (top right) and Brenan Weme (bottom right) rock out with Guitar Hero. The video game has become the focus of social gatherings and get-togethers among numerous high school students.

Carly riCKarD

Page 8

February 8, 2008

Cedar Post

Students find alternate ways to stay fit during winter season Liz Stone

Staff reporter When winter comes and the ground is covered with snow, quite a bit of outdoor exercise is ruled out. However, students at SHS find still ways to stay fit despite the winter conditions.

During the winter season, one facility that offers fitness opportunities and an escape from the blustery weather is the Sandpoint West Athletic Club.

Jack Miller, a junior at Sandpoint High School, takes advantage of the conveniently located facility during the winter months.

“I get a three-month membership at SWAC,” Miller said.

The change in weather, however, doesn’t present too much of a disruption in Miller’s fitness routine.

“I usually don’t run outside that much; treadmills are easier,” Miller said.

Miller’s sport of choice, soccer, is difficult to play when the pitch is covered in snow, but the indoor soccer league out at the fairgrounds presents a solution.

“I play soccer two nights a week in the men’s league,” Miller said.

While some students head indoors when the

snow starts to fall, others choose to get their exercise outdoors.

Jeremiah Prummer, junior at Sandpoint High School, is one of those examples.

Prummer is conscious about staying fit. During the winter, Prummer utilizes the presence of snow as a way to get more out of his exercise “I like to be physically active, so I shovel snow,’’ Prummer said, “and I do some core workouts.”

Another activity made possible for Prummer is

running in the snow.

“I like to run in the snow,” Prummer said.

“It’s a little more fun and challenging.”

Prummer, a member of the cross country team, makes getting exercise a group activity when he runs with his fellow team members twice a week.

With a town like Sandpoint, many activities are possible to partake in that will fulfill fitness needs. Whether it is through a facility, on your own, or with friends getting your heart rate

GraPhic BY Graham PaYton

Dance team, cheerleaders place well at Post Falls competition

PauLina GraLow

Assistant Sports Editor Not only are winter sports’ districts and state coming up in February, but also are competitions for two other teams that are commonly mistaken as “non-competitive sports.”

The dance team and cheerleaders are SHS’s only sports that are yearround, and also go to competitions.

“We don’t stop practice in summer, we do basketball in winter, we do football in the fall, and we do competition in the spring, so we never really stop,” senior dance team co-captain Hailey Woodruff said.

Having to share the gym with the winter sports, gym classes, and other activities, cheer practices have to be before school.

n ABOVE: SHS Varsity cheerleaders perform at the North Idaho Cheer and Dance Competition in Post Falls.

n AT LEFT: The SHS dance team hits the end pose of their jazz dance at the competition.

Photo BY heather aLLen

“We practice before school on ‘B’ days at 6:30 a.m.,” junior cheerleading co-captain Sophie Miller said.

“Then we have cheerleading class during 5th period. We can only use the gym until actual P.E. classes start and then we have to practice in the commons.”

The dance team also has to practice in the morning before school.

“We practice at 7:00 a.m. in the morning, every morning, and we have a mandatory performing dance class first period on ‘A’ days,” Woodruff said. “When we’re not in the gym we’re in the dance room but the dance room is too small. Fourteen girls in there is challenging.”

Each team has three or four com-

petitions this year, the first being on January 26 in Post Falls where both teams competed.

“A lot of people think that cheerleading isn’t a sport because they just see us at the games, but they need to see the harder part of it where we compete,” Miller said.

A unique challenge that dancers face is that their sports require them to act together.

“Other sports there’s more physical activity with each other whereas

Photo BY heather aLLen

we’re a team; we’re out there trying to ‘act as one,’ not as individuals,” senior dance team captain Alyssa Remsen said.

In the North Idaho Cheer and Dance competition in Post Falls on January 26, the dance team placed first in the dance, kick, and prop divisions. Cheer placed first in show cheer and the all girls stunt group.

Those people who are still sad about the college football season ending should strongly consider not reading the rest of the article. I am still a little bit touchy now that the season is over, but it was definitely a season to remember. I think its pretty safe to say that any college football fan knew it was going to be a crazy year when perennial power house University of Michigan lost to Appalachian State University in their first game of the season. Don’t forget the University of Notre Dame always one of the better teams in the nation finished 3-9.

Another game that must be mentioned is the Stanford/ USC game. Stanford, which is usually known for its basketball and wrestling program, knocked off a ranked USC team by one point on a last minute touchdown.

Along with the most unpredictable games, there were also some unpredicted teams cracking the top 25 for most of the season. Teams such as, Oregon, Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky, and even Connecticut made a run at being ranked. No one would have ever thought at the beginning of the season that a game between Missouri and Kansas could possibly have championship implications. Make sure for next year that you keep Missouri in mind for the title as they have junior quarterback Chase Daniels and freshman wide reciever Jeremy Maclin returning.

As wild and crazy as the regular season was this year, the bowl season didn’t quite fit the trend set during the season.

Most games were blowouts and were over by the 2nd or 3rd quarter. For example, Hawaii was undefeated going into their bowl game against Georgia, who had two losses in the season. On paper this game looked like it would be quite a good one, Hawaii’s high octane offense versus Georgia’s stout defense. Georgia’s defense had Hawaii’s quarterback Colt Brennan hearing footstep the entire game. Needless to say Georgia won the game 41-10. In any game a Southeaster Conference team like Georgia or LSU will beat a Western Athletic Conferene team like Hawaii or Boise State.

There is just too much disparity with the talent and competition in the conferences.

The BCS or Bowl Championship Series has been the system used to determine which teams will play which in the end of the season bowl games. The flaws with the system were very apparent this season with the blowout games. Even the national championship game wasn’t very entertaining. Not taking anything away from LSU’s accomplishment, but only way to find real national champion is to have a playoff type system. Just like college basketball, but with only 16 teams. It would be quite simple to take the top 16 teams in the national and have the teams who miss the cut could play the normal bowl games, while the top 16 vie for a shot at the national title. If college football would start to use this system, it would eliminate the controversy over who should be playing in the national title, but until then we must deal with the BCS. As a final note, March Madness starts in a little more then a month!

Page 9

Cedar Post

February 8, 2008

Keegan Dunn Staff reporter

Leonard Fister

Sport: Wrestling Height: 5’11” Weight: 147 lbs

Q: How do you feel you contribute to the team?

A: “Well, there’s a lot of kids that haven’t wrestled before, so I kind of show them what to do. Even though I’m not as old as them, I’ve wrestled a little bit more.”

Q: What do you like most about wrestling? Why?

A: “Probably just getting in

shape. It’s just something to do, I guess. Some people like soccer or football; I like wrestling.”

Q: What sort of conditioning does the team do?

A: “Probably the running. There’s a lot of live wrestling.”

Q: Could you describe “live

wrestling”?

A: “Live wrestling is pretty much just like wrestling a match. Go for a take down or whatever.”

Q: What sort of things do you

have to do to maintain an ideal wrestling weight?

A: “Well, you have to eat healthy; can’t be just eating everything you see. You have to maintain that healthy diet and exercise, or else you’ll not make weight, and that kind of sucks.”

Q: What’s your all-time favorite

memory about wrestling?

A: “It’d probably have to be last year at districts. To make it to state, I beat a kid from Lakeland.

I pinned him in the third period to go off to state. He had beat me

before so, if I lost I wouldn’t go to state, if I won, I did. So I said ‘Yeah, I won. Head to state.”

Q: What sort of pre-match rituals and good luck charms do you have?

A: “I don’t really have any luck charms, but me and Will Hughes double pound our fists together before every match. It’s something we do.”

Q: Do you have aspirations of wrestling in college?

A: “You know, I’m kind of mixed about it. I mean, going to college and wrestling-that’s your life, it’s wrestling. I haven’t decided yet.

We’ll see what comes up.” graPhic by graham PaytOn

PhOtO by leigh livingstOne

Ski racer Scott Snow earns Variety of ice sports offer international recognition winter enjoyment for many Even with snow-covered ice rinks students and staff members find ways to make it onto the ice for a fun time

Karina OlsOn Staff reporter

In a sweeping victory at the Topolino Shoot Out at Jackson Hole, local racer and SHS freshman Scott Snow has been afforded the opportunity to travel to Italy to debut on the international circuit at the Trophea Topolino.

“This is my first time ever going to Europe; most of the excitement is the chance to go to Europe, but the race is really exciting also. I want to know how I stack up against the 14-year-olds in the world,” Snow said.

The Topolino Shoot Out consists of three runs of Giant Slalom and three runs of Slalom combined time decide the winner. Snow won a staggering five out of six events and led by a second or more in every race. Snow was racing against the top 22 other 14-year-old male ski racers west of the Mississippi.

“When you watch them race, they look a lot better than the time shows, the divide is who can finish a run. When I first saw them I thought ‘these guys look pretty fast’ but I wasn’t intimidated because I know how well I ski,” Snow said. “I don’t really get nervous, I was just ready to do it, to get out of there and head home.”

The opportunity to ski against the best in the world and compete on an international level is a huge benefit to Snow’s future in racing; the recognition he receives by competing in this race could have a dramatic effect on his future as a racer.

“The U.S. ski team will have coaches there, it’s a big thing because they get an idea of how you’re doing and how

liz stOne

Staff reporter

D

PhOtO cOurtesy Of bOnnie snOw

n CUTTING CORNERS: Freshman Scott Snow zips around a flag during a ski race held last year.

Snow is beginning to earn international recognition in Slalom racing as he challenges top racers.

you actually ski.” Snow said. “It (the Olympics) is a long time away, but they’ll be looking.”

Snow has been skiing since he was barely a year and a half old, and began ski racing at age four. A 10-year veteran of the race circuit, Snow was undecided on whether or not ski racing was in the cards for his long-term future.

“The realization came on this year; I always knew I loved ski racing, but now that’s the ultimate goal,” Snow said.

Snow’s father and coach Shep, of Independence Racing Team will accompany Scott to the February 22 race.

“We’re planning on flying into Munich and then renting a car or bus to drive down to Italy,” Snow said. “For three days while I’m there, I’m going to be skiing with the U.S. ski team. That’s going to be really cool.”

uring the long winter months, people often lament the presence of ice on steps, sidewalks, and roads. However, many people in Sandpoint welcome it when it appears on ponds or covers Lake Pend Orielle.

For Mary Bird, an teacher at Sandpoint High School and long-time hockey player, ice skating is an enjoyable winter activity.

“You feel free,” Bird said. “It’s just nice exercise.”

It is around late November to December that the ice becomes thick enough and skaters take to the ice.

Sophomore Dustin Pierce, who plays hockey and ice skates often in Sandpoint, PhOtO cOurtesy Of mary birD believes that almost anywhere with enough n REPLAY: Teacher Mary Bird is a veteran of the ice is a good place to skate. ice rink shown here in her college hockey uniform.

“It’s all pretty much the same, unless there is seaweed sticking up or whatever,” on their skates can participate in the pickup hockey games held at Third Street Pier, Pierce said. join the hockey league at For those who the KYRO Ice Center, or don’t favor pond or start a game themselves. lake skating, a trip to “The closest actual the rink is always an You feel free. It’s just nice rink where there are option. Rinks in Coeur exercise. organized teams is d’Alene include the KYRO in Coeur d’Alene, new South Pole Skating but pond hockey is fun Village at the Coeur -Mary Bird Math teacher, AcaDeca advisor too,” Pierce said. d’Alene Resort and For anyone who hasn’t the KYRO (Kootenai yet partaken in this Youth Recreation Organization) Ice Center. Spokane’s River winter sport and is interested in ice skating Park Square also boasts a skating rink for Mary Bird recommends that they get out on those who are willing to travel a bit further. the ice.

“They should try it; it’s fun,” Bird said.

Anyone interested in more than cruising

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Page 10

February 8, 2008

Cedar Post

Record Snowfall Increasing amounts of snow lead to three consecutive days without school workers. Insured adults can cost $45-50 an hour, but students often work for much cheaper Staff reporter “It’s generally less expensive to hire a teenager ecord snowfall closed Sandpoint High than an adult, and teenagers tend to have a little School and the rest of the school district bit more energy and might view something like for three consecutive days because of this as a little more fun rather than just hard poor road conditions and roofs on the brink work if they’re doing it on a temporary basis,” of collapse from heavy snow loads. Students Jason Mavity, owner of Mavity Mechanical in enjoyed an unexpected five day weekend as a Sandpoint, said.

Finding snow removal equipment has result.

“I did not have to do my homework for five become difficult.

“Because of the extreme levels of snowfall days. I had lots of fun, lots of free time, lots of sleeping. I hung out with my friends. We and the extreme urgency of getting it all drove around in the snow, crashed into a few removed, there’s a shortage of all types of snow removal equipment. Everything from shovels, snowbanks,” senior Sebastian Jurgensen said.

“I kinda just sat at home most of the time snow rakes, snowplows...even the replacement because everyone was working,” sophomore belts for snowblowers [are out of stock],” Mavity Katelyn Hulbert said. “I walked my dog a lot said. “The entire northwest area is completely overwhelmed with the high demand for these and went to the gym and went to Starbucks.”

Every student described the break things. Everybody’s out of them. They get three to five hundred shovels in once or twice a week in differently.

“It was relaxing. Extremely relaxing. It kind of the morning and they’re gone within an hour...

Pretty much anything got me out of school, though. related to snow removal When I came back today, I is impossible to get was all confused: I didn’t even unless you’re one of the know if it was an A or B day,” I had lots of fun, lots of free first hundred customers Jurgensen said. time, lots of sleeping. on the day of delivery.”

“I think it’s crazy. The most Rain in the weather snow we’ve had in like, forever,” -Sebation Jurgenson forecast means the junior Corey Hoffman said. worst is yet to come. “[It was] refreshing, not Senior “It’s actually a pretty having school,” Hulbert said. severe threat. Numerous Heavy snow loads on the roofs have already roofs of many residential and commercial buildings gave students the collapsed just from the dry, lighter weight snow that we have on the roofs, so when the rain opportunity to shovel snow for extra money.

“All I did was shovel. Me and a couple of my comes, it’s going to get extremely heavy. Very friends walked around the neighborhood and few structures can handle the amount of weight shoveled off peoples’ roofs. We didn’t really have that will be on them when Friday’s rain comes,” a set price, they just asked us what we wanted,” Mavity said.

The 40 National Guard members of the Hoffman said. th “Pretty much every guy friend I know has 145 Brigade support battalion will continue to assist with snow removal in Sandpoint until been shoveling roofs,” Hulbert said.

Local residents and businesses have been February 9, after which they will be deployed to hiring high school students to clear roofs other counties that require assistance. because they accept lower pay than adult

Keegan Dunn

R

“

Leigh Livingstone

n Shoveling haS itS rewardS: Brian Keough jumps off a roof he’d been shoveling on one of his days off. Many students did this in their days off of school. Pay rates varied, with some students shoveling for free, others charging $15.00 per hour per person, and still more charging $50 per hour per person.

Leigh Livingstone

n icicleS: These thin columns of ice are formed by melting snow that refreezes during the night. According to CNN, icicles can be found more often on the south side of buildings, where there tends to be more exposure to the sun.

Carly Rickard

n State of emergency: As a result of state governor Butch Otter’s declaration of emergency, members of the 145th Brigade support battalion came to shovel snow off the roof of SHS. n view from the bridge: The weather in the past few weeks has provided for extraordinary views.

Hillary Nusbaum