March 2007 pdf

Tanning:

Grindin’ it:

Trend sweeps SHS halls

Spring weather brings crowds to The park

page 5

Volume 84, iSSue 6

page 8

Sandpoint HigH ScHool

MARCH 23, 2007

Morning break snacks New policy provides incentive to stay in class still able to be purchased raChel Kennedy

Chelsea KardoKus Journalism I contributor During the week of Feb. 1923, the Work Base Learning (WBL) store, along with the cafeteria, were closed during nutrition break.

“The main reason is excessive tardies,” Sandpoint High School Principal Becky Kiebert said. “The secondary reason is students are doing a horrible job at picking up after themselves showing a lack of

responsibility and respect for the school.”

Although there was still a 10-minute break, students had nowhere to purchase food.

“I think it made a lot of people mad and upset. A lot of kids get hungry between 1st and 2nd period and just want something to snack on,” junior Megan Heitstuman, who works in the WBL store, said.

Nutrition continued/page 2

Journalism I contributor

A

s the weather begins to warm up, it’s easy to contemplate how enjoyable it would be to occupy anywhere other than the classrooms of Sandpoint High School. But with the initiation of the new truancy policy, the consequences for skipping class are even more substantial than they were last semester.

In addition to incorporating more steps, the new school-board-initiated policy is being handled through

computer rather than by hand, enabling for more accuracy in keeping track of truant students.

“Ultimately, every kid will be held accountable for missing school,” Dean of Students Bill Barlow said.

A student’s first truancy, should there be no note or call excusing the student within 48 hours, will result in three days of lunch detention and/or school service, as well as the sending home of a referral.

“It is more effective, in that it gives parents two days to call, preventing

Potential removal of courses provokes class-wide confusion

As Sandpoint’s economy diversifies, the need to gain higher education becomes evident

KaTie MeeK & ryan WilliaMs

MiChael Tiberi

R

New Policy continued/page 2

Honors dilemma:

Changing times News Editor

illegitimate truancies. Students know to follow through,” Principal Dr. Becky Kiebert said.

Should the student be truant a second time, they will be assigned in school suspension and/or school service, as well as being required to attend a parent/administrator conference, during which a Truancy Contract, (in which the student says they’ll commit to having no more truancies), is signed by both the

President Timothy White said.

Ad representative & Staff reporter May 30, 2008

by CEO of Coldwater Creek, Dennis Pence, has bought land in Sandpoint to start the development of the buildings for the branch.

“We have 77 acres in town,” White said, “ And we are going to sell that land and the Wild Rose Foundation will be buying it.”

Coldwater Creek has also been involved with other educational funds in the community including donations to the recent North Idaho College branch at the Bonner Mall.

“Coldwater Creek did make a donation as a company to NIC to help complete the computer lab,” Spokesman for Coldwater Creek David Gunter said. “The donation was just shy of $50,000 to complete the lab.”

The money that is received from the purchase of the land by the Wild Rose Foundation in Sandpoint can than only be used purely for educational needs.

“We will be investing the money into programs and faculty,” White said. “The

The honor system is under construction and next year will be a trial to see how well not having honors English IV goes.

“Next year there will be just Basic, Regular, and AP English IV,” Principal Dr. Becky Kiebert said. “Next year is a trial exposing more students [to AP]. They can take it or not take it.”

Many students are concerned with the change and feel that having a class in between regular and AP is a good stepping-stone.

“I feel that it would be a bad thing to do because some people need to be challenged more than regular [classes], but they are not ready to take the AP leap,” freshman Hope Woodruff said.

Other students find it unreasonable to only offer AP and regular.

“It’s kind of unfair because some people are not smart enough to be in AP classes but want more of a challenge than regular classes,” junior David Duarte said.

Some students think

VoluMe 85, 9 Foundation, Sandpoint ScHool TheiSSue Wild Rose whichHigH is headed

ecent proposals for the University of Idaho campus expanding to Sandpoint will finally become reality thanks to the Wild Rose Foundation.

The U of I as well as the Wild Rose Foundation have come together to create a new branch of the university that will provide education for the public.

“This is a time when a public university, private companies, and individuals come together to bring concepts to a reality,” U of I

Senior Edition

U of I continued/page 2

savanna lesTer

that other options might be better.

“I feel having four subdivisions is too much, but to eliminate honors seems silly,” junior Cameron Hay said. “I would prefer that they change the structure of the basic and remedial classes and possibly combine them.”

Some students have found other options, such as dual enrollment, with the removal of English Honors IV. “Dual enrollment will be less busy work and get right to the point,” junior Alison Fister said.

Dual enrollment classes are on the 4.5 scale and can be taken through NIC, which now has a campus at the Bonner Mall.

“I am already taking three honors classes and I feel that dual enrollment is a good practice for college,” junior Jill Jacobs said.

While the students are concerned, the counselors feel that it is a good step towards raising academic standards at Sandpoint High School.

Honors Classes continued/page 2

SHS bachelors sell themselves as dates, all in name of cheerleading Tara FullerTon

Staff Reporter

The lights go down, the curtain comes up, and one by one we are introduced to Sandpoint High School’s “hottest dawgs.” The boys are ready to have a good time and ready to have the level of their “hottness” judged completely and totally by Sandpoint High School’s female students.

“I’m doing the Bachelor Auction because I love women,” junior participant Sione Puailoa said. “It’s just something fun to do.”

The bachelor auction is put on as a fundraiser by the varsity cheerleaders.

“We’re raising money to go to nationals in Portland and for our end of the year stuff,” senior and varsity cheerleader Natalie VanDenBerg said.

In the auction girls from SHS receive bidding paddles and are allowed to bid on any participant; the winning bidder receives a date with their preferred “hot dawg.”

“Last year the highest bid was $400,” varsity cheerleader, junior Danae Rokstad said.

The number of participants for the Before the bachelors make their bachelor auction picked is based upon debut under the bright lights of the how many local restaurants the varsity stage they must fill out a sheet defining cheerleaders can persuade to offer gift their perfect date and explaining their certificates. hobbies and must pick a song to walk “We ask everyone in the phone book,” out to.

VanDenBerg said. “Mostly everyone “Some of them just walk out and is willing to donate something.” have a cheerleader escort them, “varsity Some boys volunteer cheerleader, junior Paige on their own while Griffin said, “but others others are asked by dance, sing, or do a little the cheerleaders to skit.”

I’m doing the Bachelor participate.

Others, such as “The cheerleaders sophomores Tanner Auction because I asked me to do it and French and Remington love women. It’s just told me what it was Harvel who danced something fun to do. for,” participant senior around the audience Johnny Cook said. “I lip-synching to the song thought I’d help them “Wake Me Up Before -Sione Puailoa out.”

You Go-Go” by Wham!

Junior Each winner and her before the bidding for bachelor get to draw them took place. a gift certificate to a “It was just to be restaurant for their date. funny,” French said, “It wasn’t really “It’s all completely random,” Rokstad about going for the highest bid.” said. “You could be bidding $400 When asked why that particular song and end up picking the McDonald’s

“

”

Auction continued/page 2

leigh livingsTone

n on display: Junior Janae Linscott helps her freshman brother Zac Linscott gain bids from many SHS ladies.

Page 2 March 23, 2007

Briefly: News around SHS Daylight-savings time to change The dates of daylight saving time will be starting early this spring for the first time in 20 years.

Previously, clocks were set forward on the first Sunday of April starting 2 a.m. and set back to 2 a.m. the last Sunday of October. But this year daylight-saving time is about a month longer, taking place from 2 a.m. the second Sunday in March to the same time, the first Sunday in November.

This year those dates are March 11 to Nov. 4.

As the old quote, “spring forward, fall back” implies, this is the season that clocks are set ahead one hour, so morning and night both come an hour earlier.

“I’m kind of upset about it because I like to sleep,” junior Stephanie Fuqua said.

Although the time change may be difficult for many, daylight-saving time was first established to save energy. The Energy Policy Act of 2005, in an effort to conserve electricity and oil, set the new dates of daylight saving time to take effect this year.

Another factor about daylight-saving time though, is its effect on places in the far north, such as Sandpoint.

“I personally wonder sometimes if daylightsaving time is helpful to us in the far north,” Idaho State Senator Shawn Keough said, “It was established in part to save energy but the way our daylight hours are in the winter and the rest of the year, I wonder if it really

Ironman games kick off end of March

U of I: continued from page 1 land will only be used for education, and that means whether they decide to build a new high school or even a middle school.”

This project has been in the works for a while, and although the buildings will not be complete, classes will start soon.

“We’ve been working on this for about a year,” White said. “We’ll start teaching in the fall and we’re not waiting for the building to be done.”

The U of I and the Wild Rose Foundation will provide an equal opportunity for all community members.

“It’s really a win, win, win, situation,” White said. “For the community, and higher education in general.”

The project has had a very positive feedback by the community.

“This is extraordinary for Idaho and education,” White said. “And without the Wild Rose Foundation it would not be possible.”

Auction: continued from page 1

GrapHic By nate Bessler

A ten minute break SHS students line up outside the WBL store as the popular food vender is reopened for the ten minute nutrition break.

Nurtition: continued from page 1

Ironman practices began early in March and boys from freshman to seniors learned the rules and tricks to playing volleyball from Sandpoint High School’s very own State Championship volleyball team.

Student council organizes the event, which has become known as “the male version of Powderpuff.” The competition is on tonight, March 22, and will begin with seniors taking on the freshman followed by juniors competing with sophomores and lastly the two winners of each round going head to head for the winning title.

“It should be pretty fun,” junior class President Nina D’Orazi said. “It’s a pretty good event.”

2008 presidential election offers different opinions with students; faculty The 2008 presidential candidate election showcases different candidates from a variety of viewpoints.

Students and faculty alike at Sandpoint High School vary from being mostly uninformed to already making predictions as to who will be the winner.

“There’s not enough information…to make a judgment yet [about who will win],” junior Alison Fister said. “You can’t really tell at this point.”

The faculty has mixed views as well.

“Clinton and Obama seem to be some of the stronger candidates [for the democrats]” Chemistry teacher Woody Aunan said.

“I don’t really know much [about the republican candidates].”

Teacher Esther Booth hasn’t decided whether to vote Republican or Democrat.

She does, however, believe that whomever she votes for will continue with sending troops to Iraq.

“We can’t just pull out…before we stabilize the country,” Booth said. Teachers have their personal views on who they think would be best qualified for the position.

“He [Obama] has strong characteristics compared to the others, and he has a good presence,” Booth said.

Booth feels the election will be close, but still thinks the republicans are going to win.

the highest bid.”

When asked why that particular song had been chosen Harvel responded confidently that “every girl knows that song.”

Junior Bryan Buck chose to sing Johnny Cash’s “I’ve Been Everywhere,” winning the “Judges Choice Award.”

“I’ve probably known it for like a year,” Buck said. “A couple of summers ago I didn’t have anything better to do so I figured I would memorize it, I guess it paid off.”

However, the highest bid and title of Sandpoint High Schools “hottest dawg” went home with Senior Steve Terran who showed off his dance moves to the musical stylings of Ciara.

“The highest bid was for Steve Terran who went for $155,” Senior and varsity cheerleader Victoria Johnson said.

This year the varsity cheerleaders nearly sold out the SHS auditorium and raised “Every year it’s different because you have different guys and different buyers,” senior and varsity cheerleading co-captain Fawn Youngdahl said, “The guys were more classy this year than any other year.”

HeatHer allen

n FOOD BREAK: The WBL store, which was closed for a week due to the amount of food in the halls and bad manners of students, was reopened again recently for the ten minute nutrition break.

New Policy: continued from page 1 student and their parent. A third truancy will yield the same results, with the added revocation of the student’s SHS parking permit. Continual violation of the truancy contract, i.e. a fourth truancy, varies for those over and under 16.

“Students under 16 will be given a due process hearing to determine whether or not they are habitually truant. If that’s

Honors Classes: continued from page 1 “Some of the students at the honors level are capable of taking AP, they just need to have commitment,” counselor Linda Sprinkle said.

It has been proven that taking an AP class in high school raises the chance of graduating from college. A student is 33% more likely to graduate if they pass the exam and 20% more likely even if they do not take it according to Kiebert.

Student council decided to promote a clean up week to get the WBL store back open during nutrition break. The P.D.A./ clean up police are patrolling the halls to make sure that people are cleaning up after themselves.

“It seems to be working fairly well. I don’t think they’ve had to give out hardly any citations,” senior class President Stephanie Gregg said.

If the students don’t continue to clean up, then the WBL store will be shut down permanently for the rest of the year.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the halls as messy as they are,” Gregg said.

To help lower the amount of tardies, more locations to buy food will be opened. The baseball team has opened “The Dugout,” located in the cafeteria; the school’s cafeteria will be selling food; and the WBL store will have more than one location.

“We’ll have tables out with drinks and things so we can sell things more quickly,” WBL teacher Rick Rhodes said.

the case, the student will be assigned a probation officer. The same will happen for those 16 and older, but should they be found habitually truant, the Board of Trustees can have them withdraw from school, or in some cases, be expelled,” Kiebert said.

However, the administration is “still trying to work the kinks,” Barlow said.

But according to Kiebert, the new policy has already proved to cut the number of truancies dramatically.

Though the new policy may help to persuade students to stay in class, in the end, it is the students themselves who make that decision.

“Ultimately, the kids are held accountable for their attendance, and if they elect to miss class, things are going to happen to them. They need to be in school, period,” Barlow said.

Barlow encourages anyone who has questions regarding the truancy policy to contact him.

“If a student is serious about going to a fouryear college they should take an AP class,” counselor Cindy Albertson said. “The kids in the honors classes are saying they want to go to a four-year college.”

“We’re not phasing out honors to force anything,” Sprinkle said. “They can do dual enrollment, AP, or regular class.”

Teachers seem split on the issue, some believe that the honors system is needed and some think that it should be cut.

“I think there is a population of our student

body that to better serve them we need to keep providing honors classes,” teacher Derek Dickinson said, “maybe try to reduce the number of honors classes, but at least keep honors classes as an option.”

Teacher Sarah Miles believes that honors classes are similar to AP and both are not needed.

“I think it is a good thing because if students are able to perform at the honors level they can definitely step up one more notch and perform at the AP level,” Miles said.

Page 3 March 23, 2007

Additional downsides to the bomb threat

Our View

Congratulations to the PDA Police . . .

S

ome of you may have heard— the administration is cracking down on distractions. The first to go were tardies, then the new truancy policy rang in the new semester to packed classrooms of oftabsent students serving detention and now the latest detention victims include overly amorous couples.

The issue at hand is the inappropriate behavior which is crowding the halls, loss of privacy and the issue of respecting the people in this school enough to not expose the innocent student body to a two (hopefully) people’s groping attempts to crawl into each other’s clothes.

While teenage couples should be able to show affection, hand holding is great, pecks on the cheek can be adorable however sucking half of someone else’s face into your mouth is going above and beyond the acceptable for PDAs. The line between affection and exhibitionism is crossed when two teenage honeys begin making babies against the carpeted walls of SHS. The bottom line is that our hallowed halls are not the place It’s a jungle out there; a jungle of over-sexed under-dressed people. In order to make one’s way to class one must dodge slow walkers, groups of

Learning attempts are futile after bomb scare Evacuate there’s a bomb!

Hearing this, what would be the normal person’s response? Mass panic and pandemonium, screaming and running away from the potential threat, maybe a quick exchange of high fives and a “Yes! We’re getting out of school!”

On Thursday, March 1, we had a bomb threat, just in case you’ve been living under a rock and didn’t know.

On this same day in Littleton, Colorado, at Columbine High School something very similar happened. There was a bomb threat called in, the school was evacuated and then swept by bomb squads and dogs and they found out there was nothing there, but just to be safe they cancelled school for the rest of the day.

But we returned around 11 a.m. to go back to our normal day and try to learn after having this experience. Even though the bomb threat did lack the expected sense of impending doom, it did tend to get people sidetracked on thinking about other things and it made any attempt of learning pointless.

Does our administration really expect us to be able focus on learning in a building that an hour earlier could have had a bomb in it?

Does this rainbow make me look gay?

R

ainbows were once natural beauties, mind-boggling us into staring at them or causing little children to chase after the stubborn end where a pot of gold lies. Now rainbows are gay.

Someone please tell me why we need a flag parading the rainbow for gay people ’cause I’m obviously missing the point. According

screaming friends, backpacks with wheels and couples who have fused to each other in a constant sloppy embrace. If they haven’t already, these crowds will make you late.

However, being late is a cakewalk (no small statement with the tardy policy) when compared to being squished between the chattering masses and two people making out.

Imagine life in a world where getting to class didn’t involve being pushed into a non-consensual three-way.

The real question, though, is what do these people do in private? Not only are these full on sexual encounters a forfeit of the offender’s privacy, but excessive PDA’s unfortunately also expose innocent bystanders to these perpetually petting couples.

It’s a matter of respect; respect for others and respect for one’s own relationship. None of the perpetual offenders ever seem to sit down and talk or really do anything but dry hump each other in the dark, dirty corners of SHS. Perhaps they should take their tongues out of each other’s mouths and use them to get to know one another by something other than physical landmarks.

If it takes Mr. Barton passing out detention to clear the hallways and enforce basic standards of decency, then power to the PDA policy.

to the recorded history of the original not. The most common use of a flag is to rainbow flags, the different colors represent tell others who you are. Great, you want to the different components that make up the tell other people who you are. I understand fabulous gay community. It’s really good that you’re proud, but it appears that the to know that there’s actually some type of majority of gay people focus on that— meaning behind its flashybeing gay. There are so many things about ness. The representations of yourself that you could each color include sex, life, focus on, but that’s the healing, sun, nature, art, characteristic that takes I understand that harmony and spirit. Am I over your entire persona. you’re proud, but the only person who noticed In addition, waving that sex is listed as number a flag around would it appears that the one? And what in Mother just cause one of those majority of gay Theresa’s name is healing or individuals who are the sun representing in the severely affected by gays people focus on so-called gay community? to have a violent seizure that – being gay.

Gay people are the cure and sputter out words like for AIDS! Forget the sun, “fag” and “homo.” You’re tomorrow’s source of energy such a “cigarette.” You is gay people! stupid “same!”

There’s no point for a flag and it actually Absurd? Other than the flag, I’m sure makes it seem like the community is there are other great things about being gay. segregating themselves farther away from I hear a gene is received which automatically the rest of society. Last time I heard, I gives gay people the power to dress well! thought there was talk of equal rights. Guess

MySpace is the same as your space

Callie Fiedler Editor in Chief

Procrastination is much more than just being late Have you ever had an urge to run over certain people with your car? For me it’s everybody who gets their projects done a week before they’re due. They need to realize there is more to life than work and school.

I have noticed two things with this group: one they have no social life, two they have no life at all. The majority of the real world is not run by perfectionists, but rather run by procrastinators.

Perfectionists become serial killers. Think about it, who else could plan everything to perfection? Procrastinators would only put it off. Besides the perfectionists have a motive, to take revenge on people, like me, taunting them.

Procrastination is an art form. It takes skill and talent for one to truly perfect procrastination. After one has perfected procrastination, one can enjoy the benefits from procrastination. By procrastinating you’ll get a lot of those pesky secondary tasks done rather than the big one. Also you can become better at multitasking. Many jobs require multitasking; your procrastination will pay off.

Don’t believe procrastinators are unmotivated. This column is due in half an hour. I know if I don’t get it done, I’ll be horribly injured and maimed by my peers, but that’s all right. It’s good motivation.

If perfectionists ever feel too lonely tell people like me and we’ll eventually get around to running you over.

“Yeah, like, totally hit me up sometime!

Uh, not that I count or anything, but I have 218 friends. Yeah.”

I’ve heard some pretty terrible things in my three years of shuffling these halls, but apparently I still posses the ability to cringe.

I won’t even beat around the bush or put this in big, fancy words: I despise MySpace. We’ll come back to this.

I have a subscription to “FOUND!” Magazine, and it very possibly saves my soul.

Okay, I’m exaggerating, but I do love the heck out of it. FOUND!, contrary to what you’re probably expecting, isn’t about accepting sweet baby Jesus into my life. It’s a collection of anything anyone has found–notes, poems, lists, letters, photos, cards, doodles, dropped homework–and sent in to be published. I am kind of addicted to it. See, although the contents of the magazine by themselves are not all that amazing, all together they are heartbreakingly beautiful. Even boring things, like grocery lists, juxtaposed to anything else, become illuminated as something special and meaningful.

What FOUND! does is give us a peek into the mystery and delicacy of another person’s life. It’s not much, but it’s just enough to remind you of how individual and human everyone is, like putting your eye to a keyhole to see a candle burning in there.

Now… back to why I despise MySpace.

It’s not just because I am also hopelessly dependant on it (yes, I have one. Like, totally hit me up!). Not just because it’s a circus of perps, pervs, pricks, and teenybopper emo princesses. Not just because people mistake joining “groups” for actual participation in the human race. But because it’s the polar opposite of FOUND! and it’s going to ruin us.

MySpace is all about selling yourself. Like sex and Girl Scout cookies. It may have started

off as a networking community, but that is what it’s really about: the basic idea that there will never be anything more interesting than you, nor any time of day you don’t want to be able to talk about you. Add me! Read my “About Me!” If that’s not enough, here’s a quick list of everything I like! Read my blog! It’s OK, if you forget to, read my three bulletins telling you to read my blog! And comment on it! And comment my pictures; I made sure all the ones I took of myself in the mirror are from different angles! Ooh, comment me back! Why didn’t you?

If you stopped reading somewhere in there, it’s OK, I’ll message you the main points in a half an hour when I log in to check everything again.

Somewhere inbetween the paste-in quizzes about what type of crayon/cookie/type of kisser you are or what celebrity’s butt you have and the bulletins asking 102 questions about your Top 8, we have lost any concept of separation. When someone you don’t even nod hello to in the halls knows what color underwear you’re wearing, or that you briefly struggled with anorexia in the seventh grade, there is something drastically wrong here.

MySpace takes the keyhole we have been gifted with and rips it wide open in the same violating and inhuman manner as that “Goatsie” man (if you don’t know what I’m referencing, and for your sake I hope you don’t, I’m sure you could find out quickly enough).

Our mysteries and our individuality lend us wonder. MySpace allows us a nearly limitless access into someone else’s life that we were never supposed to have. It’s unnatural. It’s abominable. Once we lose our secrets, we are all brought to the same level. The price is only our intimacy, our individuality. And that is why I despise MySpace.

Morgan Wills Assistant Editor

FeliCia read

Advertising Manager

anna Thorell Office Manager

Corinne FloWers

Adviser Editorial Policy 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 editor@shscedarpost.com

Printed by the Coeur d’Alene Press

Page 4 March 23, 2007

Guest Cartoonist: What are your feelings towards the University of Idaho bringing a portion of their campus to Sandpoint?

Cameron Tenney

Hallways and maturity levels go hand in hand

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

“

• Why am I so tape retarded?

• Today I cannot function. I cannot think. I need ‘rectangle.’

Jacque Carter

• I’m so hungry my stomach is eating my

FreShman

liver.

“I think it’s cool.

It’s a lot closer and it’d be better for kids who go here and can’t commute.”

• You know, even if there was a bomb, and the school did blow up . . . they still wouldn’t pass the levy.

• Who put crack in my tea?

• Oh my God! You so didn’t waste your good outfit! Now everyone can see it!

• Are you like a happy drunk?

Kody Smith

SSophomore ophomore

• Down with the snow, down with the snow,

“It’d be kind of cool having a second college.

You could do dual enrollment at NIC or the University of Idaho; it’d be good to have options.”

ho-di-ho ho-di-ho.

• Keep reading, your voice is so poetic.

• Do we have to answer with Spanish numbers?

• I don’t have to go to jail for two more

How much is too much?

Junior

Bailey Merwin Junior

“I think it’s a good idea.

It’ll give more opportunities and classes than NIC.”

Nick Johnson Senior

“On one hand, it will help a lot of people with not a lot of money, actually be able to go to college.

But it’s going to bring more people, and turn Sandpoint into more of a tourist and college town.”

Debbie Smith Faculty

“I think it’s a fantastic idea. I’ve always thought Sandpoint would be the perfect college town. It would be a great way to link the schools with the community.”

I wandered down the halls, tracing my daughter’s schedule during curriculum night. Eight classes! How does she do it?

(My husband followed my son’s route with help from an NHS volunteer—he couldn’t have done it otherwise). I was late to most classes, wondering if I would have to stay to sweep floors or wash windows. Eight classes are overwhelming. Add the level of honors and AP, and you’ve got an incredible work load heaped on our students (and on our teachers--who now have to teach with less in-class hours!) Some can handle it, but is this really a good idea?

I love the electives SHS offers, and I would not want to sacrifice them for the return to 6 classes/day.

What is the answer? I am not sure. Looking at the state requirements for graduation, I can see room for reducing practical arts (which is especially hard on college bound students, who should have 10 credits of humanities: 3-4 years of foreign language and world history). And do we really need the half year courses of health, speech, and economics peppered into an increasingly complex schedule? Now, the most disturbing trend is to replace honors courses for AP courses. A course that focuses on passing a placement test is very different than one that simply delves deeper into the subject. I, for one, am not convinced AP is worth it. Studying for one big test is more drudgery than fun in learning.

I took honors courses because they were more interesting, in spite of the higher work load. Can the same be said for AP courses? I suspect not. In addition, some colleges won’t even accept an AP course in place of their courses. Also, I have heard where a premed. student was held up because the med. school did not accept the AP course, delaying the student another year. I personally would prefer to see SHS focus on offering honors courses over AP courses, especially since our students are trying to handle eight classes per semester.

days!

• Frickin good Spanish convo.

• I put on my socks this morning . . . and then threw up like ten times.

• Stick tight! Stick tight! P.E. classes and girls in short skirts load the buses first!

• It smells like California, or a dead cat.

• Whenever I get stoned, I always get scared to go to Schweitzer because of the security guards.

• I love grape on cheek noise!

”

Carole Thorell Parent of SHS junior

Guest Columnist: Jennifer Jansen

I would like everyone to meet Narashaun. Narashaun is a level 41 blood elf in the realm of Skullcrusher; his main talents reside in retribution. Narashaun is a character in World of Warcraft, casually referred to as WoW. Unfortunately for Narashaun, all of his actions and decisions are made by a sad little 15-year-old boy with no life.

You see, WoW is a MMORPG, or a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game,developedbyBlizzardEntertainment.

An alternate online world is created where users from all over the world create avatars like Narashaun and play. The addiction rate of an MMORPG seems to be about two times the addiction rate of cocaine, which might I say is very, very addicting.

“We’re ecstatic that the World of Warcraft

The decay of society: A World of Warcraft story

community has continued to grow steadily with the MMORPGs. If things continue to since we launched the game,” president escalate at this rate, everyone will live in and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment these online fallacies and be content, while Mike Morhaime said, last terminal obesity and lethal January while speaking Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Not everyone is fondly of his millions of dominate and we perish users. under its wrath. attractive, strong, “…It’s an infection, it’s I decided to do some entertaining, a tsunami, it’s a volcanic research to see why eruption. All at the same people are so obsessed wealthy, or even time waiting, like a and I discovered some advantageous to nest of plague-infested disturbing things. It turns rats next to a ticking out that the economy of society... hydrogen bomb in an Wow is better than that underwater volcano…” of the economy on Earth; David Wong said, while speaking of the WoW’s economy bests Earth’s almost world’s infatuation with MMORPGs. Which twofold. brimgs me to my point; the imminent And besides that, every unfortunate deterioration of the human race falls in step looking geek can transform into a sexy

warrior online in seconds. Not only that, everyone is a sexy warrior/enchantress, and everyone in that world shares the same obsession: their online fictional world.

I know it may sound appealing to prance along slaying dragons and other such beast things, being the strongest, most attractive Mage in the whole wide wealthy imaginary world, but I think it’s time for everyone to come to grips.

Not everyone is attractive, strong, entertaining, wealthy or even advantageous to society, and in reality, everyone is just sitting behind a computer screen wishing for something that will never happen for them. Is that pathetic?

Yes, it is extremely pathetic, actually. But people are pathetic and someone needs to point that out to them.

Page 5 March 23, 2007

ArtificiAl Sunlight Research shines light on the misjudged, addictive practice of tanning

Vanessa stanley Staff reporter

I

feel the need to tan may have Seasonal Affective Disorder, brought on most commonly by gray winter seasons, which brings on a form of depression.

“The vitamin D lifts your mood.

n 1906 a medical company, based in Germany, produced the first model of the modern -day tanning bed in order to treat bodily calcium deficiency issues. It wasn’t until the 1970s, however, that a new generation of athletes, celebrities and average beach boys and girls discovered this speedy, convenient way to maintain the greatly sought after sun-kissed glow yearround.

Just over a century after the - Meggie Cafferty bronzing revolution began, an Senior entirely new wave of beautymotivated teens emerged. The need to alter the appearance of their skin, either year-round or It’s really relaxing,” senior Meggie just until the summer sun surfaces Cafferty said.

As a treatment for this disorder, from the gray winter sky, is a trend gaining popularity with the teenage sunlight must be absorbed through population rapidly. Being paired the retina. Therefore, tanning does with pre-torn, stonewashed jeans nothing to eliminate or reduce and hip-hugging tops, the trademark Seasonal Affective Disorder.

While the misguided desire to “California dreamin’” skin tone, a rare feature of natural summer sun, reduce depression is motivation for is appearing in snow-ridden cities some, other teens frequent tanning salons due to the apparent “fashion across the nation.

One explanation for this bronze trend” started by airbrushed explosion is that individuals who celebrities and models.

“

“[I go] to get tan, to get dark, when there’s no sun out. It’s gross being white,” senior Joey Fio said.

“I went one month every day for 20 minutes a day. She forced me to.

I looked good afterward though.”

Serious addicts begin to feel a sense of urgency, much like that of being involved with narcotics; however, to “quench their thirst” chronic tanners simply gain an entirely new shade of flesh. These extreme bronzers are leiGh liVinGston more likely to become n créme du jour: Tanning aids are used by many to enhance and moisturize. involved in cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana “My skin is sensitive Though the threat of developing as opposed to the pasty so I start at like 10 minutes then cancer may frighten certain youngsters giving the un-dead a work my way up from there,” senior individuals away from tanning run for their money, according to Laura Hackworthy said. others aren’t phased by it.

Case Western Reserve University With evidence suggesting “You can cut skin cancer off your study. tanning bed related cancer cases, body. I’d rather die beautiful than Tanning poses a triple threat, the market has been producing safe white and pale,” Cafferty said. compiled of both positive and alternatives. While these lotions, While taking trips to the indoor negative aspects: increased Vitamin sprays, or supplements slow the beach bed in moderation can lessen D and upbeat personality as well as insta-tan process, they can ensure the trips to the dermatologist skin cancer and noticeable long term one’s safety; however, certain dentist and orthopedic surgeon skin damage which could leave one products can lead to safari stripes, doctors recommend that natura looking similar to a walking leather discoloration around joint areas, sunlight and sunscreen is the mos bag, according to a study done by the and an all-around unnatural carrot foolproof way to highlight one’s shade of “copper.” natural beauties.

FDA.

I’d rather die beautiful than white and pale.

”

MiniMize risk: know your skin type

i

Always burns; never tans; sensitive (“Celtic”)

ii

Burns easily; tans minimally Burns moderately; tans gradually to light brown

iii

(average Caucasian)

iv

Burns minimally; always tans well to moderately brown (olive skin)

v

Rarely burns; tans profusely to dark (brown skin)

vi

Never burns; deeply pigmented, not sensitive (black skin) saVanna lester

n Sunny Slumber: Senior Meggie Cafferty relaxes while absorbing sun rays that increase her vitamin D intake and lift her mood.

You kiss, they tell alex Gedrose Staff reporter

T

he word “grinding” usually implies rubbing two objects together (such as stones) very rigorously. If you’re a teenager going to school (at--oh let’s just say-Sandpoint High School), “grinding” has become just another word for a beginning step to making babies, and unless you’re clinically blind, grinding isn’t so much of a rarity around these halls. In fact, public displays of affection (PDA) seem to be more plentiful at this school than there are chins on Rosie O’Donnel.

“Me and Adam [Holbert] were walking through the halls,

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/tanning.htm

Student Council works to enforce new policy that limits displays of affection

and we thought that the PDA was really gross,” ASB President Autry White said. “So we put up an idea for a PDA policy on the board [in Student Council]. After that, we started making signs and things to get the word out.”

The new PDA policy will work to not only elminate public affection, but also the messes in the hall. If students fail to clean up after themselves, they can be written up as well.

“We have little citation/ticket things to fill out,” ASB Vice President Clayton Wangbichler said. “[Offenders] can choose between either visiting Barlow’s room or serving lunch detention as a consequence.”

Many admit to getting frustrated with constant PDA, and nearly everybody has gotten a tardy in consequence from

getting stuck behind “The Couple” (you know them; they walk slower than you can crawl due to their inability to quit sucking on each other’s face and see where they’re walking). Bu many students are still wondering if this precaution is truly necessary.

“It really started out as a joke,” White said. “I think it’s really sort of one of those false threats, but there’s always a possibility that it will continue to be enforced.”

Some students professed that they don’t have much faith in the policy as of now.

“I don’t think people will really enforce it,” junior Alison Fister said. “There is no stopping some people’s raging hormones.”

Page 6 March 23, 2007

M4G1C 7HE G47H3R1NG

The childhood pastime bounces back and collectible card game fanatics unite to play

heather allen

n A bAttle of witts: Senior Brendan Dunne contimplates the next attack he will make against senior Clayton Wangbichler.

Callie Fiedler & tiFFany Windju

Editor in Chief, Arts & Culture Editor

The international phenomenon that has captivated 70 countries with an estimated 6 million players has finally reached the halls of Sandpoint High School. Meet Magic: The Gathering.

The first example of the collectible card game genre has drawn a plethora of wizards to battle one another using a combination of magical spells, fantasy creatures and various other items. Their main goal: to defeat all opponents and reign as champion wizard.

With the origin of the game in the early ’90s, many at SHS have been avid players since early childhood.

“I’ve been playing longer than some of you have been alive,” Video Game Club adviser David Miles said.

Recently at SHS, the game has come alive and players of all skill levels have come together to share a common interest.

“It started with a noob wanting to play a veteran and somehow it sparked interest in others and reunited the scattered

Magic nerds,” senior Stephanie Bell said.

“I feel like there are a lot of closet Magic players,” Miles said.

Bell plays this fantasy game routinely during Video Game Club despite the fact that she exists as a minority among the majority of males that play together. She recently participated in a Magic tournament that was held in room W13.

“At the beginning of the tournament this guy turned and looked at me, cocked his head to the side and said, ‘you’re a girl playing Magic; that’s weird,’ ” Bell said.

With its thousands of cards and infinite combinations, Magic can be an exceedingly difficult game to understand if one does not have a couple of years under his or her belt.

“It is a really complicated game,” senior Poppy Bond said. “It takes a lot of time to get to know it, so I didn’t start really understanding it until after three years of playing.”

In order to play the game, each person is required to costruct a deck of at least 60 cards. Though ‘deck construction’ may

sound seemingly trivial, according to Magic players, it is one of the most vital aspects of the game. Some spend a significant amount of time and money just to create the perfect deck.

“I have over four to six thousand cards now,” senior Tom Clark said. “I have probably spent over a thousand dollars.”

For those who have never witnessed or played a game of Magic, it has been compared to a variety of games ranging from Dungeons & Dragons to Risk.

“It is like extreme chess, but not that boring,” Bond said.

If one thrives on any sort of competition, he or she may want to join the Magic band wagon, being fully aware that one may never want to jump off.

“I will probably be playing it forever whether I stop for a while or not,” Clark said.

For those who have just recently picked up the game on their spare time, Magic can also be played in leisure time with little or no constraints.

“After high school it will probably fade away as just a high school memory,” senior Miles Cunningham said.

While some students choose to spend their time preparing for competition on the athletic field, these kids are of a different breed, they prepare by spending countless hours of gaming spent behind closed doors.

“It is almost like playing a sport,” Bond said. “It is competitive; you get to test your wit against others.”

On sports teams it is often easy to determine who is the star of the team, but is there a star in the game of Magic? Yes, many players come to a definive answer that there is. Many agree that the Magic king is either senior Robert Lovenbury, Miles or Clark.

“It is very rarely that my word gets disputed,” Clark said, “but when it does we just check the rule book.”

Clark, who has been playing Magic since his early stages of elementary school advises newbies to the game not to be discouraged.

“You have to have patience and be ready to lose when you start out,” Clark said. “It takes time.”

Playing with notes

School musicians display talent through the keys of a piano Steve teran

Staff reporter

The life of a musician is an always-exciting time with an event around every corner—late night gigs, a small band of groupies and invites to exclusive parties. They get loads of girls too.

“Yes, loads of them, they’re crawling all over me,” junior Eric Jansen said.

Apparently, this is not true for all musicians.

“No, no I don’t [get girls],” sophomore Zach Baker said.

But what about the classic life of a musician/rock star?

“Why? Probably because most of the instruments I play aren’t chick attracting,” Baker said.

“I don’t know, I don’t think chicks find playing a gigantic piece of wood attractive. That’s just me.”

Baker plays six instruments: the piano, cello, musical percussion (which includes vibes or marimba), auto harp, hand bells and the bassoon.

“No one plays the bassoon anymore and lots of bassoonists are getting full ride scholarships to anywhere they want just because no one does it,” Baker said. “And so they’re just like running out of people who play humungous pieces of wood.”

These two individuals, though having different experiences with women, share the same feeling about music.

“I enjoy it a lot, it’s a big part of my life,” Baker said, “and when something’s as big a part of your life as that, you know, it’s like video games for a video game guy.”

Jansen and Baker, two talented men of music, enjoy a sit at the piano, and last year played together during the annual Spring Fling. The piece they played was a comical bit called “Carrot Juice is Murder.”

“It was pretty much pretty much about these guys

protesting eating vegetables because they felt that vegetables had feelings just like people,” Baker said. “Like they called V8 ‘genocide,’ and I thought that was pretty great.”

Jansen, like Baker, found recognition early on in his high school career.

“Freshman year,” Jansen said, stopped and hesitated.

“Something about the Po’ Taters…Heaven Help!”

Then with a little assistance he continued about his appearance in the play as a saloon-styled piano player. “‘Heaven Help the Po’ Taters,’” Jansen said.

Jansen found his infatuation with music when he saw this “one kid.”

“Cause there was this one kid who was really good, and he played this one song, and he was getting a whole bunch of attention,” Jansen said. “I was jealous and I wanted friends.”

Obviously, Jansen has friends and talent to boot, but something really made him flock to music as a hobby.

“And this kid played this cool song and I was jealous,” Jansen said.

After speaking with these talented young men, maybe the thing about musicians and girls is only half true.

“I don’t get any chicks, apparently Eric gets all the chick’s,” sophomore Zach Baker said.

leigh livingStone

n hitting All the right keys: Above: senior Erik Jansen and sophomore Zach Baker take a seat at the piano and let the music flow from their fingers.

leigh livingStone

n ConCentrAtion: To the left: senior Erik Jansen and sophomore Zach Baker tune out their surroundings and forward their thoughts to the notes of a melody.

The Home Crafters Brent Lockwood 263-1224 A conscientious builder for new contrucion and remodel with special interests in smart design, efficiency, and healthy, sustainable building practices.

Page 7

GearinG up For Singin’ in the Rain Choirs find fun, success at Jazz Fest The Sandpoint High School Performing Choir, Concert Choir, and Men’s Choir traveled to Moscow to compete in the annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Fest on the weekend of February 22 to 24. Choir director Jon Brownell and students who went were happy with the experience and their success.

Performing Choir won their division and the Men’s Choir took second behind them.

Although Concert Choir did not place, Brownell was satisfied with the results.

“Concert Choir did very well,” Brownell said. “I’m proud of them all.”

Choir members who attended the festival were also pleased with this year’s experience.

“It was tons of fun,” Concert Choir sophomore Amanda Hulbert said.

To Performing Choir member senior Autumn Starnes, who went to Jazz Fest for her third time, her choir’s placing was a long awaited victory. For Starnes’ sophomore year, the Performing choir placed second behind their Men’s Choir and last year lost first place by one point.

“But this year we got first, so that made up for it,” Starnes said.

Performing Choir also started the year with only four returning members.

“We started out fresh this year,” Starnes said, “but all of our girls are totally great, and I love all of them.”

Another success for choir this year was an individual, sophomore Cody McKinnon, who was home schooled except for choir until this semester.

McKinnon competed against 17 others to win the tenor solo division.

“It was awesome; it was really cool,” McKinnon said.

After McKinnon was announced the winner, he got to sing at an exclusive concert, while professionals played the piano and drums.

“He gives me chills when he sings,” Hulbert said.”

But there were also some complications involved with the choirs’ trip this year.

Because of weather, Brownell decided to have the choir wait to return.

“I opted to just stay another night and be safe,” Brownell said. “Safety was my main concern.”

March 23, 2007

April 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, & 21 7:00 p.m. doors open at 6:00 p.m. $10 General Admission For ticket information, call 263-3034 ext. 247

As the premier date approaches and a buzz of excitement mounts around the school, Mime& Masque prepares to produce a musical this year that is sure to blow us all away. Ever yone knows the outcome will be fantastic; now let’s see how it’s coming along. Here is their progress in pictures.

n SPIRIT FINGERS: The cast rehearses with enthusiasm and splendor.

fast facts

n rainy days: Students learn and rehearse choreography, umbrellas in hand.

• Students in the cast, depending on their roles, have attended rehearsal every day after school since they were casted.

• The play is choreographed entirely by students.

• In order to follow the musical as it is in the movie, sections of the play were recorded on film to be replayed during the production.

• Tickets are available through various groups at SHS. Get them while they’re still available!

n all smiles: Junior Alexa Mortenson practices her moves after school while rehearsing her part as the lead role Kathy Selden.

Photos by savanna Lester

n so little time: The cast is required to learn many songs and dances.

Deluxe Oscar with Extra Cheese

G

uys, I’m going to let you in on a sick, sad secret: The Academy Awards are as cheesy as a quesadilla…a quesadilla minus the tortilla (which would make it just cheese, actually). For those of you who had better things to do besides spend three and a half hours watching these tedious awards, trust me on this one, you missed nothing. Those hours could have been better spent watching paint grow and grass dry (and believe me, it takes a freakin’ LONG time for paint to grow).

Of course, the craptacular ceremony of the 79th Oscar Awards shouldn’t come as quite a shock. Take a moment to reflect upon the last year; 2006 was a disgusting year for pretty

much anything pertaining to film. I mean, when Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (a.k.a. Pirates of the Caribbean: Most Ridiculously Overrated Movie Ever) is the best the box office could offer for ’06, we have a problem.

So, most people really didn’t care about the majority of the movies nominated this year.

That’s cool. There’s always the host to look forward to, right?

Ellen DeGeneres.

Let me tell you about Ellen DeGeneres.

I can honestly say that I would give up my heterosexuality in an instant if I could only be with her. No joke. So I was as giddy as a schoolgirl from one of those goofy Japanese cartoons. One of those giddy schoolgirls on her seventh can of cocaine energy drinks.

Finally, a host that’s not annoying, stays away from overdone political jokes, and doesn’t shy away from making fun of the nominees

themselves. Karma proved its existence when it was announced that she would host.

And then karma died shortly afterwards.

This was probably the year that people couldn’t care less about who would win the Oscars. Although, to me it seems like someone in the Academy went through a midlife crisis and said, “Hey, my homies, let’s totally vote for winners that we would never vote for before!”

And everybody must have thought that was a peachy idea.

Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine) winning best supporting actor, when Mark Wahlberg (The Departed) was an obvious favorite among most viewers. The Lives of Others (from Germany) took best foreign film when Pan’s Labyrinth (Mexico) had been much more recognized by the U.S., and The Departed won best picture? What? Don’t get me wrong, The Departed was my favorite out of the nominees, but did it deserve best picture? Where’s the

deeply emotional storyline with an obvious life message at the end that the Academy usually votes for (*COUGH*Crash*COUGH*).Why didn’t they vote for the obvious Crash clone (*COUGH*Babel*COUGH*)?

The Academy suddenly got really weird.

But, hey, I’m cool with it.

Last year, the Academy wanted a good heartwarming lesson about current racial issues. This year, the Academy wanted an equally heartwarming story whose sole message is “If you’re going to be part of an Irish mafia in Boston—be prepared to die in a dramatic but totally badass way.”

I like where this group of critics is going.

Other than that fact and Ellen, the Oscars really were pretty stupid.

Page 8 March 23, 2007

Baseball team aiming to reclaim state title Nicole VaN Dyk Sports Editor

After having an epic season last year with their first state title, Sandpoint’s varsity baseball team enters this season with high expectations.

The team has lost a lot of seniors, but most of the returning members have a lot of confidence in the potential of this year’s young team.

“We have a better pitching staff than last year,” senior Tyler Lichty said.

At the same time, Lichty found last year’s baseball team to have a lot of strong leadership.

Some team members believe that -Ricky Stewart the team’s Senior ability to win state for the second year in a row.

“I think that we have just as

“

good of a chance at winning state this year,” senior Ricky S t e w a r t said.

Of the y o u n g e r p l a y e r s returning from last y e a r , sophomore Ricky Lang enters the season with high spirits.

I think that we have just as good of a chance at winning state this year.

”

“I don’t think that [loss of seniors] will affect us this year.

We are starting all over,” Lang said.

Some returning team members hope to meet old rivals down at state again at the end of the season.

“My expectations are to make it to state at least and face Bishop Kelly in the state championships,” Lichty said.

The ultimate goal for the entire team this year is to go to state and reclaim the state title.

Success at state wrestling tournament PauliNa Gralow

Journalism I contributor On Feb. 21, 13 wrestlers from Sandpoint High School traveled to Pocatello for the state tournament.

They left successfully with second place overall, four state champions and two second place finishers.

“The amount of success we had with basically six guys was impressive,” coach Mike Randles said.

Seniors Jarod Morris, Joey Fio, and Kyle Meschko won state titles along with junior Timmy Pepperdine.

“I got thrown on my back in the first 20 seconds,” Fio said, who wrestled at 125 lbs. I was like ‘Oh my God, I don’t want to get pinned in my senior match,’ but I was pretty calm.”

This was Fio’s second state title.

Jarod Morris, who wrestled at 171 lbs, won his title in overtime, beating a wrestler that had a record of 42-1.

“I was really happy,” Morris said.

“I could tell he was tired.”

Unlike other state champions from Sandpoint, none of the title winners this year had participated in club wrestling.

“This group of kids just started in middle school or high school, which

is pretty hard to do,” Randles said.

But despite of that, the seniors have been through many grueling practices, which were two to three hours a day that got them to their peak condition.

“Whatever you put in you get out of it,” Meschko said, who wrestled at 152 lbs. “I was relieved and satisfied that all of this hard work paid off.”

Also seniors this year, Taylor Morris and Alec Ward took second place at the tournament. Taylor wrestled at 189 and Ward at 112 lbs.

“I think the team did great,” Randles said. “It’s been a great run with a great group of seniors.”

n LEFT: Senior Jerod Morris shoots a single-leg on his opponent. n BELOW: Senior Darren Thompson begins to run the arm bar. n BOTTOM LEFT: Senior Taylor Morris fights for hand control as he fights to break free from his opponent.

Photos courtesty of cliff czismar

Skatepark provides summer fun Bryce loVriN Staff reporter

Sandpoint skateboarders take advantage of the warming spring weather and dryer ground conditions in town and at the skate park after a long winter of uncooperative skating conditions.

“In the last month the skate park has been dry twice,” sophomore Amani Summerday said.

Through the snowy months of the year, some people’s skateboarding skills progress while others loose the more technical tricks they could do before.

“I always have to re-learn stuff in the spring,” senior Nick Friedman said.

Junior Zach McDonald has a different approach.

“I get to snowboard a lot in the winter, and I get better at skating because of boarding,” McDonald said.

Since the skate park opened in August of 2005, there have been a few controversies such as the graffiti in the park, and allowing people to ride their bikes there. Most of the skateboarders the high school think that they don’t affect the condition of the park.

“I don’t think it’s a big deal as long as the bikers don’t use pegs on the concrete,” Friedman said.

Round and round we go, and in about four seconds we’ll turn left again. If going around a mile long track at speeds up to 190 mph doesn’t tickle your fancy then the scandals in the garages will definitely make your day. Somewhere between the scandals and going round and round and round, I lose all interest in this less than captivating sport.

NASCAR isn’t exactly America’s pastime, but it may give you a good case of the dizzies, and honestly, I don’t understand how people can sit in the hot sun for three plus hours to watch car go in circles, excuse me “ovals”.

I understand that there is a lot of behind the scene work put into making these machines go, and strategizing during the race. Somehow when to change tires, refuel and draft somehow doesn’t interest me, but if it works for you, then awesome.

This year NASCAR is really trying to promote their sport. Every time I turn on ESPN there is at least one NASCAR commercial during every commercial break. The worst part about this year for NASCAR is the fact that they are really trying to promote themselves but their sport is riddled with garage scandals. Bushwhacking, as it is commonly called, is when drivers from the big time Nextel Race Circuit race down in Busch Series to pick on younger drivers, or because they’re greedy wheelmen who want an easy payoff.

I bet I could compete with NASCAR drivers. My car has this neat little feature that tells me how far I can go on how much fuel I have. I might have to trick it out a little, but with some work I could totally rally NASCAR. Unfortunately, I will not pursue my dream to “rally” the Nextel Circuit because I would be too good.

Now that I’m finished with my rant I think I will go and watch a sport that will hold my attention a little bit longer.

Megan Bartlett at nationals Sophmore Megan Bartlett competed in the National Scholastic Indoor Championships on March 9, placing fifth in her heat against 17 girls, with a time of 19:44. As runner-up at cross country state this year, she was invited to run in the 5000m race and traveled to New York with her mom and cross country coaches, Matt and Angie Brass.

“The first 10 laps went by really fast,” Bartlett said. “My first mile was 5:58.”

However, the high temperatures, tough competition, and the monotony of running 25 laps on the track made for a difficult meet.

“The winning time was around 17:09 for the girls,” Matt Brass said. “I think it was a good learning experience, getting to see what the competition was like. I’m really proud of her for doing it…I think it will help her for the future.

Sandpoint dance team excelling

kyle GiBsoN

Local y o u n g skateboarders appreciate the park, but wish it had some different features.

“It’s got good vert [bowls, quarterpipes, halfpipes], but it needs more street,” Summerday said.

There have been kids seen shoveling the snow out of the park so that they can skate, but these people were unidentifiable.

The Sandpoint High School dance team has excelled in their recent competitions, receiving two third places, in large dance and prop routine, at state and at the Pacific Northwest Championships, captain Jamie Diehl won first place for her solo, and the team won first place in small dance, and second in prop routine and large dance.

“We did really well,” Diehl said. “We were happy with our placement [at state]; we got our highest scores ever in most of our dances and we got a perfect score in showmanship in one of our dances.”

This weekend, Diehl and co-captains Kaylee Suto and Alyssa Remsen will compete at nationals for the officers dance and Diehl will participate in the solo division.

Come by and see Dana, Michelle, and Cami for your after school treats!

“Tastes as good as it looks!”

Deirde Hill Liz Evans 710 Pine Street Sandpoint

Page 9 March 22, 2007

bryce loVrin Staff RepoRteR

Fawn Youngdahl Height: 5’4” Wight: 110 lbs.

Squad Position: Co-Captain

Q: When did you start cheerleading, and what made you decide you wanted to?

A: “I started in eighth grade and I wanted to be a cheerleader since I was really little so I started as soon as I was old enough.”

Q: So your squad just won state and nationals. Tell me how you feel about that.

A: “Its amazing we got that. We had to start rebuilding the squad this year, ‘cause we lost a lot of people.

To rebuild to state and national champions is amazing.”

Q: How did your dancing and gymnastic experience affect your cheerleading skills?

A: “A lot. Dancing helped for the cheer and dance part, and gymnastics helped our tumbling and stunts.”

Q: Is it more important for you to perfect a routine for a competition or for a crowd at an event? Why? A: “Probably for a competition.

I’m a very competitive person, so competing means a lot to me.”

Q: How do you feel about the “cheerleaders are ditzy” stereotype?

A: “Well I guess we can sometimes set it up for ourselves. When we get together or get to a game, we get really excited, so I can see why people would think we are ditzy.

Q: How much time do you spend at practice?

A: “We practice four to five times per week, three times at 5:45 in the morning and two two hour night practices per week.”

Q: If you could use only one word to describe your sport, what would it be?

After you tell me the word, explain why you picked it.

A: “Fantastic! We are the Sandpoint Varsity cheerleaders; do I need to say anything more?”

Photo by saVanna lester GraPhic by nate bessler

Weather restricts facilities, not golfers’ spirits JaDe DonniGan

Journalism I contributor

heather allen

n ABOVE: Sophomore Colton Story works on perfecting his swing during a practice.

Golf—it's not exactly something that teenagers dive into. They may enjoy football, basketball, baseball, and basically any other pastime involving a round object that moves. But golf? Many would tell you it's an old-people sport. That is, most teenagers besides the golf team.

Despite the apparent lack of enthusiasm from their peers, these athletes are still hard at work. The team actually made it to state last year, but this season they’re pushing for a more exciting victory.

"State, because we only have two other opponents in our league" senior Nicholas Hawkins said, regarding his expectations for the team this season. "It's just Moscow and Lakeland, and Moscow lost all their players but one last year."

However, being optimistic doesn't mean that this season is going to be any easier.

Hidden Lakes Golf course, the team's former practice area, is now under new management—meaning it's also under construction. And while the new owners are apparently kid-friendly, there aren't a lot of other options until remodeling is complete.

"The course has been nice enough not to charge us in the past to use it, and they're still going to the same thing -Wyatt Pearson as before," coach Mike Senior Keough said. "So when that does open up, we will be able to practice, but that won't be this season."

So with no golf field nearby, where do they practice? Sadly, they've been forced back to the place where no sane human being wants to return: the Sandpoint Middle School.

“

"Right now we're practicing on the middle school stage, and we're using little pieces of fake grass," sophomore Dalton Hawkins said. But that's not so bad— right?

"I hate it," senior Wyat Pearson said. “I took a foam ball in the eye the other day!”

Obviously, such close quarters make the occasional accident al the more frequent. Let's be frank: a dozen gangly teenagers swinging four foot long steel sticks a balls that can ricochet for miles? Not an ideal situation.

However, the team makes surprisingly good use of what materials they have. And since no bad thing lasts forever, the team will probably be practicing at the Elks Gol Course once spring hits.

I took a foam ball in the eye the other day!

”

Squash proves to be more challenging than racquetball nicole Van DyK & Kyle Gibson Sports Editor & Staff reporter

n SCENIC RIDE: A tranquil scene of the exponentially evolving Schweitzer mountain.

New Schweitzer chairlift proposed ready next winter Kyle Gibson Staff reporter

Change isn’t always a bad thing, and in the case of Schweitzer Mountain Resort, it could be a very good thing.

Schweitzer is removing the current Chair 1 lift and replacing it with two high speed lifts, with the upper chair going to the top of the South Bowl.

“Two chairs will replace the existing Chair 1, the lower lift will start at the village by the snowskate park, and the upper lift will start where the midway upload is now and follow existing lift line,” Schweitzer owner Tom Chasse said.

The lower lift will be a detachable high speed quad, and the upper with be a fixed three person lift.

“The chairs will help weather proof the lift, so we will be able to operate during windy conditions,” Chasse said.

The replacement of the old Chair 1 will also allow Schweitzer to skiers and boarders up the mountain faster.

“The old chair carried approximately 660 people per hour, and the new lifts will carry around 3200 people per hour,” Chasse said.

Schweitzer plans to have the lifts fully operational by Dec. 1, opening day of next year.

Cardio/Strength Circuit, Free weights, Nautilus, Cybex, Treadmills & Elipticals Open Monday-Friday 7am-7pm

Squash—it’s not that nasty goo that your mom serves at Thanksgiving, but a highoctane version of classic racquetball.

Some students enjoy the challenge of the flat squash ball that has no bounce when it hits the floor.

“The squash ball dies when it hits the wall. I’m pretty good I must say,” junior Alex Crossingham said.

The lack of bounce in the ball gives you less time to react so the sport is high intensity.

“It’s fast paced. It burns my muscles,” junior Matt Shay said.

Others see it as a way to pass the time.

“It gives me something to do after school,” senior Riley Flanigan said.

Many students prefer to play squash as an alternative to racquetball.

“The ball doesn’t bounce as much so it’s harder. You have to be quick on your feet,” Flanigan said.

Crossingham said he found playing racquetball to be annoying because the ball is so bouncy that it’s everywhere and it seems like you are constantly chasing it.

The rules are different to that of racquetball, but the equipment and technique is similar.

samantha may

nABOVE: Junior Abby Helander enjoys a rigorous game of squash at Sandpoint West Athletic Club.

“The courts are a lot smaller, the serving rules are different, and you can hit it out o bounds by hitting it above and below [the line].”

Many students became involved in playing squash through word of mouth.

“I started playing racquetball and then switched to squash because my aunt told me to,” Flanigan said.

400 Schweitzer Plaza Drive Suite 4 Ponderay, ID 83852 (208)254-9633

Saturday 9am-1pm

255-7010 30736 Hwy 200 Suite 104, Ponderay, ID (Next to the Hoot Owl)

APQS Arm Quilting Machine Rental ...Instructional Classes Quilting Crocheting Knitting

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March 23, 2007

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