Volleyball, Soccer teams win state
page 7
ChaCha answers all your questions page 5
As A
Side Note
VOLUME 86, ISSUE 3
Adviser: Connie Kimble Meetings: Every Tuesday after school in room W14 Upcoming Events: Key Club is participating in the Christmas Child program which enables students to fill shoe boxes with presents such as school supplies, stuffed animals, and books to be sent to children in third world countries. Key Club is also putting together a tree for the annual Festival of Trees in December.
NOVEMBER, 25 2008
Veterans Day assembly shows honor, appreciation for local veterans EMILY THOMPSON Staff reporter
There will be
Honoring our nation’s veterans on Nov. 11 is one of the most important events held each Student Council year throughout the United States. On Veterans Day, stores and businesses across the states Adviser: Mike Martz Upcoming events: Seniors! close their doors to honor veterans for their We want prom to the best it dedication and service to keeping our country can be this year so we need safe in past generations and for those to come. This year, SHS again commemorated the your input. Please bring your ideas to the box in the office. veterans within the Sandpoint community with Thank you to everyone who an assembly on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Hundreds of donated blood - we had 86 students gathered to watch the procession of units donated. The food drive veterans make their way into the gymnasium was also a success. Great job where they watched a brief video and listened to senior Catherine Aylward talk about her SHS! decision to join the military and what it meant to her. “It’s really important to me,” senior Catherine National Honor Society Aylward said. “I was imspired when I was Adviser: Wendy Auld little when I saw a group of soldiers gathered Meetings:Announced month- together.” ly Many SHS students enjoyed the assembly Upcoming events: NHS is and acknowledged its importance to the Conducting a Toys for Tots community. drive that is to begin Dec 1 ‘It seems really important to have this and run through Dec 12. The assembly,” sophomore Ben Chitlungsei said. “I competition will be held during second period, A days. Please bring newer gifts and money. The money will be used to purchase gifts and food for families in need. Prizes for winning classes to be announced. Look for NHS at the basketball games selling tickets for the basket drawing.
Key Club
SANDPOINT HIGH SCHOOL
mean, its a part of our history.” Several of the veterans present Tuesday have been regularly attending the Sandpoint High School Veterans Day assembly for many years. “I’ve been attending the assembly for 10 years now,” one veteran said, “I came to this assembly when my daughter was in high school.” Events from the assembly brought back many memories of past wars and time serving our country for many of the veterans. Charles Sinclair, one of the many dedicated veterans, served in the Air Force from 19721976, during which the United States was involved in the Vietnam War. “We thought the war would never end,” Sinclair said. Although there was doubt that the war would ever end, it eventually did and Charles clearly remembers that day. “I had my bags packed to go to Vietnam,” Sinclair said, “when they told us it was all over.” While the Vietnam war did eventually end, service to our country never has. Honoring our veterans has become an important part of American history as a tribute to those who ISAAC DUNNE have fought for our homeland for present ■ PAYING TRIBUTE: Surrounded with respect, area veterans attended generations and those to come. an assembly put on by Student Council at SHS in their honor
Blood
Students take opportunity to give back to the community
Model United Nations Adviser: Debbie Smith Upcoming events: The Model United Nations club is preparing for the National Conference in New York City. SHSMUN will be representing two African Countries; Ethiopia and Djibouti. We will be working on our Country reports and committee reports. We will be continuing to fundraise throughout the year to help fund next years trip to the National Conference. You can support our fundraising efforts through a purchase of the book Sandpoint: Small Town , Big Heart for $40 with 50% going to SHS MUN.
Pep Club Adviser: Nancy Miller Meetings: Tuesday mornings at 7:30 Upcoming Events: Pep Club is hosting the Fall sports/holiday recongnition assembly towards the end of December It’s not too late to become part of Pep Club, come to a meeting to join.
■ SAVING LIVES: In an effort to help her community, senior Autumn Wright gives blood at the recent SHS blood drive
KAT VARDELL
Copy editor The fall Blood Drive at SHS took place Tuesday, Nov. 18, in the gym. Student Council had a goal of having 76-110 donors, and 85 units were collected. “We met our goal for this donation,” Student Council advisor Mike Martz said. The 85 units collected also exceeded last year’s Blood Drive’s number, even with over 15 of the people who signed up this year not donating. “Either they wouldn’t come and be ready or they would be turned away for some reason,” junior Student Council senator Mike Richardson
said of those who signed up but didn’t donate. “It’s also possible some people just didn’t show up”. Historically, SHS has been
Council president John Briggs said. It is still uncertain whether Student Council will receive this award, the Highest
FAST FACTS
Your blood type depends on whether you have an A antigen or B antigen on your red blood cells. Type A blood contains A antigen Type B blood contains B antigen Type AB blood contains both antigens Type O blood contains neither antigen
recognized for the turnout of students new to the blood drive. “The past [two years] we’ve been given an award for the highest number of new donors,” junior Student
Percent of First Time Donors, again for this year. Student Council, coordinating with the Inland Northwest Blood center, puts on the blood drive every year, pulling students in and out
CARLY RICKARD
of class, providing snacks afterwards, and getting as many students as possible to donate. “Basically we are doing everything besides taking blood,” Briggs, who describes himself as “the king of the blood drive”, said. Advertising is a crucial part of putting on the Blood Drive, as Student Council sets a goal every year of how many units of blood to collect. “Posters, the TVs, word of mouth,” Student Council junior Caitlyn Reeves listed as methods they use to recruit. “I tell people about the blood drive, John Briggs tells people about the blood drive. Blood Drive: continued pg.2
Page 2
November 25, 2008
Briefly: News around SHS
Lockdown drill to commence soon As many SHS students shift their attention to winter activities, the administration begins work on a future lockdown drill that will prepare students for the worst. According to Assistant Principal Mike Mitchell, the administration is preparing a lockdown drill that in collaboration with the Sandpoint police department so the drill will be as authentic as possible. “The police department wants to become more involved [with drills]; there will be an intruder who comes into the building to create the atmosphere needed,” Mitchell said. The administration wants the students to be prepared, and with school violence being a concern, lockdown drills are a necessary precaution. “I think the students should understand that the more we practice drills like this, the more efficient they will run in the future,” Mitchell said. Teachers will be notified which week the drill will happen. Blood Drive: continued from page 1 We all use INBC folders for our home work.” All around participating in the Blood Drive is applauded and encouraged. One donation can sabe up to three people. “If I asked you if you could save a life, what would you say?” Briggs said. “And you could do that simply by giving blood”. Junior Kelli Hayes has a special reason for encouraging people to participate- her fiveyear-old sister Amber. “[My little sister]’s got a blood disease called thalassemia major,” Hayes said. “She has to get blood transfusions every three weeks for the rest of her life. There’s no cure for it.” Amber is active in encouraging people to donate also. “She comes to [the Blood Drive] every year at the school,” Hayes said. “She’s got her picture on the side of the Inland Northwest blood drive bus. Every blood drive she goes to she hands out the snacks to people [and] thanks them.”
COURTESY IDAHO METH PROJECT
■ IMPACTING YOUTH: Hoping to capture youths’ attention, the Idaho Meth Project uses provocative advertising to get its message heard.
Idaho Meth Project: ‘Not Even Once’ CASEY DUNN Staff reporter
The Idaho Meth Project, a program aimed at reducing methamphetamine use in Idaho, was launched this year as part of the Meth Project campaign in several states. “The Idaho Meth Project is a prevention and public-awareness program aimed at reducing first-time meth use in our state,” Executive Director of the Idaho Meth Project, Megan Ronk said. “Every day, people are faced with the decision to try meth. Many perceive benefits in using the drug, but little-to-no risk. This is the root of the problem. The goal of the Meth Project is to arm teens and young adults with the facts about methamphetamine so they can make well-informed decisions when presented with the opportunity to try it.” The Idaho Meth Project was started after the success of the Montana Meth Project. “The Meth Project first launched in Montana in September 2005,” Ronk said. “At the time, the state was overwhelmed by methamphetamine abuse.” In 2005, Montana was the fifth highest state in the nation for meth abuse. Close to 50 percent of inmates were incarcerated for meth,
and 50 percent of foster-care admissions were meth-related. Now, much of that has changed. Meth-related crime in Montana declined 53 percent from 2005-2007, and teen Meth use has declined 50 percent, according to the Montana Office of Public Instruction. The Idaho Meth Project seeks to implement some of the same strategies used in the Montana Meth Project. “The Idaho Meth Project conducts extensive statewide surveys and focused group research to more thoroughly understand Idahoans’ attitudes and behaviors related to methamphetamine,” Ronk said. “This research provides the foundation for our messaging programs.” The messaging campaign currently includes advertisements spanning television, newspapers, radio, billboards, and the internet. These advertisements have sparked some controversy due to their graphic nature. “You’re going to see disturbing and even shocking images of what meth does to people,” Idaho Gov. Butch Otter noted on the Idaho Meth Project Web site. “These public service spots don’t sugar-coat it, because it’s just that
ugly. And Idahoans need to see and hear the truth about this drug.” “Simply stated, we will un-sell meth to the most vulnerable population: teens and young adults,” Ronk said. Part of the Idaho Meth Project campaign also is aimed at educating non-users about the signs and symptoms that may indicate meth use. The Idaho Meth Project Web site cites many signs that a person might be using the drug, including selling or pawning personal possessions, missing school or work, sudden outbursts or mood swings, and changes in physical appearance. But perhaps the largest obstacle, Ronk said, is educating young people on how to deal with peer pressure. “Without a doubt, peer pressure is a difficult thing for any student to deal with,” Ronk said. “Having said that, meth use is one bad decision that a student does not want to make – it is the most addictive substance known to man and I have never seen meth use result in a good life for anyone. Students must be strong and use the information they know to stay away from this drug. It is difficult to say no, but the alternative is even more painful.”
Obama elected 44th President of the United States
“I didn’t believe in Obama’s philosophy of ‘spreading wealth’. It sounds socialist,” sophomore Connor Griesmer said. Many students believe McCain and Palin’s appearances on Saturday Night Live hurt their campaign. “I think that in the beginning they weren’t affected, but as time went on and they kept making fun of things, things added up and people thought ‘Does she really act like that?’ They saw more of that than the real Sarah Palin. I think people started thinking that she was actually that retarded. Seeing her talk, she doesn’t normally talk like that,” Guida said. But students and voters of all parties agree that change is coming. “I hope he’ll do a good job. I think that he’s a good guy and I don’t think that he can change everything, but we’ll see,” Guida said.
KEEGAN DUNN News editor
In a historic victory, Democratic nominee Barack Obama was declared President-elect of the United States on Nov. 4 at 11:04 p.m. pacific time. Many analysts credit Obama’s success to his message of change and hope for Americans, a mantra that earned him 365 electoral votes and 53 percent of the popular vote. McCain won 173 electoral votes, even with Missouri adding its 11 votes to his total 15 days after the general election. “I think that he was the right choice. He seemed like he had more of a plan to move forward, not to stay in the same place,” junior Nick Guida said. Whether or not this is change for the better is a matter of opinion. “I think America made the choice they wanted to make, and we’ll see if that’s the right one or not,” senior Zack Baker said. The Democrats also won 20 seats in the House of Representatives and six seats in the Senate, giving them a decisive majority in both divisions of the legislative branch. “I think that will help Obama accomplish
CARLY RICKARD
■ MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Amidst the cafeteria racket, members of the community cast
their votes at Washington Elementary School on Tuesday Nov. 4
what he wants to do,” Baker said. Many students at SHS had hoped for a McCain victory. “I’m disappointed. I am. I would’ve seen it go the other way. But [Obama] won the popular
vote and the electoral vote so clearly that’s what America wanted, so they can have him,” Baker said. McCain supporters often disagreed with Obama’s policies.
The Results
Obama Electoral Vote: 365 Popular Vote: 66,882,230
McCain Electoral Vote: 173 Popular Vote: 58,343,671
Cedar Post
Page 3
November 25, 2008
Our View
Gun vs. Door? Seriously. First, let’s be selfish: it’s obviously an inconvenience. For those with a class in a portable, it’s absolute hell. However, students aren’t complete Neanderthals: most would be perfectly willing to get a little healthy exercise in order to forego being shot. But statistically speaking, shooters are rarely unrelated to the schools they intend to victimize. Any student with a gun could waltz through the front door and exchange good mornings with the attendance office at SHS, without so much law enforcement as a tardy slip. But if you’re still in doubt about the obvious, let’s take a minute and visualize. A red-eyed,
trench-coated, leather-booted, teenage male storms up to the school doors. Beneath his coat is a gun, a gun he intends to put to use killing other students. He’s angry at them, but mostly he’s furious at himself. His hand trembles as he goes to open the door. He tugs for a moment, confused. Then he sighs, walks to his car, and drives home. Does anyone else see something strange about this picture? Anyone with a speck of gray matter floating between their ears should doubt that a locked door is capable of stopping a deranged teenager bent on violence.
“Please, accept this gift as a token of our appreciation!”
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.
”
It’s happened to a few of us in the past week or so. Perhaps you’re coming from a class in the portables, or maybe just trying to break the record for your car-to-class sprint. Either way, your progress is interrupted. By a locked door. Go figure. Welcome to the school’s latest scheme for safety. It has some weak logic to back up its good intentions: with only one entrance into the school, there’s a smaller chance that a would-be shooter could sneak in through a side door and blow us all to smithereens. But if humanity has learned anything over the eons, it’s that good intentions rarely go anywhere without a little brainpower.
• Thanks to the transitive property, I’ve kissed every guy in this school. • I’m totally on a Disney binge. • That’s one thing the nuns never taught me how to say the letter ‘O’. • If Cindy McCain were like 40 years younger, I’d date her. She’s hot! • Oh great - a prime number. • That’s what you get for carrying a horseshoe in a your backpack! • I lost my phone number. Can I have yours? • What good does flashing do if you can’t see them? • I think we should just spray-paint their eyes!
Jade doniGan
I am a bibliophile. Yes, it sounds like something that could earn you a jail sentence, but this particular “-phile” word has nothing negative about it. The true definition, straight from Random House Webster’s is: “One who loves books.” I have adored books since early childhood. As soon as I could read with ease, I devoured everything in sight. I read myself into myopia, or nearsightedness. I read everything - my age group, below it, and above it. I read Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, and of course, Shakespeare. I am not such a literary snob that I don’t read more normal genres than classics, though. I read romance, mystery, historical
fiction, contemporary fiction, science fiction, biographies, autobiographies and fantasy. My room is full of books - books that I’ve read a hundred times each. I constantly borrow library books, and my family is forever sharing books with me. To explain more fully how I feel about books, I will have to share my emotional moments regarding them. Once, I was watching a movie, and the antagonists burned the school library books that were “evil”. I cried. When I watched “Fahrenheit 451,” which follows a society in which books are forbidden - (it’s based on a Ray Bradbury story, if that means anything to anyone) I had to look away at a moment when they burned a huge collection of books. If someone throws books, or hurts them in any way in my presence, they can expect a scolding. I see books almost as entities, a form of energy. To me, they are a piece of the author and should be treated with respect, no matter what it contains. So does that mean I am against censorship
With Casey Dunn
The lies my teacher told me... It seems like the farther I get along with my schooling, the more often I come across lessons that I thought I had already learned, but instead find that what I thought was fact was only something my teacher told me to keep something less confusing, more age-appropriate, or what-have-you.The things that the teacher told me supposedly for my benefit in fact made the learning process a little tougher. Really,it seems a little selfish, unless they just didn’t know the truth. I hope this isn’t the case- to tell one student something that isn’t the whole truth or is missing some pieces in order to dumb it down. When it comes time for that student to learn what the teacher left out, the student has to comprehend something that the teacher, time and time again, assured was not there. It’s not a very nice feeling when one finds out that what they thought was something they could add to their basic foundation of knowledge turns out to be fiction. Why can’t teachers just settle with a, “Well you’ll learn that later,” instead of making up an answer to satisfy the student. At a young age especially, students will soak up a teachers every word and take it as the most concrete truth, but it seems like it is in elementary school that one is fed the most fiction. I understand that there are some things that a teacher might not feel comfortable saying and that’s fine, as long as they make sure the student knows that, rather than telling them something other than the truth to avoid the topic. Learning can be hard enough without having to separate fact from fiction.
Finally, the North Idaho Community Action Network has been silenced! Ha! You lose, NICAN! I’m so happy that this hell-raising, progress-hindering, taxpayercosting, everyone-annoying organization has been stopped. The Sand Creek Byway is going to be built, and there’s nothing they can do about it. They’ve put up a good fight. The building of the Byway was put off for I can’t even remember how many years. And they’re still going to try and file for another injunction in a month, after construction has already started. Basically, they’re going to try and stop something from happening that’s already happened. I mean think about it. That’s hardcore stuff. However, their efforts were all for naught. Now Sandpoint will be forced to see its traffic reduced, its downtown shopping enhanced, and its quality of life improved. I get tears in my eyes just thinking about it. Why, oh why, have we brought this horror upon ourselves? What were we thinking? It’s nice to know that just because a group has a seemingly unlimited amount of money and misplaced motivation doesn’t mean they get to force their personal agenda on everyone. I would like to thank U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge for shutting up all of the narrow-minded, selfish idiots who for reasons sane people have yet to understand opposed this project and finally allowing Sandpoint to get on with it. It was really
• Does that album have a song about a pedophile a on it?
of every kind? You bet, even if it is some horrible piece of literature that praises murder, or some other monstrosity. If you don’t want to see those kinds of ideas, don’t read it. I’m reminded of a quote by Mark Twain: “Censorship is telling a man he can’t have a steak just because a baby can’t chew it.” Even if you don’t agree with what the book says, it doesn’t mean that no one else should read it. You have the choice to say, “I don’t like that book,” and not read it. No one else should be deprived of something they might agree with, just because of your beliefs. To clarify, and to make sure I won’t have a mob on my doorstep after this comes out, this does not mean I condone murder, or violence, or that just because there are neo-Nazi books out there that they should be taught in school. I think that if a book portrays one side, then other sides should be shown, or the one side should not be shown at all. People must be allowed choices. Once they know the options, they can make an intelligent decision, and choose.
• That’s what honeymoons are all about: storking!
Red tape cut, Byway started, NICAN loses. Yay!
Sports Editor
super of him. We should all send him cookies or something. I mean what is NICAN’s deal? They take pleasure in costing taxpayers close to $100 million in lawsuit delays and increased construction costs? They think the fragile swamp/mud bog ecosystem will be irreparably damaged? Or perhaps they’re concerned about the noise affecting the Seasons condos (the ones that are right next to a set of regularly used train tracks)? How can any of these silly and baseless reasons be cause to delay a project that will do so much good for our community? Wait. I think I know what it is. None of them actually use any of the roads! That must be it! The members of NICAN must go to work or leave town through secret passageways or something they’ve dug beneath the entire town, and so they don’t notice the traffic problem! No wonder they appear to be so ignorant! They think the bypass is trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist for them. I can’t believe I didn’t see it before. Well, NICAN, here’s the reality. We do have a traffic problem, and this bypass is going to solve it. Give up! Stop halting the progress that will make Sandpoint a more livable place. Please, do us all a favor: go back to your tunnels and prop up the roofs so that the bypass construction doesn’t make them collapse on all of you. It’s less messy that way.
• The sky is blue because it’s a Democrat! • Meat is actually a food group?
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Chelsea KardoKus Editor-in-Chief
Jennifer Prandato Assistant Editor
isaaC dunne
Arts & Culture Editor
KeeGan dunn News Editor
Paulina GraloW Carly riCKard Photo Editor
Jesse Cobb
Graphics Editor
Cristina Wilson
Advertising Manager Office Manager
MiKe Gearlds 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 shscedarpost@hotmail.com
Printed by the Daily Bee
November 25, 2008
Cedar Post
Page 4
Student Council learns to raise participation, school spirit JENNIFER PRANDATO Assistant editor
■ SENIOR PRIDE: Determined to wear their shirts, seniors Liara Nosiglia, Abby Helander and Savannah Holt now wear the forbidden senior girls’ shirts to basketball games
Senior shirts cause controversy with staff The tradition of the classic
CHELSEA KARDOKUS Editor-in-chief
“Senior Girls” shirt has been passed down through senior classes for several years. But with time comes change and people who are daring to step out of the box. Senior Marci Griggs did just that by creating a new type of senior girls shirt. On Friday, Oct. 17 40 Sandpoint High School senior girls proudly walked the halls wearing black shirts with pink lettering reading “Class of 2009” on the front and “B*tch we shine” on the back. “It’s just fun. We’re just tryin’ to be kids, you know?” Griggs said. “We’re just trying to have fun our senior year.” The administration did
not view this as “fun”, though, but rather as distracting and tasteless. “I didn’t think it was appropriate for school,” Principal Dr. Kiebert said. “I think they’re fine at other places but not at school where our concentration needs to be on education.” The girls argued that because the shirt did not have the actual word on it that it shouldn’t matter, but the administrators held their stance. “They were like, ‘You can wear them for the rest of the day, but after this day you can’t wear them at all’,” Griggs said. The 40 girls were not happy with the administration after spending time and money on the shirts. “A lot of girls paid a lot of
money for them and we can only wear them for one day. That’s pretty lame,” Griggs said. The girls still plan on wearing their forbidden shirts to basketball games and possibly other sports to show their senior pride. These shirts are not the only Senior Girls’ shirts for the class of 2009. Another shirt was created at the same time that said, “Know Your Rank” on the front and “Senior Pride” on the back. Griggs, along with a few other senior girls plan on creating new senior shirts every month. “Why not make a shirt for each month of school? It will bring back memories and remind you of things you did that month,” Griggs said.
The SHS Student Council recently took a three day trip to Boise for a leadership conference. The conference, held by the Idaho Association of Student Council was attended by Student Council students from throughout Idaho. The theme this year was ‘iLead,’ and focused on leadership skills in the school, community and in life. When you come back, “Each school had a you start going through different genre and a playlist,” sophomore class school spirit withdrawls. Senator Max Horn said. Each day started off with -John Briggs a general session and a Junior speech by the guest speaker, Josh Sundquist, a comedian with only one leg who is on one kid doing it, and it doesn’t seem like we learned the Paralympic ski team. “[Sundquist] taught us much, but imagine 600 kids some things about life,” with their own school spirit junior student council doing it,” Briggs said. “When President John Briggs said. you come back, you start “One of his key points was going through school spirit that life is tough, but life is withdrawls.” The IASC conference beautiful. He talked about
”
CARLY RICKARD
how we needed to turn our limp into a pimp walk.” The conference also focused on raising school spirit. Student council members learned cheers and hand routines. They learned sevens, a hand-clap routine, that brings out a lot of school spirit when everyone is participating. “It sounds funny with just
”
leaders helped members think of ideas to raise participation throughout the school. “One school had people cross-dress for the food drive. They would walk around town and ask for money,” Horn said. The student council members also watched a magician and attended a dance, as well as other smaller sessions. Other classes included ‘How to get your groove on without getting your grind on’; ‘Rants of a Political Strategist’, a class about how to get re-elected or promote yourself; and a class about the National Association of Student Council, which Briggs is interested in joining. The National Association of Student Council participants meet with leaders from across the United States and around the world and participate in a service learning project. “The things we brought back were important,” Briggs said.
Five new ways to style your hair during No-Shave November
The Handlebar
The Amish
‘Moose Madness’ introduced to Sandpoint, Bonners
Fun-filled rivalry planned to promote school spirit
JENNIFER PRANDATO Assistant editor
The SHS Student Council, Pep Club and various dance team members and cheerleaders are organizing a schoolwide dance-off with Bonners Ferry High School. The competition, called Moose Madness, will take place Saturday, Jan. 17 at Bonners Ferry High School. Sandpoint will choreograph a dance that includes synchronized dancing of the crowds in the stands. The Bonners Ferry crowd is planning on lip-syncing to a song. Both schools cheerleaders will motivate the crowds during half-
time of the girl’s varsity game and the dance teams will perform during halftime of the boy’s varsity game. The choir’s and band’s will be performing as well. “I think it will be fun,” junior dance team co-captain Laticia Lies said. “We can raise a lot of school spirit.” The schools will compete with each other on school spirit, starting during girls half time and will be judged by Dr. Kiebert, Bonners Ferry Principal Mr. Bayer and citizens from both communities. The school with the best participation and school spirit will win. The winning school will re-
ceive a stuffed animal moose, a prize that will be kept for the remainder of the year. The scores of the basketball games will not be factored into the competition. The goal of this competition is to create a fun-filled rivalry between the two schools. Lake City and Coeur d’Alene high schools participate in the same type of competition called Fight for the Fish. Moose Madness will be a annual event between Sandpoint and Bonners. “It will be a good tradition for us and Bonners,” Lies said. “But it will be impossible if people are uncooperative.”
The Clean Cut
The Mario
JESSE COBB
The Chewbacca
Students ban blade for No-Shave November JADE DONIGAN Staff reporter
Be careful, girls: Sandpoint High School has officially entered the hairy season. That wonderful month-long tradition is underway, and passionate kisses could be just a little bit uncomfortable during No-Shave November. In fact, some students have begun to take part already. “I usually have a huge beard, but this year I decided to just shave it off and see
how much it would grow in a month,” senior Cory Repass said. Plenty of other guys have taken a page out of Repass’s book and are conducting their own experiments in beard growth rates. But this isn’t strictly a man’s holiday: some girls are doing it, too. “I like to see what commitments I can stick to, and I hate shaving because there’s no point if I’m just going to be wearing pants and long-sleeved shirts,” one senior girl, who requested to
stay anonymous, said. However, she bears no grudges against any other girls who refuse to take part. “Well, I understand, because I do feel a lot prettier when I’m a little bit smooth, but that’s probably just because I’ve been told that it makes me prettier. I hate to be a conformist,” she said. She has a message for anyone attempting to give her such attention. “Hey, there’s no point: I’m not going swimming.”
Cedar Post
Page 5
Spotlight
November 25, 2008
Daniel Causer
Freshman Daniel Causer immerses himself in professional technical education Each Spotlight is focused on a randomly chosen student. TALA WOOD Staff reporter
A GARRETT DUNN
■ DETERMINED: Causer gets ready for his carpentry class
sk freshman Shane Daniel Causer to give an opinion on something that most teens would have a ready, passionate answer for, and he peacefully declines. His quiet, taciturn countenance is acknowledged by a classmate, who readily shouts out, “He doesn’t talk!” Similarly, Causer has no opinion about what he would like to change at SHS. He does have a reason though why he likes the school. “They have good lunch.” Causer said.
Causer has not always lived in North Idaho. He spent most of his life in Hemet, Calif., but likes it more here. He has an eight-year-old brother, and two sisters, one five and the other 11. Fifteenyear-old Causer spends his free time watching television (he doesn’t have a favorite show) or playing “regular” video games. He watches movies “once in a while.” He can easily describe his parents as “hardworking,” but gives only a neutral shrug when describing himself. Causer listens to heavy metal music sometimes, but he doesn’t yet have a favorite group.
Carpentry would be an expected class to take for someone who likes to work with his hands, and Causer is no exception. It’s his favorite subject and he likes the teacher too Also, “It’s fun.” He has not specific course of action planned for his future, but he knows that he wants to build things, reflected by his elective choices Drafting, Computer Business Applications and the coveted Carpentry. Causer truly fits the mold for the “strong silent type,” but after a few moments conversing, you realize there is more to this ninth grader than meets the eye, or than he reveals.
Tonguein-Cheek Critique
with Isaac America Dunne
Tofurkey! It tastes like things
The world at your fingertips
PHOTO ILUUSTRATION BY CARLY RICKARD
New cellular search engine is the answer to all your burning questions ISAAC DUNNE
Arts & Culture editor The 21st century has seen incredible gains in cell phone technology. Much more than just phones, these hand-held devices have become calculators, calenders, games, mobile Web browsers and chat clients. If mobile application service ChaCha has anything to say about it, cell phones will soon be a source of instantaneous knowledge. ChaCha, a company that began as a Web browser based search engine, is a service that allows cell phone users to text nearly any question to the number 242-242 (spelling out ChaCha on a numerical key pad) and receive an answer within minutes.
Because questions directed at ChaCha are answered by real people the answers are often quirky and have personality that other text message based searches can’t match. ChaCha questions are answered by people who sign up on ChaCha’s website and are paid 10 to 20 cents for each answer they give. ChaCha guides are required to have strong internet-research skills and receive questions via ChaCha’s Web site. Initially, ChaCha was a service with unlimited use, but beginning in November ChaCha limited its users to 20 questions per month in an effort to cut costs.
For vegetarians, Thanksgiving can be a time of much anxiety. While the rest of the family rabidly devours the innocent flesh of the majestic turkey, vegetarians can too often be found cowering in a corner, isolated in their own valiant dietary restrictions, daintily picking at a salad or a roll, searching for something of meatless substance. Vegetarians of the world, Corporate America has heard your cry! Various companies have risen to the call of duty and are eager to supply your needs for turkey surrogate for a modest price. So...it exists, but how does it taste? In the spirit of journalistic bravery I dove deep into the world of the Quorn “Turk’y Roast” and emerged a changed man. Quorn, a company which makes vegetarian meatless prodcuts, makes its cruel-free foodstuffs from “mycoprotein” which is just a nice way of saying “fungus” The cleverly named “Turk’y Roast” is called a loaf but it looks like an oversized pill and it comes in a vacuum sealed plastic bag that you cook it in. Biting into the “Turk’y” feels like biting
into an eraser. Or maybe a person. Not that I would know. Turk’y tastes surprisingly like, well, turkey A turkey that was raised in the Sahara. The Turk’y loaf is incredibly dry. Eating sand is a more moist experience than eating the Turk’y loaf. If you decide to venture into the realm of tofurkey I would recommend eating it underwater, or at the very least with a gallon of water at hand. Quorn’s “Turk’y” isn’t horrible, but it’s definitely not great. It lives in a tiny shack located directly on the border between tasty and bland. In the end, it offers substance to vegetarians on a holiday that can too often end in hunger.
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e s i t r e e
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sFor more information a m l see Mr. Givens in t s i ia room E5 r Ch pec First fifteen to sign up S Only $200 for the January session
th v h ar t i d d w e A C
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Contact Tina Wilson 263-3034 ext. 244
Page 6
November 25, 2008
Cedar Post
Senior Jenny Thomas MERANDA CARTER Graphics
Senior Jenny Thomas is a key player for the SHS basketball team. Thomas has proved herself time after time on the court; one of these being her half court shot last year at a Sandpoint game. Thomas has a personal record of 34 points in one game. Before moving to Sandpoint she lived in Luxembourg, a small Western European country, and played on a national-level team. She has proved herself as a threat on the court and a player to keep your eye on for this upcoming girls’ basketball season. Q. How long have you played basketball? A. “Eight years”
Q. Do you play any other sports? A. “Track and field; I do discus and shot put.”
Q. What’s your favorite position? A. “Well, I am point guard this year. So, probably guard.”
Q. What are your other hobbies? A. “I snowboard, but don’t tell my coach. I like four-wheeling too.”
Q. Do you have a lucky number? A. “17, but I can’t have it for the game.
Q. How do you think you are going to play this year? A. “I’ll make the best of it. It’s going to be hard. Im the oldest one on the team.”
Q. Do you have any pre-game rituals? A. “Sometimes we have dance parties.”
Q. Is playing here any different [than Luxembourg? A. “Not really, it’s still basketball.” Q. What gets you pumped up before a game? A. “Music, and just thinking about playing the hardest that i can.”
Q. Do you play in the off-season? A. “No, but I want to this season.” Q. How do you stay in shape when you don’t play in the off-season? A. “Track and field, and a couple weeks before basketball season starts, I start running.” CARLY RICKARD
■QUEEN OF THE COURT: Jenny Thomas dodges a Lake City defender CARLY RICKARD
Fall athletes continue training during off-season MOLLY HORN
Staff reporter
A
lthough the season is over for some SHS athletes, many students are already beginning to prepare for next year. They go about it in many different ways, but the end result is the same; a stronger, better season next year. Freshman swimmer Keeley Pearlstein continues to swim for the Sandpoint West Athletic Club club team, the Sharks. "I'm swimming at the club, and getting ready for A champs.
I'm working hard on getting my sectionals cut for 100 backstroke," Pearlstein said. Girls' Soccer finished the season by winning districts, but many players still maintain their skill by playing off season. Junior Alicia Mertz, a key varsity soccer player this year, is participating in the Olympic Development Program. This program allows her to travel to Arizona and compete with other players her age. She also plans on traveling to Texas to play with her old team for a showcase. "Over the summer I went to regional camp; it has about 300
girls and I was selected from that pool to be on a team of 36," Mertz said. Cross Country runners also keep in shape in the offseason. "I run cross country in the fall, and I plan on playing basketball this winter" sophomore cross country member Abbie Prummer said, "I've been running since my freshman year, and I've played basketball since third grade." After fall sports teams' success this year, many hope that if athletes keep up the preparation, next year will be even better.
Fall sports bring home two state titles Girls’ varsity soccer, after their second year playing as a 5A team due to the addition of Clark Fork High School Sports editor player Bailey Hewitt, won the district championships and continued to the State tournament in Meridian. As the 2008 fall sports season comes to a close, it will Because of an injury in the final district game, Hewitt not only mark the end of a successful season for all, but was unable to play at state, resulting in a loss of one of the start of a strong year for more SHS athletics. Boys’ their lead goal scorers. The team lost the first round varsity soccer and girls’ varsity volleyball rounded up and won the consolation bracket to take fourth in the their seasons by each taking a 4A state title. tournament. “We knew we were the underdogs, so we knew we After placing second at districts, the varsity cross had to work harder at it to have a chance at winning country team took a total of 16 runners to state. Senior it,” varsity volleyball Megan Bartlett took second player junior Emilie overall for the girls leading Kuster said. the team to a sixth place The volleyball finish. The boys took 12th. team beat out Twenty swimmers qualified Bonneville, their for the state championship biggest rival, to take this season. The swim team, the state title. unlike the other sports teams, “They took it last competes against all schools -Emilie Kuster year so we wanted in Idaho, not just 4A. Junior to take it back from After taking second at them,” Kuster said. districts, the boys team went After losing to on to place fourth at state. Moscow in the Freshman Chris Mann took district tournament third place in the 500 yard in 2007, the boys’ freestyle and helped Garrett Dunn, Colton Story, and varsity soccer team took the district title this year and Graham Cole to a third-place finish in the boys’ 4x100 went on to recapture the state title after last winning in yard freestyle relay. 2006. With their second district championship title in a After a roller coaster season, the Dirty Thirty, the row, the Girls’ swim team also placed fourth at state, varsity football team, lost in the first round of the state capturing second place in the 2x100 Medley relay with tournament against Mountain Home High School, from freshman Keeley Pearlstein and seniors Paulina Gralow, south of Boise. Hillari Contor, and Tina Wilson.
PAULINA GRALOW
“ They took it last year, so
we wanted to take it back from them.
”
CARLY RICKARD
■ STATE CHAMPS: The varsity volleyball team prepares for their next play
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Books by former SHS school teacher Marianne Love Pick up your copies today! Available at local bookstores. More information available at www.mariannelove.com, keokeebooks.com, www.slightdetour.com
Alpine Shop
❆Located in downtown Sandpoint ❆213 Church Street❆ 263-5157
Page 7
Cedar Post
Schweitzer hoping New skate park allows skateboarders to open earlier with to practice throughout the year new snow machines
November 25, 2008
STEFFEN SPRAGGINS
LIZ STONE
Staff reporter
Staff reporter Schweitzer Mountain Resort has added more snow-making machines to their arsenal this year. With these new snow-making capabilities, Schweitzer aims for more snow for the mountain and a possible earlier opening date. “We are definitely excited about adding more snow-making to the mountain this year. If Mother Nature and the te mp era ture cooperate it’s going to allow us to make more snow an it’ll improve our chances of getting towards an earlier opening,” Schweitzer Mountain Resort Marketing Manager, Patrick Sande, said. The nine Techno Alpin M18 fan snow-making guns will be placed in choice areas along the front side of the mountain. The guns will be accompanied by 23 hydrants that will supply water to the guns and in-
crease their mobility. “It runs from the bottom of chair two, which is Musical Chairs, and it runs up all the way to the village, through the village and runs all the way to the top of Midway,” Sande said. The snow-making guns are functional but haven’t been put to use yet. “ We are keeping our eyes on the forecast and waiting until we get to that ideal range where we can get the snow guns back on,” Sande said. What the 2008 ski season has in store is still uncertain. Schweitzer will take what it can get from the clouds and the additional snow-making capabilities that the snow-making guns bring. “I definitely don’t want to speak for Mother Nature, but what we’ve seen so far is promising,” Sande said.
Cedar Hills church, along with Ronald Adams, have built a new addition for skateboarders in Sandpoint. The Dethbox, a new skate park, is located on the northern side of Cedar Hills Church, across from the S.T.E.P. training center. It is “so that people will have a warm place to skate in the winter time. I also want this to be a comfortable place in Sandpoint for people to go and learn to skate,” Adams said of the park. The park consists of one nearly six foot half pipe, a box and a seven foot quarter pipe that leads into another twenty foot quarter pipe that is flat against the wall, which comes back to a Euro gap[a ramp with a lip cut into the middle] in a bank. “Just come down to the shop [Dethbox], I should know when we’re skating.” Matt Splat, owner of the dethbox said. The park is not officially open yet, so far they have only been hosting "underground" sessions.The park will be open two days a week all year. These two days will most likely be Wednesday and Thursday, although it has not yet been finalized. The park is free for anyone who wants to ride, although riders under 18 must have a waiver signed by a parent first. People who have visited the park already have positive things to say about it. “It was a lot of fun- nice people, definitely a good place to go in the winter, and it was warm in there,” Sandpoint high school graduate Brock Wahlin said of the skate park the first time he went. Adams spent nearly three months constructing the new skate park, with a little help from friends and local skaters. “If I had got all the materials right away I could have had it STEFFEN SPRAGGINS done in two weeks” Adams said. Adams encourages people to come to the park, “for anyone ■ FLYING HIGH: Trying to avoid injury, Ryan Anderson attempts a front side indy at the new skatepark who wants a cool place to hang out and skate.”
Fall Sports SWAC to of fer complimentar y State Wrap-Up memberships to a chosen few -advertisement-
Boys’ Soccer: State champs
Girls’ Soccer: 4th place (5A) Football: qualified for state playoffs Girls’ XC: 6th place Boys’ XC: 12th place Girls’ swimming: 4th place Boys’ Swimming: 4th place Volleyball: State Champs
Want to become a top rated player in a sport that you can play for decades? Sandpoint West Athletic Club may have the opportunity for you! SWAC is offering a limited number of “sponsored player” memberships that any youth between the ages of 14-20 can apply for. So what is a “sponsored player”? According to Don Helander, owner of SWAC, “we’re looking for a few naturally gifted and determined athletes that will accept our help to become high level players in either racquetball, handball, squash or all three. Racquetball, handball and squash (court sports) are games that: •are physically demanding •satisfy “competitive drive” •are able to be played
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hours per week and continually advancing their skill in the game(s). Does it matter if I’m an SHS/SMS athlete? Court sports are excellent cross training for varsity sports. Due to the time required to maintain “sponsored” status it is up to the athlete, parent, coach and SWAC to determine the feasibility of long term success as a court sport player. SWAC recommends applying to be a “sponsored” player and, if selected for an interview, can then determine the appropriateness of a dual athletic role. Athletes that are “off season” will receive strong consideration in the first selection process. How can I apply? Stop by SWAC and pick up a “Sponsored Court Sport Player” application today!
Become a
“Sponsored Court Sport Player” Learn life sports: ■ Raquetball ■ Handball ■ Squash ■
Subscribe to the Cedar Post!
through decades of life •are excellent cross training for all other sports •help maintain excellent physical conditioning for all other activities So, if you’re selected as a “sponsored court sport player” what does that mean? A sponsored player receives complimentary temporary memberships that are renewable-based on continued focus on learning court sports. The player receives initial equipment to get started and can then earn better equipment, clothing, longer term memberships, friend/play passes, entry expenses into local, regional and possibly national tournaments. In order to maintain “sponsored” status a player must be coachable, accountable to play/train a minimum average of five
at Sandpoint West
Selected Applicants: - Will receive a membership to Sandpoint West Athletic Club - Will have access to excellent coaching and training - Can earn equipment, player friend passes, and sponsorship to local, regional and possibly national tournaments -Will learn sports that they can play competitively for decades
PICK UP AN APPLICATION AT SANDPOINT WEST AND APPLY TODAY!
Call Tina Wilson at 263-3034 ext. 244
1905 Pine 263-6633
Page 8
November 25, 2008
Cedar Post
Editors’ Choice:
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Perfect Pate Brisee 21/2 cups all purpose flour 1 tsp salt 1 tsp sugar 1 cup chilled unsalted butter, cut in pieces 1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water Mix dry ingredients and add butter pieces Work with h ands until resembles course meal Add water slowly and continue working together until makes dough ball mix all filler ingredients together in a bowl
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2 (0.3 ounce) packages sugar-free cherry flavored gelatin mix 2 cups boiling water 1 (16 ounce) can jellied cranberry sauce 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained 1/2 cup chopped pecans
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Kat’s c-apple c-pie
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st wels. Add h paper to whole bird liberat dry wit at p d co d an an e, low pan ck wings inside wid and sage. Tuck ba and y om oven ting rack ar as m ro se on ro emove fr h art R it p s. w t g te es u k on in Place bird ic m th y al F. for 30 eter into s to cavit tral) oil. er ic et eu es om at n re m om er om eg er m h d ar th er r ot en at 500 sert probe 0 degrees F. Set th canola (o 2 to 2 1/2 l of the ov aluminum foil, in ally with 5 of 3 ve l le to ta t to re es u a at low r of ire Roast on ng temper bird should requ ouble laye rving. st with d en, reduci nd s before ca te cover brea turn to ov es. A 14 to 16 pou u re in d m an 15 st r re fo ea eg d br d re e 1 of th to 16 y cove available) turkey rest, loosel alarm (if ting. Let as ro of hours 1/2
Combine the gelatin and boiling water; stir until gelatin is dissolved. Mix in cranberry sauce and pineapple. Transfer to glass serving dishes. Sprinkle with chopped nuts. Chill until set and serve.
Keegan’s crumbelievable coffee cake c. shortening 1 tsp. vanilla 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 c. sour cream 2 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt 3/4 c. sugar 3 eggs 1 tsp. soda
Cream the shortening, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time. Add sour cream. Mix together and add powder, soda, flour and salt. Put 1/2 batter into greased 9 inch pan. Add 1/2 crumb mixture then rest of the batter. Top with remaining crumb topping. Bake for 50 minutes at 350 degrees.
I’m thankful for...
A pocket-size last-minute ‘thankful for’ list ■ Gravity
Thanksgiving traditions: What are your family’s favorite thanksgiving traditions? “We watch football, play games, and eat a lot. My whole family comes to visit.” Danielle McNeal SENIOR
■ Chapstick ■ Mashed Potatoes ■ Snow ■ Trashy VH1 shows (shout out to Scream Queens)
“Every year we have a pool tournament with our close friends and family.” Samantha Trulock JUNIOR
■ TLC ■ That’s what she said jokes ■ Calculator games
“We visit with family, play board games and eat pumpkin cheesecake.” Cameron Brownell SOPHOMORE
■ Love, love, love ■ Fridays ■ Text messaging
“We always watch ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ as a family.” C.J. Semones FRESHMAN