October 2010 by Cedar Post

Why isn’t Jerry in the Hall? Page 6

page 7

Volume 88, Issue 3

Sandpoint High School

october 2010 Volleyball off to state Page 7

Top Ten Halloween Costumes

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Oh, it’s nothing

School district defends credibilty against Guggenheim documentary Amanda Hayes Opinion Editor

The Cedar Post staff collaborated to make this List of costumes so you can be cool on Oct. 31.

Ghost

its a good backup plan

In light of Davis Guggenheim’s “Waiting for Superman”, a documentary that bitterly criticizes American public education, Sandpoint educators seem to generally agree that schooling is not “broken”, at least not in the Lake Pend Oreille School District (LPOSD). But, ranked 43rd in the country, only 14.4 percent of Idaho high school freshmen will complete college. “The movie is a gross generalization,” Superintendent Dick Cvitanich said. “I believe they

have really missed the value of the majority of US public schools.” He did not view the film due to limited viewing in North Idaho, but gathered his opinions from reviews and interviews. He is not waiting or searching for education’s superhero. Sandpoint High School boasts one of the highest graduation rates nationwide at nearly 90 percent. The majority of the district’s Idaho Standard Achievement Test (ISAT) scores are above average, but SAT scores still slump around 30 points below the state average. One reason cited for LPOSD’s success is the Panhandle Alliance for Education (PAFE), which has

provided more than $1 million to Bonner County schools since its founding in 2002. PAFE has allowed for Advanced Placement classes, preliminary SAT and ACT testing, as well as a post-secondary guidance counselor position. Last year 69 percent of graduating seniors declared postsecondary plans, but the district has no way of determining whether these plans were executed. “We have to choose between focusing on the current seniors and following up with graduates,” said post-secondary counselor Jeralyn Mire, explaining that there is not enough

Basically Speaking Do you feel you are receiving a good education at SHS? “I think that the math and the science departments are pretty good at our school, but the English department lacks a lot.” Joni Johnson

“I kind of like this high school because it’s so chill.”

Superman continued page 2

Josh Allen

Cop

“Yes, I do. I think we’re better than all of the other schools.”

someone needs to get busted Natalie Kilgore

Lady Cop

cause it’s good looking

“Yeah, I think that some of the teachers don’t do as well teaching in certain subjects as they could. I couldn’t care less [about] others”

Graphic by Max Horn

n Falling to pieces: Are SHS students falling behind like those students portrayed in “Waiting for Superman”?

Breaking down the barriers

Farm Animal

if you pull it off, it might look good

Three programs at high school designed to aid students with special needs Jule Paul

Lady Gaga

clothes made of meat are scary

Pirate

give all your booty!

Vampire

be popluar with all the tween girls

Cowboy

Giddy up ya’ll

Skiier

Be practical, be warm.

Princess

Expose your inner girly girl

Staff Writer SHS offers three individualized programs for students with special needs, the Life Skills program, special education and response to intervention (RTI). There is some confusion as to what these different programs do and whether some of their techniques, like taking students out of certain classes, is beneficial. Here is a look at the seperate programs.

LIFE SKILLS

The Life Skills program, which Connie Johnson is in charge of, separates students from their peers to offer a unique and practical education for them. These students are “many years behind their peers”, Johnson said, so the program focuses on functional learning activities to prepare them for life after high school, getting a job and becoming independent individuals. For example, they teach the students “math applicable to time, money and scheduling.” The main focus of the program is function, Johnson says. The program “is not academically oriented.” Due to this, students who are part of this program take hands-on classes, like

Family in the workplace Page 2

Rachel Winget

n Whole new world: Jessica Cartwrite examines a specimen under her microscope.

P.E., art and choir with their peers for one half of the day, in an attempt to break down the barrier between the two groups. Teachers of the Life Skills program try to work together with the students to decide which classes are right for them. The other half of the day, the students are involved in the community and work at places like Les Schwab and Yoke’s to get hands-on job experience. The program tries to set up a different job each semester for the students to offer a variety of job

What’s inside?

News.....................................................................Page 2 Opinion................................................................Page 3 Arts & Culture.....................................................Page 4, 5 Sports...................................................................Page 6, 7

experiences and help them decide which job is truly right for them. Due to this combination of high school classes and job experience, students can still be with their fellow students, but can also get an “individualized education,” Johnson said.

SPECIAL ED

The special education program is for students who function lower than the general population, said Dave McNeely, director of Lake Pend Oreille School District’s

Courtesy photo

special services program. These students take special classes that move at a slower pace than regular classes so teachers can “provide instruction at [the students’] level,” McNeely said. The district tries to create “individual education plans [for each students],” McNeely said, to create the “best learning environment [for them].”

RTI

Unlike Life Skills or special education, RTI is a general education program.

Randi Kulis, who is the RTI coordinator, has worked in special education for a long time and found it “frustrating” because many students did not qualify for special services, but still needed some help to get caught up with the rest of their fellow students. For a student to be part of the special education program, they must qualify by taking several tests that indicate the need to be in the program. With RTI the district tries to “support [students] before they fall behind,” Kulis said. The program is meant to prevent students from needing to be part of the special education program, and instead, “catching kids that you’ve never caught before,” she said. There is a screening process in place to decide which students qualify for RTI, including the consideration of risk factors, such as academic achievement, excessive tardies and disciplinary problems. Kulis describes the program as “difficult” because there are currently no high school models of such a system in the United States, and the program in the district is “still so in development.” But she said RTI has “huge results academically.”

David Jenkins Memorial Back Page

Page 2

Cedar Post

October 2010

Cedar Post Monthly Calendar

n n

Nov. 5 - End of first quarter (non-student day) n

Nov 12 - Professional Development (non student day) n

Nov. 10 - P/T Conferences (one hour early release) n

Nov 17 - Early Release n

Nov 19 - Blood Drive @ SHS

Nov. 11 - P/T Conf (non-student day)

photo by syDney Morris

n one happY FaMilY: The Bartons enjoy each other’s company while working together at Sandpoint High School.

Nov 19 - Drivers Ed parent meeting 7:00 pm SHS Auditorium

Driving the Gantlet

GraphiC by Max horn anD Garrett Dunn

Recent accidents in parking lot lead to safety questions

A family affair

Teachers adapt to working with spouses, teaching their children Jule PAul

Staff reporter

mACKenZIe JOnes Business Manager

Despite two accidents in the last six months and the parking lot being described as a “mad house” at times, school officials say the school’s parking lot is safe. The most recent accident happened after school on Sept. 27. Daniel Myers, 21, failed to yield to SHS student Jesse Pardue, 17, who was speeding while driving southbound in the far east road of the parking lot, according to a police report. Myers reportedly struck Pardue on the right rear tire, causing Pardue to lose control and flip his vehicle. Myers told school resource officer Ian Hoyland he didn’t see Pardue’s vehicle because his view was obstructed by a bus parked in the lot for a Student Council sponsored food drive. “The parking lot is just a mad house at that time of the day,” said assistant principal Tom Albertson, who added the location of the bus probably didn’t help matters. Principal Dr. Becky Meyer had a different opinion. “I definitely don’t agree that the parking lot is a ‘mad

photo by Jasper Gibson

n the arterY CloG: The entrance/exit to the Sandpoint High School parking lot is consistently clogged with cars before and after school throughout the week.

house,’” she said. “At that time of day, the parking lot is congested and full, which means students need to be more conscientious of other people, and also need to be kind.” No one was injured in the accident. But that wasn’t the case last spring. Junior Jamie Elsfelder was hit by a car as she walked through the school’s parking lot. Elsfelder was not seriously injured, but she did spend 4 hours in the emergency room at Bonner General Hospital. Elsfelder said she doesn’t think the parking lot is

Superman from page 1 support to fund both pursuits. Twenty-eight percent of graduating seniors claimed they would enroll in a four-year college this fall, but Mire said she is already aware of a few who did not follow through. Sandpoint High School principal Dr. Becky Meyer said that increasing both graduation rate and post-secondary planning are among the school’s top priorities for this year. “I would like to see that every student has a plan,” she said. “We need to inculcate the idea of ‘you will go on after high school’ from an early age.” Although Guggenheim has admitted that

designed in a way that’s dangerous, but that it’s definitely too small. “I was just in the wrong spot at the right time,” Elsfelder said. No records of either accident were available from the high school. Most information for this story was compiled from Sandpoint Police Department reports. The Lake Pend Oreille School District, however, lists on its Web site its mission to develop “in all students an on-going personal commitment to drive in a safe manner in spite of the

not all charter schools are exemplary, his film portrays five students who feel that receiving a quality education is dependent upon winning the charter school lottery system. This is not the case in Sandpoint. Alan Millar, principal of Sandpoint Charter Middle School, said that all charter schools are required to use a lottery, but this causes few prospective students to be turned away in Sandpoint. “[The film] is accurate in terms of its references to urban schools in America,” he said. Larger charter schools in Boise will often see anywhere from 500 to 1000 students on

conditions around them or the actions of others.” “There are too many accidents from small mistakes,” Elsfelder said. “You’d think something would change.” Despite the recent accidents, Meyer said the parking lot is safe for students. “The parking lot is perfectly safe when people obey the speed limit and follow traffic laws,” Meyer said. “We only have one entrance and one exit whereas regular schools have one section for student parking, staff parking and a specific section for buses.”

It is not as awkward as you would think for students and teachers who have family members at the school. There are several siblings and cousins that attend the school together, but there are also parents and spouses who learn or work with family members. Some of these include Jim and Lisa Barton, Cheryl O’Donnell and her son, Christopher, and Becky Meyer and her daughter Kaylee. Lisa and Jim Barton are both teachers at Sandpoint High and have experience working together. However, these are not always positive ones. Every morning, Jim Barton makes lunch for him and Lisa Barton. One day, he was “very proud of his creation,” Lisa Barton recalls, and told her several times during the day how excited he was for her to eat it. When lunch time came, Lisa Barton went to the lounge to find a tuna salad. “I hate tuna,” Lisa Barton said. So for the rest of the

waiting lists. The Sandpoint Charter School consistently scores lower on the ISAT than the district. “This fact surprises people from time to time, but the data is very clear,” said Cvitanich. “They offer a fine program, but I believe LPOSD is superior in most ways.” Hearing this information, Millar said, “We acknowledge that we have some work to do in that area. If you want to make sure your child gets good test scores, there are places you should go to do that, but our students are looking for a more-rounded peace.” Sandpoint Charter School teacher Julie Williams was careful to point out that it is

day, she contemplated whether she should “lie and say [she] loved it or crush him by telling him it was horrible.” During her 4th period class, she asked her students because they were currently discussing emotional fallacies. That period, her husband came into the class to find out whether she enjoyed her lunch. After lying and saying it was delicious, Lisa Barton’s secret was revealed when “the class started giggling.” However, not all experiences of having relatives at the same school are bad ones. Many students and their parents do not mind being so close all day, including math teacher Cheryl O’Donnell and son, freshman Christopher O’Donnell. “At first, I was nervous to go to the high school because I didn’t know how it would be having her here, but I actually don’t mind it now,” Christopher O’Donnell said, “and I can store stuff in her room.” “It’s not a big deal [to have him here],” Ms. O’Donnell said, “I don’t actually see him all day.”

not really a controversy of traditional versus charter. “Charter schools are simply an option,” she said. “It’s not one size fits all. That’s not what education is about.” For this system that is not “categorically broken”, educators went on to list a longer school year, mandatory preschool, greater parental involvement, greater respect accorded teachers and learning in society, consequences for students for non-performance, more courageous leaders, improved test scores, success for special education students and more as factors of the system that should all be improved upon.

Cedar Post

Page 3

October 2010

Our View 1

Absolutely every person can afford it. There are women from Afghanistan at Middlebury who hid in a basement filling out applications because they weren’t allowed to go to school. We don’t think they’re paying the full $50 grand. Or a penny of it. There are a lot of people out there who want to help you make it happen, because it’s really in everyone’s best interest that you go. If you go, your kids probably will, too. So, you will have effectively changed the future by improving the lives of your progeny for generations to come. And by the way, even in a difficult economy, only 4% of college graduates are unemployed. Don’t be the person who’s envious of the dangerous factory jobs being outsourced to India. Applications are really not so hard. Colleges want you to tell them about yourself, the stuff that you know better than anybody else. It might just be the best test you’ve ever taken. And applying doesn’t take as long as you might think. We bet you could knock out the Common App in an evening. Learning is the best thing we’ve got going.

If you don’t want to go to college, you’re an idiot

We’re human, it’s what we do really well. Embrace it. Plus, the United States may have some trouble with some of its high schools, but we’ve just about monopolized the world’s university system. So you may want to tap into that. We’ve heard it’s super fun. Living on your own for the first time is at its best when you can experience it with people doing the same thing in an environment designed for experimenting. It’s hard to say for sure exactly how great college is, but it can’t be worse than this place. Just kidding, we like SHS. Even the idiot dumb enough to think he doesn’t need to go is smart enough to get in somewhere. With more than 4,000 colleges in this country, there really is somewhere for everyone. Truthfully, most people could probably be happy at a lot of different places. Really though, please stop talking about seeing the real world, and go get a degree first. That way, when you do see the real world and you realize all of the weird things that are wrong with it, you can fix them.

Letterstothe Editor The Cedar Post encourages you to voice your opinion. This is where your thoughts go. Feel passionately about something? We are your public forum. Drop a letter with your t houghts and name in room E8 or e-mail shscedarpost@gmail.com

Cartoon by eVan MetZ

Finally, the Bulldogs see a little bit of spirit became a family. They came back with more support and enthusiasm than one could have ever hoped for. Even the team rallied after the loss of the player and scored against the visiting Trojans. On that night it didn’t matter whether the team had won or lost, because the Sandpoint family won — won back their reputation of being the most fanatic football fans in the Idaho Panhandle. My hope is that it won’t always take a significant injury to inspire a community under their stadium lights again.

We may be similar, but we’re not at all the same

’ve always wondered what thoughts crowded my mind before I was heaved into a world of dazzling light and prodding doctors. I muse about the imaginings that may have danced across the blank slate of my consciousness. However, whatever contemplation went on under my skull during those nine months, nothing could have prepared me for the endless joys and the never-ending trials of having a twin sister.

“Which one are you? Where’s your sister? What do you mean, you don’t know? Aren’t you supposed to be telepathic or something?” People assume we are the same. To them, we are carbon copies who hold hands and smile simultaneously. Little do they know how different we are. I am outgoing, and she is shy. She is neat, and I am cursed to wander the earth as a slob. Being compared to your sister for your entire life can certainly be a trial. From birth, Amanda and I have been forced to diverge and trained not to cross paths — doing so would conform to society’s expectations for us. We be-

came bent on forging our own swords in order to avoid being seen as identical in every aspect. People group us as a unit. “This one is the quiet one. This one is the preppy one.” What they don’t realize is that even as they attempt to separate us in their minds, in ours, they are erasing our identities. We may be recognized as different, but we are still being taken out of the same unit. I speak for all the pairs of twins at the school. All of us have experienced these issues at one time or another. So, please be careful, and make sure you remember that all people deserve to be recognized.

Cruelty makes us feel bigger, but it doesn’t make us better

hat you say and do can have a huge effect on other people, so it’s best to think first, then speak and act. Thoughtless words or acts, even when not intended to be mean, can cut deep. Extreme examples are Phoebe Prince and Tyler Clementi. They both took their own lives after they felt hurt and attacked by their fellow students. Tyler, an 18-year old freshman at Rutgers University, may have been gay, but he was definitely very private. Just last month, Tyler’s Rutger’s roommate secretly taped Tyler making out with a guy in their dorm room and posted it on You Tube. Tyler wasn’t able to handle the shame, and on Sept. 22 he killed himself by jumping off a bridge

into the Hudson River. Phoebe, at age 14, immigrated to the United States with her mother from Ireland in the fall of 2009. She enrolled in a public high school in Massachusetts. Phoebe got romantically involved with a football player, and jealous students started making fun of her. They harassed her repeatedly. On Jan. 14, the day she hanged herself in her own home, someone threw an empty soda can at her and called her names as she walked home from school. Tyler’s and Phoebe’s attackers didn’t commit murder, and they couldn’t have been expected to anticipate that either would commit suicide. But they each bullied someone who was really fragile. And as a result, all of them are being charged with crimes. Tyler’s roommate is being charged with invasion of privacy. And nine students at South Hadley High School in Massachusetts are being charged with harassment of Phoebe Prince. So do students at SHS say and do hurtful

things? Sometimes they do. Examples include forwarding an unflattering text message or photo, or complimenting someone sarcastically, or making unflattering observations about what someone does, or commenting negatively about someone’s appearance or clothes, or making snide remarks about someone’s performance during an academic or extracurricular activity. Sometimes students act thoughtlessly and impulsively, and even worse, sometimes they can be cruel. Fortunately, it’s the exception rather than the rule. But it does happen. Being hurtful or mean may make you feel bigger, but it won’t make you better. In the long run no one is better off when someone becomes a target. So be considerate. And check your impulses and think before you act or talk. It will make you better, the other person better, and our school and community a better place to live and love.

•

To the band’s new arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner •

To teachers spraying water on students at the dance.

•

To our admin. for new table, benches and music room chairs •

To bad dance music and student DJ's

•

To the football team for not giving up

•

To thieves at school

•

To all sponsors of the Bulldog Finance Fair

•

To new bus drivers with tyrannical power trips

•

To Dr. Meyer and her new husbnand

•

To Mr. Brownell not being back yet

•

To teachers that teach to you, not at you

•

To moving the foyer lunch line to the trophy case

•

To Mr. Jenkins for leaving an inspirational legacy

•

To the sophomores for not having a powderpuff team

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.

”

nder those Friday night lights, so treasured by the citizens of Sandpoint, something like a miracle happened on Oct. 8, 2010. The date will always have a special meaning for me. Not because one of the varsity football players was hurt, but rather the reaction of the community to his aﬄiction and recovery.

Now, you’ve heard me say before that we need more spirit. More pride. More love for our school. But in this case, I don’t think even my imaginary utopia high school could have performed better. The moment the player went down, the stands stood still. People praying, crying, worried beyond belief. And they stayed that way for the entire incident. Not only the students reacted, but parents, alumni, siblings, and just football fans in general, all waited anxiously for the ambulance to take their boy away. And so the many different people of the city

•

Explain market equilibrium ‘Well, there’s this taco and this lazer beam’

•

Do dinosaur noises make you feel better?

•

I’ll keep it forever and ever until we break up

•

What’s a salad bar? Like a granola bar, but salad?

•

I had a juice box and it made me hyper

•

I’m partial to the whip

•

You human jar of mayonaise

•

So Mr. Aunan compared you to his favorite cocker spaniel? ‘Yeah, it was weird’

•

Wait, your mom is racist against plastic spoons?

•

Dude, I feel like I can see through my toes

•

I’m pretty sure LSD isn’t a cure for cancer ‘I beg to differ’

•

I just heard the word sewdish and now I want meatballs

•

Seriously, who puts tomatoes in ketchup anymore?

•

School is like a dementor. You have to fight it off with happiness so it doesn’t suck the soul out of you.

•

I’ve never seen a 100-pound girl eat so many tacos

•

I want the DNA from your hair so one day I may raise you in my womb and you may nurse from me

Spotlight Cedar Post

Page 4

October 2010

the

Streaker steals the spotlight during homecoming week GeORGe WOOd Staff reporter

Recently, Sandpoint High School has seen a growing trend in bold exhibitionism by its students, including the largely unsuccessful Superman Runner at the last assembly, and the participants of the SHS Rap Battle during homecoming week. One act however, performed during the Homecoming game on Oct. 1, streaked by the competition, catching the attention of the student body, administration, and Sandpoint community. Junior Bryce Lewis is the alleged (mostly) nude runner, and is facing inquiry by the administration to charge him with indecent exposure. So far, they have been unable to pin the act on him, for lack of verifiable evidence “They can think it was me

all they want,” Lewis said, “but I guess we’ll just never know.” The streaker was not completely bare-naked, but a pale white runner in a shimmering red thong on the sidelines was a sight the audience at the football game, and the players themselves, did not expect to see. Lewis, meanwhile, has had a history of daring ventures, most recently the time when he jumped in the swamp by the track field for $70 during a class walk. With his pants on. Fully submerged. He normally likes doing these endeavors for laughs and money, but he admits that this isn’t the craziest thing he’s done. Still, he said it was pretty cool getting recognition for it by numerous students for his alleged bravodo. Will he top the stunt? “Well, just watch the field next Homecoming” he said.

n naKed aMBition: Junior Bryce Lewis takes a moment from running for a picture. Lewis has had a history of performing daring ventures for money, including jumping into a swamp for $70. photo by DyLan VoGeL

eat, drink and be scary Master of scaremonies Jenna Faude provides a guide to Halloween

Scarywood Blood Bayous. Terror Canyon Trails. Zombiewood Express. Sound scary? On weekends in October, Silverwood Theme Park is hosting its famed Scarywood Haunted Nights, and with a $1 million budget, it is sure to be worth the scream. “I liked everything but the freezing weather. They did a really good job at making it scary,” junior Chloe Logan said. For an indoor haunted house,

visit Blood Bayou. Actors dress up as many different frightening characters from your nightmares and proceed to jump out at you at various times throughout your walk. With a shaky elevator, loud noises, and huge ghouls, the suspense builds with every turn. The popular roller coaster, Timber Terror, will be flying backwards on its tracks. Thunder Canyon has been drained of all water and transformed into the

Terror Canyon trail where people are stalked by creepy monsters. And the cute little train little kids ride in the spring? Steam Engine No. 7 is now an action-packed, zombie hunting adventure that only the brave can withstand. One tip, purchase your ticket online before you go. With thousands of visitors, you don’t want to waste your time in the ticket line. Save that for the hours you will wait for the more amusing attractions.

5 tips to put you on top

ince the release of Bungie’s most recent and last Halo game, Reach, thousands of gamers across the world, SHS students included, have dumped countless hours into this work of art. Since September 14, 2010 the Halo community has been conquering Reach’s difficult achievements, breaking through wave after wave of firefight, and racking up dozens of headshots in match making. Players have logged the hours, but sometimes practicing alone isn’t enough to give you the leading edge in the multiplayer field that you need to make the top of the K.D. spread. These are a few tips and tricks that can give you the leg up on the match making competition. Tip #1: Don’t be a Hero. When you go head to head against another player on the battlefield, it’s usually a fight to the death. If your shields get low, don’t just accept defeat. Use the Sprint or Jetpack power-up to escape danger, or if you have Armor Lock or Hologram, send a frag or a decoy out and get away while they are distracted. Looking like a coward and having a chance at seconds is better than letting them score that one kill. Tip #2: “All out of mercy, but I’ve got plenty of bullets.” Forget the reload time while you’re running around trying to swap clips, they’re going to be busy loading a cloud of burning lead into your face. This tip is most useful on a classic slayer map. If you’ve unloaded your entire assault

rifle into them and only managed to take down their shields, drop the reload time and switch to your magnum immediately after running out of ammo. Two quick headshots with your sidearm and they’re down for the count. Tip#3: Short, controlled bursts. If you’re a veteran of the Halo series, you will have noticed a new feature of Reach is the expanding crosshair. The longer you hold down that trigger, the more skewed your aim will become. With automatic weapons, aim for the head in small bursts, this will keep your crosshair narrow, and maximize the amount of successful hits you make. Small bursts to the face are better than a continuous spray around their head, neck, and shoulders. Tip#4: The Infamous Grenade Trap. When your in a one-on-one firefight with someone, and they are moving around, a wellplaced grenade in the place where they are going to be, combined with a few shots to the dome will quickly dispatch an enemy. The left trigger isn’t just for spamming. Tip #5: “Choose wisely…” Power-up choices are very important. Some power-ups are better than others for certain game types. For example: Armor Lock is excellent for vehicle maps, they can’t be splattered or taken out by heavy vehicle fire; not to mention how easy is makes boarding that enemy ghost. Most of this is common sense, just make sure you choose well according to the game type.

Principal weds

trick or treating Whether you are 17 or five years old, the excitement can always be found in trick-or-treating. Here are some of the favorite neighborhoods to gather loads of candy, and bundles of fun: Mountain Meadows- Six streets full of small children, and houses that are expecting big numbers of visitors,

combine for the easiest “get-all-thecandy-you-can” night. Located behind the health club, this is the prime central location for all the safe, family fun. Ponder Point- If you live in the Northeast Sandpoint area, a better option might be Ponder Point. Its seclusion offers a great, quiet place

for candy hunting and a good escape from all of those “inner-city” people. Northshore- Similar to Mountain Meadows, Northshore is a great spot for the ultimate candy grabber. One big circle of inviting houses and children’s Halloween parties, do not miss this awesome hot-spot of non-stop fun.

pumpkin Carving Do not let too much homework be an excuse for missing out on great holiday traditions! This Halloween, make sure to remember to carve a pumpkin.

Get together with your friends or family and cut a creepy face into your orange ball of nature’s produce, then bake the seeds for an extra bonus treat at the end! Chances are you

will have a fun time spending quality hours on this activity. Make sure to display the pumpkin for all to see, and show off your hard work!

Eve’s Leaves

First in Fashion Proud to be an SHS Alumna 326 North First Avenue Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 (208) 263-0712 - Fax (208) 265-2490 Email: marilyn@eves-leaves.net Marilyn Dalby Sabella Owner

Courtesy photo

Dr. Becky Kiebert is now Dr. Meyer. The principal married Jeff Meyer Oct. 16 in a small, private ceremony. The newlyweds spent their honeymoon ﬁshing in Alaska the week following the ceremony. Meyer requests that students adhere to her new name, but she recognizes that it may take time to adjust. “They can still call me Kiebert, if they really want to,” Meyer said. The marriage was kept quiet to minimize the hype and keep the school functioning as smoothly as possible, she said.

Whiskey Jack Bikes Don’t throw your old junker bike away! We will Buy, Sell, Trade and Repair at reasonable rates. Bike parts also welcome. Call 263-5891 or see Mr. Shook. All bikes for sale are rebuilt and ready to ride.

Cedar Post

Page 5

October 2010

A closer look at one of Sandpoint’s icons mOlly RICKARd Staff reporter

The second chapter in the Cedar Post’s work of fiction

shaggy black dog, wagging its tail, stared me right in the face as I laid on the ground, exhausted. Suddenly, I heard spurts of gunfire, and dust billowed out of the cliff lip behind me. I quickly scooted away, and climbed to my feet. As I dusted myself off, the dog impatiently walked in a circle, keeping eye contact with me, drool and tongue out of its mouth.

Then something clicked. “I’m supposed to follow you, is that it? You’re my escort?” Wagging. More drool. My leather bag started moving, its contents becoming restless. I silenced it with a quick elbow jab and looked back at the dog, “Hold on a sec boy. Don’t fetch.” I turned back toward the cliff, and laid my fingers on the lone grenade on my hip. I stole a quick peak over to

take aim, and another spurt of bullets whizzed by overhead. The pin went out, and the grenade flew over. I didn’t risk another peek, but I was sure it was a good throw. I turned again. “Alright, lead on then, I guess “ It stopped wagging, and trotted away from the lip dutifully. I opened my bag to check on how its contents were doing. It looked unscathed, and I

said “Hey you, you may not know it, but you’re going to save a lot people. One of which being this girl I may or may not like.” I frowned as it shook again. “You better do this right, cause we only got one shot at this.” It was silent, so I shouldered the pack again. The dog looked back, and I jogged to catch back up. Of course, I had no idea where we were going — that would’ve been too easy.

Royal controversy hits homecoming week Homecoming royalty rules repealed before voting took place Jule PAul

Staff reporter After there was some controversy about this year’s homecoming royalty, the administration is currently discussing whether there should be certain rules to eliminate some of the nominees before voting takes place. Monday through Thursday

during homecoming week, senior class Secretary/ Treasurer Markie Franck personally checked if each nominee had dressed up for that particular day. If they had not dressed up, they were eliminated from the competition. In addition to being expected to dress up, nominees had to attend the powderpuff game that takes

Internet game

t is certainly rare to find complete peace of mind, a state of complete focus and bliss. I have heard tales of exotic monks achieving this state constantly, but in contemporary society it is very difficult to do so. Recently, I have found brief nirvana in a very unexpected place: the internet. At first I instantly associated Robot Unicorn Attack with all of the other bland games on the interwebs. I thought it was just another “Helicopter Game”, “Lemonade

place Wednesdays during homecoming week. However, nominees who were eliminated based on these criteria were put back on the ballot after the administration decided that it would be discriminatory against students who cannot afford to buy costumes or go to the powderpuff game due to monetary reasons.

A n r o , Robot Unic

Stand”, “Line Rider 2” or the like, soon to fade into history; I haven’t been more wrong since Mr. Search’s class. Robot Unicorn Attack is an excellent blend of all of the elements any good addiction requires. The basic elements of the game seem plain. Players control a running robot unicorn with two buttons: jump and dash. The object of the game is to survive a floating land, which happens to contain many obstacles.

Shop to a different beat! Funky, Hip & Affordable Women’s Clothing

Student Council decided to create these new homecoming royalty rules to increase fading school spirit and “help make sure it isn’t just a popularity contest,” Franck said. “Homecoming royalty should be students that not only represent SHS well, but have school spirit,” Franck said, “It shouldn’t be a popularity contest.”

ttack is

The game never actually ends, a player simply racks up score by surviving and collecting stars and magical pixies. The game excels in many areas, however. First of all, the beautiful environments and effects would even make Ben McKenzie feel more than one emotion, unlike his entire career in the drama, The OC. Watching the gallant unicorn bound over grass-covered islands is a treat for the occipital lobe in itself. Also, as the unicorn dashes or

an e

xe c e l l e n t

jumps, chromatic rainbows burst from its majestic body, simply incredible. Second, the music of this game ties the entire package together. The theme song, “Always” by Erasure, is an eighties-sounding melody, perfectly accompanying you as you explore the randomlygenerated mystical world. All of these elements added together create an outstanding experience, but the experience is not without flaw. The game has some surprisingly dismal

One of the much loved treasures of the Sandpoint area is its beautiful and timeless theater, the Panida. This venue, located in downtown Sandpoint, opened its doors as a movie house and Vaudeville (a location for various forms of entertainment) in 1927. Its name has a significant meaning, coming from the first three letters of where it is located: the Panhandle of Idaho. The Panida was designed to showcase the performers and entertain the audiences of residents in North Idaho. It is admired for its beautiful Spanish Mission style architecture, as well as its acoustic perfection. The venue can hold up to 550 people and approximately 144 performances are scheduled annually. The Panida is not only treasured by Sandpoint, the performance house has been recognized all over the Northwest. It is on the National Register of Historical Places, along with recognition by the Idaho Commission of Arts and the Idaho Centennial Commission. The Panida Theatre has remained beautifully preserved and will live on in the heart of Sandpoint for many years to come. For more information, visit www.panida.org.

Upcoming Events at the Panida:

Nov. 5-6 -- 7:30 p.m.: Soul Kitchen Nov. 13 -- 7:30 p.m.: The Way I See It - Ski Movie Nov. 20 -- 7:30 p.m.: Songwriters Circle Concert Dec. 2 -- 8 p.m.: The Light Wick Dec. 3 -- 7 p.m.: Eugene Ballet’s The Nutcracker Dec. 4 -- 7 p.m.: Ski Movie Dec. 10 -- 7 p.m.: Winter Wild Lands Backcountry Film Festival Dec. 15 -- 7 p.m.: Allegro Dance Studio Holiday Dance Recital Jan. 27, 28, 29 --7 p.m.: BANFF Mountain Film Festival

e of ti me t s a w themes. When you run into an obstacle, for example, your head promptly explodes off. Also, when you start a new game phrases such as “A fiery death awaits you!” appear on the screen. Although the contrasted themes are funny, they are also discouraging. Overall, RUA is an excellent experience. The game is very addictive and fun, and players can even

compete on Facebook. RUA can originally be found on adultswim.com, but now it can be found on many websites. This column writer strongly approves of RUA, and would encourage any human to experience the zen it provides.

McDonald’s

Downtown Sandpoint 324 N. First Ave 263.1116

WATERFRONT DINING FRESH SEAFOOD, STEAKS, SALADS

Sandpoint, Idaho 58 Bridge St. At City Beach 208.255.7558 www.cafetrinitysandpoint.com

BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK YEAR-ROUND

Stop by McDonald’s after the football game and receive a small dessert with any purchase of a value meal. - Must show game stamp 205 Bonner Mall Way, Ponderay - (208) 263-5614

Cedar Post

Page 6

October 2010

Why isn’t Jerry in The Hall? SHS grad is famous for NFL success, yet hasn’t reaped the biggest reward Jerry Kramer may be Sandpoint High School’s most famous graduate. His name doesn’t grab the attention of many students around the school, but there was a time when a 6-foot-3, 250-pound football player walked the halls. Kramer, a right guard who claimed to be “so clumsy I couldn’t sit at the dinner table without spilling my milk,” went on to play for the University of Idaho and the Green Bay

Packers. During his time in Wisconsin, under legendary coach Vince Lombardi, Kramer went on to win five NFL Championshipsthe last two being the first two Super Bowls, and score 177 points doubling as a kicker for the team. He was an all-pro selection for five years, named to the 50th Anniversary NFL Team, and inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1975. In addition to his success on the field, Jer-

ry Kramer also wrote “Instant Replay”, a bestselling book, while on the team. A film about Lombardi being produced by ESPN and starring Robert De Niro will be based partly on the book. Kramer’s success is measured on paper and in the hearts of his loyal fans, but still one honor has alluded him. Although being nominated for admission ten times to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he has continu-

ally been denied. The only player from the NFL’s 50th Anniversary team not in the Hall of Fame, one wonders why Kramer has yet to make the cut. The Cedar Post spoke to the Spokane sports anchor taking up Kramer’s cause, a Hall of Fame representative who helps makes the big decision, and one of our school’s most famous graduates to learn more about the story.

The Man The Advocate

The Judge

n tiM leWiS: KREM 2 sports reporter leading the push to get Jerry Kramer in the Hall of Fame.

n ira Miller: Sports Xchange reporter on the panel of judges for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Q A

Why do you think Jerry Kramer deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee consists of one media representative from each city with a pro football team, besides New York, who has two for both of its teams. In addition, there are 11 at-large delegates and one representative of the Pro Football Writers of America. These members meet and carefully scrutinize each proposed new member. In order for one to get admitted into the Hall at Canton, Ohio, 80 percent of the committee must vote positively for them. Ira Miller, of the Sports Xchange, is one of the at-large members of the Selection Committee.

Jerry Kramer is one of the best offensive lineman to play the game of football. He was a five-time All-Pro and played in two Pro Bowls. More importantly, Kramer won five NFL Championships, including the first two Super Bowls. The Packers probably wouldn’t have all of those titles if Kramer wasn’t on the team. Kramer wasn’t just an offensive lineman either, he was also the Packers kicker for several seasons. Off the field, Kramer is a great ambassador of the game. He wrote n JerrY KraMer: The H.O.F. has eluded this SHS three books about his time in the NFL and also spends countless graduate despite ﬁve NFL Championships. hours still talking about the game to anyone who wants to listen.

Q A

What actions are you taking towards getting him there?

Q A

When you were playing at SHS, what were your goals for football?

Q A Q A

Well, in high school I was a really We are running a series of stories on KREM 2 News to awkward kid, and at ﬁrst I didn’t have make people aware of Jerry Kramer. Believe it or not, many expectations. I started thinking there are many people out there who don’t know who he is. We are also encouraging our viewers to get involved. about football more when my line coach came We have a “Jerry Kramer Hall of Fame Campaign” page on to me and said I could be a good player. He said, KREM.com and we also started a Facebook page to help get “You can, if you will ...” and left me to think about Kramer into his rightful place in Canton. We are hoping that. Then one day a University of Idaho scout came people will leave comments of support on these pages. to talk to seniors. Even though I was a sophomore, he We’ll then send all of the comments to the Pro Football told me I was someone they’d like on the team one day. Hall of Fame.

Q A

Why does KREM feel this is so important?

After that sophomore year, I started to dream ... and it was my little secret about me playing in the next level.

Q A

You won the ﬁrst two Super Bowls, the second one being the “Ice Bowl” with “The Block,” tell us about that.

Should Jerry Kramer be in the Hall of Fame?

Probably. He was selected to the all-NFL team of the first 50 years. Do you think he isn’t in because of the number of Packers greats from that era?

Yes. There are some on the selection committee who are concerned about too many Packers from the ‘60s or too many Steelers from the ‘70s, or whatever. I do not believe that is a majority view but I know there is some feeling about that among some voters.

Jerry Kramer is now 74-years-old. It sounds bad, but he’s running out of time to enjoy an induction into the Pro Football Hall of My ﬁrst year in the NFL was a lot different than the others, Fame. He grew up in Sandpoint, played football because Coach Lombardi came along. He demanded every in Moscow, and now lives in the Boise area. ounce of effort you had. I was used to just doing OK, just doHe also means a lot to NFL fans all over the ing alright, and I thought, ‘OK, I’m making it, and doing good here.’ country. It would mean a lot if Kramer finally But I was lazy and took short cuts when I could. I wanted to play, and made it into the Hall of Fame. A similar play well, but had no desire to be perfect, and I left that on the table, but campaign worked for Denver Broncos great Coach Lombardi took that out of me. It’s amazing how much that little ﬁve Floyd Little. He was inducted into the Pro or seven or ten percent extra can make a difference in anything you do. I beFootball Hall of Fame last year.

Q A

Did you know about Jerry Kramer growing up?

It’s funny. I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and rooted for the Green Bay Packers as a kid. I heard about many of the guys he played with, but I never knew of Jerry Kramer. I think that says a lot. Offensive lineman just don’t get much attention. I think that’s one of the reasons he is still not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Q A Fund?

Should his consideration include what he’s given back to the game after retirement? Such as the Gridiron Greats Assistance Not really. It could help as a tie-breaker in someone’s mind but that’s about it.

‘60s and ‘70s Packers in the Hall of Fame:

n Earl Lambeau n Vince Lombardi n Don Hutson n Cal Hubbard Do you think you should be in the hall of fame? n John McNally n Clark Hinkle n Mike Michalske n Arnie Herber People always asked me, including the commissioner, and thought I was already n Walt Kiesling in, and I would have to correct them. It would lead to a lot of embarrassing conn Emlen Tunnell versations, because people always expected me to be in, so I was a little put off n Tony Canadeo by it. But then I thought about how good football has been to me, the guys, the coach, the n Len Ford books, the fun, on and on and on... and then I said ‘Hey, the game has given you 10,000 presn Jim Taylor ents, and it hasn’t given you one present. Are you gonna be a sour apple because they didn’t n Forrest Gregg give you that one present, and let all of these other wonderful experiences be forgotten?’ No, no n Bart Starr n Ray Nitschke way, football has been very good to Jerry Kramer, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

lieve that my block in the Ice Bowl was due to my extra efforts adding up.

Q A

So, I am comfortable with not being in the Hall of Fame, it’s just the way it is.

October 2010

Cedar Post

The Profile

Page 7

Senior Eric Nikssarian plays free safety and wide receiver for the Bulldogs. Against Lakeland, he also started at running back and rushed for 165 yards and 3 touchdowns. Eric, when did you start playing football?

Q A

I started playing in 7th grade with a flag football team in California. My first year of tackle football was my sophomore year, with the JV team. Then I moved here my junior year, starting playing and I’ve been loving it ever since. What happened your freshman year?

Q A

My freshman year I took off. I wanted to concentrate on baseball because that was my main sport and I also played basketball. But I played football again my sophomore year so it worked out. So who or what inspired you to start playing? An older brother?

I do have an older brother but he didn’t play football or anything. Who inspired me most was my P.E. teacher actually. We were playing it during P.E. and he told me I should definitely go out for the team and so I said “Alright, I’ll go out.” I started having fun and everything so I kept playing it. Did you have a favorite player growing up?

Q A

My favorite player, growing up in the Bay Area, was Jerry Rice. And Steve Young. They were definitely my heroes as a young kid. I used to go to the 49ers games with my parents and we’d see those two and I’d always want to be like them. They were definitely my favorite players. So has that changed, is there anyone currently you look up to? Well, I still root for the 49ers, so you know I love Frank Gore and Vernon Davis. Those are the two

Q A

guys I always root for. Just gotta stick to my hometown. How does it feel getting starting minutes on both sides of the ball? Is there added pressure? Yeah, there’s definitely added pressure, but you start to get used to it. Both sides of the ball is good. Our off-season was based on getting us into shape because we already knew we were going to have to go both ways and it was going to be a long game. I was actually excited to do it. It started out as a lot of fun because I love offense. I already knew defense was fun from last year. But, yeah, definitely some added pressure. Do you have any special pre-game rituals or routines you do before a game? Pre- game I always get taped, get suited up, then sit down at the bench and say a little prayer to myself. And that kind of sets the tone for me, gets me in the zone.

Q A Q A

Fall sports playoff season heats up eddIe OGle

Co-Sports Editor

As the fall sports seasons wind down, the year’s first playoff tournaments and races have arrived. The Cedar Post takes a look at each team’s outlook for the postseason.

tribute to Robert Joseph Cox: A man of baseball who will always be remembered. Bobby Cox left a true legacy after 30 years of managing the Toronto Blue Jays and the Atlanta Braves. At age 69, after winning five National League pennants and a World Series title, Cox decided to let his passion go. Not only did he know the game forward and backward, but he loved sharing that passion with his younger players. Most everyone who knew or did baseball business with Cox admired him, except for the umpires. Although many do know of the great achievements Cox earned throughout his career, he is best known for holding the record for the most game ejections, currently standing at 158 games. Because of his undeniable spunk and witty personality, I, along with most other Braves

fans, enjoyed his memorable years in Atlanta. While consulting a player about their own ejection, Cox was quoted, “Go have a couple cold beers and get in the cold tub or something and relax. And then you’ll probably have to write a $500 check. Or you can do what I do, write a $10,000 one and tell them when it runs out, let me know.” Because of Bobby Cox’s long lasting legacy, we salute this man for his great accomplishments. Career Highlights 1. Holds record for most game ejections (158) 2. Won a World Series title(1995) 3. Won 5 National League pennants 4. 2,500 career wins (4th manager ever to do so) 5. 2,000 wins with one team (4th manager ever to do so) 6. Awarded Manager of the Year four times

Bulldog Bench Supporting SHS athletics

Good job Bulldogs!

Cross Country

The boys are ranked fifth in the state right now, and the top four bring home a trophy. Their goal is to be in the top four. “It is a very competitive field this year with some very deep teams, but I think we can absolutely accomplish our goal this weekend,” head coach Matt Brass said. “It will require disciplined, intelligent team running to get it.” Brass expects the girls to place in the middle of the state field. Last year was the start of a rebuilding year after Megan Bartlett and Kat and Vicky Vardell graduated. To finish in the top eight in the state will show the girls how far they have come in the last year.

Swimming

Overall, the boys enjoyed a surprising victory over Moscow at districts, finishing in second place.

At state, they are only taking five boys so they expect to do well individually and hope for the best as a team. Graham Cole, Garrett Dunn, Steven Gavin, Chris Mann and Barry Wilson will carry the school’s name down to Boise next weekend. After a scoring flaw at districts, a revised leader board posted the girls’ team at third place. This season the girls will be bringing a select group to state, including Selina Warburton and Michelle Rockwell. photo by Connor GreieseMer Like the boys, the girls have n toUGh loSS: The girls soccer team comes together after losing limited numbers, but they the championship game in a penalty shootout. are expected to represent performances from Adam two ending in shootouts. well individually. Tajan’s team. With a wide Unfortunately, they lost in Volleyball variety of ages on the field, the championship, but none the less, a strong finish for The team has carried their their team was strong our girls’ soccer team. weight this season, while through the last district Football defeating most teams in game against Moscow. All in all, a good season from the their path, including a sweep A trip to the state playoffs varsity boys. at districts against Lakeland The girls put up a fight is on the line when the and Moscow last weekend. in their playoff and state team plays tonight at War They have put together Memorial Field. The boys are tournaments this season. a strong group of girls with taking on Moscow for their After an up and down regular good chemistry on the court. first district game, aiming for season, the girls pulled their Now, they have headed south a district title to move on to game together and won the to bring home the 4A State the state game. district playoffs and headed Title this weekend. With a win against to the state tournament Lakeland under their belt, Soccer in Post Falls and Coeur they need to beat the Bears The boys’ season ended D’ Alene to face other top to move on, and Coach Mike earlier than expected this teams from southern Idaho. Mitchell’s team is ready year: however, they put They put up an excellent for the challenge. Show up a solid regular season fight at state, forcing all three up tonight to support our record, with outstanding of their games to overtime, varsity football team.

Come by and see John and Michelle for your after school treats! Deirdre Hill Liz Evans 710 Pine Street Sandpoint 208-263-9012

Alpine Shop 208-263-5157 213 Church St.

We feature in specialty ski, snowboard and outdoor equipment, quality clothing, ski rentals, repairs and demos

Page8

October 2010

Cedar Post

Jenkins: Sandpoint's Favorite Fan

ide put me on my true p r g n o r w s at h ” “T hi

mACKenZIe JOnes Staff Writer

here was an empty chair on the sidelines at the district volleyball tournament at Sandpoint High School last weekend, and an unfulfilled wish to attend the Idaho girl’s high school state soccer championship. David Jenkins (he informally went by Jenks), who was a steadfast fan with a special chair at SHS volleyball and basketball games, and whose last wish was to be able to watch the Sandpoint High School girls in the state high school soccer championship, died Thursday, Oct. 21, at age 70 in Sandpoint of a debilitating illness. Students probably knew Jenks through encounters with him at sports events or in the classroom. He was a fan extraordinaire and a substitute teacher who succeeded in capturing the hearts of many students at Sandpoint High School. What started as an article about SHS’s biggest sports fan has now turned into a eulogy. The Cedar Post had planned for several weeks to publish an article about Jenks because we believed him to be a man who was an inspiration to youth all over Sandpoint. So last Wednesday, the day before he died, I interviewed him at his house. Jenks may have looked frail and weak, with his pale and emaciated face; however, with his strong spirit and vibrant enthusiasm, you would have never known he was near the end. Just making one sports event was a Herculean endeavor for Jenks. The crazy thing, though, was he made them all. SHS teacher Dan Shook stated it perfectly, “I don’t know how anybody can live with that much pain all of the time. Nothing ever seemed to get him down. He was so supportive and so positive. He was always there, at every sports event, every school event, just a great guy.” When senior Michael Lorden discovered the Cedar Post planned to honor Jenks through a memorial page, he didn’t exactly have the kind of response most expected. “A memorial page is cool, but he deserves a memorial statute,” Lorden said. He was right. In reality, there’s no way I can even come close to describing the amount of respect and love students at SHS had for this man. I can try, but Jenks was just much too great of a person to be able to simply define in words. So why did Jenks attend almost every sports event? He said he attended sports events because he “loves the kids” and “there’s exciting energy there.” One of his first comments during the interview was that he heard the girls soccer team was going to state the next day, and he said he wanted to go

Editors Note:

watch. He never made it because that was the day he died. Facebook and other social networks lit up with comments from students showing their appreciation for all he did. Senior Virginia Faulkner-Monks’ status stated “Jenks, I will always remember your unannounced stops at my house just to see what’s up, telling me to get my stuff together, retelling your wild life stories to me as many times as I asked, your good humor and ‘it’s your life, do what you damn please’ attitude. You lived the life you wanted and that is how you inspired me. I will forever miss you.” Within hours of the incident there was already a R.I.P. Mr.Jenkins group created which as of Wednesay afternoon had already racked up 670 members, all paying their respects to him. SHS hallways and classrooms also showed signs of respect for Jenks. Roger Alexander’s classroom door read, “Thanks Mr. Jenkins for supporting our kids. Rest in peace.” Senior Emily Jurenka remembered Jenks as a substitute teacher. “I just remember we always had subs that the students walked all over, and Jenks was a sub that everyone respected,” she said. “He cared about everyone,” said junior football player Anthony Gold. “It was nice seeing him at all our games.” Teacher David Miles said that Jenks was “probably one of the most supportive members of our community. He watched every ultimate Frisbee game. We’ll miss seeing him everywhere.” Other teachers, including English teacher Nancy Miller, were upset when they discovered the news. So who was Jenks and what made him tick? He was raised with his

three younger siblings on an old farm with lake frontage in northeastern Pennsylvania, the son of a lawyer dad and stay-at-home mom. He said his mom in particular “gave us so much freedom. I had a pony … and she would just let me go and ride this pony through fields and woods and farms. And it was an incredible freedom to be given. I’ve been a nut on freedom all my life.” Jenks added that allowing freedom to exist, requires us all to accept a sense of faith in just the human being. Jenks not only proved to have an open-minded spirit, but an extremely courageous one too. Death can be a scary thing. For many of us, the idea is so daunting — we avoid even contemplating it, because sometimes death feels so distant and too surreal. Imagine waking up every morning and cognitively understanding that any day consumes the possibility of death. Most might respond with self pity. “I’m not afraid of dying,” Jenks told me. “I’m really excited about the possibilities after death. And I have lived such an amazing life.” Mr. Jenkins believed strongly that what he did was his destiny. He became a ski instructor and coach almost by accident. He left college and hitchhiked west to California. He was dropped off in Denver in September (this wasn’t where he intended on going), but in Denver there was already snow on the mountains. He said “that, in a sense, was where this wrong ride put me on my true path.” He started skiing and cutting ski trails. He lived in Aspen for five winters, went to Europe to ski, and then lived in Sun Valley for 20 years where he continued to teach skiing. He became ill and went to Hawaii hoping to get well, but unfortunately he didn’t. So he ended up in Sandpoint, where he n eMptY Seat in the hoUSe The varsity volleyball team placed their roses on the empty chair reserved for David Jenkins at the district tournament. Jenkins, a long-time SHS fan died on Oct. 21.

Courtesy photo

lived the rest of his life. I asked Jenks specifically what his illness was because I had heard several rumors. I had heard he had rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis or even that it was a result because he didn’t want it to define him. He didn’t want to be known as that guy with MS, or that guy with arthritis. I think he wanted to be known as Jenks, coach, teacher, and supporter of kids. The funny thing is, Jenks is known for all that and more. Mr. Jenkins is known for inspiring us all, and his memory leaves us speechless. When I asked Jenks what advice he had for SHS students, he said, “It’s all about love. I’m convinced nothing else is real. It’s not getting love, it’s giving love. The whole point of being human is to learn to love every other human being. And that’s it.” He confessed the irony, that the important thing, the only real thing, has no form at all. Students at SHS, we need not mourn over the loss of Jenks, who now has been freed from what looked to be an excruciatingly painful body. Rather, follow in his footsteps, remember him, remember what he taught and pass it on. “I just hope I made a difference to the students,” Jenks said. He certainly achieved this goal; he succeeded through the little steps, all acts of genuine kindness. He succeeded through simply caring. Patsy Sletager remembered the year of 2004, her daughter’s senior year in high school. The volleyball team went 36-0 and at the end of the season they all signed their names on a volleyball and gave it to Jenks for being such a great supporter. Years later, once Sletager landed a job at the high school, he came walking back in, with the volleyball in his arms and gave it back to her. “I think you should keep it here, where everyone can see it,” he said. “It looks better here than just sitting on the shelf at my place.” It was those little acts of kindness by which he’ll be remembered. Jenks will never be forgotten. His name will remain a legend at Sandpoint High School for years to come. Jenks may have not watched the girls at the state playoffs, but they dedicated their second-place trophy to him. Senior McKinzi Obaitek said to reporters for The Daily Bee that “we did it for Jenks.” At the conclusion of the District I volleyball tournament in the SHS gym last weekend, the players were each given a rose as they were presented with the trophy. Each player, in a final tribute, then walked over one by one and placed her rose on the empty chair which until that point, had always been occupied by Jenks. Jenks, you were our biggest fan and we are yours.

We the Cedar Post staﬀ extend our sincere condolences to the friends and

family of David Jenkins, an amazing man who touched the lives of many and will never be forgotten.