NOV2006

November, 2006

Hi L ife

Vol. 81/Issue 2

2305 East Main League City, Texas 77573

CCISD wins an EMMY for “Get Connected” website Tori Wycoff

Every year EMMY awards are given out on the national level at the Academy Awards. The EMMY Awards recognize excellence within various areas of the television industry. The awards are a symbol of peer recognition from over 12,000 members of the Academy and each member casts a ballot for the category of competition in their field of expertise.

Not only are these awards distributed nationally, they are also given out by various chapters of the Academy. In Texas, the Lone Star EMMY Chapter is a part of the National Television Academy that distributes awards based on excellence in the television broadcasting industry.

This year, not only did local news stations win various awards, but the Clear Creek Independent School District “Get Connected” website won the Lone Star EMMY for Interactivity. CCISD is the only school district to have received an EMMY in this category as well as the only district to ever win an EMMY. The Office of Public Information produces the “Get Connected” website for CCISD which is a monthly online media program that displays videos that pertain to happenings in and around the district. These videos are displayed as a show that can be downloaded

and watched from any computer. This show was created to inform the community

about programs implemented in the district as well as interesting stories and people. Its mission is to “foster pride and awareness in the successes and accomplishments of CCISD.” In the past year, the “Get Connected” show has aired on public access channels in Nassau Bay and League City.

An award-winning staff, that includes the CCISD Director of Public Relations, Karen Permetti, the District Videographer, Joe Perez and the District Webmaster, Melissa Wiland, compiles the website.

This endeavor was the brainchild of Ms. Permetti, who developed her idea of spreading the great news of events occurring in CCISD. “Two years ago, Joe Perez and I talked about producing a television show where our community could see all the great stories that occur in Clear Creek ISD,” Permetti said, “and I researched the many school districts that already had something similar in place.”

Permetti, along with Perez,

decided on using a magazine format for the outlet so they “ could engage our community and have student involvement.”

Soon after, Melissa Wiland, the CCISD webmaster, was added to the staff, and she suggested putting the show online where it would be easy for everyone to watch and access. Together, Wiland and Perez created the “Get Connected” website that won the award.

After winning such a prestigious award, Permetti said, “We were so surprised that we won since we were up against the Stossel Report, which promoted John Stossel’s program 20/20 on ABC. I think the entire Office of Public Information was on cloud nine for a solid week! We just couldn’t believe that we had an actual EMMY statue sitting in our office!”

The “Get Connected” website is accessible through the CCISD website at www.ccisd.net/GetConnected.

‘07” and the simple statement “seniors” are just some of the writings on campus.

The seniors usually make signs and write these sayings in chalk on the cement. For years, this decoration idea has successfully motivated the school and shown school spirit.

However, this year, the supposed spirited quotes had become underclassmen jokes. Not only did the words put students down, but they were written disrespectfully on the monuments and benches.

Vandalism is the wilfull or malicious destruction of public or private property.

That is exactly what happened at Creek.

By writing on the monuments, school spirit turned into something else. Cussing the underclassmen and sexually related jokes caused hatred. What should have help excite Creek students, put students down.

The school spirit privileges were abused.

School spirit is to help the school come together and motivate the athletes.

However, this changed when students were disrespectful. One of the best spirit ideas to decorate the school was ruined with the selfish act.

Seniors have always been the leaders of the school, and underclassmen have always followed their example. Senior leadership and experience makes them deserving of their place as top dog. However, when the seniors bring down the underclassmen to feel more important, the underclassmen stop admiring their role models. Creek should be competing with other schools, not each other.

Photo of EMMY award that CCISD won for the “Get Connected” website thanks to Karen Permetti, Joe Perez, and Melissa Wiland. Photo by Fallan Drago.

School spirit goes too far at Homecoming Cassie Lee

For decades, Clear Creek students have expressed their excitement for Homecoming. Each tradition is rich with school spirit and support for the football team. This camraderie among peers and enthusiasm for school pride has always been encouraged, until recent events on campus caused school administration to blow the whistle.

Homecoming week is a way to pump up the football team and its fans. Each day is designed to represent a theme and students are allowed to dress up and have fun, while helping to inspire the school.

From Hawaiian day to “Go Texan” day, students find creative ways to represent these themes. Dressing like another student on “Twin” day opens up the imagination and becomes a contest to out dress other twins. These themed days offer a way for

every student to get involved, however, no class can match the passion and excitement of the Clear Creek seniors.

Being a senior is what makes Homecoming such a huge deal. The game is dedicated to the seniors. They have traditional spirit privileges only allowed for seniors. One privilege for upperclassmen is to wear an all white and silver mum. The flashing ribbons identify the wearer as the eldest and most respected of all classes.

Unlike the lowerclassmen, seniors have the privelege to wear a decorated paper crown.

This crown symbolizes that the seniors are the rulers of the school. All underclassmen are supposed to honor and give their upmost respect for the leaders of the school.

Another way seniors lay down the law is by decorating the campus with sayings to pump up the varsity seniors. “Class of Mix It Up day was a sucess for the fifth year in a row. Read more about the events that took place in the cafeteria on page 5.

Creek’s varsity water polo teams made it to state and did extremely well. Read more on page 14 to find what players received top honors.

Photo by Fallan Drago.

Photo by http://www.clearcreekaquatics.org/

The United States’ population has reached over 300 million people, doubling in the past 100 years. Find out why on page 5.

Photo by

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2006-

10/19/xin_481003190920611116198.jpg

Jingle Jam tickets are going fast, but there are still some left.

Find out who is playing this year at 104.1 KRBE’s holiday concert on page 12.

Photo

by

http://www.104krbe.com/events/special/

jingle_jam_06/jingle_jam.asp

Clear Creek HiLife

2 Opinion S urvey What are you most thankful for?

Seniors

Freshmen I’m most thankful for a good home and a good family.

- Jenny Havens

I’m most thankful for my best friend, Kay because I can tell her anything and be myself with her. - Laura Hartford I am mst thankful for my friends and God.

-Morgan Enty

I am most thankful for waking up everday and geting the opportunity 2 live my life to the fullest, and my family and friends, no clue what I’d do w/ out them. - Jordan Oakes Education, freedom, family, friends and Jesus! - Halley Stulb I am thankful to have such a big loving family. And I am sooooo thankful to have the friends that I do now. I love them so much.

- Amany Lewis I am thankful that nobody in my family got hurt during Katrina. And that the are still doing fine.

- Amanda Drago

Sophomores I am most thankful for the Oklahoma Sooners even though Adrien Peterson is injured I still have mad love for them and football. - Mitchell Buckmaster I am thankful for gum, because it keeps my breath nice and fresh. - Lauren Cron I’m most thankful for school because I love to learn.

I am most thankful for being in the drumline.

- Zach Birch

- Christopher Vu

I’m most thankful for music and friends, my music and friend are my therapy in life without them I’d be nowhere.

- Chelsea Medsger I am most thankful for bein Egypian, a Muslim and most thankful that Ramadan is almost over. My family too.

- Rawan Harirah I am most thankful for my freedom and for those fighting for our country around the world. - Tyler Leach

I’m thankful for my World History study group, b/c otherwise I wouldn’t have time to do my hw for my other AP classes, and I probably wouldn’t be passing.

- Mandie Faulkner Roof over my heard, a loving family, caring friends, and for God caring about me and still loving me no mater when I mess up. - Stephen Webster I am thankful for my loving family and also that I live in the U.S.A where people are free.

- Scott Lenfest I am most thankful of my whole grain rice.

I am most thankful for food, because without it, I would most certainly be dead.

- Mitchell Collins I am most thankful for my bible study group.

- Sami Gilliam

I am most thankful for being healthy. Alot of kids in this world have so many diseases that I am thankful for being healthy.

- Karely Torres I’m very thankful for my family my mom the most. The weekend, my friends, some of my teachers, and english bulldogs cause I really want one. - Ericia Slaughter I am thankful for my talents for playing trumpet.

- Justin Wood

I am thankful for everything God has given me; my family, friends, oppurtunties, and the strength he’s given me to get through hard times.

- Amanda Onochie I am most thankful for the fact that we have such a dedicated newpaper staff to keep us updated on the real issues at our absolutely terrific school that I am also extremely extremely thankful for. - Alex Ravandi How blessed my life is, my family, dance, boyfriend, and friends.

- Kelsey Grant I’m thankful for the fact that I’m graduating this year, going off to college soon, and finally getting out of the house.

- Jessica Tallman I’m most thankful for my family and friends and that graduation is finally on the horizon. - Matt Hild I’m very thankful for God, also my family who helps me with whatever I need. I am also very thankful for my girlfriend Christina.

- Ryan Eldred I am thankful for my life, for my teammates, and coaches teaching me more than football. Also my friends for putting up with me.

- Jesse Baum I am thankful for my eyes. Being blind must be a terrible thing.

- Angelica Zambetti

Clear Creek High School HiLife Newspaper

- Haotian Xu

Juniors

I am thankful for when it rains and we don’t have band after school. - Travis Green I am thankful for having friends that like me for who I am, my family for always believing in me even in the worst of times. and for being alive and having the type of good life many don’t normally have.

- Bradelin Hosleing I’m most thankful for my older brother and sister who are always there to tell me when I’m being dumb. - Courtney Cox I am thankful for my family and friends and my health. Your health is your wealth!

- Kellen Meyers I am thankful for having another day to live so I have another chance to keep meeting new people and another chance to be with my family and friends.

- Christy Flores Thankful that marching is almost over. - Drew Huebner I am most thankful for the drive that makes me question and reconstruct unjust policies. - Sam Rodgers I am most thankful for singing.

- Kara Smoot

I’m most thankful for my music that I get to make everyday w/ my friends.

- Armana Buries Many things, but basically life itself, friends. family, and the great opportunities I am provided with. - Pedro Lourenco I’m thankful for my friends; they’ve always been there and will always be there no matter what the situation may be; they’re my air.

- Allyson Christian

E-mail us at Hilifenews@yahoo.com Visit us at http://my.highschooljournalism.org/tx/leaguecity/ cchs/ For advertising rates call: (281) 284-2377 or fax (281) 284-1705

2006-2007 HiLife Staff Principal: Adviser: Technical Adviser: Executive Editor: Editor-In-Chief:

Gail Love Wynette Jameson Alyssa Solomon Jan O’Neil Rachel Rodgers

News Editor: Features Editor: Sports Editor: Creek Speaks Editor: Fishbowl Editor: Centerspread Editor:

Hayley Boultinghouse Haley Rush Sarah Poore Tori Wycoff Bobby Murphy Alyssa Solomon

Layout Editor: Online Editor: Ads Manager: ** These quotes are taken directly from the opinion survey. The HiLife is not Photographers: Bookkeeper: responsible for spelling or grammatical errors. **

Clear Creek HiLife

Olivia Huynh Amanda Compton Austin Young Micah Wesley & Fallan Drago Austin Young

Reporters: Rebecca Bellay Amanda Compton Lauren Gillespie Ryan Gripon Stephanie Haechten Cassie Lee Taylor Long Albert Nkansah Ryan Owens Dhevi Rajendran Kirsty Reid Rebecca Rodriguez Kearston Rowe Kristin Thompson Adam Vencil Drew Walker

3

E ditorial It’s A Beautiful Day In The

Neighborhood...

Rachel Rodgers The first eighteen years of my life have been filled with love, pain, excitement, disappointment, and triumph, which make me who I am today.

I can vividly remember my birthday parties when I was young at places like Discovery Zone, the skating rink and the local neighborhood pool. I was always so excited about turning another year older, because well, that was just it, I was getting older. I would count down the days until I could rip open the wrapping paper that covered gifts like Barbie dolls, makeup, and clothes; all the things that make a young girl’s eyes light up.

As I entered the preteen years, I pretended I wasn’t too excited about my birthday; it was the “cool” thing to do. I would only get excited the actual day of my birthday, instead of preparing three weeks prior, but in reality, I had been secretly holding all the emotion inside, because I was still a kid at heart.

The thrill returned to me when my sixteenth birthday finally rolled around.

I had been wishing for that day to come ever since the day I turned fifteen. Almost everyday for a year I would search for a vehicle that I wanted to drive. Sometimes the ideas I pitched to my parents were a bit farfetched, but a girl can dream. I finally decided that I wanted to drive a Dodge

truck; there is just something cool about a chick driving a truck. I thought that would be a pretty easy task considering my step dad owns a Dodge dealership, which only made my hopes grow and grow.

When I woke up that “sweet” morning, my mom was waiting for me in the kitchen to wish me a happy birthday and tell me that we would go after school to pick up my “surprise”. I was a little disappointed, but not for long. When I walked outside to catch a ride from my neighbor, that’s when I saw it. It was parked in the driveway, and although it wasn’t a truck, it was my car and I was very grateful and bursting with smiles.

I had reached the first milestone birthday, one that represented responsibility and freedom.

I guess my point to that story is that getting older is only fun and exciting for so long, sooner or later all that celebrating is going to turn into animosity for turning

another year older. At one point in everyone’s life, we are going to want to stop the hands of time altogether; however, I think it is safe to say we are all quite a ways from that age.

Seventeen was such a boring age for

Isn’t that a little like life?

For instance, ten girls could all be

and personal in a blink of an eye when that one girl chose to stand out.

Sometimes life’s details aren’t merely physical but are drawn from various experiences.

For a real life example, picture your English teacher that has just assigned the class a creative writing essay. Everyone, we will assume, hears the guidelines and goes on their merry way and returns to class the next day.

The real story, the details, are the events that happened somewhere in the middle.

One student could have had some sort of practice and gone home with barely enough time to write the essay, eat dinner and go to bed. Another student could have had a party and decided to put the essay off until around one A.M. Still another could have completely blown it off and done nothing but set the rubric on fire in their backyard. A little far fetched I know, but I think you get the picture.

Soon after Philip finished sharing his

me. I don’t even remember what I did to celebrate, but it couldn’t have been very eventful or else I would have remembered it. However, the last few months of my last year of being a “child” were filled with busy weekends and a multitude of special events.

By the time I realized it, the end of October had arrived and I had completely overlooked my own birthday. I had no idea what I was going to do, but when the day came that classified me as an adult, it was like any other. I didn’t go out to a club or go to a big party; I just spent some time with the people who love me.

Even though turning eighteen didn’t meet the personal standards I thought it would, I will always remember it.

Once you turn 18, you can vote, be tried as an adult in a court of law and be recognized by society as a responsible young adult, one who makes good decisions and also accepts the consequences for the mistakes you make.

I had reached another milestone birthday, this one representing adulthood and independence.

I realized that I have reached the age where I see things in a new light, and I feel like I know more about life because of the recent events that have occurred in my life and that have shaped me into the person I am today.

Photo of Clear Creek from the sky from a Cesna 172 at 1500 ft . Photo

by Matt Boyd.

Guest editorial: Hayley Boultinghouse Haylry Boultinghouse

“Life is in the details.” My music teacher, Philip, pointed this simple statement out to me on Sunday afternoon.

One hour of piano lessons always has a way of turning into an intellectual conversation you’d expect to overhear in a coffee house. So there we were, flying through “Edelweiss”(my current piece), exchanging bizarre stories and discussing common knowledge about books, music and what not, nothing out of the ordinary.

Then I hit a wrong note. I exchanged an F sharp for an F. I hurriedly covered up my mistake and finished out the rest of the song.

That is when the conversation took a turn. Philip had me hit the F again, this time on purpose. He also had me change the B to B flat, and E to E flat. I played “Edelweiss” through again and the change was drastic. A normally happy song, from the play “The Sound of Music,” had plunged into the dark depths of morbidity.

A few small changes in the details of the score had completely changed everything and made almost an entirely new song.

wearing eyeliner. One girl could make hers slightly darker and bolder and that makes all the difference. One big generalization, “ten girls wearing eyeliner”, got specific

point of view with me, the hour was up.

We exchanged goodbyes, made plans to get new music to each other and went our separate ways.

I spent the rest of the afternoon pointing out things silently to myself that I had never taken the time to notice before.

The background action of age old pictures and the fact that I turned 16 a month ago and a childhood friend of mine never did.

The quirkyness of teenagers in the rain, and the way words roll off tongues of the people I’m surrounded by. It’s almost wintertime and my rosebush in the front yard has never had more blooms, and the fact that my fellow southerners and I seem to take a slight drop in temperature to bring out the parkas. The way I can stand in the newer parts of our church’s youth room and still close my eyes and picture exactly how it looked the first time I walked in three years ago.

“Life is in the details” I say it again. Just like a piano song with a few wrong notes, thus is life.

Clear Creek HiLife

4

News

New hypoallergenic kitties are now for sale Haley Rush Red, itchy eyes, plugged ears, and runny noses are just a few of the symptoms that cat allergies can cause.

Approximately two percent of the United States’ population is allergic to cats, and one third of these people ignore medical advice and keep at least one cat in their home. In the United States and Europe, cats are the most common household pets.

It is estimated there are 30 million in this country alone. Cat allergies are also one of the most common human allergies.

If people will go through everyday life with allergic symptoms just for a cat, then imagine what someone will do for new nosneeze kitties.

In October 2004, the company, Allerca, of San Diego, announced the start of a new project to breed hypoallergenic cats. Since the announcement, Allerca has heard from people in 85 countries seeking to buy what the company calls “lifestyle pets”. At the start of next year, the first kittens will go home to eager owners who have been on a waiting list for over two years. If people order a cat now, it will take 12 to 15 months

to deliver it within the United States and 15 to 18 months in Europe.

Before a person can bring a kitty home they are carefully screened. Prospective buyers are interviewed for motivation and warmth.

The Allerca Company takes the process so seriously that they approve people as if they were adopting a child. They look at if the buyer will punish the kitty if it has an accident on the floor or scratch the furniture. The families and their homes must be evaluated for allergens and allergies. Head Executive of Allerca, Megan Young, told New York Times magazine, “You’re not just buying a cat; it’s a medical device that replaces

shots and pills, at the same time, this is a living animal, so the well-being of our product comes before our customers. This is not some high-priced handbag that you put back on the shelf if it doesn’t match.”

People who aren’t allergic to felines will probably think $4,000 for a cat is down right ridiculous, especially when someone can go outside and pick up a stray cat, but a lot of cat lovers who are allergic to felines are persistent on owning a cat.

Cheryl Burley, a devoted cat lover, has had cat allergies since she was a child. Cheryl and her boyfriend tried everything to keep their cat Cimbi. They had HEPA filters installed, and even though they didn’t have

carpet, they vacuumed repeatedly. Soon the couple took in a second cat, Marley. Ms. Burley could not work, could not breathe and had a seizure; one cat was hard enough and two cats could not be tolerated. They had to get rid of Marley and give her to an animal shelter. “Our whole life has gone downhill,” Ms. Burley said in an interview with New York Times magazine. “I missed four days of work. I’m back on inhalers, eye drops and creams. This hypoallergenic cat would be a perfect solution for me. I’m determined to have a kitty.”

Cat owners sometimes pay thousands of dollars each year for allergy shots, air filters, and more, so $4,000 for a sneeze free home, could be considered a bargain.

rivers in their provinces. They carry their own personal Krathongs with them. They usually take the shape of swans, Chedis (a Thai temple), Mount Meru (a well known

in the bottom. Once the Krathong is placed in the river water, the incense and candles are lit and the Krathong is pushed on its way. The Thai people then enact the Thai

who make a wish together after setting a Krathong adrift are thought to have a greater chance of staying together in a long life of happiness.

Despite the superstitions, the Thai people are generally optimistic about having a candle blow out. “Mai pen rai” is said, which means “never mind”, and that is the end of it. The deeper meaning of Loi Krathong comes from the symbolization of sins floating away from the years past and total submission to a higher power.

The wishes that come true and the beauty of watching the Krathongs float off into the night are just an added bonus.

A change in latitude: Thailand Hayley Boultinghouse The Thai Kingdom is a jewel of Southeast Asia. It is tucked between Burma and Laos from the north and from the south lies Cambodia, Malaysia and the Gulf of Thailand. Even with so many influences, the Thai culture has numerous special events that are all their own.

During the twelfth lunar month of the Thai calendar (usually mid-November), the Loi Krathong, or Festival of Lights, occurs. This year Loi Krathong is scheduled to take place on November 4 and 5. This ancient ritual is simple yet meaningful.

The origin of Loi Krathong dates back to 13th century Thailand. The story goes that a young woman named Nang Noppamas wanted a special way to give thanks for the many blessings bestowed upon her. She came up with the Krathong, a small boat that serves the purpose of being a floating offering to the Thai goddess of water, Mae Kong Ka. Nang Noppamas is revered today in the form of a beauty contest during the days of the festival. The woman chosen as most beautiful is queen over all the festivities.

Along with the beauty contest there are also several parades and bazaars, but the most important event is setting Krathongs adrift.

By the light of the full moon, the Thai people gather on the banks of the

Clear Creek HiLife

place in Buddhist mythology), and the most popular design ,a lotus blossom. Krathongs are traditionally made from bamboo shoots, banana leaves and other materials easily obtainable from around a village.

Krathongs are traditionally adorned with a number of items. First a piece of hair, a fingernail clipping, and a coin are placed

wai. This stance involves putting the palms together, tucking the elbows slightly into the body, and putting the tips of the fingers on the forehead with thumbs running along the face. While assuming this position, a wish is made. Legend says that if the candle is still burning as the Krathong floats off, the wish will come true. Lovers

People can’t tell the difference in a hypoallergenic cat just by its looks.

These kitties are going for close to $4000 each to relieve owners of the cost of medication. http://www. allerca.com/html/cats/cat007.htm.

Photo by Julie Chytrowsky.

A Young Thai girl prays before floating a kratong, a small boat made of banana tree and decorated with banana leaves and flowers, into a pond during Loy Kratong festival at the Dusit Zoo in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2005. The festival is held in a meant to apologize to the goddess of the rivers and in a belief that the bad things will be gone with the kratongs they float. (AP Photo/ Sakchai Lalit) http://accuweather. ap.org/cgi-bin/fastlight.pl?+Intl_ Photos2+8946466+accuweathe rbak.ap.org%3A80+++++New_ putmenu1+

5

News

U.S. population over Time to get the flu 300 million people shot is now Hayley Boultinghouse

On Tuesday, October 17 at 7:46 ET, America’s population reached 300 million.

That means that in less that 100 years, the total population has doubled. Births outnumber deaths. A simple fact of life that hasn’t changed since America claimed 100 million people in 1915, and 200 million people in 1967.

According to the Census Bureau’s current statistics, a child is born every seven seconds in America and a death occurs every 13 seconds. They also estimate that a migrant enters the country every 31 seconds, adding to the overpopulation problem.

In fact, because of illegal immigration, population statistics are slightly skewed, and the population could be considerably higher than already projected.

America’s rapid growth has been fueled by a number of things. Changes in society are an increasing influence on the population. Since the 1960s, flight to the south and west has increased the number of those living in the suburbs. People are living longer, slowing down the cycle of births replacing deaths.

More people means more than just a new look for the neighborhood. Rise in population increases environmental concerns for everyone in all parts of the

country.

Land is being developed at twice the rate of the population growth. In drier regions, this means a negative affect on water resources.

In larger cities, pollution and overcrowding may contribute to more heath problems among children and the elderly.

The use of oil is also a concern on the rise. The United States represents 4 percent of the world’s population and currently consumes 25 percent of the world’s oil supply. The United States is also the largest emitter of carbon dioxide.

Although America’s growth rate is higher than any of the industrialized countries of the world, it is still lower than that of the developing countries. There is no civil way to rid the country of the population that already exists. The only thing left to do now is plan for the future.

The 400 millionth person is predicted to come into the population picture in 2043. That is less than 50 years from now. They will arrive either by birth or by immigration; there is no way to know for sure. Will Americans be ready?

Taylor Long This year, the U.S. will be receiving 115 million doses of influenza vaccinations, and although we have never had this many at once, it may still be difficult to get a shot due to distribution problems.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is suggesting doctors to treat high-risk patients such as the elderly, infants and chronically ill first.

“We recommend getting vaccinated now, instead of waiting until later, when more vaccines arrive,” stated Dr. Santoli, the deputy director of the CDC’s Immunization Services Division, and she couldn’t be more right. Last year, 36,000 Americans died due to the influenza virus and 200,000 more were hospitalized.

Influenza spreads rapidly through the world in seasonal epidemics, leaving behind 250,000 to 500,000 deaths internationally a year. Most deaths in industrial countries commonly occur in people over the age of 65, that is about 12.5 percent of our nation.

There are three types of influenza: A, B and C. The type A influenza breaks up into 25 different subtypes. All subtypes of influenza A will affect birds, while only some will have an affect on humans, horses, pigs and other animals. This is due to the

substantial genetic differences caused by the strains of influenza evolving.

Influenza type B is normally found within humans. Unlike influenza type A, type B is not classified into subtypes.

Influenza B viruses may cause morbidity and mortality in humans, but they do not cause as severe of epidemics as the type A viruses do. Throughout history, there have been a few recorded Type B influenza epidemics but never any pandemics.

Type C viruses are very mild and have never caused an epidemic or pandemic of any kind.

Influenza B viruses and influenza A viruses, including its subtypes, can be further characterized into strains. New strains of Influenza viruses are constantly appearing and replacing old ones. New strains develop through antigenic drift.

When a new strand of human Influenza virus emerges, the immune system may not have developed after infection or vaccination of an older strand. This means, that people will not be protected against the newer strand. This is why people can be infected more than once with the flu. It is very important for people to continuously keep current with yearly vaccinations.

Mix It Up Day a satisfying success Hayley Boultinghouse “The only perspective is really being there,” a moving quote from The Perks of Being a Wallflower and the only way to describe the events of Mix It Up Day 2006.

The HiLife staff was excused from all classes and reported to the main campus cafeteria as soon as school began. Last runs for jolly ranchers were made, movie

ticket prizes were confirmed with Ms. Love, speakers were tested, and posters were hung up. Being pressed for time only added to the excitement of the events later in the day.

The bell rang to end second period.

This was it. Mix It Up Day was either going to fly or flop. Hope was placed on flying.

Music was turned up loud, students began

pouring into the cafeteria and candy was distributed. Some kids played along with the game, sitting at the table corresponding with the jolly rancher color received. A few others stayed within their groups like usual, but that was to be expected. Regardless, staff members did their best to go around and talk to as many people as possible.

At the end of A Lunch, the first dance off took place. After much encouraging from the staff members, a few students let down their guard and got into the music.

The first movie passes were given away amongst much cheering.

B Lunch went pretty much the same way, successful but not outstanding.

Then came in the students for C Lunch.

Once again, candy was passed out and the music was blaring. The staff began their rounds to talk to other students, when the tables turned. Students started approaching the staff to talk.

The dance-off had the greatest response during C Lunch. It started with

a few brave people moving with the music and evolved into an all out battle to be the best. Students gathered around the center of the cafeteria to watch the scene and cheer on their favorite participant. Dancing, flips, partners, this contest had it all.

What made Mix It Up day worthwhile though, was what happened after the winner was announced and the two passes to Cinnemark were awarded. The students who had fought so hard to beat each other walked away smiling, and even congratulated the winner, whether they had known him or not.

A positive response to the day echoed from the student body’s lips in the halls during the following period.

As Ms. Jameson, the HiLife advisor, told the staff when planning the Mix It Up Day events, “If we reach one person, that’s enough.”

Mix It Up Day 2006 did more than enough.

281-334-2314

Clear Creek HiLife

6 Creek C lubs Creek I

National Technology Honor Society

On November 15, the National Technical Honor Society will hold its annual induction at Clear Brook High School. About twenty-five new juniors and seniors will be inducted into the National Technical Honor Society. These students went through an intense screening process in order to receive an invitation to join the club. Also, the club plans to participate in a community service project next semester. National Technical Honor Society meets on the second Friday of every month in room B125.

Poetry Jam Society

People can come and express themselves with rhythm and rhymes when they join the Poetry Jam Society. This club can help expand student’s talents as a writer and speaker. The club meets the first and third Thursdays of every month at 3:15 in room P-47. Mr. Russell will assist every student with expressing their talents.

Do not miss out. Come and see what the Poetry Jam Society is all about.

CCHS Sailing Club

For those who did not attend the last meeting, there was some amazing news.

The Clear Creek Sailing Club is planning a regatta to The Big Easy! Chase Bemis is leading the expedition to New Orleans and many members from the club have signed up. The club is planning to take sail November or December. The meetings are still being in held in T-12 on the first Tuesday of every month, so it is not too late to jump on board.

FFA b

Key Clu

want e who s o th r o f l be Club is ity. They wil at y e K e n Th e Habit commu out the r money for th eets on lp e h to m fo y Club s. ng tabs collecti nity. The Ke -214 with M B a m in u for H 5 pm s at 2:4 Tuesday r. rte McWho

Best Buddies

Starting this month, Best Buddies will begin their awareness issue activities. This month’s awareness issue is hunger, and the members of Best Buddies will conduct a food drive on every Friday during November. The campaign is called “Help Those Who Can’t Help Themselves,” so donate food to end a worldwide epidemic.

The club meets every other Thursday with Mrs. Trevino.

Clear Creek HiLife

Come hang out with some real party animals and some pretty cool kids in the FFA club. Monthly meetings have started up, and members are planning on roping in some good times as they participate in things like livestock shows, service events, fundraisers, parties, leadership events, and much more. Hoof it to the Ag shop room number 104 and pick up a calendar to learn more about dates and activities. Ms. Brochtrup will have information on where the next meeting will be held.

ntern

ational In Octo Affairs b e r , memb Internati ers of onal Af the Cre fa a screen ek ing of th irs (C.I.A) clu b e fi God” at a the Mus lm “Hezbollah ttended e : On No vember um of Fine Arts Party of 13th, th Housto the Inte n. ey parti rn cipated Westin ational Alley in and Ba Galleria zaar , where opportu nit students at the differen y to create pr had the oje tc evening ountries aroun cts celebratin g d in Arunga cluded a keyn the world. Th , an A e ote spe ak frican meets W Filmma er, June e ker. C Cherry’s dnesdays after .I.A school Room, in Coac N120. h

Freshman Spirt Club

The freshman class does not have class officers, so the Freshman Spirit Club helps make decisions regarding, class shirts, fundraisers, and class activities. The club will be meeting a few times this year, as needed. Also, the club will attend some of the home sporting events to support their classmates. If people have any questions about the club, they can visit Ms. Chandler in room N214.

Photo a

nd Vide

Hooked

Hooked, a Christian devotional club, will be holding a Thanksgiving canned food drive from November 3rd-17th. This food drive will provide good meals for families in need.

Boxes will be put up in the Smaller Learning Community Offices to drop off cans. Hooked meets Thursdays after school at 2:45.

oM

aking C Photo a lub nd Vid club for e o Making students Club is thoughts who wa a nt a and vide nd interests a to convey the ir bout ph o makin otograp g. Mem pictures hy ber a They ca nd videos wit s can share their h o n pictures also learn how ther members . to skillf and vid Tuesday u e s from 2 os. This clu lly edit :30 to 3 and sna b meets :15 in ro cks are provide o m G107, d.

7

Fish Bowl

Freshmen athletics proved to have a great season Sarah Cisneros & Chelsea Huebner

The Clear Creek freshmen volleyball teams did very well this past season: Both teams became District Champion. “The team has been playing very well; they’re finally playing to their full potential,” said freshman A-coach Mrs. Greathouse.

The season started out slow, but the team eventually pulled through to win the district title.

“At the beginning of the season, I was a little bit frustrated, but I knew my team would improve,” freshman B-coach Mrs. Brownson said. The game against Pearland was a hard loss for the B team.

After winning the first game of the match, the B team struggled during the second, losing to Pearland. The last game of that match had the final score of 24-26, the win going to Pearland. The last game of the season was against Galveston Ball which ended in a clean sweep for the Wildcats.

The freshman A team ended their season 11-1 in district and the freshman B team ended their season 10-2 in district.

The volleyball team will be divided in two next year as a result of the new high school, Clear Springs. “I’m not worried about the team being split,” said freshman defensive specialist D’Laney Kernan “The sport will still be very competitive next year, and I’m planning on doing anything to improve.” But on a more personal note, “The team has bonded like a family, and I’m miserable that half of the team I played with will be going to the new school. This is my last season to ever play with or against

them,” states freshman B co-captain Taylor Freudenberg. It has definitely been a great season for both of the freshmen volleyball teams.

The freshmen football team has been going through a hard season this year, with some of their top players being ineligible.

Jeremy Torres, an A team player, says that it’s been hard, and “We’re trying to get by without our teammates.” Both the freshman A and freshman B teams have a season record 2-2 in district. The football team gave all that they had at their games, but unfortunately, it sometimes wasn’t enough.

Many of the players on the team think that they could do better as long as they start working and stop slacking. “We need to quit fooling around and get serious,” states freshman B team player Clint Denny.

“Some players need to start working and practice like it’s a game,” states Jeremy.

The football season still has a long way to go, and anything can happen between now and then.

As most people know, there will be a new high school built over near Creekside.

Around half of the team is leaving to go to Clear Springs next year, but it still leaves a good team here at Creek. “Some kids you hate to lose, but some you are glad to see go,” says freshman A coach Mr. McDonald. “All in all, this is a good group of freshman, and Creek and Springs will benefit from them.”

Freshmen take the PSAT for first time in Creek’s history

Jessica Bateman & Chinedu Onochie On October 18, 2006, the freshmen at Clear Creek High School joined the upperclassmen in taking the Practice Scholastic Achievement Test, also known as the PSAT for the first year ever at CCHS. The PSAT took place in the Clear Creek portables and teaching theater. Mr. Ken Fontenot, the AP English campus leader at Clear Creek High School, encouraged the freshmen to participate in the testing this year in order to increase the number of National Merit Scholars at Clear Creek High School.

“I’m strongly in favor of it,” Fontenot said, when asked about the freshman taking the PSAT. To qualify, the English I Pre-AP ninth grade students had to take two sections of a critical reading diagnostic test, each twenty-five minutes long which included questions from previous SAT critical reading assessments. Those students who achieved a high score on the diagnostics test were invited by Fontenot to take the real PSAT with the sophomore and junior classes. The diagnostics test was only given through English classes.

A math diagnostics test was not given.

Sixty Pre-AP English I freshmen were invited to take the PSAT, and fifty-four participated in this opportunity. Students in regular and enriched English I did not have the opportunity to take the PSAT. As AP coordinator, Fontenot did not have the authority to ask regular English I teachers to administer the test to their students.

“I’m very pleased that fifty-four out of sixty [students] came,” Fontenot said.

Although freshmen students who took the PSAT will not be eligible to become National Merit Scholars until their junior year in high school, taking the PSAT as a freshman is considered to be very beneficial, because it is the first step in becoming a National Merit Scholar. If students did not have the opportunity to take the PSAT as a freshman, they will have the opportunity as sophomores to take the PSAT without any cost. The district provides for the cost.

On the day of the test, freshmen students who had first and second period classes at the main campus and were not taking the PSAT, were sent to the Ninth Grade Center’s gymnasium. Scheduling was confusing, as many found out, and it didn’t go exactly to plan.

“I loved having my class for three hours!” said Mrs. Mills, a French teacher.

Really, she was frustrated with the frequent changes of the time periods, as were other teachers. Some of their classes were cut completely, causing more work and lesson plans to be set back a day, some even more.

Other freshmen teachers saw taking the test as a good thing and many of them supported the freshmen take part of the PSAT.

So many clubs to join, so little time Bobby Murphy Clear Creek High School is a big place, and for many students it’s easy to get lost, not just physically, but psychologically as well. With all the hustle and bustle of everyday school life, it can be rough to find a place to actually “belong.” This is especially true for freshmen, who may have trouble getting used to their new surroundings. There is just so much to do though, so much to get involved in, that students should take advantage of it.

Just as at any high school, Clear Creek is proud to offer a various array of clubs to accommodate the needs of students who are looking for something to do in their free time. There are forty-three special organizations that meet throughout the school year as needed, including five that meet at the Ninth Grade Center. Most of these clubs are open to all students, and there are some that allow members in by invite only such as the honor societies.

At the Ninth Grade Center, the five clubs offered there are all sponsored by freshmen teachers and are designed especially to accommodate the students there. Perhaps one of the most influential clubs on the Ninth Grade Campus is the

Freshmen Spirit club sponsored by Ms. Krystal Chandler in room N-214. As the freshmen class does not have any officers, the club takes that place by making choices regarding class shirts, fundraisers, activities, and other important decisions.

Also available on the freshmen campus is the C.L.E.A.R. club, which is a group that discusses the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse. The group is sponsored by Mrs. Graham, and they meet in room N119 every other Thursday.

There are also extra-curricular activities for those students who chose not to join a club, like Chris DelBasso who said, “I am not involved in any school activities, which is good and bad. Good, especially because I can finish my homework faster.”

Students involved in activities like band, drama, and athletics can find a safe haven through these organizations. With numerous practices and rehearsals, new students begin to feel a sense of belonging.

Jim Turner, a freshmen in band said, “I’ve met a lot of upperclassmen, because I have lots of friends who are upper-classmen [in band], and so I meet their friends.” Band creates a chain reaction of meeting new

people, as do many other extra-curricular organizations. In athletics, students have to work as a team with one another, forming new friendships.

Elizabeth Tram, another student at Creek said, “I am not involved in any school activities because I’m not really sure what I can do.” At Clear Creek High School there are so many opportunities that cannot be passed up, with so many activities to get involved in, it is easy to find a place in the vast sea of students at the

high school. For more information, take a look at page six to see the clubs that Clear Creek High School offers.

Clear Creek HiLife

8

Make A Differen The goal of Invisible Children is to educate the world about the children in Uganda who are fighting for survival. They want to improve healthcare, education and safety for these kids. They are a nonprofit organization that accepts donations to help spread the word.

Jason,Bobby and Laren, three friends in the beginning, started it all.

www.invisiblechildren.com

www.DanEldon.com

www.creativevisions.org

Dan Eldon was an amazing photographer who has inspired people all over the world to continue his legacy. Dan passed on July 12, 1993. He was stoned to death in Mogadishu, Somalia. His mother Kathy, and sister, Amy, have created a foundation to keep Dan Eldon’s dreams of helping others alive. Creative Visions Foundations would like to maximize thier recources by reaching out to young people who are the future leaders and visionaries.They want to improve the conscious use of media and technology to mobilize local and global causes.

Clear Creek HiLife

nce in the World

9

Global Tribe is another organization that is helping war affected children in Uganda and other parts of Africa. Children as young as 5 and 6 years old are being abducted during the night and often forced to take the lives of family members before marching for days with out shoes and water. They are trained to engage in conflict. Global tribe has a lot of fundraisers to help earn money that goes to build a school and provide clothing for orphans. www.Savethechildren.com www.Namecampaign.org www.rhythmicuprising.org www.theplaygroundlive.com These are some websites that will help these children. Go check them out.

www.Globaltribenet.org

With help from others the war can end.Hunger and Poverty can be overcome, and the children can gain their freedom. Go to the websites and change the future. Become involved. It will help.

Clear Creek HiLife

10 Creek S peaks

Bat found on campus tested positive for rabies Greg Lewis & Bobby Murphy Bats strike fear in many people, inspiring stories such as Dracula and becoming the subject of countless other legends and myths. Rabid animals, such as squirrels, are seen as a kind of amusement and entertainment. When these two are combined, what happens? Clear Creek High School found out.

On October 23, 2006 a coach and a student found a bat outside the Carlisle Field House. Fortunately, the bat was dead, however, it was still on campus. The bat was presumed to be a Mexican free-tailed bat that had migrated north. Contacts were made to the League City Animal Control Department to remove the dead bat. When animal control arrived at the school, the bat was quarantined and sent in for testing.

Later that week, test results came back, and the bat tested positive for rabies. It was also determined that no other students had

came into contact with the bat, and some students were never aware that there was even a bat on campus. The bat was found “resting on a railing on a two-story section and was blown off by high winds caused by recent storms,” said CCISD district spokesperson Karen Permetti in a recent issue of the Bay Area Citizen.

According to the Citizen, the bat was the second bat found in League City to test positive for rabies in the month of October.

The last bat was found thirty feet above the ground in the newly constructed Bay Area Baptist Church in League City by one of the church’s construction workers.

Other bats have also been found at other schools throughout the Houston area, including Mayde Creek High School in Katy, Humble High School, and Alvin High School, where a colony of bats was discovered near the school’s auditorium.

Rabies is a disease in mammals caused by a rabies virus transmitted by the bite of another rabid animal and is characterized by increased salivation, abnormal behavior, and eventual paralysis and death.

Although rabies is seen as a joke in movies, such as Over the Hedge, and in comic strips such as Garfield, rabies is not a laughing matter. If the bite is left untreated, the symptoms of rabies can affect a human in the same way they do other animals. Also, according to rabies. com, bats pose the greatest rabies risk to humans. Since bats are able to bite things without leaving a visible mark because of miniscule teeth, a rabid bite can be undetected or unfelt. Therefore, symptoms of rabies may develop without notice, and those symptoms can lead to death. Even though the bat may be the biggest threat of rabies, it isn’t the biggest killer. Out

of all rabid deaths, 99 percent are from a dog, which is why veterinarians put so much emphasis on rabies shots, according to birding.about.com. Nevertheless, rabid bats shouldn’t be messed with.

On a positive note, rabies cannot spread from a dead animal. However, the dead animal could spread numerous bacterial diseases, which is why no one was allowed near the bat once it was found on campus.

Touching dead animals sparks a source of curiosity for many people, and it can be dangerous. People can get hurt, or sick, possibly even die. Bats have always been a symbol of disease and plague. Luckily, this time an epidemic was avoidable.

Cassie Lee One of the greatest challenges for girls in high school is being accepted. People fear that being themselves is not good enough for others to recognize them. However, as a sophomore, a girl can be accepted by an upperclassman and not even know it.

The Christmas Dance Committee (CDC) hosts the Clear Creek Christmas Dance every year, which is dedicated to the upperclassmen. This privilege of being able to attend the dance is only granted to juniors and seniors, with the exception of sophomores being on CDC. The Dance Committee is made of junior girls attending Clear Creek. To become a member of such an honored committee, a sophomore must be selected by a current member to join the committee. Only the selected few can attend the Christmas Dance as sophomores. The reason these girls have such a privilege is so that the next year of members can see an example of how they are to host the dance their junior year.

The Christmas Dance Committee’s purpose is not only to throw an outrageous dance but a lot more. The committee is responsible for raising money to help profit the dance and make it eye catching to the students. Also they strive to raise enough money, and with the extra cash, to donate it to non-profitable groups and charities.

Once selected as a sophomore, the girl becomes a “Little Sister” to the current member that selected her. Each eleventh grader of CDC chooses a sophomore that she believes is responsible and a good role model to other sophomore students. Each “Little Sister” becomes an active member after attending the first CDC meeting of the next year. There is a minimum of twentytwo girls and a maximum of thirty girls chosen to become a member.

Each class of the CDC has officers that help keep such a big organization organized. These girls are chosen on the “Turn-over” or first meeting of the year.

Each has specific responsibilities and duties to perform. The positions include President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and the Decorations Chair. These officers are elected by the connittee and any member is eligible to run for an office. The officers will all be expected to serve a one-year term.

The role of being President is to oversee that all members are meeting their goals. She serves a two-year term with great responsibilities to link the two committees together. Also she is responsible for holding all meetings. This title is accountable for any other problems showing up throughout the year. The Vice President shall take the place of the President if needed. She also is to assists the President with any needs. The Office of Secretary is expected to record all events, fund-raisers, and meetings. The Secretary distributes any other information needed for oncoming members also. The Treasurer is to keep the checkbook for CDC. They are in charge of all money collected from the fundraisers. The Historian is to record events as well as take pictures at these events. The photos will be distributed in a scrapbook displaying events throughout the year. Also she will create a presentation to be displayed at the dance. The Decorations Chairperson is to come up with decoration ideas and plan it out to make it work.

Once chosen to be on the committee, the initiation begins. The initiation is always a little different every year. For an example the juniors planned to kidnap their “Little Sister” on a morning in October. The “Little

Sister” is decorated in Christmas clothes as well as make up. The group meets for breakfast before school to discuss why they were kidnapped. The new members are expected to wear their Christmas clothes to school and sing Christmas carols whenever another member is in the same room. This day is only half of the initiation. There is a sleepover for the second half.

At the sleepover, the President informs the sophomores of how they should act and represent CDC. They all then meet at Kemah for games that the “Little Sisters” must play. The one catch to playing these games is that each “Little Sister” is in a costume chosen by their “Big Sister”. The sophomores are not forced to play the CDC games however they are asked to do so for the fun of the initiation. After the games are played everyone returns to the sleepover to bond with other members of CDC. The Christmas Dance has many traditions. This dance is a Sadie Hawkins dance where the girls ask the guys. It has seemed to become a contest of creativity to ask the guys out at Creek. This dance is a formal social event so students are expected to dress up. This year’s Christmas Dance is going to be held on December 9, 2006 at the Doyle Convention Center in Texas City.

The Christmas Dance Committee has been a tradition for thirty years. The outcome of the dance is in the hands of only about thirty girls. Use imagination and creativity to ask a date and come see the extraordinary creation of a Frosted Christmas.

The tradition of CDC is still going strong

Clear Creek HiLife

11 S C reek peaks

Junior Kent East ranked tenth in nation Tori Wycoff There are many talented students here at Creek, but those students that participate in extra-curricular activities outside of school are often overlooked as people recognize the latest win of the football team or the excellent rating of the band at a competition.

Junior Kent East is a stupendous athlete that excels at a sport that people commonly see since water is so nearby; this rapidly growing sport is called wakeboarding. “ I love wakeboarding- it is a chance to get away,” said East. “There is freedom when you are on the water with your friends and it’s just peaceful.”

Wakeboarding is a water sport where the rider is pulled behind a boat or another watercraft at about twenty-one or twenty-two miles per hour. The rider’s feet are strapped on to a single board with bindings that is similar to a snowboard, although slightly shorter and wider. The process of wakeboarding is similar to waterskiing. Wakeboarders are often susceptible to ankle and knee injuries, since athletes are pulled across the boat’s wake and jump the crest to achieve aerial maneuvers. Some of the most famous tricks that wakeboarders use in competition are the Whirlybird, the Tantrum to Blind and the Crow Mobe.

Wakeboarding is a rapidly growing sport and there are over 3.1 million wakeboarders worldwide. Seventy-five percent of wakeboarders are male and are between the ages of thirteen and twentyfour. Professional wakeboarders make, on average, $95,400 a year. The key to wakeboarding is the correct wake so boats

are specifically designed for this sport.

Some of this years top boats include the Correct Craft Hydro-Gate and Centurion’s Switchblade.

East has been wakeboarding for about two and a half years and is already winning competitions. He placed third in the men’s

intermediate division on the Texas INT Amateur Wakeboard Tour. He also won first place at the first tour stop in Katy. “I knew that I had a good run and I was excited, and I realized that I had a big chance to be pretty good,” said East. Of his six stops on the tour, East has placed fourth or better in four of them. He was the runner-up at Texas Ski Ranch in New Braunfels.

East placed high enough in these events to qualify for the U.S. Championships in Bakersfield, California. Other members of Team Texas that competed with him were

Chase Schuster and Jonathan Stenvall. “It was not a goal of mine to qualify for the tour, I just wanted to ride my best and give it a shot,” East said.

The Championships were October 11 through the 14 and East competed in the intermediate division. This division is open for riders that are thirteen and older, although most of the athletes are not that young.

They are judged on a series of runs. In each run, a rider completes multiple tricks to earn points.

The tricks that are awarded the most points are the Blindside 180 and the Invert, which can rack up 650 points each for the rider.

East did well at this event and is now ranked tenth in the nation in his division.

Wakeboarding is a subjective sport and it is difficult to judge it fairly. Most judges rely on two aspect: trick value and style points. Trick value is how hard the trick is to perform and style points are awarded on how high, smooth and clean the tricks are executed. Divisions are determined by the rider’s ability level and the tricks that he or she is capable of performing. The intermediate divisions are designed for riders that primarily can complete two wake

jumps, grabs, 180’s, half-cabs, 360’s and one invert. Intermediate riders can perform any of the tricks that are listed on the INT Novice or intermediate trick lists and their tricks must be landed with the rider’s front foot across the crest of the second wake to be awarded full points.

According to East, the best part of being a wakeboarder is the opportunity to meet new people and hang out with people that are stress-free and just like to relax.

His favorite professional wakeboarder is Shane Bonifay. who has been a professional wakeboarder for ten years and won the U.S. Masters competition in 2000.

Bonifay is also currently ranked 15th in the 2006 Men’s Pro Tour Standings. Recently, East had the opportunity to hang out with Bonifay. “It was a blast!” said East. “Shane was so laid back and we just chilled.”

East practices with his friends by wakeboarding on Clear Creek. He enjoys it because it is a time for him to just relax and enjoy life with his friends. He even hopes to start a wakeboarding club here at Creek. East just rides for fun but says, “it would be a great bonus to one day be able to ride for a professional team.” Right now, a company called Slotted sponsors East, but maybe one day he will turn pro and represent Clear Creek High School well.

Photo of Kent East, a junior here at Creek, performing a wakeboarding trick. Photo by Swami Studios.

Clear Creek HiLife

12

F

eatures

Jingle Jam makes its way to Houston Haley Rush One of Houston’s most popular radio stations, 104.1 KRBE, is busting out with fan’s favorite music live. The biggest holiday concert is coming to Houston on Saturday, December 2. Jingle Jam will be at the Reliant Arena with some of the most well known singers and bands of today. Get ready for a star-studded music event.

One of the great musical talents attending Jingle Jam this year is Fallout Boy. The four members, guitarist/vocalist Patrick Stump, guitarist Joseph Trohman, drummer Andrew Hurley, and bassist Peter Wentz, started in suburban Wilmette around 2000. They debuted with a poppunk kind of feel demo in 2001. After that, Fallout Boy quickly signed a deal with Gainesville, but also received an advance from Islands Record to record their proper debut.

In 2005 when Fallout Boy released

their second record From Under the Cork Tree, it reached the top ten of the Billboard’s album charts.

Another super star joining in on this holiday blast is JoJo. When an open audition for Kids Say the Darndest Things came to JoJo’s hometown, Boston, Massachusetts, the young singer wowed the audience, and it eventually led to a call from Oprah Winfrey offering JoJo a spot on her show.

Appearances on talk shows followed but it was when JoJo competed in America’s Most Talented Kids that brought the call from Vincent Herbert. She soon sighed to Blackground Records and her debut album followed in June 2004.

Born in Tijuana, but raised in San Diego, the contemporary R&B artist Frankie J will be performing at Jingle Jam this year. He had a rocky start, but when he became a member of Los Kumbia Kings he

landed on his feet. After a few years with the group, Frankie J decided to go solo with 2003’s What’s A Man To Do album.

Natasha Bedingfield is going to be a main performer at Jingle Jam this year. Growing up in Southeast London, Bedingfield was raised around music.

Natasha and her siblings started a singing group by their mid teens. It didn’t last, but Natasha would not give up. She left her university to sign with BMG, and immediately began to start working on her first record. The success of her album awarded her a platinum record, and her song Unwritten debuted at number one on the British charts. She also won numerous BRIT awards and it set up her assault on the American Pop charts.

For all those American Idol fans out there, Mario Vazquez will be performing at Jingle Jam too. As one of the top 12

finalists in 2005, Mario was heard by over 30 million people. His album is not expected to come out until this summer, but it’s expected to be a hit.

Last on the list for this year’s Jingle Jam is the band Gym Class Heroes, formed in late 1997 by four high school students.

They released their first album For the Kids in 2002. After Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy recognized them, they were soon awarded and were quickly signed by Fueled and are on their way to the top.

Start getting ready for the holidays early this year and order Jingle Jam tickets now. They can be purchased at http:// www.104krbe.com/events/special/jingle_ jam_06/tickets.asp, and people can also win tickets by listening to 104.1 KRBE.

Stephanie Haechten When people hear the acronym NFL, they think of fun tailgating parties, fierce team battles on beautiful green fields, and intense games played by their favorite teams.

Recent events prove that the NFL has an even more admirable cause in mind than just entertaining fans. The National Football League has joined the fight with the American Heart Association to encourage kids to get up, get active, and get fit. The 1.5 million dollar campaign to fight obesity, called “What Moves U,” is not only a program to get students off the couch, but to incorporate physical activities into every aspect of their learning.

Close to 250,000 students in classrooms across the nation will participate in classrooms designed to increase physical

activity in their school. Lessons for different subjects will integrate physical activity. For example, math lessons will teach students to count their heart beat for fifteen seconds and multiply that number by four to calculate their heart beats per minute. Language Art lessons have fun strategies to show children that there is more than one way to stay active, such as creating a rap song using action verbs.

A study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that 17 percent of American children are obese and millions are overweight. Obesity is not only a weight problem, but it can also lead to sleep disorders, diabetes, asthma, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

This is not the first campaign the NFL has promoted to encourage kids to get

moving. Earlier this year, Willie Ponder, Quentin Harris, and Josh Harris of the New York Giants along with members of the New York Jets traveled to several surrounding schools promoting a program called “Get Active.” The program was designed for the players to do activities with students that focused on physical fitness.

“This gives the kids another way to be introduced to exercise and enhances their overall understanding of fitness,” said Dr. Bruce C. Davis, Regional Instructional Specialist for Fitness and Physical Education, during an interview with J. Ethan Medley, the Community Relations Coordinator for the Giants.

With school, work, and life, staying physically active is not a characteristic of daily responsibility. But with the growing

problem of childhood obesity, exercise must become of utmost importance in our everyday routine.

Even though the NFL is leading the way in tackling childhood obesity and involving all aspects of education to encourage students to get fit, the responsibility rests on the shoulders of the people. Overcoming the statistics of American children who are obese or overweight will not happen because of one program. The community must get involved. It begins with us.

stars. Combine this visual with two giant roosters and a little bit of Mexican food, and it makes for an incredibly realistic southwestern atmosphere.

However, the southwestern atmosphere also takes on a twist, one that makes Don Julio’s as modern as it is exquisite. Two TVs are also located in different parts

TV. When there is a game on, Don Julio’s will be broadcasting it. The restaurant shows the games of every local team, from the Texans to the Dynamo.

Don’t know what to eat, well don’t worry.

At Don Julio’s that’s pretty common. With over 200 different menu items to choose from, many people tend to have that problem. To start out, Don Julio’s has twelve different appetizers to choose from, including eight different types of nachos, and its original shrimpstuffed jalapenos served with lemon and a sliced avocado. For dinner, Don Julio’s offers 15 different enchilada plates, all the way from pork to spinach, and the traditional chicken cheese, and beef enchiladas as well. The restaurant also offers twelve dinner specials all under ten dollars, each served in two courses. Eight specialty seafood items including grilled snapper, and fresh shrimp served up with a Spanish twist are also on the menu. To finish off, Don Julio’s has five incredibly delicious desserts including traditional Mexican sopapillas flan, and also the more American choco-taco, a taco shaped ice cream. The large variety of foods at Don

Julio’s gives guests everything they need for a lavish dining experience.

Don Julio’s offers several different master chef combos for the guest who brings a large party. These combos offer beef and chicken fajitas, along with all of the great fixings that go with them. If guests bring a large party, have a taste for great fajitas, and are looking to save a little money, then Don Julio’s is exactly where they should be.

At Don Julio’s, food quality and service towards the guests is the restaurant’s main concern. At any given time one of the owners is available on site for questions and comments. The restaurant invites you to “Hang out and enjoy the food,” as it says on their business cards and their menus. For more information visit their website at www. donjuliosmexicanrestaurantandcantina. com.

NFL spends $1.5 million to get kids active

Restaurant review: Don Julio’s Bobby Murphy

For a taste of food from south of the border try Don Julio’s Mexican Restaurant. Located in a shy corner in the back of the H-E-B shopping center off of F.M. 646 west, this restaurant takes its guests on an eating roller coaster with over 200 different items to choose from on the menu, all served in a series of two to three courses.

As guests enter the restaurant there is a foyer where they wait to be seated. Try not to get too comfortable, because at Don Julio’s guests never have to wait long.

While walking to their seats guests are greeted by two 3-foot tall smiling metal roosters, each wearing a sombrero. Sound weird? Well don’t worry, the roosters aren’t real, and they actually contribute to the southwestern atmosphere that Don Julio’s provides. Throughout the rest of the restaurant, guests receive the feel that they are eating during the night in a southwestern desert. Painted on the back wall of the restaurant is a mountainous landscape dissolving into a night’s sky.

At the top of the restaurant’s roof are fans with small lights on a black background used to simulate a velvety black sky with

Clear Creek HiLife

of the restaurant. One small flat screen located near the back of the right side of the restaurant, and the other, a bigscreen, located directly in the center of the restaurant. Guests come not only to enjoy the southwestern atmosphere, but also to catch a glimpse of their favorite sport on

Photo of mexican food similar to the food served at Don Julio’s.

Photo by http://www.rubinville. com/dailydave/uploaded_images/ mexican-food-783993.jpg

Features

13

Harvard grad accused of plagiarism Dhevi Rajendran

“How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life” was number 32 on the New York Times Hardcover Bestsellers List when it was pulled off the shelves due to allegations of plagiarism. The first printing of the novel consisted of 100,000 copies of the book. After an examination of the novel, it was found that there were over 40 similarities to works of other authors.

The author of the novel, Harvard student Kaavya Viswanathan, claimed that she was unaware of the plagiarism. “I really thought the words were my own,” she said in an interview with the New York Times.

The two novels that were plagiarized most were Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings, both by Megan McCafferty.

Both Viswanathan’s and McCafferty’s novels were categorized as “chick lit”,

as some call it. “Chick lit” is a genre of literature that is written “by women for women.” It usually has a very personal tone, and deals with trials and tribulations that readers can relate to. Some popular topics of “chick lit” are love, roommates, school, and daily life. Viswanathan’s novel is about a brainy Indian American teen aspiring to attend Harvard, while McCafferty’s is about a bright teen who is trying to get into Columbus University.

Both protagonists experience curiously similar ups and downs. Besides plot and character similarities, there were even paragraphs that were practically verbatim from McCafferty’s novels.

Viswanathan, who had started writing the manuscript for her novel during her senior year of high school in 2004, said that

Second stingray attack in two months Lauren Gillespie

The second stingray attack in the last two months has left James Bertakis, an eighty-one year old man, fighting for his life.

Lighthouse Point’s Fire Chief, David Donzella, reported that the incident happened the afternoon of Wednesday, October 18, 2006, 30 miles north of Miami in the Atlantic Ocean. “It was a freak accident,” Donzella said. James Bertakis had taken his granddaughter and friend out for a boat ride in the Atlantic, when a spotted eagle stingray flew into his small vessel. Bertakis tried to toss the ray back in the water, but while doing so he was stabbed in the chest with its poisonous barbed tail. The sting left Bertakis bloody and in excruciating pain. The long barb lodged in his chest, collapsed his lung and punctured his heart. Even with the barb in his chest, Bertakis remained conscious while his granddaughter steered the boat toward shore to call 911.

When Bertakis was being treated at North Broward Medical Center for his collapsed lung, surgeons made a shocking discovery: The stingray’s barb had migrated into Bertakis’ heart, piercing his left ventricle. He was airlifted to Broward General Cardiovascular Center and under went surgery after 10pm Wednesday night.

With the discovery of the barb migrated in his heart, time was critical. According to the doctors, with each beat of Bertakis’ heart, the barb moved deeper into the muscle.

By the time the barb was found, it was already poking the right wall of the heart.

Thankfully, the barb remained in place in the left wall, plugging the original hole it created when entering the heart. Surgeons removed the barb by pulling it through the heart and repairing the two damaged punctured sites.

Late Thursday, Bertakis remained in critical but stable condition at the Broward General Medical Center.

Monitoring his lungs and kidneys, doctors were cautiously confident he would recover. A cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon at Broward General, Dr. Eugene Costantini, said, “ He’s had a lot of surgery in two days.

As long as we don’t have any problems, God willing, he’ll survive this. He’s lucky to be alive.”

Not removing the stingray’s barb that was lodged within Bertakis’s heart saved his life. Leaving the barb in place, doctors were able to treat Bertakis’ chest with the proper surgeries. Doctors removed the barb properly, controlled the bleeding, and closed the wound efficiently.

Doctors agreed that Bretakis’s survival was due to the quick response of his family members, paramedics, physicians and his excellent health. His family members were hardly surprised. One of his four sons says with a laugh, “He is an incredible man.”

With agreement, another son said,” He’s a fighter, and he’s going to get through it.” “ With God’s blessing, he’s going to get through it.”

she had worked with the book packager, Alloy Entertainment. After they reviewed her original novel, which Viswanathan said had a dark mood similar to Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones, publishers told her to do a “lighter piece,” as it would be “more likely to sell.” So, her novel took on the label of “chick lit” and became “How Opal Mehta Got Kissed…”

Viswanathan, who said she was a fan of McCafferty and had read her novels numerous times as a teen, said she “must

have internalized her words,” and used some of them in her own novel. After the plagiarism incident, Viswanathan apologized many times to McCafferty, and said she had a great deal of respect for her. When the novel was uncovered for plagiarism, Viswanathan had a two book deal with Little, Brown and Co. Publishers and a movie deal with Dreamworks valued around at $500,000, which won’t be happenening any longer.

Childhood game of tag has been banned

Ryan Ownes When people think of their childhood, one thing that comes to mind is playing games like tag. Recently, that simple game has started several controversies. Many schools such as those in South Carolina and Massachusetts have outlawed all unsupervised contact sports, including tag.

Evidently, this game and a few others, like touch football and dodge ball, have become too dangerous for the playground.

Though there is no country-wide ban on any of the games, playground rules have been upgraded and are being enforced. Schools in South Carolina and Massachusetts already have a ban in effect.

Officials and some parents are worried that the children are not being safe when they are playing rough games. A few years ago, school administrators in Attleboro, a city just south of Boston, attacked the game of dodge ball. Several school administrators said that it, like many other playground games, is exclusionary and dangerous, according to an interview reviewed and displayed by associated press on pantagraph.com. Administrators are also concerned that most of these games require physical contact and the increased probability of inappropriate touching.

Another reason officials are concerned about these games is that the schools may be held liable if a student is injured on the school’s premises due to rough horse play.

The parents of children at schools with a ban are having mixed reactions. Some agree with the ban, saying that it’s a good thing. Celeste D’Elia, interviewed by The Boston Channel, is a Willett Elementary parent from a small town south of Boston.

She feels that because of the rule, her son is safer. “I’ve witnessed enough near collisions,” she said. Although some parents agree with this mother, still many others see this ban in a different light.

“Children are going to be kids. They’re going to fall down; they’re going to get the cuts and scrapes. And if we shelter them too much then that hinders them later on, you know, in developing skills,” said Michele Watson, quoted by WBIR News.

Netti Engrassia finds the happy medium, “I see that someone could get hurt, but also, it’s something we did when we were little and we’re fine for it.”

Clear Creek HiLife

14

S ports

Volleyball just one game shy of state Albert Nkansah

When a team has won two district championships in a row, they are expected to win a third. With the all that pressure, most teams are not able to win another, but the Lady Wildcats did just that by winning their third district championship in a row.

The varsity volleyball girls had some problems in the beginning with a 15-11 non-conference record, but when it was time to get it in gear, they went undefeated in district. “We are playing our best ball right now at the time needed to,” says Coach Simonds. The Wildcats had a good regular season, but it all comes down to the playoffs.

In the first round of region 3-5A, Clear Creek faced off against Fort Bend Elkins.

The Knights came in the game trying to knock off the heavily favored Wildcats.

The Lady Cats came out and worked toward a challenging 25-21 first game win.

The second game was more relaxed for Creek, and they came out loose and were able to win again 25-20. With two games under their belt, the Wildcats were ready to end the game. The Knights really had no chance, as Clear Creek proved to be the victors with a 25-17 win.

With the experience of a playoff game, the Wildcats were able to walk with their heads high entering the next game. Clear Creek had ruined Baytown Sterling’s season last year, and the Rangers looked to return the favor. The Wildcats, knowing not to underestimate an opponent, came into the game with their game faces on.

The Lady Cats came out very aggressive in the beginning with a 25-14 win in the first game. It looked like it would be a blowout from the start.

In the second game, Sterling came out of nowhere and made it a competitive match. The Rangers came with intensity, but the Wildcats were able to withstand the surge. At the end of the game, key plays were made to help Creek prevail and win 25-23.

Now that the Wildcats were able to hold

Clear Creek HiLife

off Sterling, they were ready for anything.

Both teams came out energetic and ready to play in the third game, and the points were going back and forth. However, when it came down to it, Clear Creek just wanted it more as they won the third game 25-22, ending Baytown Sterling’s season.

With the win against Sterling, Creek was going to the regional quarterfinals against the defending region III champions, Deer Park. This game was important for Creek, not only because they wanted to continue, but also because this is the team that beat them in the regional final last year.

This was Creek’s chance to win and show the Deer that they could prevail.

On November 7, the Wildcats were more ready than they have ever been before. They were ready to achieve sweet revenge on the team that removed Creek from the state playoffs. The game started with Deer Park looking like they did the year before and had an early lead on Creek. The Lady Cats were able to make a come back and make seven consecutive points to win game one 25-22. Now with winning on the Cat’s mind, they came out with intensity, and Creek fought more for the win than Deer Park, ending the game at 25-19.

The third game showed the Deer starting to fall apart, as Creek came out to an 8-2 lead early on. The Cats were able to lead by as much as 11 points, so the backups were substituted in to get some playing time. As the Lady Deer were crumbling, the Lady Wildcats were thriving, and the end result was a third and final game win 25-16 for Creek. With the win against Deer Park, Clear Creek advanced to the regional semifinals, and ended Deer Park’s repeat hopes.

Creek was rolling and it seemed like they were going to make a trip to the state playoffs, but they overlooked the Houston Memorial Mustangs. The Mustangs made it to the regional semifinals by beating Cy-Creek. The Wildcats were favored to

win the game, but the Mustangs wanted respect. Memorial came out in the first game firing on all cylinders and caught Creek by surprise. The Lady Mustangs outplayed the Lady Cats and won the first game 25-19.

Creek now knew that Memorial was for real, and the second game was a dogfight. Back and forth the points went, at one point no team led by more than one. The Wildcats were leading 23-22 when the Mustangs pulled off three straight points to win the game 25-23. The Wildcats had their backs against the wall for the first time since pre-district play began. Memorial was leading 17-11 in the third match when Coach Simonds called a time out to regroup his team. Creek came back and rallied to tie the game at 23. However, Creek was unable to close, as Memorial took the game 25- 23.

The Lady Wildcats season had come to an end, and the seniors had played their last game. Stephanie Hobaugh and Sommer Ivory’s career at Creek ended with that defeat, while players like Haley Jacobs and

Becky Bekelja had to regroup for next year.

Clear Creek’s volleyball season had come to a close, and what a season it was.

Photo by Micah Wesley.

Water polo teams make it to state Sarah Poore Months of late practices, long bus rides, and intense tournaments came down to one long awaited weekend for the Creek Varsity Water Polo team. The Wildcats boarded their last bus of the season and headed to San Antonio as the first team from Creek to make it all the way to the State Championship in several years. “We were just happy we got to go in the first place,” said junior Jeff Otten with a laugh when asked about the boys team. “We have the toughest region and making it this far was great.”

The boys competed in two games, losing the first against St. Marks and winning the next against Taft High School.

“I just went into the games like I would a regular tournament. It didn’t hit me that we were actually competing in state. We could’ve beaten a couple of the teams that were there but didn’t get an opportunity to play them, which brought down our chances. But we had a fun weekend, it was an awesome way to end the season,” said Otten. The boys came home in ninth place, but plan on returning to state next year to get further into the winning bracket.

The girls had a little more luck at state, winning three of their five games, and walked away with the fourth place title. The Lady Wildcats managed to top Cy Creek, Carroll, and Taft High School,

losing only to Humble and Clear Lake.

In the championship game, Creek found themselves matched against their biggest rival, the Clear Lake Falcons. The winner of this game was to be named third overall.

Unfortunately, Lake pulled ahead of Creek by seven points, leaving the end score at 714. Although it wasn’t the outcome Creek hoped for, they were not disappointed.

The team preformed well throughout the weekend and left San Antonio without regrets. “The team did an incredible job, all our hard work really paid off. We went home satisfied with our score,” said junior Traci Wall.

Creek had two players make first team, a huge honor that comes from competing in state. Players from each competing team vote on players from other teams, selecting those who they thought were excellent competitors. Brooke Bamford and Cameron Shannon both received this title for their excellent ability and skill in the water. Creek also had several players make second team: Sally Woolweaver, Laura Thomas, Alison Bennett, and Justin Russo.

The Wildcats had an accomplished 2006 season, breaking out of their district only records of years past. Creek water polo intends to keep going strong and make it back to state in upcoming seasons.

S ports

15

District play has finally come to a close Sarah Poore People watched and cheered as Creek captured their first win and broke their losing streak by defeating Deer Park four weeks into the season. Wildcat fans were hopeful that this was a sign of good things to come and an end to Creek football’s less than perfect reputation.

No one was disappointed by the next game, played against the Clear Brook Wolverines. The momentum gained the week before carried over in full, as touchdown after touchdown lit up the Wildcat side of the scoreboard. The first quarter opened with a field goal by Brook, but Creek took the lead early with a touchdown made possible by Michael Rambo’s fumble return. The second quarter passed without points scored by either team, but the third quarter went to the Wolverines as they managed to score two touchdowns.

Creek kept the game alive with a touchdown completed by Trey Mason. The Wildcats rallied in the fourth quarter, turning out three touchdowns to create a stunning

victory. The first touchdown was scored by Anthony Edgerson off Neal Warden’s pass.

Two more runs followed, extra point by Taylor Echols. Collins delivered the kick on all three touchdowns. These 21 points supplied the dramatic ending for an already fantastic game. It was a solid victory, Creek walking off the field with a 35-17 win.

One of the most anticipated games of the season was to follow this success.

Rivalry runs deep between Creek and Lake, the two oldest schools in the district.

The Falcons were coming into the game undefeated and the odds were set against Creek, but the Wildcats were ready to take the challenge.

Creek scored a touchdown early in the first quarter with a run by Nathan Baggs, which the Falcons followed with their own touchdown. Lake’s kick failed, putting the score at 7-6. From the very beginning it was a tight game, with the football traveling back and forth over both goal lines all night. The second quarter

Athlete of the Month

Jacquelyn Davis

Neal Warden

Sophomores have seemed to step it up this year as a multitude of them have made varsity teams and have played very well. Marcus Davis, for example, is the starting free safety for the football team, John Becker is a key component for golf, and Haley Jacobs is one of the lead contributors to the volleyball team.

Along with this group of sophomores has emerged our female player of the month, Jacquelyn Davis, a varstiy tennis player.

With the tennis season going into the regional competition, Jacquelyn has been taking charge and has contributed to her team’s winning. “I think [other] teams underestimated us this year. We finished 2nd in district,” says Jacquelyn.

Tennis is not the only sport Jacquelyn can play. “My freshman year I played tennis, volleyball, golf, soccer, and track. I also competed in wakeboarding outside of school, but starting my sophomore year, I committed to just tennis and golf,” said the multi-talented Jacquelyn.

She also is one to promote trying something new, because if it were not for her trying tennis out in intermediate school, she would not have found her niche. “I first started playing when I was in 7th grade for League City Intermediate,” she said.

With five semesters still to go before she graduates, Creek is bound to become very familiar with our female player of November.

The definition of success is “the achievement of something desired, or attempted.” Success is associated with how well someone plays and makes accomplishments. Success seems to come natural to our male athlete of November, Neal Warden.

Neal has been the varsity starting quarterback since he was a sophomore, and has not crumbled under pressure. Last year, he led the Wildcats to their first win in 15 games and led them to the first ever Clear Creek playoff victory.

Now that he is a junior and has one year under his belt, he is ready to do more and go farther than last year. He has been one of the best quarterbacks in the Houston area this year; he is 9th in the area in passing with 1566 yards and has 15 total touchdowns.

Neal has always wanted to play football, especially since he has a coach for a father. “Being the coach’s son has its ups and downs, but it’s pretty fun,” said Neal. With all that pressure, he said, “The whole team is there for each other.”

He already has colleges scouting him.

LSU, Nebraska, and Purdue are some of the schools that have given him letters. It seems apparent that Neal will be playing for a major college in the near future.

Neal said, “My inspiration is to be a better quarterback, and be better than anyone else.” If he can continue to progress and get better, than the sky is the limit.

Albert Nkansah

started with another touchdown for Lake.

Creek was right behind them, scoring another 7 points. Both teams managed to gain another touchdown before the quarter ended, making the score 21-19.

The only run scored in the third was completed

by Creek’s JJ Mullins. The tone was set for the fourth and final chance for both teams to prove themselves, and take home the bragging rights. Taylor Echols started off the scoring summary in the fourth quarter with a touchdown for the Wildcats.

Lake fought to take back the lead with two touchdowns, making for a breathless extended 15 minutes. The roar coming from the Creek side of the stands grew louder as the seconds ran down, bringing the victory closer. Creek pulled off an exhilarating 35-32 win, made sweeter by the ending of Creek’s age old rivals winning streak. The Falcons wouldn’t leave Wildcat country with their perfect record or their pride.

Characterized by a sea of maroon and the traditional Texas mums, the stands are always bursting with students at the Homecoming game, the most celebrated game of the year. Fans were expecting another big win like the three previous victories, but things weren’t going too well for the Wildcats that night.

The Brazoswood Buccaneers were entering the game with a perfect record and second place in district and established themselves as worthy opponents as Creek fell behind with every passing quarter. The fourth quarter ended with an embarrassing 0-27 score. Some mistakes made by the Wildcat offense are to blame for the absence of points for the home team, but Creek never gave up their intensity through out the game. The Wildcats took one on the chin but were determined to continue performing to the best of their ability in their next game against Pearland.

The Oilers came into the game fighting, scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter and then 7 points every quarter following. Creek scored a touchdown in the second and third quarters, and then tried to pull out a win with two runs in the fourth. Unfortunately, the Wildcats couldn’t get ahead in time to take home the game. Creek lost by 6 points, end score 28-

32. The Wildcats played hard and battled through the game. Although they didn’t win, the varsity boys are preparing to make their last home game of the season a success.

Creek took their open week after the Pearland game to regroup and take a break.

The Wildcats hoped this would help them focus for the Alvin game the following Friday.

The Alvin Yellow Jackets arrived at District stadium with only one district win, making the Wildcats a likely victor.

Creek’s Taylor Echols scored a run early in the first quarter off Neal Warden’s pass.

Alvin managed to get a safety, earning 2 points. The second quarter was a busy one for Creek, scoring 21 points with runs completed by Taylor Echols, Jereme Brooks, and JJ Mullins. The Wildcats kept Creek fans on their feet, with two more touchdowns in the third quarter. Alvin went scoreless until the last quarter, where they scored one touchdown. Creek took the game with a satisfying score of 39-8, the most points they have earned in a game this season.

The Wildcats are playing Hightower, who are 7-3 this season, this Saturaday at 4:30 P.M. for the first game of the playoffs.

T-shirts will be on sale Friday during lunch for $10. Fan’s are meeting in the football parking lot at 12:30 to see the boys off and wish them good luck.

Photo by Micah Wesley.

Albert Nkansah

Clear Creek HiLife

16 Photofinish

Clear Creek HiLife