2011 October

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2305 East Main Street League City, TX 77573

Clubs Pg. 8

Hikers Pg. 14

Mix It Up Pg. 12

October 2011 Volume 88, Issue 2

Creek’s Journalism staff presents Mix It Up Day By Ellen Gaudet Editor-in-Chief On Friday, November 4th the HiLife Newspaper and Den Yearbook staffs are breaking down barriers in all lunches with Mix it Up Day, a day that encourages students to recognize and eliminate social boundaries that isolate different cliques and groups at school. Mix It Up is a national campaign that was launched in 2001 by Teaching Tolerance, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Thousands of schools in the United States will celebrate Mix It Up Day by providing a welcoming atmosphere for students to step outside of their comfort zones and cliques and meet somebody new. This year’s Mix It Up Day is also emphasizing awareness o f N a -

tional Anti-Bullying month. Bullying is the most common form of violence in schools. The Josephson Institute of Ethics in Los Angeles recently released a study on bullying showing that of the 43,000 teens surveyed between the ages of 15 and 18 attending public and private schools, over half of them had bullied other students or had been victims of bullying. While the Creek journalism team puts in hours of planning and organizing to feature this national movement in our cafeteria, the actual event at lunch is very simple—all students are given different colored candies as they enter the cafeteria and are asked to sit at tables with the coordinating colors, switching seats to meet new people. “Studies have shown that interactions across group lines can help reduce prejudice. When students interact with those who are differe n t from

them, biases and misperceptions can fall away,� Teaching Tolerance’s website said. Mix It Up Day is intended to break up students from their rigid friend circles and invite them to talk to people who they would normally only pass in the hallways or share classes with. The event OHYHOV WKH SOD\LQJ ÀHOG JLYing all students something in common. Many activities are planned to get people pumped up and ready to interact with each other. Students will have the opportunity to feature talents like beat-boxing, dancing, and more during every lunch at Creek’s Mix It Up Day. The hosting staffs will rank the top three performances. The student with most impressive and unique performance, will be awarded ZLWK DQ L3RG 6KXIà H IRU WKH ÀUVW place prize. The second and third place winners will be awarded with Berrylicious gift cards, and other participants will be given free Mix It Up Day T- s h i r t s . The purpose o f the

goofy entertainsevered lunches who live in a sosetting would and excitsmile at a to sit at a other people who

siders and them for a halfconcept worth

ment and cliqueis to show students cially segregated see how painless ing it can be to new face and table with

all feel like outget to know hour. It is a simple to celebrate, but one mixing things up for.

Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, passes away at age 56 By Arlen Addison Reporter On October 5, 2011, Steve Jobs, former CEO and co-founder of Apple Inc. passed away at age 56 after a long batthle with pancreatic cancer. Jobs was born on February 24, 1955 in San Francisco, California and adopted by Clara and Paul Jobs. Jobs attended Homestead High School in Cupertino, California. After graduating, Jobs attended Reed College in Oregon, but soon dropped out. He continued to attend a few of the college courses, while he slept in friend’s dorm rooms, collected coke bottles for money and received free weekly meals at a local Temple. He soon took a job as a technician for the game company Atari to save money for a trip to India. Jobs and a friend from Reed College, 'DQLHO .RWWNH WUDYHOHG WR ,QGLD WR ÀQG enlightenment. When they returned to America, Jobs continued to work for Atari where he met the future co-founder of Apple, Steve Wozniak. In 1976 they left Atari, and sold hand-made personal computer kits with Roinald Wayne. After WKH UHOHDVH RI WKHLU ÀUVW FRPSXWHU WKH

Apple I, Wayne left the company. Apple soon released the Apple II, which, unlike the Apple I, included a keyboard and

It almost did not survive, but was saved by investor Ross Perot. In 1990, Jobs created the NeXT workstation for

Photo from The Washington Examiner

monitor. In 1985, after years of rough times for Apple and a bad relationship between Jobs and Apple’s CEO John 6FXOOH\ 6FXOOH\ ÀUHG -REV IURP $SSOH After leaving the company he built, Jobs founded NeXT computers.

business use rather than personal. In 1990 the NeXTcube was released, which later became the computer on which the ÀUVW :RUOG :LGH :HE VHUYHU ZDV KHOG In 1986, Jobs bought a small portion RI /XFDVÀOPV FDOOHG 7KH *UDSKLFV *URXS

which was later renamed Pixar. After years of unsuccessfully selling the Pixar Image Computer, the company made a partnership with Disney, going on to make WKHLU Ă€UVW PRYLH WRJHWKHU ´7R\ 6WRU\ Âľ In late 1996, Apple Inc., bought NeXT and brought Jobs back to Apple. He became CEO of the company and brought reform, dropped projects, and introduced new products such as Mac OS X and the iMac. Jobs continued to lead Apple to success with the creation of the iPod, the iPhone, iPad, iTunes, and the iTunes Store in 2001. As Apple’s success rose, Jobs’ health declined. In 2004, Jobs announced that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He left Apple for medical procedures, and after surgery when his tumor seemed to have been successfully removed, he returned to Apple. He took time off in 2008 and in 2011. In August he announced he would be leaving the company for medical reasons, handing control to Vice-CEO, Tom Cook. A little more than a month later, on October 5th, he passed away peacefully in his California home. He was survived by his wife, Laurene Jobs, son, and three daughters.

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Opinion stte n o c e m tu s o c n e e w o ll a H You’re in a what do you wear to win?

FRESHMEN

SENIORS

“I would wear a shirt that says ‘Costume.’� -Katie Yates

“Chuck Norris... He never loses.� -Fabian Reyes

“I would be a Smurf!� -Lilli Lara

“I would wear something that is totally unlike me- like dressing up as Voldemort from Harry Potter.â€? -Jessica Sieling ´, ZRXOG ZHDU D *KLOOLH suit so I could hunt down the competition.â€? -Sam Piccolo

“I would dress up as a ridiculously hilarious thing, like a Jamaican hobo!� -Jessica Coco

“I would go in my pajamas because they’re comfy and have pockets that I could put all of my candy in.� -Victoria Meza

SOPHOMORES “The Little Mermaid, because my red hair would make the costume!� -Ashton Reason

“I would force my twin to be a Siamese Cat with me!� -Kasey Clark

“Fruit of the Loom fruits with a group of friends.� -Leela Dimperio

“I would dress up as an Elf from Lord of the Rings. I would NOT dress up as a Siamese Cat.� -Lindy Clark

JUNIORS “I would wear something sweet, yet dark, like a lacy Red Riding Hood carrying a basket of poison apples.â€? -Kayla Marinoni ´*KRVWEXVWHUV JKRVW YDFXXP and all! Who ya gonna call?â€? - Lindsey Smith

´$ Ă€VK WDQN :LWK D FDUGERDUG box painted like an aquarium!â€? $PLH *HLVWPDQ

“I would tape Barbie dolls all over myself so I could be a chick magnet!� -Timmy Pigg

“I would be a taco because they are yummy.� -Juan Soto “I would dress up as Mr. Fontenot because I can walk like him and I have access to a bald cap.� -James Zaro

“I would dress up as Robin Hood because I look gorgeous in green.� -Brooke Weidman

“I would be Jacob Black because it would be completely ridiculous, and the comedic factor would help me win.� -Brian Kay

2011-2012

HiLife Staff Principal: Advisor: Executive Editor: Editors-in-Chief: Features Editor: News Editor: Teen Interest Editor: Sports Editor: Around Creek Editor: Creek Speaks Editor: Advertising Manager: Photo Editors:

Scott Bockart Wynette Jameson Jan O’Neil Ellen Gaudet Ashley Farmer Jacob Mancini Madison Williams Stephanie Johnson Madison Borowitz Jacob Arredondo Hannah Brinsko Valerie Hellinghausen Emily Cruz Aimee Sierra Madison Williams Jacob Arredondo

Staff: Sierra Kemper Madeline Moreau Arlen Addison Kristina Koonce Halle Scott Tianah Brewer Kara Loewenthal Mary Veedell Lucia Castro Dane Chronister Courtney McSwain Tedy Warren Clarissa Melendez Regina Wiley Bailey Clelland Dylan Hill Published at Mirror Publishers in Texas City Email us at: creekhilife@gmail.com Visit us at: http://clearcreekhighschool.ihigh.com For ad rates call: (281)284-1889 Fax: (281)332-9079 “A lumberjack, because I love beards.� -Alex King

“A ketchup bottle, and have someone else be mustard.� -Rachel Petitti

Editorial

Ashley’s Anthologies

Guest: Stephanie’s Scoop Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness... Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.� –Mark Twain

“All of us who professionally use the mass media are the shapers of society. We can vulgerize that society. We can brutalize it. Or we can help lift it onto a higher level.� -William Bernbach

by the high school students and the world created by the portals through which most people get their information: the media. I am walking down the hallway to my As of September 22, if you type third period class and, seemingly out of no- “Clear Creek High School stabbingâ€? into where, a mob begins to materialize directly WKH *RRJOH VHDUFK HQJLQH WKH Ă€UVW VRXUFHV in front of the stairwell. I veer to the right, listed will be KTRK, KHOU, The Houston hoping to avoid the chaos, but instead get Chronicle, KWTX, Click2Houston.com, trapped in the middle of the herd. Isn’t and the Bay Area News. Not even an hour the mob mentality great? I am pushed and after the incident, these stations began reshoved as I struggle through the students. leasing stories about the stabbing. Just as I consider turning around and “Authorities said an 18-year-old stugoing back the way I came, the noise be- dent accidentally cut a 16-year-old boy in gins to subside and the onlookers disperse. WKH QHFN ZLWK VFLVVRUV 2IĂ€FLDOV VDLG WKH I come through on the other side of the teens know each other and it was not the crowd and check myself for any missing UHVXOW RI D Ă€JKW WKH VWXGHQW ZLWK WKH VFLVitems or major injuries. Once I am satis- VRUV ZDV TXHVWLRQHG E\ RIĂ€FHUV Âľ &OLFNĂ€HG WKDW DOO LV ZHOO LQ P\ ZRUOG , PRYH 2Houston on. There is nothing left to see and nothing “The 16-year-old victim was passing left to hear. an 18-year-old student in the hallway when I get to my next class (which just one of the students apparently made a dehappens to be newspaper) and the conver- rogatory comment about a mutual friend, sation in the room is centered around one Scott said...The 18-year-old is now in the topic: “did you hear about the stabbing?â€? FXVWRG\ RI *DOYHVWRQ &RXQW\ 6KHULII¡V OLWell that is a bit of a surprise. Fear begins DLVRQ RIĂ€FHUV 6FRWW VDLG Âľ \RXUKRXVWRQto spread. Students all over the campus news.com have pulled out their phones and are tex“An 18-year-old student at Clear WLQJ IULHQGV DQG SDUHQWV 3LFWXUHV DUH Ă \- Creek High School is accused of stabbing ing up on Facebook. Rumors have already a classmate in the neck with scissors this sparked and none of the stories seem to PRUQLQJ DFFRUGLQJ WR GLVWULFW RIĂ€FLDOV match up. No one checks their facts or cites The two students apparently got into a a credible source. No one stops to think, “Is Ă€JKW Âľ +RXVWRQ &KURQLFOH what I’m saying actually the truth?â€? “One student stabbed the other in A similar occurrence took place in the hand with a pair of scissors and then September of 2004 at Clear Creek High ran from the school...the student who was School. The school was unexpectedly put stabbed is being checked out at the school on lockdown. Libby Sanders, a reporter for QXUVH¡V RIĂ€FH Âľ ² .75. 79 '7 the Clear Creek HiLife in 2004, published ´$W VRPH SRLQW GXULQJ WKH Ă€JKW RIan editorial later that month commenting Ă€FLDOV VDLG WKH HOGHU VWXGHQW VWDEEHG WKH on the reactions of the student body and 16-year-old in the neck and shoulder with administration. a pair of scissors. The younger teen was “In a class discussion several days taken to Clear Lake Regional Hospital.â€? later,â€? Sanders wrote, “students recall KHOU hearing rumors of pipe bombs in the cafThe discrepancies were glaringly eteria, drug busts, hostages being held in obvious and most were void of any cited the bus barn, a rampage at the ninth grade sources other than the general “school ofFHQWHU D VKRRW RXW DW WKH IRRWEDOO Ă€HOG $V Ă€FLDOV Âľ ,W ZDV XQFOHDU ZKHWKHU WKH LQFLnews of the situation diffuses over a larger dent was an accident or an act of violence, area, the stories get farther and farther from ZKHWKHU WKH YLFWLP ZDV LQ WKH QXUVH¡V RIĂ€FH the truth, and a few miles can add a million or the hospital, and what consequences, if fears.â€? any, the stabber would face. Many people would expect this kind According to a 2011 study done by of behavior from high school students. The the Pew Research Center, “25 percent [of GHVLUH IRU UHFRJQLWLRQ LV HDVLO\ VDWLVĂ€HG people] say that in general, news organizathrough the release of interesting tidbits tions get the facts straight while 66 percent of information, many times embellished, say stories are often inaccurate.â€? with the purpose of catching the attention The shifting precedence in the media of the people around them. Partly because are perpetuating the problem of inaccurate of this, teens carry a social stigma that reporting. The easy access to mass media says the teenage world is full of drama that so much of the public enjoys today has and theatrics. Everything is a crisis. What led to the growth of sensationalism and the people sometimes fail to see, however, are decline in the quality of the resources we the similarities between the world created use to obtain information.

By Ashley Farmer Editor-in-Chief

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By Stephanie Johnson News Editor Mark Twain was a brilliant man. I would expect nothing less from the bloke ZKR DXWKRUHG WKH *UHDW $PHULFDQ 1RYHO However, his genius is derived from more than just his ability to concoct colorful characters and compelling plots. Twain traveled extensively. It was traveling that helped him write some of his most wellknown novels, such as Innocents Abroad and Tramps Abroad as well as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. As Twain said himself, travel is more than just vacation or even the process of seeing something new. Travel makes you a more whole and cultured person, ideally ridding you of “prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.� There truly is nothing like travel when it comes to garnering knowledge and perspective, and forging ties that bind people across states, continents, and the world. Additionally, there are many countries, economies, and cultures that depend on travel, not just economically but artistically and philosophically. To stop traveling is to abandon those areas to almost inevitable disruption and degeneration. Furthermore, it’s these cultures and philosophies that aren’t printed in your weekly newspaper or displayed regularly on the television. Traveling provides an opportunity to experience culture and landscapes that may be somewhat obscure. I can’t imagine there are many people who would disagree that travel plays a fundamental part of growing as a person. Many, I’m sure, would certainly take advantage of travel given the means or the opportunity. It really comes down to when would be the best time to travel in your life. For most, it seems to be after retirement. Retirees no longer have to worry about taking leave from their jobs, and (hopefully) have saved enough to be able to treat themselves to some rejuvenation. But should people really wait until they are in their 60’s to travel? By then, life may have already given them newfound perspective and exhausted them to the point where they would much prefer to veg on the couch and enjoy that television that cost them several pay checks. The last thing they would want to do is sit on a plane for nine hours and walk miles a day through the streets of Paris. The best time to travel is now—when youth provides the energy to take full advantage of all travel has to offer. The teen’s world basically consists of school, friends, and family in most

cases. This can create an issue with closemindedness and lack of cultural exposure. Most are aware that children are starving to death in Africa, or civilians are being bombed in the Middle East, but as that doesn’t directly affect them, they don’t pay it much attention. When a teen travels, he or she has a greater ability to fully soak up the culture and perspective that is readily available when visiting a different country. Perhaps one of the greatest advantages teens have, is their willingness to take risks. Teens are less inclined to look at the consequences, than they are to look at the reward. As such, they have a tendency to be quite the thrill seekers. This can cause a problem when the rewards of negative endeavors include a good time, and, for teens, that far outweighs the risk of getting caught or seriously injured, or worse. The fact that teens live for the excitement of doing something new and even threatening, however, has the potential to provide them with spectacular opportunities. This need for adventure is even necessary for them to muster the courage to go off on their own to college and then the big, bad world. Some even look forward to it. It’s the bad things they do with this power (and, yes, I do consider it as such) that creates the illusion of teen recklessness being dangerous. If teens were to take this quality and channel it into something like travelling, they could experience something new that turns them into better people. (Make travel the anti-drug!) I plan take advantage of the fact that I am actually willing to explore new and exciting things now. I won’t let anythingstop me—not even cost. I know I don’t have to be a member of the Onassis family and ride around on a million dollar yacht to properly vacation. There are tons of places to go that cost nothing, if I’m willing to volunteer. I hope to make it all possible, even by stretching my comfort zone if I have to. As Mark Twain so brilliantly stated, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.�

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News

NASA’s LROC photographs lunar landing sites By Arlen Addison Reporter Last September NASA released photos that showed the Lunar Landing sites of 5 out of 6 of the Apollo missions. These photos were taken by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera, LROC, currently orbiting the surface of the moon. Since its launch from Cape Canaveral in June of 2009, the $504 million LROC orbits the moon in search of water and maps the lunar surface. It normally stays at an altitude of about 50 km, but can vary in orbit from as high as 65 km to as low as 35 km. Once the LROC reaches its low point, on-board propellant is

Ă€UHG WR OLIW LW KLJKHU LQ DOWLWXGH WR NHHS the moon’s gravity from pulling it in and causing it to crash on the lunar surface. NASA scientists predicted there would be a variation so great in its altitude that it would reach just 21 km from the surface. Instead of raising its altitude, scientists let the LROC drop to this record height and from there, it photographed the 5 Apollo Lunar Landing sites. While photos from orbit have been taken before, they’re are all from high in orbit and show little detail. The latest pictures are from low enough orbit and high enough resolution that they VKRZ VFLHQWLĂ€F LQVWUXPHQWV WKH GHFHQW stage of the Lunar Lander, the lunar rover, and even astronauts’ footpaths. ´,W ZDV WKH Ă€UVW WLPH ZH JRW LPDJHU\

where we could make out the hardware, and in some cases even the footprints left by the astronauts,â€? said space historian and editor of CollectSpace.com Robert Pearlman. “It ZDV JLYLQJ XV RXU Ă€UVW ORRN DW WKHVH ODQGLQJ sites from above in nearly 40 years.â€? 7KHVH SKRWRV DUH Ă€OOLQJ LQ XQVROYHG mysteries about the Lunar Landing, such as from Apollo 14. Edgar Mitchell and Alan Shepard were venturing on foot to Ă€QG WKH QHDUE\ &RQH &UDWHU EXW ZKLOH hiking up the steep hill, mid-way up they turned around from sheer exhaustion. They left the surface of the moon never knowing how close they were to their target. Recent photos from the LROC show they were less than 100 feet from the rim of the crater. While these pictures are

photographic evidence of the Lunar Landing, many Apollo conspiracy theorists are convinced that the Apollo Mission was a hoax. “In these people’s minds, if you can fake a moon landing, you can certainly fake a couple of pictures,â€? said Pearlman. “That’s not the point of this. But it’s a nice opportunity they had [Photographing the Lunar Landing site] and I’m glad they took it.â€? NASA will use these photos to help plan the next out-of-earth-orbit mission planned for 2025.As for the LROC, scientists ZLOO Ă€UH LWV RQ ERDUG SURSHOODQW DQG gain altitude, and resume its previous mission to photograph the moon’s surface to map it and search for water.

NASA’s Kepler Telescope discovers new planet measures how often it is so scientists can determine how many planets orbit the star, how often, and how big they are. NASA’s Kepler telescope When scientists discovered the has discovered a new planet, much larger of the two suns, which Kepler-16b OLNH WKH Ă€FWLWLRXV ´7DWRRLQHÂľ IURP orbits, they noted the larger star regularly Star Wars movies, called Kepler- dimmed slightly. They determined that 16b, which orbits around two stars. there was a second star orbiting the larger The Kepler Telescope, a $600 one and in turn being orbited. The change million telescope launched by NASA, in brightness was caused when one passed has a primary mission to look at the stars in front of the other regularly eclipsing each in a portion of our part of the Milky Way other. Then other scientists noticed that the *DOD[\ DQG WR Ă€QG (DUWK VL]H SODQHWV two stars dimmed, even when they did not habitable for human life. Since its launch pass in front of each other. They discovered in March of 2009, it has found over 1,200 that there was a third body, which orbits the potential extraterrestrial worlds, about 70 two other stars. It was a new planet that was of which are about the size of our own causing the second change in brightness. planet. Of those planets there a little more Kepler-16b is a cold, half gas, than 50 in the habitable zone, or in which half rock planet about 200 light years from human life might be able to be supported. Earth, about the size and mass of Saturn. 7R Ă€QG WKHVH SODQHWV .HSOHU It is outside the habitable zone of planets looks at a star and measures its brightness. where it is too cold or hot to support life. The change in brightness is caused by Because it has two suns, there would be planets, that orbit the star going through two sunrises, a semi-day where only one a revolution and passing in front of the sun is up, a semi-night where only one sun star. If there is a dim in brightness, Kepler went down, and two sunsets. While it does

By Arlen Addison Reporter

have 2 suns, they are much colder than our own sun, so Kepler-16b has a temperature of about minus 100 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. The discovery of this planet creates a whole new class of planets, called circumbinary planets. NASA announced the discovery of Kepler16b on September 15 at a press conference. ´7KLV GLVFRYHU\ FRQĂ€UPV a new class of planetary systems that could harbor life,â€? Kepler chief investigator William Borucki said in a statement during the press FRQIHUHQFH ´*LYHQ WKDW most stars in our galaxy are part of a binary system, this means the opportunities for life are much broader than if planet form around only single stars. This milestone discovery FRQĂ€UPV D WKHRU\ WKDW VFLHQWLVWV KDYH KDG for decades but could not prove until now.â€? The Kepler telescope will continue to search for planets in its section of the stars until at least November 2012.

AS-506 lifts off from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center July 16, 1969. This VL[WK à LJKW RI WKH 6DWXUQ 9 ODXQFK YHKLFOH developed under the direction of the Marshall Space Flight Center, delivered astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins to lunar orbit. Better known as Apollo WKH PLVVLRQ PDUNHG WKH ÀUVW PDQQHG OXQDU landing. (Courtesy of NASA/MCT)

News +MV\ZIT IVL -I[\ <M`I[ LM^I[\I\ML Ja _QTLĂ…ZM[

5

from local volunteers, but the demand for help still stands as Texas continues WR EDWWOH ZLOGÀUHV WKURXJKRXW ÀUH VHDVRQ 2I WKH ÀUHV WKDW KDYH EOD]HG across the state, the most destructive of them struck Bastrop County, affecting Bastrop, Smithville, and Cedar Creek along with other communities. The Magnolia ÀUH VWDUWHG QHDU +RXVWRQ DQG UHTXLUHG evacuations from 11 different subdivisions in the area on Labor Day. In Magnolia alone up to 8,000 acres have been burned along with 75 homes. Also, in Bastrop County 34,068 acres and 1,649 homes have been EXUQHG 7KH ÀUH ZDV UHSRUWHG WR EH percent contained on September 30. The FDXVH RI WKH ÀUHV UHPDLQV XQNQRZQ EXW WKLV ZLOGÀUH GLVDVWHU KDV EHHQ UHFRJQL]HG DV WKH ZRUVW ÀUH WR GHYDVWDWH 7H[DV LQ D GHFDGH In response to the disaster, Coach McAdam, a former Bastrop County resident collected relief supplies and monetary donations for those devastated E\ WKH ZLOGÀUHV LQ %DVWURS &RXQW\ ZLWK the help of the Clear Creek community.

´7KLV DUHD NQRZV Ă€UVWKDQG WKH GLIĂ€FXOW VWUXJJOH WR RYHUFRPH DQG UHFRYHU from a natural disaster and how important it is to have support from others. It was amazing to see the response from our community willing to help others in a time of need. As we drove through the destruction RI %DVWURS &RXQW\ DQG VDZ Ă€UVWKDQG WKH GHYDVWDWLRQ WKH ZLOGĂ€UHV KDYH FDXVHG ZH became even more proud and thankful to be part of such a wonderful community like Clear Creek ISD,â€? Coach McAdam said in an email thanking staff and students. Creek’s support for those effected E\ WKH ZLOGĂ€UHV DOORZHG &RDFK 0F$GDP to deliver a 16 foot cattle trailer full of UHOLHI VXSSOLHV WKDW ZLOO DLG LQ Ă€JKWLQJ WKH Ă€UHV DQG KHOSLQJ WKRVH UHFRYHULQJ IURP WKH devastation. In the email, McAdam thanks Creek’s FFA department for the use of their trailer, and the Clear Creek community for their generous donations and support.

bomber’sâ€? plan to Laden. He called blow up an airliner the operation’s over Detroit in success a “major The face of Al Qaeda in the Arabian December 2009. blowâ€? to Al Peninsula, 40-year-old Anwar al-Awlaki, Emails were found Qaeda, as alwas killed in a American drone attack on connecting him Awlaki was an KLV FDU LQ <HPHQ 7KH GHDWK ZDV FRQĂ€UPHG to the Fort Hood LQĂ XHQWLDO on September 30, 2011. shooter, Major “His hateful According to the British publication Nidal Hasan, who ideology and ´7KH *DXUGLDQ Âľ $O $ZODNL ZDV ERUQ LQ killed 12 soldiers t a rg e t i n g Las Cruces, New Mexico, and lived in and a civilian in of innocent the United States until he was 7, at which his rampage. He civilians has time he moved to Yemen. He came back was said to have been rejected by to the United States for college in 1991. be in contact with the vast majority He was arrested in 1996 for soliciting the Pakistaniof Muslims prostitutes, and left the United States in American who and people of $O $ZODNL ZDV Ă XHQW LQ (QJOLVK DQG attempted to bomb all faiths and very experienced with technology. He was a car in Times he has met his often referred to as the “Bin-Laden of the Square. demise because internet.â€? Consequently, he became one President the government of the top terrorist recruiters in the world, Barack Obama and the people combining his experience with technology said the mission of Yemen have with his talent for persuading young people to kill al-Awlaki joined the to join his cause. was code named 20110930_CLERIC_strikes.pdf-Chart showing U.S. airstikes in i n t e r n a t i o n a l Yemen since 2002. The U.S. reports that al Qaida propagandist Al-Awlaki threatened American “ O p e r a t i o n community in a Anwar al-Awlaki was killed in a drone strike Sept. 30. national security in many ways. He was Troyâ€? and was common effort believed to be involved in the “underwear very similar to the one that killed Osama Bin against al Qaeda,â€? said President Obama.

Although it has gone largely unnoticed by the general public, the removal of alAwlaki from the international scene is a great victory for American National Security. Because of his intimate knowledge of American culture and unique skills, his spot may be tough for proponents of Al 4DHGD WR Ă€OO “He understood American society very well. He understood American idioms and pop culture and how to appeal to Americans‌It’s very hard for them to replicate this,â€? said Richard Miniter, author of “Losing Bin Laden.â€? America’s CIA also killed the Al Qaeda’s magazine editor Samir Kahn in the same attack. Kahn used sarcasm and idiomatic English to appeal to the youth. The magazine is titled “Inspiration,â€? and is written in English. America has been ÂżQGLQJ DQG NLOOLQJ PDQ\ $O 4DHGD OHDGHUV including Abu Ayyub al-Masri, Mohammad Hasan Khalil al-Hakim, Midhat Mursi, and Osama Bin Laden. Although it has been weakened, Al Qaeda still remains a dangerous presence in the Arabian Peninsula.

By Valerie Hellinghausen Creek Speaks Editor While students across the country enjoyed an extended Labor Day weekend away from school, Central and East Texas ZDV VWUXFN ZLWK UDJLQJ ZLOGĂ€UHV :LWK high winds and areas of ongoing drought conditions, even the smallest spark can cause a massive amount of destruction. ´7KHVH Ă€UHV DUH VHULRXV DQG widespread, and as mean as I have ever seen, burning more than 1,000 homes VLQFH WKLV ZLOGĂ€UH VHDVRQ EHJDQ 7H[DV appreciates the resources and support we continue to receive from across the VWDWH DQG DFURVV WKH FRXQWU\ WR Ă€JKW WKHVH Ă€UHV DQG WKH HIIRUWV RI WKH EUDYH PHQ DQG women who put themselves in harm’s way to protect Texans’ lives and property. Our thoughts and prayers are with those ZKR DUH LPSDFWHG E\ WKHVH Ă€UHV Âľ VDLG *RYHUQRU 5LFN 3HUU\ RXWVLGH $XVWLQ DW Steiner Ranch in a TIME news article. 2Q 6XQGD\ 6HSWHPEHU Ă€UHV

blazed across Texas, and have destroyed or damaged more than 700 homes in affected areas such as Bastrop County. According to ,QFLZHE D Ă€UH WUDFNLQJ ZHEVLWH PDLQWDLQHG by the state, of the 7.2 million acres burned GXH WR ZLOGĂ€UHV QDWLRQZLGH LQ almost half of the acreage was inTexas. ´7H[DV LV LQ D GLIĂ€FXOW VLWXDWLRQ ULJKW now, and our priorities are pretty simple. Number one is to protect life at all costs,â€? chief of the state Division of Emergency Management sector, Nim Kidd said. As Texas continues to battle back WKH Ă DPHV PRUH Ă€UHĂ€JKWHUV DUH QHHGHG WR KHOS FRQWDLQ WKH UDJLQJ ZLOGĂ€UHV 1DWLRQDO *XDUG KHOLFRSWHUV DQG WDQNHU SODQHV DUH FXUUHQWO\ EHLQJ XVHG WR FRPEDW WKH Ă€UHV IURP WKH DLU DV LW LV VRPHWLPHV XQVDIH WR Ă€JKW IURP the ground. Tom Boggus, director of the Texas Forest Service, told CNN reporters WKDW VR IDU Ă€UHĂ€JKWHUV KDYH KDG WR Ă€JKW D GHIHQVLYH EDWWOH DJDLQVW ERWK WKH Ă DPHV DQG IDWLJXH )LUHĂ€JKWHUV KDYH EHHQ GHSOR\HG WR Texas from all across the country and have received an enormous amount of support

Anwar al-Awlakai killed in American drone strike By Tedy Warren Reporter

Pakistanis arrest prominent al Qaeda leader By Stephanie Johnson News Editor The Pakistani military announced September 5 that the Pakistani intelligence service arrested a senior al Qaeda leader, Younis al-Mauretani, and two associates who sought to attack targets in the United States, Europe, and Australia. They were taken into custody in the suburbs of Quetta, Pakistan, according to a statement made by the military after the arrests were made. American intelligence agencies provided technical assistance in planning and conducting the arrest. Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence has a strong, historic relationship with U.S. agencies, and they continue to cooperate to enhance security, as described in the statement. “Osama bin Laden had asked al-Mauretani to focus on hitting targets of economic importance in the

United States of America, Europe, and Australia, with U.S. targets including gas and oil pipelines, dams and oil tankers,� claimed the Pakistani military. Al-Mauretani is also believed to have been involved in planning multiple attacks on European countries similar to those that occurred in Mumbai, India in 2008. The man at the center of the DOOHJHG DO 4DHGD SORW $IJKDQ *HUQDP Ahmed Sidiqui, was detained in July 2010 and told interrogators that alMauretani helped with the planning and coordinating, according to CNN. Al-Mauretani is said to have no particular position in the heirachy of al Qaeda, but he was the head of external operations DQG ZDV SODQQLQJ DWWDFNV LQ *HUPDQ\ Tommy Vietor, a U.S. National Security Council spokesman, said, “The arrest dealt another blow to al Qaeda. We applaud the actions of Pakistan’s intelligence and security services

that led to the capture of a senior operative involved in planning attacks.â€? The announcement of the arrest came only six days before the tenth DQQLYHUVDU\ RI DQ DO 4DHGD DWWDFN WKDW killed nearly 3,000 people, and only four months after Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda’s OHDGHU DQG WKH RQH UHVSRQVLEOH IRU WKH terrorist attacks, was shot and killed outside of a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. “This is an example of the longstanding partnership between the U.S. DQG 3DNLVWDQ LQ Ă€JKWLQJ WHUURULVP ZKLFK KDV WDNHQ PDQ\ WHUURULVWV RII WKH EDWWOHĂ€HOGV over the past decade,â€? Josh Earnest, White House spokesman who hailed the arrest, said. However, the issues of autonomy and cooperation regarding combating terrorism have strained United States-Pakistani relations. 8 6 RIĂ€FLDOV FRPSODLQ WKH Pakistani government, particularly the intelligence service, has showed a

ODFN RI IXOO VXSSRUW LQ WKH Ă€JKW DJDLQVW terrorism. They argue Osama bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan for years, allegedly undetected, before the United States Navy Seals and C.I.A. operatives successfully killed him in a covert operation ordered by President Obama. However, in Pakistan, the United State’s use of unmanned drones by the C.I.A. has killed numerous civilians, creating a backlash against the American military. In May, an attack killed 32 people consisting of elders and local people not related to the militants targeted. Additionally, a secret U.S. military raid deep inside Pakistan embittered and embarrassed the Pakistani government. $ VHQLRU 3DNLVWDQL RIĂ€FLDO VDLG al-Mauretani “did not have any particular position in the hierarchy of al Qaeda, but he was head of external operations and was SODQQLQJ DWWDFNV SHUKDSV DOVR LQ *HUPDQ\ Âľ

6

Around Creek

+TMIZ +ZMMS *IVLÂź[ š+IVLaTIVLÂş UISM[ Ă…VIT[ By Valerie Hellinghausen Creek Speaks Editor On Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011 the Clear Creek Marching Band stepped onto the Friendswood High School football ÂżHOG UHDG\ WR FKDQJH WKHLU IRUHUXQQHUÂśV performance record. After nearly two months of intense practicing, the Wildcat EDQG H[SHULHQFHG LWV ÂżUVW WDVWH RI VXFFHVV for the 2011 competitive season. In the second annual Friendswood Marching Festival, 17 bands across Texas gathered at Friendswood High School to compete in a marching contest to test visual, musical, and individual technique. All bands all compete in the preliminary round. The top ten bands are recognized DW UHWUHDW DQG SURFHHG RQWR WKH ÂżQDO URXQG Awards for general effect, percussion, and musical performance are also awarded during retreat. “Remember that I never care what score you get or what you place. That’s all based on six people’s opinions. It’s how you feel FRPLQJ RII WKDW ÂżHOG WKDW FRXQWV ´ 'LUHFWRU of Bands, Stephen Meyer, said to the band before departing for the competition. ,Q WKHLU ÂżUVW DSSHDUDQFH DW WKH Friendswood Marching Festival, the Wildcat Band captured both the audience’s and judges’ attention with their whimsical props and light-hearted performance of

Candy Land: A Magical Land of Sweets, which contrasted drastically with the majority of bands’ darker, more abstract shows. The Wildcat Band performed WKUHH RI WKHLU ¿YH PRYHPHQWV IRU WKH competition with added sound effects, visual performers, and an array of props made to convert an ordinary IRRWEDOO ¿HOG LQWR D OLIH VL]H YHUVLRQ of the Candy Land board game. As all the bands gathered into Harry Winston stadium, the Wildcat band sat in anticipation for the ¿QDOLVW UHVXOWV $V WKH QDPHV began to be called one by one alphabetically, the students held their breath, waiting to hear their CCHS called. After a suspenseful pause after hearing Clear Brook High 6FKRRO QDPHG LQ WKH ¿QDOLVW results, the band jumped up with excitement as Clear Creek’s name was announced in the ¿QDOLVW OLQH XS :LWK DOO their hard work and the help from the art department, parent volunteers, and extra student performers the band received a slot LQ WKH ¿QDOV URXQG RI D FRPSHWLWLRQ IRU WKH ¿UVW time in 13 years.

“We never get a second chance to perform our show, but today we get that

second chance, so we have to make this one count, and make it even better than the performance this morning,� said clarinet section leader, Kelsey McMahon to motivate her section during a studentled warm up. 'HVSLWH WKHLU H[FLWHPHQW the band focused all their energy to put on their second performance of the day. As soon DV WKH EDQG VWHSSHG RQWR WKH ¿HOG for their second chance at success, it was clear a whole new band had entered the stadium and Clear Creek High School’s history. The difference in the preliminary DQG ¿QDO SHUIRUPDQFH ZDV astounding and moved the band up from eighth to sixth place in WKH ¿QDOLVW UDQNV 2YHUDOO WKUHH RXW RI WKH IRXU &&,6' VFKRROV WKDW attended the competition made it into ¿QDOV LQFOXGLQJ &OHDU &UHHN &OHDU %URRN and Clear Falls. Creek placed the highest RXW RI WKH &&,6' KLJK VFKRROV The Wildcat band will compete in two other major competitions along with the Pearland UIL marching competition in October.

Photos by Sierra Kemper

National Merit Prep Course tackles the PSAT By Valerie Hellinghausen Creek Speaks Editor While a majority of students sleep in on Saturday mornings, 30 of Clear Creek’s students woke up to prepare for a test that many students do not consider mandatory. For most juniors, the PSAT is simply a practice test, a test-run for the SAT, but for the 30 National Merit Prep Course students, the PSAT on October 12 is the climax of all their hard work. Beginning in May, students with scores on their sophomore PSAT exam of 169 and above were invited to join the prep course. With only 30 spots available, the chance to improve test scores and testing skills was attractive to many students. The students were wary of signing up for a course known for its multitudes of vocabulary quizzes and summer assignments, but took the initiative to challenge themselves with the goal of achieving a near-perfect score on the PSAT. “I wanted to take the opportunity because being National Merit would have

VR PDQ\ EHQH¿WV ´ VDLG /DXUD +RO]HQNDPS a junior in the prep course. This goal may seem impossible or at least improbable to reach, and it certainly is not easily attained. Out of a perfect score of 240, students with scores from 216 to 220 usually become National 0HULW VFKRODUV ¿QDOLVWV RU VHPL ¿QDOLVWV Commended students generally reach a score of 200 and over. However, the prep course, taught by Mr. Fontenot and Mrs. Meeks, contains an arsenal of tactics that work to improve each area of the PSAT exam. It may seem ridiculous to some WKDW VWXGHQWV ZRXOG VDFUL¿FH WKHLU VXPPHU freedom and Saturday mornings to take 25-question vocabulary quizzes that may require thousands of note cards and hours of studying to pass. Others would dismiss the idea of doing to math and critical reading assignments pulled from past SAT exams every week of summer as incredulous. 'HVSLWH DOO WKLV VWXGHQWV DUH HTXLSSHG with strategies to solve the different types of questions on the test, understand the format of the PSAT, and work under time

restrictions. “The most challenging part has been learning all the vocabulary, because there is so much and you don’t know which ones will be on the tests,â€? said Holzenkamp. But the NMPC students’ hard work does not go unnoticed or unrewarded. Juniors taking the PSAT who make high scores on the exam can be placed into three categories RI UHFRJQLWLRQ FRPPHQGHG VHPLÂżQDOLVW DQG ÂżQDOLVW &RPPHQGHG VWXGHQWV GR not continue on in the competition, but may be eligible for some scholarships. 6HPLÂżQDOLVWV DQG ÂżQDOLVWV FRQWLQXH RQ LQ WKH FRPSHWLWLRQ 7KH ÂżQDO ZLQQHUV DZDUGHG DUH FKRVHQ IURP WKH ÂżQDOLVWV and are awarded $2500 in scholarship money, and are often awarded more scholarships from various businesses and colleges. In addition, their high school, many colleges, and the state recognize these students from every category for their outstanding performance. At Clear Creek, the administration has mounted D SODTXH QHDU WKH IURQW RIÂżFH WKLV \HDU recognizing students each year in every category, including National Achievement and National Hispanic scholar status. However, becoming National Merit Scholars is not limited to those enrolled in prep courses. The Texas Education Agency provided funds to pay for all the sophomores’ PSAT tests this year, DOORZLQJ &&,6' WKH ÂżQDQFLDO IUHHGRP WR SD\ IRU DOO RI WKH &&,6' MXQLRU H[DPV DV well. Practice materials will be passed out in advisory, and registration will not be required. Students are urged to take this exam very seriously, as being successful RQ WKLV 36$7 LV WKH ÂżUVW VWHS WR SUHSDULQJ for college, a great way to

prepare for taking the SAT, and one of the best opportunities for scholarships.

Photo by Sierra Kemper

Around Creek Spanish Club presents the Pulsera Project By Ellen Gaudet Editor-in-Chief Throughout the month of October, Creek’s Spanish Club sold “pulseraâ€? bracelets at all lunches, raising money and awareness for a humanitarian effort called The Pulsera Project. All proceeds went directly to impoverished children in Nicaragua. The story of the Pulsera Project began in December 2008, when a group of 13 Americans traveled to Nicaragua and were introduced to Los Quinchos, an orphanage based in San Marcos. The Los Quinchos farm is described by one of the Pulsera Project’s founders, Chris Crane, as a “forgotten backwater of humanity,â€? and houses roughly 200 orphans in 3 locations. Most of the children were saved from the streets, from abuse, or from drugs. All of the kids spend a year at Los Quinchos and undergo counseling, acclimating to a life safe from the horror of the streets and other damaging environments. Providing housing and food for the orphans was becoming increasingly GLIĂ€FXOW VR WKH ER\V RYHU \HDUV RI DJH are required to earn money to help support themselves, by weaving bracelets and PDNLQJ Ă€VKLQJ QHWV DQG KDPPRFNV 7KH children really have little more than food and a loving environment. The children make do with whatever

comes their way, which is very little in such an impoverished society. In a country where doctors make an average of only $144 a month, and teachers only make about $100, the trickledown theory of Nicaragua leaves almost nothing for the orphaned children. Shocked by the living conditions of imp o v er is h ed children living on the streets without parental guidance, Crane and his group knew they had to do something to help out. The children had given Crane’s group gifts of bracelets, called pulseras, which were handmade, unique, and incredibly colorful. Making these bracelets was a survival skill for the orphans, but they loved to experiment with

the designs, and one of the counselors of Los Quinchos described bracelet making as an “addiction.�

Photo by Sierra Kemper

The group of Americans decided to buy incredible amounts of yarn to bring to Los Quinchos, and made a deal with the

children and administrators: they would make 500 pulseras, and would earn $1 for each. The money would go to the kids and to the orphanage to buy necessities or soccer balls to play with. The initial 500 pulseras were quickly sold with the help of a service club at West Chester University and Caln Elementary School in Pennsylvania, and a service fraternity at American University in Washington D.C. When Crane and his group returned to Nicaragua in March 2009, they purchased almost 2,000 more pulseras, all of which were sold in the U.S. “The Pulsera Project’s mission is to make the world a more just and colorful place through promoting the value of international service among young Americans,� said the group’s website. “By working together and advocating for underprivileged people abroad, we improve the lives of others, but we also deepen insight into our own lives as global citizens.� Los Quinchos children have been removed from destructive environments and are surrounded by adults and others in similar situations and become a part of a new and unconventional family. Despite losing almost everything, they have gained advantages that most underprivileged or misguided children lack.

Trooper School welcomes new students By Clarissa Melendez Reporter There was an extra bundle of joy at Clear Creek on October 4. 21 children, ranging from 3-4 years old, will start Trooper School. )RU VRPH WKLV LV WKHLU ÀUVW time engaging with children their age while others will feel right at home. The goal of Trooper School student WHDFKHUV LV WR EH FRQÀGHQW WKDW the little Troopers heading to Kindergarten will amaze their teachers with how much they have learned. The 6 periods are divided into 3 classes and student teachers; the kids will see at least 45 different student teachers throughout the day. Each week holds a different theme for the kids and 2 teachers from the 3 classes will be in charge of the class of 20 with the help of the remaining student teachers. This means that the kids will be taught the same thing with different activities throughout the day. One week dinosaurs will roam the FODVVURRP WKHQ ÀUHÀJKWHUV ZLOO WHDFK WKHP ÀUH VDIHW\ then children will be in an outer space classroom, and later they will jump into WKH GHHS VHD ÀOOHG ZLWK VHD creatures. It will be up to the student teachers to make WKH FODVVURRP ÀW WKH WKHPH each week, and with the

guidance of Mrs. Fanders, who becomes the Principal in the little Trooper’s eyes, a student teacher really cannot go wrong. Fanders believes she has the “best job because she is with the little ones and the

Photo by Sierra Kemper

big ones.â€? She “likes getting to see them (student teachers) interact with the little kids.â€? One of her favorite weeks is Polar Express week because there is a pajama day, and the little Troopers get so excited when Santa, who for the past four years has been Coach Lackey, pays them a visit. Seeing the faces of the little Troopers light up must brighten anyone’s day. The Troopers will be taking many adventures when they visit the farm animals in the barn at Creek, and go to the rodeo and the zoo. All of the excitement on the bus ride to their destination turns into little snores on the way back. During Halloween the student teachers will take the little Troopers to classrooms around Creek and do some trick-or-treating. By the end of the day the little Troopers will be headed home with enough candy to last a year in their backpacks. With Trooper School being so unique the waiting list goes to 2014, and some parents even put their child on the waiting list as soon as the pregnancy LV FRQĂ€UPHG When you see chalk covered concrete as you walk through the courtyard, just know that

7

little 3 and 4 year olds wanted to brighten up your day by showing how they are going to be the next Picasso. When you hear little 7URRSHUV ODXJKWHU ÀOO WKH KDOOZD\V EHFDXVH Barney and Elmo are walking them to get candy from the teachers just know their parents are excited about the dentist bill. As Creek students we should be respectful in the hallways because you never know when a little Trooper will be walking the same hallway as you.

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Creek Speaks

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde prepares to wow audiences By Valerie Hellinghausen Creek Speaks Editor

The Clear Creek drama club has been preparing their production of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for their fall show. Since the auditions, callbacks, and rehearsals during and after school, the drama students KDYH ZRUNHG UHOHQWOHVVO\ WR UHÀQH DQG SXW together a mysterious and mind-boggling show for the student body. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde opens with Mr. Utterson, a lawyer, and his friend DQG UHODWLYH 0U (QÀHOG $V WKH WZR FRPH DFURVV D SDUWLFXODU GRRU 0U (QÀHOG WHOOV the sad story of a man who knocked down a little girl, who after being yelled at offered to pay for the incident. After going through the mysterious door, the man returned with a large check drawn from Dr. Jekyll’s bank account. This peculiar and brutish man was

none other than Mr. Hyde, the inheritor of Jekyll’s estate in his will. Mr. Utterson, -HN\OO¡V ODZ\HU Ă€QGV LW VWUDQJH WKDW 'U Jekyll would leave his entire estate to a despised man like Hyde and is resolved to get to the bottom of this mystery. A year later, Hyde becomes wanted for the murder of a successful politician, and Jekyll secludes himself inside his laboratory. Utterson and the audience are then left to follow the unraveling mystery of who Jekyll and Hyde truly are, and the strange connection between them. The cast and crew include drama members from almost every grade level in multiple roles. Seniors in the show include Calvin Picou playing the role of Dr. Henry Jekyll, Nick Sandoval as Mr. Utterson, Nathan Heims and Ryan Thomas playing Mr. Hyde, Brian Kay as Sir Danvers Carew, Karen Rush as Poole and a member of the Ensemble, Lauren

Musgrove as Elizabeth Jelkes, Kathryn Rose as the Hotel Porter and an Ensemble member. Sara Cooper will be the stage manager for the production. “It’s exciting because I love rehearsing, but this year we’ll have a well-known story that a lot of people will want to see. It’s QRW P\ Ă€UVW WLPH LQ D PDMRU UROH EXW 'U

attention to them, causing more readers to pick up those books, this cycle continues. Our right to freedom of press and our freedom to read whatever we choose to read is being questioned daily. In our Creek library there is a table with a few banned books and a display celebrating our freedom to read. For the past seven years at the Creek library there have been no banned books. All the books on the shelves have been protected by our librarians for us to read. At Clear Lake though, the book Yellow Raft in Blue Water was taken off the reading list due to one scene where a cleric takes his friendship with a girl to an inappropriate level. Some books even require a parent’s permission to check out a book. In the Texas v. Johnson U.S. Supreme Court case it states that individuals may censor what they read or even what their children read but they cannot call on the government or public agencies to prevent others from reading the material. One of Creeks librarians, Mrs. Sanders believes that “At this age kids should start learning selfcensorship� and parents should “allow them to develop that skill themselves.� Sanders is thankful for Banned Books Week because it brings awareness to students’ freedoms; she is able to inform students that no one should take away their basic freedom to read. Instead of Banned Books Week she thinks it should be labeled “Celebrate your freedom to read� week, which sums it up very nicely.

It seems that only very informed, concerned parents try to challenge and ban books. If a child picks up a book to read, they need to be able to decide for themselves whether or not they can read that book. A concerned parent doesn’t need to make that book banned for all students that come to that library or take a book off a reading list. It’s not the job of a parent to ban a book, taking the freedom to read and limiting the rights of writers as well. When a book has been banned curiosity

Photos by Emily Cruz

Jekyll is such a wellknown character in literature and he’s a very complex character,� Calvin Picou, the male lead of the production, said. While Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a widely performed show, the drama club

has incorporated new aspects into the original work to keep each performance fresh according to drama club member Naseem Husain, senior. To help better understand the new and old aspects of the play, members of the ensemble explained the essential role they play in adding dimension to the show. “We provide the background, and set the mood for the play. It’s all about helping the audience understand what’s going on inside Dr. Jekyll’s mind,â€? Luke Coley, a member of the ensemble, said. 7KH Ă€UVW VKRZ ZLOO premiere on October 24 in the Clear Creek auditorium. For those that cannot make the premiere, follow up shows will be performed on October 29, November 2, 3 and 5. Tickets will be sold at the door and are $5 for students and senior citizens, and $7 for general admission. Teachers will receive one free entry with their district IDs. All students, staff, and parents are encouraged WR FRPH DQG HQMR\ WKH GUDPD FOXE¡V Ă€UVW major production of the year.

Banned books week celebrating freedom to read By Clarissa Melendez Reporter Banned Books Week 2011, held by the American Library Association, will be the 30th celebration of one of our basic freedoms and is coming to Creek in the last week of September. Most books are banned due to their excessive sexual content, profanity, and racism and most of these objections come from the schools and their libraries because the protection of children from real issues are inside these banned books. Although attempting to ban these books only brings more

Jim Atherton color illustration of a censored book tied up with heavy chains and lock. Fort Worth Star-Telegram 2001

begins to build up making that banned book even more popular. Teenagers have always questioned adults’ decisions, especially when it involves something that is “inappropriate.� Yes, some books contain sexual scenes, an over use of profanity, bloody violence, and disturbing detailed situations but the individual reading that book has the right to keep on reading or put that book back on the shelf.

11

Creek Speaks CCISD awarded by NAFA for clean air By Madison Borowitz Teen Interest Editor According to the National Air Filtration Association, CCISD is one of 24 districts WKDW XVH ´EHVW DLU Ă€OWUDWLRQ SUDFWLFHV Âľ2I the awarded, nine of the districts are in the state of Texas. During a District board meeting, CCISD leaders approved the new budget cuts for the 2011-2012 school year, reducing the budget by $7.6 million annually. 6XSHULQWHQGHQW 'U *UHJRU\ 6PLWK thanked employees for the steps they have WDNHQ WRZDUGV FKDQJH DQG WKH VDFULĂ€FHV WKH\ KDYH PDGH $PRQJ WKH PRGLĂ€FDWLRQV made by staff, a simple alternative in the Air Conditioning department saved the district over $1 million last year, and landed a Clean Air Award from the National Air Filtration Association. The National Air Filtration Association is a committee of over 650 members that JLYHV HGXFDWLRQDO VHPLQDUV FHUWLĂ€FDWLRQV

publications, and meetings advocating the rewards of clean air by joining with the association, and the other heating, air FRQGLWLRQLQJ DLU ÀOWHU DQG YHQWLODWLQJ manufactures already doing so. Every year, candidates are nominated by NAFA members, as well as the community of the applicants. Through LPSURYLQJ HIÀFLHQF\ RI WKH DLU ÀOWUDWLRQ systems, building owners and managers must take initiative to make remarkable positive changes to the condition of their LQGRRU DLU $IWHU D 1$)$ RIÀFLDO HYDOXDWHV and judges the nominees, the titlists all receive a custom made award. To maintain their recognition through the years, award winners must present assessment data annually. Clear Creek Independent School District’s Clean Air Award was given to Steven Borowitz, the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Supervisor for making a switch that has saved energy,

money, and precious time. Borowitz worked closely with Joe Fly Company to build air Ă€OWUDWLRQ IUDPHV WKDW FRQWDLQ DQWLPLFURELDO material ,which safely destroys bacteria and spores, and gasket sealing for every unit in CCISD. While the instillations are quite effective, and run with no problems, Joe Fly`s Company is also employed to VXSSO\ WKH QHFHVVDU\ Ă€OWHU GHPDQGV IRU DOO XQLWV VR WKDW &OHDU &UHHN Ă€OWHU WHFKQLFLDQV can change them and evaluate pressure at all times. “The improvement entails a vendor LQVWDOOLQJ Ă€OWHU IUDPHV FXVWRPL]HG WR RXU HVAC air handling units. This allows XV WR XVH DQG UHSODFH Ă€OWHUV WKDW ZHUH SUHYLRXVO\ YHU\ H[SHQVLYH SOHDWHG Ă€OWHUV to a pre-cut treated media that collects dust particles through electrostatic attraction,â€? stated Kevin Harris, CCISD’s director of maintenance and operations. “The Ă€OWHU PHGLD LV DSSUR[LPDWHO\ R OHVV H[SHQVLYH WKDQ WKH ROG VW\OH SOHDWHG Ă€OWHUV

and has the same MERV-10 rating [district VWDQGDUGL]HG HIĂ€FLHQF\ UDWLQJ@ 7KH Ă€OWHUV also cut disposal funds in half. The old Ă€OWHUV ZKHQ FKDQJHG DW &OHDU 6SULQJV +LJK 6FKRRO Ă€OOHG XS D \DUG UROO > @ RII dumpster per replacement cycle. This new type requires less than half of the disposal space.â€? Borowitz claimed he was unaware he would be making such an eco-friendly choice. “Initially it was an ecomonic descision, but I quickly realized the enviromental EHQHĂ€WV E\ QRW EX\LQJ FDUGERDUG IUDPHG Ă€OWHUV DQG E\ PLQLPL]LQJ WKH ZDVWH Âľ Borowitz said. 7KH QHZ Ă€OWHU V\VWHP KDV &&,6' “going green,â€? and it requires less space and money, allowing CCISD to save “green.â€?

+WV[\Z]K\QWV WV 4W]Q[QIVI ;\ZMM\ KI][M[ KWVÆQK\ By Hannah Brinsko Around Creek Editor

Louisiana Street is known among students for being one of the worst roads in the area. This fall the city council is starting the process of repaving and expanding the road. However, instead of being received with enthusiasm, the project is now causing controversy because the expansion of the road requires one of the oldest oak trees in League City to be cut down. As a solution to this, the city has purposed cutting down the tree and planting ten baby oak trees in its place for a cost of $2,500. Other discussed options include moving the tree to the site of a nearby public park in League City for a cost of $290,000, or the street can be moved slightly westward for a cost of $270,000. Despite the high price tag, many environmentalists and historians are in favor of alternatives that save the tree. They say that the tree, a Compton Oak, is a

rare species of oak that grows quickly and voted for the plan to relocate the road produces acorns. The oak is allegedly over instead of moving the tree, while Phyllis one hundred years old, and might be one Sanborn, Joanna of the original Sharp Dawson and trees from Mick Phalen voted to ZKHQ *HRUJH keep the road in place. Washington Because Councilman Butler started Lee was unable to his ranch in attend the meeting, the area in League City mayor the 1870s, Tim Paulissen broke planting the tie, voting to move many of the the road. signature The road will now Oaks now have to be redesigned, in League in a process that may City parks cost from $500,000 to with seeds $1,000,000 because the city Photo by Aimee Sierra he brought over from will have to negotiate with Calcasieu, Louisiana. landowners to buy private The city council held a meeting on property to move the road. Tuesday, September 27 to discuss the “Thankfully, those who care about purposed solutions. Council members Dan preserving the history of League City Becker, Dennis OKeeffe and Andy Mann stepped up and made their voices heard.

How sad would it have been to see a tree more than one hundred years old cut down just to make a road wider,� says Ms. Brownson who teaches AP Environmental Science. But not all agree, some believe that the decision to save the tree was unneeded and is a costly mistake. “We already have tons of oak trees in League City, and now our city that is already in debt, is spending hundreds of thousands to save one oak, that is not even in one of our public parks. It just does not make sense,� says James Driver, 11th . Despite varying opinions on the Compton Oak, the tree will be saved just in time to celebrate the yearly Oak Tree Festival in League City. The 13th annual festival takes place on Main Street and included a marketplace with handmade crafts, food and entertainment for everyone.

Creek assists the Twin Tower Orphanage Fund By Clarissa Melendez Reporter

states their mission: “to help provide longterm educational assistance and mental and physical healthcare assistance for children September 11, 2001 was the day when who lost parents in the World Trade Center, the Twin Towers collapsed, along with at the Pentagon, or onboard the four downed American’s sense of security. The country airliners.â€? Only $.10 of every dollar that stood in disbelief and cried. Even those is donated goes to ongoing program who lived thousands of miles away still felt expansion, administrative overhead and the pain. This year will be tenth anniversary awareness efforts and the $.90 is directly of the collapse of the Twin Towers. Creek XVHG WR EHQHĂ€W WKH FKLOGUHQ students believe tha this event, that Haas, Mena, Robinson and Stephens impacted so many lives should never be want to organize a hat day at Clear Creek forgotten. Ashley Haas, Nataly Mena, WKH\ SODQ RQ KDQJLQJ SRVWHUV DQG Ă \HUV *UHJ 5RELQVRQ DQG %UHDQQD 6WHSKHQV DUH all around the school. They want to raise in Ms. O’Neil photo journalism class, and at least $1000 because there are so many Ms. O’Neil wanted them to participate kids at Creek they not only want to help in a community service project that the Twin Towers Orphanage Fund but would get the community involved in they also want to bring awareness to the the remembrance of September 11, 2001. Clear Creek community. Haas, Mena, Robinson and Stephens found September 11,2001 means something an online organization that seemed to do special to all the participants in a everything they wanted to do. different way. Ashley Haas wants to The Twin Towers Orphan Fund was help ĂŹencourage remembranceĂŽ. Nataly founded on September 11,2001 to help Mena was six years old when she lived children who lost one or both parents due in New York. She lived 40 minutes from to the 9-11 attacks. On the Twin Towers the Twin Towers. Mena was in class at Orphanage Fund’s website, ttof.org, it her private school when the Towers were

attacked. She didnĂ­t hear the attacks but when the news came on, there was no way of drowning out the sound. Her family moved here because there was so much fear suffocating the people of New York. This was common for many New Yorkers. The fear of being attacked again and just the fear that never left was too much. Breanna Stephens said that ĂŹIt was a really tragic time for everyone in AmericaĂŽ and she felt like she needed to

do something instead of just talking about doing something. Many students have not lost a loved one that was dear to our heart but as a country, all have lost something- our sense of security. America, however, has also gained something. It united to show the world it would not break in a time of crisis.

november

r 4th, 2011

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Features

Apple releases the iPhone 4S and iOS 5 By Jacob Mancini Editor-in-Chief

into iOS5. iPod, iPhone, and iPad users can tweet right from Safari, Photos, Camera, YouTube, or Maps. @Replies can be Apple has recently unveiled its latest sent straight from Contacts, where friends’ mobile operating system, iOS 5. Proposed XVHUQDPHV DQG 7ZLWWHU SURĂ€OH SLFWXUHV DUH to be available for download in fall of 2011, stored with their phone and fax numbers iOS 5 is bringing over 2000 new features and emails. Locations can be added to any WR L3RG L3KRQH DQG L3DG XVHUV¡ Ă€QJHUWLSV tweet coming from any app, on any deApple’s iPhone 4S, available October 14, vice. ships with iOS5. Apple advertises that one can “capture Today, text messages, emails, social a moment in a moment’s noticeâ€? with the networking media, and online gaming tend improved camera software of iOS5. The WR EDUUDJH SHRSOH ZLWK QRWLĂ€FDWLRQV RQ WKHLU PRELOH GHYLFHV L26 KDV D 1RWLĂ€FDtion Center built into it where all alerts are organized in one location. When using an Apple device, new noWLĂ€FDWLRQV ZLOO DSSHDU EULHĂ \ LQ D EDU DW WKH top of the screen. Swiping down over any ZLQGRZ ZLOO ODXQFK WKH QRWLĂ€FDWLRQ FHQWHU revealing everything from local weather and stock tickers to a friend request on Facebook. iMessage in iOS5 is connecting Apple users across all of Apple’s accessory deYLFHV )RU WKH Ă€UVW WLPH XVHUV FDQ VHQG XQlimited messages from an iPod, iPhone, or iPad to anyone with one of those devices. Text, photos, videos, locations, and contacts can be sent through iMessage, which will be a feature of the Messages app. Users can take advantage of group messaging, message delivery and read receipts, seeing when someone is typing, and encrypting messages securely in the new iMessage. A conversation can even begin on one device and pick up where it left off on another. Newsstand organizes magazine and newspaper subscriptions in iOS5. Automatically delivering the latest issues every morning or month, complete with updated Photo from Apple covers, Newsstand is an app folder that camera will be accesZLOO UHGHĂ€QH KRZ SHRSOH GLJHVW QHZVSDSHU sible from the lock and magazine media. screen, making it easier to quickly snap iOS5 is bringing users a better way a picture whenever that Kodak moment to achieve their to-dos with Reminders. presents itself. A simple app combining checklists with a Pressing the volume-up button acts like calendar, Reminders is a next-generation a shutter button for the camera, and editing grocery list, bucket list, or any to-do list at tools are built into the app for adjustments all. Since Reminders can be location based, RQ WKH Ă \ :LWK 3KRWR 6WUHDP HQDEOHG LQ D QRWLĂ€FDWLRQ FDQ EH VHQW WR XVHUV DV WKH\ iCloud, all photos from one device will be pull into the hardware store or supermar- automatically downloaded to the other deket. Compatible with iCal, Outlook, and vices of the user. iCloud, Reminders keeps users posted on In iOS5, photo junkies can crop, rotate, all their devices. enhance, and remove red-eye without leavTwitter has been integrated directly ing the Photos app. Pictures can be orga-

nized into albums on any iOS5 device, and with iCloud, copies of photos will stream between devices for seamless access. Apple describes their latest version of Safari in iOS5 as “even better site-seeing.â€? A new feature built into the mobile browser, Safari Reader, eliminates ad sidebars and clutter so that the text on a page is displayed large, simple, and clean. On the iPad, tabbed browsing makes switching between windows more intuitive. On all iOS5 devices, Safari performance has been improved. Beginning in the generation of iOS5, iPod, iPhone, and iPad users no longer need a computer to set up and maintain their devices. Software updates, photo organization, email accounts, and everything else can be managed directly from the device. With iCloud, all data on a device may be backed up or restored whenever needed, all wirelessly. If users are using computers to manage their devices, they can take advantage of Wi-Fi Sync, the wireless syncing capability of all iOS5 devices. Every time the device is connected to a power source, like on a charger on a bedside table, iTunes will wirelessly back up and sync new data to the device, always automatically. iOS5 even comes with innovative new features for those with mobility, hearing, vision, and cognitive disabilities. The software works with many specialized hardware accessories to help all users get the most out of their devices. For example, the /(' Ă DVK DQG FXVWRP YLEUDWLRQ VHWWLQJV OHW one see and feel when someone is calling. Apple continues to make advances in the Ă€HOG RI DFFHVVLELOLW\ ZLWK L26 L26 LV WKH ELJJHVW DQG PRVW VLJQLĂ€FDQW software update to date. It also contains

LPSURYHPHQWV LQ 0DLO &DOHQGDU *DPH Center, Multitasking, AirPlay, and more. All of the features of Apple’s cutting edge mobile operating system compliment the iPhone 4S, the newest generation of iPhone devices. The iPhone 4S is congruent in appearance to its predecessor, the iPhone 4, but it is loaded with many improvements. With a memory capacity of RU *% WKH L3KRQH 6 ZLOO JLYH users freedom to carry up to 90,000 songs, 80 hours of video, or 14,000 photos, ballpark, in their pockets. With the release of the iPhone 4S, however, the iPhone 4 is QRZ RQO\ VROG ZLWK *% RI Ă DVK VWRUDJH The camera on the iPhone 4S has been improved to boast 8-megapixels with auWRIRFXV D Ă€YH HOHPHQW OHQVH DQ /(' Ă DVK IDFH GHWHFWLRQ LQ VWLOO LPDJHV +' (1080p) video recording at up to 30 frames per second, and video stabilization. Photos and videos taken on the iPhone can be geotagged so that events of photos may be YLHZHG RQ D *RRJOH PDS DW WKH ORFDWLRQ which they took place. Siri has been introduced into the iPhone 4S. An intelligent computer assistant, Siri sets reminders, look up information, sends messages and emails, checks weather forecasts, gives directions, amends schedules, recommends restaurants, keeps time, and answers questions to the sound of users’ voices. Vocal commands need not be phrased in any particular way for Siri to comprehend them. Keyword detection and technology similar to Android’s Vlingo allow Siri to almost intelligently interact with its master in a useful and comprehensive manner. The iPhone 4S also is designed with an A5 dual-core processor, making it twice as fast in general with graphics seven times faster than the iPhone 4. The lithium-ion battery of the iPhone 6 JLYHV LW XS WR KRXUV RI WDON WLPH RQ * signal, one hour more than its little brother, DQG XS WR KRXUV RQ * 7KH VWDQGE\ time, however, has been reduced by 100 hours from the 4 to 200 hours on the 4S. )RU WKH Ă€UVW WLPH WKH L3KRQH 6 LV DYDLODEOH RQ WKUHH VHUYLFH SURYLGHUV¡ * networks: AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. With the advancement in software as in iOS5 and Siri, and improved hardware features, the iPhone 4S is Apple’s latest and greatest until next year.

New Facebook format frustrates some users By Valerie Hellinghausen Around Creek Editor

Facebook users are bracing themselves for yet another round of changes to the social media site. While some are still struggling to adapt, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook has even more in store for its users within the next few weeks. At the F8 Developer Conference in San Francisco, Zuckerberg unveiled some of the latest upGDWHV LQ VRFLDO PHGLD SURĂ€OHV DQG DSSOLFDtion software integration. Zuckerberg revealed one of Facebook’s largest website revamps yet at the conference on Thursday, September 22, 2011. 3URĂ€OH SDJHV RQ )DFHERRN ZLOO QRZ WHOO WKH life story of users by integrating “Timeline,â€? a chronological compilation of posts, status updates, and photos, as well as new features such as music into the site. The new set-up changes enhance Facebook’s aesthetic by enlarging photos to emphasize

the site’s visual aspects to appeal to its usHUV 7KH QHZHVW YHUVLRQ RI RQOLQH SURĂ€OHV is designed to emphasize the important events in a person’s life, not just present who’s who like an old yearbook. By incorporating a “personal timelineâ€? into the SURĂ€OH VHW XS )DFHERRN DWWHPSWV WR IXUWKHU personalize and enliven the social media experience. “We think it’s an important next step to help you tell the story of your life,â€? said Zuckerberg. +RZHYHU DQ RQOLQH SURĂ€OH LV QRW WKH only thing subject to change for Facebook users. Recent partnerships with software companies and major corporations will allow Facebook to encompass almost all the aspects of a user’s media use including music streaming, online TV and movie watching, and other facets. This cooperation between companies will promote what critics

are calling “real-time sharing.� The revamp will allow applications partnered with Facebook to instantly share a user’s actions on Facebook in a one-click process. No longer will a user have to go “like� a video clip, they simply will just watch a video clip. That information will be posted into the new “Facebook Ticker,� which appears at the top, right-hand corner of a user’s Facebook home page. The “ticker� then notices patterns amongst Facebook friends in order to make a post in the News Feed about users who watched the same video clip, or listened to the same album. This transparency in sharing has some users concerned about user security. Some critics argue that “real-time sharing� will only contribute to “over-sharing� on Facebook. However, the site merely pulls from the information users have already submitted to the site in a frictionless manner with

more clarity than in previous versions. “It’s important to know here that Facebook isn’t showing our friends any information that they couldn’t have already seen by scrolling back in our current proĂ€OH YLHZÂŤ%XW VRPHWKLQJ WKDW )DFHERRN still seems to struggle to understand is that when all those tidbits of information are grouped together over the years, it can paint a clearer picture for our friends than we originally intended,â€? Detroit Free Press reporter, Mark. W. Smith, said. While users may still mourn the loss of older versions of Facebook, change for this major social media site is inevitable. These updates are already available for beta testing and will slowly go mainstream in mid October or early November, according to Zuckerberg.

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Ad

Features Hikers released from Iran in September By Stephanie Johnson News Editor On September 13, the Iranian court set the bail for the two American men arrested and then convicted of spy related charges in 2009, their defense attorney, 0DVRXG 6KDÀHH VDLG Hikers Josh Fattal, Shane Bauer, and Sarah Shourd, were arrested after allegedly straying across an unmarked border between Iraq and Iran. Iranian authorities arrested them and imprisoned them in Tehran’s Evin prison, claiming they were spies and had entered the country illegally. US President Barack Obama denied the hikers had any link to the country’s intelligence organizations. 7KH *XOI VWDWH RI 2PDQ facilitated the release of Sarah Shourd, age 32, a teacher, writer, and women’s rights activist, who was freed in September 2010 on humanitarian and medical grounds, under the same $500,000 bail as Fattal and Bauer. Shroud, upon her release, revealed that the group had gone to Iraqi Kurdistan for a week on vacation. The trio of graduates of the University of California at Berkeley had visited the tourist village of Ahmed Awa, and hiked along a trail that the locals had recommended. While out walking, they were stopped and arrested by Iranian troops who told them they had trespassed into Iranian

territory. “They illegally crossed our borders, and they were arrested by the border guards,� President Ahmadinejad said to

of the other two. I am helping to arrange for their release in a couple of days so they will be able to return home. This is, of course, going to be a unilateral humanitar-

American hikers Shane Bauer (right) and Josh Fattal talk to the press as they arrive to Muscat airport in Oman on September 21, 2011, after nearly two years spent in Iran under the accusation of spying. (Balkis Press/Abaca Press/MCT)

NBC News. “We tried last year to free one of the three persons, and we are also trying to make arrangements for the freedom

ian gesture.� Ahmadinejad, on their treatment, said,

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“They are experiencing very good conditions here in prison. It’s like staying in a hotel.â€? The case heightened tensions between the US and Iran, with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton saying she was “deeply disappointedâ€? by the sentences. However, Clinton said she was “encouragedâ€? by President Ahmadinejad’s comments. “We obviously hope that we will see a positive outcome from what appears to be a decision by the [Iranian] government,â€? she said. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said $PHULFDQ RIĂ€FLDOV ZHUH WU\ing to get more details through Switzerland, which represents the United States’ interests in Tehran. 0DVRXG 6KDĂ€HH )DWWDO DQG Baurer’s defense attorney, said the hikers’ families are attempting to raise the bail money for the two men, who were incarcerated on July 31, 2009. The families of the two men said in a statement that they were “overjoyedâ€? by the news. “Shane and Josh’s freedom means more to us than anything, and it’s a huge relief to read that they are going to be released,â€? they said in the statement. “We’re grateful to everyone who has supported us and looking forward to our reunion with Shane and Josh. We KRSH WR VD\ PRUH ZKHQ WKH\ DUH Ă€QDOO\ back in our arms.â€?

Saudi Arabia makes strides in women’s rights By Madison Williams Features Editor As the world continues to grow and develop, the issue of women’s rights also continues to evolve. While many countries granted women the basic rights originally denied to them some countries are just now starting to eliminate archaic ideologies that have plagued the world women’s rights movement. 7KH ZRUOG¡V Ă€UVW ZRPHQ¡V ULJKWV FRQvention was held in 1848 in Seneca Falls, NY. During this convention, a Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions was signed by 68 women and 32 men, setting the agenda for the women’s rights movement that was soon to follow. Slowly women in America began to wear “trousersâ€? which would soon be known as “bloomers.â€? Women started to gain prominent jobs in the male dominated business sector of America. Quaker physicians even established the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania to give women a chance to practice medicine. The idea was QRW ZHOO DFFHSWHG DQG WKH Ă€UVW ZRPHQ ZHUH forced to graduate under police guard. A woman’s role in society slowly started to develop from the perfect housewife to prominent career woman. While the Ă€JKW IRU ZRPHQ¡V VXIIUDJH JDLQHG JURXQG slowly it would take nearly 30 years before the Susan B. Anthony amendment, to grant ZRPHQ WKH ULJKW WR YRWH ZDV Ă€UVW LQWURduced in the U.S. Congress. The bill was then voted on in 1887 and lost, 34 to 16.

The amendment would not be voted on again until 1919. The House of Representatives passed the women’s suffrage amendment, 304 to 89; the Senate had just two votes to spare, 56 to 25. While women were now equal to men in their right to vote, they still were discriminated against. Men still received higher pay than women completing the same task as them. In 1970, women received 59 cents for every dollar earned by men. In 1972, women were granted another triumph when Congress passing the Title 9 Act. This act allowed women to participate in all sports that men do. Women activist also continued to pave the way for future female generations regarding the ability to attend college. In IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH LQ KLVWRU\ PRUH women entered college than men. Still in 1992 women still did not earn equal wages compared to men. Women were paid 71 cents for every dollar paid to men. The range was from 64 cents for working-class women to 77 cents for professional women with doctorates. African American women earned 65 cents, and Hispanic women 54 cents. Currently women’s suffrage is just starting to make an impact in strict religious societies. The Saudi King Abdullah just recently granted women in Saudi Arabia the right to vote and run in future municipal elections. This is the biggest change in a decade for women in a puritanical kingdom that practices strict separation of sexes, including banning women from driving.

While Saudi women are excited by the new freedom granted to them they also wonder about the practicality. How will they run IRU RIÀFH LQ 2015 if they aren’t even allowed to drive? Saudi women will continue to ÀJKW IRU DV many rights as they can obtain. Through many years of hard work, women were able to gain their basic freedoms in the United States, but many countries around the world are still having to break through many cultural barriers.

KRT WORLD NEWS STORY SLUGGED: IRAQIS-SAUDICAMP KRT PHOTOGRAPH BY GABRIEL B. TAIT/ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH (January 29) Three Iraqi refugee girls stand in front of a cement slab house at the Rafha refugee camp in Rafha, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, January 25, 2003. The girls were born at the camp and have spent there entire lives there. According to the United Nations High ComPLVLRQ IRU 5HIXJHHV 81+&5 RYHU UHIXJHHV Ă HG WR 6DXGLD Arabia seeking assistance following the Gulf War. (nk) 2003

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18 Teen Interest Canine companionship through times of war By Madi Borowitz Teen Interest Editor For over 15,000 years dog and man have been companions, and a part of each other`s daily lives. The earliest domesticated dog skeletons date back to

communicate via radio sending signals to the towers at the base camps. These signals alert soldiers to initiate attacks. Their PLVVLRQ LV WR ³'HWHFW 'HWDLQ DQG 'HVWUR\´ Scout dog teams have worked as the eyes and ears of the infantry teams they work along side with. Canines walk in front

Photo courtesy of MCT campus. Graphic showing what a typical military dog may wear during a mission, such as during the raid that killed Osama bin Laden; there are currently more than 2,700 dogs working with the military

the Neolithic period. Some were found in special burial sites, as they were an important part of our ancestor`s lives. In the most ancient societies dogs played a vital role in the hunter-gatherer communities, living in unison with their biped counterparts. It is no surprise that canines have continued to serve as our companions to present day. Since the onset of WWI, dogs have been by our side during bloodshed DQG WLPHV RI FRQĂ€LFW ,Q WKH FRXUVH RI WKH Vietnam war approximately 4,900 German 6KHSKHUGV 'REHUPDQV DQG /DEUDGRUV fought along side their 10,000 military dog handlers. Initially, a variety of dogs enlisted in the Quartermaster Corps gained UHFRJQLWLRQ DV D EHQHÂżFLDO DVVHW DQG LQVSLUHG larger branches of military to recruit more canines. Around 65% of the Army, 26% of the Air Force, 7% of the Military, and 2% of the Navy include military dog handlers. 'XH WR WKH JUXHVRPH QDWXUH RI WKH war, in the 10-year period of the Vietnam war no more that 204 military dogs returned alive. None of those heroic canines returned WR FLYLOLDQ OLIH :LWK WKH GRJV RQ WKH ÂżHOG however, more that 10,000 lives were saved. 'RJV WKDW DUH HQOLVWHG VHUYHG in a multitude of ways. Many work in different teams including the Tracker dog Team- which mainly consist of Labradors. A handler, a cover man, a visual tracker, and a team leader make up the unit. These groups are used to track and locate by ground and even by air by identifying DLUERUQH VFHQWV WR ÂżQG PLVVLQJ SHUVRQV 6HQWU\ 'RJ 7HDPV DUH XVHG LQ DOO branches of the military. These dogs “walk on the wireâ€?, on the fringes of an area and

of the teams and detect detinators, booby traps, ambushes, and traps. All branches of military dog teams were trained in Tachikawah, Japan, and sent to war in Vietnam. Military canines that followed the heroes of the Vietnam war have fought in WWII. After the Korean attack on Pearl Harbor, an interest was sparked in the valuable use of dogs, especially as a means of patrolling and defending the beaches. All war dogs however, serve to protect and defend their sentries. Canines such as SILVER ( brand A595) saved lives by warning her team before a bayonet attack. In Feuruary 1945, while searching a foxhole for grenades, she was killed. PAL ( number 8M2), stationed in San Benedetto Post, saved several men during a shrapnel engagement by using his own body as a blockade. On February 23rd 1945, after he had taken the shots meant for his advance patrol he was killed. Nemo, another extraordinary war dog, and a hero among canine and human comrades, has a story that will not be forgotten. With his handler, Airman 2nd class, Thorneburg, Nemo began patrolling his duty at a Vietnamese grave yard in 1966 when he heard “something�. After warning Thorneburg just before they were attacked, and as Nemo charged the ambush and a bullet went straight through his eye and out his mouth. Though this could have been his last breath he chose to press on, throwing himself onto Thorneburg, and protecting him. While shrouded by nemo, Thorneburg has time to call for backup. After the attack while being taken back to base ,Nemo would not leave his handlers

VLGH GHVSLWH WKH KRUUL¿F VKDSH KH KLPVHOI ZDV LQ /DWHU ZLWK JUHDW GLI¿FXOW\ PHGLFV repaired Neom`s eye, though he would forever be blind. In 1967, following his EUDYH DFWV WKH $LU )RUFH ÀHZ KLP EDFN to the U.S, recognized with honors. He ZDV WR EH WKH ¿UVW VHQWU\ GRJ WKDW ZRXOG retire. Until 1973, when he passed, Nemo UHVLGHG DW WKH 'HSDUWPHQW RI 'HIHQVH 'RJ Center, in Texas with a permanent kennel, as an example of true heroism for all. 7RGD\ PLOLWDU\ GRJV DUH ¿JKWLQJ DORQJ VLGH

our soldiers in all branches of the forces in Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Afganistan. These reliable, brave, and loyal creatures will continue to join us in action, and we will continue to value their lives.

Photo courtesy of MCT Campus Urmel, a military dog (resting) leads an Army patrol through a valley blanketed with bombs planted by the taliban.

League City Animal Shelter October Companions

Paola Breed: Argentino Boxer mix Age: Adult, approx. 5 years Stats: Smooth white coat and tan eye patch. Paola is a sweet friendly canine looking for a loving family!

Molly Breed: Black Tabby Age: About 2 years Stats: Silky short black hair. Molly has been at the shelter for too long! For almost 3 months she has been without a family! Help her!

Come visit these pets! The LC Shelter needs... - foster homes -help cleaning facilities - cat and dog food

Adoption fee of $75 covers - Spaying/Neutering -Rabies & other vaccines -Microchip implant

information and pictures courtesy of the league city animal shelter

821 North Kansas Street League City TX 77573, (281-554-1377)

Teen interest 19

Drive - action packed, suspenseful, and romantic when he is released. Bryan Cranston gives but at the same time that he has a heart another strong performance as a supporting when he does it. He cares about it and it character that acts as the driver’s handler. hurts him just a little on the inside. Ron )URP WKH VWDUW RI WKH ÂżOP \RX FDQ WHOO 7KH VXUSULVH RI WKH ÂżOP LV $OEHUW %URRNÂśV Pearlman does another great job with the that it is going to be a different movie. Hot pink script for the opening credits, and slow, almost pulse-like beats pulsing in the background. You see the Los Angeles skyline bright and beaming, like a lighthouse, the only light in the pitch-black night. Then you hear a voice, a soft, almost whisper-like voice, which pushes the words out with little effort. He says less WKDQ ÂżIW\ ZRUGV KH SXWV RQ KLV leather driving gloves and his white satin jacket with a sinister looking scorpion stitched on his back, then he drives. The performances given WKURXJKRXW WKH ÂżOP 'ULYH DUH outstanding. Ryan Gosling, plays the man with no name, DQG LV RQO\ FUHGLWHG DV Âł'ULYHU ´ His performance is striking, and with such limited dialog he emphasizes everything with his body language and facial expressions. His love interest Ryan Gosling and Nicolas Wilding pose for their is his next-door neighbor Irene played by role as the villain. He award at the 64th International Film Festival. tough-guy role as Nino. Carey Mulligan, which starts out innocently plays an old money, 7KH ÂżOP LV Courtesy of MCT Campus enough with just a simple glance. Irene is Hollywood producer beautiful, and Nicholas a single mother, whose husband is locked who has questionable partners. We see that Winding Refn does a great job in directing up in prison, and the drama kicks off he has no problems getting his hands dirty, the picture. His back-and-forth rhythm of

By Jacob Arredondo Sports Editor

soft, intimate moments and loud, action scenes earned him his award for bestGLUHFWHG ¿OP DW WKH &DQQHV )LOP )HVWLYDO 'R QRW EH VXUSULVHG E\ WKH YLROHQFH WKDW LV LQ WKH ¿OP :KLOH WKHUH DUH a few action moments, it keeps WKH ¿OP DW D JRRG SDFH EHFDXVH RI KRZ WKH ¿OP ÀRZV %HWZHHQ WKH PRPHQWV RI WKH 'ULYHU trying to get away from the bad guys and with robberies gone wrong, there are moments where Gosling and Mulligan are staring at each other for sweet moments and the crowd is just waiting for them to say anything. 7R HQMR\ WKLV ¿OP \RX must be patient and take in all of the elements at once. The retro eighties soundtrack keeps WKH ¿OP ÀRZLQJ WKH FDUV DQG even the white scorpion jacket are like characters themselves, and the cinematography paints Los Angeles as a majestic city. 7KH ¿OP LV JHQUH EHQGLQJ you can call it a thriller, a suspense, a romance or an DFWLRQ ÀLFN ,W LV DOO LQ RQH DQG WKH ¿OP LV RQH ZRUWK VHHLQJ With Gosling’s boyish looks juxtaposed with his complex personality for all the women to decipher and Mobster and action scenes for the men, it has something for everyone to enjoy.

Contagion cast eases disturbing SciFi inquiry By Hannah Brinsko & Madison Williams Around Creek & Features Editors 5HFHQWO\ 0DWW 'DPRQœV QHZ WKULOOHU Contagion was released. 6WDUULQJ QH[W WR 'DPRQ was Gwyneth Patlrow, Kate Winslet, and Leonardo Caprio’s wife from Inception. The movie felt like a red carpet was taken full of stars and just plopped in. The movie fared well on its opening ZHHNHQG DQG WRRN ¿UVW SODFH DW WKH ER[ RI¿FH making over $23.1 million, although it was the lowest grossing weekend of the season. One thing that the director hit the mark on was beginning the PRYLH RQ 'D\ RI WKH epidemic, and then having the closing VFHQH RQ 'D\ ,W highlighted the fragility of modern society. The plot overall never had that much of a climax. All the individual stories connected but they never went anywhere. However, all of the stories were very interesting, especially since they occurred all over the world. The movie leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Characters are introduced then quickly cut off without much explanation. All of the dynamic characters are seemingly

unrelated until they are brought together during this epidemic. For example, in the PLGGOH RI WKH H[FLWHPHQW RI 'U /HQRUD Orantes’ role, her character casually walks

to such a great epidemic. It showed how important world cooperation is when dealing with something as large scale as a worldwide epidemic. The major problem

Contagion Photo courtesy of MCT Campus

out of an airport Jude Law as Alan Krumwiede trying to warn of this movie was not the of a conspiracy regarding the virus. never to be seen disease itself, but having again in the movie. to cooperate with all the It leaves the audience wondering where world leaders to organize a response effort. she went and what the end of her story is. The movie also raised the issue of One fascinating part of the movie exploitation of pharmaceutical companies. ZDV VHHLQJ KRZ WKH &'& ZRXOG UHVSRQG While the government was creating vaccines,

there was much speculation on a possible conspiracy. The American public wanted a cure as soon as possible and didn’t want to deal with government “red tape.â€? They had one blogger who spoke out against the government while advocating his own medicine, causing mass hysteria and increasing his personal wealth. The movie also toyed with the idea of humans having savage instincts even in civilization. The movie started off very normal, as far as human behavior and interactions go. As the epidemic progressed, the population slowly became more and more aggressive, ÂżJKWLQJ IRU WKHLU VXUYLYDO Common courtesies that were once given were replaced with murders, raids, and rioting. Trust was broken between neighbors and even within families as people became concerned with their personal survival over the welfare of their peers. If an event were to occur like this sometime in the future, this movie accurately portrays the work RI RUJDQL]DWLRQV OLNH WKH &'& when facing world devastation. It showed the importance of simplifying government processes in times of disaster and the importance of setting a presidency for international cooperation. Contagion will now join the ranks over other disaster SciFi thrillers such as 2012, The Day After Tomorrow, and The Next Three Days.

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Sports

Creek football is one win away from playoff berth the way to Freeport to play the Bucs. The huge stage for the Wildcats to play on and Wildcats showed no sign of being bothered an opportunity for Creek to show not only E\ DOO RI WKH GLVWUDFWLRQV DQG VWUXFN Ă€UVW the state of Texas, but also the Nation of Creek started its district play against the when Smith completed a 24-yard pass to what Wildcat football was all about. The 'LFNLQVRQ *DWRUV $IWHU GURSSLQJ WKHLU SDVV Lewis. After half time, the score was 7-7. JDPH ZDV EDFN DQG IRXUWK LQ WKH Ă€UVW TXDUtwo games, the Wildcats were motivated to &UHHN JRW WKH EDOO Ă€UVW FRPLQJ RXW RI KDOI WHU DIWHU 3HDUODQG VFRUHG Ă€UVW &UHHN DQstart the district season off right with a win. time and went on an 8-minute drive to set VZHUHG ZLWK D \DUG Ă€HOG JRDO E\ *UHDThings did not start off right in Creek’s faYRU MXVW DIWHU PLQXWHV LQ WKH Ă€UVW TXDUWHU the Wildcats were down by 22 points. The turn-around came after 15-yard run by Marcus Nelson in the second quarter, from then RQ LW ZDV &UHHN¡V JDPH 7DQQHU *UDHEHU ERRWHG LQ D \DUG Ă€HOG JRDO LQ WKH WKLUG quarter to close the gap. Smith then led a PDUFK GRZQ WKH Ă€HOG DQG KRRNHG XS ZLWK Mirka for an 18-yard touchdown. On the next drive, Dion Lewis scored the gamewinning touchdown in the back of the end zone from a 9-yard pass from Smith. Creek beat Dickinson 23-22 with Smith leading the way with his 154-yard and two-touchdown night. Mirka lead the receivers with one touchdown and 55 yards, as well as a 14 yard throw to give Creek an important Ă€UVW GRZQ LQ WKHLU VHFRQG KDOI FRPHEDFN Creek had Clear Brook in its sights next in an important in cross-district match-up. The Wildcats racked up 21 points in the Ă€UVW KDOI DQG VKXW WKH %URRN RIIHQVH GRZQ WKH HQWLUH Ă€UVW KDOI WR JLYH &UHHN D Photo by Aimee Sierra lead going into half time. Davis started off the scoring romp by capping of great up Davis for a 2-yard touchdown. On the ber after Jentzen got his sixth interception Ă€UVW GULYH ZLWK D \DUG WRXFKGRZQ UXQ EH- next possession for Brazoswood, the Wild- of the season. Pearland scored three more hind the surge of Brent Wagner and Corey cat defense forced a punt and sacked the touchdowns in the second quarter to push Zunker. On the next drive, Mirka caught a punter after a bad snap, setting up a 2-yard Ă€YH \DUG SDVV IURP 6PLWK SXW WKH :LOGFDWV Nelson run. The game came down to a exXS &UHHN HQGHG WKH Ă€UVW KDOI ZLWK D tra point attempt after Brazoswood scored bang when Smith threw a 30-yard touch- their third touchdown of the game, making down to Lewis put the Wildcats up 21-0. the score 21-20. With a successful kick the Bane Bilc also caught a 5-yard pass from game would be tied, but the defense presSmith in the fourth quarter. The Wildcat sured the kicker and he forced the ball ride defense didn’t let the Brook offense get to the right giving the Wildcats a one-point By Jacob Arredondo anything. For three quarters, the Brook of- lead. Jentzen secured the victory when he fense was shut out of points. Martin and caught his second interception of the game. Sports Editor Senior Devin Zamka has been on the Jenzen led the defense the entire game to 'DYLV Ă€QLVKHG WKH JDPH ZLWK D VHDVRQ KLJK secure the 28-0 win over Brook. This gave of 164 yards and a touchdown. The win girls’ varsity cross country team Creek back-to-back wins and set them up gave Creek the top spot on the district and since her freshman year. She has to play Brazoswood in a game where both gave them the opportunity to clinch a play- TXDOLĂ€HG IRU WKH UHJLRQDO PHHW LQ team where undefeated in district play. off spot with a win over the Pearland Oilers. her sophomore year and is one Creek was not only given the short The game with Pearland was nation- of the stronger runners in the disweek and forced to play Brazoswood on a ally televised because it was Fox Sports’ trict. Her 2-mile time has averaged Thursday, but the Wildcats had to travel all +LJK 6FKRRO *DPH RI WKH :HHN ,W ZDV D 12:30 minutes and her highHVW Ă€QLVK ZDV LQ WKH 'HHU Park meet with a tenth SODFH Ă€QLVK =DPND has been an essential part of the cross country team not only as a runner, but is a leader on the team. She has helped many of her teammates get ready for the meets and events. One of them is the freshman, Madison Pyle. “She is like a big sister,â€? said Pyle, “She pushes me when we run and always helps me keep my pace.â€? This is Pyle’s Ă€UVW \HDU RQ the team and only her third year of runQLQJ FURVV FRXQWU\ +HU WRS Ă€QLVK ZDV 15h place at 12:42. Pyle started running cross country to help her keep speed for track, but as the season has gone on she has been getting better and better. Zamka knows a bit about how essential it is to have a “big sisterâ€? in track. In Zamka’s freshman year she had then senior, Chelsea Hubner, as her senior leader.

By Jacob Arredondo Sports Editor

the lead to 28-3. After the half, the WildFDWV FDPH EDFN DQG VFRUHG RQ LWV ÀUVW SRVsession, Dion Lewis scored on a 6-yard run and inched the Wildcats closer to 28-10. The Creek offense exploded in the fourth quarter after Dillon Johnson picked off a ball and returned it to Pearland’s side of WKH ÀHOG 0LUND PDGH DQ DFUREDWLF FDWFK to score a 2-yard touchdown pass from Smith. Davis scored Creek’s next touchdown with a 1-yard run. With only a few minutes left on the clock, Creek continued WR ÀJKW DQG GULYH WKH EDOO GRZQ WKH ÀHOG 7R PL[ LW XS &UHHN GLG WKH à HD à LFNHU SOD\ and scored off the 30-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Mirka. Pearland beat Creek WR &UHHN ÀQLVKHG ZLWK \DUGV RI RIIHQVH 6PLWK ÀQLVKHG WKH JDPH ZLWK yards and 2 touchdowns. Bilc had 105 yards off receiving yards off seven catches and Lewis had 91 yard off 6 catches. Jentzen, Dillon Johnson, and Marvis Nelson all had an interception as well. The Creek defense also forced and recovered a fumble. There are three games left to go in the season and the Wildcats are only one win away from clinching a playoff berth. Their next three opponents have a combined record of 8-13. Creek plays at Alvin on October 21, the play there senior night game against Clear Springs on the 28 and the play the Clear Lake Falcons on November 4. The Wildcats are 3-1 in district andhey are currently in second place, tied with Pearland and behind Clear Springs.

Cross Country runs to the top of district “She was so encouraging of me. She helped me so much,â€? said Zamka. Both Zamka and Pyle hope to make the regional meet and to push the girl’s cross counWU\ WHDP WR D WRS WKUHH SODFHG Ă€QLVK On the boys’ team, senior Sidney Riley has been a stand out runner in the past few meets. His time of 17:42 for the three-mile course at the Manvel district meet got him an 18th SODFH Ă€QLVK 5LOH\ LVQ¡W RQO\ a cross country runner, he also competes for the Clear Creek track team at the 1600 and 800 meter race. Cross country running has always been one of the best training tools that most other sports. Many of the runners come from basketball, soccer or track but this year, many of the athletes wanted to focus just on cross country and elevate Creek to a regional contender. “There working hard to get where we want them to be,â€? said Coach Sanders. And with only a few weeks left in the season, the Wildcats are pushing themselves every week to make sure that every one is fully prepared to take on the 2-mile course for the girls and the 3 mile course for the boys. The cross country district track meet for both boys and girls will be on October 27th. Photo by Courtney McSwain

Sports

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4ILa ?QTLKI\[ IZM Ă…Z[\ XTIKM QV LQ[\ZQK\ [\IVLQVO[ digs in stopping the Clear Brook Wolverines. ment for the game frequently chanting, Clear Creek’s go-to player, junior “scoreboard, scoreboard, scoreboard!â€? outside hitter, “Our fans gave us a really The Lady Wildcats played against Ashley Smith, fun atmosphere, Clear Brook and had the upper hand in o v e r c a m e every and our girls all four games, and a 16-8 advantage in nearly didn’t let them the third game was the deciding fac- obstacle in the down,â€? Clear tor in the match. The Clear Creek Lady Tuesday night. Creek coach Wildcats played without one of their ,Q WKH Ă€UVW VHW Simonds said. star players and struggling early in the she had several “They were regame. They made their needed adjust- service errors, DOO\ Ă€UHG XS ments and came out with a victory. overshot a few because it’s a Creek played on the road at Clear kills, and Clear huge rivalry Brook High School in a hostile environment Brook had angame, and I but came out strong. The Lady Wildcats swers for her thought they GURSSHG WKH Ă€UVW VHW EHIRUH UHERXQG- booming power. To concame out and ing and sweeping the next three games, played well.â€? 25-12, 25-22 and 25-23 in a tight match. tinue their 6-0 S m i t h , “It’s never 3-0 when we play them, winning streak dominated the DQG LW¡V DOZD\V D Ă€JKW Âľ &OHDU &UHHN the Clear Creek Wildmatch with 27 coach Scott Simonds commented. “But Lady kills, 9 digs we had to shift a lot of things around to cats set out Photo by Halle Scott and 4 blocks, contributing get this one. Even though we had to make on a bloodthirsty path to victory nearly half of the Lady Wildsome big adjustments throughout the against the Clear Spring Chargers. match, I think we’ll be a better team down Dominating the entire game, Creek’s vol- cats’ points. Richardson, had 39 assists, the road because of it,â€? Simonds said. leyball team lured the Chargers in and junior, middle blocker, Froeschel had 7 The team played without their senior pounced to secure their win of the night. kills and a block, Childers, had 8 digs The large and enthusiastic student sec- DQG DFHV DQG *DIIQH\ KDG GLJV 3L]OLEHUR 1DWDOLH 3L]QDU EXW Ă€UVW \HDU YDUVLW\ defensive specialists Alexis Robson and tion on Creek’s side of the court instilled nar, led the way with 13 digs and also Laura Hickman mutually cam e out with 27 a hostile and overwhelming environ- helped greatly in order to rule the court

By Dane Chronister Reporter

against the Clear Springs Lady Chargers. “I personally believe she’s the best libero in the Houston area because she makes everyone else around so much better,â€? Simonds said. The Lady Wildcats continued to cruise with a 3-1 win over Dickinson, 3-1 win over Clear Brook, and a 3-0 win over Brazoswood. The most important match up so far in the season was Creek’s game against Pearland. A win would put Creek in the driver’s seat for sole possession of the district championship. The game went back and forth, EXW 3HDUODQG JUDEEHG PDWFK SRLQW Ă€UVW LQ the third game. The Lady Wildcats never backed down from the challenge, they where put in match point four times before they won the game 32-30. All of the momentum swung in Creek’s favor and they KDQGOHG WKH Ă€IWK DQG Ă€QDO JDPH WR D win over Pearland. Smith broke a school record with 39 kills in a single match DQG SURSHOOHG &UHHN WR Ă€UVW SODFH RYHUDOO Creek played Alvin next and put away the Lady Yellowjackets in a 3-1 match. Smith had 31 kills on the night, Richardson had 48 assists, and Piznar had 20 digs. :LWK WKH Ă€UVW SODFH OHDG LQ WKH GLVWULFW DOO the Lady Wildcats need to do is win out and they will be this years district champions.

?QTLKI\ \MVVQ[ \MIU XZMXIZM[ NWZ \PM LQ[\ZQK\ Ă…VIT[ ery year but once since 1983 the varsity has made it to the regional playoffs, Coach Marrie is hoping that the varsity team will The 2011 Clear Creek tennis team start- be able to keep the wonderful ed district starting playing on the 23rd of streak alive and go to September against Clear Brook High school. the regional playoffs. With 3 wins and 2 losses from the preThe team has a season match, they were off to a good start. few months before This year, there are several new faces the district game. If the on the varsity team. Out of the top six var- team plays very well VLW\ ER\V ODVW \HDU Ă€YH RI WKHP JUDGXDWHG and is one of the top The top two varsity girls from last year also two teams from our graduated. After losing so many varsity district, they will make it players, the team has new challenges to to Regionals which is on October face. Senior Ryan Behrle is this year’s num- 28 and 29. They have been pracber one player for the boys’ varsity team. ticing very hard since August. Haley Albro, also a senior, is the number There are some strict rules for one player for the girls’ varsity team. Ev- the Creek tennis players. “No

By Kristina Koonce Reporter

prac-

WLFH 1R SOD\Âľ LV WKHLU Ă€UVW UXOH Punctually is necessary, because if a player is late without an excuse from a teacher, counselor, or principal, hears he will have to stay after practice for conditioning. The team also holds “challengesâ€? week, where Creek players compete Photo by Courtney McSwain

against each other based on their number position. The players holding an even number position will challenge up with the players holding an odd number. Each week these roles are switched. The

Creek tennis members are expected to learn how to compete against but also have a good relationship with each other. The district policy allows, any varsity player who occupies a top 12 position in the fall or spring semester to earn a letter. Another way to receive the letter award is by being a part of the tennis program for 7 consecutive semesters. The coaches would like to have each eligible player for a varsity letter get their letter as soon as possible, so they can represent the team around Creek. Varsity letterman are expected to represent their team and school on and off court. The tennis team went on a 7 match winning streak against the district. There only loss came against Clear Lake in a 7-12 match. The district post-season starts October 20.

Clear Creek’s Athletes of the Month for October

Ashley Smith By Jacob Arredondo Sports Editor Junior Ashley Smith has been a force for the Wildcats all season long. She has everything that you need- the 6’1’’ size, the quickness to get to the ball, the vertical leap, and of course her crushing spike. She currently has 561 kills on the season and is averaging 6.76 kills per game. She is responsible for more than

half of the team’s total kills. Smith also leads the team with 21 blocks at the net. A leader on the court, she has been one of the driving forces on the Wildcats’ undefeated streak through district play. Smith has been named as the HousWRQ &KURQLFOH¡V *LUO $WKOHWH RI WKH :HHN twice, both for games against Pearland, with a 35 kill game and a 39 kill game. CBS Sports’ Max Preps also recognized her as one of the top players nationally. She also plays for the Absolute Volleyball Academy of Texas, which is one of the top volleyball programs in the state. After a tremendous summer and sophomore year, all eyes were on Smith and whether or not she was going to commit. After narrowing down her decisions, she decided to commit to play for TCU, DQG LV WKH Ă€UVW SOD\HU WR FRPPLW WKLV \HDU Smith led Creek over Clear Springs with 27 kills, 9 digs, and 4 blocks to give the Lady Wildcats a win over a rival, as well as their Ă€IWK VWUDLJKW ZLQ LQ GLVWULFW SOD\ 6PLWK DOVR broke a school record with 39 kills in a single match in the 3-2 victory over Pearland. Photos by Kara Loewenthal

Lewis has been named as one of the top 10 performances of the week by the *DOYHVWRQ 'DLO\ 1HZV WZLFH +LV EUHDNout game was against Pasadena Memorial. His 68-yard reception over the middle ZDV WKH Ă€UVW VFRUH RI WKH JDPH DQG KH Ă€QLVKHG WKH JDPH ZLWK \DUGV ZLWK 7 catches. He also caught 16 passes for 130 yards against Kingwood. One of the biggest moments of the year was Lewis’ 9-yard touchdown to cap off a 23-point FRPHEDFN DJDLQVW WKH 'LFNLQVRQ *DWRUV LQ WKH Ă€UVW GLVWULFW JDPH LQ WKH \HDU ´2Q WKDW SOD\ , IHOW VR FRQĂ€GHQW I wasn’t nervous at all,â€? said Lewis. So far through the season, Lewis has 46 receptions with 559 yards and 5 By Jacob Arredondo touchdowns in the season. The win gave Sports Editor Creek a 1-0 record to start off district Senior football player Dion Lewis has SOD\ JLYLQJ WKHP D VKDUH RI Ă€UVW SODFH made a name for himself as one of the best Coach Hunt, the special teams and players in the county. He is an outstanding wide receivers coach, said, “(Lewis) is receiver and returner for the Wildcats. A the epitome of character. If every kid was OHDGHU RQ DQG RII WKH Ă€HOG KH LV WKH JR WR like Dion, it would be easy to coach.â€? guy for big moments in the game, and a Lewis is not only a hard worker in key blocker who has had some of the big- WKH ZHLJKW URRP DQG RQ WKH Ă€HOG KH LV gest hits on the team throughout the season. also a hard worker in the class room.

Dion Lewis

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