William Mason High School Mason, Ohio
The
She’s number ONE! see page 10
Chron l cle
November 4, 2005 Volume 3 Issue 2
6100 South Mason Montgomery Road, Mason, Ohio 45040
NEWS Flash Students and staff members contribute to worthy causes Students, staff members and families raised funds for The Robert Peraza Foundation and The Wendy Faulkner Memorial Children's Foundation, established in the memory of local residents who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Donations to the two foundations amounted to $3,326.18. The district was also very generous in collecting funds for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. As a district, Mason City Schools contributed $37,959.68 to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief. In other relief efforts, MHS English teacher Betsy Carras led an initiative that collected nearly three truckloads of school supplies for Acadiana High School in Lafayette, Louisiana. In the intermediate school, students collected schools supplies and backpacks that are being shipped to students at Kennedy Elementary School in McComb, Mississippi.
Voters to decide the fate of Mason schools...again BY OLGA BORODULIN Chronicle Editor Mason residents will be returning to polls on November 8 to decide on the longdebated issues concerning school funding. The ballot will include different candidates running for three open school board positions. The ballot will also include eight referendums, seven of which were petitioned by the Mason School Board, and 1 from the opposing levy group, CARE, or Citizens for Accountability and
Results in Education. CARE founder, John Meyer, has been actively working in Mason to "make the school board look at unnecessary spending and become more accountable." Meyer attests that CARE is simply trying to look out for the interests of senior citizens and low-income families who cannot afford the tax increase. School board officials have been asking residents for support using their campaign slogan, "Vote NO in NOvember." In the midst of the battles for votes, sen-
BY MATT HUNTER Chronicle Staff Writer
Chronicle
P l l 48% no
42%
yes
10% not sure (Based on a survey of 200 students.)
INSIDE... SPORTS
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OPINION
22
CENTERSPREAD SNEAK PEEK Senior Cody Hanson and sophomore Leah Bromley survived a horrific car accident over the summer. In the centerspread, you’ll see how they are lucky to be alive.
see Referendum page 2
Fifth Grader brings Carson to school
Should the issue of abortion play such a major role in the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices?
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 7
ior and future voter Brent Burnett can understand why some community members may be confused on the voting topic. "Since I've attended several board meetings and researched the topic, I understand it. However, if you don't understand the issues and take time to look at the issues, then there are [community members] who will be confused," Burnett said. Such confusion has been centered on the change in the Mason School Board cam-
Chronicle photo by Josh Geiger
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is escorted into Mason Intermediate School by fifth grader Drew Matula who brought Palmer to school on October 25.
For a day in late October, Drew Matula was the man. On Tuesday, October 25, the Mason Intermediate fifth grader was able to bring his newest friend to school. The new friend, only the NFL’s early favorite for Most Valuable Player and Bengals star quarterback Carson Palmer. Matula was one of thirty-four students across the nation that won the grande prize for the Take an NFL Player to School program, in which one student from every NFL market was given the opportunity to take a local NFL player to school. Matula and Palmer emerged from their chauffer-driven limousine at Mason Intermediate to hoards of students, staff members, and the media. Palmer got an early morning surprise when he found out that Drew was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan. It was an ongoing joke between the two all morning. Palmer said it was okay, as long as he didn't put on a Ben Rothlisberger jersey. "You don't have a Rothlisberger jersey, do you,” Palmer joked with Matula while they appeared on ESPN’s Cold Pizza. Palmer spent much of the morning with students, answering questions and tossing footballs. The highlight of the day for the rest of the intermediate students was when Palmer spoke to them and answered their questions, which ranged from "who can cover 85 in 2005?" to what was his favorite subject in school. "It's good to remind these kids that school is important. It's more than recess, it's a chance to learn and set yourself up for the rest of your life,” Palmer said.
Skateboarders may soon have a place to call their own BY CANDICE PHILPOT Chronicle Staff Writer Skateboarders in Mason may soon have a place to call their own. After months of anticipation, debate and minor tiffs with the local police, the dream of skateboarders is finally becoming a reality. Forty-nine Mason students of all ages filled the conference room at the Mason Municipal Building on October 13 to attend the first meeting for designing the skate park that will potentially be built in Mason. "I know a lot of the skateboarders have been waiting a long time for this. I know it's been talked about, but it's finally happening," park chairman Steve Gayfield said. The design ideas included input from
local skateboarders who have been closely following the situation. "The plans are really specific, and [the park board] wants to build what [the skateboarders in Mason] want," freshman Collin Martin said. SITE Design Group, a skate park design and building company, will be carrying out the construction of the Mason skate park project. "The two skate park styles we will be looking at are a street-style park, and a bowl- or ramp-style park," SITE Project Manager Brad Siedlecki said. Although the Mason Skate Park Board is currently in the process of designing the park, the actual construction of the park is still only a possibility. "Right now, we are just starting the design. We're not talking about construc-
tion. City Council has to approve the money to build the park," Gayfield said. The site for construction has been chosen. "The skate park is going to be built right behind the entrance to the Mason Pool,” chairwoman of the Mason Skate Park Board Ginny Sundin said. Although possible designs for the skate park have already been made, no design plan has yet been finalized. "We plan on finishing the design at the end of this year," Gayfield said. As the Park Board members and SITE designers steadily work on the layout of the park, Mason Skateboarders must wait in anticipation, knowing that the design opportunities are numerous. "We can build anything we want. That's the beauty of concrete," Siedlecki said.