pleasant grove high school 5406 mcknight road | texarkana, tx | 75503 check us out @ www.pgedgeonline.com November 4, 2011 | vol. 27 #2
edge
playing with fire
Craytor’s Corner
Ever have those days when you get home from school and just feel the need to watch a random online video that hold absolutely no importance to your life whatsoever? Good news, the new pgedgeonline blog ‘Craytor’s Corner’ will give you just that and more. Use the Mircrosoft Tag App on your smartphone to be taken directly to the first episode. It features interviews with Matthew Johnson and Kishon Daniels and some guy on a motorcycle. Doesn’t that sound great? If you’re wondering, the answer is yes.
Just ask us
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80% said yes
Yes, because the snow is fun. Last year we went to Avery’s and had a huge snowball fight.” -sarahhughes, 11
20% said no
It’s cold, and I hate cold weather. There’s not enough snow to actually affect much anyway.” -kristinacox, 11
It’s about time
Ask anyone what their least favorite part of Texarkana is, and you’ll be sure to hear a thing or two about construction. And though we can’t promise that construction will cease to exists any time soon, we can safely say that the interstate construction is scheduled to be done by the end of the month. No more cones, no more road blocks, no more workers. But every little bit helps. What do you think?
on the edge
In the running
We know the Presidential elections are over a year away, but there’s no harm in being educated, plus a lot of you will be voting by then anyway. People assume there’s only about four candidates because there’s only about a handful you really hear about, but in reality there’s actually twenty-four. So if you do plan on voting you better read up on every single one of them, or you could just close your eyes and pick one, but be careful, you could end up electing someone who is going to be single-handedly responsible for the downfall of the nation. No pressure.
Drought sparks burn ban, dangerous conditions in area Ashlyn Hurst reporter
As principal Bill Harp drove home from the varsity volleyball game in Atlanta last Tuesday in his Chevy Silverado, a cigarette leapt from the car speeding in front of him. Harp watched as the lit cigarette landed on black highway asphalt. As the small light dimmed, Harp let out a sigh of relief and continued to make his way home. “This kind of stupidity is the real danger during this drought,” Harp said. “One cigarette could start a fire that might burn for hundreds of acres.” Since the spring of 2010, east Texas has been in a state of extreme drought, but other than crunchy lawns and shrinking lakes, students have not yet felt the impact. But that may change as dry weather patterns continue. “The drought will continue until at least next spring, and persist through the end of the year,” said Dave Hall, the Emergency Management Coordinator of Texarkana. “It could be even worse next year.” Due to the dangerously dry condi-
sparking a fire Although they were unrelated to the drought, recent fires in the Pleasant Grove area have drawn attention to the fire danger.
tions, Bowie County has instituted a the use and purchase of fireworks. burn ban. This ban restricts the burning “One firecracker can start a major of trash, campfires, and all other outdoor fire,” Hall said. “Traditionally people like fires. The ban was implemented in late to have fireworks over New Years, but it’s August, and has been extended until Jan. just too dangerous this year.” 25 by the Bowie County But firecrackers aren’t Commissioner’s Court. the only thing to worry One cigarette Homecoming traditions about. Weather fronts that could start a fire fell victim to the monthsbring high winds are a facthat might burn long burn ban in Septemtor that increase the danger for hundreds of ber when the “Burning of of fires in the area. acres. the H” became “Lighting “When winds are up, it - principal Bill Harp of the H.” just enhances the danger,” Outside the Performing Hall said. “If a fire starts, Arts Center, dry and gusty winds swirled the wind will spread it very quickly.” across the parking lot while inside, homePsychology and history teacher Tim coming queen Allison Kirk walked across Baldwin saw the effect wind can have on the stage, picked up the black extension a fire first hand just ten miles from his cord and pushed in the plug, bringing the home outside of Linden. giant “H” behind her to light. “I remember the fire was on Labor “We had talked about doing some- Day because as I was going to town that thing like this last year, but with the coun- afternoon, I noticed the smoke. The wind ty-wide burn ban, we didn’t have much was out of control,” he said. “It [the fire] choice.” Harp said. The burn ban will was close; I could see the smoke from my have an impact on students once again as house.” the holidays draw nearer. continued on page 3 Along with the banning of outdoor fires, county representatives have banned
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When we saw photos of the snow falling in the Northeast on Halloween, we thought back to those snowmen we built last winter, those snowball fights on the football field, all those snow days. This year’s calendar has two bad weather days built in-April 6 and May 25. We wondered if you were looking forward to another snowy winter.
Owens’ Family Fire
Just days after moving into their new house, the Owens family was horrified to see that their house had fell victim to a fire. “There’s a Wells Fargo fire relief fund where people can donate money to help my family.” Junior
Amigo Juan’s
It was like any other day for Junior Erika Rodriguez, until she was called to the principal’s office in the middle of class. She was heartbroken when she found out that the original Amigo Juan’s had caught fire.
Adam Owens said. “There’s also an banquet on Saturday at the Elks lodge on Jefferson, there will be food, bands, and games. We just bought a new house on Wednesday night, we’ll be moving in this weekend.” Later that night, Erika went to see what damage was done, and left with an even heavier heart. “I spent half my childhood in the restaurant,” Erika said, “and now it has burned to the ground.”