Sandpoint HigH ScHool october 2009Volume 87, iSSue 1Former NFL QB becomes

a BulldogPage 7

Fall sports analysisPage 6

As soon as students entered Sandpoint High School this fall, their eyes were immediately drawn to a few changes in the halls.

Two main examples are the tiling on the walls and the changes in the senior murals.

Over the summer, artist Whitney Palmer transferred the 2002 se-nior murals to make room for tiling.

Along with the aesthetic changes to the building, administrators and teachers have cracked down on hall-way behavior.

Stricter punishments for swear-ing, public displays of affection, cell-phone use and skateboard-ing in the hallway quickly showed students the administrators mean business. Consequences for violat-ing these new rules vary accord-ing to specific offenses, but can in-clude lunch detention, in-school suspension and parental contact.

If students are found using their cell phones during any instruction-al time, even if they are in the hall, the phone will be taken to the office and parents must come pick it up.

“Parents are very supportive of the new cell phone rule,” principal Dr. Becky Kiebert said. “We haven’t had any parents upset about pick-ing up their student’s cell phone, and some have even told us they would keep the phone longer because they agree with limiting cell phone use during instructional time.”

When it comes to profanity, Kiebert said she has heard students tell other students to stop swearing.

Students, meanwhile, have no-ticed a difference.

“I think people are actually trying harder to follow the rules this year, at least with cell phones, because they can see the school is becoming strict-er and teachers will keep their word,” senior Rachael Sacksteder said.

The intent of the rules is to have stu-dents focus on learning in the class-room. Administrators and teachers alike believe the efforts are working.

“Our goals have been accom-plished; profanity has been decreased and there is less cell phone use dur-ing class time,” teacher and educa-tional assistant David Miles said.

Molly Burgstahler

Assistant copy editor

Sandpoint lost a longtime mem-ber of the community and SHS in August when Richard Lockwood “Dick” Sodorff passed away at the age of 87.

Sodorff, who served as princi-pal of Sandpoint High School for 21 years, was described as warm, friendly and a huge inspiration.

“He was my second dad, one of the reasons I became a teach-er, and gave me the best friend

I’ve ever had,” Deb (Lyons) Shucka wrote on Sodorff ’s on-line memorial. “His passing leaves a very large emptiness.”

Retiring as principal in 1981, Sodorff continued to better the Idaho education system. He start-ed the SHS Alumni and Friends Scholarship Fund, a program that donated more than $80,000 to all school departments over 20 years. He served as the chairman of Special Schools for the Idaho State Committee of the Northwest

Association of Schools and Colleges, a program dedicated to “advancing excel-lence in education through the

process of accreditation,” for 11 years. Sodorff also was a proud member of the Idaho Hall of Fame for school ac-tivities and a lifetime mem-ber of the Bulldog Bench and Sandpoint Elks Club.

“Dick brought a wealth of experience as an educa-tor and community leader to his position,” wrote Chris

Pietsch of Creswell, Ore. “I ben-efited greatly from his counsel as I plotted my own course in life.”

We all know our little city is evolv-ing, changing. The fact of the mat-ter is we can’t avoid knowing. The changes are everywhere.

The Sand Creek Bypass is currently under construction after more than 60 years of controversy that has still not quieted down. Its 2.1 miles will connect U.S. 95 to Idaho 200 and U.S. 95 north of Sandpoint. It will include six bridges, a pedestrian walkway, and a bike path, and is expected to be finished in the summer of 2012.

“We’re pleased to assist the Idaho Transportation Department on this

long-awaited project,” said Parson Groups president Andy Albrecht, the $98 million project’s lead contractor.

The Bypass isn’t the only signifi-cant change to the community’s in-frastructure.

The Dover Bridge is finally being replaced. The current bridge is in such a bad condition that it received a sufficiency rating of three on a scale of 100 and was featured in both the History Channel’s “The Crumbling of America” and Popular Mechanics’ ten worst examples of the country’s deteriorating structures. The new bridge will be 72 feet wide and 1,200 feet long with five lanes, which will

more than double the current 24 feet width and two lanes.

But besides the works-in-progress, there are already finished construc-tion projects that have changed the shape and size of Sandpoint.

The Sandpoint Center on Church St., which replaced the local grocery store, Harold’s, and the movie theater that once stood there, substantially changed the height of Sandpoint. With its three stories, it is taller than any other structures, besides the re-maining grain elevator.

tala Wood

Copy editor

New changes meet an old town

n EVERYTHING’S CHANGING: Sandpoint and SHS have seen a lot of new changes, including construction, new kids, sport regulations and new rules. Find out more about the changes on pages 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Changes in Sandpoint, school make community stronger and more future-forward

Former SHS principal passes awayRichard Lockwood “Dick” Sodorff served Sandpoint community greatly, will be missed

His passing leaves a very large emptiness.“

”-Deb (Lyons) Shucka

Teacher

Jennifer Prandato

Editor-in-chief

Changes continued page 2

Top Tenthings we like about fall

Jumping in Leaves

Picking Apples

Disclaimer: only enjoy-able when somebody else does all the raking.

you can enjoy the beauty of apple trees and the delicious taste of apples.

Corn Mazes

get closer while you’re getting lost.

Pumpkin Carvings

reveal your inner artist... and get pumpkin seeds!

Scarywood

every Saturday during October, Silverwood is transformed into a Halloween spectacle.

Halloween

yummy candy and crazy costumes, how can you not love that?

Hand Turkeys

perfect gifts for parents and grandparents. and they’re fun to make.

Hot Chocolate

shoo away the autumn chills. apple cider works wonders as welll.

Thanksgiving

three simple reasons: apple pie, pumpkin pie, cherry pie.

Pretty Colors

brilliant and vibrant colors on the trees help make fall a beautiful season.

JasPer giBson

Connor griesMeir sydney MorrisJasPer giBson

Opinion................................................................Page 3

What’s inside?News.....................................................................Page 2

Arts&Culture.......................................................Page 4.5Sports....................................................................Page 6.7

-Megan Butterworth

Read about Megan and Obama on page two

Meeting Obama was probably the most memorable moment of my life so far.

““page 4

Bulldogs face

Canadapage 7

Page 2October 2009

Cedar Post

Come by after school and see John or Michelle

for your goodies.

Dierdre Hill - Liz Evans

710 Pine Street Sandpoint

208-263-9012

Senior Megan L. Butterworth had a once-in-a-lifetime experi-ence over the summer when she met President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.

During the summer, Butter-worth went to Quantico, Va., to visit her dad, a lieutenant colonel in the United States Marine Corps. On July 24, 2009, he was invited to a VIP garden party at the Com-mandant Gen. James T. Conway’s house with approximately 200 guests, Butterworth said. The commandant is the highest-rank-ing officer of the Marine Corps.

When they arrived at the Ma-rine Barracks Washington, the oldest active Marine Corps base

also known as the 8th and I, But-terworth’s father surprised her and told her about the guest of honor. President Obama arrived and gave

a speech, thanking the Marine Corps and expressing his gratitude. Butterworth was then able to shake Obama’s hand and told the Presi-dent, “I volunteered very hard on your campaign last year.”

“Thank you very much,” Obama replied. “I greatly appreciate it.”

“He had really soft hands,” re-called Butterworth, who was about 2 feet away from Obama.

After meeting the President, But-terworth also shook hands with Mi-chelle Obama.

After the president’s speech, they were escorted to a field where the United States Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps performed. Then, the President’s Own performed fol-

lowed by the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon.

“They were absolutely amazing,” Butterworth said. “When the Silent Drill Platoon performed, you could hear a pin drop.”

There were several other famous people at the event, including the prime minister of Japan at the time (they have since had an election), Taro Aso, and Harry Jackson, who is a sculptor and was the youngest Marine Corps Combat artist.

“Meeting Obama was probably the most memorable moment of my life so far,” Butterworth said.

Butterworth’s brother, Gerry, who is currently serving in the military in Iraq, has met President George H. W. Bush. Apart from the famous people Butterworth met at this event, she has also met actor Dennis Quaid.

SHS senior meets President Obama

Jule Paul

Staff reporter

In the months since President Barack Obama’s inauguration, there has been a lot of controversy over his proposed uni-versal health care plan.

While there are other plans being presented to congress, Obama’s plan is the one being talked about most. Regarding his plan, there are a few key facts that all political parties have acknowledged to be true.

1. Taxes will be raised to cover all uninsured citizens.

2. All Americans will have some form of health insurance.

3. It is highly unlikely Repub-licans and Democrats will ever agree entirely on the issue of nationalized health insurance.

As citizens in a democratic re-public, it is the duty of the people to be educated, especially when it concerns a policy as influential as the proposed one facing Congress.

The following are opinions of two students, a teacher, a con-gressman and a senator. The content of the statements are opinion only and have not been edited or checked for factuality.

n Sophia Muelenburg, stu-dent, Democrat: “I think that

universal health has worked in a lot of European countries. As my dad is a doctor, and he doesn’t like the system as it is right now, and he has a lot of valid points. (Obama) has convinced me that national-

ized health care would be a lot better than how things

are run with a lot of pri-vate insurance companies.”

n Tabitha Pandell, stu-dent, Republican: “I think people should have the right to choose in-stead of having to wait for weeks to see their doctor, and not have to give up their family doctor. I really don’t think taxes need to be raised any more than they already are.”

n Mary Imaz, teacher, Moder-ate: “I think that it is a great idea for a small country such as Spain, or France, or England, but not for the U.S. I have experienced social-ized care and medicine, and it’s actually not so bad as Americans think it is. Yes, you do get taxed

the bejesus out of you, but you still get good health benefits. There are just too many people to come to an agreement and I think that in the U.S. we are not used to paying the taxes that some other coun-tries are, and they would not be very happy paying higher taxes.”

n Jim Risch, Idaho senator, Re-publican: “As the health care

debate took shape this summer, it became clear to me Idahoans did not want government-run health care. Every day people called, wrote and e-mailed, asking me to vote against a government takeover and any public option. As I trav-eled throughout Idaho in August,

I heard the same thing — no government-run health

care. I wholeheartedly agree.”n Walt Minnick, Idaho

congressman, Democrat: “Like most Americans, and like the President, I believe that health care reform must reduce costs, rely on the private sector, pre-vent restrictions based on age or employment status or precondi-tions, and must ensure coverage for all Americans. However, this bill simply will not get us there.”

The contents of the bill in there entirety have not been released to the public yet, as the bill has yet to pass through Congress. Until these facts are presented, we must rely on the varied opinions of our peers and legislative representatives.

Also, recently, Sandpoint saw the creation of Express Lane, a convenience store that serves only drive-thru customers. Idaho has seen similar businesses, but this is Sandpoint’s first.

“It’s just a newer concept that’s slowly evolving and catching on,” Adrian Cox, the president of Sandpoint’s AGC Enterprises, who has been planning a business like Ex-press Lane for years, told the Bon-ner County Daily Bee.

Not all of the changes are of new

construction. Sandpoint’s Train De-pot is currently sweating under the threat of abandonment. In 2003, it

was offered by BNSF for one dollar, but the de-

pot was never sold. Amtrak runs the Empire Builder route that runs through Sandpoint, but the com-

pany has publicly stated that they might abandon the stop.

The 93-year-old building’s roof leaks closed it to the public for sev-eral months, and vandalism has also

been reported. The question right now is whether or not the depot is worth the money it would take to renovate it.

Sandpoint is changing in every corner, from Florence

St. where Express Lane is, to Church St., where the Sand-

point Center sits, even on the highways that run through it. We can’t avoid them; they sur-

round us. Whether they are positive or negative developments varies de-pending on who you talk to.

Changes from page 1

Controversial health careJessie Webster

Assistant editor

I have experienced socialized care and medicine, and it’s actually not so bad as Americans think it is.

“

”-Mary Imaz

Teacher

Choir teacher wins prestigious state awardSandpoint High School choir teacher Jon Brownell was named the Idaho

Music Educator of the Year in September.Brownell was presented the award during a surprise ceremony at SHS’

football game on Sept. 11 at Memorial Field. Brownell said he was “totally clueless” about the surprise ceremony.

After the performing choir sang the national anthem, Brownell was sur-prised when he saw the director of the Idaho Music Educators, Matt Barkley, and also his father.

This is Brownell’s 21st year of teaching. He is very humbled to win this award and says it is the best award he has received.

“I love what I do,” said Brownell, who has also received SHS’ Teacher of the Year award and several awards that his choirs have received, which he also considers to be his own.

— Jule Paul, staff reporter

Police investigate Nazi fliers placed at SHSOn Sept. 8, Photoshopped pictures illustrating President Barak Obama as

a Nazi were found in various schools in the Sandpoint area including, but not limited to, Sandpoint High School.

An investigation is under way to apprehend the party or parties respon-sible.

“What we had were some signs that were posted at some of the various schools in town, and the signs kind of referred to President Obama as a Nazi,” school resource officer Derrick Hagstrom said.

Although the fliers were numerous, there was no damage done to school facilities or property.

“There wasn’t really any vandalism,” Hagstrom said.The fliers were 14-by-11 and were removed upon their initial discovery. “It would not be illegal to Photoshop pictures,” Hagstrom said. “I mean,

we have freedom of speech in this country, but it is illegal to post signs on other people’s property without permission, so that would be the crime — a misdemeanor.”

Hagstrom said the signs appear to have been posted as a protest to a speech given that morning to schools across the country by Obama.

— Mike Richardson, staff reporter

New high school opens in SandpointSandpoint has a new high school.Sandpoint Charter High School opened its doors this fall. While very

similar to Sandpoint High School, there are several differences between the schools.

There are about 46 students currently enrolled at the new school, and the class sizes average between 13-15 students. The students study four core classes — English, science, history and math — in a block schedule with four 90-minute classes each day.

One difference between SCHS and SHS are the students at the new school have study periods. Each day, the SCHS students must attend one study pe-riod. SHS used to offer study hall as a class, but doesn’t anymore.

SCHS’s opening has not had a big impact on enrollment numbers here at SHS, according to school officials.

“It didn’t really affect us, because our enrollment numbers were already down and we didn’t have many students leave to attend the Charter High School,” SHS registrar Patsy Sletager said.

— Molly Burgstahler, assistant copy editor

‘S’ Club coming to Sandpoint HighIn recent years Sandpoint High School has not had the best track record in

the school spirit and sportsmanship department. Seeing the need for change, the SHS administration has called for leadership-type values to be reinstilled in the ever-changing culture of the school.

Tom Albertson, assistant principal of activities and athletics, will create and advise a new club known as “The S Club.” The purpose of The S Club is to promote good character and school spirit through athletes and activity mem-bers (such as band, math club, etc.) who have earned a varsity letter.

“We want to promote good character in the leaders of our school, such as anti-harassment, good sportsmanship, and school spirit,” Albertson said. The “S” represents Sandpoint High and the varsity letter given to those who have earned it. The S Club is not exclusive based on grade level, only by varsity level achievements.

One student will be chosen out of each varsity sport or activity and will be expected to carry out the civic responsibilities of SHS. Albertson believes that together the members of the S Club will help unify and lead SHS towards a more constructive and positive culture.

— Jules Lutz, staff reporter

School board appoints new trusteeThe Lake Pend Oreille School District No. 84 school board appointed

Ashley Aumick as the trustee for Zone 1 on Sept. 15, 2009. Aumick replaces Melanie Snider, who vacated her position when she moved out of Zone 1.

“The issues facing the district at any given time can vary broadly and can cover such things as hiring, discussing the budget, construction projects within the district, and much more,” said Aumick, who received a law degree from the University of Idaho in 2008.

— Jule Paul, staff reporter

(Must present add)

Briefly:News around SHS

Citizen’s discuss their views on Obama’s plan

Megan Butterworth has once-in-a-lifetime experience

It’s just a new concept that’s slowly evolving and catching on.

“

”-Adrian Cox

President of AGC Enterprise

Sandpoint adds and subtracts buildings and businesses

October 2009Cedar Post Page 3

The Cedar Post is governed by the same legal rights as the professional press. Under the First Amendment, we reserve the right to free expression and freedom of the press. The student newspaper of Sandpoint High School is an open public forum for the students of Sandpoint High School and the community of Sandpoint, Idaho, with its editorial board making all decisions concerning its con-tents; it is not subject to prior review by administration, faculty, or community members.

Unsigned editorials express the views of the majority of the editorial board.

Letters to the editor must be signed, although the staff may withhold the name upon request. The paper reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all let-ters are subject to law governing obscenity, libel, privacy and disruption of the school process, as are all contents for the paper.

Opinions in letters are not necessarily those of the staff, nor should an opinion expressed in a public forum be construed as opinion or policy of the administration, unless so attributed.

Editorial Policy

Sandpoint High School410 South Division

Sandpoint, ID 83864(208) 263-3034 ext 244shscedarpost@gmail.com

The CP strongly encourages you to voice your opinion through the student paper. E-mail your letter or bring it by E8.

Jennifer PrandatoEditor-in-Chief

Jessie WebsterAssistant Editor

William loveAdviser

mikka nostdahlOffice Manager

hannah meek

Arts & Culture Editors

Garrett dunnNews Editor

meranda CarterGraphics Editor

Connor GriesemerPhoto Editor

Change is inevitable and good for communityOur View

brooke WilliamsAdvertising Manager

Letters to the Editor

The Cedar Post encourages you to voice your opinion. This is where your thoughts go. Feel passionately about something? We are your public forum. Drop a letter with your thoughts

and name in room E8 or e-mail shscedarpost@gmail.com

Sorry, the cartoon is being painted over too.

Graham Cole

This year has led to some big changes in the Sandpoint area. Major construction projects such as the Sand Creek Byway and the new Dover Bridge are under construction, while

the grocery chain Super 1 Foods is seeking permits to build a store at the corner of Boyer and Larch street. Not to mention the constantly growing amount of people that have moved here from distant places.

As usual, with change comes controversy. Groups such as North Idaho Community Action Network (NICAN) want to save Sandpoint from this change, and protect what has been here forever. The question is why?

Think of it this way. Five years ago you bought a computer — let’s say a new Dell. At the time, this Dell was the best. You used it with pride, showing it off to your friends and family, enjoying how fast it was and how nice it looked.

But, as time rolled on, your Dell began to get older. Your friends from other towns began buying improvements of the computer, which were more efficient and even better than yours.

Your computer was no longer up to par and started not to work like it used to. It didn’t run any new programs and soon became a huge

hassle. And so you were faced with a choice: You could either get a new computer, or be stuck with the old one until it inevitably broke down.

You also had the money to replace it, which you may not have later. You then realized that you’re going to have to replace it sometime. Why not replace it when you have the money?

This concept is similar with the changes in Sandpoint. Yes, the Byway will take away waterfront and probably won’t be pretty to look at. But if the project was delayed any longer, it would have just delayed the inevitable and created an even larger problem than it already is.

Change will come sometime. Why not have it now, when we can pay for it and when it is convenient to do so?

The same idea can be applied to the Dover Bridge. Yes, it has always worked, but it is too narrow and could be much more efficient when it is replaced. It just seems silly to leave it as is.

Overall, the changes Sandpoint is going through are positive, not negative. They will help make things run better than before, and in the end will lead to a better place for all of us to live in. They are what is needed here, and we should all feel lucky to have that.

Summer has changed into fall and in doing so caused wakeboarding to change into homework and Sundays into school nights. While this is the natural order of things, it definitely takes some getting used to.

I have a new appreciation for morning people. I truly wish I could wake up at 5 a.m. and not want to beat my alarm clock over the nearest boulder, but that is simply not the case.

I believe that most of you would agree with me. This is especially true as teenagers because, our natural clock is simply not set to wake up that early! I am entirely overtaken with jealousy of those of you who have the luxury of being an “early bird.”

But that is only one example of change. There are good changes that we will all have this year. We simply need to allow them to happen.

I may not be the wisest person in the school — especially in the morning — but I have learned a few things from experience and observation.

n Class of 2010: Just one more year left. This is one of the most exciting — and anxious — years of your life. Soon it will be college, and one day you’ll miss good ol’ SHS. Senioritis is a fact of life; do your best to resist, but mostly just have fun.

n Class of 2011: You will experience your most trying year. This is when you take your SAT or ACT. Amazingly, these two tests can dictate how far you could go in life. You have already taken hundreds of tests in your lifetime, but somehow these are the only two that will ever carry enough weight to make it so you might not recover from them. But they can also open doors you could have never expected.

n Class of 2012: Most of you turn 16 this year. Be responsible. It may seem fun to drive fast, or peel out, but it really is not worth $2,000 to fix a car you damaged by being stupid. Keep up on your grades. They do make an impact on what classes you take your junior year. You don’t want to get stuck in an honors class and be totally unprepared. You are 25 percent done with high school. Try to be optimistic — it makes everything seem better.

n Class of 2013: Welcome to high school! It is an entirely unique experience that you must learn to appreciate just like any other thing. It’s a totally new social situation where all of a sudden it really does matter how much attention you pay in class. Don’t slack off, you will regret it come college application time.

Change: (N.) A notable difference in a person, object, theory or any other thing capable of adaptation.Recently, the state of Idaho issued

tags to legally hunt up to 220 gray wolves — one-fourth of the

population. Up until about five months ago, wolves were listed as an endangered species.

I know there are a bunch of people who will cheer at this development. They are among those who list wolves as “pests” that take down game animals and occasionally livestock.

“Pests” are things like stinkbugs and pop quizzes; things that have no credible reason for existing and add nothing to the world. Wolves are an essential part of our ecosystem. (Yes, I know stinkbugs have a place in the ecosystem too, but think about it — have you ever seen a stinkbug eat anything or anything eat a stinkbug?)

On my way home from work on Aug. 31, I passed the Sandpoint Community Hall on First Street and saw something that made me take my eyes off the road.

The North Idaho Wolf Alliance (NIWA) was staging a protest, signs and all. I was so excited I pulled off the road out of town and turned back. I got out of the car and begged to be allowed to donate to their cause, since I didn’t have the time to help them protest in person.

I was elated to see a public display of support for gray wolves.

I know that their population is doing well, enough that they can survive without our interference. Does that mean that we should hunt them? No.

Allow me to explain something. Wolves

are a natural predator, one that roamed this country long before humans took it over. They help keep the population of herbivores in check, just as the herbivores keep the wolf population in check. When animals such as elk boom, so does the wolf population. When the wolves hunt the elk down, their own numbers decrease. That is the natural function of our world.

Humans don’t take down the weak and sick. They take the ones with the big antlers or healthy hide. So claiming that wolves are “killing off all the good game animals” doesn’t quite fly. Wolves generally take weaker animals, the ones that are easy to catch.

Elk and other herbivores evolved to be part of the ecosystem with wolves and other predators, where a healthy balance of boom and bust can occur.

I know there are hunters who eat everything they kill. But who eats wolf?

As for livestock, wolves are not “decimating” their numbers. According to the United States Department of Agriculture Statistical Bureau, they can be blamed for fewer than 2 percent of all livestock predation deaths. Feral dogs and raptors kill far more.

You can disagree with me — but it’s a little harder to disagree with facts.

If you keep hunting wolves and bring their population back down to where it was in 1974 — before they were put on the endangered species list — you can also kiss the healthy elk, deer, moose, caribou, and bison populations goodbye as well. There’s a reason wolves prey on the weak ones, a reason why our hoofed animals are doing so well right now. Natural selection is an important part of a healthy population.

We all need wolves; from humans down to the flowers. We are all connected. Take away one species and the rest suffer. Think about that when you purchase a wolf tag.

evan metz

“I’m kinda in between. Change is good and bad.”

“I like them, I think they are cool. I don’t really pay attention to those things.”

“I think that the changes are good if they actually work, but with the cell phone policy I don’t think they will be able to enforce it.”

“Probably good, but the new diet soda is completely ridiculous. Why diet? And I think the ticket thing is ridiculous.”

Benjamin Bradleyfreshman

Jenny Van Ooyen

sophomore

Jared Owens

junior

Aleta Dotsonsenior

Do you like the changes in Sandpoint and the school?

eddie oGleSports Editor

tala WoodCopy Editor

Page 4 Cedar Post October 2009

theBIG ideaHere are a few ideas the Cedar Post staff thinks are just great

Listen to “Furr” - Blitzen Trapper’s 2008 album is a mix between indie-folk and acoustic that will leave your ears surprisingly pleased and wanting more. This album is worth mentioning because it gives the listner a variety of songs and meaningful lyrics. Don’t bother checking out their past albums (except maybe Wild Mountain Nation), as you will find they sound like rubbish with a country-twang style. Through their full-length album, Trapper keeps their songs based on roots of nature, definitely wor-thy of a nomination! Check them out on iTunes, or try downloading free indie music at betterpropaganda.com. — Hannah M.

Take the plunge - Yes, summer is over, but it is still hot outside. Go for a late afternoon swim in the lake. The refreshing cold of Lake Pend Oreille is just as much fun as it was in July. — Garrett D.

Play the Wii with grandma - It is a Saturday night. You are bored as can be when it suddenly hits you: I am going to go play Wii with grandma! As technologi-cally disinclined as your grandma might be, she has prob-ably stumbled across the Nintendo Wii. Many senior citi-zen homes have the popular game system and have active clubs that consist of Wii bowling, tennis and many more. So next Saturday give grandma a call and prepare for an intense game of Wii tennis. — Connor G.

Watch “Glee” - Wednesday nights at 9 on Fox are overtaken by the Glee Club — a club filled with singing, dancing and celibate cheerleaders. It’s like High School Musical, but good. — Jennifer P.

Support the SHS XC Team - Go support the SHS Cross Country team at their home meet on Oct. 10. The races start at 10:15 a.m. at the Riley Creek Camp-grounds in Laclede. Cheering for a cross country meet is an awesome experience and a great way to show school spirit. — Molly B.

Dress Up for Homecoming - This is the only chance you get to be wild and crazy at school. With days such as Pirate Day, 80s Workout day and Fake Injury Day, it’s all too easy to throw on some ketchup-y bandages or perhaps an eyepatch. — Barry W.

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For years I have been a vegetarian, and for those many years all I ate was TOFU, TOFU, TOFU. All the soy-joy masterpieced into the same exact creation every time has left me with a sour face and a gag reflex every time I think of putting tofu in my mouth.

I gave up on my obsession with vegetarian-ism in January, and since then I have not shoved a piece of tofu down my throat. Instead, I have enjoyed God’s wonderful creation of this beauti-ful bird called a turkey. However, today at lunch I couldn’t decide what to eat, and I saw ‘tofu taco’ on the menu. Thinking that maybe it could have tasted different, and my loathe for tofu was done with, I ordered one. To my surprise, it was actually really ridiculously good. I enjoyed the few moments I had with the tofu until about 15 minutes later my gag reflexes started to chime in. I realized all over

again why I am not a vegetarian anymore and why I hate tofu so much.

I am sorry to all you vegetarians out there who hate me for hating tofu and eat-ing delicious bird, but I am going to go with my reflex with this one and eat turkey over tofu. Maybe I will try “Tofurkey” someday and realize why I was a vegetarian? No, No, No. It doesn’t matter how you cook tofu, or if you just put tofu in spa-ghetti sauce, tofu is not

good. Tofu was never good, and tofu will never be good. I am excited I have officially given up my love for soy

products, so I can experiment with different types of meat. I am ashamed to say that all I have tried since giving up my vegetarian stint has been turkey, chicken, and occasionally fish. I have yet to try these ever-so-raved about hamburgers,

cheeseburgers and, of course, the blood thirsty steaks. Meat tastes good when I don’t think about what it actu-

ally is. I just cannot get myself to put a crumbly, juicy ham-burger into my mouth. I still love garden burgers, so I don’t necessarily see the point in switching over into a ravenous carnivore quite yet.

n Bottom line: if you are vegetarian, be sure to not overdo tofu. I don’t care what you say, you will get sick of it. There are only so many ways you can cook tofu, and it’s still a chewy, gooey mess no matter what. I recommend tempe, a soy/bean curd product, which barbequed is amazing.

For now, we are young, and our taste buds are in prime condition. So experiment with what you like, and remem-ber: tofu is heinous.

Tofu: A vegetarian delight, but not my favorite anymore

It doesn’t matter how you cook tofu, or if you just put it in spaghetti sauce; tofu is not good, tofu was never good, and tofu will never be good.

“

”

u

u

DR. LOVE - CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!

THANKS FOR BEING OUR ADVISOR!

-Cedar Post Staff

Cedar Post

October 2009

Page 5

New students and faculty members from across the country make SHS their new schoolNew students and staff join Sandpoint family

New school, new faces, new class-rooms. While the wide-eyed fresh-man explored the halls of Sandpoint High School for familiarity during their first weeks of the ninth-grade milestone, many upperclassmen became Bulldogs as well. This year, SHS has become home to many new students, for a variety of reasons and circumstances.

Junior Sarah Gorbett made the difficult choice to move to Sandpoint on her own. After her small school made drastic budget reductions, cut-ting all their business and computer classes, Gorbett decided to move in with her aunt.

“My parents had to stay back in Oregon with my brothers and sis-ters,” she said. “It’s really hard mov-ing away from your family, but other than that, it’s been good.”

Senior Pat Anthony, who moved long distance from Carrabassett Val-ley, Maine, traveled to Sandpoint to be closer to family.

“My brother lives out here, so it’s real nice living close to him,” Antho-ny said. “I enjoyed (the move).”

Securing a job also helped him feel more at ease with the cross coun-try relocation.

“Working at Spuds made it easier,” Anthony said. “(I) met some good friends there this summer.”

Gorbett, who is enrolled in one AP and two honors classes, feels that the

move was made easier by realizing it was a better school and meeting new people before school began.

“There’s a lot more classes offered (at SHS),” she said. “(Plus), I met a few people through my aunt because I was on dance team before (in Or-egon), so I met girls that were on the dance team.”

Sports and extracurricular activi-ties are a good way to make friends and make the move easier, a tactic used by many teens new to the area. “Football made (the move) pretty easy,” said freshman Grant Jessup, who also plays lacrosse.

Sophomore Maggie Kirscher agrees.

“(It was hard) just not knowing anybody, but soccer was good be-

cause I got to know people,” she said. Kirscher, who is also involved in

basketball and softball, used to go to Coeur d’Alene High School, a school significantly bigger than SHS. Kisch-er does not find the size of the school in Sandpoint to be any problem.

“You know people here,” she said. “You walk down the halls and you see people you know. That’s kind of nice.”

Jessup also attended a large school in the community of West Port, Conn. As a result, he relishes the im-portance of sports in the Sandpoint community.

“(West Port isn’t) as big of a foot-ball town,” he said. “Also, the Sand-point people are friendly; they’re just nice.”

Conversely, Anthony was previ-ously enrolled at a small ski academy with about 100 students.

“(Maine is) a lot different than here,” he said. “(There’s) a lot more people here and bigger mountains.”

While moving can be tough, put-ting on a positive front will make it easier.

“There’s so many things to do (in Sandpoint,)” Gorbett said. “I mean, you’re right on the lake and in the winter, I’m sure it will be nice. I don’t know how to ski, but I’m sure it will be nice to go skiing when I learn.”

Anthony shares the same attitude.“The only thing missing here is

Ultimate Frisbee games,” he said. “But I’m already working on that.”

Jennifer Prandato

Editor-in-chief

It’s a new year at Sandpoint High School. Veteran students are flood-ing the halls, while the new freshmen walk around confused, trying not to be late to their first classes.

You can spy the occasional new student, asking for help with every-thing, trying to meet new people, and make the best of their day. These students aren’t the only new faces

you see at SHS. There are several new members to the SHS staff this year as well, including new math teacher Beth Stoner, journalism teacher, Will Love, and custodian, Craig Canepa. They all have their reasons for tak-ing a job here — whether it’s helping students or hoping to fix the ever un-stable journalism program here.

When asked what she liked about teaching, Mrs. Stoner said: “I enjoy math and care about students.”

The new teachers will fill in spots

that were empty due to other teach-ers leaving the school. Love will be the new journalism teacher/Cedar Post adviser, taking over for Mike Gearlds. Stoner will be joining the math team, taking up Mrs. Semones’ place, due to her leaving to go to Yale. Both interviewed for their positions, and were selected by a board consist-ing of students, teachers, administra-tors and others.

“I didn’t know that this position

was open. I got called by Dr. Kiebert about interviewing,” Love said.

They both said they want to make the best of the opportunity, and wish to create lasting impressions on stu-dents. They hope to maintain SHS’s high standards with their classes, and also aspire to make their classes in-teresting.

“My mom was a long-time teacher here and I’ve seen the relationships she has had, and still has with her

students, and I hope to build those relationships,” Love said.

With the year started, and students filing into their classrooms, they are ready to teach, and are excited for students who are ready to learn. They are here for a job, but more impor-tantly, they are here to prepare stu-dents for their futures.

“I’m about making a difference, to help students learn, and actually get excited about math,” Stoner said.

She walks through the halls of Sand-point High School inconspicuously. She speaks perfect English. She takes ordi-nary classes and participates in school activities. She seems just like any other new student at SHS — but she isn’t.

It is out the ordinary for a stu-dent who is not a part of the for-eign exchange program to hail from a city more than 4,800 miles away. Junior Alisha M. Eberle, 16, moved to Sandpoint from Ber-lin, the capital city of Germany.

Eberle moved to Sandpoint in August, and she is living with her cousin, senior Lydia Stitsel. She has also taken on a very demanding schedule.

“I am doing freshman vol-leyball, Model United Nations and homework,” she sighed.

Also, Eberle is taking some of the most challenging classes of-fered at SHS, including AP Biol-ogy and Honors Pre-Calculus.

Eberle has adapted to life in Sand-point already. She has even found new things that she enjoys here.

“It was a big change,” Eberle admitted, “but I like the people

here, rocky road ice cream, and how people drive everywhere.”

Although living in Sandpoint is a new experience for Eberle, she does like it. In fact, when asked about what she disliked about Sandpoint she had little to say.

“Everything is just so cool here,” she said. “What’s not to like?”

Later she did qualify this state-ment expressing her disdain for the 90-minute classes at SHS.

Like anybody who leaves their home, Eberle does miss some things about Berlin, including her friends, family and the city life. She took an extra moment to express how she missed the bread in Berlin.

“It is so good,” she remi-nisced. “The bread here

is just water and flour.”Moving across the world was

quite an adventure for Eberle, al-though she was not the first in her

family to move to the United States.In 2006, Eberle’s brother

Manuel Freistein also moved here. He even attended SHS.

In her short time her, Alicia has certainly become a true bulldog.

When asked if there was anything she would like to say to SHS, her an-swer was more than appropriate.

“Go Bulldogs!”

Graham Cole

Arts and Culture editor

Junior Alisha Eberle adjusts to life in a new country

Everything is just so cool here. What’s not to like?“

”-Alisha Eberle

-Junior

Spotlightthe

Name: Maggie Kirscher Grade: Sophomore Moved from: Coeur d’Alene Favorite thing about Sandpoint: “It’s a smaller town.”

Name: Grant Jessup Grade: Freshman Moved from: West Port, Conn. Favorite thing about Sandpoint: “Playing football with the team.”

Name: Sarah Gorbett Grade: Junior Moved from: Molalla, Ore. Favorite thing about Sandpoint: “There’s so many things to do!”

Name: Pat Anthony Grade: Senior Moved from: Carrabassett Valley, Maine Favorite thing about Sandpoint: “It’s a happy place... and Isaac Dunne.”

Connor GriEsEmErn ForeiGN exchaNGe: Junior Alisha Eberle bumps the volleyball at a freshmen prac-tice. Eberle, who is from Germany, is playing high school volleyball for the first time.

Garrett dunn

News editor

October 2009Cedar PostPage 6

Player

Quick Facts

Erik WehseTeam: Boys’ Soccer

Height: 5’ 8”Weight: 160

Erik Wehse is a freshman member of the Sandpoint High School varsity soccer team this

year. He has many years of experience playing soccer and will likely be a key contributor to SHS’s team for years to come. He looks forward to being part of such a celebrated program.Q. When did you start playing soccer?A. First grade, when I first could.Q. What position do you play in soccer and why?A. Goalie, because it’s different than everyone else, and that’s kind of how I am.Q. Do you do any off-season camps or practice to stay in shape?A. Yes I do. I train by myself, and I have gone to a couple out-of-state camps. And I do ODP (Olympic Development Program).Q. How do you prepare before a game?

A. Warming up and mentally thinking about the game, thinking positive about what I have do, and how I am going to do it.Q. What is your favorite part about soccer?A. Winning.Q. If you could pick any college to play soccer at which, one would it be?A. That’s a hard one. University of (California) Santa Barbara, I guess.Q. How is high school soccer different than middle school soccer?A. It’s a lot faster-paced and you are playing with four age groups than just your own.Q. What is it like being a freshman on the team?A. Different. I don’t really know.

T

T h e P r o f i l e

The boys’ soccer team has a strong group of young, stunning guys this season.

With a mix of all ages, this diverse gang has much to offer for our athletic program. Working well together, the boys’ team is off to a great start and is hoping to end the season with a bang at state.

These athletes began their season in early August with daily doubles, full of running and other condition-ing to get a jump on their helpless opponents. Come to the home games to cheer our studs on for the remain-der to of the season as they try to hoist the 4A state championship trophy for the second season in a row.

Fall Sports Overview: Sports editor Eddie Ogle gives his unique take on the fall sports season

Boys’ Soccer

Strong, agile and inspirational young women make up our school’s girls’ soccer team.

Equipped with only the best athletes, the SHS girls’ soccer program is drop-dead amazing. Coached by the team’s favorite, Adam Tajan, these girls play to their fullest potential every game, as well as every practice.

Just like the boys, the girls started in early August with intense workouts, and have been waiting this sea-son all summer long. Although there have been some critical injuries, so far the girls have been holding their own against other teams in talent and effort. To see this great team, cheer them on at home games.

Girls’ Soccer

Oh swim team, the commonly overlooked sport at SHS. Although this team often carries on unnoticed, they con-

tinually place high at the state championships year after year. With a mix of ages and genders, the team bonds as a whole at 5:45 every morning before school. The loss of a key group of graduates from the 2008 season will not hold this team down.

As a current member of the SHS swim team, I empathize with the sleep-deprived kids on the team, and know as well as all of them that the early mornings are painful, yet self-dignifying. Keep an eye out for this dazzling young team.

Swimming

The reigning champs of Idaho’s 4A volleyball are back this season more ready than ever.

This year they are hoping to snag another state title, while other teams fear facing our girls on the court. So far, our team has been demolishing opposing schools at home and away games. The girls feel confident in their condition and with the talent they bring to the gym.

Practicing hard every day brings this team together as one superior unit. With a strong, leading group of seniors, other teams are no match for the Bulldogs.

Volleyball

Our football team is a strong group of young, hard-working guys.

Their performance so far this season has been great. Starting in August, these boys have endured the hot practices and all of the brutal games. Watching this group play together lets everyone know how committed every player is.

Along with the guys is a fantastic coaching staff, teaching plays and other skills needed in order to succeed this season. With many new faces, SHS is destined to own the field, and prove superior to any other competitors.

Football

The SHS cross country team is a combination of committed and determined athletes.

About 60 boys and girls come together daily to work on their strength and endurance for their weekly race.

This year, different from others, there are a large amount of new participants as well as many from past season.

With that in mind, it should be obvious to all that many victories and titles will be collected by this large, enthusiastic group of inspiring athletes.

Cross Country

Connor Griesemer Cody Finney

Jasper Gibson

dylan VoGel

Barry Wilson Staff reporter

meranda Carter

Connor Griesemer

Cedar Post Page 7

October 2009

Welcome to Trash Talk, where you get your fix of current sports

controversy. In the game of football, with its

aggression and full contact, emo-tions rise and tension sets in.

On Sept. 3, Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount kept his emotions in check for the full 60 minutes of the game. It wasn’t until shaking hands after the game with Boise State and former Lake City High School defensive lineman Byron Hout, who had a smart comment to whisper in Blount’s ear, that the running back lost control of his emotions.

After being taunted, Blount unleashed an impulsive reaction on Hout by sucker-punching him in

the jaw as soon as the BSU player turned around. Although seeming irrational to all spectators, this reac-tion seemed appropriate to Blount at the time.

Once again, emotions rise in a sport such as football, when many coaches teach their players to per-form with a “controlled rage.” Many players have been on the brink, pre-pared to release their rage, but have turned their shoulder and walked the other way. What if they acted the way they actually wanted to?

The thought of consequences usually steer people clear of react-ing, but Blount didn’t just stop with the punch. He popped his team-mate in the head, who was trying to hold him back, and then went after some taunting Boise State fans while walking to the locker room. He apologized to the media while in the locker room 20 minutes later, saying,

“That will never happen again. I will never lose my head like that again.”

Once he got in the locker room, it must have clicked in his head he was about to face some serious conse-quences and apologized — the soon-er, the better. Despite his apology, Blount was suspended for the season by Oregon head coach Chip Kelly.

One fan said: “I don’t see why he should be gone for the year. Football is a game of controlled violence and only players that have the blood

thirsty need to attack are good. He lost his head, went overboard, and did something that was typical of football players, especially college ones.”

This opinion brings up a lot of questions as well: Is a year-long suspension too harsh because that’s what’s expected? Or is the University of Oregon making a point, showing a zero-tolerance policy to breaking the rules?

Trying to apologize so quickly after his violence, in my opinion, was a mistake that made Blount look ignorant to what had just gone down. He should’ve given his audi-ence and critics time to settle down and become aware of the entirety of circumstances he was in.

This is only one example of a sporting event that actually did get out of control, although many have the potential to. No, he was not right to throw a tantrum on the field with violent action, but after a tough game with someone taunting you, it’s easy to become upset. Blount has taken enough heat for his blow-up.

Hopefully, he knows when to tone it down now for future situations such as this one coming his direc-tion. And hopefully, this serves as a lesson to young athletes with hot heads in the future, because show-ing that you won’t accept defeat and taunting doesn’t prove much when you can’t play for a year.

Sandpoint High School students spend the week of Homecoming dressed in cos-tumes, showcasing school pride and pre-paring for the Friday night football game.

This year’s Homecoming will have a different flair with Sandpoint competing against a school from another country.

Last year, the Bulldogs traveled to Al-berta, losing to the Raymond Comets 44-22. On Oct. 9, the teams will meet again in Sandpoint for the Homecoming game.

The Comets are defending 4A Provin-cial Division champions in Alberta. De-spite this threatening title, Bulldog play-ers are expecting a well-fought battle.

“I think our teams are good,” se-nior Jimmy Aylward said. “It’s going to be tough, but I think we can (win).”

Teammate and senior captain Ben Fisher agrees.

“I think we’ll win even though we lost to them last year,” he said. “They lost their running back, who got a full ride to (the University of) Calgary.”

Aylward cites the long bus ride and weather as factors for the loss,

while Fisher believes the Bulldogs will perform better on their own turf.

“In Canada, we were playing totally different rules, like a completely different game,” he said, referring to the drastic dif-ferences between Canadian and Ameri-can football. “With them here, they’re going to have to play to our style, where up there we had to adapt to their style.”

While fairly confident of their team’s abilities, both Sandpoint players think another team would have been a bet-ter fit for the Homecoming game.

“We don’t get to play their other sports teams (like soccer, basketball, etc.),” Aylward said. “There’s no rivalry.”

“(Homecoming) is all about our school pride. It’s special because it gives us pride in our sports and who we are. We should play someone who’s close to us so we can relate to them,” Fisher said.

Bulldogs face Raymond for Homecoming

Jennifer Prandato

Editor-in-chief

Canadian football team is defending 4A provincial champions in Alberta

(Homecoming) is all about our school pride. It’s special because it gives us pride in our sports and who we are.

“-Ben Fisher

Senior

Connor GrIesemer

n All the wAy: Senior halfback Ben Fisher carries the ball down the field against Coeur d’Alene on Sept. 18 at Memorial Field.

The football program at SHS is an ongoing tradition. Year in, year out, we have a large group of outstanding young men, who push themselves to the limit every day during the fall sea-son. Many of the staff members par-ticipate as coaches in the program to help these athletes achieve a winning season. This year, along with new ad-ditions to the team, there is a surpris-ing new member in the coaching staff.

Former professional quarterback, Jake Plummer, became a part of SHS this year as a quarterback coach. Af-ter an outstanding high school, col-lege and professional sports experi-ence, Plummer retired from the NFL in 2006, with nine years of a profes-sional athletic career. Before playing for the Arizona Cardinals and the Denver Broncos, he went to Arizona

State University, where he also had a remarkable presence. Now, he is passing his knowledge of the game on to our young aspiring competitors.

“He is doing a great job so far,” said Mike Mitchell, head foot-ball coach at SHS. “He just knows all the little tricks to things.”

Although Plummer is not a full-time coach, his efforts to help have been of assistance to our program this season. But for the boys, be-ing around a former pro motivates them and gets them enthusiastic about the game. Not only did Plum-mer give the boys some motivation and coaching, but he gave them some plays he used in the pros.

“I think he gives a little spark to us that I like,” Mitchell said.

With that in mind, the team is off to a great start, along with the new-est addition to our coaching staff.

Plummer was unavailable for comment.

Plummer joins SHS staff

Tom Albertson named as replacement

eddie ogle

Sports editor

“

At Sandpoint High School, there have been a number of changes — changes in the staff, the build-ing, as well as policies. One major staff change was the retirement of athletic director Cheryl Klein.

After being SHS’ AD for five and a half years, Klein resigned before the beginning of the school year. All of the years she was here, she enjoyed thoroughly.

“I’ve learned that we have one of the greatest schools and staff in the state,” Klein said.

Tom Albertson has taken over the position now known as assistant principal of activities and athletics. He has taught at the school for a number of years, and is well-liked by all. So far, he said the transition into the new position has gone smoothly.

“Being at SHS for 24 years and coaching for the number of years I have, and knowing the community makes, me feel very prepared,” Albertson said.

Despite having just taken the job, Klein said Albertson is al-ready doing an excellent job.

Although she is retiring, and has a lot to look forward to, Klein said she will miss the everyday work she has done for the past years.

“It was very rewarding to develop

relationships with teams and coaches at other schools, and become more knowledgeable as a result,” she said.

One of her goals was to have equity in all sports, and have many participants.

“I encourage all students to get involved with something extra-cur-ricular,” said Klein, who couldn’t pick her favorite sport to be involved with.

Now, it is Albertson’s turn to build the same kind of relation-ships with other schools for the fu-ture of SHS’s athletic department.

He plans to continue the im-provements under way in the ath-letic department. Albertson also said he wants all of the athletes to come together, and not be separated.

“At Sandpoint High School, we are one group of athletes, and one group of students,” Albertson said.

With all of the school’s athletes coming together as one, more school spirit could be evident, as well as an overall enthusiasm for all sports.

Albertson is enthused with his position and is ready for the rest of the sports to come in the re-mainder of the year. After being in the classroom for so many years, this new position should open up new opportunities for him.

Albertson and Klein both believe that athletics and activities is one of the most profound opportunities to develop character and skills for life.

Coach Klein retires from post as athletic director

eddie ogle

Sports editor

Former pro gives Bulldog football team ‘a little spark’

Briefly:Sports news around SHS

Sandpoint High adds athletic trainer to staff The fall sports season seems to have many more injuries than in previ-

ous years — just in time to test the skill of Sandpoint High School’s new athletic trainer.

A recent graduate of the University of Northern Colorado, Brittany Meek is beginning her first job as an athletic trainer here at SHS.

“My experience here has been really good so far,” Meek said. “The coach-es have been very supportive, and the students have been supportive and excited that I’m here so they can get my help.

“Right now, the biggest focus is keeping all the athletes healthy and on the field playing. Another big focus is educating the coaches, the students and their parents on what I can do, because it’s a new thing here.”

She arrives at the school about 2:30 in the afternoon. If there is a game that day, the first thing she does is get ice ready, in case someone gets hurt. When students start coming in, she looks at injuries and decides whether or not they should participate that day or not.

— Molly Burgstahler, assistant copy editor

Bulldog BenchSupporting SHS athletics

Panhandle State Bank/Bulldog Bench Fall

Scramble Golf tournament

n Saturday, Oct. 3n StoneRidge Golf Community

n Call 290-3313 or e-mail tyebarlow@yahoo.com for

more information

n JAke the SnAke: Former NFL quarterback Jake Plummer is an assistant coach to the Sandpoint football team this season.

Courtesy PHoto

October 2009 Cedar PostPage 8

All you need to know about Homecoming

Feeling brave this year? Here are a few tips to make the process a bit less painful:

1. Remember the fine line between cute and creepy. Cute: bringing flowers or baking cookies that spell homecoming. Creepy: googling someone to locate their house and proceeding to write a message across their front lawn. It’s a good rule of thumb to remember that if you’re unsure, you are probably being a creep.

2. Please, no texting. If you have forgotten how to communicate other than via text message, you are hopelessly out of luck and should not bother reading further. It should not be a surprise that making a phone call is not a notably better strategy.

3. Do your best to have utilized proper hygiene beforehand. As unfortunate as it is that I feel the need to include this, some people

are regrettably unaware of their conditions. If you are concerned that perhaps you may fall into this category, you would be amazed by what a shower or a piece of gum can do to increase your chances.

4. Clarity is key. Be sure that your date knows they were actually asked to homecoming. On a similar note, be sure that they actually agreed.

5. Steer clear of an overly public setting. Because when all else fails, it’s better to be rejected alone and miserably than overtly and miserably. Although yes, it will be extremely miserable either way. Hopefully, that’s not discouraging.

Keep in mind we do this because it’s fun. If you don’t personally find that dread, anxiety and humiliation are synonymous with such a blithe term, then I can do nothing but encourage you to be more open-minded about this harrowing yet worthwhile right of passage.

“How can I ask somebody to the dance?”

Although it is an important question, it is not the only thing to consider when thinking about Homecoming. For your sake and the sake of your date-to-be, don’t overlook the other details.

One question you should be asking is: “How can I take somebody to the dance?”

After a date is found, you have to decide how to get to the dance itself — with class. Before you gas up the green minivan, consider how else you could arrive at the event.

Remember to be creative. Think of

a way that is out of the ordinary and exciting.

Perhaps you have seen the modified bikes carrying tourists around town.

Pedal cabs are an excellent way to arrive at the dance; however, their space is limited.

“I have two bikes,” said Robert Baker, owner of Pend Oreille Pedal Cabs, “it would

be best if they were reserved early.”Be aware of your resources, because

you may already have the perfect vehicle at your disposal. If you live on a ranch, for example, pick your date up on a majestic white stallion.

Do not quit after your date says yes. Make certain he/she will not regret their decision.

At every school in the nation, a certain amount of school pride and spirit exists. Some students dress up in their school colors and attend every game, while others have minimal school spirit and de-cide not to attend sporting events. There is a buzz around Sandpoint High School arguing whether we show enough school spirit, and what we can do to get our students more involved in sporting events.

Senior Cody Hecker said, “I think school spirit is important be-cause it helps get some of the stu-dent athletes motivated for their sport they have to compete in.”

School spirit produces a source of stability for a student athlete. It al-lows people to see the pride you have in your school and how much you enjoy supporting student athletes.

“I go to a lot of the soccer and volleyball games and football games. It’s fun to yell and stuff at the volleyball games,” senior Nick Guida, who supports school spirit and believes that SHS needs to show more of their school pride, said. “I think it needs more school spirit be-

cause like not even that many kids go to the volleyball games or foot-ball games. It’s mostly just parents. It would just be way more fun if all the kids went and cheered and stuff.”

Many of the students in the cheering section of the games dis-agree with the administration’s rules for school spirit at sporting events.

“I think they need to be more lenient on what we can do be-cause they take so much stuff away nobody wants to go and even do anything. Like, we can’t even just scream our players’ numbers and stuff, and just all those little things just make it not as fun,” Hecker said.

“I don’t like how they won’t let you yell at the other players, they won’t even let you yell at your own players. I don’t agree with [Tom Al-bertson] coming over and sitting by us, because that makes us quiet and makes us not say anything. It’s a little bit obsessive,” Guida said.

“I know that students think that I’m being too hard or not let-ting them do anything, but artifi-cial noice makers and face painting are not allowed,” Albertson said.

Even with certain vocal and deco-rating priviledges revoked, there are always ways to show school spirit.

HannaH Meek

Arts and culture editor

MondayHistoric Figures Day

TuesdayPirate Day

Wednesday80’s Workout Day

ThursdayFake Injury Day

FridayRed, White, and Blue Day

n Go BulldoGs?: Sophomores Bailey Brownell and Court-ney Windju attend a varsity volleyball game. School spirit has been decreasing rapidly at SHS.

Connor Greismer

Is school spirit dwindling?Sandpoint High lacking enthusiasm toward school pride

Are we lacking in school spirit?

aManda Hayes

Staff reporter GraHaM Cole

Arts and culture editor

Make sure she says ‘yes’ Take your date in style

i have two bikes and it would be best if they were reserved early.

“

”-Robert Baker

Pend Oreille Pedal Cabs

Spencer Hanson

junior

“It’s the same people and they go to the same games and stuff. They’re trying to get more spirit but the school is not really cooperating.”

“We can use more spirit in general. There are a select few who go to the games and wear the colors, but it would be nice to see more people involved.”

John Briggssenior

“I think we have good school spirit, but it would be cool if we got the crowd and the school more involved.”

Rachel Driggs

freshman

“Instead of being all spread out we should be together in a big huge happy family and cheer more.”

Mackenzie Jones

sophomore

Creative Ways to Ask Your Date

Ask for a Back Massage:

While hanging out with your gal, ask her for a back massage and take off your shirt. Pre-write “will you go to homecoming with me?” on your back. With your muscles and creativity, she is bound to say yes.

Go to Schweitzer:Take your date up to the mountain, but call ahead and have them write on the conditions white board “will you go to homecoming with me?” After a romantic chair lift ride, you are guaranteed a date to homecoming.