Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2008)
2 ZD CL o 11 Marijuana! The taboo topic is brought to the surface as a 2010 act could legalize it in Oregon - page 4 (/) LU nr <C HI LL Older siblings can be hard to live up to...or not. Students share their sibling stories. Fall playoffs cap one of best seasons in the school's history. - page 8 - page 11 »— z HI < f— 0C HI 1— LU "Dancing at Lughnasa" receives rave reviews. Don't miss the hottest ticket in town! - page 14 Official Student Publication of West Linn High School Published Since 1921 < CO CO LU u h- o CL Joey Lecky, senior, dubbed Mr. WLHS in close competition; contestants raised over $1,000 for local charities. - page 16 December 2008 - Volume 97, Issue 3 Gaulke, Varela named Three Rivers League Scholar/Athletes of the Year, in running for Oregon Scholar/Athlete of the Year H V alorie W allace _________ _ Staff Reporter The end of the football season was marked by a close loss to Beaverton during the second round of playoffs. For their outstanding performance, multiple athletes have been recognized. Mitch Gaulke and Nico Varela, seniors, were selected as Three Rivers League Scholar/Athletes of the Year. They will be honored at the National Football Foundation State of Oregon Scholar/ Athlete banquet this month. To even qualify a team must be first or second in All League, be a senior and have outstanding academic standing. In addition to excellence in the classroom orv the field, the winners have demonstrated leadership and community service. "It's an honor to be recognized and it's a great opportunity," Varela said. He is being honored for his performance as outside linebacker this year. Varela has been playing football since sixth grade and has a 3.9 GPA. His community service includes serving as an Outdoor School counselor for the middle schools last over the West Coast. Gaulke and Varela will each receive Staff Reporter The West Linn- W ilsonville School Board m em bers voted that they w ould rather be safe than sorry w hen it com es to student safety. Recently, questions and debates have arisen throughout the W est Linn-W ilsonville com m unity as to w hether the cell phone tow er on the W est Linn H igh School property brings in enough funds per m onth to offset potential health problem s for students and staff. W hen the district bou ght the high school property ten years ago, the tow er w as already in place w ith a standing 30-year contract, but there is concern that the tow er could have m ore negative effects than positive. "T h e data is pretty m uch across the spectrum w ith som e saying there is no danger, all the w ay to rf^ ^ing potentially very National Football Foundation are seniors Bryce Baker and Josh Oltman. "I am honored to be nominated for the academic athlete award. Even though I didn't win it's still something to look back on and be proud of," Baker said. WLHS has had several student/athletes honored by the National Football Foundation in the past few years. The coaches and players are thankful for the encouragement from the counselors, teachers and community who helped to support them according to Ron Chappell, head coach. Litter sparks concern for school environment Gaulke and Varela were named Three Rivers League Scholar/ Athletes of the Year and are in the running for the Oregon Scholar/ Athlete award. Submitted by Tracie Krellwitz year and has helped at the Chappell Football Youth Camp since his sophomore year. Over 1,000 people will attend the banquet including many college coaches from all a $1000 scholarship (more if they win in their specific category) and are finalists for the State of Oregon Scholar/ Athlete scholarship. They will sit at the head table at the banquet while a slide show dangerous to be in close proxim ity to a transm ission tow er for significant am ounts of time. The fact electrom agnetic em issions could have on the school's 1,580 students and the staff. A ccording to the A m erican Cancer Society there is not enough inform ation on this recent technology to determ ine if it is a health risk, bu t anim al studies have found no traces of cancer. The School Board says it is "taking a cautious approach." "I think they are m aking a m ountain out of a m olehill. They should w ait and w orry about it w hen it com es closer to w hen the contract expires," A lison Fieldhouse, sophom ore, said. "T h e annual paym ent (from the cell tow er) is $28,767, so $2,397 per m on th ," H oogestraat said. C ingular W ireless owns the tow er and uses it along w ith providers AT&T and T-M obile. Cell tower could lead to potential negative health effects a J ennifer S itton ____________ outlining their academic, athletic and leadership accomplishments is shown. "It's exhilarating! I had a lot of fun playing with friends and training with my team," Gaulke said. He is being honored for his performance as center and defensive tackle. Gaulke has been playing football since third grade and has a 3.8 GPA. His community services includes helping at the West Linn Food Pantry last summer and volunteering at the Chappell Football Youth Camp since his freshman year. In addition to the league winners, also recognized as Scholar/Athletes of the of the m atter is that the data is inconclusive; there m ay be danger or it m ay be safe," D ale H oogestraat, School Board Chair, said. Board m em bers w orry about the effects that the Ceil Tower Debate____________ ■ continued on page 2 u V alorie W allace ___________ Staff Reporter Smashed sandwiches, jelly smeared across the concrete steps, crumbled chips sprinkled along the grass. This might be the first impression for visitors to WLHS. Each day at lunchtime students have been taking advantage of nice weather by eating outside— and then leaving their trash behind. "It's the fact that students sometimes feel that it is other people's jobs to pick up after them when in fact it's their responsibility," Brian Bailey, Transition Specialist, said. He points to two main issues. One issue is when people travel by the school. Seeing the school covered in trash and leftover food can leave a negative impression. According to Bailey, the concern is not only the front of the school, but with student trash strewn around the surrounding neighborhoods. When students leave garbage and unwanted food on the sidewalks, streets and parking lots, there are numerous complaints from neighbors and those who pass by. The administration and staff reminds students frequently that treating the school right and picking up after themselves is a responsibility. "Just having respect for your school is important— leaving trash around just doesn't look right," Claude Koch, custodian, said. Koch has the job of picking up the trash on the front steps that students leave behind after been the worst he said. In the past, the administration has had to shut down the front steps to student dining at lunch when too much litter was left behind each day. This year they have decided on a different approach. However, talking to students and encouraging them to stop hasn't made much of a difference. The problem is becoming continually worse. The administration and custodians are asking for student awareness and respect for the school, the neighborhoods and the environment. "I know it can be done because it has been done before with a little effort, choosing to do the right thing, and having respect for other people," Koch said.
