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.