November Titan News - Coal Ridge High School

Coal Ridge High School November 2010
Titan Times
The Mammoth bone’s
connected to the...
By Jonathan Angelo
publishers
On Thursday November 4, the Denver
Museum of Nature and Science
graciously brought an exhibit to our
school. Not so long ago, a construction
crew in Snowmass Village unearthed
fossils of an American Mastodon and a
Colombian Mammoth. Some of these
fossils, pictures from the dig site, and
fossils from other mammoths were on
display in the main gym during the
afternoon. The most notable fossil was
the tibia from the teenage mammoth
(pictured) which was the length of a
forearm. The visit was set up by our
science department, so make sure to
thank your science teachers for such an
enlightening experience.
Kaitlyn Maloley
Giovanny Hernandez
A. Meggan Roper
Dylan Cook
Staff:
Dakotah Snode
Kayli Hunter
Nikki Henkels
Austin Strong
Writers
Slaton Spangler
Emily VanDevender
Ana Mendoza
Jonathan Angelo
Ashlyn Kaufman
Ben Harju
Michael Niderkorn
Melessa Starbuck
Nicholas Villarreal
Sponser
Mrs. McCracken

Have you ever thought about suicide?
Counselors’
Corner
Suicide is the third leading cause of death for teenagers. Statistics show that 4 out of 5
teens think about suicide. The best way to prevent a friend from hurting himself or herself is
to tell an adult or call the police if you think there is an immediate threat.
People often give some sort of signal they are in trouble.
# 1 CAUSE OF SUICIDE: UNTREATED DEPRESSION
It can be very hard to diagnose depression. If symptoms last more than a few
weeks, a doctor or psychiatrist should be consulted. Symptoms of depression
include the following:
• Persistent sad or "empty" mood
• Feeling hopeless, helpless, worthless
• Pessimistic and or guilty
• Substance abuse
• Fatigued or loss of interest in ordinary activities
• Disturbances in eating and sleeping patterns
• Irritability, increased crying, anxiety and panic attacks
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
• Thoughts of suicide; suicide plans or attempts
• Persistent physical symptoms or pains that do not respond to treatment
If you or your loved one has four or more of the symptoms of depression above
and nothing seems to help those symptoms go away, get help! Sometimes, just
being diagnosed with Clinical Depression will be the best thing to help you or a
loved one get on the road to recovery.
DANGER SIGNS OF SUICIDE
• Talking about suicide, or killing oneself, even in a joking manner
• Statements about hopelessness, helplessness, or worthlessness
• Preoccupation with death
• Suddenly happier, calmer
• Loss of interest in things one used to care about
• Visiting or calling people one cares about
• Making arrangements; setting one's affairs in order
• Giving things away
If you have any concerns for yourself or another person please let someone know.
Ms. Holley and Ms. Sass are always available to talk to or you can call: 1-800-SUICIDE The
Hotline for Suicide Crisis
2
Upcoming
events . . .
By Ben Harju
November 2010
Nov. 18 Rotating period one
Nov. 19-20 CBA Select Band
Nov. 22-29 No School
Nov. 25 Thanksgiving
December 2010
Dec. 1 Winter Sports Pictures
Dec. 2 Blood Drive 10:00 a.m.
Dec. 2 Rotating period two
Dec. 8 Holiday concert 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 9 Rotating period three
Dec. 15 Friday’s Bell Schedule
Band Concert 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 16-17 Finals
Dec. 20-Jan. 4 No School
Dec. 24 Christmas Eve
Dec. 25 Christmas
Jan. 1 New Year’s Day

(As of 11/14/10)
Coal Ridge Sports Records
Team Coach W-L Record
Varsity Football Scott Parker 7 - 4 - 0
Men's Soccer Brain Blair 16 - 2 - 0
Volleyball Scott Black 10 - 12 - 0
JV Football Joe Bledsoe 3 - 4- 0
Quick Notes
The Titans’ soccer team beat Weld Central 2 – 0 on Saturday, October 30th. The game ended early when Weld Central's captain
shoved a referee after a yellow card was called. As a consequence, the local police got called to the game and the coach for the
(Weld Central ) Rebels ended the game with eight minutes remaining.
The Titans’ volleyball team finished their season with a 10-12 record and in fourth-place in the 3A Western Slope League. The
team made it to districts, but lost to Lamar, Roaring Fork, and Salida.
Both football teams lost to Basalt on their respective dates. (JV: 11/1 ; Varsity: 10/29)
The varsity football team beat Grand Valley on Friday, November 5th. This win has given the Titans a spot in the playoffs.
Cross Country Regional Times:
Melessa Starbuck: 23:11
Ashlie Bowles:25:50 Jordan Russel: 25:20
Alexandria Bianco: 27:46
Emily Van Devender: 29:57
Kayla Warren: 33:1
Zach Becker: 23:32
Michael Palmgren: 21:31
Recent Games
Thurs. 11/4: The soccer team lost to The Classical Academy in Colorado Springs. (4-0)
Fri. 11/5: The Varsity football team beat Grand Valley at Grand Valley.(16-6)
Sat. 11/13: The Varsity football team played Kent Denver. (20-7)
3

Coal Ridge Boys’ Soccer Makes It
To The Great Eight!
By Cameron Dacuma
Saturday, October 30 th ,2010, the boys’ soccer (3A) play-off game between Coal Ridge and Weld Central came to a stunning
conclusion when Weld Central forfeited the game due to their unsportsmanlike conduct. Weld Central’s team was given five yellow
cards along with three red cards, including one given to their coach. The last red card went to a Weld Central player after he shoved
his middle finger in the referee’s face, pushed him, and finally walked off the field after throwing his uniform down (the police were
notified).
Leading to this temper tantrum was a hard fought goal made by Carlos Rodriguez of the Coal Ridge Titans. Coal Ridge’s offense
forced its way through the opposing defensive lines and Carlos made sure that the ball was put into the net.
Weld Central tried in vain to counter, being stopped by a brick wall: Coal Ridge’s goalie, Tyler Guettler and the Titan’s defensive
squad. This is not surprising since goals against Coal Ridge only occurred in a mere six out of their sixteen games.
The first half ended with only one of the three reds being dished out, but desperation was painted across every Weld Central player’s
face as they looked at the CRHS’ one goal lead. The second half of the high-tension match came on hard with both teams battling
over possession of the soccer ball; the longer the game went on, the more Weld Central became frustrated. At this point of the game,
cheap shots were being given and the referees had their work cut out for them.
This is when Eliel Ruiz, team captain, saw his chance at glory and put the anger-blinded team in their place. He rolled the ball into
the goal as the stumbling goalie tried to get a hand on it.
Knowing their fate, Weld Central erupted with hostility, and put blame on the referees for their calamity. Losing control of the game,
the Weld Central coach was forced to end the game before things were taken even further.
Coal Ridge was overcome with joy and, feeling victorious, they ran to their dedicated fans to thank them for their support. Then they
listened to Coach B tell his team how proud he was and how excited he was about the next game. Ecstatic expressions and huge
smiles spread across the players’ faces as they realized their accomplishment. They were going to be playing in the Great Eight and
every one of the Titan’s soccer players was looking forward to playing the next game.
4

Sorry It’s Like This
By Sam Klomhaus
It hasn’t exactly been a secret that Silt water is nasty. It has always been
disgusting. It has got little brown pieces in it. They float around in people’s
glasses like dirty little ice cubes. Honestly, it takes a few minutes of mental
preparation in order to be ready to drink it. Everyone in Silt has always known
this.
Silt water is a dirty, filthy substance. But poison? I always thought that at least
the water was safe to drink. Certainly the city of Silt has some sort of filtering
system that keeps toxins out, right? In fact, the town of Silt does possess a
municipal water filtration system.
The problem is that the system is actually working too well. There is an
inordinate amount of the chemicals used to keep toxins out of the water system.
These chemicals have names longer than the last Lord of the Rings movie. They
have more letters than Santa. They look like someone dropped a scrabble box
and all the letters landed in a heaping pile of randomness.You would probably
get cancer just from reading them all the way through.
We citizens are left without our beloved Silt water until, we are told, sometime in
2011. Which will be removed from Coal Ridge first, the water cooler thingies or
the Senior class? Whatever are Silt citizens to do? Well, at least for those
attending Coal Ridge High School, this event could actually be viewed as a good
thing. The students may actually be more hydrated than when we thought the
water was safe to drink.
The reason for this is that students are lazy. The problem with the water
fountains that were used before the water “crisis” was that they were located too
far outside the normal width of the hallway. Nobody wants to walk an extra ten
feet just for a drink of boring old water (If they would just add Hawaiian Punch
drinking fountains like in Mr. Deeds this problem would be solved.).
Fortunately, the new water coolers
are very conveniently located.
They are in the actual hallways,
close to where people walk to
class. It’s easier to fill up the little
paper cup thing (Another
technical term) than it was to walk
the five or so steps over to the
drinking fountain and get you
water. Thanks to good oldfashioned
laziness, our student
body is becoming more hydrated
every day. We don’t know when
or if our Silt water is going to be
returned and the coolers removed,
but on that day, Coal Ridge
students will become a little less
hydrated.
5
Energy Star
Update
By Nick V.
In last month’s edition of the school’s newspaper, we
learned about the Energy Star program that Coal Ridge
and several other local schools are participating in to
become more energy efficient. This program is
supported and run in part by Craig Jay, Director of
Facilities, and Theresa Hamilton, Director of District
Wide Services.
Coal Ridge has already implemented some of the
proposed changes for reducing energy costs, including
shutting off lights in the school and unplugging
miscellaneous electronics when not in use.
The energy star ratings are based on a scale of 0 to
100; higher numbers are better. Achieving a rating of
75 or more means that the building is running in the
top 25% when compared to other equivalent buildings.
While Coal Ridge has slightly improved its Energy
Star rating from previous months (45 to 47), Rifle
High School has dramatically improved its energy
efficiency rating from a 41 to a 65. Kathryn Senor
Elementary improved its rating by one point (73 to
74), and Wamsley Elementary remained at its solid
score of 87. Notice, that if CRHS doesn’t step up the
energy savings, we’ll soon be lagging behind Rifle.
Theresa Hamilton says that a large amount of energy is
consumed by the football lights. These bright lights
cost about $20/hour to run. This eats up a lot of
energy since the lights are run, on average, two hours
per day. This adds up quickly, costing roughly $800
per month to maintain. Hamilton suggests that, if
possible, we could turn on the football lights a half
hour later and save $200 per month. The gym lights
also consume a considerable amount of energy, costing
$15/hour to run. Ensuring that these lights are turned
off when the gym isn’t being used could save us a lot
of money (and keep us from losing to Rifle!).
Coal Ridge High School has a new long-term goal:
becoming more energy conscious and efficient. Coal
Ridge and other district schools are continuing to
implement new ways of saving on energy expenses.
You can help too! If you would like to be part of
helping the school become more energy efficient you
can join the Coal Ridge Energy Club by contacting
Ms. Buirgy.

Double Takes
By Slaton Spangler
If you have been paying attention in the last few weeks, you may have
noticed some strange occurrences. This was the result of a
sociological experiment organized by Ms. McCracken's CMC
Composition class. Originally, the assignment was to observe any
“double takes,” or surprised second looks, that were created by acting
differently. The name for the assignment was taken from the book
Double Take by Kevin Connolly. Born without legs, Kevin inspired double takes wherever he went. The project quickly
transformed, however, into something slightly different. The assignment name was changed to “Breaking the Norms”, and it
became less about prompting double takes, and more about simply observing reactions that occurred when acting differently
than the status quo, whether they be set by teachers or the students. The CMC Composition class thanks you all for participating
in our experiment, and for those who missed any of the experiments, here is a list of the people that participated and what they
did.
Wes Starr – Wore fancy attire for a day
Michael Niederkorn – Painted himself blue
Nikki Henkels – Wore her shirt inside out/backwards
Kaitlyn Maloley & Ashley Roper – Had an argument over texting in Spanish
Slaton Spangler – Walked backwards for an entire week
Nick Villarreal– Video taped people on the street of Glenwood
Dakotah Snode – Acted depressed
Gio Hernandez & Emily VanDevender – Sat with random people at lunch
Ashlyn Kaufman & Kayli Hunter – Wore heavy makeup and walked around
Fort Collins
John Angelo – Wore hockey elbow pads
Ben Harju – Walked around Target with his pants high, and his shirt tucked in
Austin Strong– Sat with random people at lunch
Ana Loor Mendoza– Had a nervous breakdown in Chemistry
Melessa Starbuck – Walked backwards for a day
So, the next time you see someone ‘out of the norm’, take a second to consider
why or how those people are in that situation. You never know when you might be in a situation where you inspire a double take.
Thanksgiving
Thoughts
By Amber Pagni
It’s that time of year again. Let’s break out the turkey, the stuffing, and the pumpkin
pie. We will gather around the table and give thanks for the things in our lives. But
where did this tradition start? Back in 1621, we celebrated our first Thanksgiving. We
gathered the food we could find, and sat down with the Natives. Sitting together we
gave thanks for the food we found and for safely making it to the New World. Now,
400 years later we still sit down to a big meal but times have changed. We no longer go
out and gather our food. Mom runs by the store on her way from home, and picks up a
pre-made turkey with the stuffing and the pie. We still sit down to a family dinner, but
it’s not the same. We are so busy with life that we don’t reflect upon the things we
should be grateful for. So this year, when our Student Council comes around with your
turkey feather, stop and think. What in your life are you grateful for?
6

Opportunities Galore!
By Melessa Starbuck
This school year, Coal Ridge High School and Colorado Mountain College (CMC) teamed up to offer a few more college
vocational classes to the senior curriculum. Such classes include a certified nursing assistant program (CNA), culinary arts, early
childhood education, and welding. Ten seniors from Coal Ridge have taken advantage of the CNA class and four in the culinary
class.
The CNA class is one semester long and can earn a high school student one full high school credit hour and five CMC credits. In
this class, students take two courses at the same time: first, they are first prepared to perform basic nursing skills, healing services,
personal care skills, and safety and emergency care issues; second, to apply these skills in a clinical setting.
Two current CNA students, Dusty Hibdon and Dylan Cook, described the class as being different from what they expected, yet
still a pleasing class.
“I thought it was going to be more medical learning, but it’s more job training,” shared Hibdon.
Cook added, “It’s not just a class [to take] for fun...” and recommended the class to students interested in this field of study.
Currently, Cook and Hibdon are completing their “clinicals.” They get first hand experience at the Grand River Hospital
emergency room and acute care unit, Edene Moore Nursing Home, and Alpine Home Health.
The Culinary Arts class is a year long and can earn a high school student one high school credit and nine CMC credits. This
course begins with 30 contact hours dedicated to food safety and sanitation, followed by 22.5 hours of food production principles
and practices. Only after that do students begin to handle
preparing and producing food.
7
Culinary Art students Ashlyn Kaufman and Norma Lopez
explained that the class is both enjoyable and stimulating.
Kaufman and Lopez each characterized the class as more than
just cooking, but rather learning every aspect of food while
gaining experience.
Lopez shared the benefits of the class in saying, “You learn
things you didn’t know before like sanitation, temperatures of
food, and recipes.”
“It’s a lot harder than you think. It’s lots of reading,” added
Kaufman as she informed me of the rigorous sanitation course
that started off her year.
Kaufman continued, “It’s not just in class...” explaining the
hands-on benefits the class has to offer through its internship
opportunities in the Rifle community.
Both agreed the class is useful for cooking when you’re older
and would especially recommend taking the class to those
interested in food, as well as those interested in business alone.

FIRED UP!
By Jonathan Angelo
For the students who have ever had Mr. Martinez, or who have ever walked by his classroom during a class period, it is easy to remember
Martinez’s catchphrase, “Now I’m FIRED UP!” This phrase results in one of the two following outcomes: Martinez is going to make your
life miserable for the remainder of the hour, or Martinez is about to get off topic.
Martinez gets fired up at just about everything school related, which can include the following: coaching girls’ basketball, going to
sporting events, and teaching his Geography and World History classes.
“Really the only time that I was truly angry when I was fired up was when a class had disrespected a substitute a couple years ago. The
class apparently sang “Ninety-Nine Bottles of Beer on the Wall.” When I read the sub-report, I was really fired up and knew I was going
to chew some butt,” Martinez stated.
“I get fired up because I am passionate about what I do. It is a good way to express emotion without offending anybody.” Have you ever
thought of pulling the fire alarm?
You figured you could wait for a moment when there’s no one around, run over, stealthily pull down the little handle, and then walk away casually. No
one would know who it was that had dared create such a diversion. If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? If you
pull down the fire alarm and no one is around to see you, did you really pull the fire alarm?
Private Eyes: They are Watching YOU!
By Ana Loor Mendoza
If these mischievous thoughts run through your head every time you pass a fire alarm, you should know that, even if there’s no one around, there is
someone watching. Every day, all the time, thirty nine conveniently placed security cameras around the school are recording your actions.
So who, exactly, is watching you and why? Well I after having a chat with Mr. Zevin- who’s in charge of the security cameras- I was able to learn how
they came about and how they work.
According to Mr. Zevin, who is in charge of the security cameras, Coal Ridge was the first school in the district to implement security cameras. Over
time the cameras have helped solve a least a dozen incidents, ranging from identifying suspects of stolen ipods to proof of vandalism and even students
pulling the fire alarm.
How do they work? For starters, they’re motion censored. This means that the cameras activate and start recording as soon as they sense activity in close
approximation. This sometimes causes the cameras outside to turn on with the wind, even if there’s no activity outside. The cameras are also connected to
a server which is constantly working; even on the days when WIFI or the phone lines are down, the server remains connected, as do the cameras.
The activity is instantly recorded onto Mr. Zevin’s laptop where they are stored. Depending on how much activity is censored and recorded, the archives
on Mr. Zevin’s websites range from one to three weeks.Besides the stored videos of past activity on the archives, a live feed on any of the thirty nine
cameras is also instantly viewable.
How long does it take Mr. Zevin or Officer Burress -who also has access to the image archives- to find who pulled the fire alarm? About three minutes,
according to Mr. Zevin.
So, the next time you think of pulling the fire alarm, just remember Mr. Zevin might be looking right at your indecisive little figure, lurking suspiciously
close to the fire alarm.

C
O
M
I
C
!
Kevin Connolly,
Author of
Double Take,
Visits Rifle’s
CMC Campus
By Anabolena Loor
Mendoza
By Wes Starr
On Monday, November 1st, students and community members from Rifle and the
surrounding valley were invited to attend the author visit for Kevin Connolly’s personal
narrative, Double Take. In the memoir Kevin, who was born without legs, recounts how
he learned to adapt to a world that isn’t easily accessible to people born without limbs.
His narrative starts by revisiting his early days of growing up in a rural community in
Montana where he spent his childhood playing outside. He went on to use customized-
Mac-Gyver-inspired inventions, devised by his father and grandfather. One such early
invention was the butt boot: a tough leather moccasin used as a shoe for his lower body.
He also writes of enduring through a season of wrestling -the only school sport that
didn’t require legs; learning how to ignore the stares and questions of his legless-ness
from strangers and classmates; and finally going off to college to travel the world and
commence The Rolling Exhibition- a series of
32,000 photographs of peoples stares, taken
from fifteen countries around the world.
At the author visit, the twenty five year old author reenacted the major stories from the book,
shared a the story behind a deleted chapter, and answered questions from the audience.
Despite being at a physical disadvantage that affects every aspect of his life, Connolly has
become a skilled photographer and photojournalist, the winner of a silver medal for skiing at
the X Games, the author of a best selling memoir, and a well cultured traveler of the world.
Most recently, he has also fulfilled his long time of dream of being featured in the latest
November issue of Outside.
He now lives in Bozeman, Montanta as a professional photographer, writer, and skier.
His next photo project, Low Lifes, will illustrate people’s different ways of coping with his
disabilities in countries like Afghanistan and India.
He’s also working with various sports-design-and-development-companies to create
customized crutches and boards to help disabled people to get around more easily, and to still
be able to lead an active lifestyle.
8

THE INVISIBLE CHILDREN
By Alyssa Jacobs and Alicia Cokley
The war in northern Uganda has been called the most neglected humanitarian emergency in the world today. For the past 23
years, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda have been in a war that almost 2 million people were caught in
the middle of. The LRA rebel movement was started because of a woman named Alice Lakwena. In the 1980s, Lakwena believed the
Holy Spirit spoke to her and ordered her to overthrow the Ugandan government for being unjust to the Acholi. Lakwena and her
followers, known as the Holy Spirit Movement, gained momentum as anger toward the government increased. When Lakwena was exiled
and no clear leader of the movement was left, Joseph Kony took control and transformed Lakwena’s rebel army into the LRA. However,
Kony did not receive the same support as Lakwena did from the Acholi. With little support, the rebels resorted to abducting children and
taking them into their ranks. It is estimated that more than 90% of the LRA’s troops were abducted as children. Families would have their
children commute at night so that they would not be abducted by the LRA. Many of these children had no opportunities to get an
education or live with their own families because they lived in fear of being abducted by the rebels.
In 2003, three men went to Northern Uganda and discovered the children who commuted every night, with out their families, to try and
save themselves from abduction. They made a documentary called “Invisible Children: Rough Cut.” They brought this documentary back
to the Untied States to show everyone the horrific reality of what was going on in Northern Uganda. Since then, the night commuting has
ended for the children, but they are still in need of a tremendous amount of help. The Invisible Children group rebuilds schools devastated
by war, provides books, water, sanitation, teacher support, technology, and power. The Invisible Children leaders believe that to end the
cycle of violence, children must be educated to keep peace in their nation. How can you help the youth of Uganda receive an education to
provide a brighter, peaceful future for Uganda?
You can join the Schools for Schools program. Through the Invisible Children foundation, this club helps high school students to raise
money throughout their school and community to go towards building and refurbishing schools in Uganda. Schools in the US have raised
thousands and thousands of dollars to help these kids who have been robbed of a normal childhood. Very active students in this program
got to witness first hand the life of a Ugandan high school kid; they went to Africa to help build schools, but instead made relationships.
They saw first hand the daily trials and tribulations they went through, not only with the fear of being abducted by the LRA, but also
being brutalized and murdered, being forced to kill your parents, becoming an orphan, living with AIDS and other horrors associated with
poverty. They documented these experiences to share with the world, and encourage kids to become active with Schools for Schools and
the Invisible Children Organization.
Not interested in being in a club? Or maybe you want a more “instant gratification” way of helping these under privileged kids? Then
you’re in luck! You can buy one of the many awesome products Invisible Children sells, such as t-shirts made from cotton grown in the
communities in Africa and hand made bracelets from Uganda. The many products are available at the roadies presentations or online. One
hundred percent of the profits go towards this worth cause, and all every penny counts and is appreciated!
Invisible Children also sends out teams of people (called roadies) to educate and introduce schools to this wonderful program. Rebecca
Bouvien, Mark Cuenca, and Comfort Okello came to Coal Ridge High School on November 9, and taught us all about the importance of
giving. Both Bouvien and Cuenca discovered the organization when roadies came to their college to educate the student body about the
issues going on. After learning about the horrific state this African country is in, they knew they had to help. Both have been involved full
time since August of this year, living out of a van and traveling the country teaching people everywhere. Bouvien described how she truly
believed in the mission for education, and the power of our generation. She loves that she gets to meet so many people and that her world,
while getting bigger, simultaneously gets smaller through these new connections. Cuenca emphatically explained that the one thing he
wants kids to get out this is the message that, even if its not these people you work to help, “Do something and help somebody somehow”.
Okello, on the other hand, is a native to Africa and has been involved with Invisible Children for three years. She loves seeing the impact
this has on people and how much it truly helps. Although all of these ‘roadies’ come from different backgrounds, and became involved for
different reasons, they all would agree that YOU can do something to help and your involvement does make a difference!
Log onto www.invisiblechildren.com for more information on what you can do to make a change!
9

Just the Thing We Need
by Sammy Valenteen
The harsh glares of lights beam onto the trampled grass. Clouds of breath escape the parted lips of the figures crouched on the field,
dissipating in the brisk air. Mascara-adorned eyes narrow and cast vengeful scowls at those opposite them. The only sound is the
pounding of hearts against constricted chests as anticipation fills the air; everyone tenses, waiting for the words to release them.
“Hike!” A cry slices through the silence, with the rumbling roars of the crowd not far behind. The thud of bodies colliding. The swish of a
ribbon-tied ponytail as the owner sprints out of sight. The agitated cry of those on the sidelines. The exuberant, cheering comments from
the announcer’s box.
In the midst of the celebration of the jumping, screaming girls, faces plastered with ecstatic smiles and triumphant smirks, rises the
coveted bejeweled football. Winner and loser alike stroll off into the mass of fans, chatting excitedly, with the thrill of the game still
leaking out in wide grins.
Such is the mirthful time of the annual Powder-Puff football game. As one of the most popular events of Homecoming week, most people
know the feeling of dismay as they shuffle through the biting cold back to their cars, the disappointment of waiting a whole year to see
their Coal Ridge ladies in action again.
And yet, imagine a world where this stark disheartened feeling was not so! A world where the homemade uniforms were dug out of
storage and worn proudly back onto the field.
Frequent Powder-Puff games would surely spoil the wonder of the event. But, perhaps, the Juniors and Seniors could march back to the
field to welcome the arrival of spring? To celebrate the end of a school year? To help kick off the second Spirit Week?
Spring can be a stressful time, to put it lightly. After a long, grueling, Colorado winter, people are itching to get out into the sunshine that
seems so foreign and blissful. Sadly, most can’t enjoy the fine weather as much as they’d like. With CSAPs, ACTs, SATs, and other
intimidating acronyms looming over us all, the most one can do is stare wistfully out the window before an annoyed noise from the
teacher drags their gaze back to the hundreds of dots covering the beloved Scantron sheets we’ve all come to know so intimately.
That’s never a fun feeling. “Spring Fever’, as some call it, builds quickly. To add to the agitation, people start realizing at this point that
the school year is more than halfway over. When everything clicks in their minds, they realize that a mere few months separate them from
the freedom of summer. Don’t start thinking of things to do in those enraptured months like studying that will be thrust upon us for finals.
If only there were more things to help relieve the mayhem of spring months; a squad of inadequately-trained girls scrambling across a
football field, comically playing the sport that make spirits soar in the autumn. If driving your shoulder blade into someone’s stomach
doesn’t lessen your pent-up agitation, screaming yourself hoarse from the stands just might.
Most would agree with this writer when she says that one of the hardest things to achieve in life is the delicate balance between work and
play. Though it likely won’t be the magic solution to this dilemma, more than one Powder-Puff game a year would certainly be a step in
the right direction.

NOVEMBER 2010 HOROSCOPES
By Ashlyn Kaufman
Aries *** (March 21-April 19)
Money, education, and intimacy are main themes in the first week of the month for you. A love relationship reaches new depths of understanding. You are
also very busy with special subjects and projects this month, and eagerly throw yourself into learning and producing. Money becomes a challenge for you
from the 17 th forward. A travel, creative, or educational opportunity falls into your lap in the last week of the month.
Taurus** (April 20-May 20)
Close personal relationships are in focus this month for you. You find yourself in a conflict between time spent with lovers and time spent with friends.
Your responsibilities might interfere with your social life this month. Your drive for desire is strong from mid-month forward. Love opportunities are
strongest on the 11 th and 18 th . Good news arrives on the 29-30.
Gemini**** (May 21-June 20)
Schoolwork continues to be in the spotlight for you this month. However, responsibilities with athletics are likely to conflict with academic matters.
School is busy for you in November, and you take special price in how hard you work. A love relationship reaches new levels of intimacy. Money could
arrive to you on the 29-30, particularly from family.
Cancer**** (June 21-July 22)
Romance, playtime, and creativity continue to take center stage in the first few weeks of November. Still, there will be times when you feel bogged down
by learning, projects, paperwork, and errands. You do find a time for indulging in hobbies and other fun activities. Your charm runs very high again this
month. The 13 th brings the need to help out a friend. In the last week of the month school becomes stressful, but you seem to step up in physical activities
and healthy routines.
Leo*** (July 23-August 22)
Family takes center stage for you this month. At first glance, the month may not seem as productive as most, but in fact you are preparing for busier
months ahead. A career demands attention around the 13 th . Romantic activity picks up after the 16 th . Socializing in school becomes detrimental to your
grades in the second half of the month.
Virgo** (August 23-September 22)
A busy month that involves plenty of errand running, tending to schoolwork, and attending athletics is in store for you. When Venus enters fellow earth
sign, Capricorns, on the 12 th , your charm increases and you easily attract what (and who) you want! You may have to deal with a friend who is acting a
little irresponsible this month. The 15-16 is a period of strength for you, when your powers of persuasion are especially effective.
Libra* (September 23-October 22)
It’s time to organize your money this month after perhaps some over spending. November is an excellent month for your schoolwork and success in
athletics. The 10-12 is a strong time for money matters. You seem to seep a generally friendly, positive attitude this month. The last few days of
November are excellent for education, learning, and communication.
Scorpio*** (October 23-November 21)
November is a month of increased confidence and initiative for you. It’s an excellent month in which to present your ideas and get up to date with your
homework, projects, and essays. You begin to realize some of your dreams for your future in November, as you seem to have a handle on your daily
activities.
Sagittarius***** (November 22-December 21)
Happy Birthday!! November is an especially strong month for you in terms of school and romance matters. It’s also excellent for personal finances. The
first few weeks could involve some sacrifices and rethinking of your plans. However, it’s a time of becoming mentally stronger for the weeks ahead. The
last week of the month is extremely busy. You are willingly taking the lead and others have your best interest at heart. A lover is paying a lot of attention
to you, and it feels fabulous.
Capricorn** (December 22-January 19)
Expansion, confidence, and hopefulness are keywords for you in November. You are feeling good about yourself and confident about your future. A
romantic revelation occurs around the Full Moon on the 13 th . This is also a time when Venus, the planet of love and attraction, enters your sign. It’s easier
than ever to attract exactly what you want during this cycle. November is likely to be memorable for love and romance! Stressful schoolwork matters
begin to resolve this month.
Aquarius*** (January 20-February 18)
School continues to play a big role in your life in November, but the pressure and stress in this area you encountered last month begin to dissipate. As a
result, you’re more likely to enjoy yourself, and recognition of your hard work will be acknowledged. Increased responsibilities continue to be an issue in
your life, but you feel more in control. Friends and love are strong in the last week of this month.
Pisces***** (February 19-March 20)
Your sense of adventure runs high this month, and you are itching for a challenge. Any love conflicts that have been brewing are resolved in November.
Watch for money rewards around the 4 th , but keep an eye out for social blunders or misunderstandings on the 17-18. The last week of the month is
outstanding for success, money, and love.

The World According to B
-By “B”
Here at CRHS, the staff is focused on providing objectives for every class during the day. These objectives are supposed to consist of three elements and
clearly indicate how and what the student will learn that day. The three elements are:
• What the student will be able to do
• What materials or criterion are required to do said skill
• How the student will know if he or she is proficient or not
I applied these elements to my own daily attempts at reaching the level of a functioning human being and decided to share some of my objectives with
you, the reader.
1. B will be able to physically displace himself from the confines of his comfortable bed and find the shower by simultaneously using his phone as an
alarm clock and makeshift luminary device to make it to the bathroom without injury. He will be proficient if he achieves this objective while only hitting
the snooze option twice during any given morning.
2. B will prepare his teeth for the relentless assault of high sodium or high sugar products he will consume during the day by massaging and flossing each
of his 32 teeth with a high density long reach bristle toothbrush and thin tear-resistant plastic string containing a hint of mint flavor. He will be proficient
if his mouth accepts the first sip of Red Bull without any indication of inevitable tooth decay.
3. B will develop a callous disregard for accepted fashion sentiments by blindly choosing the first shirt he touches in his closet and combining it with a
standard pair of khaki pants regardless of any potential discrepancy in color coordination. He will be proficient if his ensemble contains no major stains
or tears and gives the impression of having been ironed.
4. B will purchase a variety of quasi-edible food products for consumption that day keeping within a budget of $5 - $50. He will be proficient if his
caloric intake allows him to complete his 12-hour workday without passing out, and he is able to consume the majority of the purchased items during the
extensive 25 minute lunch period.
5. B will prevent Mr. Mikalakis from overfeeding the pet turtle JS by shaming him with commentary ranging from “facts” about the dangerous issue of
child obesity in America to complaints about Mr. Mikalakis’ role as the pushover parent. He will be proficient if he can restrict JS’ diet to less than ten
pellets and two shrimp per day.
6. B will interact with a myriad of teenagers and attempt to make connections with as many as possible, showing a genuine regard for the events of each
student’s life and a desire to develop a relationship with each individual. He will be proficient if he does not fail to remember a handshake sequence,
makes at least ten students laugh during the day, hears at least three interesting stories directly from students, and succeeds in not angering more than one
administrator, staff member, or student.
I’m not sure these objectives meet the requirements provided for each teacher by the district, but they help to guide me on a daily basis. I hope you enjoy,
because that’s the world according to B.

Cross Country Regionals
By Emily Van Devender
Cross country is, undoubtedly, one of the most physically demanding sports out there. One clichè line you’ll hear from any cross country runner is that
“our sport is your sport’s punishment.” After a season of it, I totally agree. All season, the small yet durable and unstoppable cross country team pushed
itself to the very limits.
For those of you who are unaware, cross country is a sport in which the runners compete in 3.1 mile (5 kilometer) races across any terrain. In the case of
the Western Slope Cross Country Regionals this year, this terrain involved one large, steep hill, a bunch of potholes, lots of tumbleweeds and brush all
covered by about five inches thick of cold, wet, slippery mud.
Our esteemed cross country team left school at 12:00 sharp on Friday, October 22, 2010. After a long bus ride in a cramped SUV full of funky music,
dangerously unhealthy snacks, and awkward silences, the team arrived in Cortez, Colorado: a medium-sized city near the southern border the state. We
checked into an atrocious motel and headed to the course to check it out the day before the race. Our team was greeted with a real surprise of sloppy mud
and did not complete their walk around the course. After a poorly- serviced but filling dinner, we proceeded back to the shady accommodations for some
laughs and so-called “sleep.”
The next morning, the team dragged themselves to a continental breakfast consisting of stale breads and an almost empty juice machine. Emotions
should have been running high, but everyone was really just too tired. When we reached the course, it was just as muddy and mucky as it was the
previous night.
Ladies raced first. The competing girls from our school included the following: senior Melessa Starbuck, senior Ashlie Bowles, sophomore Jordan
Russel, sophomore Alexandria Bianco, sophomore Emily Van Devender (myself), and sophomore Kayla Warren. We had all pushed ourselves all season,
and when Ashlie Bowles joined, she didn’t hesitate to push herself to the limit and beat most of the team after less than a couple of weeks.
When the race began, every girl was hesitant about the mud, including myself. However, the words of a bystanding coach of another team motivated me:
“Have fun in that mud, ladies!” Soon, no one was worried about getting dirty, making a mess, or slipping. It was the usual, competitive race.
The course was terrain- filled including one large hill and somewhat of a forest at the top. In cross country, the key is to pump your arms and push
yourself like an iron train, especially on hills. Each Coal Ridge girl did so, making use of the time spent on the strenuous “hill workouts” during the
season.
In the end, Melessa took 17th place, missing state by two places with one of her slowest times of the season. Her time was an agile 23 minutes and 11
seconds! Jordan ran an awesome race with a time of 25:20, and Ashlie was close behind with 25:50. Alexandria finished next at 27:46, and then Emily
with 29:57. Soon after, Kayla came in with a time of 33:12. Emotions ran high for the team, this being their last race together.
Pretty soon, it was the boys’ race. There were only two Titan boy cross country racers: junior Zach Becker and junior Michael Palmgren. Watching their
race, one could tell that the course had liquified much more after several other classes of boy and girl runners. Still, they ran hard, Michael Palmgren
with a great time of 21:31, and Zach not far behind with a time of 23:32.
Cross country, being a rarely recognized sport, is sadly overlooked. However, the athletes persevere, and their newfound muscles and endurance prove
that cross country is far from a walk in the park. It’s actually a run in the park; a 3.1 mile park. With a small team comes close friendships, and the team
is excitedly waiting for next year, which will hopefully bring new recruits. Ashlie Bowles and Melessa Starbuck will be greatly missed!