Issue of Oct. 28, 2005
Vol. 89, No. 2
Click on a story title to view that story
News
AAA winners announced
Homecoming Timeline
Attention, Class of 2006!
Campus safety an issue after robbery
Colton High Marching Band off to great start
"Rumors" hits the Whitmer stage
Governator calls special election, with issues for schools
Opinions
Bathrooms....ewww!
Bedtimes for high school students?
Both Sides Now: Too old to trick or treat? YES
Both Sides Now: Too old to trick or treat? NO
Faces in the Crowd: What will you be for Halloween?
High School at its best
Media impacts trends
Myspace.com trendy way to keep in touch
My Turn (Column)
The OC and Laguna Beach...we ain't it!
School food: what's the answer?
Vending machines frustrate
Will that be a Tall or Venti? Starbucks explodes among teens
What will the future bring?
Be kind to animals and drink your Kool Aid
Features
Did You Know? (Column)
Embarrassing moments revealed!
Horoscopes
Los Detalles (en Espanol)
DVD review: Orgy, the band
Shayne's World (Column)
Staff Profile: Joe Trevino
Movie review: "Stay"
Student profile: Alicia Owens
New word coined, sweeps campusSpecial Halloween Section:
Do Ghosts walk among us?
Favorite Halloween candy
Fright Fest
Knott's Scary Farm
Local ghost stories still chill
Sports
Football
Allen Bradford feature
Cross Country
Golf
Powder Puff shenanigans!
Tennis
Volleyball
AAA Winners announced
Outstanding attendance and grades bring cool prizes
from Staff reports
Administrators John Steven Coke and Robert Verdi stand proudly next to students who won the AAA drawing. Tu Le and Erek Rubio were awarded prizes for having a 3.0 GPA or better. Yaquelin Gutierrez, Seng Xiong, and Ryan Crawford all won for perfect attendance for the month of September. Who knows, you could be next! Check out the X-Box!
Attention class of 2006!
by Alyssa Isgett
Attention seniors. College applications are due for the Cal State school systems on November 30(there may be some exceptions). If you are having trouble, there is a rather simple solution that may be of service to you: CSUMentor.com. Simply go online and apply to the Cal State of your choice. The application consists of ten pages ranging from enrollment information to intended major to fee waivers. A suggestion to you is to go get your transcript as soon as possible. You will most likely need it for the high school preparation pages. The application asks what classes you have taken, and when, but they also want to know the grade for that class for each semester.
If you plan on applying to the UC school system, the specific website is www.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply. Click on apply online and if you have yet to create an account, now would be the time to do so. The filing deadline for fall 2006 is 11:59 p.m. November 30. You can also choose a campus on this website by clicking on the side tab that says, "selecting the right campus". You can also check which majors are available on each campus.
Just a quick reminder to all seniors, applications for both UC and Cal State schools are due no later than November 30. So good luck!
Campus safety an issue after night-time
robbery; Administration working to ensure student, staff safety
by Justine Plemons
When students step on Colton High school's campus most of us don't think about being safe. We all know that during school hours we have administration and security staff keeping a watchful eye on us. But what about before and after hours, when the staff has left and the campus is vulnerable to danger?
For Ron Williams, a member of our Colton high school custodial staff, this became a tangible reality. On October 10, at approximately 9:30 p.m. two thin Hispanic males between the ages of 16-18 years old robbed Williams demanding his keys and wallet at gunpoint. They then attempted to carjack another person. The weapon was fired after the failed carjacking attempt as the suspects fled the campus. Administration is taking extra precautions to keep staff and students safe before, during and after school hours.
"Campus is locked down after hours and we have night time security on campus until morning," says Assistant Principal Robert Verdi. "ROP students go the bathroom in pairs and carrying a two way radio just in case."
There is no denying that after school we are protected, but what about before school? Just about anyone can walk onto campus at 6:30 a.m. Administration has even considered reinstalling security cameras. "The cameras we have on campus now are no longer operational," says Verdi. "The company we had a contract with went out of business. We might install a whole new system if the budget allows it."
Above all, everyone is glad that nobody was physically injured. Principal John Steven Coke has asked that staff not be here after hours unless in groups for official school business and to lock all classroom doors.
All precautions have taken place and are in full effect. So students and staff shouldn't be fearful but extremely aware of their surroundings. If anyone has any tips about this crime or any others please call 1-800-78-CRIME (24 hours a day) and remember you will remain completely anonymous.
Colton High Band off to a great start
by Arline Cruz
The band is already starting the season off right. At the SCSBOA (Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association) they managed to receive 3rd place as well as the color guard receiving 2nd place in their class. The competition at Barstow was a great way to continue the season. The band competed against six other bands including Victor Valley, Yucca Valley, Rialto, Cajon, Fontana, and A.B. Miller. Despite the consequences of high winds, the band received the sweepstakes award. A surprising finish for the color guard, which also received sweepstakes in their class. Percussion also received 3rd place.
A second SCSBOA league competition proved that the band could take any league on. Band accomplished first place against Azusa, West Valley, Sultana, and district rivals, Bloomington.
"I believe that the band is living up to its high standards and I'm very proud to be part of the marching band, Colton Drumline for life!" said junior band council secretary Ivan Martinez. Congratulations to the band for being accepted to march in the Disneyland Christmas parade. They will lead the parade on December 15. Well-done band!
Homecoming Timeline
by Arline Cruz
Day 1 - The homecoming court was presented to Colton high by doing the "Hello Walk" during both lunches.
Day 2 - The spirited activities continued with the annual Powder Puff football game prelims (see story p. 14)
Day 3 - Carnival time! Campus clubs sold a variety of things to raise money for their club activities. Sold items included anything from AVID's baked goods to GSA's virgin margaritas.
Day 4 - Thursday's crowd saw the championship Powder Puff game between the juniors and the seniors.
Day 5 - Friday was filled with events. A pep assembly was held at the Memorial Stadium: all likes of entertainment, from cheerleaders to marching band pepped up Colton's school spirit. Events continued with a homecoming parade. Float competitions were held with Cheer winning most spirited with their football theme, and AVID winning as best club float with their theme of Peter Pan. The class float winners were the seniors with their Paradise Fairytale theme. The homecoming game was filled with activities. Halftime consisted of the crowning of this year's homecoming queen Stephanie Vargas. Football smoked Eisenhower, which was just icing on the cake for our homecoming week.
Day 6 - Dance held, and we boogied the night away. Congrats to King and Queen Stephanie Vargas and Allen Bradford!
"Rumors" spread on stage tonight!
by Alyssa Isgett
This year the fall production will be "Rumors" by Neil Simon and will be directed by Performing Arts teacher, Renee Ogletree. The cast consists of 8 couples and two police officers. The couples are as different as day and night and their interaction with each other create a comical atmosphere throughout the night. The entire play is based around two couples that you never see. The play is about a group of friends who gather to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Charley and Myra Brock. A few of the couples are at the Brocks' home when, upon arrival, a gunshot is heard. The friends find Charley bleeding, the wife missing, and nothing prepared for the evening.
The production will run tonight and tomorrow in the auditorium. Tickets are $5.00 each (flat rate) and can be purchased at the door. Come catch the eventful night of "Rumors" and learn what happens when lies and chaos become a part of the evening.
Schwarzenegger calls special statewide elections
by Elysa Arroyo
Though statewide Elections are generally biannual, California's governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has called for a special off-year statewide election, due to take place on Tuesday, November 8th, 2005. The elections give the people of California the opportunity to vote on several of Schwarzenegger's reform measures. Here is a rundown of the propositions and what they would do:
Prop 73: Denies the right of abortion without parental consent to un-emancipated minors, and in some cases, allow parents the right to chose abortion for their child.
Prop 74: Changes the amount of time teachers need for tenure (nearly permanent status) from two years to five years. Allows administrators to terminate teachers after two consecutive negative evaluations.
Prop 75: Imposes strict limitations on the uses of dues paid by Public Employee Unions.
Prop 76: Imposes serious limitations on school's funding from the state.
Prop 77: Redistricts California's Senate, Assembly, Congressional and Board of Equalization districts.
Props 78,79: Allows for prescription drug discounts and renegotiated rebates for qualified citizens.
Prop 80: Allows California Public Utilities Commission to regulate electric service providers; takes some choices away from electric service providers.
Colton Joint Unified School District teachers plan a call-a-thon in order to inform Californian citizens of the dangers posed to them, and to unions, under propositions 74, 75 and 76. Teachers have been seen wearing buttons that read "Teachers say no to Props 74, 75 and 76" and fully intend to voice their opinions against said propositions.
On Colton High's campus, political clubs are also doing their part in the election process. The Young Democrats Club hopes to procure permission to begin an information booth outside Stater Brothers (on the corner of Mill and Rancho), in order to educate the local registered voters. And many members of the Young Republicans Club have signed on to work the polls. And because many seniors are eligible to vote, both clubs are equally concerned that they do so.
This Special Election does not disrupt general direction of statewide elections, as the regular biannual election will still be held next year. More information may be obtained at www.ss.ca.gov/elections/statewidespecial.htm
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And now, a couple of words about bathrooms at CHS: EWW! YUCK!
by Saige Downs
What do you see when you first go into the bathrooms on our campus? Urine all over the floor, paper towels clogging up the sinks and toilets. It is disgusting. Students blame the custodians for not cleaning the bathrooms, but daytime custodian Will Coleman cleans all the bathrooms twice a day. As a matter of fact, after he cleans a restroom, literally five minutes later it is destroyed again. So why do CHS students complain about the restrooms not being clean? Why do students feel they can complain? There are only a few who have a complete disregard for cleanliness.
I personally don't use the restrooms at CHS because of all the druggies in there. If I went to the bathroom everyday, there would be a group of girls drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. I sometimes want to throw up just passing by the restrooms. Inside of the stalls, the toilets wouldn't be flushed and used sanitary items around, in, and outside of the toilets.
Now, the boys turn. Coleman says, "Guys need to understand that "it" splashes." I'm not saying that men don't know how to aim but I do have a brother and he's messy at times. Come on boys, how hard is it?!
There are items that both gender of the restrooms don't have, one of them are mirrors. The reason we don't have mirrors is students graffiti all over the mirrors saying whom they love and whom they hate. Personally, I don't care who you love or hate. It's just going to get painted over anyways.
Another thing that we don't have that I would love to have is a soap and/or towel dispensers. We don't have either of those because students knock them off the walls. With the liquid soap, students would get the packets and squirt soap all over the ground. There was an incident not long ago where that happened in a restroom in the 600 wings. Soap was all over the floor, and then a handicapped boy came into the restroom and fell on the floor.
Most towel dispensers are gone because once again, kids would knock them off and put toilet paper anywhere in the restroom.
I can go on saying what students do to the bathrooms. Coleman has worked for CHS for almost five years and says the bathrooms are getting worse every year. I don't blame him for saying that because it's obvious that it is the students who destroy the restrooms.
So if you ever see somebody doing something stupid in the restroom, talk to him or her. Ask them, is this what you do to your house? Do you leave your house a disgusting filthy environment? So CHS students, I beg you to please flush the toilet, and throw the trash in the trashcans.
We don't know what's going to happen, so be kind to animals, and drink your Kool Aid
By Ilka Hernando
There isn't anything more controversial than the future. We don't know what's going to happen, and we always have so many ideas about it. They're correct when they say that we fear those that are unknown to us, because we always seem to have so many solutions to the problem.
There are thousands of stories written about a destructive future and only very few of a good one. Why are we fascinated by our own demise? Stories of aliens, government control, and robotic Armageddon, you'd think that there was no other alternative.
Do we want to die? Do we want to be taken over? Do we want to be enslaved? All anyone can think about is arming ourselves and becoming the top ruler with the biggest guns. Guns vs. butter, it's been a battle.
All these elements of propaganda are fueling us to think that what they've imagined in the part, back to H.G. Wells, is our life inevitable. We are all subconsciously preparing ourselves for some horrific turn of events even worse than those of the Y2K. We go into a panic, and now it's survival of the fittest, or rather, the richest. More production, more gas, more food, for all the paranoid ones out there that don't realize how economically unbalancing it can all be.
We are already dying, why is everyone so insistent on living? No, not cynically. The question is why are you so insistent on living in fear? Is that what you want? Is that how you want to see the future? Is that how you want to live?
Just stay away. Enjoy life. Understand that the future is what you believe it to be, not what someone tells you is going to become.
Drink your Kool Aid.
You snooze, you lose? Teenagers and bedtimes
by Shayne Robinson
"Johnny, it's time for bed." It's hard to believe that there are some people in high school that still have a bedtime. Some of us believe that if you're in high school you shouldn't have a bed time, and if you're a senior you pretty much can't have a bed time for those last-minute Econ projects.
But think about it, who doesn't like getting a full eight hours of sleep, and no man/woman parties every night. So what's wrong with a bedtime? I mean unless of course it's for like 8 p.m. That would just be weird. "I had a bedtime, in like the 4th grade," says freshman Jesse Rich. "A bedtime in high school just doesn't make any sense."
Your high school years are sometimes called the best years of your life, and if you have to be in bed by ten, then you're missing out on like four hours a night. For four years that's 5,840 hours. That's 243.3 days that a person misses out on because of a 10:00 bedtime.
But every story has two sides and this one is no exception. If you go to bed at ten and wake up anywhere between 5-6 a.m. you get around seven or eight hours of sleep, and who doesn't like sleeping? "I love sleeping and even though I really don't have a bedtime I like to go to sleep around ten or eleven, but normaly I have to much work to do," says senior Ana Racataian. So if you have a bedtime or not, I really don't care.
Are high school age kids too old to trick or treat?
You betcha, Yes!
Junior Jeanine Hernandez
I remember the good old days, getting dressed up,walking around door to door with my pumpkin bag, gathering more candy than I could eat. Sure those days were good, but now I'm 17.Why would I want to go trick or treating?
I see other kids on Halloween around my age, still going trick or treating. I'm sure it was fun when you were little, but dang, grow up! You want candy? Go buy some. It's as simple as that. Wouldn't you rather go to a party on Halloween, than waste your time trick or treating? Come on, act your age! Trick or treating was fun when you were 8 years old; there are other things you can do.
For example, on Halloween, there are parties everywhere; just find one. Or if you don't want to party, you can stay home with some friends, get some candy, and popcorn, and have a movie marathon. Just make sure you get the good scary movies!
If staying home doesn't float your boat, there are always movie premieres at the cinema. Or you can always just go hang out with your friends. It may sound boring, but do you really want to get all dressed up, go walking around, begging for candy, knowing you might get a stomach ache and that your feet are going to hurt from all the walking? I don't know about you, Yellowjackets, but that's not how I want to spend my Halloween. The choice is yours, but trick or treating? Come on, let's have some real fun.
Are high school age kids too old to trick or treat?
I should say not!
Senior Jonathan Carrasco
Right around this time the days grow cooler, the leaves change from green, to yellow and red, and an age-old question starts to create controversy. Are we too old to trick or treat? I mean were complaining about wanting to be treated like adults and act "independently" yet we want to run around in masks, tattered rags, and fake blood that tastes and smells funny. Heck yes! What is the reason for all this stupidity? It's not for the thrills, it's not for the sake of fitting in, it's done for one reason: The power of chocolate. It's the one night that one can dress up in costume, act like total psychos, and get tons of candy. What more could the normal high school student ask for?
For most high school seniors this may very well be the last actual Halloween of our childhood. I mean, think about it: next fall, we won't be worried about where the coolest parties are, or who is going to be wearing the hottest costumes. It's all work and/or college. Are we too old to trick or treat? The answer is no. It's not about the scary movies, the parties, the candy, or the pranks. It's really about... WAIT, WHAT AM I SAYING? It is all about the movies, parties, and let's not forget the mini-Snicker bars. Next time the thought of whether or not your too old to participate in Halloween fun, keep in mind that it's only one night a year and if you're not having fun, someone else will be at your expense. And seniors, live it up. It's the last one. '06'
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FACES IN THE CROWD: What are you going to be for Halloween?
complied by Richard Bowie
"An M&M. But I'll be by myself, so I guess I'll just be an M."
Genevieve Garcia, junior
"Ash Ketchum"
Harris Budiman, junior
"A French maid."
Cindy Morales, sophomore
"Poison Ivy. I'm going to get green boots, green stockings and dye my hair red."
Marisa Hernandez, senior
High school at its best
by Alyssa Isgett
High school: four years at a school, meeting new people, working hard to achieve, and of course looking forward to senior year. High school is full of activities, from the double dates to the parties to the dances. Then, there is always cramming for those midterms and staying up until three. There are football games, clubs, and romances. High school is made of surprises that never cease to amaze me. With each day I always manage to learn something new. With all of these activities going on, it is hard to say what the best part about high school is.
We spend four years at high school just waiting to see what will happen next. When your four years come to an end, what will you have to look back on? I am a senior this year and I look back at my freshman, sophomore, and junior year and I am glad that I was involved in as much as I was. High School is about getting involved and trying new things. If you don't do anything within these four years, then you risk regretting it forever.
If you think about it, there are many of different clubs on campus ranging from ASB, to Math club, to all types of dancing clubs. A club is a great way to get involved. You meet a lot of new people and you get to spend time doing something you love.
High school isn't just about getting in trouble and being sent to TNT each day. It's not about the in-house suspensions and random detention from teachers for things that no one thinks they did. I mean there are a lot of policies we have to follow but we should not let that get in the way of enjoying the "wonder years" of high school; you know, before we have to go into the "real world" sent out to live on our own.
In high school there are also those random pep assemblies with class competitions. The point of a class competition is to show school spirit for your graduating year. It is great to go out there, have a fun time, and represent your class. Powder Puff is a great way to do that as well. It is a time during homecoming week in which the girls from each class become the football players and the guys become the cheerleaders. From my understanding, another Powderpuff competition is going to come around in January so if you missed it this time and want to do it, January is coming up soon.
High school is a time in which people come out of their shells and kind of "let loose." They grow into the people they will be forever. We learn new things about ourselves through, yes, teachers! I know for one, I took the journalism I class and it turned out I really loved writing. That is how I got involved with the Pepper Bough and who would have thought I would want to actually major in it and turn it into a career? Teachers teach us a lot about ourselves, even if we don't want to admit it most of the time.
More than teachers helping us define who we are, our friends impact us more than anyone or anything else ever will. Our friends shape us into what we will become. You spend the majority of high school with friends; therefore it is only natural that they will influence you. The experiences we share with our friends will be the ones we remember. You're not going to remember that one guy in your Algebra class forever. You are going to remember your best friend, the one you spent all your time with.
Now, although I do believe that learning who you are and getting involved are important in high school, there are also other "best" things. For me, I would have to say the best things in high school are the Friday night football games. I look forward to them every week. I love sitting with my friends in the stands and cheering along with the cheerleaders and watching all of the football players play their game. Its great! I would definitely say that the football games are the one thing that every student should go to at least once in while they're in high school.
High school defines who you are and molds you into what you will become. Someone once said, "those who don't try never look foolish." It may be hard for me to choose a "best" in all of high school and get everyone to agree to it. My sugestion to you is go out and try something new. You may fall in love with it. Trust me, you'll be glad you did!
Media impacts trends
by Vanessa Hill
When you watch television and you see a commercial with your favorite singer or movie star wearing a new pair of shoes, do you automatically run to the store to purchase that very same pair? Sometimes it seems that teens will jump at anything that will make them look, or maybe just feel, cool. The media (being magazines, T.V., radio, posters, anything) seems to have a big say-so in how we teens dress. Most people can't say that the brand they're wearing wasn't pictured in an advertisement somewhere. I think everyone is guilty of letting the media influence the way they dress, and even act.
Remember when all the girls started wearing their hair in pigtails with fuzzy scrunchies? That's classic Britney Spears. Or what about those "Vote for Pedro" shirts? I wonder if Napoleon Dynamite knew that'd become a trend. In my opinion, we really can't help it if we like what we see and copy it. It's all apart of the process that helps us find who we are; we look to others for inspiration, I guess you could say. I know some of you are reading this and swearing up and down that this does not apply to you; but hey, really take a look at the things you wear, say, or do. I bet there's something that you didn't come up with on your own.
Why do you think companies pay celebrities so much to take pictures with their products? It's because they know that we as kids will want to try it; "because so-and-so is wearing it, it must be cool!" It's the same with food too. Didn't seeing that Carl's Jr. commercial with Paris Hilton washing herself make you want a burger? Or what about when you watch those ever-so-awesome X-games, you want to drink a Monster next time you go riding, huh? Maybe the media does get to you. But really, it's not your fault; companies know how to get you to buy their stuff.
No matter what 'group'/clique you hang out in, it seems everyone has gotten some part of their style from the media. From the Skin Industry rage in all the magazines, to the bulky diamond chains in the rap videos, everyone is wearing something that the media has portrayed to us as cool. We know that we can never be as popular as the celebrities, but by wearing and doing what they do, doesn't that make us a little like them? Does wanting to be someone else make us human, or make us shallow?
In any case, the next time you put on your 'I'm-so-cool-gangsta' name brand shoes, or even your 'ultra-mega-thickening-extendo-lash-model' mascara, think of how you came across the product. Did you want to try it because someone else did? Imagine what our school would look like if the media didn't have a say in what we do, wear, or say? It would be… dare I say… original? But who cares? As long as there are "cool" materials, we teens will buy them. But something to ponder is, who made these things cool… you, or the media?
MySpace craze taking over the world as we speak (or type)
by Janae Johnson
MySpace started as a website to meet friends on. Each person has profiles that have different categories such as About me, Who I'd like to meet, General information, Heroes, Television, Movies, . . .you get the point. This guy named Tom started it, and when you sign up he is automatically your first friend. I wonder if he ever imagined that his little website would inflate like it has.
The number of students that actually have a MySpace at this school became clear to me last year during the walkout. I started receiving group invitations with names similar to, "CHS students concerned with current school policies." There were also rumors last year that Doc Ervin was snooping around student MySpace's under a fake profile. If that's true, in my opinion he had no right to be probing around like that, but I guess he did what he had to do.
The thing that is beginning to bother me about MySpace is that it is consuming people's lives. I mean, everyone who has one knows that after school they go home to their computer to check if they have any new messages, friend requests, comments, or picture comments. One can't bash something that one takes part in; I do the same thing, but it's just becoming a way to get around direct contact with people. Honestly, how many of you actually use your cell phones any more (they're so outdated). Just go leave someone a comment right? No direct contact necessary. Sometimes the outdated ways of communication are better, because you actually get to "speak" with the person, what a concept.
Online, you can be whoever you want. The shyest person can sit at their computer and hide behind a screen name. They are able to create their own personality and live in their own little computerized world. They have everything they need at their fingertips, or a click of a mouse. Why would they ever want to leave? This is where a problem lies. Just because you have a large number of friends on MySpace doesn't make up for the fact that you can't really go out and be social on your own. Sorry kids, but that's just the reality of it.
The way I see it the majority of the population will have a MySpace in a minimum of 2 years. It will be as if you don't exist if you don't have one. Personally, I think we need to lay off the computerland for a while. Go out and hang out with friends, pick up your phones, call people if you want to get in touch with them. MySpace is slowly but steadily taking over. What is the world coming to?
MyTurn
by Robert Campos
Halloween is supposed to be the horror movie buff's version of Christmas. However, I can't help but notice the dwindling quality of scary movies. Why is it that these once beautiful pieces of art seem to have gone to hell lately? I seriously can't stand the idea of seeing some of the "scary" movies that are so dang popular these days. The Ring? OH MY GOD! This was seriously one of the most aggravating things I've ever seen in my life! Stupid dead girl, messing up peoples' TVs and making said TVs spew nasty well water! The nerve of some people! The only thing scary about that movie was the idea of how much you're going to have to pay for getting a new TV. Those damn plasma screens don't come cheap!
And why is it that everyone feels the need to remake all of the great horror movies of the past? These directors seriously need to be smacked with a dead 'possum. I saw the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It was…for lack of better word, complete blasphemy. The original was so much more terrifying. The original Leatherface was someone you wouldn't really pay much attention to. Now that's scary. Not only that but, any man that wears the face of a dead woman over his own…YOU'RE NOT MICHAEL JACKSON, BUDDY!!!
On another note, too many sequels are not a good thing dagnabit! Freddy vs. Jason, Seed/Bride of Chucky. What the deuce?! Yes, I'll be the first to admit it. I do like the movies, but come on! I watch a horror movie with the intent to be scared. And these movies have completely turned them on their heads. Freddy Krueger used to be a maniacal force to be reckoned with. And now they've turned him into a burnt-faced comedian with an improvised set of steak knives. And Chucky just looks like a foul-mouthed toddler, who enjoys the occasional homicidal rampage in between getting married and conceiving a freak plastic child.
I know I sound pessimistic, and lord knows I'm venting, but in all seriousness, I've held this in for quite some time now. I think that the world is ready to hear the rants and raves of a poor little boy in his journalism class that has nothing better to do. Happy Halloween readers!
The "OC" and "Laguna Beach" bug hits Colton High School
by Richard Bowie
Something terrible is happening at Colton High. Massive amounts of CHS students are being struck by amnesia.
Yes, its true, people are actually forgetting where they live. But fortunately for them, the Pepper Bough is here to help. So everyone listen up. We live in the Inland Empire. The I.E. We do not live in Orange County, we do not live in Newport and we do not live in Laguna Beach. We live in Colton.
Ever since "The O.C." premiered more than two years ago, it seems like a wave of trends has hit our town. You can't turn a corner without seeing some girl wearing a pair of huge white sunglasses with some sort of Hollister "California Girl" t-shirt on. Or a guy wearing bright polos, cargo shorts and sandals. Or a group of blonde girls holding cups of Starbucks in one hand and an iPod in the other.
The wildly popular TV show "Laguna Beach" has only helped to spread the epidemic. Now, you're bound to hear someone saying, "That is sooo rad," or "I am sooo stoked." I even have a friend who uses the word "Dunzo" on occasion. It's simply not necessary. I know the I.E. doesn't have it's own definitive style (well, besides thug gangsta) but that doesn't mean we need to go take someone else's.
Look around. Does Colton look ANYTHING like the OC? The only thing they share is that they're both in Southern California. That's about it. Get over it. It's perfectly normal to care about how we look, because we all do. But I don't think we should be molding ourselves into something we're not, into a TV show that isn't even real. That's called being fake; that's called trying too hard; that's called having an image problem.
Now, don't get me wrong. Starbucks is delicious, and if I hadn't lost my iPod, you'd better believe I'd be using it. But come on you guys. You're killing it. It's finally autumn, the mornings are freezing and there's a bunch of dirt and rocks and screws all across campus. There is no reason to be wearing shorts and flimsy little flip-flops. So why don't we all just put on some actual human being shoes, stop saying "rad," give the iPod a rest and embrace the ghettoness that is the I.E. Because honestly, I'd rather be ghetto than fake.
Is school food really healthy? And do we even care?
When it comes down to it, it's all about the choices we make
by Stephanie Rossano
Everyone wonders who decides what we eat here at CHS. They have already taken away regular chips, soda, and Fruit Jammers. I mean, why did they take all this away? Soda was replaced with juice. But you know, by drinking juice you are consuming more sugar than soda. It would be good to make a comparison between us and other schools from other districts and see what they are drinking and how they are eating "slim to none".
Do you think we deserve better food at lunch? For some students this is their only meal of the day. Even the "lunch lady" (a cafeteria worker who asked that her name not be used in this story) agrees we should have better food. But it isn't up to them, and it isn't up to us. The school district's nutritionist chooses what goes down our throats. Although, I can't really complain because I eat "bad" food all the time, and if there were one thing to change about our lunch varieties it would be to bring back soda, even if it's bad for you.
We are eating everything else anyway; it would
really not make that much of a difference.
According to the food pyramid provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a healthy diet includes: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fat-free milk and milk products, lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, nuts, and is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugars. This is considered to be a healthy diet in general, but they encourage you to exercise also.
So does anyone follow these guidelines? Is anyone actually complaining about the un-healthy food that they serve at school? It seems that all they worry about is getting their soda and chips back again. Will that happen?
The Pepper Bough contacted the district office Director of Food Services for comments about the food choices available on campus but we were unable to get a reply for this story by press time.
Vending Machines: Why have them if they don't work?
by Divya Joseph
It was a very hot day and the temperature was 110 degrees. After a whole day of walking all over campus and P.E, I was exhausted and dehydrated and I only had one thought on my mind, that was water, or any liquid, for that matter. I ran up to the nearest vending machine and I don't know if it was my extreme thirst that was making me imagine this but she (the vending machine) looked beautiful and was glowing. I went up to her and sure enough she had sodas in her. I put my money in and pressed the required button but to my horror nothing happened and quite immediately she read SOLD OUT. I tried the coin return, but she didn't bother returning my money. I was disappointed but I didn't lose hope I just grabbed another dollar and ran to another machine but it was OUT OF ORDER. I tried yet another one and this one wouldn't take dollar bills and not a person around me had change. Now I was even thirstier than before, angry, and short of a dollar.
Does this sound like something that has happened to you? Okay, maybe not this dramatic but something of the sort. I used to have a special kind of hatred towards vending machines. I've kicked them until my feet have turned blue and I know I'm not the only one. I've heard a lot of experiences with the vending machines and I asked myself why even have vending machines if none of them function really well? According to Activities Director Ellen Green, it turns out that the vending machine is not a right but a privilege, and there is a solution to all the hassles that I mentioned earlier. Thus the next time you come across a machine that is out of order or doesn't take coins or dollar bills just go up to Green in room 626. She will try to get it fixed as soon as possible. As for the machine eating up your money just go to the business office (or again, Green) and they will refund you in duration of two weeks. Once I looked at the provided information, I realized that it is we who create unnecessary drama over the vending machines. But if you want to continue complaining, sure, go right ahead and be a vending machine hater.
Now let's put the subject of vending machines in our school not working aside, but did you know that in a very short period of time the vending machines that are filled with sodas, ice-creams and all that good stuff are going to be replaced with ones that have yogurt, nuts and milk. Governor Schwarzenegger signed bills to ban the sale of sodas in high schools and this law comes to effect in the year 2007. So enjoy the privileges of the vending machines now when you can because sooner than you think they are going to be snatched from you.
Will that be a Tall or a Venti?
Can we live without our Starbucks fix? Inquiring addicts want to know.
by Amanda Miller
Starbucks offers many different options to its customers when ordering their favorite expensive coffee. Just a few years ago most teens, and many adults for that matter, didn't drink coffee too much or too often. However, one year Starbucks hit us all with a BANG! Starbucks, which offers Frappuccinos, iced or hot Mochas, Teas, and Blended Crèmes, is extremely addicting. You can get a Tall (small), Grande (medium), or a Venti (large) of any drink you wish, you can even customize your own drink. With all its wonderful options comes the rather expensive price, but the question still remains, can we live without Starbucks?
Of course we can, it's not a necessity but the real question is, do we want to live without it? NO! Personally, I don't think I would want to live without it. Not only does this wonderful coffee keep you up when needed but it tastes exquisite. My personal favorites are the holiday coffees: fall's Pumpkin Spice Latte or Frappuccino, Christmas' Egg Nog and Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino.
Over the years Starbucks has drawn in many new people who didn't used to drink coffee but now can't live without it; it has even become a popular hang out for teenagers. Although we don't need to have Starbucks, many find it hard to go a day without having it. I have fallen into this coffee trap just like many others. It would be bizarre to find an empty Starbucks. It seems almost impossible to get your coffee ordered in less than ten minutes not to mention the actual wait to get your coffee.
Despite the rather high prices, long lines, and grueling waiting time, people return religiously. The second school is out, I find my friend Ilka and myself on our way to Starbucks, not home. So what makes Starbucks so addicting? All the choices, the flavors, the smell, and its just one huge friendly environment.
You are what you make of yourself
By Samantha Carbajal
Where will you be 10 years from now? 10 years from when you graduate? When you're at your 10-year class reunion what will you have accomplished? Isn't that weird to think about? It's so far from now, but yet so close. Think about it, how fast did last year go by? For you freshman, you still have four years to look forward to in high school; but you seniors, you're graduating in eight months! What will you do after June of 2006?
Have you thought about whether you'd like to go to college? Maybe go to community college? Travel? Maybe you want to just jump into a job/career? Whatever it is that YOU choose is what you should set your goal for. I emphasize YOU because although your parents or guardians have been supporting you throughout your life financially, what you choose should be your decision also.
When you look back on high school, will you have good memories or not even want to think back to the four years of high school? Will you remember the time you got the winning touchdown, scored the winning goal, got chosen to speak at graduation or when you got "pantsed" at PE and were called a weird name for the last three years of high school?
What memories do you already have in high school? What memories do you want to make of yourself? I know you're probably thinking "it's just high school, only four years of my life will not reflect on the rest of my life," but really, high school is the time when people have some of their greatest memories. Ask your parents, ask your friends who graduated a couple years ago. I've talked to some people who say high school was great, live it up, then there are some people who say they could do it over again. Will you be one to say, "It was great." In high school people may have expectations for you; the usual teachers expecting you to do your homework or parents expecting you to clean the house but those expectations are nothing compared to what people will expect of you after high school! Just think about it, what are you going to make of yourself?
Did You Know?
by Ilka Hernando
*compiled from "1,001 facts people get wrong."
--There is no such thing as sea level since the ocean is always moving, everywhere.
--Air isn't light, despite how it feels. It is pushing in on you with 10 to 20 tons of pressure. You don't feel it because you are pushing back.
--Whispering is more wearing on your voice than shouting.
--The ostrich does not stick its head in the sand.
--Lightning can and does strike twice in the same place. The belief otherwise comes from the notion that all lightning is sent by God as punishment. Should add that lightning strikes men about seven times more often than it does women… Maybe it is from God.*
I'm glad it wasn't me!!
embarrassing moments, compiled from CHS Students
One time while I was at Newport Beach I was walking on the boardwalk and I bent down because I saw change, not a penny, dime, or nickel, it was a QUARTER!! While I was walking with my family I was excited about picking it up. What happened next you ask!!?? The QUARTER was glued!! Everyone laughed except my grandpa because he knew exactly what was gonna happen.
--Junior Sophia Chagoya
My family and I went to Big Bear to go fishing and there were five or six of us. We had to climb down this embankment, and as I was walking down, I slid all the way down the embankment and landed in the mud. The worse thing was that I had to walk around that way the whole day because the campground was miles away.
--Anonymous
Horoscopes
Propheseyed from the stars
Robert Campos
Ilka Hernando
Scorpio: Oct. 24 - Nov. 22
Be strong and think logically before acting.
Sagittarius: Nov. 23 - Dec. 22
Don't let anything hold you back from reaching your goal.
Capricorn: Dec. 23 - Jan. 19
If you want to do something nice for the community, try giving candy to the trick or treaters.
Aquarius: Jan. 20 - Feb. 19
Look out for people trying to mess with you.
Pisces: Feb. 20 - March 20
Sleep in for a day, the beauty rest could do you good, and us too.
Aries: March 21 - April 20
Your attitude needs to stop.
Taurus: April 21 - May 21
You got a problem? Suck it up. Obviously no one reads the editor's note at the bottom.
Gemini: May 22 - June 22
Halloween is coming up, here's a chance to be something that you're not.
Cancer: June 23 - July 23
To all the computer nerds out there; you need the fresh air.
Leo: July 24 - Aug. 23
"Ex" doesn't mark the spot, in fact leave it alone to rot.
Virgo: Aug. 24 - Sep. 23
Pay up your debts.
Libra: Sep. 24 - Oct. 23
Although your life seems to be put together, be ready for the big bang when it comes to drama. You know what they say, "Colton High, it goes there."*
*The writers are not responsible for actions taken by readers and highly recommend they think for themselves and laugh at the balderdash of horoscopes written by completely inexperienced astrologists (rolls eyes). Have fun.
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En Espanol!
Los Detalles
por Adeline Tellez
¿Dónde empezó por primera ves Halloween? Halloween es una celebración anual como cual quiera otro festival. Halloween empezó Inglaterra en los 700 AD; la iglesia decidió combatir este festival remplazándolo con "el dios de vida."Esta historia es inspirada seguir tradiciones que espiren edad de unas generaciones a otras. paso muy bien por muchos anos. Noviembre 1," todos los dias santos"son los dias festivos de la iglesia. La noche despues del 31, es llamada "noche de miedo" cual fue lo mas pronto que rebolvio en "Halloween." algunas de las historias disen que los spirictus diabolicos ban aregresar en los procsimos anos. fue sus creencias esperar despues de la vida.
Where did Halloween first begin? Halloween is a annual celebration like many other festivals. Halloween started in England in the 700's AD; the church decided to combat this festival by replacing it with of "Lord of Life." History is inspired through traditions that have transpired through ages from one generation to another. It happens so gradually spanning over so many ages.
November 1, "All Saint's Day" is a Catholic holy day. The night before, October 31, is called "All Hallows Eve," which was soon garbled into "Halloween." Some of the stories say that on that day the disembodied spirits of all of those who had died the preceding year would came back. It was believed to be their only hope for the after life. The Celts believed that all the laws of space intermingle with the living. The still living did not want to be possessed. They dressed up in costumes and nosily paraded around the neighborhood, in order to frighten away spirits looking for bodies to posses.
Irish immigrants fleeing their countries brought the customs of Halloween to Americans in the 1840s. The custom of trick or treating is thought to have originated with the Irish Celts. The Irish did not have a "lord of death' as such. Thus most of the customs connected with the day are remnants of the ancient religions, which believed that the dead remained in limbo for a time after death. This tradition still celebrates each day of the year we have a Halloween day the children go to each house and go trick or treating. The children use customs in Halloween to transport themselves to a fantasy world. So have a fun holiday this year, and don't let the monsters, werewolves, and vampires get you!
Watch Orgy on DVD
by Robert Campos
Most people remember the band Orgy. What, with their futuristic glam-rock outfits and their swankified industrial cover of New Order's Blue Monday, who doesn't? The band's major breakthrough came with the 1998 release of their debut album Candyass, which shouted the pop singles, Stitches, and the aforementioned Blue Monday. The year 2000 saw the release of the less popular, but still up-to-the-then-minute Vapor Transmission, along with the futuristic, sci-fi-ish singles Fiction (Dreams in Digital), Opticon, and Eva. The most recent of the quintuplet's releases in the more rocker, but nonetheless more vocally appealing, Punk Statik Paranoia. Nowadays the band (featuring drummer Bobby Hewitt, g-synth player Amir Derak, bassist Paige Haley, vocalist Jay Gordon and guitarist Ryan Shuck) has released their first DVD entitled Trans Global Spectacle.
The DVD chronicles the band's musical career (1997-present day), and has their entire music video collection (Stitches, Blue Monday, Fiction and Vague), and has three remixes of the band's current single Pure. TGS also sees the light of day with previously unreleased videos for Eva, Opticon, Dissention and Gender among others, all of which are remixed by the band's own drummer, Hewitt. Also on the DVD is a photo gallery, chock-full of fan art, and live photos.
Shayne's World
by Shayne Robinson
Shayne'sWorld Shayne's world party time excellent, yeah…Rock and roll! (Energetic fist pomp!) All right it's Friday! Look around and smile and tell people "Cheer up Gloomy Gus its Friday."
Okay, so the world is changing, one of the last great ska bands has broken up. That's right the O.C. Super Tones are gone. I went to their last show ever and it was so good in fact, it was too good for words. I mean, there was a fair amount of indecency, lots of two stepping, and a whole lot of great ska music. So now I'm on the hunt for new music, ska or hardcore or whatever, maybe even a little folk. What's that you say little buddy? What's ska you ask? Well that's easy: you take one table spoon of pixie dust and a cup of sugar add it to your favorite band, and you have a very weird life if you can pour sugar on your favorite band. Anyway, ska is a little rock and a little jazz and a little swing, but it's all good.
I don't know if you guys are aware but Florida is a poser California. And I hate every one from Florida. I mean think about it…are you thinking? We have oranges, they have oranges; we built Disneyland and then those losers built Disney World. They know that they are not as cool as we are so they have to use their words to make them sound special. We are the Golden State and they're the Sunshine State. I mean we have all kinds of great actors and musicians that come out of California and all they have is Marilyn Manson. I think that says more then I could ever write. So I was going to buy my Homecoming ticket and then someone asked, "So you turned in a senior contract?" And I'm like, "No! Why on earth would I do that? I didn't even think that I had a contract." Then my mind began to wonder…why do we need a senior contract? We have had to follow all the rules for three years and now we need some stupid contract to say that we're going to follow the rules? It didn't make any sense. I've read the contract since then and it says basically "Home fry, don't get naked and don't get wasted."
I've been here at Colton for three years; I don't remember my freshman year at all. And sophomore year might as well have never happened. Now as a senior I don't feel different, don't feel older or more mature then before. I'm not smarter or anything like that. All the seniors I know slack off just as much, if not more then ever. I mean, think about it: you're forced at 13 or 14 to go and set the course for the rest of your life, and if you screw up it's hard to make it up. Maybe I'm just a pansy and need to tough it up. It just never made sense to me. These four years make the rest of your life and they're just going to give it to a bunch of kids who are at school not because they like it but because they want to hang out with their friends. Whatever, though. Who cares, it's not like we're the future of tomorrow or anything like that.
Staff Profile: 26 years and still going...
by Ana Gonzalez
Let's get ready to rumble!!!! Wrestling Coach/PE Teacher Joe Trevino returns to his 26th year of teaching.
At CHS, Trevino taught Biology for 22 years. "When I am not teaching PE, I sub for teachers in Biology because I used to teach that subject."
Born in Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico (Pronounced: MAHN-ZAHN-neeyo Col-LEE-ma) Trevino is Colton High's wrestling coach. That's his favorite thing to do as a teacher. He LOVES his job. He reached his goals when he was in college. "I wanted to be a teacher and a coach and then it came true," he says. "In Manzanillo, there's tropical weather and sometimes tropical storms," says Trevino.
Trevino got his education at San Bernardino Valley College for 2 years and then went to UCLA for 3 years. As a child, Trevino wanted to get his doctorate. "I always wanted to be a doctor, but I didn't have the money to go to college to major as a doctor. So things didn't work out. So I decided to be a Biology teacher/coach," he says.
Trevino likes to go to UCLA games, play sports and work in his garden. His previous jobs were managing movie theaters and selling insurance. Also, his favorite sports are college football and wrestling. "I like the kids. It's a privilege to teach them." Trevino says. What he likes as a teacher is the community of Colton High School.
Life can only become beautiful if you "Stay" for it
by Ilka Hernando
There's too much beauty in life to leave it. It seems that you never really believe that unless you actually begin to lose it; or until you blink and miss something in the new psychological thriller Stay.
Henry Letham (Ryan Gosling) is a college art student who visits his psychiatrist regularly. To his alarm, he finds Sam Foster (Ewan McGregor) walking in the office as a substitution. At first he becomes distressed, but throughout the movie he seems to rely on the new guy more than ever. Sam begins to get deeply involved in the young students psyche, going out of his way to help him after Henry had announced the following day that he was to end his life on Saturday at midnight "like it was a date." As Sam tries to save him, his life makes its own little twist, which starts to confuse him into thinking that he might be the one going crazy.
Director Marc Forster, more widely known for Finding Neverland, conjured magic onto the screen. Your eyes just can't keep up with this movie. There were transitions in a transition in another transition. To us it might seem that Forster might be doing things just to show off the new skills in technology and jumbled them all up in a movie with a second rate story; but those opinions are to be saved for people that can't pay attention.
If you understood what was going on and appreciated the immense amount of editing it took to place every single subtle symbol and clue, then you might understand how it all comes together in its own type of beauty at the end. In many ways it could be understood as seen as one of those movies that wasted away your life and was not needed to ever be put on screen. But of course one wouldn't be surprised if it became a fanatical piece that would soon be loved by all as an underground movie that no one has heard of and everyone talks about in later years that could be spoken about with a sort of awe at its "genius." Pale pictures and people, wispy and oddly comforting lighting, it all comes down to what keeps your attention. Either way, do yourself a favor and Stay until the end so that one day you'll be able to add your two cents.
Student Profile of a Vegan Tattoo Artist
by Robert Campos
"If looks could kill, I'd be a murderer," jokes Alicia Owens. Owens is a senior here at Colton High; she enjoys the usual moonlit walks on the beach, and candlelit suppers. Ok, not really. But she is one heck of a character, so much so that one couldn't even begin to describe this crazy cat. However, its safe to say that she has no problem doing it for us…
What do you do in your spare time?
I work as a slave at Stater Bros., and when I'm not working I like to get my gay on at GSA.
What are some of your hobbies and interests?
I love to get down at shows and dance it up, get piercings, play with my bands, and hang out with my girls in Viva Latina! (Bold and underline, not optional).
Why do you like getting piercings?
Because. Not only do they look good, but they also make for interesting camp stories.
What do you want to do "when you grow up?"
Actually, I want to be a tattoo artist, I have one at the moment, I'm going to get another one very soon.
What are your musical influences for your bands?
Throwdown, Casey Jones, It Dies Today, anything hard core really. Oh! And Tegan and Sara!
What's your favorite food?
Anything vegetarian.
Why?
I don't like to eat meat. It's just wrong to eat animals.
Would you like to say anything to the people reading this?
Don't be closed-minded; it's just not cool. And don't do drugs, be straightXedge!
Insert swankified title here
by Alyssa Isgett
Have you ever come up with something that you wanted to "catch on"? That is precisely what my twin sister and I have done recently. I, along with a close group of friends, went over summer to see the musical, "Wicked". You see, they used this word swankified. I thought to myself, "hmm…wouldn't that be a cool word to catch on." And so the mission began. We began to use it randomly. Then we realized that people didn't know what it meant. I have taken it upon myself to inform you that "Swankified" means: awesome, or cool, or great.
Some of you may think that this is odd. Why in the world would someone come up with a word as silly as swankified? It is actually not that uncommon for words to be added to the dictionary. Words are constantly being added. You can even find modern day slang being added to the dictionary each year.
I leave you with this thought; wouldn't it be swankified if a new word caught on and it originated from students at Colton? Think about it, if we started saying it and it caught on, it would be swankified if you were walking, heard someone use the phrase and know that it started here, at Colton High School. So just remember, you heard it here first. Have a swankified day!
Do ghosts walk among us?
by Ericka Gonzalez
Some people believe that there are ghosts out in yonder dimensions, but some people don't even believe in ghosts at all. They always think that they're just scary stories to tell kids on Halloween, and that could be true. But what if there are really ghosts living among us? For those people that do believe in ghosts (and those people think that they have actually seen a ghost), ghosts are everywhere. Junior Joseph Rodriguez said, "I think they're real because I saw one at my grandma's and she lives up in Riverside and the house is where a cemetery was in 1922."
During my research, I came across a website that claimed "Ghosts can be experienced through all of the human senses. They can be experienced in the realm of sound, sight, smell, or touch. They can be heard as footsteps on the staircase very late at night or as the smell of roses or gardenias. Some experience ghosts as cold sensations that may permeate the entire body or as energy that passes right through them." And then there are the local legends that we learn or hear as children: like La Llorona, Bloody Mary, or ghosts that haunt certain headstones at any cemetery.
Some people even try to find ghosts and take pictures as evidence so they can prove to everyone that ghosts are real. I think we need to take an open-minded approach, but still be able to accept the evidence. And as of right now, there is no proof.
Though there is no proof, and though it seems as though there really are no such things as ghosts, some people remain convinced. It seems they simple "know." I can't tell you whether or not ghosts exist. But I can tell you, that even if they don't, there are a lot of unexplainable happenings in this world.
Your Turn! Yellowjackets share their favorite candy (Note: this is not a scientific survey)
by Melissa Medina
Do you like chocolate candy? How about sour candies? Maybe you like fruity candies; all in all, what is Colton's favorite candy? Everyone has to have a favorite candy! If you don't, you should think about getting one. Many that were surveyed had more than one but after a few minutes of some hard thinking they came to their final choice. As some of you may remember, there was a weird girl asking everyone what their favorite candy was… well, don't worry it had a purpose. Now, by asking well over one hundred people what their favorite candy was,
I found out that the winning candy contains caramel, peanuts, and a chewy nugget all covered in chocolate. Can you guess what this candy is? "Don't let hunger happen to you! Grab a SNICKERS bar." Yes, if you guessed Snickers you were correct. That is Colton's preferred candy. Coming in very close behind was a tie between Hershey's chocolate and skittles.. "Ahh taste the rainbow."
Fright Fest not for faint of heart
by Sarah Kozeak
Six Flags is the best place to hang out! It is designed for thrill-seekers and yes, even those wimps who aren't into roller coasters. They have the biggest coasters in the entire west coast! There are coasters with huge drops, coasters with crazy loops, you name it. But if you don't like that kind of stuff, you can go on the log ride or the swingy boat ride or the swing-go- rounds. But if you're that much of a baby you can go and have fun at the baby place, Bugs Bunny World.
Another reason why Six Flags is pimp is because they change their theme park into a "scream park" for the Fright Fest, and the cool thing about it is that it is not separate from a regular admission, so you can just go and have fun and be scared out of your mind without having to pay for a separate ticket! You can just stay and enjoy the "scares" when night falls.
Scary decorations are put up such as the bloody limbs hanging from trees, hanging spiders you greet you at the front gate, the giant spider hung on the side of Colossus, and not to mention the hundreds upon hundreds of spider webs hung all over the place to give it an even creepier effect. As it gets darker, the fog rolls in and the freaks come out, the spooky mazes and shows begin. "Six Flags was hella fun, the best thing about it was riding Goliath in the dark," says senior Brian Vasquez and Deanna Felix.
Although the road trip is three hours and the tickets are overpriced, it's a lot of fun and a great experience for those who have never gone. So plan a day, round up all your friends and go hang out at Six Flags Magic Mountain!
KNOTT'S SCARY FARM FRIGHTENS, TEENS LOVE IT
by Jacilyn Alcantar
Do you want to be the person sitting at home watching "13 Nights of Halloween" on the Family Channel, or walking around your neighborhood with your little brother or sister who is crying because that little boy in the cow costume just got more candy than she did? I didn't think so.
Well Knott's Scary Farm's Halloween Haunt is always open waiting to scare you. Literally, when you first walk into the park there are monsters there just waiting to either stare at you and when you least expect it or think they are mannequins, they pounce at you! Senior Deonna Moreno just recently visited this event and as soon as she got there, she was greeted by a werewolf who hopped out of nowhere at her. "I screamed and jumped on my boyfriend and we both fell over on the ground and everyone laughed at us!" She didn't let go of her boyfriend the rest of the night there.
The park is infested with over a thousand monsters either walking around or lurking in the twelve different mazes, some of which are Lore of the Vampires, where the vampires are waiting to scare you with there pale faces and some characteristics, or The Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns, where you walk through psychedelically insane circus-like atmosphere. The fact that it's not as dark as all the other mazes does not comfort you.
So in between getting spooked while waiting in lines for rides and walking around the park through the blinding fog (hoping to God that no one or nothing is going to jump out at you at that moment because you don't know whether you will hit them or just faint) you'll wonder why you even considered staying home on the couch with the remote control not answering the doorbell munching on the bowl of candy you are supposed to be passing out to the trick or treaters.
LOCAL GHOST STORIES STILL BRING CHILLS
Agua Mansa Road, Colton's own "Haunted Highway"
spawns stories of terror through the years
by Jeanine Hernandez
Have you ever walked into a room and felt something? Like having the hair on your back stand up? Or felt a sudden chill? Well have you ever thought that place could be haunted?
Over the years there've been stories about Colton and its haunted places. These stories have been passed down from generation to generation, but the question is do you believe in ghosts? In haunted places? Well you would if you saw one for yourself. Every town at least has one haunted place, and with a place there's always a story.
Aqua Mansa Road here in Colton has a history of haunting. The long curvy road is known for its many dangers, and its ghosts. This road is believed to be haunted by Colton's very own La Llorona (the weeping woman). But Colton has a more modern twist on this old legend. La Llorona was a woman who loved to drink, so when her husband left her, she started going to the bar. One night, she left her children home alone to go to the bar, but when she came home, her children were gone. She looked for them everywhere, but they were nowhere to be found. Some say her children were kidnapped and killed, or they got out of the house to go to the river and drowned. Many people say you can hear her crying for her children late at night, walking down the curvy road of Aqua Mansa wearing a white nightgown. Aqua Mansa cemetery is where her grave lies ( it's located at 270 E. Aqua Mansa Road.) Or so the story goes.
Aqua Mansa Road has a history of haunting. There once was a man who was walking down the curvy road with his dog late at night, when a speeding car came down the road, with the driver not in control, killing the man and his dog. Some people say if you walk down this road you will see him once again walking down the road. Aqua Mansa is not that far away, it's in Colton's own backyard. If you don't believe in ghosts, check it out for yourself. You have to see it to believe it, right? These ghosts are known to haunt from 10pm- 4am.
Another place ghosts roam around is a little house on D Street. Fort all of you who don't know the story of D Street, here it is. This house is known to be haunted by Bloody Mary. Now you all know the story of Bloody Mary. You look into a mirror and say, "Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, I have your baby." She's supposed to come. Well, in this house, one night five kids were playing around in the garage; they decided to play "Bloody Mary." They all chanted, "Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, we have your baby, we have your baby."
After those words were said, they heard something moving around, so they quickly turned on the lights only to find an object next to each one of them. The objects were a hammer, a jar of rusty nails, a saw, a rope, and a butcher knife. This house is freaky, many things have happened there. It's a little white house on the right hand side of D Street; it's the third house down from the top of the hill.
Many of you might not believe in ghosts or haunting, so to make a believer out of you, I dare you to go and check some of these places out; every place has a story and sometimes a person from the story refuses to leave.
Allen Bradford: Driven by determination
by Justine Plemons
When you are the #1 player in the country at your position, and have tons of scholarships being thrown at you, it would be hard for any athlete to keep himself grounded. But All-American Linebacker Allen Bradford has taken all the attention with a grain of salt. In both his sophomore and junior year, he was named all- CIF on both sides of the ball and was accepted to the All-State Underclass Team. According the ESPN.com's top 150, Allen ranks 13th and is the #1 best linebacker prospect in Southern California. The last time a player was this successful for Colton High School was over 20 years ago.
He has six prospective colleges he is looking into including but not limited to: UCLA, USC, Nebraska, Washington, Oregon, and California. Allen looks forward to being surrounded by great players when he gets to college and has hopes to play with the NFL Raiders. Even though his major is undeclared Allen's future looks incredibly bright.
But what about the rest of his high school career that helped him get where he is today? As a freshman, he was one of the first players to start on varsity; when he was a sophomore, he was nominated to be team captain, a possession usually reserved for senior; he was nominated yet again his junior, but graciously turned down the position for a senior. Many realized Allen's potential early on. "In 8th grade I realized his potential when he was playing with my son," says coach Harold Strauss. "I knew he was going to be great. He's a goal setter." But for Allen it was just a dream that started when he was young. "This has been a dream of mine since I was a freshman I always knew I wanted to be successful."
You'd think that all the attention would have given him a big head, but it hasn't. "He has remained the same, very timid and shy, you must get to know him other wise getting him to talk is difficult," says Athletic Director Kirk McVey. Although he accredits staying grounded to his parents.
Allen's parents, Shelley and Keith Bradford, are just as proud. Although Allen's mom had a very different view on what his focus should be: "Making sure he got a good education and helping out at home was the most important thing for him. Although Dad was calling him our 'Superstar' at age nine when he would play in our backyard." One of Allen's greatest achievements thus far is being able to play for the All-American Army bowl honoring the top 78 high school players in the nation. It is hosted in San Antonio Texas at the Alamo dome and for those of us that cant make it to Texas we can all catch it January 7th, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. Channel 4.
But there is more to him then just awards and scholastic achievements. He comes for a family of eight and has always been a big help to his family. "We have a younger child that had problems with motor skills and Allen would take his poseable wrestlers and would help his brother pose the different action figures and now his brother has great skills and talks very highly of his brother," says Allen's mom. "He has remained humble and respectful. When he gets home he's just our son," say Allen's Dad.
Through his up and downs Allen had remained a humble all-American high school student who has strived for something better and has succeeded in doing so.
Cross country working their way up; hope for CIF berth
by Vanessa Hill
This year the Cross-Country teams started the season off quite differently from
one another. Both teams came out strong, but the boy's team is finding it a bit difficult to keep up. But the teams both seem optimistic about the season. Boys coach Karen Lazarus said, "We expect both boys and girls to go to finals and get a spot in CIF."
The two teams seem to be hopeful, but will hope alone give them the wins they need? So far the cross-country team has competed against Fo-High, Yucaipa, Redlands, Eisenhower, Rialto, and A.B. Miller. And with a boy's record of 1-5, and girl's with 4-2, the team knows they're going to need to step it up a notch in order to make it to finals. "I believe the team has the potential to make it to the finals in the future, but our performance in the earlier races have made it very unlikely that we'll make it this year." Commented boy's captain, senior John Garcia. Still the runners seem to be enjoying the season and taking it one meet at a time. Although the girls are having a slightly better season than the boys, both teams seem to be giving it their all in order to make CHS proud of their runners.
Garcia wanted to assure everyone that the boys can jump out of this slump, "All of the schools in our league present a challenge to us because we have a young, and developing team. But give us a year or two and Colton will be a strong competitive force in Cross-Country."
Yeah, baby! Yellowjackets slicing through league like a hot knife through butter
by Samantha Carbajal
Colton high's football team now has a record of 6-1, of-course tonight's game against Rialto will make it 7-1, given we will win! The team has proven their strengths this year by showing us they can win through anything. Last weeks homecoming game against Eisenhower gave the team their 6th win with a final score of 46-13. There was so much support given to the team by the amount of people cheering in the stands.
The Redlands game, which was held at The University of Redlands, two weeks ago gave the team their 4th win with the final score of 50-12. Yucaipa's game, their 5th win, three weeks ago was said to be pretty boring by students and fans in the stands because there was no challenge for Colton; touchdowns were scored left and right, still Colton gave no mercy to Yucaipa and ended the game with a score of 66 to 0. Talk about a sad game for Yucaipa.
Colton shows their teamwork at all the games and proves to the people they can beat anyone if they show their teamwork, have their support from the fans in the stands, and put their hearts into the game. Tonight's game should prove to be another victory for Colton, and give the team their 7th win. Go out and support the team, 7:30 at Rialto!
Golf Team tees off
by Justine Plemons
Colton High Schools Golf Team is parred of the course with a record of 5-6. Captains Krista Reid and Suzy Gentili reflect on this year: "We are much better this year because we have all returning players." The team had a match October 6th, 2005 against Serrano in which they lost by 21 points. Reid and Gentili hope for better scores in the future. In golf, scoring is based on the lowest 5 out 6 individual scores and then added together for the final team score; the lowest score wins. "Even though we didn't do that great last year we had more fun," says Gentili.
Finals will be held on October 31st, 2005 here at home; the time is to be announced.
SENIORS TAKE POWDERPUFF TITLE IN BITTER GRUDGE MATCH
Class of '06 takes annual Homecoming Week match for second year in a row
by Samantha Hollwedel
Call them the Re-Peats. If they weren't graduating, they might even could pull a Three-peat.
After a slow start during first lunch, the score of this year's Powder Puff girl's football match remained zero to zero until a safety during second lunch by the Junior Class. Right before the end of second lunch the seniors got a safety to tie the game, sending the game into overtime!
As the game went into overtime the focus turned. The field became a battlefield, on one side the seniors trying to keep the Crown of Victory from last year and show the juniors that they own the school. On the other side the juniors trying to make a name for themselves and show that they are better then the senior class. The senior class supporters snuck over to the junior side and tore down all their signs, while the junior class fans wanted to get back at the seniors, so they ripped off their balloons letting them go in the air.
The rivalry off the field motivated the players to step up their game. Senior Andrea Briones intercepted the ball making the seniors think they won the game, but the juniors had a very good defense and stopped the seniors. As the game went on into triple overtime the crowd was getting anxious and just wanted someone to win. Since both teams weren't going to give up, the game went on until half way through 5th period, where senior Lauren Rivas scored the winning touchdown for the senior class. All the seniors ran on the field jumping up and down chanting Lauren's name.
All the girls played a good game, and everyone started cheering for their coach A.J. Corpus for all his hard work. It was a very intense game but the returning champions, class of 2006, came and took the game.
Tennis players excited about the new courts and home games
by Melissa Medina
Have you noticed anything new around our school? With our school being under construction, you may not have noticed our new and beautiful tennis courts. Our tennis team is very excited to have brand new courts to not only practice on but to finally have home games. "This year has been tough. We have been up against some of the top teams," says Coach Urban, "All but two of our games have been away. The girls have been tired." These new courts are a blessing to our tennis team. Coach Urban said, "We have Ana-Naomi Racataian (senior) and Emmanuel Sacerio (senior) to thank for getting the reconstruction started." These students took the extra step and got the school board's attention. The girl's tennis team has been working hard to be the best they can be.
SCORES 10/4 - 10/18
10/4 @REV 3-15 L
10/5 @REDLANDS 2-16 L
10/6 @FONTANA 13-5 W
10/11 @YUCAIPA 1-17 L
10/13 @REDLANDS 1-17 L
10/18 @IKE 6-12 L
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Volleyball season a little shaky, but they persevere
by Divya Joseph
Everyone has been very disappointed with the losing streak that the volleyball team has been in. The JV as well as the varsity girls volley ball team has had too many losses and just a few wins. In league they have a record of 2-7 and overall they are 4-9.When asked about their current situation, varsity volley ball team captain, Sarah Vasquez, says, "It's been little shaky (their season so far) we need to pick it up."
Sophomore JV player Cynthia Cardoza says that there are many factors to their losses and some of them include the communication gap between players and the lack of motivation. But the biggest is the lack of facilities. What they mean by the lack of facilites is that the gym that they usually practice in is under construction so in the beginning of the season instead of practicing like they normally do they had to just run laps around the field. Then they were practicing in Bloomington high school's gym and again they were shifted to practice in Rialto high school's gym. Not only is the frequent change in location affecting their practice, but since they are practicing on another school's gym they are allowed to practice for only a short period of time- but in order to improve their game they need more time to practice.
The spirits of the volleyball players are low but they haven't completely lost hope. They are all working really hard in spite of all their problems. The coach is understanding and she points out their flaws and the team fixes them. JV volleyball team captain, Brittany Raymando, is pretty confident, and says "I know my team can do better with more communication and better facilities." They still have a few more matches left before the end of this season, so hopefully they will be able to straighten their act. Let us keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best; and going to the games and cheering them wouldn't hurt either.