The Observer Weekly Cloverleaf Inside and Out March 10, 2011 NBA 2K11 is a Slam Dunk at Cloverleaf High School

By Zack Miglich and Ryan Engel “Make me …” These were the words of co- writer Ryan Engel as he opened up a brand new copy of NBA 2K11. The new game was released back on Oct. 5, 2010, and has since taken flight onto the Cloverleaf grounds. This year’s edition cen- ters its focus on the NBA’s great- est player, . Many new game modes have been added to this game, including the “Jordan Challenge” where you follow 10 of Jordan’s major career accomplishments. Once conquer- ing the “Jordan Challenge,” you enter MJ: Creating a Legend mode The new NBA 2K11 is heard to be the best NBA game yet. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons where you will receive Jordan as a rookie and guide him to his legen- dary status of greatness. teammate grade, you will head Also included in NBA 2K11 is Another of the new and exciting straight to the NBA. Although, if the ability to play as classic NBA features of 2K11 is the My Player you have a bad grade, you will teams. Your options range from mode. Here, you will create your head to the D-League where you the 1985-86 to the own player, complete with any tat- will have to develop your skills 1997-98 Utah Jazz. This is a great toos and equipment that you want, and work your way back up to be feature for your parents, allowing and send him through the summer able to play with the big boys. them to play as their childhood circuit. Good performances in the “It is one of the greatest games I role models. circuit will land you a high draft have ever experienced,” explained “I love playing as Mark Price. position, any rookies’ dream. Svetlana Popovich. “I love it!” Even though he looks like he has a “My Player is my favorite thing Besides being able to play the mullet, I poured in 52 points in one about the game,” said sophomore game modes, there is always the game against CJ Martin!” said Robby Buckwald. “The only thing option of being able to take your Cody Geisler. “It just makes me so is that I can’t beat Ryan. He beat talents online and compete against sad that I can’t beat Ryan.” me 78-34. I haven’t played the friends as well as competitors NBA 2K11 has brought smiles to game since.” around the world. With constant the faces of millions of people However, poor performances will updates that are accurate with the around the world. It is one of the decrease your draft stock and actual NBA, players and teams are best games around and probably lower your chances of achieving exactly the same as they are in real the greatest in the series. Get star status. If you complete the life. You will think you are watch- your copy now and join the hype. summer circuit with a high enough ing a real NBA game! Tish it all day baby.

Volume 4, Issue 40 2 Features Gas Prices Increasing Fast By Miranda Cooper and Shelby students to be able to put enough fuel having a hard time swinging gas prices, Kozma in our tanks for the week to even make we generally think of students, but that As many drivers may know, the cur- it to school. is not always the case. Several staff rent rise in gas prices has most of us “I live in Medina and have a really far members also have a far drive to school digging deep for the funds to fill up our drive to school,” junior Jessica Bradley and their large SUV’s and trucks take a tanks. Our economy has not been doing said. “I’m lucky because my car is lot of fuel. For some staff members, so well lately and between lost jobs and really good on gas, but it adds up when they have more than one job and do a homes, cut wages at work, and the rise I have so far to drive.” lot of driving throughout the week. in grocery prices, the last thing people This time last month, gas prices were “I drive from Seville to the school five need added on their list of expenses is averaging around $2.95 a gallon for days a week, and most evenings and the ridiculous gas prices. unleaded fuel. In less than a month, weekends, I have to drive to “I am getting my license this month they have jumped up to $3.49 around Wadsworth for work, too,” staff mem- and I want to get a big truck, but with here and in some places being as high ber Tammy Cooper says. “My car is these gas prices, I don’t think I will be as $4.29 a gallon. It is expected that not very good on gas. My husband has able to afford it. I’m going to have to within the next few months that the a truck that seems to take a bottomless work a lot more in order to earn money prices will reach $5.00 a gallon just for amount of fuel, and we also have one to fill up my tank of the truck that I unleaded fuel, making diesel around other car to fill up. Between the three want,” sophomore Austin Kozma said. $6.00 a gallon. cars, the gas prices are definitely affect- “It isn’t fair!” “My mom has to fill up with premium ing our family.” Like Kozma, most high school stu- gas in her car and the price for it is al- Americans are in high hopes that there dents already have a hard enough time ready around $4 a gallon. My family will be a final cap on these gas prices getting the hours needed at work in and I are trying to cut back on driving so that we are not left with empty pock- order to pay for anything, or to have so much in order to save gas and ets. Hopefully, the predictions of the spending money. With gas prices al- money,” Kozma goes on to say in dis- next few month’s ridiculous prices are ready at $3.49 a gallon for unleaded belief of the rise in price. inaccurate and these prices will turn fuel, it makes it nearly impossible for Although when we think of people around for the better. Exams and Early Graduation for Some Students By Brendan Maynard & Meagan exams are the only thing that is in your “I think they need to change the Frank way. schedule for early dismissal on the last These last few weeks have been very The rest of the student body has one exam day,” junior Josh Palko stated. nerve racking and stressful for all high more trimester to look forward to. This “There are so many vehicles in the school students. is an awesome time for seniors. parking lot, beeping and almost hitting As the second trimester came to a As they are about to move on to the each other; it’s ridiculous.” close, we were all trying to hurry and next step in their lives. Students that do make it out of the get past…exams. This can be very stressful for students parking lot are overall excited and re- High school exams are at the end of that do not know what they want to go lieved to be done with the trimester each trimester and can cause serious to college for, and a really great time and exams. effect on grades if not done right. for the students that can’t wait to get A new trimester means a new start on Each exam is worth a considerable out of high school. grades, organization, and above all, amount of points towards your overall “I cannot wait to be done with high new classes. grade. school and go to college,” senior There is something about starting a Most range from 10 to 15 percent of Adrianna Prinzo said. “That is why I new class that is exciting to students. the overall grade for the trimester. am graduating early, and getting out of “Every time I start a new class, if I’m “I can’t stand exam week,” senior here.” the first one there, I stare at the door to Brent Grant stated. “I just want it all to Aside from the stress of the exams, see who walks in,” junior Brandon be done and over with.” the entire school parking lot is filled Hayes said. Many students are excited to finally with parents that are picking their kids To all the seniors that are leaving, you be done with the long lasting 2nd tri- up on that last day. will be missed. mester. This can be trouble for students that “The school will be a little emptier Senior Meagan Frank said, “I get to are driving who cannot wait to get out without you, and I guess we will see graduate early as soon as this tri is of school and go home or somewhere you at graduation,” senior Ryan Engel done.” other than school. said. To those who are leaving us early, Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Advisor The Weekly Observer Kati Letzelter Alison Sheldon Mr. John Carmigiano Features 3 Quiz & Cloverleaf’s Music Man Retires after 30 years

Quotes By Alison Sheldon While Carasea has the impressive record Since 1978, Gerald Carasea has been fill- to prove success, those who have had him ing Cloverleaf’s halls with music and in- as an instructor can only vouch for his true What do you spiring budding musicians. Starting this accomplishments. summer, though, someone else will have to “Mr. C is a good teacher who really cares think about take hold of the reigns. After over 30 years about what he is doing,” commented senior of service, Carasea has decided to retire Courtney Conley. Mr. Carasea from music education. Freshman Cody Ridenour added that Carasea began teaching at Cloverleaf in “Cloverleaf will just not be the same with- retiring? ’78 at the Annual Lodi Sweet Corn Festi- out him here.” val Parade, and like any teacher, had a Carasea not only teaches the high challenging beginning. school’s marching and concert bands, but It did not take long for Carasea to take he also works at the elementary schools, ground and build a music program that still gives private lessons, directs the pep band, runs strong today. Only a year after his and teaches classes on music theory, his- arrival, Carasea took the marching band to tory, and appreciation. State finals, and has done so every year “It’s amazing how much time he spends Zach Icardi (12): since, a long-standing and impressive re- at his job,” admitted Ridenour. “He really “I’m sad. We’re going cord in all of Ohio. works hard for his students.” to miss him. The school By 1981, Cloverleaf’s concert band was Upon retirement, Carasea hopes to spend is losing a good teacher; prepared for State competition and has also more time with his family, especially his he is a great guy.” qualified each year. children, Karen and Matt, who both have “We have about 2,500 to 2,700 trophies autism. in our trophy case,” said Carasea. “Some While his students wish him the best, are on display; some are gathering dust.” Carasea will be greatly missed by Clover- The bands’ superior reputation reaches leaf and all the students he has reached out out much farther than the trophy cases, to. though. Cloverleaf’s Marching Band, in “To most students at our school, he is just particular, is known for excellence on a another teacher who yells a lot,” said one national level, thanks to the hard work and of his current music students. “It’s not easy Rachel Yeager (11): dedication of Carasea. being a ‘band geek’ at our school, but Mr. “It’s sad to see him go “We’ve been to Disney nine times,” C always taught us to be proud of what we after all these years, Carasea said. “We’ve been to four or five do, no matter what people say to tear us but he’s been a great major bowl games. We’ve had major pa- down. He is a true teacher who has in- teacher.” rades in New York, and even a big parade spired hundreds of students and should not in Canada.” be forgotten.”

Trevor Dahl (10): “It’s sad. He is a good music teacher, but happy because he has done such a good job!”

Kaitlyn Duncan (9): “We’re all sad to see him go. He is a big influ- ence.” March 10, 2011 4 Features Former Cloverleaf Student’s Murder Hits Close to Home

By Ben Weinerman and Brandon Whitslar On March 2, 2011, around 1:00 a.m., 22-year-old Michael Fuentes’ apartment was allegedly broken into by two men. While one man held Fuentes’ at gun point, the other proceeded to beat him. Fuentes was then allegedly dragged outside into the apartment complex parking lot at Iresdale Place where the beatings contin- ued until Fuentes was shot once in the chest and killed. “There was some yelling, then a gunshot and then it was over,” said Michael Fuentes, far right, with two fellow football players back when Chief played Evan Chrzanowski, 21, a UA stu- for Cloverleaf. Photo courtesy of Kati Letzelter dent who lives at the eight-unit Irisdale Place complex in an inter- The type of drugs have yet to be too long ago to remember, but for view in the Akron Beacon Journal. released. many upperclassmen this is not the Jonathan Miller and Peter Day- Sources say Fuentes withdrew case. ton, the two men allegedly respon- from the University of Akron in “Chief has been good friends sible for the crime, are both resi- 2008, but intended to re-enroll with my older brother, Alex, and dents of a 24th Street Northwest later this year. he has been very close with my home in Barberton, and were taken ‘‘He was a real good kid; one of family for a long time. I cannot into custody. the best friends I ever had,’’ said believe such a terrible thing hap- A University of Akron police of- Aaron Chamberlain, a 21-year-old pened to him and I hope the two ficer responding to the scene along UA senior in an interview in the men responsible get sentenced to a with city police, found Dayton, 24, ABJ. ‘‘It's just horrible what hap- long, long time in prison,” com- near Power Street, not far from pened to him. We feel horrible.’’ mented senior Ryan Freeman. where the shooting occurred. Those at Cloverleaf who knew On behalf of The Observer staff, The other culprit, Miller, 24, was Michael Fuentes might better re- our condolences go out to Chief’s found at his home and was taken member him as “Chief.” In most family, friends and past teachers into custody. cases, for Cloverleaf students to- and coaches. Both men are facing charges day, the 2007 graduating class is dealing with aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, and aggravated MARCH MADNESS murder. At Fuentes was arrested in 2009 on marijuana trafficking charges. He Innovations eventually pleaded guilty to re- 7 West Main St. duced possession charges. His plea Seville, Ohio 44273 allowed him to seek drug treat- 330-769-4774 ment and, if successful, erase his Highlight- $50.00 reg.- $62.00 felony conviction. reg.-$40.00 Police say the attack and shoot- Partial highlight-$30.00 ing were related to drug trafficking Haircut with Chemical Service- $10.00 reg.-$20.00 and that drugs were recovered MENTION AD WHEN YOU CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. from inside Fuentes' apartment.

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