○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ Issue 3 Lewis Central High School December 2002 Car Vandalism Continues in Parking Lot Sam Tsuji administration should take to “ I don’t want to drive to school The victims of the assaults Reporter prevent this type of occurrence. anymore,” said sophomore Thomas have taken steps of their own to get Cameras in the parking lot have Webering, “I don’t want my stereo to the situation resolved. Both the The four break-ins of the last been a big issue since the very first be stolen.” school and the police department week have students and the incident, which occurred early last While the administration strives have received incident reports from administration riled and jaded. year. The administration is to eliminate the problem by placing the students. However, the break-ins have not struggling to give the students the supervisors in the parking lot during “I filed one with the school and been occurring only in LC protection they need, but as lunch hours and before and after school, then my parents filed a police report parking lots. According to Dr. always, budget conflicts stand in they have difficulty setting up a patrol when I got home because the title Doug Radtke, police have said their way. because the incidents have occurred at is in their name,” stated junior Bob incidents have occurred in “We’ve been asking for unsystematic times. Mason, whose stereo was stolen this numerous places around the cameras, but money is an issue,” “ The four we’ve had in the last past week. “But I don’t think the Council Bluffs area. said Radtke, “It would end up week have occurred at different times school has been doing enough to “It’s disturbing to us that costing us 30 to 35 thousand dollars during the day,” stated Radtke, “ And we stop the problems.” people are busting out windows and the budget this year is tight.” can’t be here in the evening to oversee it.” While no suspects have been and stealing things out of people’s The explanation for this While the administration falters, revealed yet, the administration is cars,” said Radtke, “But there’s doesn’t ease the anger and fear students are making changes of their waiting for somebody to talk. And not much we can do until we have some students are feeling about the own to avoid the same type of while they continue to investigate solid evidence.” damage that has been caused. incident. the crimes, any information would The student body is reeling LCHS students who drive to school “I’ve started to come to school be useful. Reports can be given to with suggestions of their own are uncertain about the safety of early and park closer to the building,” the office if any information is Photo by Sam Tsuji about what steps the their property. said Webering. obtained. Shattered glass litters the parking lot. Padilla Gives Strong Advice Old Disease Threatens New Generation ...Iowa Takes Smallpox Seriously threat,” said history instructor Gail said Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, Iowa state Pam Shorey Wallenberg. “It’s something that we epidemiologist in a recent press Assistant Editor need to be prepared for.” release. “While vaccinations of key The routine vaccinations were public health and medical It is spread through the air by stopped in the United States in 1972; personnel across the state may merely coughing, sneezing, or therefore, most people under the age begin in the coming months, there talking. Direct contact with an item of 30 have yet to be vaccinated. Even is no recommendation to offer the that is contaminated with the virus though there is a possibility of a vaccine to the general public.” can also cause one to become bioterrorism threat, many are reluctant CNN.com reported that infected. to receive the vaccination because of President Bush would soon urge This virus is smallpox. Smallpox the risks that come along with it. smallpox vaccinations for is a severe viral infection that “I would take the vaccine only if 500,000 emergency workers and includes many symptoms such as the chance of getting smallpox was 500,000 military personnel that high fever, fatigue, headache, and really high,” said freshman Cassara would be exposed to the virus in backache. About one to four days Carroll. a bioterror attack. after the symptoms appear, a rash on According to www.cnn.com, In case of a smallpox outbreak, the legs, arms, and face begins to experts estimate that 15 out of every 1 the U.S. Centers for Disease develop. It then begins to form a crust million people that are vaccinated for Control and Prevention (CDC) has in the second week of illness, and the the first time will face life-threatening a stockpile of approximately 100 scabs eventually begin to fall off after complications, and one or two people million doses of the vaccine. The three to four weeks. While a majority out of a million will die from the CDC has also developed ways that of the persons infected recover, death vaccine. Also, around 25 percent of the they can allow for rapid, still occurs in up to 30 percent of all population can’t receive the vaccine simultaneous delivery of the cases. because of certain health conditions. vaccine to every state within 12- Even though smallpox was Considering these complications, 24 hours. eliminated two decades ago, public state officials say that offering mass “Thinking that we would health officials and researchers now vaccinations should not be taken have to get a smallpox vaccination fear that the virus will be used as a lightly. is really scary because we’ve weapon of bioterrorism. “It’s important for Iowans to know never had to go through that “We can’t say with certainty that there are no plans to begin mass before,” said sophomore Sarah Padilla prepares for his next anti-alcohal and drug talk. Photo by Meg Black it will be used against us, but it is a vaccinations statewide anytime soon,” Kreger. Lindy Dinklage many teens to drink with the Whether necessary or not, Padilla’s talks opened up the topic Editor-in-Chief mentality that “everyone’s doing it.” Padilla’s goal is to remind of drinking for students and Students involved in students that regardless of what advisors. activities have been receiving a everyone else is doing, students who “I’m not sure of anyone who’s visitor during recent practices and are involved in activities shouldn’t be done it recently, but people have meetings. In an effort to curb joining them. started talking about it,” said drinking and drugging among Padilla also expressed that he junior Kim Darnell. “I think actively involved students, wasn’t afraid to talk to parents about they realize the consequences.” Activities Director Steve Padilla suspected students. Not realizing the consequences has been meeting with each activity “If I have teachers and students is a primary reason for students to in the school in order to spread his coming to me and telling me that so drink and use drugs in the first place. message and offer a warning: there and so is doing something they The penalties are clearly spelled out are no secrets at Lewis Central. shouldn’t, the first thing I’m going in the handbook and include “More than any other year to do is get on the phone and call the ineligibility for 10 weeks to those things just keep popping up,” parents,” said Padilla. “Hopefully permanent ineligibility. Somehow, said Padilla. “And I’m not the kind once moms and dads get involved many students in activities seem to of guy to just let it slip by. My they’ll be able to get a handle on the think that despite these approach is to hit the problem head problem. I know there are some consequences, they’re immune from on.” parents who don’t care, but talking punishment. Drinking isn’t only on the rise to parents will be the first step.” Padilla’s primary message was at Lewis Central. In fact, a report Most students agree that Padilla to let students know that no matter by the Surgeon General states that got a point across, but some found how invincible they think they are, more than half of high school that his message was unneeded for the school knows who follows the juniors and seniors drink alcoholic their activity. rules, and who doesn’t. beverages, with teens being “We don’t do it anyway, so we “He got a point across,” said responsible for roughly 25% of didn’t really need to hear it,” said senior Aaron Jones. “He let people Photo by Tyler Driver overall alcohol consumption in the sophomore Bekki Heidaman, “But know that they’re not invisible and Health Associate Cheryl Weesner preps sophomore Ashley Richter for a vaccination. U.S. Such high numbers allow some do.” that people see what’s going on.” New Stance on Sex-Ed: Bush Advocates Abstinence health curriculums across the Studies show that more and now, and talking less about of more abstinence education would be beneficial, it’s still Lindy Dinklage country. With $75 million more teens are waiting for that abstinence.” being added to the curriculum. uncertain if the effects of Bush’s Editor-In-Chief additional dollars on the table and committed relationship. A report Abstinence education isn’t simply “Health is filled with proposal would ever reach Lewis a conservative congress ready to by the Centers for Disease Control an issue of morality. A growing number abstinence already,” said junior Central.