Rafa Heredia Fall sports Halo 3 ODST, starts musical coverage, CD’s and more career, Sports, reviewed, Features, Pages 6-7 Entertainment, Page 4 Page 8 Volume 97, No. 2 Taft Union High School, 701 7th St., Taft, Calif. 93268 November 17, 2009 ASB honors nine staff members at inspiring Veterans Day assembly By Matt Daniels Staff Writer Taylor says the Air Force played a major role in shaping him into the man he is today. The entire experi- Taft High military veterans were ence provided him with the disci- honored in a brief, but moving cer- pline to accomplish anything he sets emony on November 10, the school his mind to. He encourages anyone day before Veterans Day. The en- who lacks direction and discipline, tire faculty, staff and student body or who just wants to travel, to enlist packed the auditorium to pay trib- in the U.S. Air Force. ute to teachers Mike Colen, Sigi Art teacher Mike Colen was hon- Cruz, Mike McCormick, Doug Tay- ored next. Colen served in the Navy lor and Rick Woodson, as well as from 1966-1970, visiting 13 countries three BVHS teachers who were un- from the Arctic to the tip of South able to attend. America. His ship, the USS York- The ASB, under the guidance of town, was involved in the recovery The ASB held a special Veterans Day assembly to honor the veterans on the TUHS staff. From left, Rick advisor Eric Newton, came up with of the Apollo 8 spacecraft in the mid- Woodson, Gary Morris, Doug Taylor, Mike Colen, Mike McCormick and Sigi Cruz. Photo by Nicole Frost the assembly as a way to recognize dle of the Pacific after the crew made the veterans who work among us man’s first trip around the moon in every day, after having served their late December 1968. The ship was country. also used in the filming of the Pearl Taft community mourns loss of young The assembly began with an a Harbor movie, Tora Tora Tora! capella version of “The Star-Span- Counselor Mike McCormick gled Banner” by freshman Viviana served in the Navy from 1967-1969. student killed in hit and run accident Camacho. Her impressive perfor- He was in the submarine service, By Monica Solis mance received an enthusiastic re- serving on a Sturgeon class nuclear lease lime green and pink balloons Editor-in-Chief sponse from the crowd. Newton fast-attack submarine in the North Friday, Nov. 14 during Nutrition then provided some background Carolina Sub Group #8 for two Break. to the Veterans Day holiday, which years. The loss of a classmate and friend A Mass of Christian Burial was recognizes the armistice that ended Math teacher Sigi Cruz served in has stunned the TUHS campus and held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church World War I at 11:11 a.m. on Nov. 11, the Army from 1993-1996, stationed the entire community, which united on Nov. 15. Ramirez will be laid to 1918. at Fort Stewart, Georgia. In 1998 he in mourning for and celebrating the rest at Taft Cemetery. “Today we honor those men joined the U.S. Army Reserve, as- life of 14-year-old freshman, Odales An arrest was made on the morn- and women who are fighting, have signed to a transportation company Michelle Ramirez. ing of Nov. 11 in connection with her fought, and who sacrificed their that shipped packages all over the On the evening of Nov. 10, death. Police arrested Glenn Travis lives in order to ensure that we have country. His term ended just two Ramirez was walking northbound Russell, 46, after someone saw him our continued freedom in the great- months before 9/11, after which he on the east side of the intersection trying to remove parts from the est country on the planet,” Newton was called back to service in the Re- of Kern and Second Streets, and front of a white Jeep that resembled said. He then asked for a moment serve. Cruz reached the rank of E-5 was more than halfway across Kern the suspect vehicle. of silence for those who gave their Sergeant. Street when she was struck by a car continued on page 5 lives in service to their country. BVHS faculty members Scott just before 6 p.m. With stirring music playing qui- Bennett, Dale Newlove, and Willie According to Taft Police Sgt. etly in the background and a huge Stubblefield also served their coun- Mike Eveland, a vehicle in the slow American flag projected onto a try in the military. lane heading westbound stopped for screen at the rear of the stage, Taft Once all the faculty veterans were her, but the vehicle in the inside lane High’s veterans were called to the on stage together, they were given a did not. The suspect vehicle, a white stage one at a time to be recognized. rousing standing ovation by the ap- Jeep Cherokee, fled from the scene. First up was history and Oil Tech preciative TUHS community. Witnesses called the police imme- teacher Rick Woodson, who served Following the assembly, Tay- diately, but it was too late. Ramirez in the Navy from Sept. 1971-Aug. lor thanked everyone, “especially was pronounced dead at the scene. 1975 during the Vietnam War era. the ASB. That was an exciting and Shock and grief overwhelmed Next was MOT manager Gary memorable experience.” the community when word spread Morris, who served in the Army Woodson echoed Taylor’s re- of Ramirez’s death. Dozens of peo- from 1971-1973 during the Vietnam marks, saying, “The sentiment ex- ple, including friends and family, War. Morris was stationed in As- pressed, and the very well-behaved gathered in fron of Little Caesar’s chaffenburg, Germany, where he audience, made it a very special ex- Pizza for a candlelight vigil. was assigned to heavy transporta- perience.” “She was the greatest person in tion in the 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry Nancy Dyer, the Oil Tech Acad- the world,” said freshman Alondra Division. emy English teacher and a close col- Molina. Math teacher Doug Taylor served league of Woodson, added that “I The community came together Signing Michelle’s Memory Wall on November 12 was a step in the in the Air Force from May 1991 to was very moved by the assembly, on Wednesday, Nov. 11 to host a May 1996. He was stationed in Texas, especially since I was married to a grieving process for many students. Photo by Monica Solis car wash in her honor. A second, Arizona, Alaska and Korea as a crew veteran of the Vietnam War, and I larger vigil was held later that night, chief (jet mechanic) on F-16s. Taylor know servicemen returned to a na- where friends and family gath- was awarded “Best Crew Chief” at tion that did not respect their service ered in prayer and remembrance of his base and was rewarded with the to this country. I am proud that we Ramirez. A bake sale was held on opportunity to fly an F-16 Fighting paid tribute to all veterans.” Saturday, Nov. 14 in front of Save-A- Falcon. He visited the Demilitarized She also noted that “the young Lot Foods to help raise funds for her Zone between North and South Ko- lady who sang the National Anthem funeral. rea. was awesome!” Students wore lime green on Thursday, Nov. 12 in honor of their late friend’s favorite color. The bul- letin boards in the quad were plas- Bubbling Under: What’s Inside tered with green butcher paper, on which classmates and friends could FFA excels at County Fair Page 2 express their feelings. “She was a great friend,” re- AVID and Oil Tech updates Page 3 calls freshman Erica Montoya. “She 2012 urban legend exposed Page 3 would do crazy things to make us The truth behind CSI Page 5 laugh.” Grievance counselors were also Networking sites risk relationships Page 5 on hand to assist coping students. Students attached note cards to balloons in the hope that their thoughts Students gathered in the Quad to re- and wishes would reach Michelle. Photo by Sadie Burton Page 2 News & Opinion November 17, 2009 Lunchtime crowding in quad resolved with addition of more tables By Taylor Pritchett Staff Writer Students standing in the sun. Kids clustered on the steps. A short- age of tables. A congested cafeteria. This was what you would have seen if you had looked around the campus of Taft High at lunchtime Patrick Wilke shows off his prize-winning steer at the Kern County Senior Dustin Harlan (left center) was one of 66 people who gave blood last quarter. Fair. Photo courtesy of Teresa Taylor in the recent blood drive. Photo by Karissa Dixon Many people assumed lunchtime crowding was due to the large fresh- FFA members excel at Kern County man class this year. Blood drive collects 66 pints But, according to the Guidance Fair, win seven first-place awards Center, the difference in the number By Karissa Dixon of incoming freshmen between this Staff Writer decided to give blood is because my year and last is minimal. friend needed platelets, so I went to By Nicole Frost The overcrowding problem could The Blood Drive sponsored by Las Angeles to help him. The reason Staff Writer market steer. He not only won for also be due to the fact that fewer stu- The Key Club on Oct. 13 produced I continued to donate blood is be- the highest-placing animal but he is dents are eating off campus.