“Its terrible how people can just throw things now and make the world such a mess. I signed up to help the environment.

All of the trash that was out there was hurting some of those creatures and I just wanted to help,” said Caitlin. The pair both described memories surrounding the trash assembly line towards the end of the event. “I had never done the type of thing where people stand in a long line and pass things down,” said Meredith. “The barge had come in with all the trash,” continued Caitlin. “We all got in two lines going from the barge to the dumpsters. We all worked together passing all the trash down the line.” “I just thought that was so much fun to be a part of,” said Meredith.

VOLUME 82 March 2008 ISSUE 5

H I L I F E2305 East Main, LEaguE City, tX 77573

Jessica O’Neil

Softballpg. 15

Mr. Clear Creek contestants light up the stage

Basketball pg. 14

From top to bottom, left to right: Rico Pardo, Justin Gar-cia, Aaron Daniels, Ben Walker, Cori Cornwell, Michael Henry, Danial Sandoval. Photo by Cassie Lee.

Cleaning up the Clear Creek “so much fun”Hayley BOultiNgHOuse

Photo by Janie Shultz

Citizens of the coast have an obligation to preserve its natural beauty for future generations. Here in the Bay Area, the Clear Creek Environmental Foundation is a champion for that cause. Through education, conservation, restoration, and research the organization hopes to rehabilitate, as well as prevent further destruction of Clear Creek and Clear Lake. One of the many ways the Clear Creek Environmental Foundation reaches out for community involvement is though various clean up events. The 9th annual Clear Creek Clean Up kicked off Saturday February 23, 2008. More than 300 volunteers left their warm beds and reported for duty at the Egret Boat Ramp on FM 270. The volunteers ranged from children to adults and came from various backgrounds. Yet, they all had a common vision: to improve the condition of the environment around their homes, one trash bag at a time. The Clear Creek Clean Up is considered the largest river clean up in the nation. Clear Creek, which snakes through Brazoria County before spilling over into Clear Lake, is endangered. In fact, due to threats posed by development, Clear Creek is in the top ten endangered rivers list in the USA. This is a call for action to the Bay Area community. A large portion of the 2008 Clear Creek

Clean Up volunteers were students and teachers from Clear Creek High School. They gave up their weekend to be change

makers. This year, many helped the Clear Creek Clean Up add to their nine year running record of waste disposal. In total, more than 100 tons of trash has been removed from the rivers. “It’s like a treasure hunt,” said Kelsey Burt, a junior who has volunteered for the Clear Creek Clean Up for several years. “[You find] absurd things people throw in the creek like tires, shopping carts and even computers.” A pair of Clear Creek High School students made the Clear Creek Clean Up a family affair. Sisters, Caitlin Holmes, junior, and Meredith Holmes, senior were both at the Clear Creek Clean Up site on Saturday morning.

“It was so amazing how much people really do care and are willing to get so dirty and stinky to help the environment. You could see in everybody’s faces how good they felt for doing such a good thing,” said Caitlin. The numbers of wildlife in the Bay Area that depend on the marshes run high. According to the Clear Creek Environmental Foundation 90% of the finfish and shellfish caught in Galveston Bay spend a part of their lives in the marshes. When the marshes are tainted with waste, these creatures no longer have a home. Also, six hundred of North America’s eight hundred bird species can be seen in the Bay Area, at different times of the year. Trash has the potential to endanger the lives of these animals and slowly decrease their numbers. Human beings also benefit from these marshes. The prevention of erosion on the coastline is aided by marshes. They are also known for filtering run off water that trickles down from the land. Most importantly, when hurricane season hits marshes absorb excess floodwaters and keep houses and other development from being completely submerged. Events like the Clear Creek Clean Up help to keep these natural phenomena in tact. If nothing else, it’s a way to give back to nature for providing so much to the human race. Without Clear Creek Clean Up and similar undertakings, the coastline would go to ruins. So the challenge is, in the words of Meredith Holmes, “To help clean up the Creek. Somebody’s got to do it.”

On February 23, 2008, the senior class of 2008 held the annual Mr. Clear Creek Pageant to find out who really is the hottest hunk at Creek. The seven contestants and their escorts were as follows: Cori Cornwell and Ashley Albro; Aaron Daniels and Morgan Ruble; Justin Garcia and Kyrsten Garcia; Michael Henry and Shawndell Roberts; Rico Pardo and Kharla Muniz; Daniel Sandoval and Alyssa Littlejohn; and Ben Walker and Meagan Martinez. These handsome guys strutted their stuff on the runway to prove to the judges – Mayor Jerry Shults, Nancy Richards, and Mary Lou Johnson - they deserved the title of Mr. Clear Creek. The first category the contestants were judged in was Clear Creek Wear. The

contestants flaunted their school spirit with Creek Out shirts, sports shirts, and even homemade spirit shirts. The next category was Sun & Fun Wear. The contestants sported swim trunks and duck floaties with the exception of Michael Henry who took to the runway dressed as King Triton in a shell float pulled by his escort. This was truly a unique perspective on the category. The third category was the Formal Wear. The contestants were decked out in fabulous tuxes from Al’s Formal Wear and their escorts were fitted in beautiful David’s Bridal gowns and had their hair done by Cutting Edge Hair Salon. A few contestants tried to sway the judges by throwing out roses. After a short intermission for the audience, the contestants prepared for the talent part of the pageant. A wide range of talents was displayed. From the diverse dancing styles of Cori Cornwell, Justin Garcia, Rico Pardo, Daniel Sandoval, and Ben Walker, to the singing styles of Aaron Daniels and Michael Henry, it seemed the

judges would have a tough time deciding a winner. Cheers went up throughout the auditorium as the audience supported their favorite contestant. The cheering continued until the results were announced by the MC for the night, Mr. Bockhart. Third runner up was Daniel Sandoval. Second runner up was Aaron Daniels. First runner up was Justin Garcia and the hottest hunk at Clear Creek, the winner of the title, the two free prom tickets, a free haircut, and a $50 gift certificate for dinner was Mr. Michael Henry. “I was really shocked and excited that I won. But mostly shocked!” said Michael. Congratulations to Michael and all the contestants that competed.

Students clean up the Clear Creek.

Over three hundred volunteer for the ninth annual Clean Up

Primarypg. 10

Taylor LongLeeAna Loveless

Jacob LuxBrett Morris

Bobby Murphy

Reporters:Ashley BlackHayley BoultinghouseSarah CisnerosAlina Gregory

2 OpiniOn“What makes someone a best friend?”

2007-2008 HiLife StaffCLEAR CREEK HIGH SCHOOL

Photographers:Hailey Stephens, Wendy Wright, Fallan Drago, Michael Gughiocello

SENIORS

SOPHOMORES

JUNIORS

FRESHMEN“A best friend is someone that you laugh with, even when a joke isn’t funny. Someone you can walk around WalMart with, dressed up in stu-pid clothes, and have a great time.” - Laura Salkawski

“A best friend will always be there when you need them, and canalways comfort you when you feel down. It’s someone to share your life with.” - Corrinne Pena

“A best friend is always there for you and never goes behind your back with anything.” - Demetris Black

“A best friend is someone who calls every morning and every night and all through school. It’s when ‘I totally understand’ is spoken everytime you have a problem.” - Meagan Bridges

“A best friend is someone who is there for you through the bad times, makes you laugh when your sad, and who is there till the end.” - Chelsea Farrell

“A best friend is someone who actually worries about you when they know you are going through hard times. Someone who will tell you not to do something you know is wrong even though you want to.” -Emily Doran

“A best friend is someone who is willing to back up your opinions, and also someone who can turn your frown upside-down.” - Daniel Jenkins

“A best friend is someone who is always there for you. Always listens, understands, and has good advice when you need it. A best friend is kind and fun and will always love you.” - Monica Davila

“A best friend won’t lie to make you feel better. They give the cold and honest truth, and stick by you at their greatest expense.” - Ayla Bly

“A best friend is the person who has been there for you at your lowest times of life, respects your decisions, and is only a phone call away.” -Ashley Braat

“A best friend is somebody who listens to you when you need them to and genuinely cares, and you are willing to do the same in return.” -Trey Miller

“A best friend is someone that I can trust and tell anything to and not have to worry about being judged.” -Cassie Wilson

“A best friend is someone who puts up with your madness!” - Brittni Boettger

“A best friend is someone who tells you that you have a booger in your nose.” - Raquel Kilgore

“A best friend is someone who cares for you, and tells you the truth no matter what. They’ll be there for you, and will never give up on you.” - Brianna Dominick

“A best friend is someone who will be there for you through the good and the bad- someone who will never leave your side.” - Meganne Sutula

“A best friend is a person that is there for you, whenever or wherever, no questions asked.” - Alexandria Walker

“A best friend is someone you can always have fun with, you spend so much time together you start finishing each other’s sentences! And is always there when that one boy breaks up with you! Haha.” - Samantha Mangrum

“A best friend is someone who will always be there treating each other like a brother or sister, who would never lie, and they believe in each other.” - Rico Pardo

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Scott BockartWynette JamesonJan O’NeilStephanie Haechten,Jessica O’Neil, Olivia HuynhMegan McKissonRuth RozasChelsea HuebnerTaylor Freudenberg, Destinee WalkerAllie HingaCassie Lee, Amanda ComptonRyan GriponDrew WalkerAdam VencilOlivia HuynhFallan DragoMatt Lara

Principal:Adviser:Executive Editor:Editors-in-Chief:

News Editor:Features Editor: Assistant:Sports Editors:Creek Speaks Editor:Centerspread:Online Editor:Ads Manager:Ads Designer:Layout Editor:Photo EditorVideo Editors:

STAFF“A best friend is someone with unconditional love, doesn’t judge you and accepts you for who you are. Love the same thing you love: music, movies, clothes, etc.” -Mrs. Forbes

“Honesty, whether it is good or bad. A best friend will tell you the truth.” - Mr. Glover

“A best friend is someone you can trust.” - Mr. Bockart

Albert NkansahSam Rodgers

Haley RushChristian Stephensen

3EditOriaL

G u e s t E d i t o r i a l : A l l i e H i n g a

S a y “ W h a t ’ s u p ? ” w i t h S t e p h a n i e

stepHaNie HaecHteN

a naïve seventh grader, I wasn’t overly concerned. I had an unwavering confidence that told me, “no matter what problem lay ahead, my parents would fix it.” But this they couldn’t fix; this they couldn’t change. Mom hung up the phone and lit a cigarette from my dad’s Marlboro pack; she had been smoke-free for five months. My older sister fiercely slammed her fist into the bedroom wall. I simply sat on the bed hoping that I would wake up from this nightmare. The police officer had called to tell us that Jennifer’s husband, Aaron had died in a horrific and unexpected motorcycle accident, and in the time span of one phone call, the word “gone” had gained more meaning than it had ever held in my thirteen years. Within moments I went from being a self-absorbed adolescent to a very self-aware, yet confused, young adult. For many weeks I was lost, and even after I thought I had things together, I would catch myself crying or screaming. I wanted Aaron back for Jennifer’s sake, but also so I would stop tirelessly searching for peace. I wanted to go back in time, so I could tell Aaron to stay at home instead of going to test-drive that motorcycle. I wanted everything to be different, for everything to change. Everything did change, slowly but surely, and the over the past five years pieces of my life have uniquely slipped

into place. After Aaron’s death, anger and frustration continuously had a tight grip on my life. I dealt with my hurt the only way I knew how; I ignored it. Bitterness engulfed my spirit, and I found ‘peace’ by doing what I thought everyone else did. I began smoking with my older sister, going to ridiculous high-school parties, and drinking whenever I had the chance. I didn’t care that I was living selfishly. I didn’t care that I was ignoring the hurt. I didn’t care about my life. But someone did care. Someone loved me so much that one hot July afternoon, the summer before my sophomore year, she sat me down at Starbuck’s, and gently led me through not only the pain of Aaron’s death, but the pain I had created by avoiding the hurt. She made me realize that no matter how terrified I was of death, I was more afraid of life. She encouraged me to have faith and find hope, and I did. March 20, 2008. Five years after Aaron’s death, I wake up to a new sunrise, knowing that my life has come full circle. I have learned that we are creatively molded by the difficult circumstances we live through. We endure trials, which in turn empowers us with truer compassion and an overabundance of empathy to those whom are also hurting. This Friday, as everyone celebrates the beginning of a week free from homework, teachers, and cafeteria food, twelve people, including myself, will be boarding a plane headed for L’viv, Ukraine. I will be

spending one week with the Ukrainian people, teaching English, and sharing the same love that has changed me from the inside out. I will be acting on a faith that has become the cornerstone of everything I am. Traveling to Ukraine symbolizes all that has been conquered in my life and the beauty of enduring through difficult circumstances. Five years ago, sitting in a wooden pew at Aaron’s funeral, I hardly believed I would make it out of the front church doors. But God knew. He knew I would stand up, walk out of that church, and be stronger because of it. It amazes me that while I was so encompassed in the hurt, God saw me in Ukraine. God knew, while I was weeping at Aaron’s grave, that in five years I would be boarding a plane to a foreign country to share His love with the Ukrainian people. It has been a long journey; five years of endurance to be exact. I know that walking in L’viv, teaching English classes, and simply loving the people of God, will be the most redemptive experience of my life. This mission trip is me whispering to the world, “God is faithful. You will make it.” Things change. I change. Thank God for being able to live life, endure struggles and be transformed. In the honorable words of Dory, “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

allie HiNga

Sunday mornings I wake up and roll out of bed, mentally going through my list of things to pack: my backpack, all my extra school books, my journal, my guitar, and an extra pair of jeans, in case my mom waits until the end of the week to do the laundry. It’s a typical scene when you live in two houses like I do. My parents divorced when I was five years old, and trying to make the transition as easy as possible for my sister and me, they decided to split custody. For the past eleven years, I have lived one week with my mom and one week with my dad, alternating between the two every Sunday. When I was younger, I could not understand why my parents separated, but as I have matured, I have come to understand why my parents never got along. In spending equal time with each family, I have seen two very different lifestyles. While I don’t always agree with either of my parents, I

have come to love and appreciate each of my families for the unique perspective they have given me on life. At my dad’s house, I get a taste of what a traditional family is like. My sister, Erin, my half sister, Kristen, my father, step mother and I make up your average five-person family. My dad is pretty structured in his approach to raising children and running the house. I used to think he worried too much, but recently, I’ve come to realize that he is really just concerned about raising his children as best as he can in a world he feels has gone insane. I say my family is traditional because our many habits, rules, values, and traditions reflect what I always imagined as those of the ideal family. We live in a one-story house in suburban League City. We eat dinner at the table together at least four days a week. We don’t have cable television. We go to a conservative Lutheran church every Sunday. Life is sound; life is structured. My mom, however, is the polar opposite of my dad. Disorder reigns at her house, located at the end of a gravel road in Santa Fe, Texas. When I’m at her house, my sister and I live with my mom, my step dad, and my half sister, forming another five-person family. However, this is where the similarities end, as I have three older siblings, a stepbrother and two stepsisters, who have all moved out of the house. My oldest stepsister has a son of her own, my nephew, and my other stepsister has a baby on the way. My stepbrother lives in Washington, where he works for the Navy. His wife is also pregnant. Soon, I will be an aunt to three children. In addition to my immediate family, my mom’s house is usually home to another, a friend of the family without the means to

couch. Sunday morning, my mom, my sister, my half sister and I go to a relatively liberal Presbyterian church in Dickinson. My step dad doesn’t go with us, since he tends to be against organized religion. Then Sunday afternoon rolls around, and I go back to my dad’s house to start the cycle over again. After spending twelve years living in two houses, I have adjusted to the different values and traditions that each of my parents hold valuable. However, the difference between my parents’ worlds has sometimes confused me. When you live in two families with two sets of different values and beliefs about life, I find that it is sometimes difficult to decide who I am and what I believe. But the same conflicts that have confused me have also allowed me to grow in a way I might never have known otherwise. I have been exposed to two different walks of life, and so I am able to evaluate both and decide which one is best for me. I have been exposed to different opinions by those closest to me, so my personal beliefs aren’t so much about what my parents say, but about what I have seen between the two of them and have evaluated to decide what I agree with. I am able to see both sides of an argument, as, in a sense, I live both sides of life every day, or at least every other week. Despite the constant schedule conflicts, disorder, confusion, opinions and lifestyles that follow me as a girl with two families, I have come to love both of them as they are. Both of them have given me the love and the insight on life that has made me who I am today. While I might give up the hassle of constantly moving back and forth, I wouldn’t trade my families for anything.

find a place to live. In the past year, at least four people have taken up residence in our home for some period of time. While the constant string of people living in our house sometimes annoys me, the compassion displayed by my parents is exemplary, and I have also found that always having someone else living in our house keeps life interesting. My step-dad also keeps life interesting. He is extraordinarily smart, but a little bit eccentric. He can explain to me any conspiracy that may or may not exist, from the formation of the Illuminati to the government’s plan to take over the world. Whether or not I believe him, he always has something to say, and winning an argument with him is nearly impossible, as he knows a counter argument to every point I make. Many people I know are put off by his, sometimes, gruff first impression and unusual mannerisms, but if you get to know him, he is a loyal friend. Day to day life at my mom’s house is busy and unstructured. In order to get to school on time, my mom, my sister, and I have to leave the house at 6:30 in the morning, but we usually leave late. I do not get back to her house until about 6:30 at night, as I ride the bus to my dad’s house after school and wait there for my mom to get off work and pick me up. When we get home, I either work on the homework I’ve been putting off all afternoon, sit and watch my sister’s or my step dad’s television shows, as they are already irrevocably glued to the screen by the time I get home, or I help my mom make dinner, which the family proceeds to eat in front of the television. Needless to say, we’re always moving. By the time Friday night comes around, everyone is ready to fall asleep on the

The greatest turning point in my life was the moment I grasped the fact that we are limited in our physical existence; that unsettling wisdom unfolded from a singular heartbreaking loss. March 20, 2003. The telephone rang. It was some police officer from some town, and I wasn’t really paying attention; he was interrupting Real World/ Road Rules Challenge. “May I speak with Mrs. Sharon Haechten? I’m here with Jennifer Atwood,” he said. I handed the telephone to my mom. ‘Why was an officer calling about my cousin?’ I thought. I admit, I was confused, but being

4 divErsiOns

COURTESY OF ORANGUTAN CONSERVANCY

F O L I O L I N E M c C l a t c h y - T r i b u n eF O L I O L I N E

ORANGUTANSMCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

Q&AHow many orangutans are there inthe world?

Many people can see one of thesegreat apes at the local zoo, but orang-utans living in the wild are concentratedin two places: Borneo and Sumatra.While the great apes used to be commonthroughout southern Asia, they now sur-vive only in these two places, accordingto Friends of the Earth, an organizationrepresenting the world’s largest federa-tion of environmental groups. There are45,000 to 69,000 wild orangutans inBorneo and just 7,300 in Sumatra,according to a February U.N. study.

How is palm oil a threat?The palm oil plant itself is not killing

the orangutan; rather it’s the clearing ofland in its habitat for such plantationsthat is doing the real harm, including log-ging and slash-and-burn deforestation.

According to the U.N. study, 37 of41 national parks in Indonesia have beenspots for illegal logging. Many loggersgo into the rainforests to cut down treesand then put up palm oil plantations tomeet reforestation regulations, accordingto the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta. An alter-native approach, according to theCheyenne Mountain Zoo in ColoradoSprings, Colo., is to use degraded landsthat are ready for palm oil cultivation,without any further deforestation.

Slash and burn, a land-clearing tech-nique done through cutting and burningforested lands, also is being used tomake way for palm oil plantations. In1997, according to Friends of the Earth,one fire was so extensive it destroyedabout 12.5 million acres of land andwiped out almost a third of Indonesia’sorangutan population.

The U.N. report states that in 2006neighboring countries Malaysia,Singapore, Brunei and Thailand “urgedIndonesia to do more to stop the annualfires because the regions’ citizens sufferboth economic losses and health prob-lems from the resultant haze.” It alsopointed out, however, that these coun-tries receive Indonesian products thathave resulted from illegal logging.

But how much of the forest is reallybeing destroyed?

The U.N. report found that between1985 and 1997, the Sumatran forestswere reduced by 61 percent. It also esti-mated that by 2020 almost 98 percent ofthe Indonesian forest will be destroyed.

How much palm oil do these countries produce?

Malaysia and Borneo together pro-duce 83 percent of the world’s palm oil,according to the U.N. Malaysia is theworld’s largest producer. Indonesia,with more landmass, trails behind but isexpected to catch up quickly. TheMalaysian government forecasts it willproduce around 16.7 tons of crudepalm oil in 2007.

What happens to the displacedorangutans?

Orangutans removed from theirhabitats face dire situations. Some endup wandering into towns, where fearfullocals sometimes kill the apes, accord-ing to Sowards of the Orangutan

Conservancy. Others are taken to centerssuch as the Nyaru Menteng OrangutanRehabilitation Center in Borneo, whereworkers care for the displaced apes inhopes of eventually releasing them intothe wild. This process can be expensiveand time-consuming, particularly when itcomes to young animals that must betrained to look for food. Also, it isbecoming more difficult to find landwhere the orangutans can be releasedonce they are rehabilitated, Sowards says.

Are other animals at risk?Yes. While orangutans are appealing

due to their charismatic nature and simi-larities to humans, Nicole Meese, an ani-mal keeper in the primate and panda unitat the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.,says there are other animals that areharmed as well. She notes animals suchas tigers, rhinos, Asian elephants andother species would be helped by savingthe habitats in Malaysia and Borneo.

If this problem is so threatening,why does it continue?

Money is the simple answer. Farmersand larger companies are getting moneyfor the palm oil they produce, which isthen exported or used domestically.Many groups, even those for the protec-tion of the orangutan, such as theOrangutan Conservancy and Friends ofthe Earth, say cutting out palm oil com-pletely is not the answer as its productionprovides a livelihood for many people.

Do the countries recognize this as a problem?

The government of Malaysia doesnot agree with all of the statementsbeing made about the degradation to theenvironment, as Datuk Seri Najib TunRazak, the deputy prime minister ofMalaysia, made clear in recent com-ments to Bernama, Malaysia’s nationalnews service. While the Malaysian PalmOil Board declined to comment, Najibsaid to Bernama, “It’s not true. There isan underlying motive, which is to hurtthe interest of the oil palm industry. That is the real intention.” He also saysthat the government strives to participatein sustainable practices, a goal also stat-ed on the MPOB’s Web site.

What products contain palm oil?It would be hard to travel through the

grocery store and not pick up something

that contains palm oil. Palm oil can beeasy to find if you simply check theingredients of your products. CheyenneMountain Zoo says the following popu-lar items often contain palm oil:■ Lowfat dairy products (they usuallyhave vitamin A palmitate, which ismade using palm oil)■ Cookies■ Cosmetics■ Frozen dinners■ Potato chips

While it’s found most commonly insupermarket items, palm oil is alsoquickly becoming an attractive biofuel,an alternative energy source withincreasing popularity in the fightagainst global climate change.

Is palm oil healthier?As mentioned earlier, palm oil has

become the quick replacement forhydrogenated oils because it containsno trans fats. Meese, from the NationalZoo, is quick to point out that this doesnot mean it’s good for you, noting itshigh saturated fat content.

What can consumers do to help?Cutting out palm oil completely

would not only have a negative eco-nomic effect on Malaysia andIndonesia, it would also be difficultconsidering the prevalence of palm oilin food and household items.

“Initially the push was not to usepalm oil at all,” Meese says. “But peoplethat live in Indonesia, that’s how theymake their livelihood. You want peopleto benefit, but you also don’t want todisrupt the animal’s habitat. The key isto have that balance, not to not use foodsthat contain it at all, but to support com-panies that have taken initiative to haveit sustainable in that habitat.”

In order to more easily allow con-sumers to spot companies using thesesustainable practices, The Roundtablefor Sustainable Palm Oil, a group thatincludes producers, buyers, retailersand financial organizations, released aset of criteria necessary for the sustain-able production of palm oil in 2005.The World Wildlife Federation is urg-ing companies to adopt these criteria.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo compiledits own list of companies currentlyusing sustainable practices, whichincludes these familiar names:

■ Butterball ■ PAM■ Chef Boyardee ■ Peter Pan ■ Country Crock ■ Slim-Fast ■ Healthy Choice ■ Snack Pack ■ Hellmann’s ■ Wish Bone■ Keebler ■ Dove■ Kellogg’s ■ Pond’s ■ Lipton ■ Vaseline■ The Body Shop International

RESOURCES:For more information, check these

Web sites:■ Orangutan Conservancy:www.orangutan.com ■ Cheyenne Mountain Zoo:www.cmzoo.org■ Roundtable for Sustainable PalmOil: www.rspo.org ■ United Nations EnvironmentProgramme: www.unep.org

Palm oil fruit grows in bunchesthat weigh 22 to 88 pounds.

A young orangutan namedFina, below, resides at NyaruMenteng OrangutanRehabilitation Center inBorneo. Demand for palm oilmay be destroying the rain-forests where orangutans live.

I

ND

O N E S I A

O�r�angutan habitats in Bo�r�neo and Sumat�r�a are disappea�r�ing due to the �de�f�orestation of �r�ain�f�orests to meet the increased demand �f�or palm oil.�

Diet Om�n�i�v�o�r�e�

Standing height 4-�5� ft�.� �(�1.�2-�1.5 �m�)�Weight 73�-�180 l�bs. (�3�3-�8�2� �kg�)�

Arm span up� �t�o� 7� �ft�.� �(�2.1 m�)�Status En�d�a�n�ge�r�e�d�

One� �o�f� �t�hree� �g�re�a�t �ap�e�s�,� o�r�ang�u�tan�s� �s�p�e�n�d� �9�0�% �of� �thei�r� �t�i�m�e� �in� �tree�s�.� �Th�e�ir� �a�r�m�s ar�e� lo�n�ge�r� �a�n�d� s�tr�on�g�e�r� th�a�n a�n�y oth�e�r ap�e�.�

Palm oil plantations are responsible for the destruction of 25 million acres.

Java

SulawesiSumatra Borneo

IndianOcean

Malaysia

200 miles

200 km

GREAT APE

Growing use of palm oil causesa threat to great apes’ habitats

BY SALLY DADISMANMcClatchy-Tribune

he orangutan, part of the great ape family, may quickly become part ofanother group of animals: the extinct.

One factor in the decline of the orangutan population is the increaseduse of palm oil, a product found in many snack foods, cosmetics and

detergents. Palm oil comes from the fruit of the African oil palm tree, and much ofthe orangutan’s native habitat is being destroyed to make way for more oil palmplantations.

The demand for palm oil has increased in the United States with the Food andDrug Administration’s recent crackdown on food made with “trans fats,” or fats pro-duced with hydrogenated oils, which can raise cholesterol. The best alternative forcompanies often has been palm oil, which contains saturated fat but is trans-fat-free.

As fewer orangutans survive in the wild, the United Nations, among othergroups, is predicting the extinction of the animal in as few as five to 10 years.Others say the future may not be quite so dire.

“I think that ‘they’ll be gone’ is probably too extreme, but ... at the current ratethere’s going to be a rapid depletion,” says Wayne Sowards, founder of the OrangutanConservancy. “Wild populations will no longer be self-sustaining, and they’ll becomemore and more fragmented, having less opportunity to maintain genetic diversity.”

But there are solutions, or at least sustainable ways, to help the orangutan. Here’s a look at the threats to the animal, the locations that are at risk, why

palm oil is so popular and how consumers can get involved.

T

Endangeredorangutans

P�ALM� �O�I�L�

■ Nati�v�e to Af�r�ica�;� flou�r�ish in heat and �he�a�vy �r�ain�f�all�■ �P�alm oil present in one of 10 �supe�r�ma�r�k�et items�■ �W�o�r�ld�’�s leading f�r�uit crop�;� produced in �42 count�r�ies on 27 million acres�

Edi�b�le �v�egeta�b�le oil made from the f�r�uit �of the Af�r�ican oil palm tree�;� demand is �

increasing due to t�r�ans-�f�at conce�r�ns�

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Grows in bunches weighing 22-88 lbs.; every 220 lbs. of fruit yields 49 lbs. of oil

COURTESY OF WIK IPEDIA .ORG

COURTESY OF ORANGUTAN CONSERVANCY

A rainforest in Indonesia backs up to an oil palm plantation.

MCT

Courtesy of MCTCampus

5FEaturEsWe are killing our “best friends” at an alarming rate

There are millions of animals in the United States that will not survive due to pet overpopulation. In the documentary Best Friend Forgotten, David Duchovny narrates the facts of this concern. People not spaying or neutering their animals cause pet overpopulation. These animals end up breeding, causing more animals to be born without homes. According to the documentary, 10,000 babies are born a day in the United States and more than, around 70,000 animals. Animal Control Officers are trying to fix this increasing problem by putting animals

in shelters so they can be adopted. In Los Angeles, Animal Control Officers help capture the stray dogs on the streets. Some dogs tend to run from the officers that are trying to help them, and then are brought into the shelters usually old in age and sick. Animal Control rescues abandoned cats too. There are anywhere from 4,000 to 6,000 shelters in the United States. Shelters will hold animals but sometimes they have to be put to sleep due to lack of space or health care. Some dogs find homes but the statistics are not good. According to the documentary. Out of the 30,000 animals a shelter houses a year, only about 3,000 will

survive. The documentary features two animals who’s lives have two very different endings. Clover, a black lab mix, was captured on the street by the Animal Control Officers and brought into a shelter . She is adopted and ends up in a loving home; she was one of the more fortunate ones. Oreo, a small cat, was not as fortunate. Oreo had a disease that could spread to the other cats so she was put down. Cats, like dogs, also contribute to the pet overpopulation. Cats who aren’t fixed, can multiply at incredible high numbers. According to the documentary, 420,000 cats may be a result of two cats in only seven years. Some of these cats are feral cats, or wild cats. They are not used to being handled or controlled and are usually killed because they are too wild. Some of these wild cats will be able to return to the wild after being captured. Since they can’t be adopted, some shelters will spay or neuter them and send them back into the world. This is a program known as Trap, Neuter, and Return. “Until there are none sitting in a shelter, then people should adopt from shelters,” says a shelter worker. According to David Duchovny in the documentary, “Less than 20 percent of people who adopt pets get them from a shelter.” The documentary also states that 20 percent of animals that are rescued are purebred. Some groups of animal activists have created special rescue groups that

are helping rescue these purebreds. They will take a purebred dog out of a shelter and help it find an owner making room for new dogs. Out of all the animals in our country one out of ten of the dogs will stay with their first owner, and five out of ten have a second owner by a year old. The rest are living in shelters, according to the documentary. What happens to these dogs? They are left behind in cages, with nowhere to run, nowhere to play, or be dogs. Some of these dogs and cats ultimately get put to sleep. Many people who feel strongly about finding a cure to pet overpopulation think that the government should become more involved with the shelters. Shelters don’t have enough money or space to help all these unwanted animals. Even the special rescue groups have limited room. Some shelters take the animals out to the public and try to get the animals adopted that way. Sometimes it works, and sometimes the animals have to go back to the cramped cages and stay there to wait. One shelter worker stated, “They are counting on the public, who might not even know they’re there.” Think of all the animals people see every day. Most of them have homes and families. But what about the other millions of animals? Pet overpopulation has rapidly increased and is causing some animals to be put to sleep just because they were not adopted. A shelter worker said, “They should not be caged, they should not be killed, they should be loved in a loving home.”

Photo courtesy of Pedigree.com

sHaNNON O’Neil

6 ads

7CrEEk spEaks On February 28, 2008, students at Clear Creek High School participated in a mock primary for the presidential election during their academic coaching period. The results indicated the general political lean of Creek students, and included the issues they believe to be the most important. The Communications, Law and Social Services (CLASS) Smaller Learning Community sponsored the mock primary. The idea for the project came when each SLC was charged with completing an interdisciplinary unit. CLASS decided to use the mock primary because of its emphasis on issues important to communications, law, and social services. The SLC is led by assistant principal Ms. Mary Latulippe, team leader Ms. Edna Meeks, and Ms. Kathy Sommers. Ms. Janie Shults, the SLC campus coordinator made a PowerPoint to be shown before the vote. The vote was actually the culmination of studies in many individual classrooms to prepare students for the vote. Students participated in the event during their academic coaching period. They were given a sheet of paper with names of the five presidential candidates and their respective political parties students were asked to fill in the bubble next to the name of their candidate of choice. Then the ballots were counted, as each teacher tallied individual votes, then sent them to Ms. Shults for the final tally. That afternoon, the results were announced. In the Republican Party, John McCain won the primary with 524 votes,

Creek hosts mock primary

Clear Creek High School is made up of diverse, talented, and amazing students. One that stands out of the crowd is sophomore, Sara Hasten. Sara is in choir and enjoys music, reading, writing, and drawing. Sara stands out both inside and outside of the classroom. Her history teacher Mrs. Roten says “[Sara] is a role model student and she has a keen perception of people and culture and in a contemporary setting she can connect with [people].” Sara consistently goes above and beyond the requirements of assignments, and always exceeds her teacher’s expectations. For example, Sara was assigned to design

a CD cover that had a band name and song titles with a Renaissance theme, but she did much more than that. She completely illustrated the CD cover by hand and wrote song lyrics for every song title required, including the lyrics with her finished project. Sara said that the Renaissance time period has always interested her “especially the clothes and conflict… like the black plague.” This interest served as her primary inspiration to these songs. “[I] just flipped through the text book a little bit and looked at the notes [taken in class],” said Sara. Mrs. Roten said that this is a prime example of how she can use her “very special gift to make history come alive.” The way that Sara goes over and above assignments, like her history CD project, shows that she is a very driven student and dedicated to doing well in her studies. But

what truly makes Sara stand out is what she accomplishes outside of the classroom doors. When asked what she liked to do in her spare time Sara simply said, “I’m writing my second book.” This second book is a spin off from her first book, Annairba, but written from a new point of view, with a different and fresh perspective on the events that occurred. Annairba is a fantasy book about politics on another planet. Sara also draws in her spare time and said, “[I] would like to illustrate my own books and draw stuff from them all the time.” Sara mentioned that she would like to follow her interests and pursue a career in art and writing. Mrs. Roten explained that Sara is able to put herself in the setting of the subject that

followed by Ron Paul with 156 votes and Mike Huckabee with 150 votes. Barack Obama won the mock primary for the Democrats with 585 votes, making him the overall winner of the primary, and Hillary Clinton received 145 votes. There were two write-in votes for Ralph Nader. Fifty percent of the student body participated in the mock primary, a statistic higher than the usual voter turnout at Texas primary elections. Ms. Meeks said the turnout was “phenomenal in any election.” The vote gave those students who will not be old enough to vote in the upcoming election a chance to voice their opinions on issues they believe will be important for the man or woman who will be running the country for the next four years. For those students who voted in the Texas primaries and those who will be voting in the upcoming election, it was a chance to begin thinking about the importance of casting their votes for the candidate they believe will be the best choice for office. At least 200 seniors at Clear Creek High School were registered to vote in the Texas primary on March 4, 2008. Some teachers believe that this is the first election they can remember in which students have been so enthusiastic about an election. Now that the Texas primary has been completed, the Clear Creek High School students who are registered to vote have only to wait for the presidential election to help determine who will lead the country for four years. The mock primary was simply the beginning of an extended process to get students interested in their country and to voice their opinions on how it should operate.

she is writing or drawing about and is then able to create a very believable product. In her history class, they were given forty-five minutes to write a news article on the slave trade as if they were there. Sara put herself into the project fully, writing an article from a slave’s point of view that was so believable it almost made Mrs. Roten cry when she read it. Mrs. Roten said, “[Sara] has a beautiful heart.” She is doing all that she can to make her peers feel comfortable around her. She tries to make everyone feel equal and she overlooks their personal disabilities so that they also can excel in all of their efforts. Mrs. Roten said, “[I am] very proud of her.” Sara Hasten tries to do her best, while encouraging others to do the same.

World Quest Competitionallie HiNga

Real life moves fast, and the Academic World Quest competition moves even faster. This contest, hosted each year by the Houston World Affairs Council, is a high-energy test of political, social, historical and geographical trivia. This years Academic World Quest was held the night of Thursday February 28th at the Sheraton Brookhollow Hotel in Houston. A motley crew consisting of ten contestants, was chosen to attend and compete by Clear Creek High School geography and politics teacher, Jeff Cherry. By 3:00 on Thursday afternoon the group had left Creek in car pools and made their way downtown. When they arrived at the hotel dinner had already been laid out for all teams. Tamales and cherros, chips and queso, with a multitude of, soft drinks, coffee and water had all been generously provided in a buffet type setting. In the ballroom every team was assigned to a round table and provided with nametags for each contestant. By 4:30 dinner was wrapping up and the trivia game was about to begin. The stakes were high. The winning team each year is granted an all expenses paid trip to Washington D.C. to compete in the National Academic World Quest Competition. The winning team often makes the cut by only a one to two point lead from the second place team. The Masters of Ceremonies called for the attention of the room. The teams were given roughly ten minutes to review the

packet of rules and instructions for game play. The teams wielded through a warm up round before beginning the game. The structure of Academic World Quest is relatively simple. It is made up of four rounds with 20 questions each. Every question is projected on a screen at the front of the room. Teams have thirty seconds to answer each question. Team captains record the final answers and at the end of the round there is a two-minute break to run the scores to the judges table on the far side of the room. The winner of the competition has the highest cumulative score at the end of the four rounds. If necessary, there will be a “sudden death” round to break up any ties by the end of the fourth round. This year the break up of the rounds was as follows: Africa and the Americas, Europe and Russia, Middle East and Central Asia, and South and East Asia. Though the Academic World Quest provides study guides the real challenge is being able to recall those facts at the drop of a hat. Competitors must be assertive when they are sure of an answer and willing to concede when the majority of the team says that the right answer is opposite of theirs. At 6:30 the scores were tallied and. Bellaire High School took the first place trophy. Creek may not have had the winning rank but junior competitor Taylor Morgan said, “We did very well, for the most part, and we had fun.” Creek has historically done well in past Academic World Quest competitions. Maybe next year they will bring home the gold.

Hayley BOultiNgHOuse

Above photos are artistic drawing by Sara Hasten. Actual CD cover for her Renaissance themed History project

cHelsea HueBNer

Sara Hasten: an avant-garde visionary on the rise

“Immigration and war issues are the most important. I’m not sure who to vote for, but those issues should de-finately be addressed.”

-Catherine Uong

10 nEwsP r e s i d e n t i a l C a n d i d a t e s

Barack Obama Hilary Clinton Ron Paul Mike Huckabee John McCain

E D U C A T I O NH E A L T H C A R E

I R A QT A X E S

I M M I G R A T I O N

THE DEMOCRATS THE REPUBLICANS

Will be focusing on teachers through his Recruit, Prepare, Retain, and Reward program. Also wants to introduce Amercia Opportunity tax credit that will make college more affordavle for

students.

Improve grades K-12 Educa-tion in order to prepare students for competitive global economy. She wants to create a new $3,500 college tax credit, create a gradu-cation fund to increase college

graduation rates

Supports the No Child Left Be-hind Act. Wants to give all power to parents on educational deci-sions. Is primarily focused on providing parents with the tools

to help their children be successful.

Strongly believes that music and the arts are non-negotiable and are a must. Wants to give parents the right to choose education for their child as well as let the states make more educational decisions. Believes we must focus on the

generations for our future.

Wants to give full control back to parents. Plans to eliminate the Department of Education giving power back to the States. Inro-duce H.R.1056- THe Family Ed-ucation Freedom Act. Supports H.R. 193 The Make College Af-

fordable Act.Spend $50- $65 billion ayear on subsidies to make health insur-ance afforadable for virtually all Americans. Expand Medicaid eligibility. Mandate coverage for

children.

Universal health care through em-ployer-based coverage. Provides option same as plan for Congress members. Tax credits to families and small businesses to help with costs. Cost estimate: $100-$110

billion annually.

Opposes mandats; proposes a $2,500 refundable tax credit ($5,000 for families) to help people afford health insurance. Conrol health-care costs, expand

health savings accounts.

Urge private sector to find in-nocatice, less expensive care. Expand health savings accounts to everyone. Make health insure-

ance tax deductible.

Opposes nationalized health care. Favors tax credits for health in-surance and drugs; would allow low-cost foreign imports of pre-

scription medication.

Vows to end the warwithdraw combat troops over 16 months. Leave some troops to protect U.S. embassy, attack spe-cific targets. Accept more Iraqi

refugees.

Begin troop withdrawal, leave be-hind some to fight terrorists, train Iraqi forces, and protect U.S. in-terests. Increase regional diplo-macy. No set timeline for full

withdrawal.

Supports troop surge. Wants troops to stay until Iraq’s govern-

ment is stable, secure.

Opposes withdrawal timetables. Says he’s “focused on winning.”

Backs a regional summit.

Pull out all troops fast.

Replace Bush tax cuts with new breaks worth $500-$1,500 annu-ally for individuals earning less than $50,000. Create $4,000 an-nual college tuition tax credit. Raise tax r ates for dividends and

capital gains.

Allow Bush tax cuts to expire for those earning $250,000 or more, use revenues to pay for health care. Reform Alternative Mini-mum Tax. Freeze estate tax at 2009 levels to pay for universal

401(k) plan.

Extend Bush tax cuts, simplify tax code, reform Alternative

Minimum Tax.

End all federal income and pay-roll taxes and replace them with the “Fair Tax” a broad sales tax.

Favors huge spending cuts and no tax increases; proposes national sales tax to replace income tax.

Strengthen border enforcement. Give illegals a path to citizenship. Allow them to obtain driver’s li-censes. Reduce immigration ap-plication fees, speed approvals.

Supports comprehensive reform, increased border patrols. Opposes drivers licenses for illegal immi-

grants.

Supports comprehensive im-migration reform with path to citizenship for illegal immigrants and a guest worker program, but says such efforts must wait until

the border is secure.

Wants strong pentalties for any-one hiring illegal immigrants.

Opposes any form of amnesty.

Secure borders, abolish birthright citizenship. Opposes schooling, health care and welface for illegal immigrants. Against guest worker

visas for Mexican laborers.

Information courtesy of MCTCampus

S t u d e n t O p i n i o n sWar [is the most important issue]. People are tired of losing family and want the war to end. Obama can end it.

-Jonathan Daniels

“The economy. Barack Obama is my candidate because he is a uni-fying force and we need to fix this country.”

-Eric Griffith

“I can’t vote, but I’d probably vote for Hillary. The most important is-sue is the war in Iraq.”

-Alicia Naughton

“The most important issue is the war in Iraq. I vote Ron Paul.”

-Lindsey Carelock

“I’m voting Ron Paul because he is going back to the fundementals of what has made America the greatest country on Earth.”

-Natalie Buroker

“The most important issue is the economy. I’m voting Huckabee.”

-Christen Valcoviak

“The need to control the borders, so Huckabee would be my vote.”

-Kathryne Shaw

“The most important issue of this campaign is Universal Healthcare and the economy. I’m voting for John McCain and his level-head-ed temper.

-Megan Wells

The war is a big issue, and as much as I love those men and women defending our country, I would like for them to come home. I’m voting McCain.”

-Jen Martinez

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12 FEaturEsChange-makers: new program by Global Youth Fund

This year, students at Creek will have the opportunity to participate in a new program called Changemakers. This program will allow students to work together to make a difference in their community and their world. Changemakers is a creation of the Global Youth Fund, a youth-

driven project founded by Charles Tsai that aims to create the world’s first democratic charity. In the program, all youth have an equal opportunity to decide what cause the organization will support. Global Youth Fund believes that, working together, young people can bring about change on a global scale. The program’s goal is to assist youth in improving the world around them while teaching

them valuable life skills. The Changemakers program is a group-based project that emphasizes group intelligence and “collective wisdom.” Students will organize into a chapter, and will collaborate to come up with ideas to design a project to create change. Global Youth Fund will help facilitate members of the project. Students will research ideas on humanitarian or environmental causes they want to support, and then submit their

ideas to the chapter for consideration. Then, students use guides provided by Global Youth Fund to facilitate discussions about the different project ideas to choose three semifinalists. When this is complete, students hold a “youth assembly” to select the cause they will support. At a school in New York that participated in the pilot program, this event lasted all day. Students will present their ideas, show

films on their causes, hold debates and discussions, and ultimately, vote on an official campaign to sponsor. Once a decision is reached, students will begin determining a plan of action to support their cause. The process of selecting a campaign to support is expected to expose students to skills like collective wisdom, consensus building, project evaluation, methods of voting, and open space technology. Once a plan is created, students will organize activities to raise awareness and funds for their cause. Global Youth Fund will create a webpage dedicated to the chosen campaign to allow people to make online donations. Students may organize any sort of fundraising activity, so long as they have approval from proper authorities. At the end of the project, students will hold another youth assembly to reflect on their campaign to determine their successes and needs for improvement. The chapter will then vote to disperse funds to appropriate charities. Clear Creek High School is

allie HiNga

one of three schools that have been selected to be part of the Changemakers pilot program. Coach Jeff Cherry is sponsoring the club as an extension of the Creek International Affairs (CIA) club. The club began meeting in late January and meets after school every other Tuesdays in room N-120. Coach Cherry said, “I hope that the students will use their own ideas at a grass roots level to see that you can dream anything, and therefore do anything.” He invites any student who is interested in being global minded and is committed to action to join the club. Coach Cherry hopes that Creek will participate in this program for many years to come. Charles Tsai, the founder of Global Youth Fund, hopes to come to Creek in order to help facilitate the program. He said to Coach Cherry, “It is our hope that what they get out of this experience is a real sense of what it’s like to work collectively to create positive change, and a different vision of active citizenship in a globalized world.”

Photo courtesy of Stock.xchng

BE LOUD Be as loud as you want without getting in trouble. At pep rallies, represent your grade and your school by...well...screaming. At games make up chants “DE-FENSE” or “LET’S GO CREEK.”

I believe speaking up and yelling for your school is the most

important form of spiriting.

DECORATE THE SCHOOL Decorating the school! Make sure you get permission before putting something on the school walls. Make signs that say “NUMBER ONE” or “GO CREEK.” Make them big and bright. Put them all over the school for everyone to see. Deco-rate your lockers (without ruining them, of course). Get maroon and white wrapping paper and wrap your locker like a pres-ent. Add paw prints, bows, and other spirited things.

Creek Out!

I’mnotgoingtolie;Iwatchthesuperbowleachyearmerelyforthecommercials.ItisnotthatIdon’tlikefootball,I’macheerleader;itisjusthardtogetintoitfrommy15”television.ButasIwatchedthegamethisyearInoticedsomethingIusuallydon’tpaytoomuchattentiontoo:thescreamingNewYorkGiantandNewEnglandPatriotfans.Thesefanswereoutrageous.

Theyhadsigns,paintedbodies,horns,andsomuchmore.IsattherethinkingaboutallthosepeoplewhotooktheirtimeouttoflyordrivetoGlendale,Arizona,andforwhat?Afootball

teamthatmostofthemhavenoconnectiontowhatsoever.Thatmademethink,“Whyisitthatatourownschools,whowepersonallyknowathletesat,andseeourcolorspaintedacrossthehallseverydaydowenotshowthesamekindofenthusiasm?Whayaren’tweexcitedaboutpeprallies,Fridaynightgames,andhomecoming?Whyaren’tweaschoolthatcomestogetherand

cheersforeachother?WEAR SCHOOL COLORS

Show your spirit!!! Think about how pumped for the game you will be if you’re walking around the halls and you see a swarm of maroon and white. Don’t just stop there. Wear your colors to the game that night so all you will see is a full crowd of your school’s colors.

GO THE EXTRA MILE Go a bit overboard, in a good way, by catching the Wildcat fever. Paint paw prints on your face, or spell CREEK on student’s stomachs. You can’t have a spirited school game or pep rally without props. Bring giant stuffed fingers, clappers, and

megaphones. Make a sign for your favorite player or even one that is positive for the whole school.

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14 spOrts

Lady Wildcats go undefeated in district basketball

The Lady Wildcats blazed their way to a district title this year, ending the season with a 12-0 record, and a play-off run. The Lady Wildcats focused on the district win from the very beginning of the season, followed through on the court, and accomplished their goal. Creek swept through the first Lake game with incredible ease, winning 69-18. The game set the tone for the rest of their district play. “We held them to less than 10 points each quarter and to hold a team to 18 points for an entire game, is a great defensive effort! Our shots were falling in and we were ‘clicking on all cylinders.’ This win was

a total team effort...everyone contributed!” said Coach Jana Williams on their first win over Lake. Their second run proved to be a little more difficult. The Lady Wildcats were down with under a minute left when they got a steal and Tiff Mills darted to the basket, where she was fouled, but made her free throw. The team buckled down and won with a final score of 47-41. The Pearland Oilers put up a honorable fight against the Lady Wildcats, but to no prevail. The Cats trailed at halftime by four points but tied it up going in to the 4th quarter. The team pulled together and turned up the pressure on the Oilers, outscoring them 49-43. Their second face off against Pearland was hardly as intense. The Lady Wildcats came out of halftime ready to put the game

DestiNee Walkeraway. The final score was 60-34. Last year’s District Champions, Clear Brook, proved to be no contest to the Lady Wildcats either. Creek won both games against Brook by more then 15 points. The end of the Brook game signified a victorious season for the Lady Wildcats. At the height of their excitement the girls cut down the nets to celebrate going undefeated in district at 12-0. Carrying the victories of their district games, the Lady Wildcats were ready to take on a post-season play off run. The ladies played hard in the first play off game against the Hightower Lady Canes. The two teams went neck and neck throughout the first quarter. Creek led by four shots in the third quarter, but the Lady Canes picked up momentum, sweeping into the fourth quarter with a five-point lead.

The Canes continued with a seven-point lead until the end of the fourth quarter. Still the determined Wildcats would not give up their winning-streak so soon. Kaylin Dugie made two three-pointers, and Kortnee Pevehouse sunk one of her two three-point shots, bringing the Canes lead down only to two points. After a tremendous fight the Wildcats walked off of the court just shy of a win. The final score came to 57-52 in favor of Hightower. In sports, the score does not always reflect the heart of the team. The overall undefeated district record for the Lady Wildcats is an exceptional indication of the dedication and hard work of the team. “I am so proud of our girls for going undefeated in district and for hanging another district championship banner in Butler Gym!” said Coach Williams.

Soccer kicks it up a notch

After five months of running, conditioning, and working out in the off-season, the Wildcats are ready for the soccer games to begin. The guys’ team is continuing on their 12-6-7 record last year with a 10-2-1 pre-district record. With wins against Manvel, Pasadena Memorial, and a 3rd place finish at the CCISD tournament, the Wildcats are showing their potential as district play approaches. “We have a talented group of guys that are hungry to win games,” said Coach Chris Cobb. Daniel Sandoval and Diego Castro have been two main components of a Wildcat force that hope to leave their mark on the Clear Creek soccer program.

“Everyone on the team are really key players,” said Daniel Sandoval The girls have also been looking to keep on the Wildcat tradition. Michele McCullough, Erin Mackay, Mariah Martinez, Stephanie Segura, Elaine Wood, Carolyn Kregel, Brittany Bradshaw and Marie Martin are all returning to the Lady Wildcat’s soccer team this year and are hoping to make their way back to the playoffs this year. “We’ll go to playoffs for sure, hopefully we can make it to at least the third or fourth round” said Brittany Bradshaw. Bradshaw has been a leader of this potent offense, helping score an accumulated 14 goals. With district games approaching, both the girls and boys will be ready to claw for a playoff spot.

alBert NkaNsaH

Photo by Taylor FreudenbergCreek has a new addition to the collection; another undefeated district season banner

15spOrtsAthletes of the Month

Stephanie Segura Blake Wilson

Photo by Destinee Walker Photo by Amanda Compton

The athlete of the month is none other than soccer star, Stephanie Segura. She has been playing the game of soccer since she was five years old. Segura plays forward defender for Creek, and was first team all district last year. She was also the overall MVP for last year. Segura helped the Lady Wildcats reach their first place position this year. Segura participates in the Space City Futbol Club, playing on the ’90 team. Segura aided the ’90 team to reach state in the last year. With the impact she has made on Creek’s team and for the Space City Futbol Club, who wouldn’t want to take her to help their college team? She is currently looking at Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, and Barry University. After playing soccer for so long, Segura has several memories of great victories and heartbreaking losses during past her seasons. Her favorite memory was when she had received the award of MVP while attending an all boys’ camp.

Our male athlete of the month is no novice when it comes to birdies, bogies, and holes in ones. Blake Wilson, a golf enthusiast, is experienced when it comes to precision and accuracy on the course. Wilson’s father introduced him to the game when he was only three years old, and in the past fourteen years has covered a lot of ground. At League City Intermediate he won district in both the 7th and 8th grade. Continuing into his high school career, Wilson made varsity his freshman year and consistently plays in the top team rank. During the school year, Wilson averages a score of 75 with a low round of 67. During the summer he plays Houston Golf Association tournaments, and last year he won 6 out of 7. When asked about his goals for this year he said, “I’m trying out for the Shell Houston Open. It’s a pro tour so we’ll see how it goes.” Playing golf during college is an obvious decision for Wilson, and he looks forward to attending University of Houston, or an out of state university.

taylOr FreuDeNBerg DestiNee Walker

Girls knock it out of the park

Over the past few weeks the Clear Creek softball season has been in full swing. With the starting scrimmages out of the way, the new team is ready for anything. The Lady Wildcats played the Santa Fe Indians for their first non-district game. The game went into eleven innings, and was won by the Lady Wildcats with a score of 4-3. Team leaders were Jordan Mattison and Princess Daniels. Mattison had a batting average of .667, and Daniels had an average of .400. The Lady Wildcats then played in the La Porte tournament, and were 2-0-1 in their pool play, but the games were rained out after a hard storm. The next non-district game was against Barbers Hill, with the Lady Wildcats winning the game with a final score of 1-0. The team leaders were Jordan Mattison and Ashley (Jersey) Bertot. Mattison led the team with a batting average of .500 and the only RBI (runs batted in) during the game. Bertot had a batting average of .333 and scored the only run throughout

taylOr FreuDeNBerg

the game. The Lady Wildcats participated in the Second Annual CCISD Softball Classic at their home field on February 21-23, 2008. They beat Sante Fe during their game 5-1. Next, the Lady Wildcats played against Fort Bend Travis 10-0. The leader for the game was Misty Munley, with a homerun on her first at bat. The softball team played Morton Ranch, with a final score of 6-3. The last game of the tournament was an exciting game against the Dobie High School Longhorns. The Lady Wildcats were taken into the eighth inning and put into ITB (International Tie Breaker). Creek came out on top when they scored four runs in the last inning, winning 6-4. Creek played another non-district game against the Atascosita High School Eagles. The game went on against bone chilling wind and the Lady Wildcats pulled out a win of 5-0, giving Creek a 7-0 undefeated season. With district coming up, and the undefeated season for grabs, there’s no doubt that this will be one challenging softball season. The Lady Wildcats are on the prowl to keep their undefeated season and place first at district.

Photo by Wendy WrightSoftball team cheers from the sidelines.

16 phOtOFinish