Identity Theft Ring Broken

Fall Semester
By: Colleen Parker

Campus police announced the successful arrest of five individuals involved in a sophisticated identity theft ring at ETU. Jerome Johnson, a Computer Science grad student working in cryptography, has been named as the ringleader.

According to campus investigators, Johnson recruited student workers in the Registrar’s office to look up student records and copy personal information. Johnson then used this information, such as hometown and birth date, to guess the passwords of e-mail and social media accounts. Once in control of a student’s internet presence, he or an accomplice would claim an emergency and ask the student’s friends to wire or paypal money.

Investigators claim that Johnson’s ring scammed more than $50,000 in three months.

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Posted in Campus News, Freshmen | No Comments »

Final’s Stress

Fall Semester
By: Steve May

It’s that time of year again. Finals are here.

Most students suffer some stress from final anxiety, but some really have a difficult time adjusting.

“I throw up before every test,” reported Junior Tasha Pemberton, an English major. “I can’t sleep. I can’t eat, and I suffer dry heaves.”

“This is fairly common,” stated Dr. Lisa Carnes of the Psyche Department. “It is more common with Juniors and Seniors than with Freshmen and Sophomores. I think they just don’t understand how important that Grade Point Average is. It could cost you thousands of dollars in your future career.”

Mark Haynes, a Senior ROTC major, reviewed how he deals with test stress, “I eat lots of Nutter Butters and drink lots of chocolate milk.”

Other students report doing things like exercising, yoga, and one even reported resorting to witchcraft. “Say what you want, but it works,” stated the student, but she refused to give her name.

Dr. Carnes stated that the best thing to do is “get lots of sleep, drink lots of water, and eat healthy.” She also stated that exercise will help reduce the stress as well.

Anyone experiencing stress to the point of breaking needs to see the campus doctor and be referred to a psychologist or other specialist. “We want everyone to deal with this normal stress in a healthy manner,” Dr. Carnes said.

Posted in Freshmen, Local News | No Comments »

Engineering Major Missing

Fall Semester
By: Thomas Alvarez

ETU Mechanical Engineering major Susan Fong was reported missing on May 29th had Pinebox PD has yet to uncover any evidence as to her whereabouts. According to friends, Fong was seen as late as the morning of the 29th in and around the Applied Sciences building.

“Since she found the body a couple of weeks ago, Susie’s been hesitant to get onto any of the elevators in the building. And who could blame her?” noted Daniel Vasquez, friend of Fong’s and fellow engineering major. “But the last time I saw her, she was stepping into the North. I’d thought it was still taped off, but I guess I was wrong.”

Sheriff Butch Anderson commented on the situation: “Hard to go a month without an ETU kid going missing; especially this time of year with finals. No need to panic, she’s probably on a road trip with some girlfriends. We’ll find her one way or another.”

Students are requested to share any information as to the whereabouts of Susan Fong with ETU campus authorities or the Pinebox Police department.

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Posted in Junior, Local News | No Comments »

Those With No Eyes Are Watching

Fall Semester
By: Thomas Alvarez

This was the message scrawled on an envelope waiting for me this morning when I got to my office. It had been slipped under the door sometime during the night and no one was present to see who dropped it off. Inside the envelope were several over-developed photographs; each consisting of a field of white with occasional dark blotches. The patterns between them were dissimilar and none held any discernible form.

Attached to the photographs were newspaper clippings. One article from May 2008 speaking of Pinebox Elementary opening a separate building to house its daycare. Another dated October 1998 that wrote about the fires that destroyed half of the Indian Summer Trailer Park. A third dated August 18th, 1939 regarding a girl named Sally Mayfair undergoing special psychiatric care in the city’s hospital. Five more were included from various periods over the past century, all with no immediate connection.

While the package is more than likely nothing but some kind of hoax, its delivery comes at a very interesting time for Pinebox. One can’t help but notice oddities amongst recent news both through the Report and other local news agencies. Upon comparing national newspapers, and even more local articles written in Dallas and Houston, Pinebox news tends to possess themes that most other cities would find absurd. Locals may just be used to it, but here on campus—where a good portion of us come from places far outside the Texas border—our perspective must be different. The photographs I received, as well as the newspaper clippings are interesting. And given the city’s history and present I’m not entirely willing to toss it into the shredder, though a feeling in the pit of my stomach is telling me that I’d be smarter doing just that.

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Posted in Opinion, Sophomore | No Comments »

Pinebox Diner to Reopen

Fall Semester
By: Steve May

In the 1960s, the Pinebox Diner was a meeting place for Raven’s students, locals, and was known as having the best fresh pies in all of East Texas. However, in 1974, the Pinebox Diner shut its doors after thirteen years of serving our fair city. The owner, Tim Simmons, disappeared and as there was no owner, the enterprise had to end.

But now, Jimmy Tyler, a class of 65 alum of ETU, has purchased the diner’s remnants and is in the process of rebuilding the Pinebox icon. “It meant so much to me and I want to bring that same spirit back to our town.”

Mr. Tyler is planning a grand reopening on August first of this year. “The diner is going to be retro, like it was in the early 1960s. Authentic booths, a soda bar, and we are going to serve the biggest burgers in Texas, with huge orders of homestyle French fries, malts, and follow it up with homemade cherry and apple pies.”

The entire building has undergone basic reconstruction with a new roof, siding, and windows. “It’s been a dream of mine for many years, and now I am in a place where I can make it a reality,” Mr. Tyler said. “We have even purchased an authentic jukebox, though the music will be a mix of modern as well as the best of the sixties.”

“The place has great ambiance, and it’s like the spirits of the those who went ahead of us are there with us, hoping to make the diner come alive again.

This article was inspired by JD Wiker’s story Last Exit to Pinebox to be published in the Horror Anthology Buried Tales of Pinebox, Texas. It is a ghostly tale with a horrific twist that anyone who has had to travel during the holiday season can identify with.

JD Wiker has been writing since he got his first (toy) typewriter at age 8. After years of struggling along as a stockboy, gas station attendant, disc jockey, computer systems operator, game designer, and IP developer, he returned to his first calling, and is currently working on his first novel. JD lives in Virginia with his wife Keri. This story was inspired in part by their drive across northern Texas when they relocated from southern California.

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Posted in Local News, Senior | No Comments »

Fires Baffle Ninevah Investigators

Fall Semester
By: Steve May

ninevah

photo by: The Ninevah Weekly

The town of Ninevah has experienced several unexplained fires in the past month and  Fire Chief Levins is stumped.  “We just don’t know what’s causing these fires.  They do not appear to be maliciously set, and there is no source that we have been able to identify.”

The fires have “spontaneously” broken out throughout the town in no regular pattern.  The first occurred at Jan’s Deli during lunch service.  “It was in the corner beneath the television set.  One second everything was fine, then boom, flame was everywhere,” Jan Corey, the owner of the Deli stated.  “We thought it was probably an electrical fire, but the investigation could not explain it.”  Ms. Corey also said that the insurance agency was not helping her rebuild as they are wanting a cause of the fire to be determined.

“It’s a real catch 22.  They won’t give me any of the insurance money until the cause of the fire is determined, and the Ninevah Fire Department can’t determine the cause,” she said.

Other fires of similar nature have occurred at Marshall’s Warehouse, Toys 4 Kids, Newberry’s Restaurant, and Big Green.  “Of course there may be an arsonist behind all of these fires, but if we can’t find a cause, it makes the investigation very difficult,” said Chief Levins.

“We keep hoping these fires will end, but it seems another is happening daily.  We’ve been lucky that no one has been seriously hurt so far, but at this rate, it may only be a matter of time.”

Posted in Junior, Local News | No Comments »

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