Fall Semester
By: Steve May
photo by: Jake Miller
East Texas University is beginning a new Teaching program in conjunction with Pinebox Middle School. “This is a great pilot program that enables our teaching majors to get classroom experience and log hours for their graduation requirements, and assists our local school district that is consistently short of qualified substitute teachers,” said Associate Dean Linda Taylor of the ETU Education department.
“I think its a great opportunity for us,” said Sophomore education major, Lita Davis. “I love the idea of molding young minds and helping them to realize what is truly important in life.”
Pinebox Middle School suffered greatly earlier this year when three students and a teacher went missing following an afternoon tutorial session. None of which have since been found and the investigation is still ongoing. Since then, the school has had a very difficult time finding qualified substitutes willing to work in the district.
“The truth is, people are scared. But , honestly, we have beefed up security, added cameras, and we believe we have a safe, educational environment here in Pinebox,” said Superintendent of Schools, Mat Lowery.
The new program is ready to be implemented in August of 2009 and involves student educators co-teaching with experienced teachers for a month, then becoming long-term substitutes for the remainder of the school year. The students are paid as substitutes and receive four hours of course work for their efforts.
Tags: juniors, Middle schools
Posted in Campus News, Sophomore | No Comments »
Fall Semester
By: Colleen Parker
photo by: Sara Marshall
Campus police are reminding students this week to avoid wild animals that may wander onto campus. This on the heels of a freak alligator attack outside the Lady Athlete’s Dorm. Simone Hawthorn was sent on a Life-flight helicopter ride to Houston’s Medical Center after a she was found unconscious, bleeding profusely, and missing her left leg from below the knee. The quick thinking of a Residence Adviser slowed the bleeding enough to save Hawthorn’s life.
“Safety is really a big deal here,” said RA LaTrisha White. “Every month the Student Life office makes all RAs go through crisis training. It’s come in handy more than once.”
Campus police blame Hawthorn’s injury on an alligator driven onto campus in search of water.
“As you know, most of Texas is entering the Summer already in a state of severe drought. These alligators who used to be fat and happy in a little bayou or creek up in the Thicket are finding their habitats drying up. Unfortunately, sometimes they wander onto campus and a tragedy like this happens,” said Game Warden Jim Seavers.
So far, authorities have been unable to locate the alligator that attacked Hawthorn.
Tags: alligator, safety
Posted in Campus News, Junior | No Comments »
Fall Semester
By: Thomas Alvarez
This is the first of the articles left for me anonymously about a week ago. I’m posting it here in the hope that someone may have some idea as to why it was left for me.
Originally published May17th, 2008
photo by: Pinebox City Council
In a ribbon cutting ceremony presided over by Mayor James Flowers, the Pinebox Elementary Daycare was opened this morning. Those in attendance included elementary school faculty members, district administrators and members of the Risen Church of Pinebox whose generous donations helped to open the building before the end of the current school year. Flowers addressed the attendees noting, “Without the kind donations from the Risen Church and several Pinebox businesses we would not be here celebrating the rebirth of an organization our city’s parents have come to count on when it comes to the care of their kids.”
The new daycare facility was required by the school after the portable classrooms Pinebox Elementary used previously were destroyed when a delivery truck driven by an intoxicated Bill Reyes crashed into them in December of last year. While the buildings were completely demolished the accident occured in the early morning hours before school had begun and no one, except for Reyes, was injured. Reyes was rushed to Pinebox Memorial where he succumbed to internal injuries.
Area police have been advised to increase patrols around the new facility to ensure that Pinebox drivers properly adjust to the new fifteen mile-per-hour speed limit. “The safety of the kids are our number one priority,” noted Sheriff Butch Anderson, “and we’ll be watching the streets to make sure there aren’t any more accidents.”
Tags: those with no eyes
Posted in Opinion, Senior | No Comments »
Fall Semester
By: Roy Ryder
A Sophomore student was severely burned by a fire in her dorm room at ETU’s HallowayHall early Sunday morning. Campus police received a 911 call from a neighboring student who lived across the hall and who reported smoke coming from the room. On arrival, police and fire crew saw flames in the window of the room and broke down the door. They found one wall engulfed in flames and the sophomore unconscious on the floor. Halloway Hall was evacuated and the fire was extinguished by fire officials. No other injuries were reported.
The student, whose name has been withheld pending notification of her parents, suffered burns and smoke inhalation and is being treated at the Golan County Hospital. An investigation into the cause of fire is under way, but it is not believed to be a result of arson. A fire official, speaking under condition of anonymity, stated that it was likely a result of an electrical failure and that the student had multiple lights plugged into every available outlet. Other students in Stanbury Hall stated that the injured sophomore had difficulty sleeping and had a reputation for being afraid of the dark.
Posted in Local News, Sophomore | No Comments »
Fall Semester
By: Thomas Alvarez
photo by: The Pizza Barn
Gurgitators from all over Texas will be gathering together 11:00 am Tuesday June 9th to take part in a pizza eating contest sponsored by The Pizza Barn. An entrance fee of $15 pays for all of the pizza you can shovel into your mouth. Prizes for the top three eaters include vintage Pizza Barn t-shirts and clothing, gift certificates to various Pinebox businesses and a grand prize of a trip for two to New York City for a chance to compete at the International Pizza Eating Contest held annually in Times Square.
Proceeds from the contest will be donated to the city of Ninevah to help with the city’s rebuilding efforts after it’s recent streak of fires. All interested parties should contact The Pizza Barn at 936-555-9273 to register or simply show up an hour before the event. The Pizza Barn has also provided an online form that can be filled out on their website.
Posted in Freshmen, Local News | No Comments »
