No shortage of laughter in donkey basketball tournament

Josh Stemrich, Brian Larman, Garret Cochrell, Jon Syed, Hunter Skiles, and Sara Stemrich were the winning team at this year’s donkey basketball event at Timberline.

By Gradi Thomson

The second annual Donkey Basketball tournament was enjoyed by all who attended. There was no shortage of laughter or fun!

In the first game the Weippe Fire Department team fell to the dominating Clearwater County Sheriff’s Department players. A quick half-time took place and door prizes were given away. The lucky winners were Sheila Barteaux, Zarek Cochrell and Ethan Jared.

Half-time also included a donkey meet and greet where all were welcome onto the floor to get up close and visit with the four-legged players.

In the second game Timberline students and staff went head to head; it was a good game and the students prevailed in the end. The playoff game between the sheriff’s office and Timberline students was definitely captivating! A volley of scoring and a nail-biting tie at the buzzer pushed them into sudden death.

Timberline students pulled it out in the end to be crowned the 2013 Donkey Basketball Champions. The sponsors, Timberline Booster Club, appreciate all who participated and made the event a big hit!

Julie Jared having a yahoo moment.

Detective Amanda Barlow with her donkey.

School District news

By Superintendent Bob Vian

District level

During the last budget cycle the district lost a significant amount of revenue when the Federal Jobs Program ended with a loss of nearly $200,000. In addition we built a budget without assurance that the Craig/Wyden “timber money” which Western States have relied upon for years would be renewed. In July we received notice that there would be Federal timber funds, but at a level approximately $100,000 less than the prior year. In addition the district lost 45 students over the past year. State funds are based on students so funding from the state will be reduced.

Local taxpayers were generous and passed our operating levy of $1.94 million, the same level as the 2011-12 fiscal year.

The budget for 2012-13 was written to “right size” the district based on fewer students and funding cuts. The majority of the cuts to teaching staff were made via retirements and resignations. Several Instructional Aides were cut, but we are currently working to reallocate funds to rehire some of those lost positions. It is our intent that no student’s special needs will be neglected.

Putting money into facilities maintenance was a major concern. As you will read in the building reports several projects are underway. Our goal is to spend our money locally and most of the maintenance work is being performed by local contractors and companies.

Dr Kerrie Raines joins the district as our new Special Education Director. Dr. Raines served as a vice-principal, Federal Programs Officer, and Special Education Director in Glenn’s Ferry Idaho for the past couple of years.

Ben Jenkins will assume the duties of Lon Blades, who retired, as Transportation Director. Ben will continue as the head mechanic along with the Director’s position.

Cavendish School

Teacher Jenine Nord will start school with a logging theme this year, preparing for the county fair. Students will do research on logging the first couple of weeks of school. Jenine plans to ask local loggers to speak to the students. Students will take a field trip to the Dam Visitor Center and the Orofino Museum on Aug. 28 to learn about logging.

The furnace was replaced at Cavendish.

Peck

Mindy Pollock will have the Peck students working on projects for the Clearwater Fair as well. The logging theme of the fair will dictate projects.

Timberline Schools

New Principal Shaun Ball has moved to Pierce from Bonners Ferry. He reported that the one portable which was purchased has been moved from the east side of the school. The portable is sited next to the current Timberline Elementary building. TES will now have six classrooms for the seven K-6 grades. No elementary students will have classes in the high school this year. The second portable was returned to the vendor.

Timberline High School will have one new teacher this year; Joe Lawrence replaces Shannon Poppe, long time School District #171 teacher who moved to Wyoming. Mr. Lawrence will teach Language Arts. Joe attended high school in Lewiston, did his student teaching in Lewiston, and substituted there last year.

The new sewer system is nearing completion. The nearly $300,000 project is being built by local contractor Riverview Construction. The new system will replace a system that used two sewage ponds that were beyond their life span. The majority of funds for the project has come from the districts $232,784 Building Fund (money from property which the district has sold, we are currently receiving $250 per month due to the sale of Weippe Elementary on a contract) which will be depleted. The balance will come from Federal forest funds.

Orofino Elementary

New Principal Shelly Brooks has joined our staff from Priest River. Mrs. Brooks has six years of experience as a high school principal in Priest River and Kellogg. Prior to becoming a principal she served in several administrative positions and as a Special Education Teacher.

Deidre Jenkins will become a full-time fourth grade teacher. Lindsay Waggener was hired to fill Mrs Jenkins’ half time position. Jennifer Jyler will be the Special Education teacher at OES.

Mrs. Brooks and head custodian Justin Howard have been overseeing several building upgrades at OES. The portable classrooms are being removed from the school grounds. Avista has removed several power poles and upgraded insulation on the overhead wires near the school. Two restrooms are being remodeled due to floor joist dry rot and generally poor condition. Two classrooms, where odor problems have persisted for the past couple of years, were stripped to subfloor level. New floors and carpets have been installed to make the classrooms ready for students and staff for the new school year.

Orofino High School

Principal Robert Alverson is the “old timer” in the district administration. He will begin his second year as principal at OHS. Doug South, hired from Marsing High School, will be the new Vice Principal. Mr. South will also serve as Activities Director. Doug will handle all aspects of school administration including teacher supervision, student discipline, and student safety. Michael Tetwiller has been hired to teach math at OHS. Mr. Tetwiller replaces retired social studies teacher Bo Cummings.

Space has been adjusted to make room for the seventh grade move to OHS. Seventh grade lockers and a computer classroom used by the seventh graders were moved from OES.

OHS has received a wiring upgrade to allow all computer labs to operate simultaneously, something that the building wiring could not handle in the past. New rain gutters have been ordered for the front of the building. Old worn and torn carpet is being replaced in three classrooms by local contractors. The carpet was a safety hazard as students and staff tripped on the seams that had four inch gaps of missing carpet.

Local woman serves in Guantanamo Bay

Jade Fitzwater, a 2009 graduate of Timberline High School, is now serving her country as a Security Specialist at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.

By Alannah Allbrett

When I think of Guantanamo Bay, like many people, I instantly get images of Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson yelling at each other in the movie A Few Good Men. Most Americans only know bits they read about it in the paper or hear on the news. Few of us will ever have firsthand knowledge.

Jade Fitzwater, a 2009 graduate of Timberline High School, has had exactly that – firsthand experience living at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. She has had many unique experiences stemming from her choice to serve in the U.S. Navy. Jade grew up in the small town of Pierce, where her family lives still. She knew she wanted to go to college, but she did not want to graduate with huge student loan debts.

Originally, Jade thought she would go to WSU to earn her degree. Joining the military wasn’t top on her list, but she contacted the recruiters in Lewiston to find out what they had to say. They visited her at Timberline High and explained all of the benefits and options available to her. Jade said they were very thorough and helpful – explaining how she would be eligible for free medical, free college, a steady paycheck, and get to travel the world. Joining the military was also the last thing everyone else thought she would do, but Jade decided it was exactly right for her.

While awaiting her date to ship out to basic training, Jade worked as a CNA at the Royal Plaza, an assisted living center in Lewiston. That intimidating and challenging day finally arrived, however in February of 2010. She spent two “long months” in basic training – the stuff movies are made of, before starting her A-School – specific job training for her career in the Navy. By the time she finished her schooling in Meridian, Mississippi, she was an honor graduate, eligible for an Accelerated Advancement Program. After six to 12 months at her first command post, she was eligible for promotion to an E-4 rank.

Jade was sent to her first duty station in Fort Meade, Maryland where she gained further experience and was nominated for Junior Sailor of the Quarter. She won runner-up position and advanced to E-4 rank.

After about a year, she knew she was ready for a new challenge and volunteered for individual deployment. Her chain of command informed her that a billet opened up which they thought she consider; the assignment was for GTMO, or GIT-MO as it’s called in the vernacular, Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp, Cuba.

Jade calls GTMO “a once in a lifetime opportunity.” She said it’s an honor to be a part of the mission there and all that it stands for. “It’s kind of crazy to think that, in a way, we’re making history.” Jade is part of the Joint Task Force (JTF) whose responsibility it is to conduct safe, humane, legal, and transparent care and custody of detainees, including those ordered released by a court. The JTF collects, analyzes, and disseminates intelligence for the protection of detainees and personnel working in JTF Guantanamo facilities, in support of the War on Terror. The JTF is charged with planning for and, on- order response to the Caribbean mass migration operations.

As Junior Trooper, Jade has been selected by her chain of command to represent the department and what they do. She was chosen out of all E-4 and below personnel to represent the JTF.

Jade has not served any sea duty yet, but when her current assignment is over, she is up for sea duty orders. Given her current assignment and security clearance, it is likely, she said, to go to another intelligence command. Working with the cryptologic intelligence community, she is already familiar with that type of command. Where she is sent, ultimately depends upon the duty needs of the Navy. She hopes to get to go overseas to Japan, Bahrain, or Italy. Right now, however, she enjoys the mission and her place in it.

Since being in the Navy, Jade has only made it home to Pierce three times. She admits to missing “the small town vibe” sometimes, but says, “I know when I go home, everything will be the same. More than likely, the same people are going to be there, and the town isn’t going to change. Yes, I miss my family, and yes it’s hard to be away at times, but I know that not everybody can do what I do. I know that in the end this was my decision.”

When asked if her future holds re-enlistment, Jade said, “My contract of active duty expires February 2015. Depending upon where I’m at in my career, that will determine whether I re-enlist or not.” If she does leave the Navy, after this tour of duty, she has definite plans to continue with college and hopefully work for the government in another capacity.

 

Contractors at Guatanamo Bay recently painted ‘Honor Bound’ at the Naval Base. The task force’s full motto is ‘Honor Bound to Defend Freedom.’