She, the way she walks, talks, and carry’s herself is
beyond greatness

She, the way she looks at me with those big brown eyes
makes my heart stop and I feel paralyzed

She, the way she smiles can brighten up a poor man’s day
and make him feel rich in every way

She, sculpted so perfectly with a face of an angel, the
devil can’t help but to be mad at what he doesn’t have

She, the way she flips her long dark hair takes my breath
away, each strand is beautiful in every way

She, the way she laughs, makes me believe anything is
possible

She, with lips so soft, and kisses so sweet she knocks me
clean off my feet

With a heart of gold, and a personality so rare, oh man I
can’t help but to stare

She, with beauty inside and out I’m the luckiest person
without a doubt

She, still gives me butterflies, and makes me tongue
tied; I don’t know what’s next

How can one person make me so weak, but give me so much
life at the same time, she is my drug, my one and only love

She is the best thing for me, lying in bed, stealing
kisses that’s life at its best; mesmerized by everything she does

She I tell you SHE is the one for me!

A sudden fire has turned tragic in Jefferson County after homes have been burned down, and two have lost their lives. Already this fire has caused too much loss, after also having possibly claimed another woman’s life as she is missing after her house being burned down. The fire which started Monday in Jefferson County was at the probable cause of the draught and people burning trash in an area where there has not been enough moisture. Fire officials have been able to control over seventy percent of the fire, but there is still 3.65 miles of it to be contained.

The individuals who lost their lives in the fire were likely to be residents or visitors according to a police official’s statement. (Fiske 1) the identity of these persons has not yet been released, but not knowing the identities does not make the ordeal any less tragic.

It didn’t help that Ponderosa pines were spurring on the fire, officials say that these trees burn to ashes and the heavy layer they create trap in the heat. (Los Angeles Times) The fire has burnt down fifteen to twenty five buildings with only about ten being homes. There are still warnings for people to evacuate.

Because this winter was so dry, there are a lot of ways a fire can start. The lack of moisture has left the dead vegetation vulnerable to sparks and anything else that may urge a fire to occur. No rain or snow has left all the dead vegetation from winter at an end for their spring leaves to bloom.

It’s encouraged to keep any fires carefully watched and contained and to immediately put fires out if any wind kicks up. To properly put out a fire you need to douse it with water and cover with dirt. This will prevent any fires to happen, saving people from having to lose their homes or businesses as the people in Jefferson County have.

Be careful this spring and summer, it’s best to be cautious, and not careless about starting fires.

   Three lucky people won the Mega Million lottery that was record high amounts. The Mega Millions is a mullet state lottery game. To play It only costs one dollar. The more people play the higher the amount goes up.

     The winner’s states are Kansas, Illinois, and Maryland although no names have been released. Each winning ticket was expected to be worth more than $213 million before taxes, this was the largest amount ever recorded.

     Winning the lottery may not be all it’s cracked up to be. After winning people across the United States will be contacting you. Long lost relatives that you have never spoken too will be asking for money. People are often hassled for money. They receive letters in the mail from people they have never met asking for money.

      The odds are not in your favor according to The National Lightning Safety Institute the odds of getting struck by lightning are about one in 280,000, and the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are estimated at about one in 176 million, according to lottery officials. That bolt of lightning may strike you more than 500 times before you hit that jackpot.

     So what would you do with the money? I talked to several different people and most people had the same answers. Most people said they would help family first which included buying houses and paying off bills. Not many people said they would invest. I interviewed Ryan Canella a sophomore at CNCC and he said that he would buy the Baltimore ravens. I also asked Kelsey Kuenstler a freshman at CNCC and she said, “The first thing I would buy would be a new house for my parents.” This was a common answer that most people wanted to help their families out before they would buy something for themselves.

April has been named Genocide Prevention Month in large part due to the timing of The Holocaust and the genocides in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Darfur.  They all share a major, tragic anniversary this month.

When one envisions genocide, the well-known example of the Holocaust readily appears.  We must remember that the world has also recently seen genocide in Armenia, Cambodia, Liberia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and many other countries.  Arguably, genocidal policies are still being carried out today; in Sudan, for instance.  A handful of CNCC students and faculty have organized a week-long event in an attempt to raise awareness concerning genocide in hopes that we will come together to honor the past and act for change.

Monday, April 16

• 7:50 a.m. – Dedication of the “Field of Flags” – A field of flags will be on display in front of the Johnson building during the entire week of events.  The flags represent different that were murdered during the Holocaust.  Each flag represents 5,000 victims.  McLaughlin Lawn
• 7:30 p.m. – Screening of the documentary Paper Clips and discussion of the Holocaust by CNCC history instructor, April Sanchez.  Colorado Room

Tuesday, April 17

• 7:30 p.m. – “100 Days of Slaughter” a discussion of the Rwandan genocide, followed by a viewing of the documentary Ghosts of Rwanda by CNCC psychology and sociology instructor, Jessica Kruger.  Colorado Room

Wednesday, April 18

• 7:30 p.m. – Screening of the film The Reader and a discussion of the Holocaust and its aftermath by CMU graduate student, Robert Archer.  Colorado Room

Thursday, April 19

• 7:30 p.m – Screening of the documentary Screamers and discussion of censorship and its role in the Armenian genocide by CNCC student, Zach Higgins.  Colorado Room

Friday, April 20

• 7:30 p.m. – Joseph Kony 2012 film, presentation, and discussion by CNCC students, Caitlyn Berry and Sharayah Bachler.  Weiss Conference Room

Contact April Sanchez (april.sanchez@cncc.edu) or Jessica Kruger (jessica.kruger@cncc.edu) for additional information.

(Photo courtesy of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)

Photo by Jennifer Almond

   Ryan Huitt is a 22 year old artisan. He is the owner of Wildlife Expression Taxidermy located in Rangely (140 Morrison Ave.). So what is taxidermy?  Taxidermy is a general term describing the many methods of reproducing a life-like, three-dimensional representation of an animal for permanent display. In some cases, the actual skin (including the fur, feathers, or scales) of the specimen and is preserved and mounted over an artificial armature. In other cases, the specimen is reproduced completely with manmade materials, according to  Bing.Com.

   Ryan began his business at the age of 19. When asked how is business was Ryan replied, “I’ve been swamped. Business is really good.  Most people may think that taxidermy is only busy during the fall, which is not the case at all. I’m at the shop all year around”.

   Ryan not only provides service for the locals he also has customers from across the US. Grace Huitt, Ryan’s mother, works closely beside Ryan. “I enjoy watching him; Ryan is very good at what he does. It also gives me the opportunity to spend time with my son”, said Grace.

   The process of taxidermy requires removal of the skin from an animal’s shell and later transferring that skin to a precisely crafted replica of the animal’s body. This process is sometimes seen as distasteful or even macabre by some people, taxidermy is a form of art, demanding a great deal of knowledge about animals, as well as talent, skill, and expertise.

   “There is so much more behind the scenes of taxidermy than people think”, said Ryan.

   Ryan enjoys the sport of hunting as much as his father Frank Huitt does. “I’m lucky because love hunting, “said Ryan.

   Frank, Ryan’s father and Rangely’s newly elected mayor, enjoys hunting so much he has a trophy room with about 80 animals covering the walls. “I plan on building another trophy room so I can put the rest of my mounts in it”, said Frank.  

   All of the animals in the room were an accumulation of the last ten years or so of hunting. The animals are from places like South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, as well as places in the US such as Alaska, Utah, and Colorado.

   Whether it’s hunting or politics, the Huitt’s are supportive of each other’s endeavors and make everything a family business.

   For more info. On Taxidermy you can go to: http://www.bing.com/search?q=what+is+taxidermy%3F&src=IE-SearchBox&FORM=IE8SRC

   What is America without a snow cone, hot sun, and the sight of green outfield grass? Opening Day for Major League Baseball was April 5^th, 2012 and from the looks of how the day went, it’s going to be just another memorable year in Major League Baseball (MLB).

    Baseball, being America’s pastime is obviously a game that has been the same and enjoyed the same way for for over a hundred years. The MLB was founded back in 1875 when it only consisted of two teams which are still both in the league today; the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves. These organizations have tons of history involved with them but there are also brand new teams being featured in the MLB this year.

   The Miami Marlins are a new addition to the MLB this year along with their new 345 million dollar Marlins Park in Miami, Florida. The team moved from the Florida Marlins to the Miami Marlins after last year’s unsuccessful season, the team is full of new players, a new coach, a new stadium and a new vibe looking to turn the success of the organization around this year. Coach Ozzie Guillen after being released from the Chicago White Sox will try to get the Miami Marlins into a playoff spot this year. “What I do when I go anywhere is I sit in the hotel bar and get drunk and go to sleep. I get drunk because we are happy that we won or because I am very sad that we lost,” said Coach Ozzie Guillen.

OPENING DAY SCOREBOARD

St. Louis Cardinals 4 @ Miami Marlins 1; Boston Red Sox 2 @Detroit Tigers 3; Atlanta Braves 0 @ New York Mets 1; Toronto Blue Jays 7 @ Cleveland Indians 4;                                  Philadelphia Phillies 1 @ Pittsburg Pirates 0; Washington D.C. Nationals 2 @ Chicago Cubs 1; Miami Marlins 0 @ Cincinnati Reds 4; Los Angeles Dodgers 5 @ San Diego Padres 3;        Chicago White Sox 2 @ Texas Rangers 3; St. Louis Cardinals 11 @ Milwaukee Brewers 5; Minnesota Twins 2 @ Baltimore Orioles 4; San Francisco Giants 4 @ Arizona Diamondbacks 5; New York Yankees 6 @ Tampa Bay Rays 7; Colorado Rockies 5 @ Huston Astros 3;              Kansas City Royals 0 @ Anaheim Angels 5

Ricky Rubio, for those who do not know him yet, is a professional basketball player born in Barcelona, Spain, 21 years ago.

Rubio debuted for the first time in the Spanish ACB (Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto, in English, Basketball Association Club) League when he was 14 years old and that made him the youngest player to ever play in that league.

After some years playing at the highest level in Spain, finally he signed for The Minnesota Timberwolves on December 26^th of 2011.

Ricky Rubio debuted for the first time on an official National Basketball Association (NBA) game playing for the Timberwolves and since then, he has given a lot of joy to all of his fans and his teammates by averaging 10.6 points, 4.2 assists and 2.22 steals per game. He has played 41 games; 31 of them as a starter.

In his 41^st game in the NBA, on March 9^th of 2012, something really bad happened to Ricky Rubio. He suffered a left knee injury while defending Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant during the fourth quarter of the game that The Minnesota Timberwolves lost by three points at home. There were 16 seconds left to conclude the game, and Rubio tried to trap Kobe Bryant when he awkwardly planted and turned on his left leg. Bad news came from the doctors, who noticed the seriousness of the injury; the Timberwolves player tore the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) of his left knee.

Ricky Rubio underwent a successful surgery performed by Dr. Richard Steadman at The Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado, but, during the surgery, the doctors found damage to Rubio’s LCL (lateral collateral ligament) of the knee and they decided to reconstruct it as well as the ACL.

Now it is time to do rehab, a rehab that probably will take from six to nine months. This season is over to him and he is also going to miss the 2012 Summer Olympic Games scheduled to take place in London, England.

Although he has got injured at the best moment of his career, as he said on twitter, he is optimistic and thankful for all the support he has received. He also wrote the following words on his twitter: “Thank you everybody for your support. I promise I will be back soon and stronger. There is only one way to take it: move forward and stay positive”.

    It’s finally about to be summer vacation and that means getting your tan on, hitting up the beach or lake or river wherever you live at, no school and long summer nights. Where is the place to be in the summer? Some people argue it’s at the beach or at the lake or even down by the river!

   Some of the greatest places to go on summer vacation are to a different state or even a different country, when asking Jose Vargas what is so amazing about the Domincan Republic he says, “The DR is just amazing, the weather is always nice and the beaches and tourism is perfect for vacations.”

   Asking Jose what he likes to do on summer vacation he simply said, “ play baseball, hang out with friends who I haven’t seen in awhile and enjoy being home.”

   When Jose said quickly, “he can’t wait for summer and can’t wait to get home.” Why would anyone want to go visit the Dominican during the summer, he simply said “It’s a great experience, it’s a vacation you will never forget. Once your there, in that environment you will never want to leave.”

   Summer vacation reminds me of the cool breeze coming off the Pacific Ocean and the warm sun beating down on you while in the ocean cooling down; the long summer nights with all your friends and playing ball countless hours.

   Arguably the best summer vacation spot, Joey simply said, “it has to be my hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada nothing beats it.” Then asking him why would anyone want to vacation there, he simply said “ Vegas is a big tourist attraction, even if your not 21 there is plenty to do.”

   He went on and said, “You can do anything like rides, scenery, great places to eat, pools to swim in, movie theatres, gambling and drinking if your 21.”

   Asking Joey Luizza what is so amazing about Vegas, he says “It’s always warm and it’s a great place to be if you want to have a great time.”

   According to lonelyplanet.com, the top 10 travel sites in the US is first, US Virgin Islands followed by New York, Cincinnati, Ohio and at number six California (the whole state), at number seven is Boulder, then the big island in Hawaii and lastly it’s Yellowstone National Park.

   Catching up with a Colorado native, Mattson Schroeder, asking him about what’s so amazing about Denver? He simply said “Denver is the Mile High City, the people are all pretty cool, it’s big but has that small town feel to it.”

  Asking Mattson why you should visit Denver, he said “There is a lot to do, like water world a big water park, go to a Rockies, Broncos, or Nuggets game, you name you can do it, and the mountains are really close.”

   Hopefully wherever people go this summer whether it is to Denver or all the way to California or to Las Vegas or some country out of the United States, it is worth your while and just 24 days left of school!

Marco Sanches. Courtesy of Facebook.

   Each year Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC) selects a student for the rising star award. The rising star award is an honorable award given to an outstanding student that pushes themselves to become a better person.

   What does the rising star award mean? The nomination form for the rising star award states “Each year the State Student Advisory Council (SSAC) offers leadership awards to community college students who exhibit a high level of leadership and involvement in student activities.” The rising star award is someone who is academically minded as well as involved in multiple activities and clubs or organizations outside of the academic world.

   The nomination form also explains “Winning students will be recognized as a Rising Star at the SSAC Spring Luncheon.”

   There are 13 different two-year schools involved in the process of giving out this award; two students from each school are selected for the rising star award.
   This years Rising Star award for the Rangely campus of CNCC went to sophomore Marco Sanchez, a student here at CNCC that is graduating this May with his Associate of Applied Science degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology.

   He is an outstanding student that has worked hard to do as well as he does in the class room setting.

   Assistant Director of residence life and activities, Katie LaBeef commented that, “Marco has achieved great success through his hard work and determination. He maintains a high GPA while holding top positions in the campus’ most significant organizations.”

   His achievements in the classroom led him to being asked to join Phi Theta kappa (PTK) his freshmen year here at CNCC.

   PTK is an honor program for community colleges all over, it is highly recognized by universities and employers. In order to be a member of Phi Theta Kappa you have to obtain a 3.5 GPA and Marco Sanchez has obtained an accumulative GPA of 3.88 and has taken a total of 99 credits within his two years here at CNCC.

   Sanchez is also involved in many other areas of campus such as; the President of the Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) club, President of the Campus Christian Fellowship club, President of Student Government, and Vice President of PTK. He is also a member of the Rock and Ice club and has been an Resident Assistant (R.A.) for a year and a half.   

   When asking Sanchez about his feelings on receiving the award he replied, “I feel very honored that I was nominated by my peers and supervisor, let alone chosen to receive this award.”
   On April 10^th there will be a luncheon located in Denver at the Arapahoe Community College from12:00p.m. to 2:00p.m. that Sanchez will be attending. At the luncheon he will be presented with his plaque award for being a rising star.
   When asked if he was excited for the luncheon Sanchez stated, “Yes, it’s nice that both of my parents will be able to attend.”
  Congratulations To CNCC’s 2011-2012 Rising Star, Marco Sanchez; your hard work and great achievements are being recognized with this award, keep up the good work!

Jinnah Shrock. Photo by Jennifer Almond

    Jinnah was adopted from South Korea along with her twin sister Seon and left behind her birth mother and big brother. Twenty-five years would pass before she would find out that she was actually apart of triplets. Jinnah’s other sister, the third triplet, still resides in South Korea.

   Life started getting difficult for Jinnah in her sophomore year of high school; she would spend half of that school year hospitalized.

   Jinnah was diagnosed with “Bipolar Two” which is a type of depression.

   Jinnah had to work hard to catch up with her twin sister if she wanted to graduate on time, so she attended summer school and ending up graduating with her class in 2004!

   After graduating from high school, Jinnah started working as a secretary for her mom’s business, “Lands Partnership”. Then she began cleaning the pre-school in the city of Delta. She was hired part time at Delta’s Recreation center as a leisure person in which she helped run events and cleaned afterwards.

   Jinnah started attending college here at Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC) in August 2008. “My sister Seon attended CNCC and I thought a Junior College would be easier to adapt to,” said Jinnah.

   She would again miss an entire fall semester of 2010, after finding out she had a rare disease called “Mayo-Mayo”, which meant she was not getting any blood in the front of her brain.

   “I had to have two major brain surgeries to untangle my veins in my head at Stanford Hospital in California,” said Jinnah. After having the surgeries, Jinnah no- longer needs medication or any treatment what so ever!

   Jinnah’s biggest struggle has been math. “Thinking through the problems, it took me longer to get the correct answers. The best part of my experience here at CNCC has been meeting new people, making friends, and obtaining knowledge that I can use in my future,” said Jinnah.

   “Jinnah is a loving person, dedicated sister, enthusiastic employee, along with being committed to her educational goals,” said Leana, CNCC Librarian.

   “Jinnah has worked very hard to earn her degree. Through all of her challenges she has faced, she never wavered on her desire and motivation to obtain her degree,” said Charity, Counseling & Career Planning Coordinator.

   Jinnah is a beautiful example of how never to give up hope, never give up your dreams. Hard work and perseverance pays off.

   Jinnah has been working hard on her Associate in General Studies, and is among the 2012 graduating class here at CNCC!