Claws come out in ‘Bride Wars’

By KACIE CROSS
UNLEASHED STAFF
Who are the scariest people alive?
“Bride Wars” would make anyone think the answer is brides.
The movie stars Kate Hudson as Liv and Anne Hathaway as Emma. They are lifetime friends. But when their weddings get booked on the same day, the claws come out.
Neither one wants to change the date or the location. And this get a little bit messy. Both Liv and Emma do some things that are a little bit insane.
Hudson and Hathaway create great scenes together. Throughout the entire movie there is never a moment when you don’t want to be watching.
Whether one is dyeing the other’s hair blue or showing an embarrassing video at their wedding, this movie has all a girl could ever want from a chick flick. It has drama. It has love. And last but certainly not least, it has boys.
When you are staring at the screen, some things in the movie will surprise you; others will make you want to cry.
This movie made me happy that I have best friends who live near me, and I can talk to them whenever I want to.
But it also made me realize that if I don’t have these childhood friends with me when I grow up and am getting married, it could be very sad.
I give this movie two thumbs up.
Girls, if you are looking for a movie to make you happy, see “Bride Wars.” It is a great one for the heart.

— Kacie Cross is a member of the Yakima Herald-Republic’s Unleashed team. She attends Eisenhower High School.

We’re thankful for …

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, some of the Unleashed kids — student reporters, photographers and artists from around the Yakima Valley — are sharing what they’re grateful for this year.
Some are local, like the terraces at Franklin Park. Some are personal, such as banana pancakes with toasted pecans and powdered sugar with steaming hot syrup. And some are universal: Life itself, clean water and food, shelter.
Plus, there are many more.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Jessica Serrano, La Salle High School
• Faith and justice.
• Family and loved ones.
• Diversity.
• Freedom of speech.
• Strawberrries.
• Philanthropy and philanthropists.
• Forgiveness.
• New beginnings.
• Art.
• Life itself.

Lisa Garrigues, Naches Valley High School
• My caring parents.
• My protective older sisters and brother.
• My supportive friends, teammates, teachers and coaches.

Hannah Naughton, Davis High School
• My family’s health.
• Banana pancakes with toasted pecans and powdered sugar with steaming hot syrup.
• My parents’ love.
• My friends.
• My two crazy sisters.

Samantha Knittle, Davis
• Marching band.
• My family.
• The sun and warm weather.
• School (but not homework).
• Clean water and food.
• My friends.
• Free speech.
• My teeth.
• Drum Corp International.
• God.
• Chocolate.
• Swing sets.
• My teachers.

Hannah Kivi, Riverside Christian School
• Freedom of religion.
• My parents.
• My friends.
• My Bible.
• Softball.
• My house.
• My school.
• Unleashed.
• Our country.
• Music.
• My ability to write.
• Gum.

Lety Clark-Olivero, Eisenhower High School
• My parents.
• My siblings.
• Shelter.
• Sustenance.
• My cell phone with its unlimited texting.
• Jesus.
• A healthy body.
• Laughter, life, love and a little dancing mixed in there somewhere.
• My boyfriend.
• My friends.

Kami Cross, Eisenhower
• “One Tree Hill.”
• Starbucks Christmas decorations.
• A car that runs (most of the time).
• Addicting books.
• Cuddling.
• My loving family.
• Thursdays.
• Friends.
• Football games. (And the end of football season.)
• Rainy days.
• Strawberry-pineapple iced teas.
• Musicals.
• Running through the sprinklers at night.
• My bed being right under the heating vent.
• Peacoats.
• Family videos from when I was little.

Georgia Gempler, Davis
• Freedom.
• Education.
• Family.
• Animals.
• Shelter.
• Opportunity.
• Books.
• Technology.
• Snow.
• Music.
• Artistic expression.
• Free time.
• Movies.

Loren Button, Riverside Christian
• Jesus.
• My parents.
• My home.
• My friends.
• “Guitar Hero: World Tour.”
• Being a senior in high school!

Colleen Fontana, Davis
Long books and warm blankets on cold rainy afternoons. Music and iPods and singing loudly in the shower. Friends to understand me and parents to confide in. Sisters to cry to and brothers to make me laugh. Raspberry peach iced teas from Lincoln Avenue Espresso and blue Papermate pens.
Warm winter coats and old furry boots. Moleskine planners from Inklings Bookshop and sledding down the terraces at Franklin Park. Stick shifts and curly hair and laughter and bright pink nail polish. My camera, Benji, and pony tail holders.
Summer thunder storms and the smell of the rain afterward. Games of kick the can and lap tag. Volleyballs and pianos and coffee. Thank goodness for coffee, and the roof over my head and the God over my roof and this life with which I have been blessed.

Sean Nagle-McNaughton, Davis
• Books.
• Music.
• Friends.
• Parents.
• Brothers.
• Kindness.
• Knowledge.
• Challenges.
• Grandparents.
• Conversations.
• Peace and quiet.
• Those who help others.
• Nature.
• Happiness.
• The whooshing sound of deadlines going by (just kidding).
• The world I live in.

Janessa Mains, Eisenhower
• My family.
• My friends.
• My camera.
• Knowledge.
• Books.
• My cat George.

• Animé.
• Gay pride.
• Music.

Hannah Besso, Davis
• A supportive family.
• Loyal friends.
• Laughter.
• Sports.
• Music.
• Weekends.
• Summer.
• Good food.
• Snow.
• Sleep.

Libby Young, La Salle
• God.
• My family.
• My friends.
• My school.
• Church.
• My cats.
• My teachers.
• Life.
• Dance.
• Vacations.
• Books.
• Freedom.
• My iPod.
• My cell phone.

Kacie Cross, Eisenhower
• God.
• My parents.
• My sisters and brother.
• My friends.
• Boys.
• Music.
• Dancing.
• Paper.
• Air.
• Elephant Ears.
• Food.
• Eyes.
• Hands.
• Computers.
• Telephones.
• Movies.
• “One Tree Hill.”
• Books.
• The saying, “If you don’t like something, change it; if you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
• Tennis.
• Musicals.
• Makeup.
• Showers.
• The color blue.
• Rain.
• Relationships.
• Life.
• Love.
• Laughter.

James Hibbs, Davis
• Books.
• The Davis High School library and its librarians. They keep it open from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday to help kids study.
• Doug Johnson and Avid.
• Food.
• My siblings.
• My parents.
• Kenneth Capp and epistemology as manifested in “Theory of Knowledge.”

Alex Braman, Davis
• Davis High School.
• My friends (We make Davis fun).
• My iPod (I take it everywhere).
• My camera (I want to take it everywhere).
• My family (They raised me how I am today).

Jasmine Okbinoglu, Eisenhower
• My family and friends.
• Music.
• Books.
• Food.
• Tennis.
• Laughter.
• Summer.
• Swimming.
• Movies.
• Art.
• Nature.
• Candy.

Jessica Cummings, Bickleton High School
• God.
• My loving family.
• My church.
• My fellow believers.
• My friends.
• My gifts and talents.
• My country.

Alyssa Patrick, Eisenhower
• John Mayer’s lyrics and musical talents.
• Sunday nights, squished on the couch between my mom and sister, watching “Grey’s Anatomy.”
• My brother.
• Authors who lace so much into each sentence that my mind never has to stop unraveling new clues.
• Jim and Pam. Always. If the writers on “The Office” break them up, I will have a nervous breakdown.
• Rachel’s Challenge, Leadership Camp and Invisible Children.
• Mango ice cream.
• “Benny and Joon.”
• My family.
• Teachers who never stop teaching the way they believe they should teach, even when some of their students don’t give them that effort in return.
• Broadway.
• Ike’s Little Theater.
• My car, its CD player, and 20-minute drives at the end of long days.
• My bed.
• My physical health, so I can dance.
• My opportunity to go to college.

— Want to see more artwork by artist Samantha Knittle? The Davis High School senior has an online portfolio. To check it out, visit http://samanthaknittle1.tripod.com.

Behind the scenes at the big game

By KACIE CROSS
UNLEASHED STAFF

Two Davis vs. Ike games in one season of football!
Yakima’s two biggest public high schools — Davis and Eisenhower — have enjoyed a long-standing rivalry for decades. But earlier this year, the schools were placed in separate divisions in the Columbia Basin League for several major sports, including football, basketball, baseball and fastpitch.
Even though Ike-Davis matches don’t count now in official division tallies, the final scores sure matter to Davis and Ike fans for bragging rights.
After the first game against Davis this season, things looked pretty good. Ike won the Sept. 19 match 33-3. I was sad it wasn’t a home game. This year, my sister is a cheerleader for Ike. She is a senior, and I felt bad because her last Davis vs. Ike football game had to be an away game for Ike. But, other than that, I really enjoyed it.
After the regular season ended, we were looking into playing some crossover games, and there was a bit of hope for big football fans, like myself. Because of Ike’s Oct. 31 victory against Kennewick, we were scheduled to face Davis at Ike’s Zaephel Stadium again Nov. 7.
This time, Ike was the home team.
I knew this game would be big — not only for the seniors on the football team, or the cheerleaders, or even for the fans. From what I understand, there has never been two Davis vs. Ike games in one season. At least, not in the stadium both teams share.
I was ready for this game. Really ready.
My parents are big fans of football, and this year my mom made a Cadet Spirit Couch. The idea has been around at Ike ever since I can remember. And it always looked so fun for the kids who got to sit on it. They got to enjoy front row seats while the rest of us had to stand in the crowd and nearly freeze to death.
This year, before every home game, I got to climb into a truck and ride onto the track to help deliver the spirit couch to the game. It made each game a little bit more eventful.
Nov. 7, we were done with the couch delivery by 6:45 p.m. And the game didn’t start until 7:30 p.m. So I had a few minutes to spare. Very few people get to games that early. And as I looked around, I worried we might have a small turnout.
But as game time got closer, more and more students and parents and grandparents showed up and my worries were relieved.
While watching football games and socializing with friends in the stands, there is one thing that always brings a smile to the students in the crowd: the cheerleaders. Not only are they all adorable, but they bring pep and energy that wouldn’t be there if they weren’t there. Everything the cheerleaders do brings a taste of hope and faith in our team.
Now, we come to the team. These boys went through a long season. And their last game was not only a home game, but it was against the team we always want to beat.
For the seniors, this game must have meant the world to them. For the juniors, it was a taste of what next year might hold. For the sophomores and freshmen, it meant being able to suit up for a varsity football game.
Playing Davis happens every year, normally only once. The second time around this season was a very intense and breathtaking experience. A few of our players already had suffered injuries and weren’t allowed to play in the game. But even without a few of our key players the team came together and beat Davis 44-14.
It was a great game, with ups and downs. But altogether it was one big and gratifying evening. Ike came out on top for the second time in one season.
As the 2008 Ike varsity football team left the field, Cadets fans were filled with pride and dignity.

— Kacie Cross is a member of the Yakima Herald-Republic’s Unleashed team. She attends Eisenhower High School.

Overwhelming Opportunity a Fun Thing

By KACIE CROSS
EISENHOWER HIGH SCHOOL

I started Unleashed last year as a freshman reporter.

I chose to apply because it sounded like a fun experience. There were so many different things I could be involved in through the program. If my passion was photography, writing, art or just telling the community how I feel, there was room for it.

I heard about Unleashed because my sisters Katie and Kami Cross were both on the team before me. They both had such great experiences, they said I should definitely consider applying. So at the end of my eighth grade year, I got an application and started filling it out.

As I sat looking at the paper I couldn’t help but think, “WOW, this seems really hard, fun, and fulfilling.” And Unleashed has turned out to be all three of those things.

It is actually a job, and sometimes I have to do things I don’t enjoy or am not amazing at. But it is fun as well.

Unleashed is very welcoming. We have team meetings once a month, and we get to learn more about journalism and how to conduct interviews.

The fulfilling part is my favorite. After I have put all the time and effort into a story and see it on the front page of the Unleashed section, it takes everything inside me to not just have a huge smile on for the rest of the day.

Sometimes, I write stories about things that aren’t the easiest topics. When I come across a topic that I’m not familiar with or just don’t really understand, I have to find someone who would know and do the research.

Earlier this year, I wrote a story on the emotional and social effects of sex on teens, and I really had no idea how to start. It took me a long time to get comfortable with the interviewing process. But over time, I have been able to get more comfortable with different topics and asking people questions I might not even ask a friend.

When I think of the opportunity I have been given I get overwhelmed. Being able to express how I feel and being about to write stories about whatever I want to write about is such an honor.

I’m so glad I listened to my sisters’ good advice. To tell the truth, when they first said I should think about it, I didn’t really want to. Now, I am so happy my family convinced me to step outside of myself and do this. It has been one of my best experiences so far.

I judged a book by its cover and was proven so wrong. Unleashed has given me so much in every aspect of life. I am better at speaking to people I don’t know. I can talk to adults without feeling stressed and uncomfortable. I have learned to use my time wisely. I have also found ways to think of different story ideas.

Sometimes, I am unsure if I should chose this story theme or that story theme. But then I realize I could write about both of them.

Working for the Unleashed section is very rewarding. I really, truly, deeply enjoy working here.

Before I worked for Unleashed, I never thought about how much work it is to make the newspaper everyday. At one of our meetings, we take time to tour the building. We get to see everything that goes into making the paper come out every morning.

The next time you read anything in the paper — whether it’s news, wedding announcements or the obituaries — keep in mind how much work it takes to rebuild the entire newspaper every day.

I think everyone does an amazing job with their own sections. And, personally, I think they deserve a big thank-you.

And so do the people that read the newspaper.

So, to everyone who works on or reads the Yakima Herald-Republic, thank you! You are all what makes Unleashed such a fun thing.

— Kacie Cross, a sophomore at Eisenhower High School, is in her second year on the Unleashed team.

Mama Mia!

By KAMI and KACIE CROSS
EISENHOWER HIGH SCHOOL

“Mamma Mia!” did not let us down.

Although the music was a bit before our generation, we were still raised listening to it and remember dancing around the house to “Dancing Queen” and other various ABBA hits.

When we saw the preview for this flick, we were excited beyond measure. The plot, although a little scandalous, is fun and kept us guessing until the very end.

Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Dominic Cooper star in this summer’s film adaptation of the Broadway Musical “Mamma Mia!,” a story of finding yourself and happiness, and what that truly means.

Donna Sheridan (Streep) is a single mother to 20-year-old Sophie (Seyfried). Donna is working hard to run a business and host the wedding of her daughter’s dreams.

However, Sophie also dreams of discovering who her real father is. So she invites the three candidates to her wedding. When all three possible fathers show up, it leads to two days of mayhem and mishaps.

It seems like audiences would be on the edge of their seats through the entire movie, trying to figure out exactly who Sophie’s dad is. And to be honest, you are.

Everything about this film is exhilarating. The music made us want to jump up out of our seats and dance, but that might have embarrassed our family.

Seyfried plays an excellent Sophie, with a voice that could touch even the hardest of hearts.

There were parts that made us want to laugh, parts that made us want to cry, and parts that made us want to be in Greece. The scenery is so beautiful.

This is one of those films that will instantly go into the hearts of all who watch it. While it might also attract a different generation than ours, we enjoyed it thoroughly and think anyone who enjoys musicals will want to not only see the flick, but buy the soundtrack and listen to the songs over and over and over again.

Sex Effects

By KACIE CROSS
EISENHOWER HIGH SCHOOL

Many high school students do not fully understand the drastic impact sex can have on them.

Teens need education on how to protect themselves from getting pregnant or from getting a sexually transmitted disease. But they also need to know about the social and emotional effects sex can have on teenagers.

“Many teens feel regret, pain and hatred” after having sex, says Lee Garcia, a peer-to-peer coordinator with Full Circle, a program that teaches the importance of making healthy choices.

It’s offered through Life Choices, an organization that started in 1986 with the mission to provide options to abortion. Before changing its name, Life Choices was known as the Crisis Pregnancy Center.

In the Full Circle program, teens learn about sex — not only in a physical way, but the feelings that often come with it. According to Garcia, the program aims to help young people understand the bigger picture.

For example, Garcia says, teens who have engaged in sexual activity in a relationship are more likely to have sex in subsequent relationships, and this can compound feelings of regret when those relationships come to an end.

Another thing to consider is that the effects of having sex are often different for girls and boys, says Gerry Gibbons, an Eisenhower High School guidance counselor. According to Gibbons, girls normally feel more regret, more guilt, and more fear of the consequences.

Can teens have too much information about sex? I don’t think so. Being taught about sex doesn’t encourage kids to engage in it.

Teens normally make wiser decisions about being sexually active when they have all the facts. And the emotional and social effects of sex should be a big part of teaching teens about sex.

Kacie Cross — Eisenhower High School

6:30 a.m. Wake up and shower.
7 a.m. Get dressed.
7:30 a.m. Go to Ike and get on the bus heading to the leadership convention in Ellensburg.
8:30 a.m. Arrive in Ellensburg.
8:30 a.m. Listen to speaker.
10 a.m. Do group activities, meet new people.
11 a.m. Listen to speaker again.
12:30 p.m. Go to lunch: Taco Bell.
1:15 p.m. Arrive at Ike.
2 to 6 p.m. Take a nap.
6 to 7 p.m. Do homework.
7:30 p.m. Have dinner.
8 to 9 p.m. Go to dance class at Comotion.
9:30 p.m. Finish homework.
10 p.m. Go to bed