These Kidz On The Ball, Not The Skidz

Movie director John Singleton, move over. Meet the “kidz in my hood.” They’re kidz in my class, kidz in my school, Sandpoint High School, and even kidz in my home.

They’re good kidz. Readers concerned about today’s youth need to know about them.

Kidz and CNN

Kyle Delamarter and Mike Delucchi, top brass at the Cedar Post, Sandpoint High’s student newspaper, recently joined in a live CNN broadcast.

Writer Ben Stein, a frequent Sandpoint visitor and television actor, invited the two to watch him at the Edgewater Resort, as he participated, live via satellite feed, in “Talk Back America.” Stein, aka “Wonder Years” teacher, managed to inject about three complete sentences into the lively discussion on racism and the O.J. verdict. Other speakers, even the moderators, interrupted Stein frequently.

Cedar Post kidz got their first up-close taste of how some of the big timers in the electronic media do their journalism. They scratched their heads and chuckled.

Kidz caring about others

Sandpoint High senior Nicole Baran recently started a human rights club at school. She wants students to understand cultures other than their own. Baran, 17, abhors name-calling and speaks her mind to those who fling verbal offenses toward others.

“They say they don’t really mean it,” Baran says, “but they don’t realize how much it hurts. It’s really important to start getting them aware.”

Baran, her twin brother, Paul, and five other club members will attend Camp PEACE (People Everywhere Are Created Equal) next month at Twin Lakes. She hopes to find ideas for curbing what she terms as racism at her school.

“It’s hurting, offending or insulting someone because of color, sexual orientation, their looks or their beliefs,” Baran says, “not having a full understanding of their culture.”

The articulate class leader has earned her own epithet for outspokenness in behalf of others - “Solve-it-all-Nicole.”

Kidz and Horses

Four Bonner County kidz representing the Emerald Empire Junior Arabian Horse Club flew to Albuquerque on Tuesday, to compete in youth judging at the U.S. Arabian National Horse Show. Teammates Josh Fedora, Sissy Crane, Alyce Rohrer and Annie Love honed their skills for the past two months by writing and presenting reasons for the classes they would observe.

On Friday, they judged 10 halter and performance classes. Then, they defended their placings for four of those classes. After eight hours of brain work, they took in the rest of the show. They’ll hear results at an awards breakfast this morning.

Coach Barbara Tibbs has seen many of her kidz bring home ribbons, plaques and even a first place bronze trophy at the national event.

Kidz who believe in being there

Sandpoint High skate freak Ethan Owens does this. In fact, he’s never missed a day of school.

Owens, a junior, drives his 1977 black Chrysler New Yorker to Sandpoint High every day to attend his six demanding classes.

His sister, Rose, inspired him. Now a University of Idaho junior, Rose never missed a day until her sophomore year of high school. Once, illness forced her to go home during the last two hours of class. That was all she missed throughout her high school career.

Ethan thought her devotion to school was neat, so he does the same. By the way, he’s never earned a grade below an A, either.

It’s neat working with and knowing kidz like these. They don’t always make headlines, but they’re pretty cool dudes!

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