RHS News

Stepping Down
by Heather Leach

School newspapers are a lot of hard work. People may not think so but as Editor in Chief we really do clock a lot of man hours. I came into this position over the summer of my

sophomore year. I'd never taken the class before but Mr. Beach trusted me with the postion. I had no idea what I was doing. The only thing I really had to work with was two previous print newspapers and my imagination. My staff was so awesome. We were all learning, no body had the upper hand at anything really.
    We made it through the first year with thirty issues and a new experienced staff. This year I had to try to think how we'd re-vamp the look which is a difficult task. I had a new staff, a big, new staff. I didn't know how to teach what we do, last year we all learned together. So we started with a struggle. We've produced 15 issues now, 45 for me acting as Editor in Chief, and now it's time to hand over the torch.
    I'm not sure who exactly concocted this idea of taking my job away from me, I love it, but I think it's time. I work two to three hours in one night some times and I have dedicated my life to this it's time for someone else to have that chance.
    I'm now handing my paper over to Junior, Michele Kirk. She's been with me from the beginning and I know she can handle it. Things are going to change. I won't be frantically running around any more looking for last minute quotes or scores that people forgot to get. Michele is going to do awesome, make sure to give her lots of support and ideas because now she has the challenge of a weekly newspaper that has a desperate need of re-vamping.

A Run-In with the Law

by Jessica Faglie

On Friday January 14 Sergeant David Howe, of the Portland Police Bureau, came to speak with high school students interested in law enforcement. Sergeant Howe has 18 years of experience in law enforcement having worked as a uniformed officer, a street detective, and a gang team. He has been shot 4 times.
He told the interested students of the job qualifications and testing process to enter law enforcement. You must have an associates degree, or 60 semester hours, be a U.S citizen, 21 years of age , and have at least 20/30 vision. You

must pass a psychological evaluation, a physical agility test, and a background check.
    There is a 10 week basic training and 14 week advanced academy for new officers. You are put on a 12-18 month probation period. There are special schools for becoming a detective or any other higher position.
    There are many different positions available in law enforcement. parole officer, corrections officer, FBI, forensic tech, detectives, sergeant and even a captain. The Portland Police Chief earns over $100,000 a year.
    You get to work with exciting equipment. Examples of such are explosives, firearms, handcuffs, and an in car computer. You may also work with a K-9 partner.
    Howe also pointed out the down sides to becoming a police officer. Some of these are high suicide and divorce rate, likely hood of injury or even death. 154 officers were killed in the line of duty in 2004. On the other hand, the upsides are a salary with benefits, peer support, availability of equipment and training, responsibility and respectability.
    “There was an abundant amount of valuable information regarding the steps of becoming involved in law enforcement. Sergeant Howe gave me new perspectives on the ups and downs of becoming a police officer,” said junior Sara Holloway.