As the mid season sets in the Meeker Cowboys keep runnin’ strong. This last weekend they attended the Coal Ridge Invitational. Speed demon Toby Casias ran in the 200 and 100 meter dashes and placed second in both, while the runnin’ fool Jake Boesch ran in the two mile and earned 13th in the state in the 2 “A” classification. Kathryn Doll not only ran the 200 and placed, but also jumped in long and triple and did magnificent. We can’t forget about the thrower, of cours,e as Baily Atwood placed in shot put. The end of the season is getting closer and closer but I don’t believe the Meeker Cowboys will be slowing down any time soon so we’ll be expecting nothing less at this week’s meet in Rifle.

Space Cowboy, Funky Chicken, California Rush and Airplaning are just a few different names for the “Choking Game.”

It seems commonly known that the game is dangerous but why is the “Choking Game” dangerous?  The “Choking Game” has been around since the 1800s.  Back then it was called the Harvey Wallbanger, which was an adult drink but used as a code name.

To begin, the “Choking Game,” lives up to its nickname.  Just like marijuana or cocaine, teens choke themselves to get a brief similar type of high.  In this case kids keep track of their “high time” to compete with other teens.  The game itself is prepared like any other where there are rules.  The first rule: everyone playing must get choked once and let the new players play first.

Teens on the internet warn kids that if they are looking at the “Choking Game” online to always delete their internet history.  The internet, cell phones and even gaming stations are all ways for kids to find out how to play the game.

“Choking Game” bloggers give details on how to choke themselves.  One blogger gives his way of playing the game for those who don’t “want to die!”  He gives a detailed plan, with spotters, on how to attain the desired “trip.”  There is no reason to share the techniques involved in the interests of safety, but the name alone speaks for itself.

The CDC says that only 82 kids have died from the game since 1995. This is wrong, and the CDC had admitted to it but it is not their fault.  Most of the “Choking Game” deaths are ruled as suicides and are yet to be proven otherwise.

What does the choking game do to your body?

The “Choking Game,” is not just a game.  Some little 4^th grader hanging out with his friends trying to find out who can hold their breath longer is unfortunately playing the “Choking Game.”  The biggest problem with the game is asphyxia, which is being deprived of oxygen.   The lack of oxygen can lead to horrible brain damage and kills many brain cells.

Brain cells transfer information and if they die then your brain will take longer to transmit information or keep memories.

Many parents wonder about the “Choking Game” and what to look for in their children.  The signs are easy to see but hard to catch.  Kids will have marks on their necks, bloodshot eyes and terrible headaches.  That of course is not all to look for because teens will be more irritable, wear high neck shirts, disoriented and have ties and ropes hanging in their rooms.

The “Choking Game” is killing kids, make no mistake.  No matter what is said on the internet or how safe it is told to be; it is dangerous and sooner or later it will kill you.

Suicide is nothing to ignore; this decision is beyond all others. It is one of the most powerful, hurtful, and weakest things a person can do.

Unfortunately, I had fallen victim to its allure.

The events leading to my dark time are demeaning and I pray and hope that you avoid horrible things that happened to me. 

For years it was buried, then came a recollection of my past events leading me to the thought of that eternal release from this world.

With depression, everything was meaningless. I felt no reason to even get up in the morning. The way I saw things; there was no silver lining, just a dark looming shadow casted over me. Nothing was real anymore, like I was living in a bad dream.

For the last two years, I have fought with myself, as well as everyone and everything around me. After each time I cut myself, I knew I couldn’t cheat my way out of this; I had to awake from this miserable, empty prison.

I was at my breaking point, when something tremendous woke me up. I realized I was hurting my family. That was when I made the strongest decision that I’ve ever made–to go to a psychiatric hospital. I was suicidal, and that broke my family’s hearts wide open.

My guts twisted and fear begged me turn back. My family walked behind me as we got closer and closer to the hospital entrance with the sign reading, “Colorado West Regional Mental Health Center.” Then, I was surrounded by other patients who were like me. They too were suicidal.

The doctors called us patients “it”. The other patients I met there became the people I cared most for, and I developed a new way of thinking by listening to all of their stories. I couldn’t believe the things those other people had gone through. It was too real.

The whole time I was in the hospital, I could feel myself healing. Slowly but surely I began to appreciate all of the little things in my life– things I had once overlooked. Everything started to come clear and I began to feel like everything would be okay. I started to laugh and smile again. My eyes had gained back that twinkle, and I couldn’t wait to go back home and show everyone the real me; the one who was held captive for two years.

To this day I am treated for depression, I am on anti-depressant medications. I am greatly thankful for Colorado West Regional Mental Heath. They unleashed my life and now I can accomplish so much more than I ever could before.

“Come on, try it…I dare you.” This was a quote from an episode of Criminal Minds  (Risky Business)  about a dangerous game called the “Choking Game.”  The FBI team discovers the quote on a website that was used to convince teens to play that game. “It’s the ‘good’ kids high,” says one of the FBI agents. Many good kids may see this game as a innocent, harmless way to fit in.

In reality this game is not at all harmless.

When Sarah Pacatte was young, she was enticed into playing the game by kids from a different town. This game was called the Hyperventilation Game. She only did it once, unimpressed with the high it was supposed to give.   She thought it was an unimportant part of her past.

Until it killed her son.

Gabriel Harry Mordecai was a twin.  He was a very caring, active young man who loved every thing about his life and he was Sarah Pacatte’s son.

Gabriel had a older brother and a twin brother. He loved the outdoors and snakes. He was a honor student who wanted to go to college, then head to the Marines Special Forces.  His idea of  bliss was someday to retire and care for snakes.

That all changed when Gabriel began playing this game.

One day Sarah overheard her twin sons talking about the game. She told them to stop;  it could kill them– thinking she was exaggerating– not knowing the game actually could.

A while later, while fishing with their older brother, Gabriel found a rope and started to chase Samuel around. He told him to stop and tried to convince him to throw the rope away.

Gabriel snuck the rope home.

Once inside his bedroom, he tied the grimy cord to his top bunk and wrapped it around his neck. He didn’t tie it–just loosely looped it.  His brother discovered him and called frantically for his mother.  Sarah rushed in and when she slipped her fingers underneath the rope, it fell away.  The slight pressure had been deadly.

When he was found his twin, Samuel called 911 while his mom tried to do CPR.  The following is a transcript of the 911 call:

“Hi, I have an emergency,” said Samuel overwhelmed in tears.

“Ok, what is your emergency?” the 911 lady  said trying to keep calm.

“My little brother might be dead.”

“Your husband might be dead?” she said not understanding.

“No, my brother.”

“Your brother. Ok, is he there with you?”

“Uh, Uh, yeah.”

“Ok.”

“But we think he might be dead. I don’t know.”

“Ok, hold on a second. How old are you? How old are you?”

“Thirteen.”

“Ok, where is your brother at? Where is your brother at?” again repeating herself to try and get Samuel to understand.

“He’s in our room.”

“He’s in your room. Is he breathing? Are you there by yourself?”

“No, I’m with my mother.”

“Ok, I want you to stay on the line with me.”

“Ok, ok, I need you to get an ambulance right away.”

“Ok, why do you think he’s dead?”

“Because there’s a rope around his neck tied to a bunk bed and he’s all purple and stuff.”

“Ok, how old is your brother?”

“Thirteen, we’re twins.”

“Ok, you’re twins and he’s thirteen too?”

He died 18 days after he was taken to the hospital. He was just 13 years old.

In another part of the country, Kevin Tork was playing the same game. His parents described him as a boy that would do anything for anyone.

When walking his sister home, a truck drove past them and yelled something at them. The truck drove up a hill and turned around. The passenger had a knife, Kevin pulled his sister behind him and the car drove off.

Another time, Kevin and his family were having lunch downtown, a lady came to Kevin’s dad asking for money. He said that he would not give her money but offered his meal. Kevin pulled out a ten dollar bill that he earned mowing lawns and gave it to the lady. Though his parents said she would probably use it to buy drugs, Kevin believed that it would help her.

Monday, March 30, 2009.

Kevin took a belt for the bathrobe that he had gotten from his dad. He tied it around his neck. When his sister walked in to the room the Choking Game had taken affect. His heart was still beating, but he died on the way to the hospital. He was just 15 years old.

Both of parents have had to fight through a horrible tragedy.

“I think of him every minute, of every hour, of every day,” says Ken Tork.

Sarah Pacatte says the same of her son Gabriel.”I think of him all the time, he is still my boy,”

They both prayed heavenly and looked to God for help. Something they didn’t do, is crawl in a corner and give up. They have done everything they can to tell the horrors of this game.

Have you played the game?

Kevin Tork                                             

Gabriel Harry Mordecai

On November 12, a helicopter went down up by Wilson Creek oil field. This was about 10 miles out of town close to the county line between Rio Blanco and Moffat counties. Seven Rio Blanco and three Moffat county sheriffs were on the scene along with eleven police officers and thirteen fire resuce and EMTs. A deputy is at the scene protecting it. NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) is sending an investigator from Texas. Also the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is sending investigators from Salt Lake City, Utah.

The pilot was Richard Westra  who was a former Air Tracker pilot for News 7, a Denver TV station.  Mr. Westra was sent to St. Mary’s hospital in Grand Junction. His wife Kelly Westra was killed. She was the only passenger.

All newspapers have their faults, being spelling errors, grammar or even the writer.  Yet in some instances the paper may not be at fault but those who are reading it might be.

Please don’t stop reading; by no means is this article to offend you but yet to get a better grasp on what public respects, acknowledges and despises.

Sometimes what makes writing an article fun is to write about something arguable, but this  writer by no means tries to oppose the reader but make them think on a different level in which other articles have not  yet made them twist and turn.

This article is both an apology and statement to the readers of the “Cowboy Round Up”. By means of apology on my behalf and the entire journalism staff we apologize for any offensive material that was  posted recently.

On the other hand however being a journalist doesn’t mean sugar coat the truth but report the facts and what happened–not a candyland fairytale.  You the reader are what keeps the paper alive  and we greatly appreciate that more then you know. All journalists of the “Cowboy Round Up” would like to thank you for making this paper  a joy to right.

From the start there has been a rivalry between Leilani Mataia, me, and Charley Adams for Student Council President. They have hung up posters, handed out stickers, and even given out candy.

I stepped up onto the stage, very curious about how I was going to follow Charley Adams’ fantastic speech, and stepped up to the microphone. I saw the gleaming faces looking straight at me, huh, they must have been thinking the same thing as me. So, I began with a little humor about my opponents speech, and continued on to read mine.

“Hi, my name is Evan Jordan, and I am running to be your Student Body President.  Look around, do you see anyone better qualified for this job than me? (ed. note–at which point there was a LOT of laughter.) I will listen to what YOU want, and will make this school a better place for all of us.  I am a reliable and trustworthy person, I have held down a job for a year now, and I work hard every time I go to work.  When I make a promise, I keep it.

The first policy that I would propose would be my anti-theft policy.  I would make it optional to have a lock on your locker.  That way, if you are worried about the safety of your belongings, problem solved.  If not, you don’t have to have a lock, but you do have the option.

I will let the students pick new, and improved school-wide activities.  The students get to vote on the dress up days for WACKO and Homecoming, and get to decide on the school-wide events that occur during the year.  That way, we get to do what we want to do.

I will work as hard as I can to change the drink policy, so that we can have soda in any hallway in the school during lunch.  That way, we can have the drinks where we want, and still not have a mess in the classrooms.

I will try my best to save the school money; possibly even by trying to cut us back to four-day school weeks.  I will push the school board to let us have our way.  I will let you decide what is changed, but I will make sure that it happens.

Also, I would make sure that the new student council used its power to the full potential.  We have a lot more power than most people think, and we can, and will fight for the good of the school.  We will change this school for the better, and would create an environment that we all loved.”

I stepped back from the microphone, was questioned by Morgan Nielson, and after making a complete fool of myself, I exited the stage.

The student council  elections were voted on in everyone’s 5thperiod class. As you probably know, you were given a ballot with  a list of names and the school’s fate in their hands. Some took the decision like it was nothing, while others bargained, made face book pages, and told every one that they could to vote for their favorite candidate.  When the votes were finally tallied and announced during sixth period, it was revealed to us that Charley Adams had won for president against Leilani Mataia and Evan Jordan. As soon as I stepped out into the halls, I heard the buzz of this new event every where. People were giving high fives and congratulating others, while some were frustrated that their buddy didn’t win. All together, any of the candidates would of been an excellent choice, but all for their own reasons. Each person had something different to offer and some different way they wanted to help their school. Each candidate also worked for it, as you could see by the posters all over MHS’s walls. I just want to take this chance to say what a good job everyone running did. I have to say that was one thing that happened at school that didn’t draw too much blood. Congrats to everyone!

There will be a benefit dinner for Dr. Dorsett’s student ecology workshop to the Sea of Cortez this summer, on January 30, at the fairgrounds complex. They are raising money for their trip to the Sea of Cortez near Baja. There will be a spaghetti dinner, bingo, and a dessert auction. It costs $10 to play bingo, $10 to eat the spaghetti dinner, but is only $18 if you buy them both at the same time. You can purchase your tickets at the door.

This year, the donations to Coin Wars are down. Student Council Adviser John Strate said “It’s way down… usually, we have at least two jars full for each class, we don’t even have a full jar for any class this year.”

Coin Wars, 2009

“In the past, we’ve given half of it to charity and half to student council.” John Strate said, “It’s going to cut down, we’re going to have to do more fundraising for student council; and whatever charity organization we decide to give it to won’t have as much.”

Lower donations to Coin Wars could be likely two possibilities: 1) people have less money in their pockets because of the recession, and 2) less promotion for Coin Wars this year.