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The Crane High School band holds its breath while waiting to hear word that they received a one at regionals Saturday in Odessa.

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Band students Kris Rizo and Maritza Cardona study the eclipse Saturday at Crane High School.

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Crane Lady Birds take on the Presidio Blue Devils Tuesday at the Tommy C. Jones Memorial Gymnasium.

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Students give back to the community and repaint trashcans in a new, refreshing color--black--as part of the Community Day Thursday.

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Damian Charles, senior, stands in set position Saturday morning while completely focused on the last practice before the district marching competition.

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Melany Lomeli, freshman, participates in the strawberry DNA extraction lab Monday in science class.

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Students participate in the CISD Community Day as Coach Trevor Davis demonstrates how to scrape old paint from the house the group was working on.

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Vania Sanchez, freshman, admires the beautiful flowers Thursday morning during the Crane Community day.

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NFL Hall-of-Famer, Ray Lewis, tells West Texans about Jesus Christ at annual Fields of Faith event

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NFL Hall-of-Famer, Ray Lewis, tells West Texans about Jesus Christ at annual Fields of Faith event

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Ray Lewis, NFL Hall-Of-Famer, talk about the Lord during the annual Fields Of Faith event in Andrews Wednesday.

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Video by Clarissa Velasco and Shauna Scott

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Man on the street is back! Spooky edition!

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Man on the street is back! Spooky edition!

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Clarissa Velasco, junior, and Shauna Scott, senior, bring back the famous "Man on the street" videos from last year in journalism. This week, they ask students and teachers if they'd rather drink a cup of blood or eat a bite of human flesh. Perfect for Halloween coming up!

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The Crane Lady Birds huddle up before their game against the Presidio Blue Devils Tuesday in the Tommy C. Jones Gymnasium.

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Neil Maldonado, freshman, cuts a plate out to work on his 7018 horizontal welds at Crane High School Thursday.

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The Crane High School band and cheer squad support the varsity volleyball girls while they go against the Blue Devils Tuesday Night at the Tommy C. Jones Gymnasium.

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Arianna Escobedo, senior, shows her school spirit before senior night Thursday.

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The varsity Lady Birds take on the Presidio Blue Devils Tuesday night in the Tommy C. Jones Memorial Gymnasium.

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A ghostly CHS student haunts the campus during the Fall Festival Friday.

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By Jacob Townsend

El Ave News writer

Spider-Man 2 is a sequel from Spider-Man PS4 and Spider-Man: Miles Morales. This game lets you customize your Spider-Man, and the map is two times larger than the previous Spider-Man games.

This game allows the player to customize Spider-Man in multiple ways, from suits to colors.

Spider-Man 2 is an open-world game allowing you to swing around the map and help people with crimes and other stuff.

Spider-Man 2 introduces a new feature with web-swinging, which allows the player to glide around a bit. This new feature allows the player to get to his/her destination faster. There will also be new gadgets to use when fighting villains.

Spider-Man 2 introduces the ability to switch between Peter and Miles. Even when you are done with the story mode, you’ll be able to swing around, help civilians, and stop criminals from breaking into houses You'll also be able to help stop car chases and such.

Spider-Man 2 also brings a whole bunch of new villains into the picture, like Kraven the Hunter, Venom, and Sandman. This game showcases updated looks for all of the old characters like Peter, Miles, MJ, and Black Cat.

Spider-Man 2 also features more fighting moves and finishers. Peter Parker is also going to get the symbiote, which will bring out most of the new moves for the game. Spider-Man 2 will keep some of the old mechanics—like the fighting, swinging, and the gadgets—but the new additions are sure to please.

This game lets you customize the symbiote for Peter. You will be able to choose between different types of suits. They will be from cartoons to video games, all the way to movies. This feature also comes to the main suits. They will range from comics, cartoons, games, and movies.

In short, I say that the video game is definitely worth your time. If I had to rate it, I would say that it is a 5 out of 5 Golden Cranes.

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During the Fall Festival, these two little kids show off their new ride during the Fall Festival Saturday.

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The varsity Lady Birds scramble for the ball during the volleyball game against the Presidio Blue Devils Tuesday night.

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Photo and story by DJ Hernandez
El Ave News staff writer

Our Crane Lady Birds fought fiercely against the Presidio Lady Blue Devils and lost in four sets, 1-3.

The game started off well, with the Lady Birds winning the first set, although not by much.

The Lady Birds played fiercely in the second set, but soon the Lady Blue Devils got the upper hand, putting the Lady Birds in a whole world of trouble and eventually sealing the deal on the second set. The Lady Blue Devils won the third set and then, after a good fight, put the Lady Birds away in the fourth.

Our Lady Birds will play again Saturday and hopefully rebound from Tuesday’s loss.

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Ed Lastimosa, senior, hops on a fellow worker's back to reach the rest of the peeling paint during the Crane Community Day Thursday.

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From left: Arianna Iniguez, sophomore, and Katherine Mireles, sophomore, review the Spanish-English dictionary for hints on how to say things in Spanish. 

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Speaking Spanish: CHS class teaches students to become bilingual

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Speaking Spanish: CHS class teaches students to become bilingual

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Story and photo by Jacob Townsend
El Ave News staff writer

Imagine you're in the mood for Mexican food. You go to a restaurant and sit down. When the waitress approaches you, she seems friendly enough, but there's one small problem: she’s speaking Spanish, and you don’t know a single word. You feel awkward and embarrassed.

Thankfully, Crane High School has an elective that can help students learn to speak Spanish from the beginner-level all the way up to conversing in sophisticated sentences.

The Spanish class begins by teaching students the alphabet and how to count in Spanish. Next, students are taught how to greet one another and say goodbye in a number of ways. This leads students to opening the first set of doors to becoming bilingual.

At the end of the year, students should know how to speak and write fluently in Spanish. And once a student reaches this point, he or she is able to know what almost everyone in Crane is talking about at any time.

Now, imagine returning to that same Mexican restaurant from before, only this time you’re able to speak Spanish. The same waitress approaches you again, only this time you’re able to have a nice conversation, and then you can even order your food in Spanish!

Vanessa Velasco, CHS Spanish teacher, explained why she teaches Spanish class.

“I love the language and the culture," she said. “I wanted to teach language because it's fun and interesting. It is very important to be able to speak well.”

When asked why she wanted to learn to speak Spanish, she said that she wanted to be able to communicate with her loved ones.

“I wanted to speak to my grandma, who only speaks Spanish.”

While she had been able to speak Spanish as a child, she explained that it wasn’t until later on that she was able to speak Spanish fluently.

“I started speaking Spanish in high school fluently; it was my first language, but then I never used it in elementary and middle school and forgot most of the words. I understood the language and just never used it. Just like everything else, to be good at something you have to practice.”

Through her years of teaching at CHS, Velasco has made an impact by helping students.

“This is my second year teaching,” she said. “It's been better this year. The first year was really hard, but I am feeling more at home and love seeing my students from last year as they grow up."

Whether it comes to speaking to your relatives or ordering food, learning to speak Spanish is a valuable asset for anyone—but especially people living in Crane where the Hispanic population is the overwhelming majority demographic. Not only that, but taking Spanish class will teach you to understand the Hispanic culture, and that, too, is a very valuable skill!

If you want to know more, find Velasco or Patty Rizo and ask them about taking Spanish!

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CNA takes care of residents at the nursing home for Community Day!

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CNA takes care of residents at the nursing home for Community Day!

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Jimena Perez, senior, provides nail care to a resident at the nursing home Thursday afternoon for Community Day.

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Arianna Torres and Carlos Garcia, both seniors, paint the curb across from the Exhibition Building during the Community Day Thursday.

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Naveya Porras, junior, fights back against the Presidio Lady Blue Devils Tuesday night in the Tommy C. Jones Memorial Gymnasium.

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Alondra Campos, junior, sends the ball back over the net during the game against Presidio Tuesday night in the Tommy C. Jones Memorial Gymnaisum.

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Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?

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Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?

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By Adrian Ramirez
El Ave News staff writer

We surveyed 12 people at the Crane High School, trying to find out if they would rather be able to turn invisible or fly?

Jolee Seabourn, FFA teacher

“Invincible because I want to be able to talk a lot of crap and not get hurt.”

Cristian Velasco, junior

¨Fly, so I can go to far places faster and have access to bigger opportunities and further transportation.”

Adam McGuire, sophomore

“Fly, so I won't have to get a car, and I can save money.”

Clarissa Velasco, junior

“I would rather be invisible so I don't have to wait in lines.”

Jose Aranda, junior

“I would rather be able to fly so I can fulfill my dreams of being Batman.”

Gracin Huertas, sophomore

“I would rather be able to fly so I can get to places quicker.”

Lily Espino, sophomore

“I would fly so I could see a lot of things.”

Miguel Angel, senior

“I would be invisible because I could get away with things without paying.”

Zachary Almon, sophomore

“Be invisible so I can avoid situations.”

Shauna Scott, senior

“Invisible so I can see people's true colors.”

Denise Bolanos, junior

“Invisible because imagine how goofy you look flying.”

Jacob Townsend, freshman

“Be invisible so I can be good at hide-and-seek.”

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Makenna Willis, senior, does the hair of her great-grandmother, Gloria Milam, during the Community Day this past Thursday.

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From left to right: DJ Hernandez, freshman, Grace Encinas, junior, and Sally Gutierrez, freshman, strike a pose after working hard on Community Day outside the Crane High School Thursday.

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Taking a break after a long day of giving back!

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Taking a break after a long day of giving back!

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Students from Crane High School take a break following a long day of work after the Community Day Thursday. Students from CHS went all over town, beautifying, painting, mowing, building, and picking up trash. This is something brought to CISD by new Superintendent, Dave Lewis. It seems like the kids, and the community, really enjoyed it!

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By Kaden Hargrove

El Ave News staff writer

The Crane Golden Crane JV football team faced the Ropesville Eagles Thursday, suffering a hard-fought loss, 14-6.

Adam McGuire, a sophomore, said before the game that he was pretty confident.

"I feel pretty good, even though it´s a team we have never played. I believe that we have a good chance."

McGuire mentioned that the team is learning how to better talk to each other, and that is translating to better play on the field.

"Our team has grown to have better communication," he said.

Jacob Bejarano, sophomore, was also asked about the game against the Ealges, to which he claimed to be very confident about how it would all play out.

"I´m honestly nervous; it feels weird going against a team I knew nothing about."

The Golden Cranes played well against Ropesville. Even though the Crane JV lost, they fought hard until the last whistle blew.

"After the game, I was disappointed," said Bejarano. "I felt like we could´ve done more to better impact the game's outcome."

When Brayson Newberry, a sophomore, was asked about how he felt after the game, he said some of the flags were not warranted.

"I feel like we should´ve won the game, but there were some questionable calls."

McGuire attributed the loss, at least in part, to a lack of communication that he felt should've been better since they have been communicating better as a team lately.

The JV is now 5-2. Come out next home game to support the JV boys and their quest to improve upon their already stellar record.

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Melanie Villasana adjusts Miracle Chavarria’s dress before their preforms ceremony at the San Angelo Stadium Saturday.

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Job title? History teacher/tennis and basketball coach

Married? how long? Not married

How long have you been in education? This is my tenth year in education.

Where were you before Crane? I was in San Antonio, at San Antonio Cole (Fort Sam Houston ISD).

What do you do for fun? I like spending time with my daughters (watching movies) and spending time with my friends.

How many siblings do you have? I have three: two brothers and one sister.

Children? Grandchildren? I have two daughters and no grandchildren.

What is one of your hidden talents? I have none, sadly!

What would students be surprised to find out about you? I was both a crime scene tech and a police officer. My favorite thing to do as both was to attend autopsies.

Do you have any pets? My daughter and I have a dog, Lucy. She is our baby.

If you won the lottery and gave up working in education what would you do? Go back to working in law enforcement.

What inspires you? My daughters.

What is your dream vacation? I would love to go to Italy.

What are your trapped-on-an-island books and movies?  Books: Any VC Andrews books. Movies: Any sports movies.

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Tiny moon shadows appear on the sidewalk during the solar eclipse Saturday morning.

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The middle school cheerleaders throw candy during the homecoming parade.

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Photo and story by Arianna Iniguez
El Ave News staff writer

Band students march and play their instruments. Elementary twirlers walk down the road behind the band students. People cheer for the football players. Countless candies are thrown on the street and picked up by little kids with cheerful faces. There are fancy cars with girls wearing pretty, glittery dresses. This year's homecoming parade was without a doubt the longest and most awesome parade I have ever seen!

The parade started at S. Katherine Street at 2:30 p.m. By the time it began, the sidewalks were packed with many people waiting to see the wonderfully decorated cars and smiling faces of those riding atop them. The first thing they saw was the CMS and CHS twirlers and band students.

Then, behind the band students, there was Deb's Darlings, the tiny twirlers-in-training. Following that, there were cars driving with students and teachers throwing a lot of candy. The people participating in the parade were delighted to be able to see many kids having fun picking up candy and families enjoying spending time together in the parade. The parade ended on 7th Street at around 3 p.m.

Omar Murguia, a freshman, said, "The parade was wonderful. What I enjoyed the most was the band playing and being able to spend time with my family.”

Katherine Mireles, sophomore, was asked to describe the parade. She said, "Once I heard the band play, I knew the parade was going to be amazing. There were a lot of decorated cars with students from Crane throwing candy. My younger siblings were fascinated by the amount of candies and toys being thrown. I would say the parade was really fun and majestic."

While people were sad that the fun was over, the good thing is that this is an annual event. Who knows? Maybe next year's parade will be even longer, with even more candy and fun than this year's! A girl can dream, can't she?

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The seniors gather for a group picture Friday night at the opening of the spook house.

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From left to right: Abrianna Hernandez, Alina Santos, Braylea Lopez, and Maritza Tarin celebrate the birthday of Mis Quince, Braylea Lopez, at the Exhibition Building Saturday afternoon.

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Kids at the Crane Fall Festival have a great time and show off their amazing costumes and bright smiles Friday on the blacktop.

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Journalism teacher, Brad Pettit, and his journalism students pick up trash around Crane alleys Thursday morning for Community Day.

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The color guard team, along with the twirlers and drum majors, receive a purple rose from Sara Hill, band instructor, to show how much she appreciates them.

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Jordyn Orozco and Gary Ray Gutierrez, sophomores, read a memorial plaque at the Segregation Wall in Crane during the Community Day Thursday afternoon.

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Carlos Alvarez, a senior, and Ivory Velasco, a sophomore, have a cute memorable moment with each other during the Fall Festival this past weekend.

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Brad Pettit, English teacher, splashes the pond to get fish to come toward him Thursday during Community Day.

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A devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other

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A devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other

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Asialyn Sanchez, junior, and Pedro Morales, senior, ponder good and evil at the Fall Festival Friday.

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Kevin Iniguez, a senior, gives people a scare to raise money for Project Graduation Friday at the airport for the spook house last week.

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Crane band keeps tradition of excellence alive 

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Crane band keeps tradition of excellence alive 

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Story by DJ Hernandez
El Ave News staff writer

Form a picture in your mind of 28 bands, and a small 3A band overtakes them all, winning first in 3A and fourth overall. Well, that is exactly what the Crane High School band accomplished this Saturday.

The band traveled all the way to San Angelo. Although the competition was a practice one, the band treated it like the real deal.

"I love seeing all the focus and determination on all of their faces," said Sara Hill, band director. "The band did so well, earning the award for best brass, woodwind, and percussion."

Not everything went flawlessly, however.

"Unfortunately, there was a miscalculation with the points for woodwind and brass, so in reality, we got the best percussion only."

Sally Gutierrez, freshman and percussionist said she thought they could do better but was pleased overall.

“My expectations were greater, as I thought we would win best brass of wood wind. But I'm glad we got the percussion because we tried so hard.”

Individually, Gutierrez noticed some things that she needs to work on personally.

“I could've been better prepared. Before I felt a little nervous because it was a big stadium and I didn't wanna make a mistake. I was feeling pretty confident because I practiced in the places I wasn't so good at. I was proud of the band. I think the band was also proud.”

When the scores were announced, the band was very happy and ecstatic. Cheers could be heard a mile away!

Maria Sanchez, senior and drum major said she was very proud of their performance, and also noted things she and the rest of the band can tweak.

“The band was greater than what I expected. I could've been better prepared. We had learned the salute that morning. I was nervous because I didn't want to mess up anyone. Also, I felt a lot of pressure since I had so many people depending on me, and the way I conducted. Afterward, I felt relieved and happy. I was so proud of the band kids and their concentration.”

The CHS band will now look forward to area and state. Come on out and support your might Crane Golden Crane band!

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Sophia Hernández, senior, catches a case of senioritis after the SATs.

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The CHS band sits in silence Saturday night at the San Angelo Stadium awaiting their scores moments after performing their show for the judges.

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The CHS color guard poses for a picture before their performance Saturday at the Concho Classic Marching competition.

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The Crane color guard team shows their excitement for their upcoming performance Saturday at the Concho Classic Marching Competition.

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Crane Elementary School students show off their Halloween costumes Wednesday morning in front of the elementary school.

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Christian Velasco, junior, cradles the percussion band trophy after the concert in San Angelo Saturday.

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The Crane Golden Cranes captains prepare for the coin toss against the Alpine Bucks Friday.

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Varsity football team takes on the Alpine Bucks!

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Varsity football team takes on the Alpine Bucks!

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Story and photo by Natalia Ayala
El Ave News staff writer

The Crane Golden Cranes varsity football took on the Alpine Bucks Friday, winning the game 39-7.

The game started off like any other, 0-0, before Tyson Brents, quarterback, scored the first touchdown against the Bucks, starting the game off strong for the Crane Golden Cranes.

The Cranes played exceptionally well, scoring touchdown-after-touchdown, making plays that stopped the Bucks in their tracks.

Alpine was able to manage a touchdown, followed by an extra point, but their points were few and far between.

Kevin Iniguez, senior, thinks the team started off slow and weren't communicating until they went into halftime.

“Entering the third quarter, we started communicating, which got us the win.”

Coach Trevor Davis said there were some new team goals put into place, which helped the boys enter the game ready to be physical and be ready for new challenges.

“We are starting to fire on all cylinders,” he said. “We are getting there.”

Iniguez said that Alpine made some plays that could have got to the Golden Cranes.

“But we fixed it during the game,” he said, “and overall, we all played wellas a team.¨

The Golden Cranes will move on to Tornillo Friday. Another win against Tornillo will put the Golden Cranes one step closer to winning district.

Come out and support the Crane Golden Crane varsity football team as they go up against the Tornillo Coyotes Friday!

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Teachers explain why their colleges are the best

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Teachers explain why their colleges are the best

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By Lily Espino
El Ave News staff writer

College is an important part of someone's life. It's a big accomplishment to graduate from college knowing you learned so many life skills.

Here at Crane High School, teachers hang flags from their doors to represent the college that they graduated from. If you're like me, you've wondered what the college experience is like. Is it fun, scary, or hard?

So we decided to sit down with some of the CHS teachers and hear from them how they managed college and furthered their education to get where they are today. Not only that, but we are going to hear why their colleges are, in their opinion, the best ones in the country!

Coach Michael Clarkson very much enjoyed his college experience.

"I started college at South Plains in Levelland," he said. "I really liked the small-town atmosphere of SPC, and going to school there was a lot of fun."

While at SPC, Clarkson explored other colleges, as SPC is only a two-year junior college.

"I transferred to Texas Tech to finish my degree after I went to SPC for two years."

As you can see, you don't have to stick to just one option. Many teachers explored multiple colleges during their educational pursuits.

Culinary teacher Renea Garza actually attended three colleges!

"I got my associate's degree at South Plains College to become a legal secretary," she said.

Just like Clarkson, she also transferred to Texas Tech after two years.

"I then went to Texas Tech for only one semester because I thought making money was more important," she said.

Garza later finished up at yet another college to get her bachelor's degree.

Colleges all over the world are all very different. Although many people stick to one college and attend all four years, some people choose to keep an open mind and try out different colleges that may be best for them.

Patty Rizo, CHS Spanish teacher, said that she actually attended a college out-of-state.

"I attended Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina my freshman year of college."

Rizo said she was kind of afraid at first.

"This experience was a very scary, yet rewarding experience. I was blessed to join the volleyball team and met some of the best friends on that team."

Something all these teachers have in common is that they all explored different colleges, and all got their taste of what the college experience was really like.

Rizo attended Odessa College and finished her degree at UT Permian Basin.

"This experience was much less stressful for me," she said. "At OC and UTPB, I had a great tribe of friends who attended classes with me."

Rizo went on to provide advice for all the graduating seniors this year, as well as for the juniors who are beginning to make college plans for later on.

"As a former student from Crane High School, college is something that you start thinking about towards your junior and senior year," she said. "It's also good to start planning your future ahead of time; if you feel like it's something that you will end up pursuing in the long run, or even just doing it for a short period of time, start thinking about it today!"

Regardless of what college you decide to attend, or if you decide not to attend college at all, make sure that you've done your research on what each school is about. If you can't find one that suits you, and decide that entering a career is more up your alley, then always move into the next chapter of your life with all of the facts at your disposal.

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Esmeralda Mendoza, senior, practices hair treatments on a mannequin head during cosmetology class at Crane High School.

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Cosmetology: CHS students learn how to make people beautiful

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Cosmetology: CHS students learn how to make people beautiful

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By Corinn Hensley
El Ave News staff writer

Photo by Maria Sanchez
CHS student

The smell of lighted lavender candles and cleaning chemicals fills the air. The sound of hair dryers and mild chatter is all around you. The salon cape around your neck feels soft and comfortable. You came here to look better, but you find that being here makes you feel better as well.

Morgan Hall is very familiar with these feelings. She is the cosmetology instructor at Crane High School. She had a lot to say about her life's journey into her teaching position at CHS.

“I did not think I would be a teacher," she said. "I graduated in 2011 and wanted to be a businesswoman in retail, and maybe own a salon and bed and breakfast."

You know what they say? When we tell people our plans, God laughs.

"I have been in cosmetology for 10 years now," she said.

Students at CHS have also found a home in cosmo. Maria Sanchez, a senior who is also a cosmo student, likes to make people feel confident in their own skin.

"I feel good about myself when I do my hair and makeup, so I want to make other people feel good and confident about themselves as well."

Hall is not only a cosmetology teacher, but she does cosmo as a side job, too. She teaches during the week and makes people feel beautiful on the weekends.

Although teaching isn't what she initially planned to do, Hall said she's happy with where she's at in life.

"Cosmetology was not my career choice," she said. “However, I still enjoy it.”

Hall said that her main goal as a teacher is to prepare her students for a career outside of high school.

"This is a life career," she said. "Since they are investing time and money into this now, they need to understand that it can actually make them money once they leave the classroom and head out into the real world."

Hall said that there are a lot of steps to acquiring a cosmo certificate and completing a satisfactory grade in her class.

"If you are in dual credit or college courses, there is nobody holding your hands," she said. "If you are failing or behind, they won’t check up on you or wait for you. You need to think of this as a technical school, not a high school course, so you can prepare yourself for what the world offers."

The good thing about cosmetology is that you can make money as well.

Hall said that a good rule of thumb for a student starting to charge for her services is to make the fee small, at least initially.

"You don't need to charge too much at first," Hall said. "If you charge a small amount and gradually increase the fee once your skills have gotten better, you are likely to have customers who will keep coming back time and time again."

Each student is given a list of tasks that they must complete to get their cosmo certificate.

"Since I am in the senior class, I am given a paper that has a lot of tasks that need to be finished by the end of the month," said Sanchez. "For example, the paper will have about 250 tasks that range from coloring hair, manicures, pedicures, etc. For every task I complete, I will get a signature. The amount of signatures determines my grade."

Sanchez said that the most difficult part of being in cosmo isn't the actual task of putting on makeup and doing people's hair, but in learning how to feel good on the inside.

"The most difficult part of cosmo is being confident in myself enough to know that I know what I am doing and finish whatever task I was assigned."

Esmerelda Mendoza, a senior in cosmo, said that the days and hours in cosmo can get to be pretty long.

"At the moment, we are preparing for a practical test, which is hands-on, where we practice packing our bags and make sure everything is sanitized, organized and labeled," she explained.

It seems that most students in Hall's cosmo class really enjoy learning the tricks of the trade, and even though the hours are many and the work can get hard, they get a lot out of what they're doing and can't wait to take their skills out into the real world.

If you’re interested in pursuing cosmo, see Hall today!

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Emily Ortiz´s CHS chemistry class does a lab with different chemicals that change the color of the flame Wednesday morning.

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Seniors get their own personalized lockers showcasing all of their achievements. Esmeralda Mendoza, senior, was the first senior to get accepted to college. Her locker is an eye-catcher in the halls because of how full it is!

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She said “yes”: Crane High School teachers talk about their marriage proposals

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She said “yes”: Crane High School teachers talk about their marriage proposals

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By Robyn Vega
El Ave News staff writer

You’re nervous because this may be one of the most important moments of your life. You feel the sweat dripping down your forehead, neck, and back. Your brain goes numb, and you can't focus on anything. Colorful lights flicker across your vision, and you’re suddenly overtaken with a bout of vertigo.

The speech that you’ve rehearsed over and over again comes to you, and you carefully recite it, slowly getting down on one knee. You say the words with anticipation: “Will you marry me?”

All you can do now is pray that she’ll say “yes.”

Everyone’s seen the outrageous homecoming proposals done by teenagers, but how much do they really differ from the marriage proposals put on by adults?

Erin Limon, CHS science teacher married to CHS principal, Hector Limon, gave insight into how Mr. Limon popped the question.

“My husband and I met while we were both in college in Dallas. He proposed to me during our senior year at the park! I said yes!
We moved to west Texas -Lubbock -(I didn't really know where it was at the time!) after he received his first coaching job.¨

When asked how her husband proposed, Jessica Pettit, CISD instructional coach, explained how her husband, Brad Pettit, CHS English and journalism teacher, went about it.

"Mr. Pettit and I got engaged on January 16, 2010,” she said. “Nick was five-years-old, and we went to Odessa to eat. He took me to The Shrimp Boat restaurant at the MCM Elegante hotel. We ate and talked and just had a nice time together with Nick.”

When Jessica got up to leave for the bathroom, Mr. Pettit put his plan into motion.

“When I came back, Nick slid the ring box over to me and said, ‘Will you marry my daddy?’ I was in complete shock, started crying and said, “Yes!"

According to Mr. Pettit, he had his son ask because he was nervous and thought she’d have a harder time saying “no” if Nick asked instead of him.

“I was so nervous I almost got sick,” he said. “I was excited at this possibility, but I wanted to get it over with so I could be the happiest man in the world.”

Mr. Pettit said some sneakiness was involved in his plan.

“I promised Nick some ice cream if he asked her and she said ‘yes,’” he said. “Good thing she did, or Nick and I both would have left that place in a very bad mood.”

Jessica said it was all very sweet.

“We all hugged and had our little moment, and then the next thing Nick said was, ‘Daddy,  can I have my ice cream now?’ It was super sweet and a memory I will forever cherish.”

After the proposal, Jessica said she and Mr. Pettit jumped in with both feet.

“We got married in June of 2010,” she said. “So, we were not engaged for very long.”

Sometimes you don't even have to propose to get married. Despite skipping the proposal part altogether, he and his wife, Nina Gothard, CISD payroll department, are still married to this day.

“I met my wife during my last  year of college,” Mr. Gothard said. “She had gone to a church camp as a counselor with some people from her church. I had known some of these people when I was in high school in Crane, and their intention was to set us up on a blind date.”

Mr. Gothard out in a lot of miles to seal the deal with the love of his life.

“I drove from Alpine to Fort Davis everyday just to see her,” he said. “And a week after she went back to Andrews, I went to see her again.”

Mr. Gothard chose the laundry mat as the scene for his non-proposal.

“I stopped in Crane to put my laundry in the wash,” he said. “My mother asked me where I was going, and I told her I was leaving to see the girl I was going to marry.”

Mr. Gothard said it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that they would walk the aisle based on how perfectly they got along.

“I never asked her to marry me because we both knew,” he said. “We started planning that weekend.”

Mr. Gothard said that not everyone was super happy about the way he went about it.

“My mother was never upset about it, but her mother didn't like that we decided to get married without asking her.”

That didn’t bother him, however

“It didn't bother me though, as I planned to marry her anyway,” he said with a sly smile crossing his face.

Like Mr. Pettit, Mr. Gothard said that Mrs. Gothard has made him the happiest man alive.

“She’s the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.”

If homecoming and prom proposals have taught us anything, it’s that they are merely prelude to the most powerful proposal awaiting many of us in the future: the proposal of marriage.

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CNA students, Clarissa Velasco, Natalee Velasco, and Karyme Rocha, hang out with a dummy in the portable for a skills assessment Monday morning at Crane High School.

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Students of Crane Elementary School participate in the third year of the book parade, showing off their cute costumes that match their chosen book Wednesday morning in front of the multi-purpose room.

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Kevin Iniguez, senior, catches a pass from quarterback Tyson Brents, sophomore, during the football game against the Alpine Bucks Friday in Alpine.

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The CHS cheerleaders come together to show the different outfits of Barbie for the pink-out pep rally Friday at the Crane High School Tommy C. Jones Memorial Gymnasium.

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Gisselle Sanchez, sophomore, demonstrates the lab for chemistry class at Crane High School Wednesday.

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Entertainment review: Travis Scott's "Utopia"

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Entertainment review: Travis Scott's "Utopia"

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By Adrian Ramirez
El Ave News Staff Writer

Travis Scott's new album, "Utopia," dropped July 28, 2023. "Utopia" represents a thrilling musical journey, showing the artist's evolution and creative depth. The album blends trap, hip-hop, and experimental sounds, showing Scott's amazing skills and hypnotic beats.

Lyrically, "Utopia" goes into Scott's personal experiences, exploring themes of fame, success, and the more difficult aspects of relationships. The nature of the lyrics adds a layer of depth to the album, providing listeners with a look into the artist's mind. The album also features collaborations with a range of talented artists, making the project more interesting to listen to. Drake, 21 Savage, and Playboi Carti all make an appearance on the record.

The best song in the album is "Meltdown," which highlights Scott’s talent for blending dynamic and mesmerizing beats. The song is an adrenaline-fueled journey through Scott's specific style, made by heavy bass, autotuned vocals, and loud electronic elements. The track captures the good things of modern hip-hop, keeping a high-energy vibe that's characteristic of Scott's music. It's proof of his ability to make an addictive sound that reaches a wide audience and gives him a top place in the rap world.

Another amazing song on the album is "Fe!n," an amazing track that displays the artist's signature blend of beautiful melodies and vivid storytelling. The vibe is relaxing and atmospheric, creating an amazing experience. Scott's lyrics go into personal struggles, showing a life that can connect with listeners. The song stands as a test of Scott's evolution as an artist, showing his ability to make emotionally inspired music that leaves a lasting impact.

I really enjoyed Travis Scott's "Utopia" album for its vibes and beats. The blends of various musical genres show Scott’s skills as an artist. The tracks have a unique energy that keeps the listener hooked, and the storytelling within the lyrics is interesting, making it an album I can listen to on repeat. Overall, "Utopia" is a 9/10, making it an amazing project by Scott.

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John Chipman, business class teacher at Crane High School, checks grades in his classroom.

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Crane High School's business class teaches students how to make more money

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Crane High School's business class teaches students how to make more money

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Story and photo b y Arianna Iniguez
El Ave News staff writer

People like to think that one day their bank accounts will be filled with millions of dollars. They picture themselves the proud owners of 200/ft yachts, or they imagine themselves vacationing in Paris. Unless you were born rich, you're going to need to find a way to earn money. Thankfully, we have a class in Crane High School that will get you there.

Business class teaches students how to manage their money and helps them understand some of the basic skills in business. For example, to run a business students must learn to be organized and manage the daily operations of a business. Students also need to know how to produce a product and market the product by advertising it. These are some of the first steps to operating a successful business.

The teacher of Crane’s business class is John Chipman. He is always trying his best to get his students to understand the basics of business so that they can have a bright future.

When asked what made him want to be a business teacher, he said, “I worked in the corporate business world for a long time—30 plus years. I am hoping to pass on some of the things I learned during that time.”

Chipman also teaches students the skills necessary for success in business. For example, you need to know people's wants, needs, and desires. He also teaches students how to organize, manage, produce, and market a business.

Chipman said that knowing what you are doing is key.

“Some of the key skills necessary for success in business are the ability to manage your finances, problem-solve, delegate, use appropriate time management, and cultivate your leadership skills.”

Chipman gives good advice in every lesson that he teaches. The only bad advice he could give a business owner is  to “...not to believe in yourself and not go into business.”

According to Chipman, one of the biggest challenges faced by business owners today is “making how you market your business a big challenge.”

This is true, because many people starting up new businesses make things more complicated than they need to be.

Katherine Mireles, sophomore, described business class as “a very interesting class that gives you information about managing a business.”

According to Mireles, Chipman’s class provides you with the right information to succeed.

“Business management class gives you information about businesses and also teaches you the do’s and don'ts of running a business,” she said.

Mireles said she’s learned a lot so far and hopes to learn even more in the future.

“Something I have learned in business class is that we should never sell items too cheap nor too expensive and that we shouldn’t over produce supplies.”

If you are interested in succeeding in business, look into adding Chipman’s class to your schedule in the future.

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Amairany Alvarez, senior, pretends to shoot Issac Camacho, sophomore, during a scene for theater class.

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Break a leg: CHS theater class teaches students how to shine on stage

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Break a leg: CHS theater class teaches students how to shine on stage

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Photo and story by Katherine Mireles
El Ave News staff writer

You’re on stage, dressed up as a princess with a room full of people watching you. You have butterflies fluttering around in your stomach, and you think that you might actually become sick. You're covered in goosebumps, and you're beginning to hyperventilate. Sweat drips down your back, and you're not sure if you can go through with this.

As you walk out onto stage, your friend leans in and whispers, "Break a leg."

Many people might find being on stage in front of a large audience to be very scary. However, to some people, this is a dream come true. For these people, there is a place they can go to develop their acting skills. And that place is the Crane High School theater class.

Theater allows students the opportunity to dress up like all kinds of different fictional characters. Students get to learn how to apply makeup to help them become interesting fictional characters. But if being on stage isn't your thing, you even can learn how to build the sets.

So, what does theater class look like? It could be a room full of people with make-up on, props all over the floor, costumes on hangers, and actors practicing their lines to prepare for the next play. Or, it could look like a stage manager running around giving people orders on what they should do next. In reality, theater class looks like a regular class, only this class prepares its students to create fictional worlds where they get to pretend to be other people entirely, living in worlds that are either similar or very different from the one they live in every day.

Theater isn’t just about acting and dressing up; students also get to learn how to be social, learn new words, and meet new people who might end up being their friends later on. Being in theater can also help students overcome their fear of public speaking by teaching them how to get better at remembering their lines. Crane’s High School theater class will do all this, and more, for you.

The teacher in charge of Crane’s theater class is Vanessa Velasco. Velasco always makes sure that her students are being supportive, positive, and fair with each other. In theater, it is important to get along in order to work together as a team. Velasco teaches theater students to be more extroverted and creative.

“I hope that I can just help theater grow to be a better program," she said.

Velasco describes theater as a learning experience.

“I would say that theater is making a story come to life. It's like watching a dream, fairytale, or ritual through visual art. It takes props, scenery, costumes, make-up and actors to make the story really come to life."

Velasco explained how theater is much more spiritual and fulfilling than social media ever could be.

"Unlike a movie or TikTok that you can keep (reshooting after your mistakes), in a play you have one opportunity to get it right.”

This school year, Crane High School’s theater class will have a Mexican and horror-themed play during school on Halloween. The play will be based on  “La Llorona Told by Consuelo Chavez”.

Velasco said that the play is sure to be interesting for the audience.

“(It's sure to be) a spooky play in October.”

The reason Velasco chose this type of play is because she wants to show her culture. She is of Mexican descent. The reason why she chose to have the play in the month of October is that it’s when spooky season begins and “La Llorona” is based on a truly spooky story.

So, if you're the type who likes to be center-stage and perform in front of a large audience, get with Velasco and discuss making theater a class a part of your school schedule. And even if you don’t like the spotlight, there’s a spot for you in theater as a set-builder!

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Jeremiah Clark-Martinez, a student at the SPED Unit at Crane High School, works on a school assignment on Tuesday. 

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The Unit: Where education becomes special

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The Unit: Where education becomes special

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Photo and story by Aaron Padilla
El Ave News staff writer

Imagine you are non-verbal, unable to answer your teacher’s questions. In fact, you have to answer “yes” or “no” with a green or red button. Your Crane High School experience looks a little bit different than the typical student in the average classroom. Instead of taking the standard English, Math, Science, and History classes, you learn how to cook your own food and take care of life’s basic necessities. Even so, you are one of the happiest people on the planet, and when people see you, they instinctively smile. Despite your disabilities, you light up a room, and your life at Crane High School brings joy to all those around you.

Crane Independent School District offers a special education unit for students with severe special educational needs. “The Unit” has four aides to assist students assigned there.

One of these students is Jeremiah Clark-Martinez. He is a joyful person, and CHS students love to see him driving his motorized wheelchair down the halls.

When he was a young child, Jeremiah was involved in a car wreck, which led to his disabilities. But while this tragic event has been a setback in his life, he has not let it keep him down. Instead, it seems to be his life’s mission to put a smile on the face of everyone he bumps into.

Jeremiah's aide is Mandy Wilcox, and she and Jeremiah have very similar personalities.

"(It's) never boring, that’s for sure," said Wilcox. "Jeremiah definitely knows how to hold a conversation and makes me laugh!"

When asked how she feels about spending so much time with Jeremiah, Wilcox said that there's nowhere else she'd rather be.

"I do enjoy my time with Jeremiah! He’s a sweet guy, and he just wants to be treated like everybody else!¨

This dynamic duo loves greeting people as they make their way from one place to the next. Jeremiah’s voice can be heard everywhere he goes, saying, “What’s up?”

Jonathan Marquez is another student with a joyful personality who attends the Unit. Jonathan loves to learn and team up with his aide to complete his assignments. His aide is Donovan Clark-Martinez, who just so happens to be Jeremiah’s brother.

“The car accident is what led me to want to be an aide in special education,” said Donavan. "My brother's spirit is what guides and inspires me to be the person I am today. I use this motivation to help me connect with Jonathan, and it really helps us bond."

Jonathan is a bundle of joy, always bouncing around and enjoying life. In fact, one will never see him without a full battery of energy.

Jonathan's mother, Mira Marquez, a teacher at Crane Middle School, explained what her son's disabilities are.

"He experiences non-verbal autism and epilepsy," she said.

Despite his disabilities, Mira said that her son has made great progress during his time in the Unit at CISD.

"He demonstrates remarkable proficiency in many areas, including riding a 4-wheeler and showcasing impressive basketball-spinning skills," she said.

According to Donna Young, who is the grandmother of both Donovan and Jeremiah and who also heads up the SPED Unit, the accident led her and her grandsons to grow in many ways.

"It's made us closer to one another, and it has only deepened our love for the God who blesses us every day."

Since Donovan was in the same accident as his brother, he feels especially close to his brother. But he is also very close to Jonathan as well.

"It’s fun that they both have their own unique way of learning," he said. "I really do enjoy being able to teach and spend time with Jonathan and my brother Miah."

Alejandro Cardona is also a student at the Unit who loves to learn and interact with his peers and teachers. He answers his questions with a button: green for “yes” or red for “no.”

Like Jonathan, Alejandro is also non-verbal, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a lot to say. He can be seen using his red or green button often while answering to the best of his ability the questions that he's asked.

"Alex was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, and because of this he needed lots of chemotherapy as a kid," his brother, Alberto Cardona, a cheerleader for CHS, said.

Retinoblastoma is an eye cancer that begins at the back of the eye, and it is found most commonly in children.

Alberto and Alex are actually twins, and they love spending time together.

"Since we're twins, I feel the bond between us, and sometimes when I'm not feeling good, he goes to my room and visits me."

The aides do a great job of caring for their students, and when students are asked if they are having a good time at school and loving life, the green button is quickly pushed to indicate a resounding “yes!”

Thank God for special education teachers! If you see one, give them a well-deserved pat on the back. And if you see any of the students like Jeremiah rolling down the hallways, stop and say “What’s up?!”

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Phailon Flores, sophmore, flexes on Alpine Bucks after the big win Thursday night at the El Ave Stadium.

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Lucas Rizo, Crane athlete, returns to his home town and receives his state championship ring at the Tommy C. Jones Memorial Gymnasium.

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Lucas Rizo, Crane High School alumni, returns to his home town to receive his state championship ring Tuesday at the Tommy C. Jones Memorial Gymnasium

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Lucas Rizo, Crane track, star returns to his home town to receive his state championship ring at the Tommy C. Jones Memorial Gymnasium.

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Randy Unruh, First Priority rural and elementary director for the Permian Basin, consults with Makenna Willis, senior, about the plan for Wednesday’s First Priority meeting at Crane High School.

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First Priority: CHS student-led club keeps focus on Jesus Christ

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First Priority: CHS student-led club keeps focus on Jesus Christ

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Photo and story by Maritza Tarin
El Ave News staff writer

You go to church, pray at night, and thank Him at dinner. While at school, you learn about math and reading, but what about Jesus? Now that school has started, sports, band, and other things compete for your time. These many responsibilities might cause you to miss church on Wednesdays, because by the time you get home, you're hungry and worn out, and before you know it, you sit down to rest and forget all about going to church.

First Priority is a Christian-based community that educates students about Jesus and the Gospel, allowing students to learn about Jesus, share what they learn, and eat and hang out.

Cristal Gomez, a sophomore, attends First Priority regularly. She explained a typical meeting on Wednesday.

“We sit down and eat and talk about Jesus," she said. "I find the program to be very helpful with people who are trying to get closer to Jesus and don’t know where to start."

Gomez said that the group is a great place to expand on one's faith.

"First Priority is the perfect opportunity to grow closer to Christ."

Kaden Hargrove, a sophomore, is also a regular at First Priority.

“Getting closer to Jesus means a lot to me," he said. "I think it’s very thoughtful that this program is taking its own time to come to our school and do this for us!"

Aubrey Torres, a freshman, said that the student-led group is a great place to learn more about what it means to be a Christian.

“This is such a beautiful, fun opportunity to have, especially during school hours," she said. "It's the first year the school has done something like this, and I love it."

Torres said that she believes the program will be very successful.

"I feel that It will bring more people closer to Jesus and possibly even help students form new, healthier friendships," she said. "I'm super excited to see where this goes throughout the year!”

Chris Farrell, pastor of the First Baptist Church here in Crane, is a volunteer leader at First Priority.

“I really just want to share the hope of Jesus," he said. "First Priority is a student-led club where they get to share and meet every Wednesday. We have lunch, share a passage from the Bible, and learn how all of life applies to Jesus."

Farrell said the program has been a hit so far.

"It’s been very successful; we have had good responses from the students, but we all hope to see more students attend.”

Randy Unruh, the rural and elementary director of the Permian Basin, said that he wants students to learn how to share the Gospel with one another.

"My goal is to get the students in Crane to talk to others about Jesus Christ and serve the community and churches."

Unruh said that First Priority allows students to come and hang out, but that while having fun, students learn to lead other students by modeling a Christian lifestyle.

"This helps them understand more about Jesus and how to serve God," he said.

Unruh said that his hope is that more and more students start showing up to First Priority each week.

"If you are looking to join, just show up,” he said. “We are here every Wednesday for high school, and Tuesday for middle school. We welcome everyone with open arms.”

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Please let me know if there are any mistakes of any kind, and we will fix them. Just let me know in the comments.

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The CHS cheerleaders perform a Barbie dance at the pep rally last Friday.

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Soda Pop rewards Kyle Duran with the CHS "Boomstick" at the Friday morning pep-rally in the Tommy C. Jones Memorial Gym.

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Naveya Porras, junior, and Alondra Campos, senior, fight tooth and nail for Ken's wig to see who wants it the most Friday during the game at the pep rally.