By: Wanish Tortes-McGinnis 

Ending September with a win by the Pleasanton Eagles against Corpus Christi King 24-6, the first quarter started off slow but rapidly changed when Toby Garner scored 2 touchdowns in the second half. During the third quarter, Toby Garner scored another touchdown followed by a field goal by Jose Angel Perez making the eagle up 24-0. The last quarter ended with Corpus Christi scoring one touchdown and making the final score 24-6 with a win by the Pleasanton Eagles.

The Eagles started October with their first district game against Boerne. The first half started slow with Boerne scoring 2 points. The second half, Boerne got up 22 points and scored 3 touchdowns. The Pleasanton Eagles scored two touchdowns in the third quarter and both were made by Toby Garner. Borene also made two touchdowns in the third quarter making the score 38-14. Jayden Palacios made a receiving touchdown, and Boerne as well made a touchdown. Making the final score 45-20 with loss by the eagles. 

On Friday October 23rd, the Eagles had a home game against Uvalde. The eagles led the way starting with two interceptions made by Marco Quinonez. Ty Hehman, came with another interception for the eagles, and Ashon Thompson with an interception and a touchdown. Sean Ramos, threw two touchdown passes. Finally, Toby Garner made 2 touchdowns to finish the game with an amazing score of 30-7. 

By: Gabby Palacios

After suffering a 3-1 loss against the Cuero Cobblers in their first district game, the Lady Eagles varsity volleyball team played LaVernia in their second district game, ending with a 3-0 loss against the Bears on Friday, September 25. The following Tuesday, September 29, they suffered another 3-0 loss, with the Navarro Panthers coming out victorious.

Starting the month off on a good note, the Eagles traveled to SA Holmes and bagged a 3-1 victory against the Huskies on October 3. They kept up the good pace against the Gonzales Apaches on October 6, gaining a 3-0 victory. Unfortunately, they suffered another loss on Friday, October 9, against the Cuero Gobblers, ending with a 3-2 score. On Tuesday, October 13 the Eagles traveled to LaVernia and ended with another 3-0 loss against the Bears. The team lost against the Panthers on Friday, October 16, with Navarro gaining a 3-0 victory over the Eagles. Fortunately, the Lady Eagles ended their last non-district game with a 3-0 win over the Tilden Cowgirls on Tuesday, October 20.

On Friday, October 23, the team played their final district game against the Gonzales Apaches. Going into five total sets, the Eagles came out victorious with a 3-2 ending score. Only winning one district game up until this point, the team needed this win in order to advance. 

Excited to advance on to Bi-District Playoffs, Senior Jussiah Lopez states, “The game honestly was the craziest game like ever for me… within my high school career. Both teams went out… fighting to win. We all celebrated at the end of the game. Even Coach Aguirre was like ‘YEAH!’ We were all pumped…” 

The first playoff game is taking place on Thursday, October 29. Lopez continued on with encouraging words, stating, “No matter how we do, it was a good season and at the end, we all had fun throughout it.”

Wishing the Lady Eagles varsity volleyball team lots of luck at their first game. PRIDE PRIDE! EAGLE PRIDE!

By: Heaven Marquez

The Eagles’ varsity tennis team had a tournament against the La Vernia Bears on Wednesday, October 7. “The final result was Pleasanton-2, La Vernia-10,” stated head tennis coach, Coach Schwab. “So, we did lose, but that’s not to say because [of] lack of talent…” The team has been working hard all season to stay on top of their opponents, but it has proven to be a challenge with new COVID safe regulations. “It’s changed everything we do. The way we practice, the way we play, we have to haul our own water in now,” said Schwab. 

The team has suffered a few losses throughout the season. Senior Cade Macmanus said that they are “losing to teams we usually beat.” He also stated that the upcoming district games would be difficult. Fellow senior Luke Harlos also chimed in to say, “It’s not going very good, but… we’re going to bounce back and become better.” The Eagles were one day away from playing the Devine Warhorses/ Arabians, but according to junior Luke Raney, the team was “pretty prepared, because of practice.” 

The team ended up losing to Devine, 10-1 with the only win coming from freshman Mackenzie Richter. “Devine’s a powerhouse,” stated Coach Schwab. “If we beat Gonzales, we secure fourth place, and we already know that fourth place will be playing Boerne on Tuesday at Somerset.” 

The Eagles ended up beating the Gonzales Apaches 10-0 on Wednesday, October 21 to play the Boerne Greyhounds in a post-district match on Tuesday, October 27 at 2:30 pm. “It was a good victory that put us into fourth place,” Schwab said. “Everybody played really well… and maybe we’ll give Boerne a run for their money.”

The results from the matches against Boerne still have not been released, but, to quote Coach Schawb, “Pride Pride!”

By: Adriana Clark

The PHS Varsity Cross Country teams traveled to Dilley on September 27th. The varsity girls had 8 girls who placed in the top twenty, with Caitlyn Nieschwitz taking 3rd place, Kassidy Vickers in 5th place, and Kennedy Guajardo taking 7th place along with Kara Hinojosa in 8th, and Mary Martinez in 10th place. Karolyna Arguijo placed 13th, Fe Vielma placed 18th, Jillian Barcomb with a time of 14:23, Raylin Castillo 16:02, and Sofia Aguilar 16:20. For the Varsity boys, Wanish Tortes-McGinnis placed 5th, Tim Klein placed 6th, Xavier Rodriguez placed 12th, Zander Zamora placed 15th, and Jaydon Ogg placed 19th.    

Our Cross Country team later traveled to Devine on Wednesday, September 30th. There, our Varsity and JV girls placed 1st. Caitlyn Nieschwitz placed 2nd, Kassidy Vickers placed 5th, Kara Hinojosa placed 7th, Mary Martinez placed 8th, Karolyna Arguijo placed 11th, Fe Vielma placed 13th, and Kennedy Guajardo placed 14th. Running for the JV team, Raylin Castillo placed 1st, Jillian Barcomb placed 2nd, Sofia Aguilar placed 6th, Itzel Perez placed 7th, Adriana Clark placed 12th, and Savannah Clark placed 13th. Varsity boys ran their best performance of the season so far, with Wanish Tortes-McGinnis placing 9th, Zander Zamora in 10th, Xavier Rodriguez placing 12th, and Jaydon Ogg in 18th. 

On Saturday, October 10th, both the Varsity boys and girls, along with the JV girls went to Bandera, where the Varsity Girls placed 2nd.  Caitlyn Nieschwitz came in 8th place, Kassidy Vickers taking 9th, Kara Hinojosa 15th, Mary Martinez 19th, Kennedy Guajardo 23rd, Fe Vielma 34th, and Karolyna Arguijo in 35th. JV Girls placed 1st with Jillian Barcomb in 1st, Raylin Castillo in 2nd, Lindsey Klein in 4th, Sofia Aguliar placed 13th, Itzel Perez placed 14th, Illianna Solorzano placed 15th, Savannah Clark in 20th, and Adriana Clark in 21st. For our Varsity Boys, Tim Klein took 19th place, Wanish Tortes-McGinnis placed 23rd, Xavier Rodriguez placed 24th, Zander Zamora placed 26th, and Jaydon Ogg placed 31st.

On October 14th, the teams traveled to Devine, where our Varsity girls placed 1st. Caityln Nieschwitz placed 1st with Kassidy Vickers right behind her at 2nd place, Kara Hinojosa placed 7th, Mary Martinez placed 8th, Kennedy Guajardo placed 9th, Fe Vielma took 10th, and Karolyna Arguijo placed 11th. The girls JV placed 1st with Linsey Klein taking 1st place with Raylin Castillo taking 2nd, Sofia Aguliar taking 3rd, and Itzel Perez right behind her taking 4th, and Adriana Clark placed 6th. Varsity Boys had Xavier Rodriguez in 7th, Wanish Tortes-McGinnis in 8th, Zander Zamora in 9th, and Jaydon Ogg in 17th. 

Congratulations to all the runners, District is their next big meet. Wish them luck!

By: Eileen Jaksik 

Paul Vallez is a foreign exchange student at Pleasanton High School. He has come to Pleasanton, Texas all the way from Centre-Val de Loire (Center West France). Paul is a 17 year-old junior here at PHS. When asked why he chose to come to America, Paul stated, “[I came]To improve my English and spend one year in high school, because in France i’m grade [school] so I have to choose something to do and I don’t know.”

Paul wants to participate in extracurricular’s at school. He explains, “I want to do sports. I do baseball, but it’s in the day and it’s in December. I think it starts after spring.” In France, students don’t get to experience sports, so he wants to see what it’s like to play sports in America. He hopes to make the team and meet new people while doing so. 

Coming to a new school was very hard for Paul. he said “… it was hard coming to a new school… I knew the other foreign exchange students but it was still hard.” Over time Paul met new people and started making new friends. 

In France they do not partake in very many of our traditions, Paul said “We don’t do the homecoming.. Uh, the burning of the P, we don’t have this.” They do have some similarities though- they celebrate Christmas and Halloween like we do in America. Although Paul has never gotten to go trick-or-treating in America, he said “I’m very excited to do Halloween here.” 

Paul is very thrilled to be attending Pleasanton High School, and cannot wait to learn and try new things. We hope you enjoy living here in the states, and have fun learning new things the American way!

By: Hayden Schmidt

When walking down the 400 Hallway in between classes, you most certainly have seen a bright and smiling teacher standing outside her classroom. To those who don’t have her class, she may appear to be like any other teacher, but to her students she is one of the most caring and serious teachers they’ve had. Mrs. Bast is the Precalculus and AP Calculus teacher here at PHS, and she takes that job with an incredible level of respect. 

Mrs. Bast was born in Kansas, but moved to Pleasanton when she was seven years old. She attended and graduated from our very own Pleasanton High School, and decided to attend UTSA to receive her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Mrs. Bast never planned on being a teacher, but the role seemed to fall right into her lap. Once she completed her bachelor’s degree, NASA offered to fund her master’s degree, with the criteria that she continued research for them and taught a class for them as a Measurements and Instrumentation instructor. She said she was “… lucky enough to, as an undergrad, work on a NASA grant.” During this time, she realized that she truly enjoyed teaching. “I’m teaching college students who were working towards their bachelor’s, and I received really good reviews from them, which made me feel really good. It hadn’t been too long since I was in their shoes, and I remember things not being explained well enough, so I made sure I did the job I would have wanted my professor to do.”

After working with NASA and teaching at UTSA over a twelve year span, she was offered a job at Pleasanton Junior High as a math teacher and decided to take it. She explained, “I didn’t want to miss out on my kids growing up. I realized how much time had already passed and how much time being at UTSA was taking up, and so I wanted to be able to be with them their last few years.”

Mrs. Bast loves teaching here for many reasons. The biggest is that she remembers struggling at first when she went into the engineering program. “I just really enjoy giving the local kids a chance to learn math at the level they’re going to need, and hopefully having an easier time than I did.” When asked what advice she would give students, she said, “Follow your heart, follow your passion, and be true to yourself.”

Mrs. Bast is an incredible teacher and a wonderful person, and her efforts to better her students will leave a lasting impression on them for the rest of their lives.

By: Jaelyn Morales

 

Mrs. Pippen has a very important role here at Pleasanton High School. For those who might not know, Mrs. Pippen is the registrar here at PHS, which means she is in charge of everything from report cards, progress reports, and grades to the records, enrolling and withdrawing students, and assisting parents when they need help. 

She started her job here at PHS in 2005 working in the Library, but 5 years later in 2010, she got a position working in the counselor’s office as the registrar. Since then she has been very busy helping every student in 9th-12th grade with things such as making their schedule for the school year, taking care of all the grades and GPAs, which are very important, and up keeping folders also known as PRC’s (every student has one) in a records room, which has records all the way back from the 1930’s and has to find them when a college or business is faxing them. After helping the students here at PHS, she now has to help the students who are either enrolling or withdrawing. She does this by contacting the other schools to get information, or for those withdrawing, she contacts the new school to make sure they’re going to school there and not being considered a dropout. 

This year has been a little more hectic for the staff at PHS because of Covid-19, but that did not stop them from working their hardest to give us students everything we need for this school year. “ I get a lot of help from the counseling department, we’re a great team and we enjoy working together,” Mrs. Pippen said, “We all get along and we get the job done.” Mrs. Pippen has done an outstanding job this year, as well as the other staff, and together they have exceeded in trying to make sure this school year goes great for everyone. Although this school year has been different from others, she’s still striving to help students, teachers, parents, and other staff members out, and that is why she deserves this month’s Staff Spotlight.

By: Victoria Chavez

  This month the JROTC program will participate in a 5K run to help fight against Alzheimers. Alzheimers is a brain disease that slowly shows its symptoms around age 60. The disease progressively gets worse and worse as the years go by, first affecting your memory, thinking skills, and then ultimately your abilities to lead a simple life. Sadly this disease is very common among elders and affects over three million people. The Eagle Battalion thought this was the perfect opportunity to raise awareness for this medical condition. They have donated five hundred dollars to the cause and the battalion is running a 5K (3.1 miles). Due to COVID-19 and the need for social distancing, the run is a virtual one,  meaning they can submit videos or pictures of their participation. Each cadet will be allowed to run alone or with a group of 8 people. “It was a really good experience for us to be active while helping the community…” said by Christan Gutierrez. “My family has been affected by this disease… I’m glad that I can help make a difference…” said by an anonymous source. The run was a great turn out and the battalion was eager to see so many cadets participate in the event to help find a cure for Alzheimers.

By: Courtney Henson

Earlier this month, the Pleasanton Education Foundation began hosting a fundraiser to help support the students and staff of Pleasanton Independent School District. The Education Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports both the staff and the students of Pleasanton ISD. The foundation supports many different programs, including providing funds to encourage & improve innovative practices at all campuses and supporting students through scholarship opportunities to encourage & and support furthering education.

As this fundraiser begins across the school district, the student council club here at the high school organized the goals for the high school students to reach and the rewards that would come as a result. On Monday October 5, as the fundraiser began, the goal to meet was set at $3,000, with a reward of everyone getting to dress up on the day before Halloween. It was encouraged that every face to face learner donate $5, which would allow us to meet our goal. On October 13, the fundraiser was changed so that anyone who donated $3 got to dress up on the day before Halloween, and in the event that we reached the $3,000 goal, everyone would get to dress up. By walking around at lunch, encouraging each other, and the reward of dressing up in sight, the student council was able to collect a good amount of money from the student body. On Monday, October 13, the minimum donation required to be able to dress up was changed to $5 in hopes of reaching our $3,000 goal. 

As the fundraiser continues until the deadline on Thursday, October 29, we encourage you to donate so you can not only dress up on the day before Halloween but also support our school and the students all around you. Pride! Pride!

By: Kori Miller

One of the best elements of the spooky season is its movies. Many timeless horror movies draw inspiration or a setting from Halloween, making for some timeless classics to watch over and over again. So this October, I’m going to put some of my all-time favorites into the spotlight. I tried to primarily include movies you probably haven’t seen, so enjoy!

Hereditary (2018, R) – Starting the list off strong is a psychological folk-horror that’ll disturb you long after the credits have rolled. Hereditary is an Ari Aster film that follows the estranged happenings that come across the Grahams after their matriarch passes away. Things seem to keep getting worse for the family, and I guarantee you’ll never be able to predict the ending. 10/10

Little Shop Of Horrors (1986, PG-13) – If horror isn’t quite your style, Little Shop Of Horrors might be. It’s a dark comedy musical about a man-eating plant that also happens to be an amazing singer. We follow Seymour, an unfortunate employee at a floral shop after he comes across a fly-trap looking plant with a taste for human flesh. Unsure of what to do, he entertains it… But how long exactly can that go on? 8/10

The Fly (1986, R) – Sometimes all you need to complete your Halloween night is a bit of good ol’ fashioned body horror. The Fly is a film about science, teleportation and… A human fly hybrid. Yeah, it’s pretty gross. 8/10

Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988, PG-13) – The title for this one is kind of self-explanatory. Killer Klowns from Outer Space is a classic movie about teenagers being terrorized by, you guessed it, killer clowns from outer space. It’s quirky, bizarre, bordering abstract, and a lot of fun to watch with friends. 6/10

Raw (2016, R) – This French movie isn’t exactly for the weak-stomached. A vegetarian girl entering veterinary school partakes in her first bite of flesh as a part of the school’s initiation and immediately undergoes a strange transformation in cravings. She simply cannot get enough meat, no matter where it comes from… including humans. 9/10

What We Do in the Shadows (2014, R) – Ending on a lighter note, What We Do in the Shadows is a mockumentary-style comedy written by and starring Taika Waititi. It follows a group of vampires from various time periods living together in a flat in New Zealand, and they don’t exactly get along. Our characters spend a majority of the runtime arguing about the dishes or whose turn it is to take out the trash. It’s an ironic setting for immortal killing machines and a perfect spooky comedy. 10/10 

Well, those are the handful of films I’ve selected as my go-to’s for the season. I hope you find something you’ll love this fright night, and please remember to stay in and stay safe! Happy Halloween!

Honorable Mentions: Edward Scissorhands (1990, PG-13), Gremlins (1984, PG), Midsommar (2019, R), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007, R), Heathers (1988, R).

By: Victoria Chavez 

The Crime 

Joan Rabel and Goldyne Pizer sat quietly parked outside a home located in Sun Valley. The pair waited in silence as they watched the lights go out. It was time to strike. 

Rabel whispered under her breath to Goldyn, “Alright, do it” Goldyn then exited the car  dressed in jeans, a khaki coat, red gloves, and heavy makeup that she covered up with a domino mask. She walked directly to the home and stood there for a few seconds before ringing the doorbell. 

Peter Fabiano awoken when the doorbell rang. He looked at the clock and questioned why someone would be here at this time of night. As he walked down the stairs it occurred to him that it might be a late trick-or-treater, so he grabbed the bowl of candy on the table and opened the door. He looked at the mysterious black figure and asked, “It’s a little late for this, isn’t it?” 

“No,” was the last word Peter Fabiano ever heard as Pizer lifted a brown paper bag and shot Fabiano. Pizer didn’t wait to see if Peter was dead, or if anyone had seen her. She ran back to the car where Rabel was waiting. 

As Pizer got in, Rabel leaned over and kissed her, saying, “Thank you.” The two women left and quickly burned the clothes they were wearing in case they contained any trace evidence. Afterwards, they returned the getaway car to the friend they had borrowed from earlier that day. When the two women had completed their mission, Rabel said to Pizer. “Forget you ever knew me.” Then they went their separate ways.

The next day Pizer realized she still had the gun, so she rented a locker at a Downtown LA department store and kept it there where she thought it would be safest. 

The Investigation 

The loud boom woke his sleeping wife, Betty Fabiano, she quickly ran downstairs only to find her husband barely breathing.

Betty ran to her police officer neighbour’s home, who called in the Valley police department. Peter was taken to Sun Valley hospital, where he was pronounced dead from the gunshot to his chest. 

It took a few days for Betty to compose herself but soon she did and was able to speak with the police. She told them that she heard two voices coming from downstairs, a man, and someone that sounded like a man pretending to be a woman.

Police initial thought was that this was the work of a gang. It was not uncommon for a random gang killing to occur during those hours of the night, although they didn’t think Peter Fabiano had relations with any gangs since he was just an owner of a successful salon. 

When questioned about who would want to harm Mr. Fabiano, Betty knew exactly who was responsible. She told police she believed it was an “ex-friend” Joan Rabel.

After weeks of no leads and a cold trail, law enforcement finally caught a break when a gun had been found in a locker at a department store. A ballistics test confirmed a match to the gun found to the bullet fired into Peter Fabiano. The police soon learned that this gun belonged to Goldyne Pizer. 

On November 12, Pizer was arrested in connection to Peter Fabiano’s death.  In the interrogation room, she confessed to everything, telling police that it was all Rabel’s idea. Rabel had coerced her into killing Peter; she didn’t even know the man. They then interrogated Rabel, but she refused to tell the truth and insisted that she knew nothing about the crime. The police got a warrant after hours of interviewing her and getting nowhere. 

The murder weapon, she said, had been bought with money Rabel had given her. Pizer told how they had been planning the murder for weeks. The two of them had driven by Fabiano’s home before, and Rabel had pointed out Peter to her, so she would recognize him when the time came. 

What was The Reasoning Behind The Murder?

Peter and Betty Fabiano met in the late 1940’s while living in New York. Peter left the Marines and began trucking when he first laid eyes on Betty, a new divorcee with two kids. They quickly married soon after. 

The four of them then moved to LA and opened up two beauty salons; at one of these salons Joan Rabel was hired. This is how she came into the picture. 

As the business began to grow, Betty and Peter’s marriage fell apart. It soon was a loveless marriage. This turmoil caused Betty to move into Rabel’s home. 

When they moved in together people started to make note of the close relationship of the two girls; but this was the 50s, so no one would have thought the two were a couple. 

Word eventually got around to Peter which turned out to be enough fuel to motivate him to fix his marriage. Betty vowed that she would never see Rabel again. 

Soon after Betty went back to Peter, Rabel realized that her girlfriend was serious about fixing her marriage. Soon after she had lost Betty, Rabel found Pizer and started telling her how horrible of a man Peter Fabiano was and that he had to die.

The Trials 

Before their trial started in December, both women had to meet with three psychiatrists. The courts seemed to believe that due to their relationship with each other, the trials could be corrupt. Pizer was very open with the psychiatrist as she had been with the police. She was quoted saying, “I had no motive, personally. Whatever motive I had was to please Joan. I was always easily influenced. I have been impressionable and always trusting.” Rabel on the other hand never spoke a word and declined to testify. 

Pizer got on the stand and told the events of what happened that night. Rabel refused to tell the truth, but was seen smiling when Pizer was giving her tearful testimony. Both women were charged with first-degree murder, but through a plea deal, it was reduced to second-degree murder. Each woman was sentenced to 5 years to life in prison though they were eventually released. Afterwards, Rabel and Pizer changed their names and were never heard of again. A short crime for the cold murder of an innocent man. 

By: Dillon Myers

‘Tis that time of the season once again, where candy flows from the stores to baskets to your mouth. Candy corn was originally invented in the 1880s by George Renninger, who worked for Wunderlee Candy Company at the time. However, it was the Jelly Belly Company who popularized the treat, naming it “chicken feed” in 1898. This absurd title was due to society’s belief that corn was a food not for humans, but for chickens’ consumption. Here at PHS, we conducted a survey to see what people like you thought about candy corn. The results are below:

Fun Fact: October 30th, the day before Halloween, was dubbed National Candy Corn Day.

By: Ricky Fabrow

This is the season to get spooky and dress up as a random fictional character just to get some free candy. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t make your own spooky treats instead of eating pre-made ones, this one’s all about the bats so let’s begin, shall we? So, first here’s what you’ll need.

INGREDIENTS

• 15 Double Stuf Oreos
• 1/2 cup chocolate wafers
• 20 candy eyeballs

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Take 5 of the Oreos and carefully cut in half. Separate the pieces and scrape off the filling. Each Oreo will give you 4 “bat wings.” Take 2 of the Oreo pieces and insert into the cream filling of an Oreo then press down on the Oreo to help it stay in place.
2. Add the chocolate wafers to a microwave-safe bowl and melt about 20 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until melted and smooth.
3. Using a spoon, scoop a little of the melted chocolate on top of the Oreo. Then use the back of the spoon to evenly spread the melted chocolate over it.
4. Gently press 2 candy eyes on the Oreo to resemble the bat eyes. Repeat until all the Oreo tops are covered with the chocolate and the candy eyes have been added. Place in the fridge or freezer until the chocolate is set.
5. Keep stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

And after that, Bam! You’ll be able to enjoy your bat oreo cookies in no time. A very simple, quick and delicious treat to enjoy either by yourself or perhaps even with friends.

“It is the night when

Skeletons and goblins can be seen

It is the night when

The little girl in white has eyes that are green

It is the night when

Frankenstein has risen from the dead

It is the night when

Ghost that were trapped now have fled

It is the night when

The vampires hunt for fresh blood

To satisfy their thirst

Beware people around the world

Because today is October 31st”

By: Unknown

Happy Halloween everybody! I hope you are being safe on this spooky holiday. Be sure to wear your mask and stay six feet away from other people when you go trick or treating. This poem was chosen because it’s Halloween season and I wanted to incorporate different costumes.

Sincerely,

The Passionate Poet

By: Adelena Vera 

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19)- Are you looking forward to improved communication and fewer technological glitches as Mercury goes into retrograde on November 3? If this backwards transit has negatively affected one or more of the relationships in your life in the last few weeks, you can look forward to them getting back on track soon. The mighty planet Mars, also goes direct while in your fiery sign on the thirteenth, giving you the strength and stamina to not only compete with the best but to win! Your courage and confidence are at all-time high levels, ensuring that no matter what you try, you can basically will yourself not to fail. The brilliant sun enters fun-loving fellow fire sign Sagittarius on the twenty-first, lighting up your world with the excitement you’ve been trying to capture in unhealthy ways lately. You still might be in the mood for risky behavior, but the Archer helps you opt more for adrenaline-producing activities like cliff diving rather than eating or drinking to excess.

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20)- Your lovely home planet Venus squares Jupiter, the planet of destiny on the sixteenth, which could make you question whether something (or someone) was truly meant to be. The more you second-guess yourself, Taurus, the more the magic fades. Logic has less of a place here than sheer belief. Positive thinking makes all the difference. Love gets complicated when Venus is paired with Scorpio, also starting on the twenty-first. Venus isn’t always comfortable in Scorpio’s secretive world, which could cause you to cover up things you’re usually much more open about. A financial situation could worsen if you aren’t willing to share the details, which could lead to money or legal problems down the line. The sun partners with the exciting fire sign Sagittarius for a month starting on November 21, at which point you might turn into an adrenaline junkie. For a typical Taurus who usually likes to play it safe, this will be a huge departure. Don’t blame loved ones who question your actions now. They only have your best interests at heart.

Gemini (May 21-Jun. 20)- you can’t wait for mercury to come out of retrograde and start communicating again. It’s nice to say everything that’s on your mind. Mercury then forms a quick square to serious Saturn in Capricorn on the sixth, bringing harsh opinions and rigid thinking that you aren’t used to dealing with. You’re one of the zodiac’s best communicators, and while you’ll try to keep your debates as open-minded as possible, you can expect to bump up against some pretty narrow-minded people now. The thirtieth brings a special full moon and lunar eclipse in your sign that can put into sharp focus issues surrounding your siblings (or those you consider brothers and sisters). This can be a time of healing if you’re willing to keep the lines of communication wide open.

Cancer (Jun. 21-Jul. 22)- Can travel, technology, and communication finally get back to normal when Mercury leaves its dreaded retrograde cycle on November 3? That’s the hope, Cancer. And because it’s paired with relationship-focused Libra now, you can expect all those romantic misunderstandings to start to fade with the shift in momentum. On the tenth, Mercury reenters Scorpio, where it was for most of its retrograde cycle, and it’s time to keep things on the down low. Although your curiosity will be off the charts, you’ll be hesitant to share any information you learn. If you share any gossip now, it will only be with your BFF, not on social media. The sun enters Sagittarius on the twenty-first, welcoming in a month of adventure. Embrace this opportunity to explore your wild side as you let go of inhibitions and start to take more risks. Resist the urge to plan. Spontaneity leads to the experience of a lifetime.

Leo (Jul. 23- Aug. 22)- You, Leo, are looking forward to Mercury coming out of retrograde on November 3rd just like everyone else. This will allow your communication to slowly get back on track and it will immediately start repairing a personal relationship that’s gone off the tracks these last few weeks. November 19th brings a Venus-Saturn square that’s accompanied by more than its share of angst and disappointment. Sometimes it seems like no matter how hard you try, you can’t make things turn out the way you want them to. Patience is not your strongest trait, but this is the time you need plenty of patience. Venus enters mysterious and magnetic Scorpio on November 21, at the same time the sun enters adventurous Sagittarius. During this time, you might be attracted to all the wrong types of people now, and vice versa. It’s hard to ignore intense chemistry, but sometimes it pulls you in the wrong direction.

Virgo (Aug. 23- Sep. 22)- During the time of the retrograde, you can find yourself looking forward to your life heading in a more positive route. Whatever has been going wrong, it will all start going right again with Mercury’s forward motion. The Mercury-Saturn square, on the 6th, will make it hard to focus on the detail of a certain professional situation, but you will pride yourself on getting the job done. This could be a disappointing time, so keep focused on the future, not the moment. The sun enters the fire sign Sagittarius on the twenty-first, welcoming in a month of dares and risks, but you will test your waters slowly. You are willing to embrace exciting moments, but you most likely will not totally lose yourself in them.

Libra (Sep. 23- Oct. 22)- Your communication issues will get right back on track, faster than some other signs, during retrograde. Your home planet Venus squares expansive Jupiter on the sixteenth, bringing good luck that won’t last long. You’re more than ready to have fun, and if you have work waiting for you, it might get shoved aside in favor of a good time. It probably can wait, but you might have an unpleasant surprise waiting for you when you finally get back to it. November 21 will bring exciting energy into your life and your need for knowledge won’t be filled. You’ll want to learn more about other people and their life experiences. Life is meant to be lived to the fullest, and you’re ready to embrace it head-on. The full moon and lunar eclipse in intellectual Gemini on November 30 pique your curiosity, but you might not get all the answers you desire. An inability to focus on just one thing or listen completely now keeps you restless and somewhat disappointed in the kind of people you meet.

Scorpio (Oct. 23- Nov. 21)- When you want to get to the bottom of something, you can’t be stopped, and right now you’ve got your sights on a fascinating topic or person that you can’t quit obsessing about. Your gaze is intense as you stare into the unknown. When desire meets effort, you’re virtually unstoppable. If there’s an obstacle in your way, it’s about to get decimated. A new moon in your sign on November 14 helps you explore your shadowy side, which could spell trouble for other people. When you fully embrace the dark parts of yourself, you might get in touch with some raw, otherworldly forces that can’t be stopped. Luckily, you know your personal limits very well.Venus pairs up with your intense sign on the twenty-first, but this isn’t an ideal partnership. Your control issues are too much for someone now, and your incessant need to be right comes off as elitist and egotistical. Yes, your confidence is a turn-on to some, but at what price?

Sagittarius (Nov. 22- Dec. 21)- The sun enters your outgoing sign on the twenty-first, giving you a whole month of adventure and growth to look forward to. You love to expand your world by traveling and meeting people from different cultures, but if that isn’t possible, take a different path home from the store or try a new cuisine. New learning opportunities are everywhere, even close to home. As loving Venus squares Jupiter on November 16, you have a very brief but potent window to take advantage of the extremely good fortune that comes your way. Take a chance and see where it leads, Sag. You love to take risks, and they can pay off big now.

Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan. 19)- You’re all business when it comes to stating your opinions and beliefs, and you have little patience for anyone who wants to challenge you. There will be times this month when you’re open to what others have to say, but this isn’t one of those times. Loving Venus enters sexy Scorpio on November 21, at the same time the sun pairs up with fiery Sagittarius. There is a lot of electricity in the air now, and you should be feeling yourself. Make a move that takes others by surprise. You don’t like to show off very often, but your moves are too good not to show them off now! When Neptune goes direct while in Pisces, the sign it rules, on the twenty-eighth, some realities will be exposed that you can’t ignore. You know that safe little dream world you’ve been floating along in? It’s about to be shattered, Capricorn. Luckily, you can handle the truth.

Aquarius (Jan. 20- Feb. 18)-It’s been some time since communication issues have been on track, and the ending of this retrograde cycle is a time of relief. With Mercury in fellow friendly air sign Libra, you can make new friends easily now. You’ve been able to elude the truth for a long time now, but you can’t do it anymore. Your fantasies and daydreams are still a good distraction, but they aren’t a substitute for seeing things as they really are. The full moon and lunar eclipse are in fellow air sign Gemini on the thirtieth, illuminating areas that affect travel, communication, technology, and siblings. Make necessary changes that will aid advancement in these areas, Aquarius. This lunation is the perfect time to tie up loose ends as you anticipate the future. Getting closure matters.

Pisces (Feb. 19- Mar. 20)- You open up more easily when Mercury goes into retrograde. You can sense that there’s less of a chance of being misunderstood now, which is one of your biggest fears. Try to make up for your lack of communication for the last few weeks now that talkative Mercury is working for—not against—you. Romantic Venus pairs up with Mars-ruled Scorpio on November 21, so you’ll be feeling extremely physical. There’s nothing wrong with expressing your feelings through touch, but some people might misinterpret it. Make sure you make very clear the line between platonic and romantic feelings. Your home planet is in your indecisive sign when it finally goes direct on the twenty-eighth, and you can use this progressive energy to confront an idea or opinion that has seemed out of place lately. No matter what age you are, you can always make a change. Face the truth head-on, and make your next choice based on reality, not fantasy or daydreams.

By: Kristina Mertz
Many tell of the old folk tale known as The Donkey Lady, in this tale she haunts Donkey Lady Bridge on Applewhite road in San Antonio. To you, the name of the bridge might seem laughable, however, the name has a sinister backstory that has a spine-chilling fateful end.

The tale is so ancient, that nobody knows the true story, however it has been around long enough to have many versions. Supposedly, the story starts with a family of farmers who lived just outside of San Antonio. The father of the family, murdered all of his children and set his house on fire. Instead of killing his wife he left her horribly disfigured. Because of the fire, her hands were melted down to stumps, which resembled donkey-like hooves. The skin on her face was so charred it looked almost elongated adding to the donkey like appearance. As the Donkey Lady grieves the loss of her children and seethes with the sting of betrayal from her husband, she haunts Elm Creek and those who try to cross.

The Donkey Lady is a very popular tale all across the San Antonio area. Numerous people try to explore the area to see if they can catch even a glimpse of her infamous spirit. There are real life stories of experiences where people have had the feeling of being watched, but others say they saw something out there. Some hear the clapping of hooves when they visit, while other people claim to have seen a woman with a donkey-like face peering back through the car window. The best way to get her attention is by honking your car horn.

If you ever get the lucky or unlucky chance of visiting The Donkey Lady Bridge over Elm Creek in San Antonio, make sure to keep an eye out for her, she’s always watching.

By: Kiarra Sanchez

Most people may not have the time to go out and buy costumes or they simply cannot, thanks to everything going on in the world. Here are some simple DIY costumes you can make at home:

Alice Angel for Girls:

Not all costumes have to be scary; you can be a sweet little demon sent from above. Alice Angel is from a horror video game by the name Bendy and The Ink Machine. If you have a black dress this will be very simple. Here are the steps:

1. Find yourself a plain black dress to wear. If it has sleeves that’s even better!
2. Make a bow out of white ribbon and pin it to the collar of the dress. 
3. If you have white gloves, go ahead and put them on. If not, that’s okay. 
4. You can sew a pair of horns onto clips, paint a headband that already has horns white, or make paper horns and hot glue them to a headband or hair clips.
5. Finally, find a pair of black heels or flats.

This is the simple way to make a cute costume for yourself. If you don’t wanna do anything spooky, this is a perfect costume for you. 

 

Steampunk for Boys:

You can do a lot of things with cardboard. One of many things you can do with this material is make some cool steampunk gadgets. 

1. Find a formal shirt
2. Optional: overalls or a vest
3. Find some formal pants. Although if you don’t have any, jeans will work just fine. 
4. Find a good amount of large boxes (3-5)
5. Think about some cool gadgets you might wanna make to go with the costume.
6. If you don’t have a tophat, make one out of cardboard and paint it a darker brown
7. Make some little steampunk style charms like small gears.
8. Optional: Make a nice pair of goggles

There’s many possibilities when you have creativity and just some simple cardboard. Steampunk is the coolest thing you can make with this kind of material. It’s a cool look that’ll be easy to pull off.

 

Couples Costume:

There are many different different kinds of costumes out there for couples. A few of them are scary, some cute. This time we’re going to discover a funny one. Ratatouille costume.

Remy:

1. Find a grey dress if you have one
2. Make a pair of ears. You can make these out of cardboard and hot glue them to a headband.
3. Get your makeup out ladies and put some whiskers on your face. Don’t forget the nose.

Linguini:

If you don’t have a chef’s outfit, it’s okay! Here’s another way you can pull this off. 

1. Find a white button up shirt and ask your girlfriend to sew more buttons on it.
2. Ask your girlfriend to borrow a white skirt, you don’t have to.
3. Black pants
4. Red shoes
5. Make a chefs hat out of paper

That is a very easy way to pull off this costume.

Even if you don’t have the time or money, there are some easy DIY costumes you can make at home. These are the most simple steps for a few costumes that you’ll hopefully give a try.

By: Heaven Marquez

Game vs. Hondo

The Pleasanton Eagles varsity football team started off the season against the Hondo Owls after a two week break from football due to Covid, and only one week of practice back on Friday, August 28. The Eagles, unfortunately, were not able to keep up with the Owls, suffering a 31-0 loss. Their scheduled scrimmages were also shut down because of a Covid scare earlier in the month, which also contributed to the defeat, as said by Head Coach Liska. The boys started off rough, but by the third quarter, the Eagles began to get back in the groove of things. However, Hondo used the time of struggle to get ahead and win.

Game vs. Poteet

The Poteet Aggies triumphed over the Pleasanton Eagles on Friday, September 4, with a 16-3 victory. Both teams were neck and neck against each other with a tied score of 3-3, until the third quarter, when the Aggies managed to score a touchdown, making it past the Eagle defense. With a rough pass from Pleasanton finding its way into Aggie territory, Poteet managed to pull through with another touchdown to end the game. This is the first time the Aggies managed to outscore the Eagles since 2009. 

Coach Liska stated, “We were flushed a couple of times, and then a couple of balls were overthrown. Timing, we’ve got to work on and got to get better at it.”

Game vs. Jourdanton

The Pleasanton Eagles fell to the Jourdanton Indians on Friday, September 18 after a rough start from the Indians. The Eagle’s sophomore quarterback Sean Ramos made their first touchdown at the beginning of the second quarter, putting them ahead, however, Jourdanton fought back with a touchdown of their own minutes later, making the score 7-6, with Pleasanton up. After half time, the Indians looked more like the team they were rumored to be, with a touchdown, a two-point conversion, and another touchdown to place them ahead 35-7 at the end of the third. The rest of the game was uneventful on both sides, with Jourdanton victorious. 

Game vs. Devine

The Eagles traveled to the home of the Devine Warhorses to battle on Friday, September 18. Unfortunately, Pleasanton was defeated by the Warhorses 30-7 after 4 long quarters of fighting. Coach Liska stated that the Warhorses use a lot of misdirection while running, which caught the Eagles off guard. The Warhorses scored first in the second quarter, and kept the momentum going the rest of the game, with the Eagles struggling to catch up. However, the Eagles came together during the second half, getting team chemistry back after the rust took over.  The Eagle’s lone touchdown was score by sophomore quarterback Sean Ramos.“Whenever we are together, we know what we can do,” said Ramos. 

Game vs. Corpus Christi

Pleasanton really played to beat the Corpus Christi King Mustangs, with senior running back Toby Garner leading the Eagles to victory. Garner had all three of Pleasanton’s touchdowns, beating the Mustangs 24-6 for the first win of the season. “We just got it done in practice and did what we had to do,” stated Toby. “It was a homecoming win, so that makes it even better. Everyone came out and played their heart out.” The Eagles certainly played out, breaking an 8 game losing streak, from 2019 to now. The Mustangs did manage to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter, putting a few points on the board, but by that time it was too late for them, crowning the Eagles victorious.

The Eagles will play Kingsville King on Friday, October 2 before their district opening against Boerne. 

 

By: Jaelyn Morales

 

The Pleasanton Lady Eagles started the season off with seven straight wins before falling to Poth and now stand at 10 wins and 8 losses, but with district starting they will have to step it up and play even harder to make it to playoffs and hopefully be bi-district champs again.

 Last year, the Lady Eagles made it to the playoffs after beating the Cuero Gobblers and had a spectacular first playoff game against Devine, by getting the win and becoming bi-district champs after 5 sensational sets. Sadly their next game ended their playoff run with a loss against the Hidalgo Pirates, but this year the Lady Eagles want to make a comeback and for that to happen they will need to work together as a team and overcome their obstacles.                                                                                                                    

 Their first district game of the season was against Cuero on Tuesday, September 22 and they fought hard till the end, though unfortunately came out with a loss. The score for that game was ( 25-23, 20-25, 18-25, 20-25 ) and although they were defeated it was an exciting game to watch. JV and Freshman also lost their games, but hustled and the score was close throughout the game. When asked about how this season is going so far, Angel Tucker responded, “So far it’s been okay, but we as a team have had a habit of taking too many breaks during a game and that sometimes causes us to be defeated. We’ve had some pretty good wins but I hope we can fight for every point in our upcoming district games.” Fighting for every point will be necessary in their upcoming games so they can make it to the playoffs and be champions, but to do that they will need your support. They hope to see more fans at their future games so please show your eagle spirit and come on out to one of their games and cheer them on. Let’s go Lady Eagles!       

By: Courtney Henson

On Monday, August 3, after a very long break, the Pleasanton tennis team returned to practice. With a very exciting fall season ahead of them, the team was very anxious to get back. They worked very hard with a positive outlook on the season, but unfortunately this season has not gone as they hoped it would. On August 26th the Pleasanton Tennis team faced Hondo and fell 15-4. On September 2, the Pleasanton Eagles were beaten 16-3 by Devine and on September 12, with 4 players gone, they lost 19-0. Recently, on September 26, the Pleasanton tennis team defeated Somerset 10-7.

When asked about his thoughts and outlooks on this season, senior Blake Moos says, “This year we have new teams in our district so it’s going to be a difficult season for us. We’re all having fun though and that’s what really matters.” When asked the same question, junior Emalee David said “This season we’ve been doing really good so far. Despite the new challenges and regulations everyone has grown and gotten better each day.”

Coach Schwab is known to be a very optimistic person, and this answer reflects just that. When asked about his thoughts on the season Coach Schwab said “Well my thoughts on this season are that it’s 2020 and this whole season is just… wack. It’s different than any of us have ever imagined, I mean we’re on the court in masks and we can’t touch anybody. I mean we have to follow protocols on the bus. Everything is different so we’ve had to adjust to that, and it’s been crazy.” This year the tennis team is facing a district with much stronger teams, but Coach Schwab remains positive about the outlook of the season saying “we’re just as ready as we can be and we’re gonna go play. I mean we’re going in true eagle pride and eagle fashion and were going to go play and do the best of our ability. That’s all we can hope for and that’s all we’re gonna do. We’re all going to be there and we’re all going to do our best and we’re all going to walk off that court with our heads held high, whether win or lose and we’ll see what happens at the end of the 5 week run.”

The tennis teams, along with other sports, have been greatly affected by the new rules regarding Covid-19, however, they have handled them with respect and ease. Senior Blake Moos says, “Due to COVID, it is somewhat difficult to find teams that want to have matches with outside teams, but Coach Schwab has done a great job finding us matches. Also, wearing a mask on the court is a real struggle for our stamina, but we make it work!” Regarding the changes Covid has made to the team, junior Emalee David says, “Some schools can only travel with their varsity team, so our JV team doesn’t always get to play at every tournament. We also have to wear masks on and off the court, and even while we play, which has been a big challenge. Fortunately, all of my teammates are willing to get past the mask and focus on the sport.”

Although this season has not turned out as the team had hoped, they will continue to work hard and stay positive. Through this tough time, your teammates have some words of encouragement for you. Blake Moos says “Just keep coming to practice and we will keep getting better together.” Emalee David says to her fellow teammates, “For my fellow athletes in tennis and any other sport I just want to say that I’m so proud of everyone. Each new challenge that we face, we have gotten passed and are ready to face the next one. I just ask that everyone keeps persevering and looks at the positive. We’re all in this together.”

Lastly, from Coach Schwab to his players, “We’re still a team that’s standing. We haven’t even been scared about it, so the encouragement is they know that if they go out there and do what they are supposed to do things are gonna fall right and I don’t know what can be more encouraging than that. I’m proud of them, I’m proud of the work they have put in, I’m proud of what they’re gonna put in and I just hope that we’ve done enough. Well, find out. We’re gonna find out one way or another. And that’s where we’re at. We’re in one of the hardest districts we have and they are just doing so amazing. They really are awesome.” While Coach Schwab provides encouragement to his players everyday, they also encourage him and continue to make him proud everyday. “They do what they have to do, they want to play tennis,” Schwab said, “and that’s what I find so encouraging and so incredible that they want to play tennis.”

Although this season has not started as you hoped it would, we wish you the best of luck on the rest of your matches to come Eagle Tennis. Pride! Pride!