The Cougar Claw The Student Newspaper of Tomball High School
Vol. 52, Issue 2
THSCougarClaw.com
December 2018
MURDER in a
Rising use of vaping alarming Doctors note many teens turn to smoking
SMALL TOWN
by Abi Baldwin Features Editor What was once seen as a healthier alternative to cigarettes has become a major health concern for teens, according to medical experts. Teens today are more likely to fall into nicotine addiction due to vaping, which is detrimental to their mental and physical health. With the increased popularity of vaping, high school students are more susceptible to falling prey to the risks of e-cigarettes. The modern e-cigarette was invented in 2003 by a Chinese pharmacist, Hon Lik. Since e-cigarettes were first sold in 2004 their global use has risen exponentially. Smoking and cigarettes were on a slow decline, it was thought that this generation would be the Video on Vaping last to see from KTHS-TV chain-smokers, but all this changed with the rise of modern e-cigarettes. Vaping has now become the latest trend and greatest health risk of the time, popping up everywhere on social media and in public. Though companies swear their marketing is for adults, vapes usually end up in the hands of teenagers. “Seventy-five percent of my customers come in wanting to stop smoking but a lot can’t so they do the whining process to slowly stop smoking...the larger younger customers do it just for fun,” said David Borella, who is the co-owner of K&D Vape. “Usually [teenagers] go for the [vapes] without nicotine but recently with the smaller devices, like Juul, kids have come in to try to get a higher nicotine level vape.” Within six months of vaping about a third of teenagers move to normal cigarettes because of their addiction to nicotine, and this is profoundly damaging and harmful to their health. This resulted in new rules at schools, making the punishment for having an e-cigarette, at least parts of See VAPING, Page 3
A
brutal killing of a retired school teacher in 1993 left Tomball shocked and frightened. Solving the crime was easy, but it took police two and a half
decades to bring the killer to justice. This is the story of how Mildred Stallone’s killer was identified, found and brought to justice. Pages 5-6
Babb crowned new Miss Tomball by Sabrina Ulloa Editor-in-Chief
Presley Babb, a senior, took third place last year in the Miss Tomball Pageant, but brought home the crown for 2019. Photo by Brooke McGarrah
Dressed up in a dazzling white dress and wearing her heart on her sleeve, Presley Babb was crowned as the next Miss Tomball. “I was just really shocked, I wasn’t expecting to get that far,” Babb said. Babb also competed in the Miss Tomball 2018 pageant were she was named the third runner up. However, this year she decided to have fun and stress less about the pageant itself. After competing this year, she won the title of Miss Tomball 2019. “Last year I prepared a lot because I was really nervous but this year I just kind of prepared by not stressing about it because stressing about it would be
just too overwhelming,” Babb said. Babb definitely felt that participating her junior year helped her be more confident and less nervous this time. “I just decided that I really wanted to have fun with it this year. Especially because it was my senior year,” Babb said. One of Babb’s highlights about the pageant was meeting all of the girls because if it wasn’t for the pageant she wouldn’t have met most of them since they attend other schools. “My favorite part was definitely getting to meet all the girls, they are so nice,” Babb said. Being a part of Miss Tomball has opened many doors for her and many opportunities to meet other girls, espeSee BABB, Page 3
STAFF Sabrina Ulloa Editor-in-Chief Abi Baldwin Features Editor Destiny Eisterhold Opinion Editor Danielle Benson Photo Editor Bishop Van Buren Sports Editor Macey Speed News Editor Staff Writers Jenna Jaffray Faith Leveillee Renata Elizalde Elise Guerra Rafaella Lopez Photographers Brooke McGarrah Kaylee Labinski Videos courtesy of KTHS-TV Contributing Designers Abbigale Herren Jordan Husfeld Jerry Fordyce Media Advisor About the Cougar Claw: The newspaper is a product of the students at Tomball High School. All stories, pages and photos are student productions. Advertising is available and is vital to the newspaper, as it receives no funding for printing costs from the school or district. For more information, e-mail adviser Jerry Fordyce at jerryfordyce@tomballisd. net or call (281) 357-3220 x2303. Visit us online at THSCougarClaw.com for additional coverage.
IN BRIEF
News from around campus
School adds more to security efforts In order to improve school security and limit entry into the school by outsiders, the front doors to the school will now be locked, with a camera intercom on the door. Visitors will need to show ID and give a reason for their visit before being allowed to enter. The procedures are district-wide, with every school in Tomball having the new cameras installed on the front door. Parents can still bring food or other items for students, but - as has always been the rule - the parents must bring it into the school. Students are not allowed to run outside to get food or other items. Food delivery services remain banned from the school, so students will not be allowed to order lunch through DoorDash, UberEats or any other delivery.
Environmental Club’s First Project Environmental Club has started working on their first project for the school year and since the creation of the club. The current goal for the club is to switch the school from disposable plastic cutlery to a more sustainable one. In order to achieve this goal the club’s president Camille Doumit has created different committees within the club. Each committee has to research a different solution to tackle the plastic consumption problem at THS. The idea is to present several alternate options so that the chances of finding a new, beneficial- to- all solution are higher. The idea is to have a thorough analysis of all options by the end of the semester. After buying costs and waste amounts are compared to the current ones, they will be presented to the leaders of the school Environmental Club will keep on meeting on Tuesdays during B block in room 1317. Show up to help THS become a green school!
Cougars for a Cause begins efforts A new club has been introduced to THS: Cougars for a Cause, with the goal of bringing the large-scale goals of UNICEF to Tomball by volunteering with local organizations such as TEAM, Interfaith, and various food pantries. “One in seven people in the state of Texas go hungry every single night,” Parvinl said, “Change has to start in our community.” Educating the student body on issues that are often overlooked by teens is also one of the main objectives of Cougars for a Cause. “It may seem like stuff like that only happens in other countries around the world, but in reality, it happens here,” Parvinl said, “We live in a very privileged area
VIEWPOINTS
of the world, so I think that people just don’t know the realities.” A new topic will be discussed each month at the meetings, each focusing on a different aspect of the struggles that children in third world countries deal with. “We’re presenting the information and showing [members] that all this stuff is happening and nobody knows about it,” event manager Isabella Lujan said, “so that not only are we spreading out awareness to them, but they’re going to be able to go out and spread awareness to other people.” But the officers are hoping that not only will Cougars for a Cause bring a change to the community, but also to the students involved. “I think that through this club, [members are] going to come in with different motives,” historian Lizzie Paiz said, “and then they’re going to realize they had an impact and [were a part of] something that was bigger than them.” And while building this new club from the ground up has been a struggle for the officers, they’ve been motivated by the vision of seeing people’s lives changed. “As long as we can look back at the year and reflect and see that we had an impact,” Parvinl said, “I’d say it was worthwhile.” Cougars for a Cause meets in the MGI every other Tuesday during A block. Membership packets will be available during meetings.
Updates on Cougar Block Take advantage of the Cougar Block when we return in January to get active in one of the many clubs and organizations on campus. Download the Tomball High app for Android or iPhone and you’ll find a full calendar of events, including a special listing of every club meeting during the blocks. Where ever you go during the block, don’t forget to sign in using the QR code. It’s important that the school be able to keep track of where people are going and how many are using the Cougar Block. Cougar Block ends today and will return the second week of school in the spring semester. Next week, the school is on final exam bell schedule, which can be found to the right.
Got news for us? Does your club or organization need to get the word out about all the great work you’re doing? Make sure to keep the Cougar Claw informed along the way, so we can give you the coverage you deserve.
Commentary
Salvation Army key to happy holidays for some by Destiny Eisterhold Opinion Editor The holiday season calls for a time to give back to your community. Every year, people around our community come together and give different items to several charities. Giving back has many different opportunities, some options can be as simple as giving toys to children who won’t have as good of a Christmas as some kids, or giving money to families that are in need. The Salvation Army have opened their doors for many people ever since 1865. They, along with other organizations strives to meet human needs without discrimination. The Salvation Army helps many families who are less fortunate than other and who may need extra support to give their families a great Christmas. The Salvation Army also gives
the opportunity to many volunteers who want to give back to anyone who needs the help that the center provides. The Salvation Army also takes many forms of donations including: furniture, clothing, used goods, money, or helping with fundraisers. Giving back to your community is part of what makes the holiday season so special. Helping others
brings the community closer together and gives a true sense of what the christmas spirit should be. Even if you don’t have the means to give as much as you would like to, giving what you can is appreciated and greatly impacts those who need it. Organizations like the Salvation Army give us a great example to follow, not only during the holidays but year round, to give to those in need.
Recycling Club hopes to raise awareness on recycling efforts by Macey Speed News Editor All recycling efforts have been ended districtwide, which includes 19 schools from elementary to high school. Some campuses have resorted to creating recycling clubs, which requires extra involvement from teachers and students. Think about our campus alone. Approximately 2,050 students attend Tomball High School and there are seven class periods in a day. Considering the teachers that utilize online resources, plus students with late arrival or early release, conservatively each student uses three new pieces of paper a day. From tests and quizzes to reading packets to worksheets, that number racks up quickly. That’s not to mention the hundreds of pieces of paper the administration and staff prints everyday. That’s an estimated 6,150 sheets of paper per day, 30,750 per week, over a million per school year. “One of my teachers scans and prints out whole chapters of the textbook for every student in class because we only have a class set of the book, but half the time we don’t even use it,” senior Jordan Benson said. “It would be so much easier for us to just take pictures on our phones of the pages we really need or if she uploaded them to Google Classroom.” Don’t forget about lunch. The school cafeteria offers drinks in plastic bottles, food on styrofoam plates, and milk in cardboard cartons, all of which can be recycled, but instead hundreds are thrown in the thrash everyday, on our campus alone.
Now consider those numbers on a districtwide scale. It’s overwhelming the amount of waste that could easily be recycled. Some teachers efforts to be more environmentally conscious have not gone unnoticed. Classes increasingly use online resources such as Google Classroom or tunritin. com to cut down on their paper usage. Yet sometimes it’s simply necessary to use paper. Teachers aren’t the only ones doing something about all of the school’s waste. Camille Doumit, a junior, started an environmental club, sponsored by Melissa Howard-Moritz. They are in the beginning stages but so far have had a few meetings with about 10 to 15 consistent members in attendance. ¨I used to live in Indonesia for most of my life and while I was living in Bali, I would go to work with a non government organization called Trash Hero,” Doumit said. “They would go to the beaches and do cleanups. So when I moved here last year there was not much awareness of the problem, but still a lot waste. But there´s an out of sight out of mind concept that happens here because you don’t see the trash as much as you see it in third world countries.” While the environmental club at our school is still small, it was inspired by something big. Not only do they work to make others aware of the situation but to also encourage students and faculty around the school to contribute to their cause. “Our goal is to bring back recycling,” Doumit said. “Also, to not just solve the problem that already exists but to try and prevent waste in our school and then hopefully in our community.”
Babb knows winning title will bring big changes BABB, From Page 1 cially during practices. “Definitely the practices were some of my favorite moments just because we all had a chance to be ourselves and bond and joke around,” Babb said, “when we are backstage at the pageant we don’t really have that much time to do that so being at the practices we are able to talk to each other and make friends.” The Miss Tomball pageant is a competition hosted by the Tomball Chamber of Commerce, where each contestant undergoes preparation for the day to come. After, the winner and in this case Babb has the opportunity to work with leaders in the community. “I feel like if [this experience] hasn’t
03
FINAL EXAM BELL SCHEDULE Monday, Dec. 17
1st-5th Periods Normal Class 6th & 7th Periods Review (Normal bell schedule)
Tuesday, Dec. 18
1st Period Review 7:20-9:05 3rd Period Review 9:10-10:40 5th Period Review 10:45-12:45 7th Period Final 12:50-2:35
Wednesday, Dec. 19 2nd Period Review 7:20-9:05 4th Period Review 9:10-10:40 5th Period Final 10:45-12:45 6th Period Final
Macey Speed (center) took third place at the Miss Tomball contest. Photo by Brooke McGarrah
changed me yet it will change me,” Babb said. Babb hopes to encourage other girls to compete in future year and show that being part of the Miss Tomball pageant is more than dressing up and wearing pretty dresses. It builds your confidence, public speaking abil-
ity and leadership skills. “I definitely hope to be really involved in the community and Miss Tomball. And hopefully I’m going to try to get as many girls to participate next year just so they can see just how fun it is, how great Tomball is, and how great the people are,” Babb said.
Doctors fear full risks of vaping still unknown VAPING, From Page 1 one, the same as being caught with a cigarette. If a student is caught with an e-cigarette a possible punishment is to attend an alternative school, and if a student hated “Character Strong” here they will surely despise it at the alternative school. There is little to no health regulations for vapes, especially ones bought illegally by a minor. It wasn’t until recently did the FDA start regulating e-cigarettes in which they took away majority flavors, leaving methanol and the normal taste of tobacco. Theoretically, vape could be “safe” but without regulation, any chemicals could be placed in the cartridge. Nevertheless, any chemicals found in vapes will damage the human body. When human tissue is exposed to vape condensate the number of working cell drastically drops and when nicotine is added the numbers drop even more. It also impairs the ability of
NEWS
Dr. Philip Pirtle
cells to engulf bacteria, allergens, and other things that attack the body. This results in a weaker defense against infection and inflammation, especially in the lungs that get the full blast of the
vape. In a case study two years ago, Professor Ilona Jaspers of UNC School of Medicine studied the effects of vaping on genes. When people smoke cigarettes, dozens of genes important for immune defense in the nose were altered. Several of these changes increase the risk of bacterial infections, viruses, and inflammation. Jaspers’ lab found that vaping alters the same genes affected during cigarette smoking and hundreds of other genes important for immune defense in the nose and upper airway. “Some of the effects [from vaping] are the same as a normal cigarette. [It] can make your blood pressure go up,
cause strokes, or heart attacks...vapers from device also have cancer-causing agents.” said Methodist Hospital Willowbrook pulmonologist Philip Pirtle. Another possible complication from vaping is popcorn lung. The vape uses the chemical diacetyl, and it is the same chemical used in microwave popcorn that gives its buttery flavor. “In the 80s people who worked in the plants that were making this popcorn would develop this horrible lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans airway inflammatory response that causes a great deal of damage to the lung and it leads to symptoms similar to emphysema or COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). It can be treated but it can never be reversed. The damage that is done to the airways is pretty dramatic and it can be crippling or even lethal.” Pirtle said. Overall vaping shouldn’t be considered “safe”, damage can still be done to your health no matter if they contain nicotine or tobacco-like normal combustion cigarettes.
12:50-2:35
Thursday, Dec. 20 1st Period Final 7:20-9:25 3rd Period Final 9:30-11:35
Friday, Dec. 21
2nd Period Final 7:20-9:25 4th Period Final 9:30-11:35
In Brief
A - 10:40-11:10 B - 11:25-11:55 C - 12:15-12:45
Notes: No Cougar Block Buses will not run until 2:35 p.m. on Thursday. They will run when school ends at 11:35 a.m. Friday.
CASE CLOSED
25 years after a brutal murder shocked Tomball, family sees justice served
by Jenna Jaffray Staff Writer
B
roken glass, busted door, blood. On the night of August 10, 1993, 82-year-old retired school teacher Mildred Stallones was brutally beaten, sexually assaulted, and murdered in her home by Alfredo Ramirez-Rosas. Stallones was a beloved member of the Tomball community, mother of two, and had been an school teacher for a number of years at Tomball Elementary. She lived alone on Rudolph Road near the railroad tracks. About 100 yards behind her house was another house in which lived four Hispanic migrant workers, including Ramirez. Ramirez was described as the bully of the house. He was violent and used to getting what he wanted, and his roommates described him as a very mean drunk. On the night of August 9 he reportedly got very intoxicated. He walked next door, to Stallones’ house, knowing she was alone, because he had watched her coming and going alone. When he left his house, it began a chase that would last more than 20 years. Ramirez broke into her house through the back door, breaking the latch and entering the house. It’s unsure what his specific reason for breaking in was, but it was malicious. Stallones tried to fight Ramirez off with her canes, as evidenced by the many canes lying around the scene in which she was found. Police say Ramirez got angry that she tried to fight him. He struck her in the face many times, sexually assaulted, and strangled her. After Stallones died, Ramirez went back to the house at which he was staying. “He tells one of his guys he’s living with and he said ‘I just killed that lady next door’,” said Tomball police detective Ron McGullion, who took over the case years ago. In attempt to cover his tracks, Ramirez took off his clothes that were drenched in Stallones’ blood and stashed them under the house. He gathered his few necessary possessions and fled to Mexico. The morning after the murder, a Meals on Wheels volunteer brought the food meant for Stallones as a delivery to her house. “[The volunteer] knocks on the door and doesn’t get a response, finally goes inside and sees Ms. Stallones dead,” McGullion said. The scene was gruesome with Stallones’ canes lying about on the floor, blood on the victim, the bed in disarray, and Stallones’ nightgown pulled up to her neck. The police were called and when the Tomball Police Department saw
Murder suspect Alfredo Ramirez-Rosas is brought into the 339th District Criminal Court, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016, in Houston. Photo by Marie D. De Jesus, courtesy of The Houston Chronicle
that they were dealing with a murder, they contacted surrounding divisions such as the Harris and Montgomery County Police Departments in order to get the resources necessary to solve the case. Detectives spoke with his roommates, and found out about how Ramirez had apparently informed his roommate that he committed the murder. They also recovered the clothes beneath the house. “[We] found Ms. Stallones’ blood on [the clothes],” McGullion said. “So we were able to tie him directly to the crime.” It took much time, energy, and many years of all involved in the case to find and capture Ramirez. Tomball Police Department worked with Mexico and provided them with information about Ramirez to be able to identify and capture him. In order to be able to bring Rosas back to the US, a particular type of warrant called a UFAP (Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution) was needed. “At the time we’d also got the FBI involved because since he’d fled to Mexico,” McGullion said, “we needed permission for the warrant to be able to be extradited from Mexico back to the United States so he could face his consequences here.” But Ramirez was not the only suspect. Although it was apparent he did
commit the crime, the Tomball Police needed to eliminate any other options. The “Box Car Killer” was a serial killer in Texas at the time that would ride on box cars and get off at various stops to raid houses and kill the people if they were home. Because Stallones’ house was near the railroad tracks, the Box Car Killer had to be officially ruled out as as a suspect. After all the evidence was gathered and it was determined that Ramirez was indeed the person who killed Stallones, it was submitted to Houston Crime Lab for processing. However due to problems that the Crime Lab was having, the evidence was finally taken back out of fear that some would get lost or mishandled. “[What] Chief asked me to do was that we pull all the evidence that we had,” McGullion said. “We pulled all that evidence from Houston Crime Lab and sent it to the FBI in Virginia.” Stallones had two children, and her son, Leighton, was determined to get the murderer caught and punished for what had happened. “Leighton Stallones [was] very instrumental in helping us [catch Ramirez] simply because he wrote legislators, he wrote governors, he wrote congressmen, all these people in hopes of trying to allow us to go into Mexico to get him,” said McGullion. And while the behind-the-scenes
work of solving this horrendous crime was happening, the Tomball community changed forever. “Suspiciousness, doubt, fear all arose in our community–most people thought murders only happened in Houston,” President of Tomball Chamber of Commerce Bruce Hillegeist said. “A big city crime taking place in Tomball–and with such violence–was very difficult to relate to.” Many were in disbelief of what was described of the murder scene, and couldn’t fathom who would take advantage of a respected and loved older adult in such a terrible way. “The town was outraged and shocked that something like [that] could ever happen here,” former Tomball school superintendent John Neubauer said. When a crime of this degree took place in small-town Tomball, it shifted the dynamic forever. “People felt safe in Tomball, the quality of life was very pleasing–that is why many people moved to Tomball,” Hillegeist said. “That bit of innocence was lost in August 1993 when Mrs. Stallones lost her life in such a surprising way.” The Tomball Police department kept sending photographs and information about Ramirez to checkpoints at the US-Mexico border for years and years because Ramirez was a migrant worker and crossed the border while going to and from Mexico. “About 4 years ago, he was coming back to Mexico or coming back to Texas, and a checkpoint guard had seen [Ramirez’s] particular wanted poster,” McGullion said. “And he said ‘That guy looks familiar.’ Sure enough he goes back to get this wanted poster, holds it up to him, and they say ‘This looks like the same guy.’” Tomball Police got the US Marshals involved, and they were able to go down to Mexico and apprehend him. Rosas was captured and brought to a jail in Mexico. Because of the paperwork involved in getting someone extradited from Mexico to the US, Ramirez was held in the Mexico jail for approximately a year and a half before he was finally able to be brought to Houston for his trial. “When he went to trial, all the work and evidence that we’d done for the last 23 years [was applied],” said McGullion. Ramirez stayed in the jail in downtown Houston for about a year before his trial. He was found guilty and sentenced to 210 years in prison: 70 years for each crime of robbery, sexual assault, and murder. “Mr. Stallones and his sister were just elated, as was the police station,” said McGullion. On August 30, 2016, 23 years after Stallones’ murder, the crime that shook the foundation of Tomball was finally resolved and Ramirez was convicted. “It was one of those success stories that we were very glad to be able to put behind us,” McGullion said.
Calysta Alvarez, Natalie Bivens, Madalyn Botello, Dylan Busby, Renata Elizalde, Riley Falzarano, April Flores, Elise Guerra, Makayla Guice, Jakobi Hardy, Abbigale Herren, Jordan Husfeld, Jenna Jaffray, Logan Lawhorn, Faithlyn Leveillee, Rafaella Lopez, Eric Marquez, Dakota Minto, Madison Ochoa and Janiah Williams contributed to this report. Design by Brooke McGarrah.
Migrant quickly ID’d as killer, but arrest would take years by Faithlyn Leveillee Staff Writer On a peaceful summer night in August of 1993, on the outskirts of a small town, a retired school teacher sat all alone in her small home beside the quiet railroad tracks. Loved by nearly all who met the sweet elderly woman, no one could have predicted the horrific discovery found in her home the following day. Mildred Stallones, 82, was found dead in her home after a man by the name of Alfredo Ramirez-Rosas broke into her home, then beat, raped and strangled her. Ramirez was a migrant worker from Mexico, but had no record of any other convictions. Still, those who knew him were wary of him. He came from a wealthy family that owned a ranch in Mexico. It was rumored that his father was abusive and had once killed a person. Those rumors were never proven true but hinted at the kind of childhood Ramirez had as a boy. Ramirez was said to be an aggressive person, and an angry drunk.. The more he drank, the meaner he got, friends said. One night, after much drinking, he decided to go next door and break into his neighbor’s home. Police believe that Stallones resisted him, even hitting him with several of her canes. He became enraged and beat the elderly woman. Police said there were signs of struggle. “He got upset and struck her in the face, numerous and numerous times,” Tomball Police Detective Ron McGullion said, who
said he believes it likely that Ramirez has killed others. Ramirez admitted to the crime to his roommates the night of the murder. He then changed his clothes, put the bloodsoaked ones in a duffel bag, and hid them under the house before fleeing and making his way back to Mexico. One of the roommates told Tomball police the next morning that Ramirez was the killer. Police found Ramirez’ bagged up clothing under the house with Ms. Stallones’ blood covering the articles. But it took the police department years to locate their suspect. In a search for work, Ramirez came back to the Texas border more than 20 years later, hoping to pass through. A check-point guard at the Mexican border, in Michoacan Mexico, recognized his face off the FBI’s ‘WANTED’ list in 2013. Ramirez was then sent to the Houston jail where he was held for a year. There were many rumors, and still are, of Stallone being a victim of the sadistic Boxcar Killer, spurred by her home’s proximity to the railroad tracks. “It wasn’t ever the railroad killer, lots of people said it was him, it wasn’t ever him,” Laura Charbonneau said. Charbonneau used to live in the home of Ms. Stallone’s after the murder and after the home had been renovated and had heard many stories about the crime, many of which were not true. In 2016, with the death penalty off the table as part of the extradition deal with Mexico, Ramirez was charged with capital murder and sent to the Harris County Jail. He was found guilty and sentenced to 210 years in prison.
Before the Murder: Mildred Stallones retires after decades of teaching at Tomball Elementary School. Meanwhile, five male Hispanic workers move to Tomball, looking for any job that paid. Alfredo Ramirez Rosas is one of them.
August 9, 1993 Alfredo Rosas Ramirez starts out his night with heavy drinking. For 83-years-old Mildred Stallones it was a night like any other, alone in her small house.
August 10, 1993
A drunk Ramirez decides to walk towards the house 100 feet away on Rudolf street. As Ramirez enters the house, Stallones grabs several canes as a way of protecting herself from the intruder. Enraged, Ramirez begin punching the victim; as she resists, he gets more violent. After the attack, Ramirez sexually assaults the victim. Stallones dies from a brutal beating. Ramirez heads back to his house where he tells his roomates that he killed their neighbor, packs a bag and flees.
August 11, 1993
After a Meals on Wheels worker discovers the body, police quickly identify Ramirez as a suspect, and his former roommates tell police what Ramirez said before he left. The manhunt begins.
Victim remembered as kind soul by Renata Elizalde Staff Writer For over 60 years, 82-year-old Mildred Stallones lived in a yellow rural house in a small, eventless town she called home. She lived as a dedicated teacher for 25 years. She started her career in a one-room schoolhouse and for many years worked for the Tomball ISD, as both a special needs teacher and a librarian at Tomball Elementary School. “Mrs. Stallones was a friendly, caring lady,” Bruce Hillegeist, president of Greater Tomball Area Chamber Of Commerce, said. “Her students loved her and respected her, as did her many church and Tomball friends.” Even after retiring, Ms. Stallone was still active in Mildred Stallones the community and her work and kindness praised by friends and neighbors. “A very loved lady in town,” her son, Leighton Stallones, told a local newspaper. Late on Aug. 9, 1993, Mrs. Stallones went to her door after hearing some commotion at night. Answering the door she found drunken Alfredo Ramirez-Rojas, a Mexican migrant worker, who would barge in and visciously assault her. Mildred would not be the easy prey for Ramirez. Attempting to defend herself, a bunch of canes hung in her door would be her best chance. But her efforts, police speculate, lead to him becoming increasingly angry and beat her in the face till she would no longer offer any resistance. The 82-year-old woman was found
by the police sexually assaulted, with her face bloody and swollen, nightgown around her neck and canes scattered on the ground. Ramirez fled back to Mexico leaving behind nothing but bloody pants and a bloody incident at a quiet little town in Texas. “Who would take advantage of such a defenseless older adult? The rape, the beating, the murder; it’s all horrific,” Hillegeist said. “It was just a big city crime taking place in Tomball.” A place that started by representing safety and comfort, ended up causing the rise of suspiciousness, doubt and fear all around the community. People shocked and concerned about how a murder of this vicious nature could’ve happened in a small eventless town where everybody could rely on the quality of life being really “pleasant” - as many of its inhabitants describe it. A full 23 years passed before the police could catch him; 23 years of countless calls from a desperate son, many authorities as well as major security agencies. According to officials, in order for Mexican authorities to extradite Ramirez back to the U.S. to stand trial, the death penalty had to be taken off the table. “An emotional situation, relief I guess is certainly the right word to have this nightmare at least beginning to come to a close,” Leighton told the Houston Chronicle. Ramirez is now facing 210 years in prison for the crimes of sexual assault, murder and burglary. A “big city crime” finally came to an end, bringing now closure and relief for the Stallones family and the community. “Mrs. Stallones is still missed, mourned, and her legacy lives because of the wonderful life she lived and shared with those who were to blessed to know her,” Hillegeist said.
1990s:
The FBI gets involved to help the police find Ramirez since he had fled to Mexico. Her son, Leighton Stallones, writes to Congressmen and other government officials to push for Ramirez’s extradition. Photographs of Alfredo Ramirez are sent to the checkpoints from Mexico to the United States.
2001:
Tomball police fear that the case’s evidence has been mishandled at Houston’s Crime Lab after a scandal there. All of the evidence gets pulled from Houston and is sent to the FBI in Quantico.
2015:
A border guard, who had seen the wanted poster, identifies Ramirez at a checkpoint trying to return to the U.S. from Mexico. Ramirez is held in prison in Mexico for about a year and a half before he was extradited. Ramirez is then held in the Houston jail for a year before his trial. Ramirez pleads not guilty at trial.
2016:
Ramirez was convicted and sentenced to 210 years: 70 for burglary, 70 for murder and 70 for sexual assault, to run consecutively.
Holiday Trivia How many gifts would you receive if you received all of the gifts in the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas”? • 12 • 78 • 251 • 364
What is Santa’s real name? • Mike James • Chris Krinkle • Kris Kringle • Chris Scott
What is the most famous Christmas ballet? • Rudolph’s Surprise • The Nutcracker • Mr. and Mrs. Claus • Frosty Goes to New York
What beverage company has been using Santa Claus in its advertising since 1931? • Pepsi • Coca-Cola • Red Bull • Dr Pepper
What’s the highest grossing Christmas movie of all time? • Home Alone • Elf • It’s a Wonderful Life • A Christmas Story
What Christmas food is made from “marshwhorts”: • Stuffing • Sweet Potatos • Marshmellows • Cranberry sauce Cranberry Sauce
The Nutcracker Home Alone
Vixen 8
Which ocean is Christmas Island located in? • Pacific Ocean • Atlantic Ocean • Indian Ocean • Arctic Ocean
Coca-Cola
364
How many reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh? • 8 • 9 • 10 • 12
Kris Kringle
Which one of Santa’s reindeers name begins with a V? • Vilnius • Verda • Vera • Vixen
FEATURES
07
All-Time Best Christmas movies 1. It’s a Wonderful Life 2. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 3. A Christmas Story 4. Elf 5. The Grinch 6. Miracle on 34th St. 7. White Christmas 8. Home Alone 9. Rudolph The Red-Nose Reindeer 10. Scrooged 11. Bad Santa 12. A Christmas Carol
Vacation Dates School Ends Dec. 22 School Returns Jan. 9
Speak up!
What’s your favorite classic Christmas song? 1. Rocking Around the Christmas tree 2. All I want for Christmas is you 3. Jingle Bell Rock 4. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Indian Ocean
5. Sleigh Ride
Get out and about over the Christmas break by Sabrina Ulloa Editor-in-Chief Traders Village is one of the largest open-air markets in Texas, so naturally Santa makes a point to give a special appearance every year. From the Saturday after Thanksgiving to Dec. 23, kids can get their picture taken with him for free. Afterward, parents can get a little shopping done, too. It’s a win-win. Head on over to the Houston Heights, one of the city’s nicer neighborhoods, and take in their Lights in the Heights event, located in the Woodland Heights area. One of the most popular winter activities for families in Houston, Lights in the Heights features live music, food, and awesome light shows. The event takes place the second Saturday in December, but the lights are often left up for the whole holiday season. Walk or drive through block after block of beautifully lit and decorated homes, while listening to Christmas music and sipping hot cocoa as you enjoy the sights. Don’t want to drive all the way down to Houston? Try the Prestonwood Forest neighborhood, at 249 near Grant Road. This neighborhood goes all out, with many of the blocks creating a theme or holiday story with their decorations. Be warned, traffic gets thick! See more at www.
prestonwoodforestonline.com. Ice skating at The Woodlands Mall. Catch a movie at the Showboat Drive-in. Spend Saturday at Urban Harvest Farmers Market. Stroll through the market for a lazy day people watching. While you’ll have to purchase produce, there are always plenty of free samples to try! Moody Garden Festival of Lights: This holiday light spectacular at Moody Gardens is one of the area’s top displays and a holiday tradition for many families. It can be a bit pricey, but you can get tickets for up to 44% off now at www.houstononthecheap.com/go/moodylights. Christmas on Commerce features activities for the whole family. The town of Tomball decorates over 50 ornamental lamp posts for the event, turning Commerce Street and the rest of Tomball into a magical winter wonderland. Live seasonal music and entertainment will be performed by local schools and performers, storytellers will be in attendance to spin yarns of holiday magic, and carolers will be strolling around to make the season bright. The event features a special kids’ zone for the young ones with all sorts of fun activities including a Christmas train and Santa’s Workshop where kids can craft their own ornaments and holiday crafts.
Other Area Events • Home For The Holidays - Old Town Spring • Tree Lighting Market Street • Christmas Village Bayou Bend • Houston Ballet’s The Nutcracker • Ice Land and Festival of Lights • Zoo Lights • Houston Turkey Trot • Ice - Discovery Green • Gingerbread Build -Off • Santa Hustle
SPORTS
Swimmer Wharton a winner in, out of pool
08
Football All-District 1st Team
Daveon Ve’an - RB Jake Johnson - WR Logan Compton - TE Tyler Marks - C Eric Laneave - G Austin Hudgens - K Levi Marion - ILB Cade Stephenson - OLB Carter Davis - OLB
by Rafaella Lopez Staff Writer At 17, Angela Wharton has managed to earn the highest GPA in her senior class at Tomball High School. But her exemplary achievements extend to more than just the classroom; Angela is key to the success of the school’s swimming team. Wharton swims competitively for Tomball High School and Tomball Area Swim Club. Both started their season in September and will compete though February. “I usually have meets on Saturdays about twice a month,” Wharton said, “The big meets are districts which is in January, regionals in February, and state in February.” Her success in these dates can be attributed to the amount of time she spends swimming. Wharton practices daily before and after school. Her training ranges from drills inside the pool to on-land workouts. “I try about three hours a day, five to six days a week,” Wharton said. Wharton’s effort is evident in her results and while her times have not been what she was expecting, she is working on dropping them for district and Angela Wharton regionals. She hopes to improve them in the 100 and 200 freestyle which are her best events. “I have been growing each year as a swimmer, which I am proud of,” Wharton said. This dedication has lead her to become the one person every other student on the team looks up to: Varsity Swim Captain. “Being captain is a very big honor and I hope to be a good role model for the other swimmers and encourage them,” Wharton said. Two qualities that, according to her teammates, she leads by every day are respect and friendship. Between meets, training, and team bonding activities, the sport takes up the majority of her time. “Balancing swim and academics is extremely difficult, as academics are mentally straining while swim is physically exhausting,” she says. This hasn’t stopped her from being outstanding in her academics. “I have to have good time management to get everything done and get enough sleep,” a management that has turned her into the highest average in the senior class. The strategies implemented in her daily life have lead Wharton to an exemplary performance in all aspects of her high school life. A super girl performance that has inspired everyone around her. As for her future plans she is “more focused on getting into a good college for college for academics than getting into a college for swim.” Angela Wharton is forever thankful for the sport she chose. “Swimming is a lifelong skill and will follow me for the rest of my life,” she said.
2nd Team
Victoria Parsons takes over a program that has high expectations. Photo by Kaylee Labinski
New faces, same goal for girls varsity soccer by Bishop Van Buren Sports Editor The girls varsity Soccer team looks to begin another promising season after last years stellar run in playoffs following their regular season District Championship title. Yet unlike last season, the girls will be led by a different coach, Victoria Parsons. “I’m very passionate about soccer, I’ve been playing since I was five,” The new coach said, “Coaching is probably my greatest joy, outside of the sport. I’m a quiet observer; so I just watch and correct, i’m not really a loud yelling coach.” Coach Parsons first large change to the reigning district champions is a new culture, with that, she hopes the team can bond and build off of eachother. “Good culture is the most important thing for a team. You can have a lot of talented athletes, but if you don’t get them working towards the same goal, then your not going to be successful.” Parsons said, “Im taking time to really build a positive climate, working hard to get them on the same page and working toward the same goal.” “She’s been trying to build a winning mentality based culture,” Forward Jessica Martorelli said, “She’s created
different types of method for us to connect with each other too. I’ve really got high expectations for us.” The girls will start the season with a relatively similar roster to that from the one last year, a big advantage for a team who has tons of experience in high pressure games after last year’s playoff run. Having a team as experienced as this one will surely help Coach Parsons’ transition. “I think you have to just stick with those same expectations and put your own flair on them,” Parson said, ‘Actually raising them even higher.” Paron’s mindset seems contagious as other players seem to have the same mentality, such as Outside-Mid Hannah Sprague. “Our team is pretty much the same,” Sprague said, “We lost some of last year’s seniors obviously, but we got some good freshmen too. We know each other well enough that we already had a sense of accountability within our team. The culture change will help us become more accountable even more.” Coach Parsons implementation of a winning culture should add an exciting new element to our Cougars as they look to repeat as District Champions and hope to make yet another strong playoff push.
Pre-district holds lessons for hoops The Cougars varsity basketball team finished off the pre-district portion of the season with an even record of 7-7. Many of these games came in the form of tournament matchups, though they didn’t place in any of the tournaments.. While some may be satisfied with a 7-7 record, post Nick Mobley knows they can do better. “That’s not good enough for us,” Mobley said. “We know we can do better than that and we’re excited to show everyone.” The Cougars had some very impressive wins in pre-district, including two wins against familiar foe Magnolia West, a 61-43 win over Klein and even a 71-50
blowout win over Northbrook. These are just a few examples of the games the Cougars will be rewatching to determine what they should work on and what they should use more going forward. “Our game against Northbrook was an instance where we all played good in every aspect of the game,” guard Sawyer Link said. “That’s the type of game we want to replicate throughout the season.” With pre-district over, the Cougars look to build on what they’ve learned. If they can do so, the Cougars could repeat as playoff contenders and perhaps make a deep run. - Bishop Van Buren
Hunter Dunn - QB Konner Cooper - WR Christian Mobley - OT Tyler Youngdale - OT Logan Compton - DE
Honorable Mention Kyle Eslick - DB Brady Cox - DL Jose Barahona - DL Jay’Ris Smith - WR Ethan Schlundt - OL
Utility Player of the Year Kasen Handal
All-Academic Team Chandler Childs Jordan During Austin Hudgens Tyler Marks Ethan Schlundt Cade Stephenson Konner Cooper Wesley Evermon Erik LaNeave Ethan Quigley Beau Scott Tyler Youngdale
Volleyball All-District 1st Team
Ainsley Hardy Kate Sralla Ava Johnson
2nd Team
Christina Thomas Samantha Chapman
Honorable Mention Rachel Maciejeski Baylee Anderson
All-Academic Team Baylee Anderson Jordan Calhoun Samantha Chapman Hannah Chitty Abby Hairell Ainsley Hardy Ava Johnson Rachel Maciejeski Kayla Montaner Faith Sabatier Madeline Scott Grace Smith Kate Srally Christina Thomas Molli Thompson