![MORE THAN A GAME. With two diving catches in the outfield, the Lions showed up defensively, aiding in their victory over the Pacers. One catch was made by Atwood, and the other by McGraw. Throughout the game, the Lions knew that it wasn’t just about their victory today. “I think [playing for cancer] makes it bigger than just a game,” McGraw said. “Knowing that you have a bigger impact in this world than just who you are as one person.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/I70A1454-1-1200x800.jpg)
![Students in the National Art Honor Society work on the Mount Hood mural on the window of SouthLake Church. The students brought a variety of paints and mixed their own custom colors. “Instead of brushstrokes, we’re doing more dabbing, because it gives [a] better impression of tree foliage, rather than looking like actual brush strokes, because if we’re painting trees, we need it to look like trees,” Crawford said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_2397-1200x900.jpg)
Shaking the Stigma
Teen Advisory Board Brings Drug and Alcohol Awareness to Light in the Community.
Statistics show that people who have their first drink or start smoking by the age of 14 are six times more likely to become addicted than those who wait until they’re 21.
January 22-26 is National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week in the City of West Linn. Mayor Russ Axelrod wrote and approved a proclamation addressing the week and the importance of educating people about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol, which will also be supported by the school district.
English 12 students reflected on the importance of substance abuse for their final project after reading The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.
According to the Treatment Center, Oregon has been ranked 49th in health and addiction treatment and it is ranked sixth in the nation for drug and alcohol addiction. The percentage of teenage drug use within the state, Oregon is ranked fourth nationally.
West Linn High School has involved students through the Teen Advisory Board (TAB), which is a branch of Community Living Above, a city-wide organization formed to raise awareness, designed for youth to educate themselves and their peers. Pam Pearce, TAB advisor, has encouraged students to educate themselves in order to help them make smarter and informed choices.
“You have to learn the tools, you have to educate yourself,” Pearce said. “It’s the only thing that can protect you from this disease and not give in to peer pressure.”
If you want to help spread awareness, attend the TAB meetings once a month in the forum and help to shake the stigma.
Your donation will support the student journalists of West Linn High School. Your contribution will allow us to continue to produce quality content by purchasing equipment, software, and continuing to host our website on School Newspapers Online (SNO). Additionally, donations will go towards paying for the physical editions of our Amplifier. Donations of $20 dollars (as of Oct. 15, 2025) or more will receive a subscription to our Amplifier, which will be mailed to the donator's address (donations made with the intention of purchasing a subscription CANNOT be anonymous).
Sophisticated, yet fun-loving, Emily Martin, 12 is always looking ahead.
“This year I committed to the University of Montana for their Communications...
