ROCKWALL – The annual Rockwall High School Holiday Arts & Crafts Show will be held again Nov. 12, from 9 am – 4 pm, at 901 Yellow Jacket Ln.

The show will featuring more than 50 unique vendors, selling everything from jewelry to bags to outdoor art. Admission is $1 and parking is free.

Proceeds from the show support a number of programs for RHS, including scholarships, educational offerings, teacher appreciation, the Presidential Service Awards program and the National PTA Arts &Education Reflections Program.

For information, contact Valerie Sandman at sandmom@msn.com.

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By J.J. Smith. For the first time, the Rockwall Yellowjackets boys cross-country team has qualified for this Saturday’s state Class 4A cross-country meet.

They will be one of just 12 teams competing in the 4A race Nov. 13, at 11:10 am, at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock TX, just north of Austin.

A send-off celebration for the team is scheduled for 9 am this Friday at the Mickey Florence Multi-Purpose Building.

The Yellowjackets qualified by placing second at the Region II-4A meet last Saturday at Vandergriff Park in Arlington. They totaled 105 points to 63 for regional champion Highland Park. Frisco Liberty qualified in third place with 107 points.

Sophomore Matt Hearn was Rockwall’s first runner across the finish line, winning the eighth-place medal with a time of 16 minutes, 0.27 seconds for three miles.

Other scorers were Thorne Pettigrew, 17th in 16:10.07; Sam Grinnan, 29th in 16:22.69; Derrick Yuen, 33rd in 16:50.70, and Robbie Harmon, 43rd in 17:04.86.

Joel Gibbs and Antonio Harvey also competed for the Jackets in the regional meet.

Rockwall girls finished eighth among 24 teams in the Region II-4A meet with 216 points. Junior Kelli Hardenbrook led the Lady Jackets with an 18th-place finish in 12:25.96 for 2 miles.

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The Jackets had fallen behind 21-0 and 37-14 at the half.

Rockwall quarterback Alan Reed passed and ran for seven touchdowns, including three 70- yard bombs to Blake Turner, to lead the way.

Heath scored with less than two minutes to play but their two-point conversion try resulted in an incomplete pass.

Watch interviews with Rockwall Assistant Head Coach Branson Washburn, Alan Reed and Blake Turner to learn how and why the Jackets won.

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By J.J. Smith. Also see video news report below. Nearly 400 Rockwall High students were absent from school Monday and over 200 Tuesday as a result of a fast-moving stomach virus.

According to RISD Communications Director Sheri Fowler, the 24-hour bug caused over 16 percent of students to miss school Monday, compared to the normal four to five percent.

She said that a lot of the sick students were involved with the athletics program – athletes, cheerleaders, drill team, etc. – and were involved with the Rockwall – Heath football game Friday night.

Dr. Gary Bonacquisti, Medical Director at Rockwall’s Presbyterian Hospital, said about 20 students were treated last weekend at the emergency room because they were so dehyrated from continuous vomiting that they needed iv fluids.

He said it is unusual that a virus would cause so many people to be sick so quickly and that it apparently started at Rockwall High School.

He also warned that the virus may “trickle down” from older to younger students and elementary schools may soon see more sick children.

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According to RISD Communications Director Sheri Fowler, the 24-hour bug caused over 16 percent of students to miss school Monday, compared to the normal four to five percent.

She said that a lot of the sick students were involved with the athletics program – athletes, cheerleaders, drill team, etc. – and were involved with the Rockwall – Heath football game Friday night.

Dr. Gary Bonacquisti, Medical Director at Rockwall’s Presbyterian Hospital, said about 20 students were treated last weekend at the emergency room because they were so dehyrated from continuous vomiting that they needed iv fluids.

He said it is unusual that a virus would cause so many people to be sick so quickly and that it apparently started at Rockwall High School.

He also warned that the virus may “trickle down” from older to younger students and elementary schools may soon see more sick children.

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By J.J. Smith. An unidentified male Rockwall High School student was arrested either yesterday or Monday by Rockwall Police on charges of sexually assaulting an unidentified female student who attends the same school.

Rockwall Police confirmed today that a boy under 18 was arrested and an investigation has begun but said they could not provide any further information at this time.

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By J.J. Smith. The official cause of death of 19-year-old, former Rockwall High School cheerleader Alexis Lancaster will not be available for release for another six to seven more weeks.

According to the Dallas Coroner’s Office, the standard length of time it takes to conduct toxicology tests and report their findings is eight weeks.

The popular 2008 RHS graduate was found dead in her Dallas apartment Saturday morning, Oct. 24.

She is survived by her mother, Leah Pearl Gentzler, and husband, Stan, of Rockwall, who own Gentzler Electrical Services in Dallas; and her father, Stephen Scott Lancaster, and wife Kristi, of Caddo Mills.

According to several sources who asked that their names not be used, she had been on a date Oct. 23 with a young man named Ben.

The sources said she took a recreational drug that night known as “bars,” which is a slang term for alprazolam – a fast-acting sedative which helps users to relax. 

According to the website Drugs.com, a well-known brand name for alprazolam is Xanax, which is generally prescribed to treat anxiety disorders. When mixed with alcohol, it can increase the effects of alcohol and can be deadly.

From the website:

“Quad bars are a common slang for Xanax 2mg tablets, which are bar shaped and can be broken into 4 .5mg doses. It is in a class of drugs called benzodiazapines, which also include Valium (diazapam),  Lithobid (lithium) and Ativan (lorazopam). All benzodiazapines are CNS sedatives, meaning they act directly on the brain to relax muscles, respiration rate, heart rate and provide an overall feeling of relaxation.”

“Benzodiazapines are prescribed to combat anxiety, insomnia, muscle tension, and involuntary movements like jaw clenching and shaking-leg syndrome. Benzodiazapines are also known to cause antegrade amnesia (short-term memory loss) at moderate to high doses. For this reason they are often used as an adjunct to pre-surgery anesthesia to avoid remembering the procedure.” 

“Benzodiazapines are popular among some recreational drug users who find the sedating and relaxing effects enjoyable, and often mix them with other CNS depressants like alcohol. Xanax is considered to be one of the most desireable benzos for recreational use because of it’s fast onset and shorter period of action than other benzos.”

“Xanax, like all benzos, is a schedule IV controlled substance in the US, making possession without a prescription illegal, and transfer or sale illegal without a license.”

Our sources said that a 911 call was placed by someone, which will become available from Dallas police soon due to the open records law.

They added that her death was openly discussed during Drug Awareness Week last week at Rockwall High school between many students and teachers.

No other information has been confirmed at this point.

We did place a call to step-father Stan Gentzler at his office today but have not yet received a reply.

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By Lori Lloyd. Amber Carrington, a 16-year-old junior at Rockwall High School, has been amazing audiences with her vocal abilities for years. 

As Mesquite’s Rodeo City Music Hall’s 2009 Female Entertainer of the Year, as well as the 2008 People’s Choice Award winner, Carrington has been recognized locally for her singing talent, but now she is preparing to launch as a national artist.

Last year, David Foster heard Carrington sing while he was in Dallas.  Foster invited Carrington to Los Angeles to perform for a Benefit Show for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Malibu.  Carrington performed along side Foster, as well as Kenny G and Katharine McPhee.

On August 11, 2009, Carrington and her grandmother, Jean Vice, flew to Los Angeles CA to meet with several country songwriters from Nashville, as well as her management team, headed up by Nick Cokas and Adam Anders of Anders-Cokas Entertainment. The purpose of the trip was to meet and discuss her future as an entertainer, as well as put the final touches on their contract, which has been in the works with Carrington’s attorney for almost a year.

Cokas and his wife, McPhee, have been following Carrington’s career for years.  Last year, Cokas began the process of signing her to her first entertainment contract.

“I have followed Amber for about 3 years now,” said Cokas.  “I can’t think of another current country singer who, at her age, has such depth in how she interprets music; she’s the whole package.”

Anders is a singer, songwriter, and producer from Los Angeles and Nashville.  His latest project was creating all the music for the new FOX-TV series “Glee,” to air this fall.  He is currently working on a project with Miley Cyrus and has written and produced songs for an amazing list of artists.

While in California, Carrington attended several writing sessions and worked with some country music writers from Nashville.  One of those writers, Luke Laird, was responsible for Carrie Underwood’s songs, “So Small” and “Last Name”.  Laird, McPhee and Carrington collaborated on a song, which Carrington will continue to perfect during a future visit to Nashville.

Also, Steve Diamond, who wrote “I Swear” and another songwriter, Zac Poor, teamed up with Anders to work on a song idea that Diamond had for her. Carrington worked on this song in the studio and recorded it for possible use in the future. 

During the LA visit, Amber was given the royal treatment.  McPhee took Carrington to her personal hair dressers and makeup artist.   Stylists gave Carrington pointers and a new hair cut. 

“Several things came up about Texas in their conversations about hair and makeup,” said Carrington.  “They would have remarks like ‘is that a Texas thing?’

Carrington is scheduled to meet with Cokas and several songwriters again in Nashville in November to continue their work and to network with others in the entertainment business.

Meanwhile, Carrington will still perform at RCMH and at other local events that may arise.  To check show line-ups, go to www.rodeocitymusichall.com.

Lori Lloyd writes news stories for the Rodeo City Music Hall.

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Rockwall High School quarterback Adam Dingwell says he has orally committed to San Diego State University, after taking part in its football camp there last week.

Oral commitments are non-binding. Feb. 3 is the first day that 2010 recruits can sign formal letters of intent.

The 6’4″, 195 lb. senior-to-be completed 135 of 217 pass attempts for 1833 yards and 16 touchdowns with six interceptions last year. He also rushed for 173 yards and three TDs on 91 attempts. 

He played as a tight end as a sophomore.

The Yellow Jackets are picked to be a strong Division 10A competitor this Fall against Rockwall-Heath and favorite Highland Park.

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