Heidi Halemeier's Balancing Act

The Linn-Benton women’s basketball team has had an up and down season to say the least, injuries and lack of consistency have been plagued the team all year.

Halemeier lines up her shot. Photo by Marcea Palmer

One solid and consistent player however, has been sophomore Heidi Halemeier. Halemeier has been the rock in the middle for the team averaging 10.1 rebounds a game, which is good for fourth in the entire NWAACC conference.

Her story doesn’t just involve pulling down rebounds and taking on the biggest player her team faces each game though.

If you have ever been to a woman’s basketball game or practice for that matter here on campus you probably have noticed a not so shy and very cute little boy romping around cheering on the Lady Roadrunners. His name is Carter and besides being the biggest cheerleader the team has, he also has one of the hardest working moms on campus in Halemeier.

Halemeier was a star athlete at Santiam High School, where she won state titles and received over 50 scholarship offers to play basketball and continue her career. Her life however, changed in a different direction when she realized she was pregnant with her soon to be son.

After taking a year off and reflecting Halemeier was determined to get back to school and back on the court. She reached out and was able to land a scholarship here at LB and has not looked back since.

“Bringing her in was a huge recruit for LB, she’s one of our best players,” head coach Teresa Guerra said of her star recruit.

Heidi looks for an open teamate.
Photo by Marcea Palmer

Being the only true post player the team has put a lot of pressure on Halemeier’s shoulders, especially with some unfortunate injuries to her teammates, but dealing with adversity and pressure seems to come easy to Halemeier.

“She has a lot of pressure on her, but she steps up to the challenge. Her work ethic is amazing, balancing school, the team, and her son. You can see in her eyes how happy he makes her though,” said Alicia Love, friend and teammate of Halemeier.

Stepping up to a challenge doesn’t seem to slow Halemeier down, if anything it seems to motivate her as a student athlete.

“Having a child was an eye opening experience for me, I matured and realized the importance of life while understanding every day is going to be a challenge,” Halemeier said.

When she’s not trying to balance her homework, or practice, her son, or work at Allann Bros. most likely you will see Halemeier on the couch watching "Cake Boss" or in the kitchen making something she just saw on "Cake Boss."

“I am a cook fanatic!” she said

Her dream is to someday open a coffee/desert shop where she can show off all her baking inspirations. Her son’s birthday is weeks away and she already has the Ninja Turtle themed desert planned out.

Halemeier is an inspiration to a lot of students with children, who sometimes find the balancing act a struggle to deal with. Her positive attitude both on and off the court are remarkable and have helped the team stay positive.

“She faces more adversity being a mom and an athlete, but she is doing a great job and has a great outlook on life that is great to have in our program,” Coach Guerra said.

At a glance:
Grew up in Mill City Ore
Graduatued from Santiam High School
Has signed a Letter of intent to Oregon Institute of Technology to continue playing basketball
Major-Adult and family studies

Neeson Shines in "The Grey"

Liam Neeson is back in “The Grey,” and this time leading a group of down-and-out oil workers through the depths of hell, as they try and survive a plane crash in the middle of Alaska.

Neeson is in the midst of a three-year run of lead roles, portraying him as a bad ass, take-no-prisoner character that would make Chuck Norris weep. Most will remember his role in “Taken,” a film that no doubt ruined most teenage girls' chances of ever going to Europe alone.

“The Grey” was directed by Joe Carnahan, who first teamed up with Neeson when he directed “The A-Team,” where Neeson played “Hannibal.”

In the film Neeson plays a professional hunter paid by the oil companies to shoot off the computer-enhanced wolves that make the “Twilight” wolves look like cartoon character from "Adult Swim." Neeson is sent out with a team on a small plane, which is no match for the Alaskan weather and crashes in the middle of nowhere.

The grungy survivors are left for dead, except for having Neeson to lead in a jouney for survival. The weather and wolves provide all the suspense you need, as the men are ultimately pitted into an all-out predator vs. man adventure.

“I was scared and on the edge of my seat the whole time, hoping they would make it out alive. I don’t want to see another wolf again,” said audience member Kandis Snyder after seeing “The Grey.”

The film is intense, even with the simple plot that we’ve all seen before. Neeson’s character gives the film an emotional and tough guy appeal.

Rotten Tomatoes, a popular film review website said this about the film: “The Grey' is an exciting tale of survival, populated with fleshed-out characters and a surprising philosophical agenda.”

As with any film that portrays dead animal carcasses and man vs. beast battles, this one also comes with a bit of controversy. On Jan. 19, The Province featured an article about the movie buying four wolf carcasses from a local trapper, two for props and two for the cast to eat. It didn’t take long for groups such as PETA and WildEarth Guardians to start drives to boycott the film.

 Open Road ( the film’s production company) responded by placing a fact sheet about the gray wolf on the film’s official website. Carnahan has responded by downplaying the significance of the violent wolves portrayed in the film, instead highlighting the significance of man’s interior struggle for survival.

Amazingly, the film took just 40 days to film and is based on the short story “Ghost  Walker” by Ian Mackenzie Jeffers.

The film is worth the watch, especially on the big screen on a dark wintery night. There are plenty of twists and even a little religious controversy throughout the film. Each character brings a special piece to the film that brings the audience into the film on a personal level.

As far as an R rated film goes, “The Grey” lives up to the rating. There’s plenty of gore and language to earn its rate.

With the Oscars around the corner, there will be plenty of buzz on other films, but this one is worth getting out seeing while it’s still on the big screen.

At a glance:
Rated-R
Runtime-1hr. 57 min.
Drama, Action & Adventure
Directed and Written by Joe Carnahan
Starring-Liam Neeson
Open Road Films
Opened number one for the weekend at an estimated $20 million.

Roadrunners Say Goodbye to Blake Paltz

Student killed in head-on collision.

For the many who knew Blake Paltz, their hearts are filled with memories of a kind, open-hearted young man who was full of life and inspiration.

LBCC student and soccer player Blake Paltz. Photo by Art Motta

His friends and family had an emotional start to the New Year as Paltz was involved in a head-on traffic collision just south of Junction City on Monday, Jan. 2. 

Paltz was alone in his SUV when it collided with 56-year-old Danielle Ball's Honda Accord. Ball was also traveling alone and was pronounced dead at the scene. Paltz would later be pronounced dead while recieving treatment in the hospital according to a report in the Eugene Register Guard.

Blake graduated from Junction City High School in 2010 and had been a student of Linn Benton for the past two years. He alos played for the men’s soccer team this season, helping them to their best record in school history.

After his death his parents received a knock on the door from a stranger who told them a story that no one had heard before.

A few months back Paltz was driving along a quiet highway when he spotted a stranger on top of a bridge looking suspicious. Paltz stopped to see what the man was up to.

The man was getting ready to take his life by jumping of the bridge. Using his own charm and aspiration for life, Paltz was able to talk the man out of committing suicide. This man felt his story needed to be told and reached out to Paltz parents after his death.

This story was told again at Paltz’s memorial service by the pastor to his friends and family. To which had not heard this story before. As some might gloat and tell of their accomplishment, Paltz kept his noble feat to his self.

Rocco Lizzi graduated with Paltz from high school and has spent countless moments with the person he called a “brother” to him.

“He could never let us be angry with each other, he would always find a way to make up. We were complete opposites, but complemented each other perfectly” Lizzi said.

Paltz loved soccer. He was the starting left back for the LB team this season.

“He was the court jester, always making everyone laugh with his great sense of humor. His teammates loved him and he loved them back,” LB coach Art Mota said.

Paltz was always full of energy and life, always trying to make an influence in people’s life. He would always make sure to say hi to everyone as they arrived to practice and try to spread his good vibes into the team chemistry.

Max Sampson had this to say about his former teammate: “Blake had a powerful personality, he was always a loyal friend. I would never be surprised by what Blake would do because he was very spontaneous and energetic. It is very hard to accept that I won’t get to kick the ball around with him anymore.”

Paltz had a level of commitment and love for life that was unlike anything most people ever get a chance to embrace. His sense of humor was enlightening, even if the joke was on him.

He even scored a goal this year from his defensive back position against Mt. Angel, which if you know soccer, is an amazing and rare feat.

His life will not be forgotten. His teammates are planning on retiring his jersey (definitely not his practice one since he never wore a shirt at practice regardless of the weather) and possibly name their indoor team in memory of their lost friend.

At a glance:

To help Blakes family with funeral expenses and medical costs please go to any US Bank and donate to the Blake Paltz Memorial Fund. You can also follow a Facebook page dedicated in Blake's honor as well as keep up on upcoming fundraisers. 

Paltz death was the fifth over this year’s New Yeas weekend on Oregon roads compared to just one last year and zero the year before according to Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon State Police. Paltz was alone in his SUV at the time of the accident.