bhs publications

The Word
THE WORD
A Product of the Bennington High School Publications Class
.
Volume 1, Edition 2
301 N Putnam
Bennington High School
WWW.USD240.K12.KS.US
Bennington,Kansas 67422
Staff
Brenna Goddard
Abby Belden
Krystle Kral
Brittanie Taylor
Amanda Bailey
Jordan Fief
Kurt Fabrizius
Audrey Wagner
Advisor: Don Wagner
Around The School
Hmm, whatʼs new around our school? Weʼve
had some interesting events arise, including a few
field trips. The first field trip was to the Great Plains
Theater to watch “Always, Patsy Cline” in which Mr.
Wagner was a member of the band. The students who
went to the theater were the play cast, Publications
class, and sound and lights crew as well.
On November 3rd, the whole school was
invited to go to the matinee production of “The Diary
of Anne Frank.” The cost was $8, and close to 150
students took advantage of the opportunity.
On Wednesday the 26th of October, the board
members from Minneapolis, Tescott, and Bennington
met in the band room to discuss the consolidation of
our schools.
The week of September 24th was Red Ribbon week, and the blood drive was on November 2nd.
Give Blood, Give Life! Wow, thereʼs a lot thatʼs been
going on so far this year!
Homecoming was on September 30th, where
Bennington beat the Lakeside Knights. It was an
eventful night with a tailgate party, the game, ceremony, and finally the dance.
Government Day--who could forget that? Minneapolis, Tescott, and B-town all went to the Minneapolis Court House and brushed up on our government
knowledge. Plus, we got a day out of school!
Tests. Everybody loves tests. Selected students
went to Hutch to take the Dane Hansen scholarship
test. More recently, even fewer students journeyed
back to Hutch to take the HOA scholarship test. On
October 22, the vital ACT was offered at Bennington.
The musical “Oklahoma!” was a huge success,
thanks to the hard work of the cast and the crew, and
the band and vocal concert on November 28 was not
only well attended, but a quality production.
Now for the classes. We have a huge research
paper in Comp Class that will be due before Christmas break. In Government, the seniors are studying
voting rights and freedoms. Get this! The seniors
have another research paper due before Christmas
for Government as well. We better get to work!
by Brenna Goddard
The Secret Lives
Of Teachers
Did you know that...???:
Andrea Schafer: Swam competitively for the University of New Mexico.
Bob Murray: Has been a Sunday School teacher at
Trinity United Methodist Church for over 30 years.
Jennifer Bartlett: Used to coach basketball and
track for middle and high school
teams.
Deb Harris: Lived in England from ages 4-7 and
even attended British schools for a while.
Jason Fiel: Collects license plates and Pete Rose
memorabilia.
Juanita Morris: Still flies planes with her husband,
even after breaking her back in a plane crash. She
also makes teddy bears.
French Bulldog is a local favorite!
The French Bulldog was originally developed in England as a miniature version of the English Bulldog.
They were adopted by lace workers who went to France
and took their bulldogs with them. Streetwalkers in
France greatly admired the imports and this led to the
name French Bulldog. The dogs are very sweet, playful, and affectionate animals which have a reputation
for strength and tenacity. The dogs are clean, quiet, and
companionable, although they can wheeze and snore if
they become overweight. The breed is bright, easy-going, curious, and alert, and are devoted to their owners,
often bonding strongly to a single person.
The French Bulldog has been referred to as ʻa clown
in the cloak of a philosopherʼ who is also roguish and
fun loving. Jack, a French Bulldog, is owned by Danny
and Connie White.
Cover Photo--Kurtis Fabrizius
Who Is That Lady?
Debbie Wagner worked on the backdrop for Benningtonʼs upcoming play. She and Mr. Wagner also opened
an Art Gallery in down town B-Town on November
19th-20th.
Why do you paint?
“I see beauty in the world that I feel the need to express
in painting.”
Why create an art gallery in Bennington?
“I needed my home back.”
Have you ever painted a big backdrop before?
“Not for a play, but lots of murals.”
How did you design this backdrop?
“I watched the movie ʻOklahoma,ʼ sketched the
opening scenes from the movie, then drew the sketch on the
backdrop. I then painted the sketch with acrylics.”
How ‘Bout Them Dawgs?!
By Brenna Goddard
What does it mean to be in “sports?” To many people,
it means a time to get in shape, get tough, and get strong.
Games are the most important part of the sport. The heat
of the competition is what can really light a fire that no one
knew they had. These strategies are all good ways to look at
a sport, but what does being involved in a sport really do for
someone?
The fact that a sport will consist of varieties of people coming together to accomplish a single goal makes the idea of teamwork nessesary. People from different backgrounds will join together for the sake of the team, and will do whatever it takes to make
the team go places. When one team mate is down, the whole team
is down. Sacrifices must be made by everyone to keep the team as
one unit. Is this too corny? It may sound that way, but the truth is,
one person cannot stand alone to be in a team. Sacrifice; what is it?
It is what you do when you know you’re not the best one for the position, even though it’s all you want, and you give it up for the sake
of the--you said it--team. So about our teams, what’s happening?
The fall season has sadly come to an end, and it’s time for
a new season to take its course. Basketball seems to be the next
sport to talk about. We all know that we are in a new league and
have a challenging road ahead. Some may think...It’s up to us to
show our new rivals that we mean business. That means lots of
practice and hard work. Good luck, Dawgs!
Interview with The Wo-Man
Janice Schmidt, District Secretary
By: Brittanie Taylor
You Do All That?
When did you
daughter.
Sophomore Brittanie Taylor talks with District Secretary Janice
start working for
How are the
Schmidt about her role in the USD 240 school system
Bennington School?
schools different
rd
This is my 43
today when
year. I have been
compared to
working for the
when you went to
school since 1962.
school?
What else have you
When I attended
done?
the Bennington
I was a Billing
School, it was
Clerk (in the
a two-story
early 1960’s) at
building. The
Kansas Power and
first floor was a
Light Company,
grade school and
and an AOCP
the upper level
(Aircraft Out of
was high school.
Commission for
There was a loft
Parts) Clerk for
at the corner of
Schilling Air Force Base.
the study hall for the principal’s office. The lunch
What changes have you seen over the years that
room was under the stage. The cooks used two
you have been here?
regular electric stoves to cook and prepare the
I began working for Bennington School District
meals. We had the north gym at that time, but
No. 3. In 1965 we became Unified School
girls didn’t participate in league sports. There
District No. 240 and joined Bennington and
were nine teachers for grades 1-12. We had a
Tescott Schools.
smaller school population; there were only ten in
Can you describe your job for us?
my class.
I’m the Board of Education 240 Clerk. Some
What do you like best about your job?
of my responsibilities are to pay district bills,
I enjoy working with so many neat, caring people.
figure district payroll, and order supplies,
How has your job changed over the years?
equipment, and textbooks.
The accounting used to be done by hand (pencil
When you’re not at work, what do you like to do?
and calculator); now you work on the computer.
I enjoy being with my family ( my four
What do you see as to a future for USD #240?
children, daughters-in law, son-in law, five
I think that USD #240 will grow. We have a good,
grandchildren, my five brothers and their
sound educational school system making our
families). I do “bleed purple” for Kansas
schools attractive for parents who want the best
State University by attending football,
for their children.
boys basketball and girls basketball games.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Traveling is also a priority when I have time.
I appreciate and thank all of the Board of
When, where, and how did you grow up?
Education members for the opportunity to work
I lived in Salina until I was eight years old.
here. I have been very fortunate to have worked
My dad, Ken Stenfors, was a mail carrier and
for Superintendents Jim McClain, Larry Geil and
transferred to Bennington in 1944. My dad and
Dick Harlan.
mom (Edith) were parents of five boys and one
Don’t Miss This One!!
Bill Burrows ‘Coming Home’ Concert
On Monday, December 12,
Festival Jam ʻ05.
Bill Burrows performs
with his band, Wires
and Wood, at the 2005
River Festival Jam
in Salina. The band
featured Don Wagner
on fiddle and acoustic
guitar, Grant Wagner
on bass, and Gregg
Tanzer on drums.
When the lights go down and the music starts, you should be there. Where? At the BHS gymnasium for
the Bill Burrows ‘Coming Home’ Concert on Monday, December 12, at 7 pm. Musical history will be made
as this legendary educator and musician takes the stage for what could be the last time at BHS.
But it isn’t just Bill Burrows that you will hear. Joining him will be Sand Creek, performing together
for the first time since they closed out the 20th century with their last performance at the Smoky Hill River
Festival. In addition, Bill’s daughter, Tina Dunnegan, who has been touring the Midwest with her own band
Thunder Road, will come from Wichita to honor her father with a special performance.
And don’t forget Bill’s band, Wires and Wood, with a guest appearances from Kurt Shoemaker, one
of the finest steel guitar players in the Midwest, and Alice Thomas, the premier honky-tonk piano player in the
area. They will join Gregg Tanzer on drums, Don Wagner on fiddle and guitar, and Jay Quinn on bass, all
Bennington alumni, as they perform music that will get your toes tapping and your fingers snapping. Sound
and lighting will be provided by Paul Seehofer, a former member of the Bill Burrows Band who currently runs
sound and light shows out of Chapman.
Good music make you want to dance? Two dance arenas will be set up on either side of the stage for the
boot scootin’ boogie crowd. Come early to learn how to do the Cotton Eyed Joe, the Electric Slide, the Texas
Two Step, and much more.
In addition to the sounds of country, the BHS Jazz Band will warm up the crowd with a variety of
swinging sounds, and Darren Brooks and his wife, both outstanding musicians, will perform as a trumpet
duo. Look for members of the BHS show choir to join the other musicians on stage for a medley of Christmas
carols.
Tickets will be $5 for adults and $3 for students, and the profits will be turned over to the BHS STUCO,
NHS, and FCA in Bill Burrows’ name.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to be present when history is made at the BHS auditorium! Come
to pay tribute to Bill Burrows, come to listen to music, come to dance, come to get autographs and pictures of
excellent musicians from the state of Kansas. Come for whatever reason you choose, but make sure you come.
There will never be another event like this one, so don’t miss it!
For more details or information, contact Don Wagner at 785-488-2262 or email him at dwagner@ben.
usd240.k12.ks.us
Rained Out
Red, orange, and yellow colors
Signify the arrival of fall.
Passing cars and bikes stir leaves.
The air feels more brisk each day.
Noses turn pink when outside too long.
Fall progresses, clouds cover the sun.
Rain dampens children’s dreams.
Kids stare out droplet streaked windows,
Hoping that the wet will go away.
Wanting to jump in the leaves,
Loving the sound of raked piles exploding.
At the end of the day,
When the kids are called inside,
The sun sets and a single leaf,
Clinging to an almost bare branch,
Slowly flutters to the brown ground.
--Abby Belden
Quotes to Live and
Laugh By
•A rich man is nothing but a poor man
with money.
--W.C. Fields
•Cut out those little intimate dinners for
two--unless thereʼs someone with you.
--Joey Adams
•You know youʼre getting old when the
candles cost more than the cake.
--Bob Hope
•Iʼd love to be a procrastinator, but I
never seem to get around to it.
--Chris Dundee
•There is science, logic, reason; there is
thought verified by experience. And then
there is California.
--Edward Abbey
•Only when we are no longer afraid do
we begin to live.
--Dorothy Thompson
You and Me
In my heart
Youʼll always be mine.
I guess this is just
A test of time.
How long it will take
To make you see
That you and me
Were meant to be.
--Krystle Kral
•So many of our dreams at first seem
impossible, then they seem improbable,
and then, we summon the will, they soon
become inevitable.
--Christopher Reeves
• Friendship is precious, not only in the
shade, but in the sunshine of life, and
thanks to a benevolent arrangement the
greater part of life is sunshine.
--Thomas Jefferson
•If we donʼt change, we donʼt grow. If
we donʼt grow, we arenʼt really living.
--Gail Sheey
Words, Words
Page by Abby Belden
•The toughest thing about success is that youʼve got
to keep on being a success.
--Irving Berlin
•Anybody who watches 3 games of football in a row
should be declared brain dead.
--Erma Bombeck
•Two things are infinite: the universe and human
stupidity; and Iʼm not sure about the universe.
--Albert Einstein
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t
e
Po
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know,
His house is in the village though.
He will not see me stopping here,
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
Only Once
Only once
Thatʼs all it takes.
A brush of hands,
An exchange of words
To remember someone forever.
Only once
Thatʼs all it takes.
An unfortunate collision,
A game with a gun
To lose someone forever.
Only once
thatʼs all it takes
A faded photograph,
A certain song
To mourn someone forever.
Only once
Thatʼs all it takes.
Right time, right place,
Two souls connect
To love each other forever.
--Krystle Kral
My little horse must think it queer,
To stop without a farmhouse near,
Between the woods and frozen lake,
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake,
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other soundʼs the sweep,
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
-- Robert Frost
Pin Oak Beauty. Photo by Kurtis Fabrizius.
Snap Shot
by Brittanie Taylor
from the
Teacher: “Class, listen up. We are going to
have a 100 page in class essay today.”
Student: “Are you serious?”
Teacher: “No. However, we are going to draw.”
Student: “What are we supposed to draw?”
Teacher: “Whatever your mind tells you to. I can’t tell
you to draw anything that you don’t want to.”
Student: “My mind isn’t taking me anywhere.”
Teacher: “Don’t think so hard. Take a deep breath and
slowly let it out. Then think about something that makes
you happy, sad, angry, loving, or emotional.”
Student: “Teacher! Teacher! What is art?”
Teacher: “What do you think it is?”
Student: “Making a picture.”
Teacher: “NO! It is more than just making a picture. It
is going behind the picture and telling the people who
look at the art what you were feeling that moment.”
Student: “How do you do that?”
Teacher: “Let it come to you.”
Student: “HOW?”
Teacher: “What is your favorite place?”
Student: “That is easy--it is my room.”
Teacher: “Then draw that. Some people don’t know
what it looks like.”
Student: “Okay, I will.”
Teacher: “Can I see your picture that you drew?”
Student: “Sure. I put it up, but it should be dry now.
Let me go get it.”
Teacher: “What happened here?”
Art Depart
Student: “Well, I was getting mad at the paper and the
paint and I tried to cover it up with glue and it came out
like this.”
Teacher: “Try it again. Art is supposed to have meaning
to it. Art is not just a simple drawing that took you 5
minutes to finish; you have to put time into it. Art should
show emotions. A viewer should look at it and know
what you are thinking without asking for information.
Take your time in art. Relax, then draw.”
Student: “That is too hard! Why can’t I just draw?”
Teacher: “That is what I asked you to do in the first
place!”
From Graph to Grid.
Senior Kelli Focks works on drawing a
mixed media collage during advanced art
class. Photo by Brittanie Taylor.
Man to Man.
Tim Dreher, junior, scrapes away the clay
around the eye of his bust. “This isnʼt based on
anyone specific,” he explained. “I just wanted
to sculpt a head and face.” Photo by Brittanie
Taylor
The Bennington Bulldogs charged into the state
playoffs as they turned away the Solomon Gorillas
at Bennington on Thursday, October 27. The
Bulldogs needed the win to keep their season
alive and did just that with a 28-25 win over the
Gorillas.
Solomon struck first as they drove 60 yards on
their opening possession for a touchdown to take a
7-0 lead after the PAT kick. The Bulldogs then tried
to answer, but were stopped as senior quarterback
Chris Mann threw the first of three interceptions.
However, the Bulldogs regained possession on the
very next play when Mann recovered a Solomon
fumble. This time the Bulldogs capitalized as
senior running back Adam Shamburg punched in a
touchdown. The PAT kick failed, and the Bulldogs
trailed Solomon at the end of the first quarter 7-6.
The Gorillas scored again in the second quarter
but the PAT kick was wide, making the score 136. The Bulldogs charged back, scoring two more
touchdowns before intermission. Mann hooked up
with senior wide receiver Drew Rathbun on a 10
yard touchdown pass, then connected with junior
wide receiver Travis Kierscht for a 11 yard play
to end the half and make the score 20-13. Senior
Kirby Smith kicked both PAT’s.
The Solomon Gorillas opened up the second half
with two quick scores. A one yard touchdown
run and an interception return for a touchdown
allowed the Gorillas to build a 25-20 lead over the
Bulldogs.
Then in the fourth quarter, Mann broke the
game wide open with a 69 yard touchdown romp
following a vital downfield block by senior tackle
Matt Monroe. Bennington ran the two point
conversion and Mann’s option keeper made the
score 28-25. This would be the final score as the
Bulldog defense turned away a desperate aerial
attack by Solomon in the last 55 seconds of the
game.
Mann led all rushers with 126 yards on the ground
while racking 175 yards through the air for a 19
out of 26 completion rate.
The Bulldogs finished their season on Tuesday,
November 1, as they lost to the Claflin Wildcats in
the playoffs.
Fight, Fight, Fight!
By Abby Belden
No one wants to be late for the big game, but Grace Freemen
and I were almost tardy, you could say.
After Grace and I left my house, we had to make a pit stop at
Grace’s place. We grabbed her things, and hopped back into her
Chevy S10. We were making our way back towards Bennington
just talking about random subjects when Grace says to me, “Oh,
my gosh! A DEER!” Grace slams on the brakes, and the deer, being
smart, decided not to run for safety. Instead he got a bummed leg
and serious road burn. The truck collided with the deer at the left of
the driver’s side. The truck sustained no serious damage, just little
pieces of plastic missing here and there. After a quick phone call we
were on our way.
Grace and I passed the cemetery and I looked up into the sky in
awe as I saw the paratroopers slowly floating around in the sky like
bubbles. I told Grace, who tried to steal a glance at them and drive
at the same time. Grace finally maneuvered the truck into a parking
spot right in front of the high school parking lot.
Grace and I made our entrance at the game right as the choir
started singing the “Star
Spangled Banner.” I
glanced at the scoreboard
imagining the home team’s
score being bigger than
Solomon’s. Grace and
I made our way towards
the stands to take our
seats. The climb was like
any other. “Excuse me,
sorry!” We finally reached
the empty seats we eyed
while at the bottom of the
bleachers and sat down.
The kick off. My nerves were in overdrive and it was just the first
quarter. I hear the bulldog fans yelling along with the cheers from
the cheerleaders. I shouted along. The quarters fly by, and half time
arrived. The Dazzlers and the Lil’ Dazzlers walked onto the field and
did their routine. The crowd eagerly awaited the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter. The bulldogs were still hanging in there. The dogs
got a touch down! We
were leading by 3 points. The
tension in the stands
thickened. The OOOOOO’s of
the crowd got louder
and louder until it was almost
deafening. Most of our
voices were hoarse from yelling
so much but we just
kept yelling. The clock seemed
to slow down for each
second it ticked down. The last
play. Solomon has the
ball. The clock has 2 seconds left.
My eyes got huge as
the clock ran out! We rushed the
field, all cheering like
maniacs. The bulldogs won! As
the huddle tightened
in size, my ears strained to hear
what the coaches
were saying. You could see the
anticipation and excitement sparkling in people’s eyes who were
surrounding the football team.
We were going to the playoffs!
Go Bulldogs!
Bulldogs Batter Gorillas for Playoff Berth
by Drew Rathbun
Senior Projects
Look at those cute little the most trouble. Nature should be
this problem.
pygmies! I, Brenna Goddard, am able to solve
The
doing my senior project on the husbandry of goats. Since I am breeding my three pygmies (Star, Blossom, and Petunia) to a Tennnesse
Fainting goat (Handsome), the
results should be interesting to
see. This will be a long process
since the gestation of goats
is 5 months. So far, I have
sucessfully “introduced” the
male with my females and
they seem to be getting along
fine:) I have a couple concerns that hopefully will be
able to work themselves out.
Handsome is about 9
inches taller at the withers than
the girls. This really only presents a problem because I’m afraid
the “kids” will be too big for the
kids
are
mother. Petunia, the smallest pygmy, has most likely never had a due at the end of February or the
kid before and will probably have beginning of March. I could end
up with 0-9 kids, depending on
how many they have each. What
an adventure, huh?
So, what are senior projects
really about anyway? Are they just
a project that all seniors have to
do in order to graduate? No. Senior project is an elective that
about half the senior class is
in. Some projects end in December, while others are fullyear projects, like mine. There
are a variety of projects that
we choose from. The topics
range all the way from photography to truck restoration.
Seniors must complete many
requirements before the project
is done. There are mentors to be
found, log sheets to be filled out,
and among other things, a ten page
paper due at the end of the project.
It’s a lot of work, but in the end, it’s
worth it.
NICOLE HAMILTON
PHOTOGRAPHY
COLBY BLACK
DREW RATHBUN
POKER TABLE
JONATHAN LIVENGOOD
ENGINE RESTORATION
EMILY SCHMIDT
SENIOR VIDEO
JESSE MOORE
MOWER RESTORATION
MEAGAN SINCOCK
KIRBY SMITH
INTERIOR DESIGN
MOTORCYCLE RESTORATION
SKYLAR SMITH
TRUCK REBUILDING
ALLISON CASH
PHOTOGRAPHY
JEROD WIERMAN
CHARLES MAYFIELD
DAVID OCHS
HUNTING DOG
VIDEO GAME CABINET
COLTON WOLF
REBUILD ENGINE
RACHELLE BURCH
DORM FURNITURE
JOE FREEMAN
GUN CABINET
OIL PAINTING
NICK SWETSON
TRUCK RESTORATION
ROOM REMODEL
CRAIG KOSTER
WELDING
BRENNA GODDARD
GOAT HUSBANDRY
Jet Black
What could be better
than doing a senior project with
man’s best friend? Colby Black
is taking up the job to raise and
train a black (what a coincidence)
Labrador Retriever. Colby’s goal
is to make Jet a fine hunting dog,
specifically a waterdog. “Retrieving is natural; you just have
to enhance it.” There are many
steps that involve training the
premium waterdog. With repetition as the key to success, the
road to success may be a long
one. Bonding with the pup seems
to also be of much importance.
Bonding is the first step
to making progress with the
pup. This is a process that will
continue throughout its life. The
first step is all about having fun.
Jet does not get punished until
he is three months old. He will
also learn some basic commands
like sit, stay, heal, and here or
come. As far as fetch goes, Colby
will toss a dummy and let the
puppy go after it for fun, not
on command. Next comes step
two.
This is when the repetition starts. The basic commands
are gone over time and time
again. Now, if Colby throws the
dummy, the puppy must obey
Colby Black and his pup Jet
Black, the future waterdog champion of America.
and go after the dummy on command. Life is not all about fun
and games now. It’s time for the
third step.
More repetition....but now
when Jet fetches, he must sit and
stay until Colby gives him the
“Retrieving is natural;
you just have to enhance
it.”
signal to fetch.
Now it’s all about quantity. Colby will throw two or three
dummies at a time. Jet will now
learn how to “mark.” He will mark
where the objects are thrown so
he can remember where all the
objects are. The fourth and final
step is right around the corner.
Now Colby teaches Jet
the “handle,” which is when he
throws the dummy. Even if Jet
does not see where it went, Colby will point and Jet will learn to
follow where he leads. Handling
is taught so if Jet does not see a
bird go down, he can be sent on a
command and be directed to the
bird with hand signals pointing
to him to the bird. The reason
“marking” is taught before “handling” is so that the pup learns
not to completely rely on its
master but on its natural ability
to mark.
The Future is iPod
The Tunes--They Are aʼChanging
by Manda Bailey and Kurtis Fabrizius
Not long ago at Apple, Steve Jobs was thinking up a
new way of storing portable music. Between then and
that Christmas, the public found out about the hot new
iPod. First out was the mini iPod which holds about
1000 songs. Then came the 20GB iPod that holds up
to 5000 songs. Lastly Apple gave us the 40GB iPod
that holds up to 10,000 songs. Along the way they
came up with better types of iPods: iPod shuffle,
color iPods, and picture iPods.
One year later, back at Apple, Steve Jobs was brainstorming about making an iPod that was video compatible! Sooner than industry experts thought was
possible, Apple came up with a bigger and better iPod
that can also hold videos.
The new Apple video iPod will be similar to the 60GB
iPod, but it will be several millimeters smaller. It will
also have a smaller click-wheel to make room for a
larger, higher-resolution color screen that extends further down the iPod face than ever before.
How much time do you listen to the radio
compared to your iPod?
•Hardly ever.--Sarah Hicks
•I listen to my radio whenever my iPod doesnʼt work.
--Aaron Lamer
•Only when Iʼm with my mommy and daddy.--Travis
Kierscht
•Only when I forget my iPod.--Doug Frye
•Very little.--Brian Tebo
What made you want an iPod?
•Because I can.--Sarah Hicks
•I had too many CDʼs to carry around.--Aaron Lamer
•I always listen to music, and I got tired of burning CDʼs. Itʼs much easier to choose from 1000ʼs of
songs and different play list then just one CD. –Travis
Kierscht
•The extra space and hassle of CDʼs was getting old. I
wanted something smaller and more compact.--Doug
Frye
•So I could organize my extensive collection of songs
easier on my iPod.—Brian Tebo
Do you buy CDʼs anymore?
Nope.--Sarah Hicks, sophomore
Sometimes.--Aaron Lamer, junior
No.--Travis Kierscht, junior
Not unless itʼs one of my favorite bands. I usually buy
my songs from iTunes.--Doug Frye, junior
Yes.--Brian Tebo, sophomore
How do you find new music?
CMT/MTV, iTunes or friends.--Sarah Hicks
I watch MTV.--Aaron Lamer
Lime wire and the internet.--Travis Kierscht
Fuse, Purevolume.com, magazines...stuff like that.-Doug Frye
Purevolume.com, Alternative Press (AP), and My
Favorite Artist recommendations.--Brian Tebo
The Video iPod.
The newest techtoy from Steven Jobsʼ company holds
15,000 songs, 25,000 photos, and 150 hours of
video. Photo by Kurtis Fabrizius.
Specialty Classes Enliven Seminar.
by Audrey Wagner
Seminar is for studying - right? Not
anymore. Mondays and Wednesdays are used for
learning days. What could anyone possibly learn
in the fifteen minutes ending the day? Throwing
out the regular studies, we are learning hobbies and
facts that aren’t included in most everyday classes.
With twelve different specialty classes, it seems
there’s at least one to fit everyone. Even if you don’t
have an interest in a specific class, you can always
use these seminar classes to your advantage. “So
far there’s been a lot of memories; ones I’d like to
cherish forever,” junior Sara Sullivan says about
scrapbooking.
“Knitting is fun and easy,” says junior Amanda
Willesen in response to being asked about seminar.
This year, the most popular thing to do is ballroom
dancing. About forty people marked ballroom
dancing as their first choice. “Dancing makes you
feel graceful, high-classed, and eloquent,” exclaims
freshman Jordan Fief. Many people wanted to try
One, Two, Three.
Members of the ballroom dance class move gracefully around the home ec room, following the instruction of Ms. Tamara Constable. Photo by Kurtis
Fabrizius.
Wick Work
Tim Dollof instructs soph Jake Elder and senior
Lauren Cherry in how to set a wick in a candle
mold. Photo by Kurtis Fabrizius.
ballroom dancing, but others had different feelings.
“Its ok, but its not as good as candle-making. Plus
we’re too macho to do ballroom dancing,” reports
seniors Tomas O’Flannagan and Charles Mayfield.
The new classes offered this year is ‘Prevention
of Athletic Injuries’ taught by Mr. Pickrell,
‘Scrapbooking’ with Ms. Walker, ‘Fantasy College
Basketball’ with Mr. Macy, ‘History in Hollywood’
taught by Mr. Murray, ‘Guitar 101’ with Mr. Wagner,
and ‘Science Olympiad’ taught by Mr. Duell.
The classes that weren’t offered this year are ‘World
War II in the Movies’ with Mr. Murray, ‘CandyMaking’ taught by Mrs. Wiesen, ‘Blanket-Making’
with Mrs. Larson, ‘Rocketry’ by Mr. Duell, and
‘Fantasy Baseball’ with Mr. Macy. The classes that
have remained for the past two years are ‘Mayberry
Madness’ with Mr. Scheef, ‘Bridge’ taught by Mrs.
Neaderheiser, ‘Knitting’ from Mrs. Morris, ‘CandleMaking’ with Mr. Dolloff, and ‘Ballroom Dancing’
by Mrs. Constable.
What’s The Matter With Your Brain?
by Jordan Fief
Your shoes click sharply on the
cold, marble floor. You shiver as you’re led
mature until our early twenties.
Peer Pressure also plays a big part in the decisions
we make. In another study reviewed by the TIME
into one particularly desolate room. The coroner
magazine mentioned above, adults and teens were to try
grabs a handle on the stainless steel cupboard and
to decide whether or not to run a yellow light in a drivingpulls…
simulation game. When playing alone they both made
No, this isn’t a scene from
safe choices. But when put with a group
CSI. The person lying in that
“…kids and young
of friends, teens started to take more risks
hard, metal bed isn’t a family
adolescents rely heavily while adults over 20 continued their safe
member who has been murdered;
behavior. Dr. Steinburg, the researcher
on the amygdala, a
it’s your best friend. You want to
who conducted this experiment, found that,
ask what happened, but the words structure in the temporal
lobes associated with “With this manipulation, we’ve shown that
get stuck in your throat. Because
age differences in decision making and
you know. You know about her
emotional and gut
judgment may appear under conditions
secret life. And you didn’t do
reactions.”
that are emotionally arousing or have high
anything to help her.
social impact” (58). Most teen crimes, he
explains, are committed by kids in packs.
As a teen, you’ve known
about drugs for a long time now. You realize it
Scientists may just now be finding proof that the
could be anyone in that metal bed, from the shyest,
brain doesn’t mature until the early twenties. However,
most reserved person in the class to the girl voted
laws made by society reflect the common sense fact that
“Miss Personality.” Why do we do it? Why do
even though you turn eighteen, you are not necessarily
teens make such poor judgments?
a mature adult. For example, we are not allowed to
drink until we are 21. We can go off to war when we are
In addition to peer pressure and loneliness,
eighteen, but in the army there are rules, regulations, and
scientific studies have shown that teens rely more
training that give young soldiers a solid background from
on their emotions than their brain. The May
which to act. Most teens lack this kind of background.
10th, 2004 TIME magazine told how adolescents
and adults had to identify emotions displayed
Back at home you can’t stop seeing her frozen
in photographs.
Harvard
face. Again you ask yourself ‘Why’?
neuropsychologist
Deborah
When put with a
Why should anyone have to die this
Yurgelun-Todd observed that,
way? Why are we left with memories
group of friends, teens
“In doing these tasks, kids and
of the past with no hopes for the future?
started to take more
young adolescents rely heavily
No one should ever have to see a friend
risks while adults over
on the amygdala, a structure in
die, but no matter what we say, once in a
the temporal lobes associated
20 continued their safe
while our friends will still be pressured
with emotional and gut reactions.
behavior.
making foolish decisions. We teens need
Adults rely less on the amygdala
to know that our judgment is sometimes
and more on the frontal lobe, a
suspect and, knowing this, we should
region associated with planning
and judgment” (58). So why can’t we teens use find ways to temper the decisions we make,
our frontal lobe instead of our amygdala? Scientist especially if we want to live beyond
have found that our brains mature from the back
to the front, so our frontal lobe may not be really them.
down a long, bare hallway. The officer leads you
Boogie Nights
Freshmen Discover Ballroom Dancing!
by Andrea Shafer
What comes to your mind when you think of
ballroom dancing? Old people, slow dancing,
and music from another era – really boring stuff
right? Well, not anymore! Ballroom dancing
is really making a comeback, even here in
Bennington!
On the 2nd Saturday of every month, Audrey
Umakubo, a local dance instructor, offers an
open ballroom dance session at Dance Elite in
Salina. Starting at 7:30 p.m., students of all
ages receive a lesson in a particular style of
dance. This last month was the dance of love
known as the Tango.
Usually this dance accommodates the more
mature crowd, but on this particular night
there were six high school students in the mix.
Audrey Wagner, Jordan Fief, Bailey Shirack,
Aaron Ziegler, Jacob Wagner, and Codi Burrow
were moving and grooving with the best of
them! They jumped right in and learned the
moves, beginner and advanced, for several
dances. Soon they were changing partners and
dancing every dance.
“How many lessons have they taken?” one
participant asked me. Her shocked face told me
she was impressed when I answered “None.”
“Well,” she continued, “they are picking up on all of
the footwork so quickly, and they are interacting with each
other so well!”
When the night ended, all the students agreed that they
had a really wonderful time. They decided to try to get
more high school students from Bennington to attend these
monthly lessons and to join in the fun.
So, what do you say students? Shall we dance? Here’s
your next opportunity. Audrey and Andrea will be holding
dance clinics here at BHS on November 30 and December
5 to teach dances for the Bill Burrows ‘Coming Home’
concert on December 12. Dances taught will include the
Texas Two-Step, The Cotton-Eyed Joe, and the Electric
Slide. Come to the seminar clinics and make reservations
for dancing on Bennington’s newest dance floor at the Bill
Burrows ‘Coming Home’ Concert.
Aaron Ziegler,
Audrey Wagner,
freshman: “It was
freshman: “Even
interesting to see
though it was mostly
old people, we still had the old people dance
because they know
a good time and we
how to do it well.”
learned the basics of
most dances.”
Codi Burrow,
freshman: “It was fun
Jordan Fief,
but hard. I had to pay
freshman: “Ballroom
close attention to learn
dancing makes a
the steps. I would
person feel elegant
like to do it again,
and accomplished. I
especially the swing
thought it was a lot of
dancing.”
fun.”
Jacob Wagner,
Bailey Shirack,
freshman: “I had a
great time. The Tango freshman: “It was fun
because it was nice to
was fun to learn and,
see the ‘elderly’ people
with some help from
and how they grew up
Mrs. Schafer, we
dancing.”
learned how to swing
dance as well.”
Classy moves.
Freshmen Codi Burrow and Jordan Fief swing through
the steps of a new dance at the Ballroom Dance class
taught by Ms. Audrey Umakubo in Salina. Photo by
Debbie Wagner.
Interview with
Andreʼe OʼShea and Michelle Meade
By Abby Belden
Patsy Kline play
at GPTF tells
story of her life.
Life wasn’t easy for Patsy Cline. One of
the most influential country singers of the
20th century, Patsy had a bout of rheumatic
fever when she was 13 that almost killed
her. In fact, her heart even stopped beating,
and the terrible throat infection almost
destroyed her vocal chords. Although she
recovered from the rheumatic fever, she
later described her voice from that time as
“booming.”
Born in Winchester, Virginia, in 1932,
her family moved 19 times around the state
before she was 15. Dropping out of school
at age 15 to help support her family, Patsy
worked a variety of waitressing jobs before
she got a chance to make a career as a
singer. Starting off in local radio shows and
dances, Patsy had the luck to meet the right
people in the business and managed to get
a recording contract with Four Star Records
in 1954.
Nine years was all the career she had
before dying at age 30 in a plane crash on
her way back to Nashville. In that short
time, she recorded the number one juke box
hit of all time, Crazy.
Professional Actresses
Describe your work schedule.
Andreʼe- -Rehearsals are about 7 1/2 out of 9 hours a day and
TECH is 10 out of 12 hours for two days. When the show opens,
we only do about 6 hours a week.
Michelle--Rehearsals are Tuesday thru Sunday at 1-9:30 or 10-5
and personal preparation takes place prior to the rehearsal.
What is it like to be a professional Actress?
Andreʼe--Itʼs fantastic to make a living at what I really love, telling stores and expressing my art to a live audience.
Michelle--Itʼs fun, but hard. You must have dedication
and talent, be cooperative and hard working.
Which has been your favorite show since your career began?
Andreʼe--Man of La Manch at a Utah Shakespeare
Festival!
Michelle- -There is the Wizard of Oz, Guys and Dolls,
and the Always Patsy Cline review.
Why did you choose to be in the acting business?
Andreʼe--Because it is what makes me the happiest!
Michelle-- I have a lot to offer, and I like to entertain and make
people happy. Itʼs a people/social business because you do it
with people. I am an artist/designer too, but I prefer theatre.
Why did you choose the ʻAlways Patsy Clineʼ show?
Andreʼe--Itʼs a great show for a woman since there are only two
women in it--a tour-de-force.
Michelle--Patsy is a confident lady and I admire confidence. She
is solid.
Is there any advice you would like to tell us students?
Andreʼe--Do what you love the most! Even if you doesnʼt make
you the most money!
Michelle-- Be TRUE and confident in all you do. Be honest,
truthful, and helpful. Contribute to the greater good!
Is there anything else youʼd like to share with BHS?
Andreʼe--Thanks for coming and please keep supporting theatre!
Itʼs the greatest reality show of all time!
Michelle-- Invest in yourself and share the wealth with the
world! Set a good example as a human being!
Da wg
Tal k
Juniors
By Manda Bailey
What do you think about your junior year so
far?
Itʼs nice to be an upper classman. –Cliff H.
Itʼs going well there has been fun and exciting
things at BHS. – Cassee C.
Itʼs going good, I need to start doing homework at
home and not during English. –Colby H.
Itʼs been great! Our class is finally coming together,
and its been so much
fun! –Sara S.
Cassee Cole
–Sara S.
What has been your
experience with the
junior stand?
Someone has to do it.
–Cliff H.
Itʼs been fun at times,
but not so
fun when Mr. Murray gets mad. –Cassee C.
Well, Iʼm in football so I donʼt get many chances,
but when I have worked, it hasnʼt been that bad.
–Colby H.
Itʼs been okay, stressful
at times when no one
signs up and we find
ourselves being hunted
down by Mr. Murray
during the games! –Sara
S.
If money werenʼt an object, what kind of prom
would you put on?
There would have to
be a big meal and a really good DJ –Cliff H.
It would be the
best prom ever.
–Cassee C.
A big building and
valet parking, all that
kind of stuff. –Colby
H.
Something huge and
unforgettable! The
best BHS prom ever.
Sara Sullivan
What is one thing that you think the rest of the
school should know about the junior class?
Were just like any other class, only smaller. –Cliff H.
We get along very well. Our class is getting very close.
–Cassee C.
Weʼre all pretty
close, so ifya
mess with one
of us, then
there are others to backem`
up. –Colby H.
We know how
to have a good
time. Weʼve
all became
close over the
past year or
so, and we canʼt wait to graduate! –Sara S.
Cliff Helus
Mix ʻnʼ Match
Tara Hamilton
L. Montgomery
Curtis Main
Erin Tebo
Codi Burrow
Sara Sullivan
Zach Hensley
Cindy Whitesell
Kirstin Hanzlicek
Audra Giacolletto
Colton Wolf
Jon Livengood
Bulldog
Paparazzi
by Brittanie Taylor
WHAT’S ON YOUR I-POD?
by Abby Belden
Mitch Swagerty- sophomore
The Disturbed
3 Doors Down
Crossfade
Matt Fancher-senior
50 Cent
Jessie McCartney
Ashley Simpson
Forrest Bigler-sophomore
Paul Wall
The Postal Service
Three 6 Mafia
Robert Ryland-senior
Linkin Park
Korn
Rob Zombie
Cord Gwennap-freshman
Big & Rich
AC/DC
Alabama
Brian Tebo- sophomore
The Used
Brand New
Straight Light Run
Rashae McClintock-junior
Fall Out Boy
Green Day
Black Eyed Peas
Kristin Temple-junior
3 Doors Down
All American Rejects
Crossfade
Scott Crowder-sophomore
ICP
2 Pac
Scorpion Eve
Caylie Burt-sophomore
Jamison Parker
Kenny Chesney
The Used
Tyler Wiesen-senior
Queen
AC/DC
Disturbed
Brian Aumick-sophomore
My Chemical Romance
The Killers
Yellowcard
Travis Kierscht-junior
The Used
Taking Back Sunday
Kanye West
Abby Lindfors- sophomore
Seether
Tech 9
The Darkness
Spotlight on:
The Personal Narrative
Class: Sophomore English
Instructor: Mr. Wagner
Student: Abby Belden
Too Close to Losing
The eerie silence of the hospital hallways. The squeaking of
gurney wheels. The echo of rushing
foot steps and concerned voices. A
place people sit and wait, praying
that their lives will straighten out.
People counting the minutes and
hours they have been there, just
hoping that the doctor will come
through the door and tell them
good news.
It has been 31⁄2 years since
my mother had her heart attack,
and I still fear the one day that
caused me pain. I can only describe
it in one way. Finding out that my
mom had a heart attack was like
someone punching me in the stomach. The air whooshed from my
lungs in one breath. I still feel that
same pain to this very day. It left
a scar deep in my mind and on my
heart.
Since the 6th of March,
2002, I have changed my priorities when it comes to family. I now
know that a person shouldnʼt take
family for granted. I will admit
that before my momʼs heart attack,
I was ungrateful for what I had. I
have now learned that being grateful is something they wonʼt teach
you in school; itʼs a hard learned
lesson from the people you love.
I woke up at 7:15 a.m. on
March 6th, 2002, to my mom yelling at me from the hallway. I got
up, took my shower, got dressed
and did my daily morning chores:
feeding the animals and making
sure they had water. I completed
my early morning chores with
ten minutes to spare. Those ten
minutes that I sat on my bed in
my room I wasted. I could have
spent them with my Mom. If only
I had known that those ten minutes
would be so precious at the end of
the day.
My mom was in a positive
mood when we left the house, but
somewhat worn out. She dropped
me off at school, and I, stubborn,
Then confusion snuck
up behind me and had
me wondering: ʻWhy is
my Grandpa here? My
dad is working and so is
my mom.ʼ
too old to have a kiss on the forehead, flippantly told my mom
ʻGood byeʼ, and to have a ʻgood
day.ʼ Looking back now, I wished
I had accepted that kiss on the
forehead, because now I have one
unaccounted kiss.
The rest of the day was
mostly a blur, talking with friends,
doing my homework, and just
chattering until my jaw hurt at the
lunch table.
I boarded the bus around
3:25 p.m., and sat down for the
bus ride at what I thought lasted
forever. How naïve I was. Later
on during the day I would finally
understand what forever felt like.
I talked my tail off with the other
ʻluckyʼ passengers who got to ride
the big yellow taxi, until it was
my turn to be dropped off on the
dusty corner. With keys in hand, I
walked toward the front door. Then
confusion snuck up behind me and
had me wondering: ʻWhy is my
Grandpa here? My dad is working
and so is my mom.ʼ My thoughts
trailed off and became silent. “Hi,
Grandpa!” I said hesitantly, and
the uncertainty in my voice came
through clearly.
The wind was unforgiving and gusty. On any other day, I
would have welcomed the winds
attitude, but on that day, something
felt amiss. I made my way towards
the house, thoughts running on end
through my head. “Whatʼs going
on, Grandpa, why are you here?”
I looked at him when I asked this
question. He looked straight at me
and answered, “Your mommaʼs
sick.”
When those three words
finally penetrated the fog that
clouded my brain, the air rushed
out of my lungs, and my eyes filled
up with tears. We walked into my
house, the place where so many
good memories lived, but now
sourness clung to the air. I dropped
off my bag and fed the cats. I felt
so numb at the time, I didnʼt know
if my grandpa said anything to me;
I canʼt remember. Itʼs as if I had
one goal: get into Salina as fast as I
could and see my mom.
The ride into Salina was far
from comforting. There werenʼt
any singers on the radio. The wind
swirled noisily around the truck.
The sound of it colliding with the
truck sounded harsh, almost as if
it was trying to slow us down. The
wind sang its misery, no words,
only howling. The leaves answered
with rustling. ʻHow can this happen
to my mom? She doesnʼt deserve
this.ʼ
The past rose up in my
mind like smoke leaving a fire. I remembered that Grandpa OʼSheaʼs
life was taken from him by a heart
attack. I was paralyzed with fear. I
said a prayer for my mom and for
my Grandfather OʼShea to rest in
peace. My feet ached to pace, my
brain wanted to calm the screaming
thoughts running wildly through
it, and my heart wanted to cry for
what I might lose.
We reached the hospital at
fifteen minutes until five. We waited for half an hour, and that half
hour seemed like forever and a day
because of the pain and worry that
were rushing through my veins.
I walked down the hospital
hallways with my head down so I
didnʼt have to look at where I was.
I watched the backs of my grandpaʼs old beat up shoes until we
I was paralyzed with
fear. I said a prayer
for my mom and
for my Grandfather
OʼShea to rest in
peace.
reached the room where my mother
lay unmoving. The white hospital
gown they made her put on looked
as if they had thrown a piece of
paper on her. When she did move,
you could hear the crinkling of the
material.
Seeing my mom lying on
the table made me want to sink to
the cold white floor and cry. A tear
slipped down her cheek, and my
dad gently brushed it away. I saw
one of his own tears replace the
one he had so gently brushed away.
My mom said how much she loved
us and that she was going to be
okay, but part of me was so scared.
I had never seen my mom this vulnerable.
After the doctor told us
what procedure they did, they
rolled her away to her room and expected us to follow. I didnʼt know
what to do--should I go up by my
mom? Or should I wait here until I
am told to go somewhere? I didnʼt
know what to do. My dad came
over, put his arm around me, and
gave me the biggest hug. His warm
embrace gave me a momentʼs
peace, a momentʼs peace I shall
never forget.
Five stints and many catheters later, my mom is doing just
fine. The five stints were placed
in three arteries after a ballooning procedure, which is a painful
process. My mom has her routine
check ups, but sure enough, the periods of time between the two have
gotten longer.
Even though my mom
scared us, we became closer as
a family. Iʼm glad she made it
through because I know I would be
lost without her.
Mother and Daughter.
A medical crisis taught sophomore
Abby Belden the danger of taking
life for granted. When her mother
suffered a severe heart attack, Abby
suddenly was faced with the realization that she had not told her
mother her true feelings the morning of the incident. “Iʼve learned
that nothing in life is guaranteed,”
observed Abby, “especially time
with the ones we love.” Photo by
Brian Belden.
What Are You Thankful For?
“Friends, a place to live, and food.”
-Brenden Husted
“My daughter.”
-Mrs. Bartlett
“That our community is safe.”
-Chris Helus
“My wife and kids.”
-Mr.Gantenbein
“For the ‘Word’.”
-Josh Cleveland
“Lunch.”
-Adam Shamburg
“My family.”
-Kindra Rathbun
“Family, health, and friends.”
-Taylor Copas
“My family, a nice place to live, and always
having something on the table to eat.”
-Charles Mayfield
“My life.”
-Jenni Clark
“Life.”
-Skylar Smith
“My parents.”
-Jaydra Ott
“That my husband and kids are
healthy.”
“Family, job, teacher’s aids,
health, and the fact that I got
to see Brenna today.”
-Mr. Gish
-Mrs. Harris
“Family, friends, and surviving
being attacked by a transvestite.”
-Tyler Wiesen
“My family.”
- Mrs. Sherry
Wiesen
Sizzling Soles
Feet, donʼt fail me now!
by Audrey Wagner
I am spying on feet. It’s a dirty job, and
I’m the one who has to do it. I look down the long
hallway stretching past the library. It makes me
think about all of the shoes that have passed this
way already just in this year. Tennis shoes, flipflops, skater shoes, boots, slippers. Why do we
wear the shoes we do?
Sometimes it seems shoes
are the eyes of our soul and
spirit. They show our
personality, our interests, and
sometimes even our shopping
addictions. In Bennington,
some people
have two pairs of shoes while
others have fifty. “You can never
have enough,” says senior Rachelle
Burch. “Shoes are one of my
fetishes.”
During the school session, our feet are
worth more than 7800 dollars a day! That figure
is just an approximate value of shoes on the feet of
our 164 kids. An informal survey of our students
show that the average lowest priced shoe they own
is thirteen
dollars. The average
high priced
shoe is eighty-one
dollars. The
typical BHS student
pairs of shoes.
has fifteen
While you walk
down the
hallways, look down
at everyone’s feet. You will find that almost 50% are
wearing tennis shoes. That is by far the most popular
shoe in our school. Even with the weather changing,
flip-flops are the next leading shoe. There are
approximately
20% flip-flops in our
hallways.
Next you will find leather
shoes (such
as Doc Martins) and
skateboarding
shoes.
Some
people use shoes as a
show of their personality. Flashy shoes can say, “I’m
very outgoing and like fashion.” Sports shoes mark
you as an athlete or a fan. Others show that you like
to buy high quality, top of the line shoes, or that you
like your shoes so much, you wear the soles off. So
think about it. What do your shoes say about you?
Not your ordinary heel!
Soph Katie Komarek sports a pair
of high heels that her mother and
sister bought for her in Arizona.
Photo by Kurtis Fabrizius.
Practical and comfortable.
Sr. Charles Mayfield likes his
laceup loafers. Photo by Kurtis
Fabrizius.
Hobby Time: Planes, Cows, and Horses
By: Krystle Kral
Hobbies. Almost everybody has one. It’s
something that they’re interested in and like to do in
their free time. Among the students and staff in this
school, there are a lot of different hobbies. There are
also a lot that are either the same or very similar.
Our very own Mrs. Morris and her husband,
Duane, are in the process of restoring a 1950 V-Tail
Beach Bonanza. Mrs. Morris and Duane have owned
seven airplanes. Out of those seven, two have been
wrecked. One was destroyed by the wind and the other
wrecked in 1988. The engine quit on take-off, resulting
in a broken back for Mrs. Morris. Together, they have
been involved in the hobby for 31 years--Duane since
he was 16 years old and Mrs. Morris since Duane and
she met in 1974. Both of their sons have their pilot’s
licenses because they were influenced by the hobby.
Senior Tomas O’Flannagan is also interested in
airplanes, only to a much smaller degree. Tomas flies
radio-controlled airplanes. He owns a Hangar 9 Tiger
Trainer and Alpha Trainer. He first became interested
in miniature scaled airplanes his freshman year. R/C
airplanes led him into flying small aircraft such as
Cessna’s. Since he attended K-State Salina’s youngadult flying program, Aerocats, he has roughly 30 hours
of logged flight time.
Mr. Pickrell, a special-ed teacher, is into
the hobby of rodeo. He has been roping longhorns
competitively for four or five years, but he has been
into roping for altogether eight years. His older brother
roped competitively so when Matt got out of college, he
decided to rope. Mr. Pickrell grew up around farming
and livestock. On his ranch six miles outside of Tescott,
he raises longhorns and black Angus cattle and pastures
five horses. He has his own arena on his ranch, where
he holds roping competitions. “I like being able to raise
horses…it’s (rodeo) something I can do competitively
forever…” said Mr. Pickrell.
Sophomore Scott Area lives on a farm where he
helps raise cattle. They currently own ten cattle. He
and his family help to move cattle with some friends’ of
their family. In this event, they move about 300 to 400
cows at a time. At this point in time, Scott only ropes
for fun. What is holding him back you may ask? Well,
he has no heeler to rope with him.
Senior Craig Koster is also into the whole rodeo
scene. He’s been roping since he was in the 5th
grade. “Back in the day, my older brother, Kyle,
and I used to rope each other for fun,” Koster
said. The only competition roping he does is with
his “home-town boys,” according to him. Craig is
the only member of his family who participates
in roping. Craig also used to ride steers. The first
time he rode was with fellow senior Aaron Jore.
He rode for four years but quit because of an
unfortunate accident injuring his knee. “It was a
life-changing experience,” Craig states.
Different people have their own hobbies.
Coincidentally, the students and staff have some
in common. And these are only two general
areas of hobbies. Hobbies can help to show who
a person really is. And just by looking at any of
these people, I wouldn’t have been able to tell that
they were into these kinds of activities.
Cowboy Culture.
Senior Craig Koster raises horses and cattle on
the family ranch and is a roper and steer rider as
well.
High School Field Trip: The Diary of Anne Frank
By Krystle Kral
A lot of students take field trips for granted,
seeing them as an opportunity to get out of school
and screw around. But it is almost guaranteed
that the purpose of a field trip is for educational
reasons. The latest field trip taken by the high
schoolers at BHS was to Abilene to see the Great
Plains Theatre Festival’s presentation of The Diary
of Anne Frank on Thursday, November 3. Almost
all of the students and the staff in the high school
attended this event arranged by the BHS English
teachers, Mrs. Morris and Mr. Wagner.
The Diary of Anne Frank is a true story
based on the diary of a 13-year-old Jewish girl and
her Jewish family who lived in Germany. For two
years, her older sister, her mother, her father, her
father’s co-worker and his wife and son, a dentist,
and herself were in hiding in the attic of an old
warehouse, called the Secret Annex, during the
Holocaust. In that two-year period, Anne went
through such tough times as discovering herself
and her body in her early teens, and her first
relationship and kiss.
Right before they were about to be
liberated, they were found and sent to death
camps. The only one who survived was Mr. Frank.
He went back to the Secret Annex, found Anne’s
diary, and had it published. To this day, it is a
favorite the world over.
Student Reactions
• Anne was persecuted for her faith. And
we’re lucky we don’t have to deal with
that kind of discrimination.
-Drew Rathbun, senior
•I think her personality --cheerful, happy,
and up-front about her feelings --was
admirable.
-Joe Freeman, senior
•Watching the play was more realistic than
reading it or watching it on video.
-Jenny Clark, junior
•If I couldn’t go outside, my life wouldn’t be
adventurous.
-Nadia Rickey, sophomore
•It was suspenseful because they had to
be very quiet every day and night.
I thought that because of Anne’s
behavior they would have been caught
the first day.
-Blake Zerbie, freshman
•I think this story has survived to be told
time and time again because it is such a
good portrayal of the Holocaust.
-Doug Frye, junior
•The play was sad because they killed all
those innocent people for what they
believed in.
-Christopher Lawrence, freshman
Anne Frank, age 13.
Victim of the Holocaust
OPINION and ARGUMENTATION
Square Off and Have At It!
---Sound Off: Cheerleading--The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Cheerleading
by Skylar Smith, senior
A crowd can control a situation better than
even more improvement then what they need now.
a person. When a riot breaks out, it takes a squad
The people wouldn’t have anything special to watch.
of police to control it. When protesters arise, they
But when a crowd starts a chant, everybody gets to
use crowds to be heard. When a game is on the
join in if they want to.
line, many crowds make their own chants, and do
Now I’m not saying we should just scrap
not follow the cheerleaders. Although cheerleading the whole cheerleading squad. Make the cheers
is a tradition in sports, it is unnecessary. Most
the cheerleaders do match the ones the crowds do,
people come to games to watch the game, not the
or make the cheers so the crowd can join in. But if
cheerleaders.
worst comes to worst, we can always get rid of the
For the past few years it has been really
cheerleaders, because in the end we really don’t need
noticeable in our school, how a crowd watching a
them. Cheerleading is just not that useful. It’s just
game does better by making up their
there for the girls to do something
own chants rather than cheering with
with their time while they’re not in a
For years we’ve
the cheerleaders. When there is a
real sport.
turnover, the crowd would repeat,
wasted time
One benefit for the girls on
“Which way? That way!” Three
cheerleading teams is that they would
on pep rallies
times. The cheerleaders are hardly
lose the stereotype, “Cheerleaders
trying to get
even heard during halftimes, and not
score more than the team does.”
at all during the game. But when a
“pumped up”
Schools would stop wasting the time
three pointer is made, you can hear
during school having pep rallies.
for the game.
the crowd yell “Olay!” over and over
People might want to be doing
in a rhythmic tune. You can hear such
something else, like studying, since
things as Mr. Murray’s whistle before the crowd
the pep rallies are held during study hall. Most times
yells “Charge!”
when we have pep rallies we can’t stay in the study
For years we’ve wasted time on pep rallies
hall rooms by ourselves, because there is no one to
trying to get “pumped up” for the game. They
supervise us. So it is almost mandatory that we go to
just don’t work. Especially the ones we have
the pep rallies even if we don’t want to.
these days. The pep rallies only let a few people
Crowds have been controlling the sports
participate in the skits which really aren’t that
world over cheerleaders for quite some time, and
great. The cheerleaders do a few cheers that not all will be doing it in the future. If we cut our losses
of them know, and then we sing the school song.
now, we can get out before it gets any worse. There
Usually most of the people just stand around and
will be those people that like cheerleaders and think
watch or do their own little thing until it’s over,
cheerleaders are a good thing, like mothers, but
because they don’t get a chance to join in. If it
crowds will always know the truth. We don’t need
weren’t for dance team, the pep rallies would need
cheerleaders for spirit. They are not a necessity.
“Is Cheerleading a Sport?”
By Whitney Lawrence, senior
There are so many different sports to play and they’re
all played in different ways. There’s volleyball, football,
baseball, soccer, track, and many others. There are
also some sports that people disagree are actually
a sport, like cheerleading. Although many people
agree that cheerleading should be classified as an
activity, there are other certain people who insist that
cheerleading is a sport.
must have upper body strength to be able to stunt and
do lifts. When the bases throw the flyer in the air, they
have to have upper body strength to be able to catch
her when she comes back down. Without upper body
strength, the flyer would not stay up in the air long
enough to cheer.
I have been a cheerleader for three years, and there
is so much more to this sport than most people would
Sports have a lot involved in them. In some sports
think. It takes a lot of skills to be able to do the things
you have to be able to run, jump, hit, kick, bump, and we’ve done to entertain the crowds. There is a percent
talk. In others, you need to have those skills along
of people who think cheerleaders are just there to
with many other physical and
stand on the sidelines
verbal actions. This is the same
and look good. That is
Sound
Off
:
Cheerleading
in cheerleading. To be able to
some peoples’ opinion,
play sports you need to have
but they never give us
“Theyʼre great, but they need to get more
upper body muscles and lower leg
cheerleaders a chance
crowd
orientated
cheers.”
--Rachelle
to tell our side of the
muscles and this is the same as
Burch, senior
story. Cheerleading is
in the sport cheerleading. While
doing stunts in cheerleading, the
big competition and
“Theyʼre fired up on game days.” --Codi
bases that are lifting the flyer in
has been for many
Burrow, freshman
the air have to have strong lower
years. Cheerleaders
“I think that theyʼve improved a lot from last
leg muscles to hold the flyer’s
from different schools
weight. Without the lower body
year and bring a lot of school spirit to BHS.” compete to see which
strength, it would not be possible.
squad is the best at
--Sarah Hicks, sophomore
dances, cheers, stunts,
“Cheerleading gets you involved with the
Cheerleaders also have to have
and over all, who
good verbal skills like volleyball
cheers the hardest.
student body.” --Jennifer Wierman, senior
players. Whenever you watch a
“Iʼve just recently found out that
volleyball game you notice that
Cheerleaders don’t
cheerleaders
are
for
the
crowd,
not
the
all of the players are very verbal.
only support the team
They help each other out by
they’re
cheering for,
football team.” --Tomas OʼFlannagan,
saying “yours” or “mine” to call
but they also spread
senior
the ball. Cheerleading is also very
school spirit by
verbal. In cheerleading you have
“Their skirts look good.” --Brenden Husted, having pep rallies and
to have the ability to project your
decorating the school
sophomore
voice. Whether on the court or
to show support for
“If
it
was
easy,
everyone
would
do
it.”
-the field, cheerleaders have to be
their team. How often
as loud as possible while chanting
do you see a soccer or
Emily Schmidt, senior
a cheer so everyone in the crowd
baseball team do this?
“They get the crowd going and they show
can hear them and cheer along
our school spirit and pride.” -Cassee Cole,
with them.
To be a cheerleader
you have to have
junior
In the sport of wrestling you need
upper and lower
to have upper body strength to
body strength and be
be able to pin your opponent if you want to win the
verbal, just like in other sports played. Now I ask the
match. Without upper body strength, the wrestler
big question: Do you still agree that cheerleading is not
doesn’t have much of a chance. In cheerleading, you
a sport? I know it is.
Art by Sarah Hicks