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Page 7.
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○The
○ Overrated
○ ○ ○ ○Life○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
of Madison Cornwall.
Fiction Series Page 8.
Issue 1
September 2003
Lewis Central High School
Construction City: a Lewis Central Story
Megan Longmeyer
Reporter
The final bell rings as late
students grasp for their things and
hurry to class. There’s the scurrying
of feet then all is silent in the
hallways. Just as the last classroom
door slams, a big bang is heard
throughout the school. Neither fear
nor curiosity rushes over the student
body, just a quick startle and back
to the lesson. For them, the boom
and the startles have been a reality
for some time.
The clangs and the booms of
construction have been no stranger
to LC for the past five years.
Throughout these years, the school
has been working to build a brandnew high school, remodel the
present-day middle school and
elementary, expand fourth and fifth
graders’ Kreft, and shut down
Central, Lewis Central’s past K-2
residence.
The remodeling was proposed
to take several years, but it turned
out that being able to afford the
school would take just as long. The
ideas started from Central, where
septic problems were causing a
commotion throughout district
residents, along with staff.
“In 1997, there was a
community meeting to do
something,” said Assistant Principal
Paul Massman. “People said that
the state wouldn’t grant bonds for
a new elementary, but they would
grant them for a new high school.”
When it came time to ask for
the grant money, the state approved
it. However, it was considerably
below the price in which the school
had asked for, giving Lewis Central
only about three-fourths of the
funding it needed. In a new
approach, the school decided to
stretch what was proposed as a two
year project into a five year project.
This would allow the school’s
expansion grants to earn interest
over that time, along with giving
Lewis Central plenty of fundraising opportunities to fill in the
money gap.
After almost a decade of
planning and building to the Lewis
Central district, the goals of many
are almost set. Nevertheless, there
is still construction going on almost
all of the buildings within the Lewis
Central district.
Two years ago, during the
2001-2002 school year, Lewis
Central’s newest high school set off
close-to completion; the student
parking area needed to be redone.
As of today, the high school is now
in the process of repairing our
commons’ floors, due to an uneven
foundation of concrete floors; no
Caffeine:
The truth behind the addiction
Heidi Behrens
Reporter
Every morning as people
wake up they go pour themselves
a hot cup of joe to get their
energy levels up for the rest of
the day. At lunch they need a
delicious can of Coca-Cola to
make it through the rest of work.
When they arrive home it’s time
to relax and have a nice can of
Mountain Dew to celebrate the
end of the day. But how much
caffeine is too much?
“I drink enough caffeine to
keep a small army hyper,” said
sophomore Matt Stewart.
Caffeine mildly stimulates
the central nervous system. Dr.
Lynn Welling of the Jersey Co.
Health Department says it
increases pulse rate, blood
pressure, body temperature,
production of stomach acid and
urine, and reduces the absorption
of calcium. It is habit forming.
According
to
www.learnlink.emory.edu if a
person is accustomed to having
caffeine and their intake is
stopped suddenly they may
experience headaches, fatigue or
drowsiness.
“I would get really
dependent on it. I feel like I need
it. When I get home from school
the first thing I do is have a pop,”
said sophomore Andrea Oehme.
Photo by Pam Shorey
Contruction workers continue to work on
unfinished cafeteria floors, even after the
school year has begun.
other repairs are needed.
As far as the Middle School and
Titan Hill Intermediate School are
concerned, the construction is all
interior. The insides of both schools
are going to be renovated and most of
the interior of both buildings is to be
brand new. The Middle School
specifically is having the kitchen,
cafeteria, and gym remodeled, along
Too Many Activities, Not Enough Sleep
Melissa McKern
Reporter
Everyday we stumble out of
bed, after a measly seven hours of
sleep the night before, and head to
class. After we get to school we find
ourselves resting our head on our
desk and then we are abruptly
awakened by the yell of the teacher
telling you to pay attention during
his or her class. You sit up, but you
just can’t seem to stay awake. This
is something that frequently happens
to students during the school year.
This is a case of sleep deprivation.
“I fall asleep in usually two
classes and second term would be
when I’m the most tired,” said
sophomore Kelsey Richter.
Sleep is one thing that people
cannot live without; it’s necessary
for our physical and mental health.
We all know that students need both
of those for school and
extracurricular activities. When we
do not get enough sleep, our body
will physically try hard to make us
The McKinley Health Center
recommends that people take
caffeine in moderation. For a
moderate intake only drink about
300mgs per day. The safe amount
for adults is between 400-450mgs
per day.
According to www.wx4all.nl
there can be long-term effects if
caffeine is abused. If a person
drinks more than 650mgs per day
they can expect long term effects.
These effects include chronic
insomnia, persistent anxiety,
depression, and possibly stomach
ulcers. However, these do not
happen if a person stays below
650mgs per day. According to
www.learnlink.emory.edu a lethal
dose of caffeine for the average
adult is 10g. If a person consumes
10g or more, abdominal cramps,
vomiting, convulsions, increased
heart rate, and cardiac arrhythmia
can occur. However, it is generally
impossible to consume this much
caffeine through drinking
beverages such as pop and coffee.
So, don’t lose sleep over it.
Photo by Andrea Larison
However, try to keep track of your Unable to keep his eyes open, senior Nathan Hasbrouck, catches a
caffeine intake.
few z’s in his English Class.
Caffeine is found in many
drinks. Many people drink or eat
it regularly. There can be
consequences if it is not used
properly.
the lack of funds. All
“I wouldn’t be myself if I
districts have the right
Katherine
Goethe
didn’t have caffeine in me,” said
to be upset and
Reporter
junior Toni Colton.
complain, but in the
Amount of Caffeine No. of
coffee cups or
12oz cans of pop
Daily moderate intake
300 mg
3 cups
Brewed Coffee (Average cup)
40-180 mg
About 4 cups
Instant Coffee (Average cup)
30-120 mg
About 7 cups
Decaffeinated Coffee(Average cup) 3-5 mg
About 97 cups
12 oz can of Mountain Dew
55 mg
About 5 cans
Diet Coke
42 mg
About 7 cans
Average 12 oz can of pop
35-38 mg
About 8 cans
Coffee 8 oz
136 mg
About 2 cups
Photo by Brooke Bergantzel
With a pop nearby, junior Brad South works silently during class.
with various other parts of the school.
While these three schools have
needed repairs, no such adjustments
are being done to Lewis Central’s
Kreft. However, its students did get
the benefit of the doubt when LC had
to delay school from Wednesday
August 20 to Monday August 25, due
to building safety issues. Apparently,
with all the construction, the Council
Bluffs Safety Inspector found the
school unfit at that time to allow
students to attend. The delay caused
some disturbance between the
students.
“I think it’s kind of dumb that
they did the schools at the same
time, cause they didn’t get them
done,” said senior Jenny Laver.
“Now we don’t have any snow
days.”
The construction overall has
averaged around six million dollars
in repairs, and that cost will
continue to go up as construction
progresses. However, as of now, the
construction will not be causing
any more interference with the
availability
of
the schools.
Although the constructions’
long finish is due to several
unforeseen reasons, the fact of the
matter is that the construction is
still to continue until all the repairs
needed are made. The big question
is how many more repairs will be
needed? Until that answer’s known,
and the construction done, Lewis
Central will have to grit its teeth
and be prepared for a long haul.
sleep, and psychologically we crave
it. Sleep deprivation is also
becoming a rampant problem among
teens.
There can be little question that
sleep deprivation has negative
effects on teenagers. According to
the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, drowsiness and
fatigue cause more than 100,000
traffic accidents each year—and
young drivers are at the wheel in
more than half of these crashes.
A recent study said that
teenagers are getting two hours less
sleep a night than recommended.
Although teens should optimally
have about 9 hours and 15 minutes
of sleep a night, they can function
on only 8 hours and 15 minutes.
Now what teen honestly has that
much time to sleep?
“I usually sleep about twice a
day,” said freshman Jimmy Waters
“And wrestling season is when I’m
the most tired.”
Research has supported a
correlation between the amount of
sleep a teen receives and the grades
that they get. In 1998 psychologists
Amy R. Wolfson, Ph.D., of the
college of the Holy Cross, and Mary
A. Carskadon, Ph.D., of Brown
University Medical School,
surveyed more than 3,000 highschool students. They found that
students who reported they were
getting C’s, D’s and F’s in school
obtained about 25 minutes less sleep
and went to bed about 40 minutes
later than students who reported they
were getting A’s and B’s. Wow! So
just think, it may help you get an A+
on that test or quiz that you wanted,
if we would only go to bed a little
earlier.
Even though we may not be
able to go to bed earlier or get that
extra amount of sleep, there are some
things that you can do to prevent
sleep deprivation for the upcoming
year. Here are some of those helpful
hints to keep you from drooling all
over your math homework:
·Don’t do things before bed that
will perk you up. Such as playing
computer games, drinking caffeine,
or exercising.
·Limit exposure to light in the
late evening and increase exposure
in the morning to keep the body
clock on track.
·Keep a regular sleep schedule.
·Don’t eat or drink too much
close to bedtime.
·Try to have the right
temperature, a slightly cool room
contributes to good sleep.
LC Faces Arctic Temperatures
Summer’s over, but is the heat?
Even as the close of August
approached the Metro, are the
waves of sweltering summer fever
relentlessly crashed over everyone,
leaving those students in schools
without air conditioning a little
extra vacation time and those
fortunate freezing Lewis Central
students to learn in a Alaskan
environment.
Neither Thomas Jefferson High
School nor Abraham Lincoln High
School have air conditioning
systems for their schools.
Coincidently, Lewis Central is the
only public high school with air in
the Council Bluffs region. So when
it is over one hundred degrees
would students rather be sitting in
the cold air at school or getting out
early?
“I think it’s great that Lewis
Central has air conditioning, they
didn’t have to suffer like we did. We
got out early but we hadn’t even
been to some of our classes, which
set us back. (So to the students at
Lewis Central) Enjoy the air and
laugh at the rest of us for sweating
to death,” said Courtney Hall, a
senior at Thomas Jefferson.
Hall believes that the main
reason that the majority of the
schools in Council Bluffs don’t
have more amenities for students is
end, the Lewis Central
district has a brand new
high school building
and is nearing the
completion of the
remodeled
middle
school.
Abraham Lincoln
High School Senior
Mathew Johnson says
that school began on
August 20 and was out
early 6 out of 7 days
before
a
regular
schedules commenced.
“I would rather get
out of school early than
have air conditioning.
We usually get out of
school around 2:50 pm,
but when there is early
dismissal, due to heat,
we get out at 12:50pm.”
The addition of air
conditioning to the
school day is only three
years old. Many Lewis
Central
seniors
remember spending
Photo by Brooke Bergantzel
freshman year dieing of
All bundled up in her LC sweatshirt, junior Tiffany Finagan works on homework.
the intense heat.
“It’s a positive thing (that we school,” said senior Caylee tanks and tees for sweaters and
have air conditioning now) because Hourigan, “The only problem now jackets anyway, so until next
year, one should not expect too
in the old high school when the is that it gets too cold.”
temperature was high you couldn’t
As September and October many early dismissal days due to
concentrate even when you were in breeze by, most students will trade heat.
September 2003
Page 2
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Life in the Fast Lane (...with fast food...)
Becca Sheppard
Reporter
We’ve all had crappy jobs. If
you haven’t, don’t worry; you will.
It’s unavoidable as a student in high
school, especially when you
REALLY want that car…or God
forbid, your parents decide they’re
done buying you all your stuff all
the time (what’s with that, anyway?!
Isn’t it, like, written somewhere that
they’re SUPPOSED to feed you,
provide shelter, and clothe you? Oh,
and just because the t-shirt count in
your closet is now 52 doesn’t mean
that you can’t have just a few more.
I mean, you’ve worn them all at least
twice before. Seriously.) So you take
what you can get, whether it’s a clerk
in Target, or flipping patties in fast
food. (By the way, you can totally
call yourself a chef if you want to. It
sounds better). And you know, it’s
pretty intense. It isn’t just a bunch
of high school drop outs with IQ’s
no higher than 81. It’s more hardcore
than you might think. I, for one, am
blessed with a job at Taco John’s.
It’s not that bad at all; however, it
has its ups and downs.
Let’s start out with strange
things customers often do that really
baffle me. So someone walks up,
and orders a drink. Like usual, I
respond with, “What size drink
would you like?” They stand there
and stare blankly at the cups for a
moment or two, and ask,
“Well…how much are refills?” I
reply with, “They’re free,” and for
some weird reason that I am completely
unaware of, they’re like, “Okay, then
just give me a large.” OKAY. Now
honestly…WHAT is the point of that?
I shan’t comment further. I don’t want
to offend anyone who has done that.
But if you have, then please; tell me
what you were thinking when you did
it.
Other things that customers often
do to “spice up the day” and make
my life THIS much easier are little
annoying things like telling me they
want their mall discount AFTER
they’ve paid me. I mean, are you
being serious with me right now?
Another thing is when, as the cashier,
you hold your hand out for the
customer to give you the money, but
instead of placing it in your hand,
they just set it down on the counter.
Then you have to reach over the
register and one by one, pick up
every coin and dollar bill. And it
always turns out that the person paid
78 cents in pennies or something, so
it takes forever to pick it all up. When
someone does that, it really makes
me want to just put their change on
the counter in front of them when
they extend their hand out for it. But
as the mature, responsible employee,
you don’t do that. Instead, you wait
until they’re gone and make fun of
them afterwards.
The best thing of all is when a
hungry civilian orders a big long list
of food and after you ring it up, they
decide to change it all. Not once, but
two or three times, of course, and as
an added bonus, get ticked off at you
for “not getting their order right.”
….yeah….
Oh, and you gotta love it when
you give the customer their order and
they look at you like you’re stupid and
say that they told you it was to go when
they didn’t. Unless they meant
telepathically or something, the
moons weren’t aligned, because I
didn’t pick up on it. Speaking of
which, do fast food workers send off
a Miss Cleo vibe? Honestly, because
Photo by Brooke Bergantzel
Becca Sheppard’s not saying her customers are annoying and stupid,
she’s just thinking it.
it never fails that someone during the
day makes a sad attempt to explain to
me what it is they want to eat, and
fail miserably, might I add, and then
top it off with, “Well, that’s what I
got last time I was here.” First of all,
am I expected to remember this
woman and what it is exactly she
orders? Secondly, OH, it’s my first
day here. I’ve never seen you before.
About customers flipping out on
you, there’s always the person who
orders their food and when you tell
them the total, they ask if they can
use a credit card. When you say that
your restaurant doesn’t accept credit
cards, they flip out and storm off. It
doesn’t bother me one bit; it usually
just makes them look emotionally
unstable. In fact, I kind of enjoy it,
in a sick and twisted way. It’s funny.
Another common scenario
involves people buying combo
meals. Now, when ordering a
combo, you choose what size you
want and what drink you want with
it. Isn’t it awesome when they look
irritated at you for asking what size
they want, and then just say, “Oh, I
don’t know—just give me a regular
size.” This is when I stare at them
for 10 or 15 seconds like “are you
mentally unstable?” and then just
pick whatever size I feel like. It’s fun
to be spontaneous.
I also think it’s ridiculous when
someone orders a Pepsi, but when you
tell them there are only Coke
products, they make it a dramatic
sob story and whine about it. (Note
to future customers: I don’t care that
you’re 38 and you’ve been drinking
only Pepsi since you were old enough
to walk. I bet you couldn’t tell the
difference if I gave you Coke, anyway.
Thanks). I think I might also soon be
getting sued for causing depression in
people that want lemonade, and
*GASP*, we don’t sell lemonade.
The next best feeling in the world
is when the person orders their food,
and then says, “Oh, and ‘a drink’.”
…Okay…what size…and…what
drink do you WANT…enough said.
I think the thing I hate most about
when people order is when they don’t
talk loud enough, and you have to
repeatedly ask them to clarify their
order. After the fifth or sixth time you
say “what?” they get mad at you and
crank their voice to about a Level 2.
Another thing is that for some
reason, whenever I personally take
someone’s order, they order it and walk
off. That’s when I eat their food.
Behind the shiny Lemon Lysol
sprayed counter, there are hard working
people who are there to serve you, and
it’s not exactly easy to satisfy everyone.
So the next time you walk by Burger
King or McDonald’s or bless your soul,
Taco John’s, please…just take a
moment to admire and salute your
fellow peers working hard, folding
tacos or flipping burgers or having a
verbal assault with a customer, and
remember that there’s a lot of stuff
we have to go through; expired
cheese, ice walls, customers with
bad breath, exploding sauce pumps
and so much more. But those are
sacrifices we’re willing to make.
How Much Is Too Much Lovin’?
Shelby Johnson
Reporter
Photo by Brooke Bergantzel
Students walk the halls of Lewis Central, constantly fighting the battle
against conformity.
The Clone War
Dani Mescher
Reporter
While the first hustles and
bustles of the school year get
underway I want to take a minute
to encourage all of you who are
holding strong to who you are.
As the year grinds on it’s easy
to succumb to all the pressures and
expectations of your friends and
peers. When it starts getting hard to
stand apart from the crowd,
conforming begins to seem more
and more appealing. It takes a strong
will to continue holding fast to the
convictions and standards that make
you who you are when everyone
around you is telling you to bail.
I’ll let you in on a little secret.
People will respect you more when
you don’t conform. It may be a little
tricky at times when you choose not
to follow the leader, but in the end
you will have gained respect
because you weren’t afraid to be
your own person.
In this school, the “crowd” is
very powerful. Its influence is felt
in every corner of the building. The
hallways are filled with its impact,
and everyday a greater number of
people are sucked into its influence.
There is no denying that it’s hard not
to get sucked in. It’s hard not to get
pulled under, but it really is worth the
fight. When you lay your head down
each night, and think back on your day,
your mind won’t be boggled down with
mistakes and regrets.
The grass isn’t always greener on
the other side. Being popular, fitting
in, and doing whatever people want
you to do isn’t all it’s cracked up to
be. There is something to be said for
staying true to you under fire. Have a
little pride in yourself. Hold your head
up high, and believe in yourself.
Realize that you will come out on top
later because you held strong now.
When the year starts to drone on,
keep going. Don’t let doubt slip into
your mind. Don’t slide when it gets too
hard to stand apart. You aren’t the only
one who’s out there fighting. Have
faith in yourself, and don’t secondguess everything that makes you, you.
You’ve worked hard to become who
you are. If people don’t realize how
unique and irreplaceable you are right
now, they will in time. Have no doubt
about that.
The backstabbing, face-slapping,
smack-talking soap opera world of
“Passions” is nothing compared to
what goes on in a high school
relationship. It is impossible to avoid
the chaotic drama that some like to call
being a teenager. Let’s face it, most
teenagers have a tendency to be a bit
selfish; I know I am, so how can
teenagers be mature or selfless enough
to be in “a committed relationship?”
It has become quite obvious that
high school relationships are like one
big poker game. The players keep their
cards hidden, and they only allow the
other players to know what they want
them to know. And of course the
occasional lie or bluff is told in order
to get what they want. So in reality,
no one actually knows what is really
going on.
Dating in general is very much
the same thing. Those who are in the
relationship often avoid saying what
it is that they truly want to say. People
often make themselves appear to be
successful, which is something that
they are not if neither one knows what
they are really getting into.
Not to be a traitor to my gender,
but most of the time doesn’t it seem
to be the girls who are playing most
of these games? Normally, the girl
sends out an informant who can either
be her best friend or one of his. The
job of that person is to find out
whether or not he has a girlfriend,
wants a girlfriend or is interested in
another girl. All of this must be
answered without giving any clue as
to who wants to know. There’s really
no denying it because at some point
in her life, every girl has played a part
in this game.
Another thing that girls tend to
do more than boys is become
completely obsessive over their
significant other. It seems that if they
call their boyfriend on the weekend
and hear girls in the background it
means they’re automatically cheating.
Come on now girls, have some
confidence; they picked you to date.
And while you’re calling, you also
tend to be with someone of the
opposite sex, but are you cheating?
Not that the boys are getting off
easy; they seem to mark their territory
quite well, actually. In fact, have you
ever noticed that at times they like to
“borrow” your cell phone even
though they have one of their own?
Then five minutes later you’re in
trouble for having guys’ numbers in
your outgoing calls. Ever heard of
strictly platonic friends? I suppose
those don’t exist in your world.
Photo by Brooke Bergantzel
Mike Olsen and his girlfriend don’t hide their affection toward one
another while at school.
You know what else really gets
me about guys? Why they get so
jealous and protective. It’s almost like
unless its one of their guy friends,
you’re not allowed to talk to them, or
if you do they like to pick fights with
them. Hey-- it’s a friend; get over it. Are
you honestly expecting to marry this girl?
It’s quite possible that your high
school sweetheart could be “the one,”
but at least date around before you stick
with this so-called soul mate.
Thirteen Going On Twenty-One
Photo by Sam Tsuji
Are Teens Too Sexy For Their Age?
Editor-In-Chief.............................................Pam Shorey
Assistant Editor...............................................Sam Tsuji
Design Editor............................................Krista Hansen
Photography Editor............................Brooke Bergantzel
Ads Editor................................................Ashley Richter
Design..................................................Amber Johnson,
Andrea Larison, Molly Lich,
Sarah Stoutzenberger
Reporters.................................................Heidi Behrens,
Holly Engelstad, Maggie Fields,
Kathryn Goethe, Shelby Johnson,
Megan Longmeyer, Melissa McKern,
Danielle Mescher, Alyssa Ranney,
Becca Sheppard, Thomas Webering,
Jill Whitney
Photographers....................................Katherine Tweedt
Cartoonist................................................Ryan Showers
Katherine Tweedt
Photographer
As I walk through the halls to
my classes, I cannot help but notice
that most of the clothing that girls
choose to wear reveals a lot of
stomach and cleavage. Students from
all grades dress like this, but when I
see a freshman wearing the same style
of outfit as a senior, one that is clearly
meant for an older teenager,
something is wrong. In fact, large
fractions of the lower-classmen tend
to dress more promiscuously than the
upper-classmen. They seem to feel
that wearing clothes meant for older
girls will make them feel older. In
addition to this, they wear way too
much make-up and dye their hair
several shades of interesting colors.
While there is nothing really wrong
with these actions, and they are just a
sign of the times; maybe girls should
consider what they are doing before they
act upon it. It seems that in addition to
wanting to act older, they are not satisfied
with what they already have. So, to
compensate, they dye their hair the color
they want, buy colored contacts, and put
on a ridiculous amount of make-up.
Suddenly a young, brown-eyed, brunette
teenage girl is trying to look like a blondhaired, blue-eyed adult.
I realize that trying new things
and experimenting with looks is only
natural for all teenagers, but maybe
younger girls should wait a few more
years and use a little more discretion.
When they start high school, these socalled young adults are only thirteen
and fourteen years old, not much older
than children. Perhaps they should
consider how their efforts to look
older appear to those who are already
adults. When looking around, it is
easy to see that almost no one over
25 years old dresses like most people
in high school want to dress. In fact,
anyone who saw someone over 25
wearing clothes so low cut would
think it was ridiculous. The same is
true for people who are too young
wearing clothes of that nature.
I just think it might be wise to
try to act more mature by focusing
their actions on changing their
attitude, rather than their looks. It
seems that accompanying their
distasteful clothes is a bad attitude.
They have a higher-than-thou opinion
of themselves, and frankly, it is very
unbecoming, and only emphasizes
their futile efforts to appear older. The
hard truth is that most girls would
look much better without dyed hair,
a ton of make-up, and revealing
clothes. It would prove that they are
satisfied with themselves without
trying to conform to what society
considers a perfect girl.
Trying new looks is fine and
even fun once in a while, but changing
styles every time the rest of the world
does proves insecurity, immaturity, and
instability. I do not think that girls
should give up trying different styles
and fashions and go back to an “olden
days” mentality. Maybe they should
just consider waiting a few years to
grow up and enjoy youth for a little
while longer. As George Bernard Shaw
once said, “Youth is a wonderful thing.
What a crime to waste it on children.””
Page 3
September 2003
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Pam Shorey is a senior; this is
her sixth trimester on The
Wire staff. Her favorite
knock-knock joke is, “Knock
Knock. Who’s there? A ring, a
necklace, and a watch. A ring,
a necklace, and a watch who?
A WATCH OUT talking
accessories at your door.”
Holly Englestad is a
senior; this is her
third trimester on
The Wire staff. She is
going to name her
first daughter
Madeline Elizabeth.
Mrs. Langille is our
advisor on The Wire
staff. Her theme
song is Bob Marley’s,
“Don’t Worry”.
Sam Tsuji is a senior; this is
her fourth trimester on The
Wire staff. Her favorite
classes are English Composition and Pottery.
Heidi Behrens is a sophomore; this is her first
trimester on The Wire
staff. The item of clothing
she couldn’t live without is
a sweatshirt.
Sarah Stoutzenberger
is a sophomore; this is
her first trimester on
The Wire staff. Her
favorite vacation spot is
Carney, NE.
Andrea Larison is a
sophomore; this is her
first trimester on
The Wire staff. The
foods she couldn’t live
without are mashed
potatoes and Taco
Bell.
The new additions to The Wire staff have already given
us many laughs as well as many outstanding stories
Brooke Bergantzel
is a senior; this is her
fourth trimester on The
Wire staff. The most
embarrassing thing she’s
done was locking her
keys in her car while
taking pictures of the
middle school.
Many of them have shown great leadership and
Ryan Showers is a senior;
this is his second trimester
on The Wire staff. His
dream car is a Gremlin.
Becca Sheppard is a
sophomore; this is her
first trimester on I look forward to working with
The Wire staff. If
she could buy anything
Maggie Fields is a
it would be a churro
sophomore; this is her
making machine.
Krista Hansen is a senior;
first trimester on The
this is her sixth trimester on
Wire staff. Her American
The Wire staff. If she was
Idol is the lead singer
stranded on a deserted
t hem more.
from Rancid, Tim
island she would take a
Amber Johnson is a sophomore; this is
Armstrong.
plane.
her first trimester on The Wire
staff. If she could be a superhero
she would be Captain Underpants.
The Juniors who have already experienced a year of newspaper have definitely stepped it up
a notch and are getting ready for leadership positions next year. For those that are new this
year, they’re already making a huge difference and contributing greatly to the staff.
-Editor In Chief Pam Shorey
1.
6.
1.Alyssa Ranney is a junior; this is her first
6.Thomas Webering is a junior; this is his first trimester on The Wire staff. If he could have any superpowers
trimester on The Wire staff. When she
he would want the ones the Wolverine (X-Men) has.
7.
grows up she doesn’t really know what
7.Melissa McKern is a junior; this is 9 her third trimester on The Wire staff. If she could be on any
she wants to do, but it has to be
reality TV show it would be The Real World.
2
8.
8.Jill Whitney is a junior; this is her third
something she likes and is good at.
10
2 . Kate Goethe is a junior; this
trimester on The Wire staff. Her
8
favorite thing to do is dance.
is her second trimester on The
4
9.
9.Ashley Richter is a junior; this
Wire staff. If she could meet
is her third trimester on The Wire
anyone it would be William
11
staff. Her favorite movie is
Shakespeare.
1
3
3 . Katherine Tweedt is a
Love & Basketball.
6
10.
10.Molly Lich is a junior; this
junior; this is her first trifourth trimester on TheWire
mester on The Wire staff. If she
staff. Her most embarrassing
could marry anyone in the world
5
celebrity crush is Hanson.
it would be Johnny Depp.
11.
4.
11.Shelby Johnson is a junior;
4.Dani Mescher is a junior; this
this is her third trimester
is her first trimester on The
on The Wire staff. In
Wire staff. Her three highest
response to the question of
goals in life are to go to college,
the stupidest thing she’s
be a missionary, and to be a mom.
7
5.
ever done she said, “It’s
5.Megan Longmeyer is a junior;
b e e n a really l o n g 1 6
this is her first trimester on
y e a r s I’ve done so many stupid thingsand thestories
The Wire staff. If she could tell the students
are so incredibly long, if you feel you must know, just come ask me.”
of LC one thing it would be, “Be yourself, and don’t be afraid of self expression.”
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Page 4
September 2003
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True Life: My Ex Tried to Commit Suicide
An Apple a Day Keeps the Pimples Away
True Life Stories are stories meant to tell about realistic events in many teenagers’ lives, and provide help on such issues.
These articles are part of a series, but may be another person’s story and not my own, although written as told to me.
Amber Johnson
Reporter
This is my life, my story.
Looking back on the day, all I really
remember was the call. I don’t
remember much of what was said or
much of what was thought, but by
the tone in his voice and by the
sudden hang up on the other line, I
could tell something was wrong.
Steve* and I had been together
for almost nine months before I
decided to call it quits. After he had
just lost one of his good friends in a
drunk driving incident, his negative
outlook on life was making him
impossible to be around. His school
and social performance was rapidly
declining, and when asked why he
wasn’t eating, he replied with
remarks like “It’s not like is matters,”
or “Because I’m fat.” His attitude
and depressing aura finally had
gotten the best of me.
I think he knew, too, that it was
time to let go because when I called
a few days before our anniversary
and asked to talk, he began by asking
if this was what he thought it was.
It was.
I should have seen the next part
coming. Of all the wisecrack jokes
about “lovers suicide” and all the
words mentioned about not being
able to live without me, I never once
took them literally.
Only a day after what would
have been our anniversary I got
word that Steve was in the hospital.
I didn’t even have to ask to know
that he had tried to commit suicide.
I kept trying to tell myself that
it was only a nightmare and I would
soon wake up, or that it was just a
big joke and any second my friends
would pop out and laugh about it.
Day after day I kept waking up with
the same story, and after days of that,
still no candid camera. My friends
never told me the joke was over.
In fact, they never told me
anything. They wouldn’t talk about
it with me. Some even blamed me
for it. Soon after, I began to blame
myself.
With all the guilt and emotion,
I too wanted out. I was on the brink
of finally losing grip when I broke
down to the one person who has
always been there for me. My mom.
She explained to me that life
has its ups and downs. Only when
you raise your arms to a freefall and
accept that you are going downhill,
can you rise once again. The hardest
part of the fall was accepting that it
wasn’t my fault, and accepting that
Steve was the one that needed help.
She explained to me that someone
that can’t even love themself, can’t
love anyone else.
Although Steve made it through
ok, I still have to deal with the guilt
everyday. I have to face a lot of the
same friends that blamed me for the
incident. The reality of suicide or
attempted suicide is that it affects
everyone.
After many sleepless nights and
hours of group therapy for family
and friends of suicidal teens, I’m
beginning to let go and accept that,
but I’ll never forget it. All I can do
now is look back on the day, and
remember the call. This is my life,
my story.
*names changed for editorial print.
Who’s At Risk: 5 Warning Signs:
What To Do:
-Teens who have just
-Sad/ anixous or empty mood -Ask your friend point
experienced a “trigger
-Declining school performance blank if they have ever
thought about suicide
-Loss of interest in social/
event”
-SPEAK UP!
sport activities
-Depressed teens
-Talk to an adult you trust
-Anxious/ Worried teens -Sleeping too little
if you think they are in
-Teens under the influ- -Changes in weight or
appetite
trouble
ence
-Suicidal teens READ THIS: Metanoia.org/suicide/
-Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program: YellowRibbon.org
-National Hope Line Network: 1-800-SUICIDE
-National Youth CrisisHotline: 1-800-442-HOPE
Resources:
Pam Shorey
Editor-in-Chief
It’s Friday night. The date
that Jane has been anxiously
looking forward to for the past
week is fast approaching, but
there is one thing that is
preventing her from having the
best night of her life. A pimple.
Jane has tried everything
during the week to try to prevent
this from happening. She’s
washed her face with Clearasil
and even tried some home
remedies like putting toothpaste
on her face. Could there be a way
that she could’ve prevented this
tragedy by not eating those french
fries on Tuesday or simply
choosing an apple over a
Twinkie?
New studies say that she
could’ve.
The myth that eating habits
may contribute to the appearance
of acne might not be so false after
all.
According
to
www.herbalremedies.com, acne
is defined as an inflammatory
skin disorder which occurs when
oil of the sebaceous gland gets
trapped in the pit of the hair
follicle. When thought of that
way it seems as though we should
all rush to the doctor and receive
urgent care every time we notice
a blackhead. Luckily it’s nothing
to worry about and is very
common among the teenage
population.
As common as 80 to 95
percent.
There are many different
treatments advertised that claim
they can cure acne, but do any of
them work?
“I’ve tried a lot of prescribed
medications from dermatologists,” said
senior Jenny Seydlitz. “It works for a
while, but eventually it wears off.”
Put the lotions and pills away.
There may be a new solution.
Recent research done by Loren
Cordain and students at Colorado State
University provided some proof that
diet does affect your skin. The
researchers set off to New Guinea to
examine the diets of Kitavan Islanders.
“We didn’t find a single case of
acne,” said Cordain in a MSNBC
interview.
The diets of the Kitavan Islanders
consisted mostly of fish, fruit, and very
little processed
foods. This diet
varies greatly to
the candy bars,
pizza, soda, and
other starchy
foods
that
W e s t e r n
cultures thrive
on.
“ I ’ v e
always had acne
since I was
little,”
said
Seydlitz. “I had
always heard
that diet didn’t
affect your skin
at all, but then I
started to eat
healthy. My diet consisted mostly of
organic foods. I stuck with it for a while
and it really cleared my skin. It was
noticeably different.”
Girls aren’t the only ones
concerned about pimples. They’re just
the ones that stress over it. According
to www.womanht.com, androgen, the
‘male’ hormone, contributes greatly to
the appearance of acne. Boys at puberty
and throughout adulthood tend to
produce more androgen than girls,
making them at a greater chance
to notice more acne.
“I worry about pimples,” said
senior James Nguyen. “I think most
guys do, they just won’t admit it. I
mainly try to eat healthy to prevent
acne.”
For those who would rather
have a face full of pimples than eat
fruit and vegetables regularly, there
are some other remedies to keep
your face looking beautiful.
•
When looking for makeup, make sure it is labeled
noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic.
This means that they won’t clog
Photo by Katherine Tweedt
pores.
•
Be sure to keep hair spray
or styling gel away from your face
as much as possible.
•
If acne appears on your
chest or back, avoid wearing tight
clothes. These could irritate the skin
further.
•
When washing your face,
be sure not to scrub too hard. This
causes more irritation.
Making the Grade: Ways to Write an Essay Girls More Likely to
paper should contain most of the
essay’s valuable information and
should transition well from one
subject to another. Well-developed
body paragraphs should:
1. Show well developed ideas
should sum up the important
details of the story and should
leave the reader thinking about
what they have just read.
Most essays also contain a
work cited page; it shows the
studentnow.com that would be
important to remember:
1. Start early and expand work
When it comes to writing an
time; don’t rush!
essay, is there really only one way
2. Be sure to clearly
to do it? How do you write an essay
understand the full assignment.
3. Organize
that is both
your research
informative
materials and
a
n
d
p e r s o n a l
entertaining?
thoughts.
There are a
4. Look at
lot
of
sample essays
different
for help.
ways to write
5. Don’t
a paper, but
plagiarize
here are just a
anyone’s work.
few tips to
6. Write a
ensure that
full, quick draft
your paper
to set some
makes the
ideas down.
cut.
7. Write
T h e
multiple drafts.
beginning of
8. Make
an effective
writing clear
essay is not
while
using
exactly what
fewer words.
the topic is,
9. Check
but how it is
f o r m a t ,
written. The
s p e l l i n g ,
introduction
grammatical
to a paper
usage, and any
needs to grab
other styling
a
reader ’s
used in the
attention, and
paper before
despite the
handing in an
topic, needs
to hold it as
Photo by Andrea Larison essay.
10. Include
well.
As students around her space off, sophomore Larissa Churchill studies hard in her math class.
p e r s o n a l
“If you
thoughts and
get to choose
sources of information used to angles to an essay if they’re
the topic in your favor, write about by having clear examples.
write an essay. The author, person acceptable to the teacher.
2. Contain clear transitions.
something you care about – it’s
An essay can be excellent if
3. Give an accurate account quoted, or article/book should
easier,” says Lewis Central English
alphabetize a Work Cited page, written well and a few tricks of the
teacher Marilyn Wandersee. “Try of important information.
4.
Keep
the
reader with everything double-spaced. trade are known. The most
to write an interesting opening to
Periods should also be used to important detail though is to make
your essay or else readers won’t entertained.
an essay interesting, and make sure
Once a thorough and divide information.
stay with you.”
When it comes to an essay as it has all the information needed to
After a solid introduction, the interesting body is established, a
body is needed. The body of a conclusion needs to be written. It a whole, here are some tips from make it a great paper.
.
Megan Longmeyer
Reporter
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Shelby Johnson
Reporter
girls are more likely to use if
they’ve had eating disorders, hit
puberty early or if they were ever
physically or sexually abused.
“It doesn’t surprise me that
girls can get addicted faster, but
what did catch me off guard is
that girls do drugs and alcohol for
different reasons than boys do,”
said junior Ashley Knoble.
Since this recent study,
Califano has suggested that they
have separate treatment programs
for girls and boys suggesting
programs such as the Betty Ford
Center as a “future model of
success.”
“We have not put together
prevention programs that go to
the things that influence girls
and influence young women,”
said Califano. “Women have
paid a fearful price for this
failure.”
Drugs. Everyone has heard of
them, done them, or been around
them; but girls watch out, because
according to a recent study done by
Joseph Califano Jr. and the National
Center on Addiction and Substance
Abuse at Columbia University,
we’re more likely to become
addicted to them.
Transitioning from middle
school into high school, teachers are
always talking about peer pressure
and how to overcome it. Although
some high school students remain
drug and alcohol free throughout
their schooling, a majority give in
to peer pressure and try either drugs
or alcohol to impress a friend or to
“take away their problems.”
“Teachers are always giving
peer pressure talks, but it’s so much
different when you’re placed in the
situation to use “the
broken record” and all the
other
“techniques”
teachers tell you about,”
says junior Courtnie
Dennis.
While
substance
abuse is sometimes
overlooked and even
expected in teens, girls are
suffering
the
consequences faster and
more severely. “They get
hooked faster. They get
hooked using lesser
amounts of alcohol, drugs,
and cocaine,” says
Califano.
According to the
study, girls are also more
likely to be doing drugs
and alcohol for different
Photo by Sarah Stoutzenberger
reasons than boys. While
boys generally do them to Girls are suffering the affects of substance
“climb the social ladder,” abuse faster and more severely.
FROM YOUR EDITOR:
Last year was such a great year, we are definitely ready to take on the challenge again and keep striving to keep you updated and informed. After the
2002-2003 Wire publication received a Second Place Award in a Quill and
Scroll Society contest, we decided that this year we’re going for first! As the
editor-in-chief I am so pleased with the staff this year and already I am seeing people step up into leadership positions. It’s so awesome to see people
actually excited to write. In the past we have had to struggle to get stories for
an issue and now we are overwhelmed with too many stories! I never thought
it was possible. Already I can tell that this year is going to be fantastic.
- Pam Shorey
BIG NEWS!
The Yearbook is in
Get your 2002-2003 Yearbook
after the
Homecoming game on Friday, October 10th.
Page 5
September 2003
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New Teachers/
Faculty at LC
Tackling Self-Defense
Jill Jackson
•
•
Lu Ann Peverill
•
•
•
•
The At-Risk
Interventionist, and
Student Council
Sponsor.
Received BA from the
University of Northern
Iowa and Masters from
Iowa State University.
Husband, Todd, and
four children.
Enjoys reading,
needlework, scrap
booking, bike riding,
lifting weights, and
Ragbrai.
•
•
Received a Bachelor of
Science in Secondary
Education, English,
and Special Education
for the University of
Nebraska at Lincoln.
Received Masters in
Reading from the
University of Nebraska
at Omaha.
Expecting first child, a
girl, in December.
Enjoys gardening,
reading, scrap booking,
and making quilts.
Dave Bergman
•
•
•
•
Teaches Biology and
Zoology
Graduated from
Lewis Central in
1991, returned in
1997 to teach science.
Married to Kellie
VanNordstrand,
another Lewis
Central graduate.
Favorite drink is Mt.
Dew.
Alyssa Ranney
Reporter
One day Susan was jogging,
just like she normally did. First, she
jogged past Chuck and Lisa’s house
and then past her high school. As
she turned the corner she heard a
hollow thud, and only saw blurry
black that faded into a dark red.
Susan fell to the ground and
staggered to her knees and squinted
in an effort to see. She knew she
had been hit with something hard
and narrow, like a pipe, and her
head throbbed. She frantically felt
around on the ground for
Alicia Clark
A few suggestions are as
follows:
•
Tim Spencer
• Teaches Chemistry and
Biology.
• Undergraduate degree
from Northwest
Missouri State
University, and a
masters from
University of Nebraska
at Omaha.
• Wife, Terri, and two
daughters.
• Enjoys watching sporting
events, swimming and
fly-fishing.
Teaches Special
Education.
• Lives in Plattsmouth,
NE with daughter,
Athena.
• Received Bachelor of
Science from the
University of Nebraska
Omaha.
Came to Lewis Central to
work for a “bigger
district.’
•
•
•
•
1.
Carry a cell phone or
change for a pay phone in
case you need to call for a
ride or help.
Bill Agan
2.
Stay in well-lit, open areas.
Teaches Algebra 1,
Math Applications 1,
and Introduction to
Algebra.
Lives in Glenwood
with wife, Mary Jane,
raised eight children,
and is foster parent.
Enjoys sports, hunting,
and gemology.
Came to Lewis Central
because it was a
“smaller district.”
3.
Tell someone where you are
going and about when you
expect to be back.
4.
Carry an I.D. in case you
need help, the police know
who to contact.
5.
Carry mace, but there are
restrictions in Hawaii,
Massachusetts, and New
York.
Foreign Exchange Student
Brings European Flavor to LC
Maggie Fields
Reporter
In the Hungarian Republic you
can drive when you’re 17, drink
legally when you are 18, and your
schedule at school varies from day
to day. Becoming used to the many
differences here in America has
been a very unique experience for
Lili Kovacs.
Lili is an exchange student
new to our school this year from
Miskolc, Hungary. Upon first
glance, she appears to be an average
American teenager, with a style of
clothing similar to those found here
in Iowa. It is not until hearing her
Hungarian accent that the
realization of her being from
another country hits.
Hungary is located in EastCentral Europe, boarding with
Austria, Slovakia, Ukraina,
Romania, Serbia, Croatia, as well
as Slovenia. The Hungarian
language is very unique,
originating from the Finno-Ugric
tribe of languages. Miskolc has a
population of around 177,945
people as of 1997, which has made
it the third largest city in Hungary.
Council Bluffs, having only a
population
of
58,268
is
considerably smaller.
“It’s smaller here, yes” Lili
admits. “but there are more green
trees and grass here. I really like
that.”
Lili is attending Lewis Central
this year as a senior. With a
Elements Salon
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fondness for sports she has already
joined the volleyball team. With
basketball being her sport of choice
at home, she decided to try
volleyball for a little switch while
here in America.
“In Hungary, sports last all
year,” she explains.
Once Lili does return home to
Hungary, she will again take her
senior classes there, in order to
graduate and receive her diploma.
Still debating about colleges, she
would like to persue journalism or
some form of a career dealing with
the public.
Lili has a friend from home also
doing the exchange program in
Ohio.
“It’s important no one can
speak your language wherever you
go, that way if no one speaks
Hungarian you’re forced to learn
more English,” she said.
Learning English has mostly
been easy for Lili, having just a few
problems with some grammar rules.
Being so far away from home is hard
for her, but also a great opportunity.
“I miss my family, yes,”
confessed Lili, “but I hope one day
to be able to come back to America.”
Lili is one of the lucky people
who happened to have the courage
to take advantage of that opportunity
at hand with excitement and
fearlessness, knowing chances to
study in other countries at such a
young age may come only once in
her lifetime.
Tanner’s Choice
3431 2nd Ave
322-0013
something, anything to fight back
with, but there was nothing. A
blurry picture of a large girl
holding a bar started to form.
Susan got up and sprinted across
the street. People slammed on their
brakes and screeched to a stop.
Other drivers got out of their cars
and looked at the now bloody
Susan. Then at the large girl
holding the bloody bar. The large
girl momentarily stared at Susan,
glanced at the people and then ran
off. Attacks like Susan’s occur
everyday. If you were attacked,
could you defend yourself?
Many people think that they
can defend themselves if they are
attacked, but the truth is that the
majority of people don’t even take
precautions to avoid being
attacked. Just because you feel all
“grown up” doesn’t mean that you
should be slacking on simple
precaution, such as, using common
sense. Besides, even adults should
be cautious.
If you want to protect yourself
in any situation, most experts
suggest taking a self-defense
course. One of these defense
classes is the Aam-Ka-Jutsu, a self-
defense class, at the Aamerican
College of Karate. Aam-Ka-Jutsu
can also be taken at Fit 4 Life, with
a membership. There are many
local places that basic and
advanced self-defense classes can
be taken.
The most modern form of selfdefense is Aam-Ka-Jutsu. AamKa-Jutsu is a “street defense” class
that combines techniques from
Karate, Judo, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon
Do, Ju-Jitsu, Aikido, weapons
defense, and so on. The Aamerican
College of Karate offers Aam-KaJutsu; they also offer one week of
free trial classes.
Fit 4 Life offers a self-defense
class called Tia-Di-Jit-Su, which
can be taken if you have a
membership at the gym and
includes a couple of free trial
classes. During the free trial week
people unsure if they want to join
the class can either go and watch
or participate in the class.
The Southwest Iowa Tae
Kwon Do Club’s defense class
mainly focuses on pressure points.
Currently, a four-week sign up
special is going on, that includes a
uniform in the cost.
Summer flings
Amber Johnson
Design
Imagine this. A cool summer
breeze as you take a moonlit stroll
along the beach, hand in hand with
that special someone, after that
dynamic sunset on the cliff. For
some, this may seem like the ideal
setting for that o-so-fantalistic
summer fling. Most everyone has
dreamt about it, and some may have
even experienced it. Question
is...what happens to it?
“I met this really nice guy at
camp over the summer,” says senior
Brenda Barrett, “but when camp
ended we didn’t really talk because
he lived far away.”
When thinking about summer
flings, some might turn to the classic
flick, Grease. Grease depicts most
teen fantasies of what might happen
after a romantic summer in paradise.
Truth is, according to TeenFx
Summer Love Poll, only 14% of
summer flings carry out past
vacation time, and only 19% of
people involved in summer flings are
looking for a continuing romance.
So if we aren’t looking for love, what
are we looking for?
“I think a lot of guys are just
looking for a girl to hang out with,”
says sophomore Tim Clouser, “A lot
of guys have summer flings because
they are out of school and their
friends won’t make fun of the people
they decide to hook up with.”
According to Teen Psychiatrist
Dr. Jillian M. Edwards, most teens
are just looking for a good time.
Love can be, and usually is,
unrealistic when put in a heavenly
vacation spot . Vacation time
constraints make people feel rushed
to get to know someone on a deeper
level, and usually leads to teens
doing things they normally wouldn’t
do if under normal circumstances.
Then, just as quickly vacation starts,
there it ends.
“If summer romance was meant
to carry out past the summer,” says
Edwards, “then the term ‘summer
fling’ would be a disgrace to its very
definition.”
On the upside, there’s still that
14% of never-ending dream. “I met
a guy over the summer and we are
still together,” says senior Holly
Engelstad, “but he’s away at college
right now and the long distance
romance really sucks.”
With all that said, how can u tell
the difference between a summer
fling, and the ‘real thing’?.
Some say you can tell the
difference in a summer fling and the
‘real thing’ by if your willing to make
it last over the summer. If each of
you is willing to sacrifice calls, emails, and visits in long distance
relationships, then you’ve got
something.
Although it’s obvious that most
summer flings don’t last, some very
well do, and many live to tell about
them. For the rest of us that don’t,
one can only imagine.
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Page 6
September 2003
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The Dork Within: Who is the Star Wars Kid?
Sam Tsuji
Assistant Editor
Most people have that hidden
‘dork’ within that comes out as they
sing a little too loud in the shower,
or prance about Tom Cruise style in
their underwear. Well, last spring
Ghyslain Raza, a 15-year-old from
Quebec, Canada, unknowingly gave
thousands of internet junkies around
the world a peek at the ‘dork’ within
him.
One day, Ghyslain made a
seemingly innocent video of himself
pretending to fight with a light saber
(which in reality was a golf ball
retriever) while in his school’s video
production room. On April 19, 2003,
two of Ghyslain’s classmates found
the video and uploaded it to Kazaa
as a joke. Within two weeks Ghyslain
was known internationally as the Star
Wars Kid (SWK). Clones and
remixes of the video began to appear
from
animators
and
CGI
professionals, adding sounds and
special effects that made Ghyslain’s
video even more popular. There are
currently 76 remakes, including,
SWK 2.0, Terminator, The Matrix,
Dancing Baby, Mortal Combat,
BraveKID, Freddy vs. SWK and
Undercover SWK.
“I thought the video was pretty
humorous,” said senior Mike
Dawson. “I found out about it from
www.albinoblacksheep.com. The
remakes are even better than the
original - especially The Matrix one.”
Over the past few months
Ghyslain’s fame has grown to a full
out cult following. Websites that are
dedicated to him can be found all over
the internet. Jedimaster.net has a
news update, chat forum, complete
remake list, and online store. SWK
merchandise ranges from t-shirts and
LCHS Drama Department
Presents:
“YOU CAN’T TAKE IT
WITH YOU”
This hilarious play by
George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart
will leave you roaring with laughter.
Check back in the next issue
for a preview!
Congratulations
to the
Cast and Crew!
Performance dates:
November 7-8, 2003
We’ve got music...
who can ask for anything more?
Heidi Berens
Reporter
Music. Webster’s defines it
as “The art of putting tones together
in various melodies, rhythms, and
harmonies to form compositions for
singing or playing on instruments.”
But what are the factors when
choosing a genre of music to listen
to?
For some students listening
to loud music helps release some
form of pent-up frustration. For others it’s the quest to find the perfect
message.
Music has played an important role in conveying certain ideas.
For example, during World War II
it was used as propaganda against
the Axis powers. During the Vietnam War several musicians expressed pro or anti war opinions.
Currently, during the United States
invasion of Iraq many performers,
such as the Dixie Chicks, expressed
their views.
One problem with this is that
if a musician expresses an opinion
and a majority of people disagree,
it could create controversy. In the
sixties and seventies all albums containing songs that promoted an antiwar message were banned off military bases. This leads to another factor.
Content can be another thing
that people judge their musical selections on. Some students don’t like
music with very offensive words.
Also, if a radio is played in class most
teachers will not allow foul language
to play. Some parents don’t allow their
children to listen to particular genres
because of content. In 1985 the Parent Music Resource Center (PMRC),
thought that the content in music had
gotten so bad that they called a Senate committee meeting to discuss putting a warning label on records and
CDs. The music industry struck a deal
and now we have the “Warning: Parental Advisory” stickers.
However, the label doesn’t
seem to do much. Considering that
many CDs with a warning label sell
millions of copies every year.
The worries over the content in
music can lead to drastic measures. For
example, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
protested Eminem’s performance at
the Grammy’s. Several songs have
also been edited or kept off the radio
because of things they say. After September 11, many radio stations refused
to play songs that mentioned death or
unpatriotic subjects. At the same time
songs about heroes and patriotism
were frequently repeated.
When it comes right down to it
the only thing that matters is if you
like what you are listening to. Everything else is secondary.
IRTHRIGHT
of Council Bluffs, 427 E. Kanesville, Suite 303
We are here if you need us.
Call for:
....Sam Tsuji
A Free Pregnancy Test
Emotional Support
Medical Referrals
Maternity or Infant Clothing
Call : (712) 322-2100
sweatshirts to thongs and greeting
cards. Fans and sympathizers of the
SWK have even started a petition to
get him a part in Star Wars: Episode
III. The petition now includes well
over 76,582 signatures. Lucas Films
has yet to comment about the idea,
or say if George Lucas will consider
it. If you would like to sign the
petition
just
go
to
www.jedimaster.com and click on
the petition link. Along with their
names, several petitioners have left
comments for George Lucas as well.
Petition signer number 76,457
commented to Lucas, “If only to
make this kid feel like the
humiliation was worth it, a small
part, or even just an extra part in the
film would not be too much to ask.”
And humiliation there
was. Ghyslain was reportedly
harassed so badly at school that he
was forced to drop out and is now
attending therapy sessions.
Ghyslain’s fame may seem amazing
to the world, but to him, it is
nothing but a curse. Ghyslain’s
parents have now entered into a
225,000 dollar lawsuit against the
parents of the boys who uploaded
Ghyslain’s video to the internet.
Ghyslain, his parents, and their
lawyer are not commenting or giving
any interviews.
“I know I’d feel kind of
embarrassed but stuff like that
happens all the time,” said senior
Andrew Dillon. “I do think they
should try the lawsuit, but I think it’s
a wasted effort. The video is always
going to be out there.”
With or without the lawsuit
Ghyslain Raza a.k.a. the Star Wars Kid
has become the most downloaded man
on the internet and his videos will
most likely be circulating around for
quite some time.
Original Artwork by Ryan Showers
Johnny Cash Dies At Seventy-One
Thomas Webring
Reporter
The world is a little lonelier after
the death of the Man in Black. Johnny
Cash passed away on September 12,
2003 at Baptist Hospital in Nashville,
Tennessee, from diabetes. Cash was
quite possibly the most recognizable
voice in all of country music. He
wrote in the fields of country, folk,
rock, and gospel music. Cash became
one of the most intriguing performers
in all of 20th century popular music.
He was the artist who changed the
way music was played and the way
people perceived it.
“Johnny Cash was the man. He
was by far the best country artist of
all time,” stated junior Barak Davis.
Cash’s most recent song
released was called “Hurt”. This song
was originally performed by Nine
Inch Nails. Throughout his career he
recorded over 700 songs and wrote
over 300. Johnny Cash is a legacy to
anyone who has ever heard his music.
Many fans are still grieving for
the Man in Black. He was recently in
an interview on Country Music
Television. Cash stated that he knew
he wouldn’t be around very long.
Johnny Cash had an addiction to
drugs, which he struggled with for
five years. The woman that he loved
so deeply, made him straighten up
Photos taken from two of Johnny Cash’s CD releases “Johnny Cash”
and “The Many Sides of Johnny Cash.”
before she would marry him. When
faced with that option, he chose to
give it up and marry June Carter
Cash.
Many people believe that he
died of a broken heart. He worshiped
his wife June. When she passed away
in May he was right by her side and
when she died, a large part of him
died with her.
Another person that will greatly
miss Cash’s music is Coach Dew.
Dew met Cash in 1986 through his
uncle. “He was an all around great
guy. Very down to earth. He took care
of his parents and was deeply in love
with his wife. When he made his
money he didn’t flash it around or
show it off. He was as humble as you
could be for being a star,” stated Dew.
John R. Cash was a legacy and
will be greatly missed by millions.
What Happened To Unknown Consequences:
The facts about criminal piracy
The GOONIES?
Alyssa Ranney
Reporter
Data
“Data” or Jonathon Ke
Quan’s has been frequenting the silver screen in films
such as Encino Man and
has begun to produce and
direct on his own.
Mikey
“Mikey” or Sean
Astin’s most recent
project is his role as
Sam wise Gangee in The
Lord Of the Ring Series.
Mouth
Chunk
“Chunk” or Jeff Cohen
“Mouth” or Corey
has become ‘the man
Feldman’s most recent
with the money’ producfilm was The Million
ing TV shows such as The
Dollar Kid (1999) .
Living Century.
“Sloth ” or “John Matuzak”sadly
passed away from heart failure on
June 17, 1989.
Sloth
Original Artwork by
Becca Sheppard
and Ryan Showers
Piracy is not an uncommon word
anymore. These days, people are
hearing it on the radio, in the movie
theater, in the hallways, and
everywhere they go. The more
pressing the issue becomes the more
the entertainment industry tries to
persuade people against piracy. What
does robbery on the high seas have
to do with the entertainment industry?
According to Merriam-Webster,
piracy is also defined as, “The
unauthorized use of another’s
production, invention, or conception
especially in infringement of a
copyright.”
“We believe that the most
powerful deterrent is the message that
uploading
or
downloading
copyrighted
works
without
permission is against the law. We
have worked hard to educate the
public about what the law says and
potential consequences, and other
studies have shown that message is
beginning to take hold and will serve
as an effective deterrent,” said the
Recording Industry Association of
America (RIAA), the trade group for
the major recording labels.
“I download music sometimes,
but I don’t really know what the
C R I T I C ’
O
R
N
E
R
consequences are,” said an
anonymous junior.
One
of
the
potential
consequences the RIAA is
considering is, “A student or other
individual found downloading illegal
MP3 tracks (should) go to jail as a
clear signal that piracy will not be
tolerated in the US.”
What falls under illegal
downloading is the unauthorized
copying of commercial music.
Which usually means MP3’s that are
made from CD’s and then put on the
Internet by people who haven’t gotten
permission from the artist or music
company. Not all MP3’s are illegal.
This is because MP3 is just a type of
file format; for example, most of the
MP3 files found on the Web are legal
because they are put on the Web by
unknown bands who want to get
noticed by established bands and/ or
artists.
It is legal for someone to make
a copy of his or her own CD, for his
or her own personal use. He or she
may also rip it to MP3 files and/or
record it to a cassette; however, it is
not legal for him or her to then give
the CD, MP3 files, and/or cassette to
another individual. Giving or selling
the CD(s), MP3 files, and or
cassette(s) to another individual is
legal whether money is involved or
not because it is in violation of
copyright laws.
S
Tom Petty’s Influence Spans Generations Of Fans In the Mid-West
Pam Shorey
Editor-In-Chief
He takes the stage wearing a
vintage suit, creating, in just a
simple fashion statement, the
essence of “cool.” His frail figure
is outlined by the soft glow of the
spotlight. His long hair frames his
thin face, almost creating a
skeleton-like appearance. To my
surprise, at the age of 53, he has
as much energy as he did when
he first started at the tender age
of 17. He moves his fingers
swiftly up and down the guitar
strings as if they were silk and,
without a word, begins singing
“American Girl.”
Tom Petty and the
Heartbreakers graced the stage at
the MAC Center on July 1, 2003.
The energy of the crowd and the
presence that was carried by the
band provided for one of the best
concerts I have ever attended. No,
there weren’t any hot guys on the
stage and there weren’t any
special effects. It was about the
music.
There were a vast variety
of people attending the concert. To
my left there was a couple who
looked as though they’d rather be
at a Nelly concert while in front of
me, a woman in a tie-dyed shirt
flung her long gray hair around and
around as she danced to the music.
Seeming to try and grasp what she
had left of her youth, she kept
giving her friend high-fives and
occasionally would stop to makeout with the man that she was with.
“Well, we haven’t been
to Council Bluffs for awhile, so I’m
going to play some old stuff,”
stated Petty, sending the crowd into
a frenzy. I was grateful because the
old songs were the ones that
attracted me to their music. They’re
the ones I knew by heart.
Petty played all his hits
from the carefree tune of “Free
Fallin’” to the eerie ballad, “Last
Dance with Mary Jane.” It amazes
me how, after all those years they
can still play the same songs that
they’ve been playing continuously
for the past couple decades. Some
bands that have been around for a
while get bored with their old stuff
and never play it at shows, even
though that’s what people want to
hear. I was grateful that Petty didn’t
play too many songs off of his latest
album, “The Last DJ.” It’s not a bad
CD; it just wouldn’t have been the
same show without hearing all the
classics.
From our seats about 20
rows up from the stage, we could
see everything. The sound was
unbelievable and was the best I had
ever heard at a live show-especially
from an arena as big as the MAC.
It engulfed us, making it seem like we
were standing right in front of the
amplifiers.
Halfway through the show
he brought out the acoustic guitar,
creating a more intimate feel with the
audience. He encouraged the
audience to sing along to the early
‘90s hit, “Learning to Fly,” repeatedly
singing the chorus, “I’m learnin’ to
fly, but I ain’t got wings. Comin’ down
is the hardest thing.” Lighters popped
up everywhere and hands swayed
back and forth, creating a peaceful
ambience throughout the crowd.
After two hours my heart
was racing and beads of sweat were
falling down my face as I stood
there cheering for more as Petty left
the stage. The lights went out and a
low rumble swept through the
MAC. The cheers went on for 15
minutes, not letting up at all. Right
when I thought my voice couldn’t
yell any louder, they re-entered the
stage.
After witnessing Petty
dancing around the stage, it left me
to wonder what they had really been
doing during those 15 minutes.
To my disappointment
they still hadn’t played “Into the
Great Wide Open,” but I quickly
forgot about it as he began the soft
tune of a brand new song,
“Melinda.”
After about a 20-minute
encore, the show was over. More
than once I have left a show feeling
disappointed and wishing I would
have had a better time, but this show
was different. Sure, I was sad that
it was over, but the experience left
me basking in the wonderful bliss
of it all.
One thing is for sure— I
left that night with more than just a
ticket stub in my back pocket.
Page 7
September 2003
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For The Love Of Running- LC Cross Country
Dani Mescher
Reporter
To most people, the thought of
running long distances makes them
want to crouch over and vomit.
While vomiting is sometimes part of
the package, a brave group of souls
here at Lewis Central run because
they want to.
“I love it, and it makes me feel
good. The adrenaline gives me a
rush,” says freshman Jaclyn
Erickson.
The cross country team makes
it very clear, though, that their sport
isn’t all about the running.
“No one really gets it unless
they’re out. You can’t understand
the whole experience unless you’re
on the team,” said senior Traci
Matters. “Running is a very small
part of it.”
This is made obvious through
the teams’ numerous pre-race rituals
and traditions.
“All of us girls get together in a
huddle and pray before we start every
meet,” comments senior Jenny
Seydlitz.
Sophomore Kirstyn Hill adds to
this thought by explaining the ‘four
on three cheer.’
“It’s a dumb cheer that relaxes
us and gets us laughing before the
race. We count to three, and then
scream four,” says Hill.
The boys have their share of
antics as well. Senior Jeff Reicks is
proud to talk about the ‘naked dance.’
“We’re all in a circle, and we
pull down our extra pair of shorts, put
our hands in the air, and scream.”
Aside from the team traditions,
many of the runners have their own
individual rituals that get them ready
for the race.
Senior Joe Landolt an interesting
way of motivating himself before
every race.
“I write run faster across my
hands.”
Senior Dan McMullen jams out
to the tunes of “Rocky” before he
steps up to the starting line.
“I just put on my headphones,
walk around, and listen to “Eye of
the Tiger” to get myself ready to go.”
Even though this three percent of
the student body loves their sport,
there are days when heat, soreness,
exhaustion, and fatigue do start wearing
on them. On those days when they start
whining about practice, coach Joe
Ankenbauer responds with a simple,
“Quit Moo-ing at me.”
There were only a few other
complaints that were made by the team
members, and they had nothing to do
with the running.
“I think the worst part about cross
country is that we don’t have
cheerleaders,” says Reicks.
While Reicks takes a lighter
approach to the down sides of cross
country, many of the team members
have a much more serious opinion.
They feel that they are under
appreciated and forgotten.
“We don’t get near enough respect
or support. I am at every other sport
supporting them, but none of them
every show up at our meets. We work
just as hard as everyone else,” says
junior Pat VanNordstrand.
The pride runs thick among the
runners, and they develop a bond that
few teams get to experience.
“We’re
always
very
encouraging, we always cheer every
person on,” says Hill
Junior Sandra Wallen admits
that most of the time the team is the
only thing that can keep her
running.
“When you think you’re not
doing that well, and you feel like
you can’t go on, people still cheer,
and it keeps you going,” said
Wallen.
Though most of the school
doesn’t run, they don’t deny that it
takes a strong group of people to
be cross country runners.
“I think they’re hard working,
disciplined people. More power to
them for actually taking on the
sport,” says junior Ashley Knoble.“I
don’t like to run, and the thought of
running miles upon miles every day
isn’t my idea of fun. It would be way
too hard.”
To that, Coach Ankenbauer
would no doubt come back with his
infamous line,
“If it were easy, every Tom,
Photo By Krista Hansen
Dick, and (your name here) would Junior Eric Evans and Senior Dan Black run hard at the Lewis
Central Invitational
do it.”
Growing Pains-LC Football
Ashley Richter
AD’s editor
This injury affects the Titans in
second quarter in the same game and
more ways than just one. Newsom
will be out for at least six weeks.
brought great leadership to the team,
“Casey’s a great player and he
and the Titans are already short of
will be missed. Even though Luke
team leaders with only seven
Thompson really stepped it up when seniors out for the season.
Casey went down. Casey is a pre“I think our leadership is
season all state player and you can’t
better then last year because last
replace him but we will still be able
year there were 26 seniors out and
play well,” said Jackson.
not all of them stepped up. This year
we are all close, work well together,
and show leadership,” said senior
Jeremy Coe.
This year junior Brady
Erickson is doing his best to be a
leader by holding the spot of
quarterback. This is quite an honor
to hold being only a junior.
“It feels pretty cool. Not very
many players get to start at
quarterback as a junior. For me,
more than anything this year is just
to gain more experience,” said Brady
Erickson.
Even though Erickson is young,
his teammates have complete
confidence in him and how he can
play.
“I have total confidence in
Brady, we’ve played together for
Photo By Katherine Tweedt awhile and he’s totally capable,”
said junior Justin Toole.
The LC football team unites, as one, in anticipation of their first game.
show our manhood and we all
stepped up. We have just been
really working hard and hope to
put this loss behind us with a win
in our next game,” said junior Seth
Jackson.
This will be a lot easier said
than done since the Titans lost a key
senior in Casey Newsom due to an
injury. He tore his fibula in the
The Titans started their season
without an open seat on either side
of the bleachers, but as the game
went on it got emptier and emptier
on the home side.
The Titans began their season
with what some would call a
“shaky start” as they lost to the St.
Albert Falcon’s 54-14. Although
the score wasn’t close, it is only
reasonable considering the Titans
turned the ball over four times, and
the Falcons took advantage, scoring
Photo by Pam Shorey on each turnover.
“When we committed
The cheerleaders work hard on perfecting their more difficult stunts.
turnovers, they stopped the
momentum of the game and we
were out of sync,” said junior Justin
Toole.
The good news is the Titans are
now putting that game behind them
and moving on with their season.
“From the beginning of the week
we have been working hard.
Everyone is showing after that
game that they want to play. The
the routine. Once the routine is finished, coaches backed us up in a corner to
they drill it several times a practice.
In addition to drilling the routine
Holly Engelstad
at practice, they also work on teaching
Reporter
and learning new cheers.
“We are the Titans and we’re
“In practices we are trying to
back in the groove.” For the 2003- accomplish equipping the new girls
2004 Cheerleading Squad these with the knowledge of cheers and when
words, from their competition cheer, they are used at games,” says Coach
take on a whole new meaning.
Tracy McVey. “We’re also trying to
“We’re trying to set a new perfect our skills for the upcoming state
standard for the Lewis Central Cheer routine on November 1, in Cedar
Squad by competing in several Rapids.”
competitions,” said senior Heather
Once a week the cheerleaders
Exley.
travel to Omaha to improve their
In addition to all of their original skills at Elite Cheer, a cheerleading
tasks, such as cheering for football, gym. They work on learning new stunts
basketball, wrestling, and timing for swim to incorporate into their routine as well Seniors Melinda Smit s (left) , Dan Barnett( left-center), Justin Ross (right-center) , and Casey Newsom ( right) aren’t shy about showing their
meets, they are also competing against as working on tumbling skills.
school pride.
other high school squads at the Iowa State
“We do a lot more than people
“The crowd has nothing to right, we’re going to put forth a
Davis, and Jennifer Beckner. They
Thomas Webering
Cheerleading Championships, Cheer think; we stunt and we tumble,” states
would be there running across the worry about. We aren’t going to lot more costumes and extreme
Reporter
Xtreme, and Spirit Spectacular.
freshman Christine Webering.
field, jumping up and down, or change anything; we are all going amounts of energy,” said Barelos.
“It’s very exciting [being able to
Although the cheerleaders take on
Fellow spirit senior Tiffany
It’s 3 rd down with 10 yards to performing superman dives in to be loud and obnoxious,” said
compete]. The new girls are doing great, a rigorous practice once a week at Elite
Conover is also going to be
go. The clock reads 0.12 seconds. crazy LC clothes with capes on Wheeler.
and we’re going to be better than the last Cheer, they still have a long way to go
Other returning veterans are cheering on the athletic teams. “
The quarterback is yelling calls and their backs. Now that they have
year,” said Exley. “It’s also a lot of hard before their skills are perfected.
then yells his command. He fades come and gone, what is going to seniors Nick Barelos and Dan Once these games start, there’s
work.”
According to Kevin Hooker, co- back and fires a 35 yard pass down become of school spirit?
Barnett. When interviewing these not going to be a play when we
The process of competing is long owner and trainer of Elite Cheer, it takes
to the open receiver in the end zone.
Never fear, the seniors of two they had quite a bit to say. aren’t going crazy and cheering
and enduring. The squad first has to around 1,000 handsprings, with help,
Touchdown!!
2004 say they have their own way “This is going to be the best year until the Titans score,” says
get all o f t h e i r b a s i c s t u n t s before a person can do it by herself.
Whenever any of these things of pumping up the crowd. Senior yet. We’re crazier than last year’s Conover.
together, then work on connecting
“We still have a long way to go happened last year, the crowd could JJ Wheeler is somewhat of a seniors,” said Barnett.
Never fear, there’s definitely
pyramids and transitions. When before everything’s done,” says junior
Agreeing with Barnett was a team of spirit seniors who are
always count on the crazy spirits of veteran when it comes to school
that is done, they work on learning Reagan Beckendorf, “but we’re getting
Nick Barelos. “Dan is completely going to keep school spirit alive.
Tim Reedy, Iggy Cockroft, Dylan spirit.
the cheer and dance, and completing there.’
A New Year Brings
A New Cheer
LC Seniors Keep The Spirit Alive
EL SI LOCOS: Number One Fans
Jill Whitney
Reporter
School spirit is something every
school should have. It shows that we
care about our school, and it gets
everyone pumped and ready to go on
game days.
Football season is when our
school has the most team spirit. Why
do you ask? Many things contribute
to this such as the following.
1.) The need to beat every
school around.
2.) The adrenaline rush when
the football team runs out on the
field.
3.) The cheerleaders and
dancers amaze us with their talents.
4.) Of course the LC Locos
(how could football season be the
same with out them?)
“My favorite thing is being able
to get VIP into the football games,”
said senior Dan Barnett.
“The first game
was a lot of fun and it
gives you something to
do at the games,” said
senior Kyle Cason.
The students of LC
wonder why a freshman
in college is being a part
of the LC Locos. Is this
right? Chad Bartlett is
attending Iowa Western
Community College
and is helping the LC
spirit live by being a
part of the locos. The
question is should we
let him or find a
different guy that
attends Lewis Central to
do the job? The
Photo By Ryan Showers
question only can be Junior Mike Cozad proudly shows his El Si spirit.
Despite that controversy the
answered by the student body.
“I think its kind of dumb for a locos are looking forward to a good
college freshman to come back and do football season and are ready to get
it,” said senior JJ Wheeler.
the crowd pumped up!
THIS YEAR’S LOCOS
LC -Mark Diller
(Senior)
T - Dan Barnett
(Senior)
I - Chad Bartlett
(Alumni)
T - Kyle Casson
(Senior)
A - Nick Barelos
(Senior)
N - Mike Cozad
(Junior)
S - Doug O’Rielly
(Junior)
UTA
The United Teen Activists (UTA)
are inviting you to join in promoting
tolerance within our community. This
club will participate in activities and
capaigns that will help to educate the
community and students of Lewis Central about the importance of human
rights and tolerance. UTA meets every
Thursday after school.
Page 8
September 2003
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You think your day was bad?
The Adventures of Johnny and GerBill
Maggie Fields
Reporter
Whether it was having failed a test, making a fool of
themselves in front of someone important, or were simply in
a negative mood, after a hard day, many are guilty of claiming
that they have had the worst day of their lives. Was their day
really that horrible? Could it have been worse? No doubt the
things claimed to have ruined a persons day are not nearly
as bad as they may seem. Here is a countdown from
tagmag.com of other people’s tales of woe that will hopefully
shed some light on how much worse your day could have
been.
Original Artwork by Ryan Showers
6. In 1992, Frank Perkins of Los Angeles made an
attempt on the world flagpole-sitting record. Suffering from
the flu he came down eight hours short of the 400-day record,
his sponsor had gone bust, his girlfriend had left him and his
phone and electricity had been cut off.
5. A psychology student in New York rented out
her spare room to a carpenter in order to nag him constantly
and study his reactions. After weeks of needling, he snapped
and beat her repeatedly with an ax, leaving her mentally
retarded.
The Overrated Life of Madison Cornwall
By Brooke Bergantzel
www.hotmail.com
From:
To:
Sent:
Subject:
X
“Maddie” <twizlerfizzler_05@hotmail.com>
“Brad the GREAT” <fiddlesticksofskidoo@hotmail.com>
———
RE: What’s New?
Inbox
Sent Mail
Hey Brad, I can’t believe you didn’t e-mail me before this. Some kind of friend you are. J/K. Well, I started at the
school about a week and a half ago. It’s crazy, buddy. There’s loads of people. At least the school’s easy to get around
in (but it looks like a prison—not kidding!!). On the first day I met this Robbie Cole kid and he showed me around and
stuff. He seems like a pretty nice guy, but one of like 800 just doesn’t cut it. And he’s practically a human garbage
disposal. I’m not joking! The other day at lunch…
This is way too much
homework for the second week of
the term…Madison Cornwall
glared at the open notebook sitting
in front of her. It was lunch and
she had one more assignment to
finish for her Algebra 3 class. She
took a deep breath—there was
only half an hour for lunch before
she had to turn the page in,
finished or not. It was time to
block out all distractions,
concentrate and get to work. Her
pen hovered over the lined page
as she read the first problem.
“Hey! Mads!” The
familiar voice of Robbie Cole
shattered her reverie like a brick
through glass. She’d only met
him a week before, on the first
day of school, but she was
already beginning to feel like
she’d known him forever—and
as though that new nickname
had annoyed her for just as
long. When her dad had been
forced by a job transfer to
uproot the family and drag them
across the state, she’d been
absolutely certain that she’d
never get along at Lexington
Center High School. Aside
from a few quirky policies and
a building that reminded her
strongly of a prison, she was
beginning to realize that the
place wasn’t quite as bad as she
thought.
A sudden sharp jab in her
left shoulder sent a wave of
irritation through her. Robbie
poked her again.
“Mads? Are you going to
eat or what?” She sighed and
looked up at her friend. Shaggy,
bleach-blonde hair nearly hid
his ice-blue eyes. His grin was
cockeyed and his nose
crooked (she had a feeling it
had been broken a time or two).
“I was planning on saving
my Algebra grade, actually,”
she told him, waving in the
general direction of her
notebook. Unfortunately, she’d
gestured with her writing
hand—the hand with the pen in
it. She cringed as her hand
jarred against the paper.
Madison glanced down to see
a long, blue pen mark cutting
across the paper, through every
problem she’d already finished.
“What are you up to?” she
asked as she stood and started
across the cafeteria.
“Well…Now that you
mention it…” he began, putting
an arm around her shoulders.
“I’m a little short on cash and I
was wondering if you’d be
sweet enough to buy me lunch.”
“Do you know how much
a school lunch costs?” she
narrowed her eyes at Robbie.
She fully intended to buy him
Picture Three
Photo by Ryan Showers
She was suddenly very tired of
the assignment—a feeling that
came with the idea of recopying all of
the work.
“You know, maybe lunch is a
good idea…”
“Of course lunch is a good
idea!” Robbie was grinning
something that made Madison a
little suspicious.
lunch, but she couldn’t resist
teasing him a little.
“I’ll pay you back!” he
protested. She threw her hands
into the air in mock defeat.
“Fine.”
“Thanks, Mads!” he
sounded far too enthusiastic in
her opinion. Madison halfwalked and was half-dragged
Drafts
Deleted Mail
across the bustling cafeteria to
the crowded room that served as a
lunch line.
“Get whatever you want, all
right?” she told him, glancing
around at her choices—a greasy
hamburger with fries, a
questionable-looking mini-pizza,
salad bar, or…was that
Grandfather’s Pizza?
She stared across the room,
amazed that there was actually
good food available for school
lunch. Robbie, she noticed, had
already grabbed a tray and gotten
a hamburger meal. He was now
making a beeline for the
Grandfather’s Pizza line. She
rolled her eyes and hurried
after him.
“Robbie?” she called after
him. “Are you some kind of
garbage disposal or something?”
She got to the line just in time to
see Robbie push his way passed
a pretty, dark haired girl.
“Hey!” the girl yelled. “No
cutting!” Robbie did a little
spin and turned to face the
young woman.
“Sorry,” he told her. “I
was just letting my stomach
think for me…”
The girl’s cheeks were
turning red and she was staring
at Robbie with a struck look on
her face. Madison felt a little spark
of annoyance and tried—
unsuccessfully—to push her way
through the crowd.
“It…It’s OK,” she heard the
girl say quietly.
“Hey,” she heard Robbie’s
voice. “You look—”
Unfortunately, Madison’s foot
caught on the leg of a tall girl
named Miriam Sumsy at that
moment and the next thing she was
aware of was the floor rushing
up at her.
4. The average cost of rehabilitating a seal after
the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska was $80,000. At a special
ceremony, two of the most expensive saved animals were
released back into the wild amid cheers and applause from
onlookers. A minute later a killer whale ate them both.
3. Two animal rights protesters were protesting at
the cruelty of sending pigs to a slaughterhouse in Bonn,
Germany. Suddenly the pigs, all two thousand of them,
escaped through a broken fence and stampeded, trampling
the two hapless protesters to death.
2. Iraqi terrorist, Khay Rahnajet, didn’t pay enough
postage on a letter bomb. It came back with ‘return to sender’
stamped on it. Forgetting it was the bomb; he opened it and
was blown to bits.
1. A woman came home to find her husband in the
kitchen, shaking frantically with what looked like a wire
running from his waist towards the electric kettle. Intending
to jolt him away from the deadly current, she whacked him
with a plank of wood by the back door, breaking his arm in
two places. Until that moment he had been happily listening
to his Walkman.
So, when you’re having another one of those “worst
days of your life,” hopefully you’ll remember a few of these
examples on how much worse it could have been. Still having
a bad day? Remember there is always tomorrow.
“The world is round and the place, which may seem
like the end may also be only the beginning.” – Ivy Baker
Priest
CRAZY THINGS ONLY IN...
AMERICA...
Summer Words of
Wisdom
Picture Four
“If you’re ever abducted by aliens,
don’t let them probe
you, you might lose
your . . .”
-Brandon Mason,
Senior.
“Don’t take your car
out without
permission.”
-Chris Rogness, Soph.
“Watch your wallet, you
might get picpocketed
on the subway.”
-Gary Fiscus, Choir
“Be careful, you might
get hurt.”
-Luke Thomsen, Junior.
www.funnyforwards.com
with additions by Andrea Larison
...Can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.
...Do people order double cheeseburgers, a large fry and a diet coke.
...Do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.
...Do we use Caller IDs and answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we won’t miss a call from
someone we didn’t want to talk to in the first place.
...Do people buy domestic brand tires, because they want to “buy American,” and then install them on their imported cars.
...The budgets for advertising non-essential items, like soft drinks, exceed the economies of many third-world nations.
...Do we use the word “politics” to describe the process so well. Poli in Latin meaning many and tics meaning blood-sucking
creatures.
IOWA…
…Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor on the highway.
…Does the word “Vacation” mean driving through the Amanas or going to
Adventureland.
…Do you know what “Hawks” and “Clones” are.
…You’ve had to switch from “heat” to “A/C” in the same day.
…Do you end your sentences with an unnecessary preposition. Example:
....Sam
Tsuji my coat at?” instead of “Where’s my coat?”
“Where’s
…Do people install security lights on their houses and garages, but leave
bothunlocked.
…People drink “pop,” not soda.
…Everyone knows what “cow chips” are.
Photo by: Brooke Bergantzel
Can you see the symbol for liberty and freedom in the same landscape.
LC...
Photo by Brooke Bergantzel
Football fan Jake Dunham, a true Iowan, supports the
“Hawks” by sporting a Hawkeyes t-shirt.
…Can you successfully go through the whole day without losing your goose bumps.
…The biggest news of the week is “The sink in the teacher’s lounge overflowed!”
…You wear your sweatshirt during the school day while other schools are getting out because of the heat.
…The only thing the hand dryers are used for in the bathrooms are self-heaters.
…You know more about your teachers than about your parents.
…They hold fire drills with one day of school left.
…Can you go through a full year with a security camera pointing at the ceiling in the lunchroom.