Issue 1 15 16

SPECIAL

FIRST DAY ISSUE

What's inside: Issue 1 | Volume115 August 2015

Lynx Football Pull-out poster schedule!

1205 Bonham St, Council Bluffs Iowa 51503

| Echoing Vigorously, Justly, and without Prejudice | www.ALechoes.com

District making progress on stadium Jessi Borwick

Co-Editor in Chief

F

riday night football is here and this time, it will be played on Field Turf. On Aug. 14, Phase 1 of the renovation on CB Stadium project opened to the public. This phase includes the new turf football field and track.

Phase 1 is almost complete with only the track surfacing remaining.

This is scheduled to be completed during the first week of September. The new track will also have some fencing around it.

As of press time, ev-

erything on the project has been on schedule.

Now that Phase 1 is almost complete, Phase 2 (of 3), is scheduled to start sometime this fall if construction continues to go as planned.

Phase 2 is the next big step and is out to bid.

At their next meeting, the school board will accept a bid and then work can begin.

Assistant Principal and Activities Director Jeff Novotny has been a part of the process for this project and is very positive for the outcome of Phase 2 and is happy with the finished Phase 1.

“Phase 1 is complete and beautiful and Phase 2 will be just as nice, “ Novotny said. “It includes new softball

fields and one new soccer field.”

Phase 2 also includes the following with the new softball fields: dugouts, scoreboards, lights, press box, restrooms and concessions.

It will also have new concessions/restrooms for the football stadium, a new ticket area that include a donor plaza, a visiting team press box for the stadium and a new locker room for the stadium. Phase 2 is on the last part of fundraising with about $1.5 million to go.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Martha Bruckner is also satisfied with the progress and work being done on the stadium and also believes that everyone else is too.

“I think that everyone is extremely pleased with the progress made on the stadium. As you know, the all-season turf has been installed on the football field, and the initial parts of the track are prepared.

Both will be ready for the first day of their respective seasons. The work is beautiful, and I’m pleased that our school district finally has a stadium we can be proud of,” Bruckner said.

Bruckner is an active member of the planning team and has been involved in many of the fundraising outreach meetings.

“I joke that this has almost become a part time job for me,” Bruckner said. “We have been

blessed to have so much support from our own citizens in Council Bluffs, and we’ve been extremely fortunate to have received significant financial contributions from Omaha area foundations.”

When approaching potential donors, the district tells them that after an extensive evaluation, it has been determined the stadium needs aesthetic and practical upgrades. For example, the district has not been able to host a home track meet in over nine years because of the track’s condition. Another example that Bruckner shared is that the Nonpareil published critical remarks several years ago, suggesting that the ‘old ball

field takes a back seat to the home fields for the majority of Class 4-A schools.’

Bruckner expresses gratitude to everyone who has helped make this project possible.

“Thanks to our students, staff members, and families who have been so supportive to this project. It is almost unbelievable that we were just beginning to talk about this out loud a year ago, and we are now getting ready to have our first game.

For a while we thought that was an impossible dream. I look forward to the first game, August 28, and to a brief ceremony the night of the AL-TJ football game, Sept. 11,” Bruckner said.

A view of the new turf field. Photo submitted by Deb Goodman

Sept. 12

Sept. 16

Sept. 26

ACT Picture Homecoming Testing Date Make-up Day Dance Like ALHS Echoes on Facebook!

Graphic by Alyssa Clayton

4

Dani Rambo | Co Editor in Chief

First Day Issue

August 2015

Council Bluffs expands Wi-Fi options Dani Rambo

Co-Editor in Chief

W

i-Fi, one thing that has grown in popularity since it first came out. One thing we humans have grown attached to and made a necessity we need to live. Now businesses, city government, and schools are coming together to create a city wide Wi-Fi connection not only for students, but for citizens and visitors to the city. The first part of this plan started seven years ago when Council Bluffs installed a free public wireless connection in the city.

“The project was not sudden,” said David Fringer, Chief Technology Of-

ficer. “It has been planned for a number of years, and the next phases might involve expansions to areas in neighboring cities and school districts.”

they’ve completed phase one at the end of summer.

Phase two, which will cover west of 13th Street, north of Broadway, east of the Missouri River, and the south

free public Wi-Fi to as many parts of the City as possible.

“Students will have a wider access to free Wi-Fi and will be able to use their Chromebooks in more plac-

and The Charles E. Lakin Family Foundation have stepped up to help make this project possible. Projects like this usually don’t get as far because taxpayers

“Students will have a wider access to free WiFi and will be able to use their Chromebooks in more places across the city.”

-Chief Technology Officer David Fringer The current areas with the free connection consist of the CB Sports Complex, the 100 Block, the Bayless Park area, and Tom Hanafan River’s Edge park. This three-phase plan has taken awhile, but the community is making progress since

of the interstate, is planned to be completed by winter.

As of phase three that is to be completed in the spring of 2016 which will cover west of 9th street, south of Broadway, and north of the Union Pacific Railroad yard.

The City’s goal is to expand

es across the city,” Fringer said. “The whole city can be a classroom.”

As for funding, a number of sponsors such as Google, The Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce, Iowa Western Community College Channel 17,

are not willing to have their money go towards things like this.

“This project is different,” Fringer states. “There is no taxpayer money being spent on the initial installation of the network, the partnership between the

city and the school district is unique, and once completed the network will be one of the largest outdoor WiFi networks in the world.”

All of this wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t approved by the Board of Education. The School District’s Strategic Plan was approved in June 2014 which states that it will cover guaranteed 24/7 internet access to the Council Bluffs Community Schools’ network of students through partnering with community organizations. This all came up due to the fact that some students don’t have access to a reliable Internet connection at home.

“Why not try to reach students outside of the school buildings with WiFi wherever possible?” Fringer said.

Photos by Brittany Hutchens

A final look at ‘The Boys of Summer’

Trying to get an out, Dalton Wilcoxen ‘18 dives to save the ball.

Putting all his effort into pitching, Adam Barret ‘16 throws a curveball.

Alex McGee ‘15 swings away.

Softball team winds down from season Andrea Milstead & Kendal Bainbridge Editors

F

inishing with a 27-10 record, 7 of the softball team’s losses came to ranked teams. Of all the teams they were supposed to beat, they did, including a few ranked teams as well. During the season they had 224 runs with 291 hits. The girls were able to get 30 home runs and 62 stolen bases.

Their batting average was at .309 percent.

“It is really awesome to talk about their progress!

All nine girls on the line up were consistent with hits, bunts, defense, and offense; and bat on the ball. Everybody on the team improved a ton,” 2015 Softball Coach Valerie Hallagan said.

Hallagan and her players had three pre-season goals for the ALHS softball

team; to continue with being the city champs, to be the conference champs, and to make it to state. They made it to semi-finals and won, also making it to fi-

The first line-up for All conference included: graduated senior Lauren Nahnsen as pitcher, junior Maddie Sapienza as catcher, junior Kalyn Damgaard and junior

“I’m really proud of the girls and their determination for the games. They were really fun for me this year.”

-Head Softball Coach Valerie Hallagan

nals, but were beat by Waukee. They met two of their pre-season goals by winning city champs and conference champs.

Tia Ross as outfielders. The second line-up had current senior Kayla Walden and current senior Deana Roth as infielders.

“I’m really proud of the girls and their determination for the games. They were really fun for me this year,” Hallagan said.

Along with meeting their pre-season goals they had Lauren Nahnsen who previously broke the school home run record with 14 home runs and this year she beat her own record by three with 17 home runs.

She was named senior of the year and All City Softball Player of the year by the Nonpareil. Also, freshman Mackenzie French received Rookie of the Year at the softball banquet.

Hopes for the next season run high. They hope to meet their goal of making it to state.

“Next year, since it will be my senior year, the biggest goal is to have fun and go out with a bang,” senior Deana Roth said.

Photo submitted by Deana Roth.

Lady Lynx have a meeting on the mound.

Deana Roth ‘16, Lauren Nahnsen ‘15, Merzedes Hart ‘16, and Mackenzie French ‘19.