Issue 2 | Volume 115 Early October 2015 1205 Bonham St, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503
| Echoing Vigorously, Justly, and without Prejudice | www.ALechoes.com
Donors, public welcome stadium
From left to right, Verne Welch, Barry Cleaveland, and Gale Wickersham cutting the ribbon to celebrate the opening of the new stadium. Photo by Dani Rambo
Sophia Cooper Reporter
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his 2015-2016 football season and many more to come, will be spent at the new Gale Wickersham Stadium, in part thanks to a donation by a local businessman. Wickersham, an Abraham Lincoln graduate himself, tells a story of true success. Wickersham was never a student who excelled at school. Making comments at the public announcement on
Aug. 28, about how he was at the bottom of his class, never the top. Even if school wasn’t his strong point, he does acknowledge that it was important to his future. Wickersham is now one of the largest truck trailer dealers in the area, which truly makes him a success story. One way school eventually did lead to his success was his experience with The Echoes. Spending his time selling ads for the newspaper gave him his first sales experience in the business world. Another positive experience from school was that it
helped him realize his talent of being able to remember numbers. While he was a senior, he was attending an assembly when a presenter mentioned the importance of a great memory. Soon Wickersham found himself being asked to repeat a sequence of numbers that were given to him. Incredibly he got it right, and even after the presentation was given he was still able to correctly recite the numbers given to him. Even recently he still uses this ability, just being able to remember tons of clients phone numbers, without even glanc-
ing at a phone book. After graduating, Wickersham worked a various number of jobs. Along while he attended classes at Sioux Falls College in South Dakota and Kearney State College in Nebraska. In 1971, he returned to Omaha, where he worked a job at American Transport Inc., dispatching trucks across America. Though when he got married he made the decision to quit and get started on his own business. Wickersham likes to acknowledge his wife and some of Omaha’s more wellknown businessmen when
talking about who has helped with his success. Such as Duane Acklie of Crete Carrier Corp. and C.L. Werner of Werner Trucking. Bruckner approached Wickersham about making the donation, when she was told of an ALHS graduate who might be willing to help improve the Council Bluffs Community School District. She describes the meeting as a lot of talking but eventually he agreed to make the largest donation in our school district’s history. Wickersham states that one reason his business be-
came so successful, is because he strived to become independent. Being able to stand on his two feet, without having to listen to anyone else. He also values making connections and relationships with his customers and his employees. Another relationship he has also valued is the one with Council Bluffs. His generous donation has impacted and will continue to influence many lives in our community. To the student athletes and their families, and to all the others who have strived to make this happen.
ter at once. The storm sewers were definitely doing their job, but because of how much rain there was it couldn’t carry away the water fast enough. The water leads to the Missouri River and Indian Creek, but because it was so backed up it didn’t overflow, but instead the water rose up in the streets. “After the rain stopped there wasn’t much we could do besides focus on picking up debris,” Reeder said. The flooding event caused the Council Bluffs School District to call off school for the day as many students on the West side of town couldn’t make it out on the streets let alone to class.
“All the water was up to our house and surrounding it,” junior Michael Anderson said. “We woke up to a foot of water in the basement, and lost a lot of stuff because of the flood.” When rain flooding like this occurs there are many safety tips to keep in mind “We want to remind folks not to drive in flooded streets,” Reeder said. “You don’t know how deep it is or what’s in the water.” The Public Works warns people that if they absolutely have to drive take it slow. Driving fast can cause waves, and even more damage to nearby homes.
Recent flooding that occurred in Council Bluffs. Photo by Megan Miller
CB takes a hit from recent flooding Dani Rambo
Co-Editor-in-Chief The rain, rain did not go away. It was reported that Council Bluffs experienced eight inches of rain in only a few hours. “For the twenty-nine years I’ve been here it’s certainly been the most rain we’ve had,” Public Works Director Greg Reeder said. After the storm ended there were many reports of basement floodings, stranded cars, sewer backups, and even a couple home basements took a hit as the walls broke due to so much rain wa-
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September 2015
News
Calab Holder | News Editor
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City receives extensive repairs and renovation Breana Rocha Reporter
Sophia Cooper Reporter
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ately, Council Bluffs has undergone lots of renovations. Some say it is as though everywhere you go, you run into a construction zone with torn up roads or a new structure being built. This can sometimes disrupt the flow of traffic and leave people frustrated. “Construction zones make it harder for me to get to work and pick up my brother on time,” senior Macee Wise said. “They pop up everywhere, but I wouldn’t mind as much if I knew it was going on before hand.” The interstate expansion project is still underway, as it will be for approximately the next five years. According to the Council Bluffs, IA DOT the plan for
the I-80 and I-29 will have a major affect on the traffic flow in the future. The Iowa DOT estimates that by 2030, traffic on I-80 between the I-29 interchanges is expected to increase to more than 120,000 vehicles a day. With the estimate of traffic being as high as it is, construction to the interstate is crucial to keeping the interstates up to date and safe for travel. Playland Park is another area that will some vast improvements. Right now, Playland is just an empty parking lot, but by spring 2016 the community should start to see some building structures being set up. Apartments, condos, and other commercial spaces will be featured along the storefront shops being placed there. The Council Bluffs City Council also passed a 4-1 vote on Sept. 14 approving a new shelter at the Broadway Skate Park. The vacant brick structure in the middle of the park will be turned into a useful open air shelter. The amount of work to be done is estimat-
ed to cost around $191,923. This shelter will help improve the neighbourhood and benefit children that belong to the Summer Food Service Program offered by the Council Bluffs Community School District. Another construction project that is going on is the building of the new YMCA. This new building will be lo-
even known them ever. They just want to help out teachers and students with their relationships and help students in general. They are not sure if it will carry on after they graduate it all really depends on how the group goes and who joins. This group is mainly ran by
the founders of the group no teacher is stepping in to help with them helping others they want to run it independently. “Part of the reason the group was started is because of past bullying,” says Hulett. Bullying can be a huge struggle in today’s world.
cated west of Alegent Creighton Health Mercy Hospital on Kanesville Boulevard. The new YMCA will be named after the Charles E. Lakin Foundation, one of the main funders of this project. A donation of $7 million from the Iowa West foundation and the Charles E. Lakin foundations are making this project possible and are also using this project as a way
to promote healthy living. “It’s a long time coming. Council Bluffs deserves a state of the art YMCA that serves the entire breadth of the community,” YMCA of Greater Omaha CEO and President Len Romano said in an interview with the Daily Nonpareil. One other major developments that will be happening in Council Bluffs is the expan-
sion of Google’s data center on the south side of town. Google Inc. plans on investing $1 billion into the expansion. Construction across the metro continues and the development of many projects is growing. Many additions to the community will benefit many people and have a positive lasting effect on the community.
Photo submitted by Emma Seilstad
New support group provides important aid Nasia Collier Reporter
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braham Lincoln High School has a new club called Strengthening Relationships. The Strengthening Relationships group primarily focuses on the rapport between students and faculty. Another issue they discuss is bullying. They don’t want to step on any teacher’s shoes they just want them to attend and support their group the best to their ability. The founders of this group are Kylee Short, Kayann Carman, and Alex Hulett. They came up with the group by brainstorming how to make it a overall better environment at Abraham Lincoln. They hope to help people that may have helped them or may not have
Especially because we have online profiles you can hide behind the screens, making it easier to say hurtful things without thinking them through. Working against bullying can help a lot to try and get it stopped permanently, tell an adult, get help. Just telling
someone or explaining your past experiences with bullying may be useful or helpful to help you move on. About 35% of kids get bullied online according to bullying statistics. Bullying is a serious act that needs to be put to a stop. Their plan is that their
“Part of the reason the group was started is because of past bullying.” -Alex Hulett
group will meet once a week in parenting teacher Brook Parson’s room and if more meetings are needed there will be more depending on the circumstances or how many people need help. It is open to any responsible person who needs this sort of redirection, any grade, or teacher wanting this help. They want to change the overall vibes of the school from bad to good. “One of our goals is to be able to help kids through high school,” said Carman. They will have upperclassman their to help with any homework questions or help studying. Their overall goal is to change the views of how teachers see students and vise versa.
Free lunch alleviates financial challenges Nasia Collier Reporter
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ree lunch is becoming more needed in families’ everyday lives. Free lunches help students who don’t exactly have enough money to get by instead of worrying to focus more on their studies rather than worry about how hungry they are. “It’s a little different this year for certain schools that meet this school’s poverty. They fill out things for income to see if they can receive free meals,” director of nutrition services, Virginia Bechtold said. They changed the program
a little so that you don’t have to fill out as much paperwork, and people that are already using disability, if they
it’s free. They don’t ask any questions or anything you just walk in and eat. This program helps kids who can’t eat
and a rise of 5% attendance in lunch,” says Bechtold. They are really working hard to make things easier on
“There has been a rise by a total of 19% in attending of breakfast in the past 4 years and a rise of 5% attendance in lunch.” -Virginia Bechtold are a foster child, homeless, or if they are on food stamps, the paper work would already be filled out for them so they don’t have to worry about those things. All students can come and eat during the summer without filling out any paperwork and
at home because there’s not enough food, and helps parents to save up some money to get back on their feet and be able to give their kids the proper food that they need. “There has been a rise by a total of 19% in attending of breakfast in the past 4 years
the parents of the kids who get free lunch. Free lunch helps single parents or anyone who needs help even if it is just so they can catch up or use their money on other things that their children would need that they wouldn’t have money for otherwise.
News
September 2015
Calab Holder | News Editor
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Banding together to give support for a cadet in need Breana Rocha
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Reporter
Autumn Sullivan ‘17 Photo submitted by AFJROTC
hen Cadet Autumn Sullivan was diagnosed with Leukemia over the summer, her fellow cadets sprung into action and came up with the idea for a fundraiser. The money from the fundraiser went towards the Autumn Sullivan, Children’s hospital fund. The way the cadets decided to raise money was that they would clean up the stadium after the football games. Two events helped to raise the money, the first being on Aug. 29 and the second on Sept. 5. Both clean up events brought over 20 cadets from Thomas Jefferson and Abra-
ham Lincoln together in addition to Lt Col. Ament and Sgt. Lane. With the combined efforts of everyone the stadium was cleaned in only just a couple of hours. The cleanup also
another cadet,” junior Michell Henningsen said. “It was a great bonding opportunity and it was also a great way to meet new people.” Sullivan has been in
“It is refreshing to see this much passion and dedication at the high school level.” -Sgt. Lane brought together many cadets from both schools and helped the students connect more as a group. “This event really helped us bond, we were working together and we were also doing the clean up for
the hospital for the last two months and still participates in class discussipn through the phone. She is said to be the same vivacious cadet as she use to be. Sullivan’s participation since she was diagnosed with cancer has not hindered
and is still a major participant in many of the discussions in class. “Autumn has one of the greatest work ethics I’ve seen from people in my grade, not necessarily that she’s a natural with school work or anything, she just stays motivated no matter what,” Shiane Keller, a friend of Sullivan’s said. Because of her sleep schedule she sometimes misses class discussion but still loves to participate when she can. When Sullivan found out about the fundraiser her friend says she almost felt bad that people were getting together to raise money, but she soon saw it a blessing. “It is refreshing to see this much passion and dedication at the high school level,” Sgt. Lane said.
ICAN and college representatives help to further education Sean Veazie Reporter
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t is not exaggerated that finding a path after high school is stressful work. Whatever trail we decide to go down, there is a lot of planning that has to take place. If the track that is being followed is to find a college and study there then there is a ton to do, even a year or two before senior year. As always better grades and GPA in high school puts a lot of voice into universities decisions. Another good way to get the attention of colleges, other than academic statistics, is to go to the meetings for big colleges. At ALHS, several colleges will be visiting to meet with prospecting seniors and even juniors. These meetings are at the school for most of the remainder of the fall trimester.
The meetings generally start with a representative from the college greeting the students. They will distribute the handouts that they brought with them, and might even give out some free merchandise. They will say what their college can offer the students and they will try to get to know different goals and offer guidance to better set their prospects on the path that best suits their needs. The representatives will then tell what the requirements are for the college, the GPA that is mandatory, and the tuition cost. Scholarship and grant information will be given out and the average amount that a college student is information that is offered. The meeting will conclude after it is made clear that the respective college would like as many interested prospects to come visit to get a feel for the school. Iowa College Access Network, shortened to ICAN, is an organization dedicated to getting students into colleges and finding new and easier ways to do this. The network specializes in helping get financial aid, fixing up college visits, as well as counseling anybody who needs help with any problem that may arise
in the college application process. On Sept. 15 an ICAN meeting was held and was led by Steve Irvin and was hosted by Hy-Vee. He gave a great amount of advice for the next year and even had advice for internships and job shadowing. “If you can get into that real world context it can be a huge, huge plus,” said Irvin. Among the basics to get into college he went over the process of applying and all the technical forms that need to be included. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid should be completed as soon as it is available on Jan. 1. “Everybody should fill out the FAFSA,” Irvin stated. Another meeting will take place on Dec. 7th at 7:30 to discuss and go over financial aid techniques and other opportunities to help pay for further education. With all these opportunities to get help and a more private, interesting look into various colleges, every chance must be taken. There are many events for the coming fall and winter and with them, more chances to better a student’s college plan. “Make college choices based on your career interests and assessment results,” Steve Irvin’s ICAN presentation.
Donation bolsters ROTC Calab Holder News Editor
AFJROTC cadets and instructors gathered in C136 on Sept. 21 to receive a $1,000 donation from the American Legion of Iowa Foundation. “We are very pleased and honored that the American Legion finds our unit a worthy recipient of the donation,” Lieutenant Colonel Steve Ament said. Officer Doug McGinnis, a representative for the seventh district of the Iowa Foundation, explains the manner in which schools are considered and chosen for the donation.
“There’s a group of 17 people that sit down with all the requests and make a decision on who receives the money. The American Legion of Iowa Foundation gives away $98,000 to a total of 22 schools.” The American Legion of Iowa Foundation can be viewed as the charitable component of the much larger Iowa Department of the American Legion. According to the group’s website, “Since 1979, over $1.4 million has been contributed in support of veterans’ assistance, educational programs, patriotic endeavors and children and youth programs.” Although the $1,000 do-
nation signals a signifigant action, Lieutenant Colonel Ament is mostly impressed by the charity of JROTC cadets. “The act of the donation is important, but maybe as important is the need of the Legion for financial help in return. At our staff meeting later this afternoon it was voted on and approved that we will donate $100 back to the Legion. AFJROTC had been cleaning the stadium on Saturday mornings and they decided to give some of the proceeds we receive for doing that back, so the Legion can continue to help others as they have helped us in the past and continue to.”
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Briar Cliff University
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Morningside College
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Simpson College
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Cedarville University
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Briar Cliff University
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Wayne State University
10:00 A.M. 10/20/2015
Drake University
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10/21/2015
Iowa Western Community 10:00 A.M. 10/22/2015 College St. Ambrose University
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University of Iowa
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Northwest Missouri State 9:15 A.M.
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Dani Rambo | Co Editor in Chief
Opinion
September 2015
Foreign language: a requirement or not? Hailey Carson Reporter
At our school, many staff members strongly advise kids to take two years of foreign language, and for good reason. Colleges are starting to require at least two years of foreign language for admission, some even more. They must be the same class because they are looking for proficiency instead of whether you know how to count to 100, introduce yourself, and state your favorite color. From my personal experience, we didn’t even start getting into the meat and being able to hold a real sort of meaningful conversation
until the end of the second year. I am glad I did take my two years not only for future colleges but for real life as well. AL offers Spanish and French. I opted to take French 1 and 2 my freshman and sophomore years to get it out of the way because back then I was less than thrilled about it. While looking back now, Spanish might have been a bit more useful because I work in retail and often encounter people who don’t speak much English. It would be nice to be able to communicate better. Some might say that “this is America, if you come here, speak our language!” and I feel that is ridiculous because as long
as they are a citizen, they have freedom of speech. We are a country of many different people, and they have a right to embrace their culture. Would you go to a different non English speaking country and know how to speak their language perfectly? Probably not. The more time they spend here the more English they might pick up. According to atcfl.org, there are multiple cognitive benefits to knowing a second language also. Studies have shown that being bilingual has a correlation to higher problem solving skills and performed better in college when compared to others who are only fluent in one language. Not to mention, it also shows to have helped some students score higher on the SAT and ACT tests, which most colleges require students to take to be considered. The higher the score the better. Learning a foreign language benefits students and helps them perform better, so I absolutely see why colleges would want students that have that experience. Besides boosting one’s scores, it will help connect them to others and different cultures. I fully support schools encouraging students to take a foreign language class.
Taylor Daugherty Reporter
When you were a freshman and you were registering for classes, there were so many things to choose from. Then someone came to you and said, “in order to get into a four year college you need to have two years of a foreign language.” Now you are stuck with a foreign language that takes up two of your credits for two years of high school, but for what? This is a class students seem to stress over, but why? Foreign language isn’t actually a requirement for high school, it’s only a requirement for four year universities. At this point you, the reader, are probably wondering why you’re in these classes and you’re also probably considering visiting your counselor, but wait. Students who hope to get into a four-year university to learn and be successful at the career they choose will need these. People shouldn’t need to take a foreign language to get into a four year school. You can take the class there, so why waste elective credits on something that is essentially a core class?
There are so many neat electives to take here that you might just be wasting your time taking those language classes. A lot of people are trying to convince kids that learning a second language will really make their lives easier. That it will open them up to different cultures. However, this is America. Why should we have to learn a foreign language here? We can communicate just fine with each other and that’s what we need. Let’s not make this country more complicated by speaking more than one language. Another reason that these credits should not be required is because some colleges may offer more
diverse language classes. Why waste your time taking spanish when you could be taking german in a few years? Plus, how much do you actually remember from a high school foreign language class? Not to mention that some teachers may tend to be lenient with grading. If you really want to learn a foreign language why not go to the country where they speak it? That why you are immersed in the culture as well. Personally, I am all for students not having to take a foreign language. In high school you should worry about what you want to do for a career and finding your interests, not trying to learn a language that you won’t be speaking fluently.
P.E. should not be a required class Sean Veazie Reporter
It seems that the categories of hobbies and skills that people have and participate in are split into two categories, physical and intellectual. In the physical column are activities such as sports and weightlifting, while the intellectual side of things takes on the math, science, writing, reading, and in short everything that cannot be solved using our strength. Considering that the better part of our modern society does not use manual labor for our jobs, it is a question why students
are forced to take humiliating classes. In theory those same classes are supposed to teach healthy lifestyles and good workout practices to enhance our physical education. But in practice it turns the out of shape children or students that are not as capable of doing the strenuous tasks into embarrassed jealous viewers of the far more capable students. With the ever growing modern market manual labor is very quickly becoming obsolete in favor of
professional careers. More people want to be doctors and accountants and fewer want to be ditch diggers and farmers. The need of hard physical labor has been drastically declining since the first industrial revolution. Tools and machinery have been making the back breaking work of past generations pointless. Ditches that took weeks or months to dig out are completed in a manner of days with the right equipment. P.E. classes teach that you must be in perfect condition for those
jobs and it just is not true. The tasks that physical education classes have are not doable for everyone. A student’s ability to do well in school should not rest in his or her ability to run a mile in a specific time limit. Every person is different and gym teachers teach that if you are not able to do these things then you are not normal. Students who cannot do those classes feel shame, and that is what is wrong with the way these classes are ran. The core values that
are written in the syllabus of gym teachers states that there will be education on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, yet even when that is included in the curriculum, it is passed on in a week. There is no education happening in these classes, just non stop physical exertion that shames students who cannot do them. If it was actual healthy lifestyles that were being taught there would be much less of an argument here, but as it is P. E. should not be mandatory for students.
There are many forms of art in today’s society. One form in particular though has been causing controversy in today’s society; this form would be tattoos. Tattoos are an art form that many people do not approve of, especially in the workplace. Tattoos in the workplace are discussed constantly, and over time many companies and employers have become more accepting of this art form, while others have strict rules and guidelines that have been put in place.
Tattoos have been seen as a way for people to express themselves in ways they normally would not be able to. They are pieces of art, and each piece is personal to each individual person. Taking away this form of expression and limiting someone’s ability to do a job because of tattoos has caused many people to wonder, why are tattoos seen as such a bad thing to have on your body? One reason tattoos are seen as a bad thing and are then limited or restricted in
the workplace, is the stereotypes that has been created around them. Many people associate tattoos with bikers, gangs and other types of criminals. These stereotypes have caused many people to think negatively of tattoos and give them a bad reputation. This notion has limited what some people do to their bodies and have made some people self conscious of expressing themselves in this unique form of art. Companies such as Google, Target and UPS
allow tattoos, while jobs like healthcare, retail, and teaching jobs restrict a person from having tattoos. Jobs deem tattoos inappropriate because of the common between tattoos and criminals. While this taboo is fading it still affects many people in the U.S. today. With age playing a factor in the amount of tattoos seen in the workplace many employers may be using the restriction of tattoos as a way to show young adults actions like getting tattoos at young ages can have some
negative repercussions. While it’s important to set high standards for young adults, setting these standards can also limit their freedom to express themselves in unique ways. Whether the restriction of tattoos is based on the bad reputation that surrounds tattoos or the hope that we can influence young adult to make better decisions, the topic of this unique form of art will always be up for discussion.
Stereotypes, tattoos in workplace Breana Rocha Reporter
Opinion Staff Editorial School drops music sites
Dani Rambo | Co Editor in Chief
September 2015
to do your schoolwork.” However, studies have shown music helps students focus while making schoolwork seem more enjoyable. According to a study done by a research team at the Stanford University School of Medicine exploring the effects of music on the brain, “...Music engages the areas of the brain involved with paying attention, making predictions and updating the event in memory.” This study proves that lis-
tening to music of student’s choice is not only harmless, but can help a student recall important information and stay more alert. Incidentally, sites like Spotify and Pandora help many music students with research and projects. “Spotify has been a useful site to me in the past because I could use it for band and other music purposes...,” Senior, Claire Boes said. “Not only does Spotify have songs and music, but
it also has a few books on “tape” and poems, which could be used for English classes.” That being, music in the classroom is not only beneficial to students but can also be of great value to teachers. According to mrbradfordonline.com, a site created by a tech using teacher, there are many ways to use music in the classroom. This can include using music as a timer, using it to set a noise level, to encourage students,
and to use songs as musical cues. Since bandwidth seems to be the main problem in the inaccessibility to the music sites, then maybe we should be looking for a way to improve the bandwidth instead of sitting idly by. A second look at this problem could bring back the sound of music.
Reporter
O
ne rule this year that the school is focusing on
Reporter
If you’re on social media, you can see a certain type of story popping up again, and again. The dress
Jessi Borwick Dani Rambo
Section Editors
Kendal Bainbridge Logan Erwin Audrey Hays Calab Holder
Graphic Design Editor Oakland Elliff Alyssa Clayton
Circulation Manager Sean Veazie
Los Ecos
Ricardo Lopez Jazmine Martinez Raqual Lopez
Adviser
Gerry Appel
is restricting outside food. Abraham Lincoln is a closed campus, meaning that you are not allowed to leave for lunch and or bring things such as drinks and things from other places. Cold lunch is fine, as long as you only eat it during the time you are in the cafeteria. This is not the most important rule they should be focused on right now. What they should be concerned about is making sure everyone is starting off well with the beginning of the school year. Especially since they didn’t have orientation for the freshman this year. Letting the freshman have the first few hours to
themselves to get use to the school and figure out last minute schedule changes is important. They should take in consideration that some upperclassmen come to school after lunch. Which means some go and eat before they come to school. What is wrong with students coming in with a drink? It’s no different than someone bringing in a water bottle. There’s also the fact that some students don’t like school lunch. Not everyone appreciates the items they serve. It’s nothing against the lunch ladies, but sometimes students would like another option for lunch.
Why is it wrong for someone to run out quickly and get something and come back? If time is a problem where it runs into class time an option could be extending the amount of time we get for our lunch period. It wouldn’t be a problem. For the kids that do leave without returning back to class; the school needs to realize that they are going to go when they want, even if it’s against the rules. Forcing this on people will make it worse and when they leave they won’t want to come back for fear that they will have to serve and hour detention. The ones that do come back will straight up
lie about it anyways. This isn’t showing trust between teachers and students. In a way I understand having this rule will help since some kids eat in class, and that’s not always fair or allowed in some classrooms-- well, most classrooms. Another reason I can see why they don’t want food in school is because of bugs and mice. Yet if they would push a rule of taking care of your work area, and throwing away food then there shouldn’t be a problem. This is just one of the rules they are forcing more than they have before.
codes placed on school age girls all over America. Girls as young as five being made to cover their exposed shoulders. The most outrageous thing about these dress codes is how sexist they are. Never have I seen a boy being made to cover his shoulders or a male’s skin deemed too distracting for everyone else. The dress codes is just an eye opener to the sexist views placed on women of all ages. Women from every age to adulthood have been told to not to show too much skin. This misogynistic view has placed some women in a state of fear that if they wear slightly re-
vealing clothes, society will see them as a woman who doesn’t respect herself or her body. This sexism that is placed on all of us by society causes problems among young adults. Young girls always overthinking and worrying about whether or not their outfit is socially acceptable. Leading to shaming of their bodies, degrading other girls, and many other problems among them. This make young boys believe that it is perfectly normal to sexualize the girls around them, that a girl’s worth is determined by them. Which leads into rape culture. Rape culture
is a society that accepts the over sexualzation of women’s bodies. We can see rape culture in our colleges. College age boys believing that if a girl is intoxicated or wearing a short skirt, she is giving consent to do certain things with herself. Which sadly, has lead to cases of sexual assault on our college campuses. Enforcing these dress codes has also lead into some transphobia. Banning boys from school for having longer hair or wearing “feminine” clothing. Setting rules such as girls not allowed not to wear suits or pants and boys not allowed to wear dresses to prom.
This type of trans-shaming should not be acceptable in any school. As someone who identifies as a feminist, I believe that dress codes and other views placed on girls, and women are extremely harmful to our society. We should not be teaching that a girl’s “distracting” shoulders are more important than her education. We should not be shaming transgender teens for their clothing choices. The double standards and sexist ideas should no longer be tolerated in our culture. It is a time to put a stop to body shaming and other harmful ideas.
Women still face body shaming Sophia Cooper
Editors-in-Chief
Reporters
Student reacts to food rules Taylor Bever
ECHOES
Breana Rocha Taylor Daugherty Emma Seilstad Sophia Cooper Nasia Collier Christina Beck Taylor Bever
Graphic by Alyssa Clayton
If you’re a student who learns best with music playing in the background, then you are out of luck this year. Students are annoyed at the unnecessary censorship of music hosting websites on the school’s Chromebooks. Safe sites such as Spotify, Pandora, and iHeartRadio are inaccessible. Although some students might abuse access to these sites, blocking safe music sites restricts students from using an effective learning device, keeps them away from helpful resources, and prevents teachers from using proven teaching techniques. The main cause administration and technology professionals have deemed the reason for blocking the sites is coincidentally very understandable. Chief Technology Officer, David Fringer said, “As far as the blocked websites go for streaming media like radio, the main reason for that is the bandwidth,” Fringer explains “ And if a thousand students at Abraham Lincoln were all listening to Pandora radio at the same time, you might not be able
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The Echoes is published by the newspaper staff at Abraham Lincoln High School, and exists to serve as an open forum for the students, faculty, administration and community. All state and federal laws regarding the publications of student materials shall apply, and the Echoes will not publish materials which also fall under the guidelines established by the Council Bluffs Public Schools System, and are deemed libelous, obscene, or a material and substantial disruption to normal classroom activities. The views expressed are not those of the Council Bluffs Public Schools, faculty, or administration. Any student, faculty, or staff member wishing to contribute materials will need to submit a letter to the editor within deadline restriction; however, final publications is at the discretion of the staff. Letters to the editor are encouraged and must be 400 words or less in length and signed; letters will be printed as received. Every attempt will be made to verify the authenticity of the author and no anonymous letters will be published. Advertising will not be accepted for all products or services that are illegal for minors to possess or utilize. Advertisers wishing to reserve publication space should contact us by: Phone: 712-328-6481 Facebook: ALHS Echoes Twitter: @ALHSJournalism Website: alechoes.com NSPA Member Publication
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Feature
How to: can your harvested fruits Jessi Borwick | Co- Editor in Chief
Early October 2015
Peach & Plum Jelly From Sure Jell Recipes
*For different Jam and Jelly recipes check out: www.kraftrecipes.com/sure-jell.aspx *For top canning recipes check out: www.tasteofhome.com After getting to this site, type in top ten canning recipes
Ingredients: 2 lb. peaches 4 lb. plums 2 Tbs. Lemon Juice 6 cups of sugar Supplies; Dry measuring cup, liquid measuring cup, large saucepan, ladle, two large bowls, jars, lids and ring seals, canning rack, and canner. FIRST: Sterilize lids and jars. To do this, simmer them in boiling water for at least ten minutes. Preparing: -- Fruit Peaches- Peel, pit, and finely chop Plums- Finely chop, place in large saucepan. Add 1/2 cup water; stir. Bring to boil; cover. Simmer on medium-low heat for five minutes. --Place three layers of damp cheesecloth or jelly bag in large bowl. Poured prepared fruit into cheesecloth. Tie cheesecloth closed; hang and let drip into bowl until dripping stops. Press gently. --Measure wxact amount of prepared juice into 6- or 8-qt. stockpot. (If necessary, add 1/2 water to get exact measure.) Stir in lemon juice and water (if required) as indicated in chart. Measure in exact amount of sugar into a seperate bowl. Stir 1 pkg. SURE-JELL Premium Fruit Pectin into prepared fruit or juice in saucepan. Add 1/2 tsp. butter or margarine to reduce foaming if desired. Bring mixture to full rolling boil on high heat, stirring constantly. Add sugar to to fruit mixture in saucepan. Return to full boil; boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off foam with a metal spoon. Ladle immediately into prepared jars, filling each to within 1/4 inch of top. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Place jars on an elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must come 1 to 2 inches above jars) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process jellies 5 minutes or process jams 10 minutes. Remove jars and place upright on a towel to cool completely.
Different sizes of jelly jars.
All photos by Jessi Borwick
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Feature
Jessi Borwick | Co- Editor in Chief
Early October 2015
District brings in new faces Taylor Bever Reporter
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t’s around that time of year again where both new students and teachers alike come to Abraham Lincoln High School to start another school year. Not all the new teachers are necessarily “new”. Some have worked at other schools previously, such as Amanda Burnette, who has had four years of teaching beforehand. “This is my fourth year teaching. Out of the four I’ve been a graduate coach for two of them,” said Burnette, graduation coach for the 10th grade. She is here three days out of the week in the counseling office, and she has joined the graduation coaches in the counseling office. She is one of our many teachers and staff that had joined Abraham Lincoln High School this year. Trenton Kerger is another new teacher coming to Abraham Lincoln High
School, he has worked longer than several of the new staff here. He has worked for a total of 14 years and is experienced with directing 7th, 8th and high school plays. He previously taught at Bellevue North High School. “A.L has more of a sup-
portive team for students than just teachers being there,” Kerger said. With A.L. being more technologically advanced with chromebooks being available to all students and staff, these chromebooks are allowing students and staff a virtual copy of their
homework assignment that could be accessed from anywhere. Marla Schoening is also a not-so-new newcomer. She’s worked at the Treynor Community School District for twelve years and she isn’t a stranger to teaching students. Schoening has
taught elementary students in art, Talented and Gifted education or TAG, and Title 1 math. Schoening is hoping to finish her teaching career at Abraham Lincoln High School. Another new educator is Kara Tye, a first year teacher at Abraham Lincoln
High School. This is my first year until I get my teaching degree. I’ll stay at Abraham Lincoln for two years until I get my degree,” Tye said. She states that she prefers teaching younger students. “I just really enjoy younger kids,” Tye said. Some teachers like to be with older kids others like younger ones rather than high school kids. Other than the age of students they end up teaching they become a teacher to help better students to go one and do things out of school. Teachers come to Abraham Lincoln in all varieties, all with refreshing ideas and preferences. Hopefully all the new teachers who now attend Abraham Lincoln High School will enjoy the students and staff alike and create happy relationships here.
CB farmers market showcase 1.
1. 3 Bee Farms fresh, home grown vegetable stand.
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2. Homemade soap bar made out of Goat Milk by Lindsey Stephens. 3. Kelly owner of Hoop the Fair, displays her homemade hoops at the Main Street Market.
Photos by Emma Seilstad
Emma Seilstad Reporter
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n T hu r s days, several vendors gather t o gether from 5 pm to 8 pm to create what is known as the Main Street Market in Downtown Council Bluffs. This farmer’s market is in its sixth season of market and particularly its third season in its current location on West Broadway. The market was previously located on Ninth Avenue and South Maine. The market runs from May 7th to October 1st. The Downtown Farmers Market is mostly ran by volunteers such as Valerie Ware.
“I wanted to see it (the farmer’s market) grow and that’s why we moved it down here,” Ware said. At the Downtown Farmers Market there is a variety of different stands ranging from fresh fruits and veggies to baked goods. One stand, Big Mama’s Kitchen Traveling General Store from Omaha, sells jellies and jams and is in its second year of showcasing its products at the Council Bluffs Farmers Market. The employee of Big Mama’s working that day said, “The people are so nice and friendly and cordial. And very interesting, you see some interesting characters walking down Broadway.” Because of the business of the market and various display of jellies and jams, Big Mama makes fresh products every day. Although it’s called a Farmer’s Market, there’s
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not just food stands that line the downtown streets. To show the diversity in vendors, Hoop the Fair brings hula hoops and welcomes any beginners or experts to try them out. According to owner Kelly, Hoop the Fair has been around for 3 weeks and takes their hoops to farmer’s markets, county fairs, and hopefully an after prom party. “We make our own hula hoops extra big so that adults can hoop and so that beginners can hoop because big hoops are much easier than small hoops,” said Kelly. Feel Good Natural Products travels from Bellevue, Nebraska to display their wide array of soaps made from goat milk at the farmer’s market. Lindsey Stephens the owner and main soaper, said, “I’ve been soaping full time for the summer, so starting in May.
And I’ve been making soap and selling it on the side for about two and a half years.” Stephens has been coming to the Main Street Market in Council Bluffs since May of this year. Her products range from homemade soaps, lotions, and laundry detergent. As well as alpaca wool balls and soaps. “Start to finish the process takes about six weeks. But if you look at all the time it takes to clean up, wrap, and sell, each bar takes about 10 minutes,” said Stephens. In addition to her annual market appearances, for every like Stephen’s facebook page gets from now to the end of the year, she will donate a bar of soap to charity. If you’re looking for fresh food, new ways to exercise, or yummy soaps, the Main Street Market is the fun find for you.
Early October 2015
Arts & Entertainment
KendalBainbridge A&E Editor
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Omaha welcomes Septemberfest Annual festival brings in many new people Taylor Daugherty Reporter
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he Annual Septemberfest in Omaha came to a close on Labor Day with the annual labor day parade. The fair ran from the Sept. 4 - Sept. 7. Septemberfest is a festival of sorts that honors laborers. It honors the people that work hard for their money and people who are part of unions. It honors the people who serve our country. It’s a festival to show the workforce of Omaha that the citizens in the surrounding area care. It’s there for
the workers that don’t get recognized enough. It’s also there for family fun. “Septemberfest is a fun carnival...for the people of the city,” junior Julia Gibler said. Septemberfest has loads of attractions such as a carnival with rides, a place for little kids to play and enjoy, and music from the beer gardens. There is also no shortage of crafts that can be done and food to be eaten. Every year there are new attractions for people to check out as well. This year some of the major attractions were the RollerGirls, Omaha’s Premier Roller Derby Team, The world’s largest potato, professional wrestling, OPPD Respect Trailer and the Squid Wheelies Stunt Show. Other at-
tractions include a BBQ Cook-Off competition and Texas Hold ‘Em. The attractions are just part of what brings the crowd to the festival. One thing that brings in the most people are the rides that the Septemberfest features. It’s one of the many things that makes Septemberfest so fun. “My favorite ride was definitely the Air Maxx,” junior Renee Borgaila said. Another big staple for Septemberfest is the annual Labor Day Parade. This year it included 80 floats and close to 3,550 walkers. Once again, this year’s parade was filled with floats and balloons. It was another parade that honored the workforce of the metro area and the military.
For a lot of students, it was the first time they’ve been to Septemberfest. Even though it was only the first time, the people that went appeared to have a good time. “I like the rides and games. It’s fun to be able to ride a roller coaster when you don’t live near any,” junior Lauren Carmen said. “I go to ride the rides and to win big stuffed animals and for funnel cakes.” With all the attractions and events in store, Septemberfest is surely something students and teachers alike will not want to miss. If rollercoasters, parades and food are things you enjoy, you will definitely want to prepare for next year’s Septemberfest.
“The Ferris wheel picture is my favorite. I waited for it to get dark so I could get a picture of the lights. The one with the disco people I took because it looks funny. There was a big wall with all of the disco stuff on it and I wanted a picture of it because I hadn’t seen something like that before. And the big round thing is a ride that I really liked called the ring of fire and it goes in loops forward and backwards again and it was really fun,” junior Julia Gibler talks about her experience at the most recent Septemberfest.
“Pawn Sacrifice” proves a poignant biopic Calab Holder News Editor
In Edward Zwick’s latest film, “Pawn Sacrifice,” the complexity of the forty-five year Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union is captured in the importance of a single chess game. The main character of the film, chess virtuoso Bobby Fischer (Toby Maguire), is propelled to the heights of international stardom. The opening scenes of the film present the audience with a young version of Fischer, pouring over a game board while the mental graffiti of movements and stratagems dart across the screen. Fischer’s prowess leads his
mother (Robin Weigert) to take him to Carmine Nigro (Conrad Pla), a talented and well known chess player who is incredulous when the young Fischer displays the abilities of a seasoned competitor. Nigro mentors Fischer, fostering his ambitions to become the World Chess Champion. However, after accusing the Soviets of fixing the game in a 1962 tournament, Fischer begins a long hiatus from the world of chess, studying and dissecting the techniques of Soviet players in the meantime.
Fischer would return to the world of chess to make a run at the 1972 World Chess Championship, in which he faced down Soviet grandmaster Boris Spassky (Liev
Schrieber), eventually defeating him and becoming World Chess Champion. The ‘72 Championship would be transformed into a political event, determining whether capitalist America could defeat Soviet Russia in a battle of intellectual wills.
as a formidable player, Fischer becomes entangled in a Cold War showdown, as those around him elevate him to the status of a hero. While Fischer’s primary interest in playing the game provided him with a refuge from societal pressures, his
In order to make a cinematic experience something memorable, a new and bold perspective needs to be taken, which is exactly what has happened in “Pawn Sacrifice.” -Calab Holder The bureaucracy of idealism is thoroughly explored in the film, and it’s heartbreaking effects are poignantly publicized through the tribulations of the afflicted Fischer. After establishing his reputation
talent is brandished as a political weapon in order to fulfill national expectations. Fischer is sacrificed as a governmental pawn, (hence the title of the film), in order to achieve the Cold War aspirations of the United
States.
Fischer’s predicament can be paralleled to the experiences of other masterminds whose success led to their downfall. As with Fischer, author J.D. Salinger became a recluse after enormous exposure with the publication of “The Catcher in the Rye.” While many saw and treasured Salinger as a writer, fewer understood him as a human being. I think the same can be said in Bobby Fischer’s case. As the world celebrated the astuteness of Fischer, those in power refused to confront his serious psychological problems. Many scenes in the film document Fischer’s descent, as anti-Communist radio and conspiracies cloud his mind to the point of
having delusional episodes of violent paranoia. Eventually, Fischer’s condition would dictate his life, as his psychosis forced him to flee to Iceland in 2005, where he died in 2008. The dilemma that many big-budget films face is the inability to make intricate subjects more accessible, without endangering thematic importance. Some films resort to swashbuckling adventure, in order to rivet audiences. In reality, this level of grandiloquence turns a complex event into a familiar retelling. In order to make a cinematic experience something memorable, a new and bold perspective needs to be taken, which is exactly what has happened in “Pawn Sacrifice.”
10 Arts & Entertainment AHS Hotel: grisliest season yet Kendal Bainbridge A&E Editor
Christian Miller Reporter
In October 2014, FX renewed a fifth season of American Horror Story to premiere in October 2015, which is practically here. The new season takes place in Los Angeles in a fictitious hotel known as “Hotel Cortez”. Many of the previous actors have been confirmed that they are returning for the new season; including Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, and Denis O’Hare. However, there are new cast members that also will play more striking characters such as Lady Gaga who will be starring as Elizabeth, the wealthy owner of the hotel, who has a fiendish plan that is set to slowly reveal throughout the season. According to Ryan Mur-
phy, the director of American Horror Story, the all new season of “American Horror Story: Hotel” was inspired by a surveillance video that had depicted a girl entering an elevator only to never be seen again. Another push in the series was to incorporate more LGBT relationships and visibility. Multiple characters carry out various relationships regardless of gender; Gaga’s character carries out three individual relationships with Matt Bomer, Angela Bassett, and Cheyenne Jackson. According to Variety.com, Ryan Murphy said that although both actors and singers were cast, that this season is going to be a much darker season compared to the previous ones. “The upcoming season
Early October 2015
that we’re doing is much more horror-based; it’s much more dark. It’s about a theme and an idea that’s very close to my heart that I’ve always wanted to do that’s a little bloodier and grislier I think than anything that we’ve done before; it’s straight horror this year,” Murphy said. Many students are fans of the American Horror Story series and are excited to see what lies in store for the next season. “I am so excited, because I am a big horror fan so scary movies and scary tv shows are really my thing and so if it’s anything like the second season, Asylum, I’ll be super excited,” Junior Darian Hubbard said. The first episode is set to air on Oct. 7, and the first episode is titled “Checking In”.
Lady Gaga, featuring in a poster for the new season of “American Horror Story”: Hotel
Gamers Scouring Atomic Wasteland Logan Erwin Sports Editor
The Fallout franchise is a post-apocalyptic story set in our 1940s era where the U.S. is developing atomic science, just starting in the computer age. In the late 1940s, the transistor wasn’t discovered, so miniaturization of computers never occurred. This left the U.S. to study atomic science extensively, suspending society in that era. China, the U.S., and other superpowers started a global thermonuclear barrage, leaving some people to survive safely in underground vaults. On Oct. 23, 2077, the Great War left everything in irradiated ruin. People who were exposed to the massive radiation or heat, died, or became mutated, forced to live in the atomic wasteland. Fast forward to the 22nd and 23rd centuries where Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, and Fallout 4 take place. Fallout 3 was the story of you escaping Vault 101, chasing after your father since he escaped. You, the Lone Wanderer, searches the wasteland around the Washington D.C. The game leads you on a journey in the 22nd century, the world is
still broken and uncivilized after the expanse of time. Fallout: New Vegas, takes place in Las Vegas and its outskirts. Your character is a courier who is delivering valuable cargo then is “killed” by a gang of bandits. Your character awakes in a small house-hospital when his journey begins for vengeance and redemption. These games take place within four years of each other, yet taking place in D.C. and Vegas respectively. Fallout 4 takes place in Boston, where it seems like civilization is reforming. With this new game it will also show events in the Pre-War era giving us more story behind what mysterious events lead to the downfall of us all. This barren wasteland is littered with destroyed buildings, tail fin Pre-War cars, and loot and scrap everywhere. Bethesda Studios, the creators of Fallout 3 onward, have pulled out all the tricks in the new game. Gun creation, home building, vehicle transportation, jet packs, more perks, and over 400 hours of gameplay and over 100,000 lines of dialogue. Pick up those wazer wifles and cinnamon rolls and set out, adventurers!
Nowadays, celebrities have started big trends all over the U.S., and sometimes even farther. Some examples are the twerk, or the Kylie Jenner challenge. It started off pretty small, and now it’s found almost everywhere on the internet. You can also find videos and quotes from celebrities talking about other people behind their backs. “Some of them (celebrities) aren’t sensitive to other people’s feelings and I think
Oakland Elliff
Senior Megan Ferleman plays a game of Fallout 3. “The first time I played Fallout; my brother was standing over me and showing me the ropes. While this was not my first RPG it was still one of the best I had seen. When I was younger I was a big fan of Mad Max and this screams the same kind of concept. Well without the cars, they don’t have cars, they just blow up. It’s an adventure, the moment you step foot outside of your home in the vault. Companions, enemies, quests, and most of all; a dog. If you want a game to pour hours and hours into, I would definitely say Fallout--whatever one it may be--is something you should check out.”
Grab your plasma rifles and your favorite set of postapocalyptic armor because Bethesda Software’s newest game Fallout 4 is blasting into store shelves November 10th. You play as the Sole Survivor, a man or woman who had traveled from the depths of Vault 111 to wander into Boston, Massachusetts after a atomic war. With updated gameplay and graphics Fallout 4 features big and badder baddies such as the Mirelurk Queen and a new faction built upon the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Not only were the bad guys given an overhaul the wasteland was given more vibrant colors and a lively appearance. Boston is the main feature of Fallout 4’s map. Stated by Bethesda’s Todd Howard “...if you played Skyrim, I couldn’t tell you it’s X bigger, so we’re just saying it’s about the same size.” But the size of the map opens up more room for even more customization. Fallout 4 follows the tradition of player customization but expands even further than its prede-
cessors allowing the player to craft over 700 combinations of weaponry, build a fort or house out of the scrap metal and wood and even customize your armor from each little piece of fabric on your player character. The story is a new primary focus for Bethesda where the main protagonist now has a speaking role, lead designer of Fallout 4 Emil Pagliarulo said to Gamesradar that voices will add “emotional depth” to Fallout 4’s story. Bethesda has given multiple statements that Fallout 4’s story will be underwraps until the release date. Fallout 4 will come out with minor updates featured on Bethesda’s YouTube channel in the form of small cartoons called Fallout 4 S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Video Series, these videos feature Vault Boy the iconic mascot of the Fallout series. These videos come in the style similar to the original Duck and Cover cartoon from 1951. Each of these videos go about specific perks that each S.P.E.C.I.A.L. skill unlocks alongside an animation of Vault Boy being maimed by wasteland creatures. After five years, Bethesda is releasing Fallout 4 on store shelves in Nov. 11.
that they need to watch what they say more because they have an impact on the community,” junior Gilly Hyde said. People care about and listen like how Miley Cyrus said to Donald Trump “you have my vote”. That was really dangerous because she has followers. She has fans and people are going to do as she does.” Kim Kardashian has admitted to selectively signing autographs ever since she married her privacy-prone
Cyrus because she’s so open and doesn’t care what other people think of her,” freshman Brianne McDermott said. Just like Miley Cyrus can be seen as a role model, so can many other celebrities. Lady Gaga made a great role model for founding the Born This Way Foundation which seeks to empower youth and inspire bravery. In fact, a lot of celebrities donate and help out at charities and do nice things
for people all around the world. In shows such as “Hollywood Game Night”, celebrities are playing to get ten-thousand dollars for a charity of their choice, and recently two celebrities get a ten-thousand dollar donation to the charity of their choice if they win. Celebrities can influence us to be nice to each other and to be ourselves. As Oscar Wilde once said, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
Graphic Designer
Celebrity influence on today’s teens Christina Beck Reporter
Every time someone may turn on the TV, go to the movies, or read a magazine; they would see celebrities everywhere, but they don’t really think of the influence that celebrities have over them. Celebrities are famous and well known all over the United States, which means that the things that they do spread quickly everywhere.
husband, Kanye West. It’s completely reasonable, though it does make the question come to mind of how she selects said fans. But not all celebrities are like this. While a celebrity can have a negative impact, they can also have a good impact too. Some celebrities are good people who do great things or prove to be good role models for people of all ages. “I kind of like Miley
Early October 2015
Sports
Audrey Hays | Sports Co-Editor
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New freshmen teacher spiking on the court
Jessica Borwick Co-Editor in Chief
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his year, AL’s junior varsity volleyball team has gained a new coach. Not only is she a coach, but she is also a new freshman history teacher, her name is Heather Petersen. Heather is a fairly new teacher and her interest for coaching is that she was in athletics when she was in school. “This is my fourth year coaching volleyball. As a teacher, coaching seemed a natural option to me as I was in athletics year-round when
Above: Petersen playing a Kahoot! with her freshman Social Studies class Photo on right: Varsity Volleyball coach Heather Petersen getting ready to serve to sopohomores Nasia Collier and Caitlin Spurgin. Photos by Audrey Hays I was in high school. Being both a coach and a teacher lets me get to know students in a different way than I would as only an educator,” Petersen said. To be a coach in the state of Iowa, it is required to either have a coaching endorsement or a coaching authorization. Petersen also tries to encourage other teachers to do the same. “I took a class from IWCC four years ago. You do have to pay a fee and pass tests, but the license is valid for five years. I always encourage adults or educators who have
in interest in athletics to take the class and get involved in a coaching career,” Petersen said. As a new coach and wanting to make a good impression on the girls, Petersen has made some goals she wants to make happen this season. “Some of my goals for the team would be to have them working together well, like establishing a good team chemistry in which they feel they can rely on one another on the court and develop a bond and a trust with one another. I also would like to
have a winning season, and if that doesn’t turn out to be the case, at least knowing that the girls did their best and never gave up,” Petersen said. Since Petersen is the JV coach, there are specific goals focused towards the player’s’ skill set. “At the JV level, we also focus on honing their skill set as volleyball players and learning to become a specialist in their position, whether it is back row, front row, libero, setter, or for some girls, a variety of those things to become more
preparing himself for the ultimate task of running a program he hoped could be called his own one day. Growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, baseball had always been an outlet, a direction, that after surrounding himself with the sport it brought him to realize that it was a career he wanted to do, needed to do. The only effective way he saw to reach for that title was what brought the option for him to go into teaching. Not only were there plenty of opportunities to coach, but as he got deeper into the field of teaching he started wanting to become a better teacher. With balancing the responsibilities of
running a team and creating next week’s homework assignment, the option for him to resign arose. “I have some other goals right now in my career as a teacher and coaching is a full time job,” Larsen said. “If I was still involved in that I wouldn’t be able to do a good enough job as the head coach here and pay attention to other things in my life.” Usually when one thinks of retirement what they see is a reward for all their work done throughout the years and might also consider it to be a grand close on a life besides death. While he never lacked determination and a giant love towards the sport, his decision to
put down his glove of being known as coach after being on the field for ten years, has come. To him, retiring from one of his career’s isn’t because he tired of the game, but just because of the affect one sport had on his life. “If it wasn’t for baseball, in general, I wouldn’t be where I am now,” Larsen said. This allows him to be able to focus on expanding his teaching abilities and more importantly it offers the time needed to strengthen the relationships with his wife and two children, Avery and Xavier. Abraham Lincoln may be losing a great coach, but one will have the option to have a full time teacher.
versatile. The girls need to learn defensive positions on the court and how to keep on the attack and place the ball,” Petersen said. Petersen overall is very excited for this season and is very happy with the group of girls she has to work with. She loves the dedication and hard work they are bringing to the table. “They are such a joy to work with! I like for them to have a good time at practice (because there is
an element of fun to playing sports) but also be very focused and serious about making themselves and the team better. We practice a lot and it takes a lot of dedication and passion to make a commitment to a sport like volleyball. I have some fantastic players on my team, very talented and hardworking,” Petersen said.
Larsen retiring as baseball coach after 10 years Audrey Hays Sports Co-Editor
Most eighteen year olds seem to not know what to do after graduation, but for one new adult, his mind was made up. For James Larsen he had dreamt about becoming a head coach because of his strong connection to baseball during high school and throughout college. After graduation, his dream began to come to life when he started by coaching at his former high school, Omaha North High. From there he continued with more and more coaching experience at different places and levels which he built to keep
“If it wasn’t for baseball, in general, I wouldn’t be where I am now.” -Coach James Larsen Former baseball head coach James Larsen Photo by Audrey Hays
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Audrey Hays | Sports Co-Editor
Sports
Early October 2015
XC girls running for the win Kendal Bainbridge A&E Editor
Pictured above: Runners of ALHS Cross Country Girls huddle before their first meet on Sept. 5. Pictured below: Junior Mikayla Olson runs in the Sept. 19 meet at Swan lake. Photos provided by ALHS XC 2015
“Cross country is more a mental challenge then a physical challenge,” Olson said.
Cross country running can be considered one of the most disciplined athletic sports. It is not just a sport where one puts on a uniform, runs through the wilderness, gets lost in the woods and winds up slipping in mud puddles; although this tends to happen on an occasion, there are also rules and regulations that must be followed. Those of which emerged out of Britain in the early nineteenth century. English schools started holding cross country running competitions in 1837, and a national championship was held on December seventh, 1867. Cross country is a running event which is held on open courses with varying distances. Distance length varies on age, gender and regions where the courses are being held. Courses can contain grass, hills, mud and water, and several other types of land formations. These course variations are meant to test a runner’s endurance, strength and ability. Course markings are meant to be viewed with clarity and ease; these usually include flags or tape from start to finish. All cross country meets begin with a mass start with the competitors standing side by side in a line, and teams are divided into their respective sections (top runners usually on the line). Officials will then fire a gun loaded with blanks to start the race. To end the race, a finish line is clearly marked with a banner. The runners are channelled through a shoot marked with flag to ensure proper scoring and placements. This is a team sport, individual awards are given,
Sophomore Claire Jones runs in XC meet at Swan Lake. “I love to compete because I love the feeling when I run,” Jones said. Photo provided by ALHS XC 2015 but usually the main directive is a team championship, where all runners scores are needed. The top five runners placements of each individual teams are added up, and the team with the lowest score wins. Practice at A.L can start as early as June, but most are not required and it is something that is always offered
to anyone. Required practices begin in early August, consisting of both sprint and distance runs, as well as time trials. The girls and boys practice at different times but they do similar workouts, and not every practice they do is at the school; they do track and street workouts. The girls team consists of twenty two runners, and the boys consist
of about fourteen. “The season goal is to make it (to) state as a team, and to continue to get faster (individually) every meet,” Coach Traci Stoop said. This current season is a little different than those in the past, as the running distance has been bumped up from the original 2.49 miles to 3.1 miles. And They’re Off! Senior Emma Leisinger, sopohmore Hope Riche, and senior Cici Saldana run in the 9/12/15 meet at IWCC. Photo submitted by ALHS XC 2015
Players express thoughts on football stadium Dani Rambo
Co-Editor in Chief
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t was just last year when the CB stadium went under construction to renovate the entire range, and Sept. 4 marked the first official use of the field. One of the first things that was taken care of in phase one of the stadium project was the turf that replaced the field. “The new turf allows us to play much faster because it has great grip, and bounce to it,” senior Josh Krabbe said. “It’s much better than the swamp that we had these past years.” After so many classes have gone through the field, this year’s class will be the first to enjoy the luxuries of not only having a turf field, but new home and visiting
locker rooms, a training room, a new concession building, new restrooms, and an updated parking lot. “We are the first class to get a turf field,” junior Dalton Ebertowski said. “Classes before us have been waiting so long for this.” The excitement of the stadium has affected everyone from the players to the fans, and after traveling to many nice fields from last season the players deserve a winning field of their own. “Having the new stadium allows the players and fans to be proud to call CB Stadium home,” Coach Joel Nelson said. “I also feel having this new stadium will make players and fans more excited about Abraham Lincoln football and we will have more people come watch us play.” None of this would have been possible without the
support from the entire community and the generous donors that helped along the way. The players can now show pride when visiting teams come to play on their field. “I am really excited about the community in supporting this project and backing it up,” Nelson said. “Our players deserve to play on a quality field, and I am also looking forward to next year when a lot more of the projects will be complete and it will have even more of a WOW factor.” Phase one has been completed since the beginning of the school year and phase two is not yet in progress but the school would like to get a bid soon and hopefully start sometime in September. The goal for next year is to have everything ready and in shape for the 2016 football season.
Photo by Dani Rambo