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The LHS swim team had its first meet of the sea son Sept. 10 in Moscow at the University of Idaho Swim Center. There are six total meets for the year, with state championships being the first weekend of November. The only home meet for this season
will be held at 5 p.m., Oct. 22, at the Asotin County Family Aquatic Center in Clarkston.
The swim team is coached by Derek Axe, who has experience with swim lessons and coaching span ning over 12 years. He is also a History and English teacher at Tammany High School in Lewiston.
Team captains this year include Grace Qualman
and Luke Mastroberardino, who are both seniors. They have each have been with this team all four years of high school while also swimming with the Neptunes, a local swim team with Inland Empire Swimming, which holds competitions throughout the Pacific Northwest.
The Drama Club’s newest production, “Silver Wings on Blue,” will be performed on Thursday, Nov. 2, through Saturday, Nov. 5, at the P1FCU Performing Arts Center at LHS. The play is about the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) and their accomplish ments during World War II.
The story follows three pilots who navigate both the airways and life during the war. Conflicts happen in the air and on the ground, with problems such as dangerous weather, hazardous planes, sabotage and struggles to gain recognition as military members. However, despite the many struggles, their love of flight and patriotism kept them going. The WASPs were an influential part of World War II due to their help in ferrying military aircraft, delivering new planes, training bomber pilots and serving as air borne marks for gunny target practice.
The play was written by Ariana Burns, who lives in Moscow. The story supports a 12-member cast and is female-heavy. Students are also assisting with lights and sound, and backstage with costumes, building sets and moving set pieces onto the stage.
Later this fall, the Drama Club will compete for the eighth year at districts. This will include acting events
Drama Club meets to discuss the performance in November. Photo by of Rachel Sheppard. (for solo or ensemble) and technical events (for scene design, costume design and makeup). The date and location have yet to be announced.
The spring season will kick off with the musical Guys and Dolls. This story follows Sky Masterson, who is on a mission to get a date with the virtuous Sarah Brown due to a bet with peer Nathan Detroit.
Students can still be a big part of the musical, even if they are not confident in their singing and dancing skills. There are many tech positions open, as well as ensemble parts that help support the show.
During the spring after the musical, Drama Club will present One-Acts and the Bengal Follies. One-Acts feature student-written and directed plays that are approximately 10 minutes long. They usually support a small cast, but there are many shows that one could be a part of.
Bengal Follies are a tradition that the drama depart ment has followed for 81 years. This event is a talent show, without the competition aspect. Students will be able to share group and solo performances of skits, comedy shows or music.
Lewiston High School has a new and improved way of delivering the morning announcements to stu dents -- a live-streamed, student-led news broadcast.
Students in ASB are now sharing school announce ments on Lewiston High School’s very own YouTube channel, streaming every morning as soon as school starts. Called the Bengal Update, they announce ev erything from lunch menus to sports schedules and game footage.
“I think it’s an interactive way for students to get the news in the morning,” said Seyi Argundade, treasurer for Lewiston’s ASB. “When the announcements were on the intercom, I felt like kids didn’t really listen to them. With this new system, kids (have) to listen to the announcements.”
Delivering announcements with this system allows an opportunity for students to connect with their peers and school in a unique way. Those interested can visit Lewiston High School’s YouTube page at LHS Bengals and watch all their previous updates starting from the beginning of the 22-23 school year.
The Bengal Update can be found on the LHS Bengals Youtube channel by looking up “LHS Bengals” and finding the live stream for the day. The livestreams are uploaded as the daily announcements are finished. Visit bit.ly/3SzODxq to see the Bengal Update.
By Ella Bruck Staff Reporter
Changes in staff numbers and student interest have left a few holes in this year’s class schedule at LHS.
At the end of the 2021-2022 school year, 14 teach ers left LHS for a variety of reasons including retire ment, medical reasons, or moves to other employ ment. While many teachers have come in to replace them, there are still some positions unfilled.
This is part of the reason for cancellation of some classes -- such as honors courses and Consumer Math -- in the 2022-2023 school year. The admin istration had reportedly been discussing a few of these changes for some time.
But some students feel angry that these classes are unavailable this year. Some feel it forces them to learn at a slower pace and does not allow them to get a deeper understanding of the curriculum.
“The pacing [in Algebra 2] is very slow,” said Olivia McDermott, a junior. “I feel like in Algebra 2 Honors I would be able to actually work better and faster, and challenge myself more than I can in normal Al gebra.”
This shortage of teachers is not only affecting students, but also some teachers, who have under
gone difficult changes in their work load.
For example, Brent Jacobs has moved up from teaching Algebra 2 Honors in order to teach Pre-Calculus. Both Jacobs and Mike Murphy have given up one of their prep hours to cover needed math classes.
“You just allocate more time to it,” said Murphy. “Yes, it adds extra [work], but as Mr. Jacobs and I are both professionals, we make sure all the home works are done and work [is] prepared for every class. So it adds a little bit extra but [it’s] not major.”
Other classes are not offered this year for lack of teachers, but for a lack of students. In order for a class to operate, 15 to 20 students need to have signed up for it. This fall, Spanish 4, a dual-credit class, only had seven students sign up to take it.
Students who want to find out if a class is still available for second semester can meet with their counselors in the Counseling and Career Center. Counselors are sorted by student last names.
• Kaylin Roby: A-D
• Christina Cahill: E-K
• Olivia Wilson: L-R
• Leslie Halliday: S-Z
Lewiston High School’s Evening Academy started Sept. 13, and will continue on Tuesdays and Thurs days in the main campus building.
Students can go to Evening Academy from 6 to 8 p.m. those days to work on makeup work, tests, quiz zes, and more.
This semester, math and science help is offered every Tuesday and Thursday. On Tuesdays, math is in the library, and science is in an assigned science teacher’s classroom. Academic help from all other de partments is available Thursdays in the library.
There will be no Evening Academy Tuesday, Oct. 4; Thursday, Oct. 6; Tuesday, Nov. 22; and Thursday, Nov. 24.
This fall administrators at LHS have started enforc ing stricter regulations for students in hopes that stu dents will follow them throughout the year.
In the previous school year, students had many problems following rules regarding cell phones, as well as with skipping class, according to Chad Arlint, an assistant principal. In September 2021, a Tik-Tok trend called “Devious Licks” surfaced around the U.S., in which students stole or vandalized school proper ty. This social media trend made its mark on the LHS campus when soap dispensers were ripped from the walls and bathroom mirrors were removed, as report ed in The Bengal’s Purr.
Because of this, the administration is enforcing the rule that students must leave their phones on their desks or the teacher’s desk when leaving the class room. Another rule prohibits students from leaving the classroom during the first or last 15 minutes of class. The goal is to help prevent students from wast ing time during class, Arlint said.
Last year, teachers decided whether students could have their phones out in class. Many teachers allowed students to listen to music during independent work
and to use their phones while the teacher wasn’t instructing.
Now, students are not allowed to have phones out in class during in structional time, which Arlint claims should be “bell to bell.” And stu dents who sign out to leave during class are not allowed to have their phones with them.
A few rules from last year are still enforced, such as signing in and out of class and taking standardized hall pass es. This helps keep track of students while they are out, Arlint said.
Not everyone is happy about these new rules, but Arlint hopes they help stu dents and staff stay on track for the school year. Arlint added that he hopes this year will be a good one for
Formerly a spring sport, golf has moved to the fall season this year. The girls golf coach Greg McMillan said, “the Boise Valley golf courses needed to make more money.”
By having the golf season in the fall, the golf course can make more money from paying customers who tend to play more often in the spring. The golf courses finally decided that the golf team could only continue playing if they moved to the fall, in hopes that they would be able to make more money while also support ing the high school golf programs.
This shift from spring to fall poses challeng es and opportunities for the LHS golf team.
“The challenge for us is finding teams for the JV to play against,” said McMillan. Many smaller schools that JV has played in the past did not transition to playing in the fall along with Lew iston’s golf team.
Despite several challenges, some opportuni ties have opened up for the golf team. Lance Bambacino, an LHS Junior on the boys golf team, said, “They changed the golf season from the baseball season [spring] to the fall so I could play.”
By moving golf to the fall, athletes playing other sports in different seasons can partici
pate in golf and another sport. However, this can also pose a challenge for the athletes that used to play a different fall sport while golf was in the spring. These athletes have to either pick a sport or try to play both sports during the same season which can pose many challenges.
For Mollie Seibly, a Junior on the LHS girls varsity golf team, the season shift opens up several oppor tunities. Seibly said, “I think I play better when it’s warmer.” The weather was cold and rainy during the spring golf season, and the school canceled several tournaments. Oftentimes, the golfers had to bundle up at the cold spring tournaments to stay warm. The weather this fall, however, is warm and much more enjoyable, making it easier to play.
Coming into the season this year, Seibly feels much less rusty than last year. “In the summer, I play a lot more in general than in the winter,” Seibly said. By having the extra practice coming into the season, Seibly hopes to score better and place higher this season as she is much more practiced.
The golf coaches hope that the golf program will continue to grow as the word gets out about golf moving to the fall, but for now, they are excited for this year and hope to overcome the few obstacles they can see ahead.
us on Instagram for updates on the website and other news:
especially when we have the resources to accommo date it alongside clean energy.”
In Boise, Lizzy Duke-Moe, 19, also spoke out about the issue.
By Scout Alford Entertainment AssistantAs fifth-graders in the Lewiston School District, many students took part in raising steelhead in our science curriculum. Every day the lunch line would wrap around the 55-gal. tank where the steelhead roe lay. Little did those students know that salmon and steelhead had been listed as endangered species for more than 20 years.
On June 9, Washington State’s Sen. Murry and Gov. Inslee released a draft report detailing the issues of salmon extinction concerning the four Lower Snake River dams. In summary, the report revealed that the energy from the dams is fully replaceable and breach ing is a needed measure to fully recover salmon pop ulations. Now, all that is left is the question of breach ing. Breaching the four Lower Snake River dams is a necessary measure to ensure tribal justice, keep the Pacific Northwest ecosystem happy and secure salm on as a species for future Idahoans.
The Lower Snake River dams were built between 1957 and 1975. Salmon runs in the Columbia and Snake rivers have declined over 90% in the last 100
years, as reported by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, as well as the Oregon Department of Fish and Game. Salmon are magnificent creatures that happen to live in our backyard as residents of Lewiston.
Salmon are born as freshwater species. They then begin the first portion of their migratory cycle, sea ward migration. Once in the ocean, their gills and kid neys adapt to the saltwater environment. Depending on the species of salmon, they may spend 18 months to eight years in the ocean before converting back to freshwater and swimming back upstream, where they will spawn, die and deliver nutrients back to the environment around them through their decompos ing bodies. Dams impact salmon in many ways, from rising water temperature to changing river flow pat terns and permanently blocked fish passage. All of this contributes to fewer and fewer salmon making it to the ocean and back. Their complete 900-mile trip is one of the most extraordinary migratory patterns on planet Earth.
Many Native groups of the Pacific Northwest de scribe themselves as Salmon People. For generations, salmon have been seen as a gift from the Creator, sac rificing themselves in many ways to help and guide many tribes of the area. Salmon are a part of a spiritu al and cultural identity for many indigenous groups, and they are honored in various special ceremonies. In return, at the front face of salmon recovery have been native people stressing the deep relationships found within their love for salmon. Ensuring the sur vival of this sacred animal is a needed part of tribal justice for the Columbia Plateau Tribes and more.
Activism surrounding this issue has been nothing short of noteworthy, specifically from younger gen erations of Idahoans and Pacific Northwest residents.
“Clean energy at the cost of a keystone species isn’t clean energy at all,” said Maanit Goel, 16, of Samma mish, Washington, in an interview outside of The Ben gal’s Purr. “Salmon survival must be non-negotiable,
“As an Idahoan who enjoys the wilderness, I was devastated to learn that in the past 100 years, 40% of salmon grounds in Idaho have been damned to extinction,” Duke-Moe shared. “My fellow youth and I are chasing a future where salmon return to alpine lakes and saturate the soil, people and water around them with nutrients. We will not stop until then.”
Another teen, Henry Roller, 19, said, “I care about restoring the Snake River because the critically en dangered southern resident orcas are starving to death.” He added that they rely on the salmon of the Columbia and Snake rivers for over half of their diet, and now there are are only 75 whales left.
It’s neccessary to listen to biologists and remove these dams. This will ensure that salmon are still here 10, 20, 50 years down the line for future generations to enjoy, study and fish.
Salmon are keystone species to the Pacific Northwest that complete one of the world’s greatest migrations right in our backyard. There are currently 14 species of salmon listed under the Endangered Species Act. Breaching the dams is necessary for tribal justice, to keep the ecosystem happy, and secure salmon as a future species. As drastic as the breaching of a dam may seem, it will never compete with the loss of life and culture that are parallel to salmon extinction.
Ice Harbor Dam stands on the lower Snake River. Photo by Scout Alford.The lower Snake River dams need to be breached to ensure the survival of Idaho’s wild salmon
Seyi Arogundade, a se nior at LHS, is involved in ASB Leadership, The Ben gal’s Purr, Yearbook, Mock Trial, Business Profession als of America (BPA) and the Distinguished Young Women program.
“A lot of my friends are in these organizations, and being really involved is a way I get to connect with the people I love most,” she said.
By Madeline Gibson Co-Editor-in-ChiefIn the four years of high school, students are expect ed to have made life-long friends, have stable parttime jobs, get good grades and, on top of all of that, participate in extracurricular activities. However, this living up to this ideal isn’t reasonable for most high school students.
By Rachel Sheppard Staff ReporterPicture this: It’s game day for Battle of the Bridges. Students flood the gym for the pep assembly, dressed head to toe in purple and gold, each one excited to beat the Bantams.
Except that is far from what happened. Less than a third of students participated in dressing for spir it day, and less than half seemed excited about sup porting the football team. That doesn’t even cover those who did not even attend the assembly.
If students felt connected, there would be a greater sense of school pride at LHS. Being involved in groups within the school can help give students pride in be ing a Bengal. Staying involved is an essential part of having a fulfilling high school experience. Joining in on more than just academics is a surefire way to get the most out of the time spent in high school -- from various opportunities and making connections with people, to learning new skills and setting oneself up for future success,
Here at LHS, students are lucky to have plenty of opportunities to be a part of something outside aca demics. Because of the numerous clubs at LHS, there’s something for everyone. There are many opportuni ties to get involved, from service-based organizations like FCCLA and KEY Club to one of the many sports teams.
Some of these groups include Drama, DECA, HOSA, Tech Club, Women’s Empowerment Club and PingPong Club. Something as simple as dressing up for spirit week or showing up to support Bengal sports teams and club events are great ways to feel a part of something bigger. These clubs and organizations are a privilege and an opportunity to make something out of the years spent in high school.
Most high school students would say that the best part of school is getting to see friends. Humans are made to be in community with one another, and what better way to do that than being connected to people with similar interests?
Making connections with people is what life is all about, and accord ing to the article “Socio-emotional Adjustment,” most friendships are formed around a common interest.
Payton Finch, the 2022 ASB president, echoed this idea.
“Through involvement I have met people I never would have seen and experienced things that I other wise might not have gotten the chance to,” Finch said. “The people make it worth it, though. In each group, I have a community of people that I absolutely adore. We are all investing in each other’s lives. I encourage everyone to find good communities of people who challenge you, but also who celebrate with you,”
Finch added that her network is much bigger now that she is involved than it was when she was only comfortable within her friend group.
“I love that clubs and groups bring people from all different backgrounds and beliefs and make them a community,” Finch said.
School involvement is positive for many reasons. For one, it means that one is well-rounded, and for those who have not filled out a college application yet, it means that a person has more than just academic achievements to boast about.
One of the biggest things that involvement requires is time management skills. Both Finch and Arogun dade mentioned that free time was a significant sac rifice in. But they gain from the character and leader ship growth, as well as the joy the activities brought.
“School doesn’t teach you all the life lessons or all the things you could learn from being in a club or be ing in a sport,” Arogundade added. “Being out there and finding something that you love to do is really important.”
Extracurricular activities can teach various skills, from teamwork and cooperation to creative problem solving, accountability and leadership.
High school could potentially be an uneventful and uninteresting place, but extracurriculars bring joy and meaning to student life, School can be something to look forward as well as something memorable to look back on.
Many people who don’t participate in after-school clubs don’t have a choice about it. Students usually have part-time jobs and need time for shifts. This may be because they have a car to make payments on, or gas and insurance to pay for. Or maybe they want to have spending money, and to spend the few days they have off with their friends. Perhaps they need the money to support their family and can’t afford to miss work shifts or spend money on events.
Attending sports events or participating in sports in general should not be a part of the “ideal high school experience.” Students shouldn’t feel pressured to at tend sports games to enjoy their time in high school. And the same goes for time-consuming clubs, even though they might look good on college applica tions. According to crimsoneducation.org, “In the U.S., extracurriculars account for about 30% of your application. With the elimination of SAT Subject Tests and the trend of universities going test-optional, ex tracurriculars are the one component that continues to carry a lot of weight.”
But clubs are useless unless you plan to go to an out-of-state college. They take up time that students could use to catch up on homework or visit teachers for help. And a lot of clubs demand time outside of regular meetings. Some clubs travel out of town for competitions and can cause students to miss classes. Clubs won’t matter on college transcripts if they drive failing grades.
It may be said that clubs and sports games can connect the student body; they can bring people to gether who have the same interests but don’t know each other. These activities can give the students pride in their school, and that’s great. But they should not be what defines an excellent high school expe rience. Clubs prevent students from spending time on school work or relaxation, and clubs can take time away from friends and family. If participating in af ter-school clubs and sports brings a student happi ness and isn’t a disadvantage, they should do it. But students who choose to do otherwise should be able to do so without feeling like they’ve missed out on an authentic high school experience.
Andrew Niccol wrote and produced Gattaca 25 years ago. And even still, it’s a good movie for those who like futuristic sci-fi or dramatic thrillers. The produc ers created a well-made movie that follows a smooth pace alongside the movie’s central relationship. The movie is also notable because movies like Gattaca were uncommon when it was produced in 1997.
Gattaca’s ratings have been relatively consistent and also very positive throughout the years. Accord ing to Rottentomatoes.com, the movie earns an 81% on the Tomatometer; this means that the movie is “fresh.” IMDb.com also gives Gattaca a good rating: 7.8/10. And the film earned itself $12.3 million (gross USA) at the box office.
The main characters of Gattaca are Vincent, Irene and Eugene. Vincent, played by Ethan Hawke, will do anything to reach his dream. He is knowledgeable and witty, making his schemes almost perfect. Irene, played by Uma Thurman, is always curious. She is shown to be patient and loyal as the movie progress es, making her an excellent ally for Vincent. Jerome, played by Jude Law, adds much-needed sass to the movie. He plays a paralyzed man who is no longer of use to the world, while also setting up a great part nership between him and Vincent.
This movie takes place in a world where parents have the ability to choose their children’s traits by se lecting the best of their own genes. The main char acter, Vincent, is born without his parents’ best traits and is prone to many deficiencies and diseases. Be ing born without those best qualities means that it will be almost impossible for him to reach his dream of going to space. Through a series of considerably shady attempts, he is finally able to work at Gattaca.
Watching this movie feels like trying to get away with a crime. It’s easy to see that Vincent is in trou ble and has no idea what he’ll do next. There are many moments when it feels like he’s close to getting caught, but he manages to escape. Throughout most of the movie, it’s clear that he is a bit scared, but he keeps a calm demeanor that it makes his schemes more believable.
The production quality of this movie is spectac ular. Gattaca showcases many visuals that make the film engaging and enjoyable. The sets look especially like a retro-futuristic poster, and the effects look very
realistic. According to vfxhq.com, many computers helped to create lifelike rocket-ship blast-offs and many set designers put together items that give off futuristic vibes. The costumes throughout the movie remain very business-y in style, giving the feeling that everything is a business transaction.
Gattaca ends strangely and feels rushed as all the pieces fit together. However, the film still deserves a 4 out of 5 because it leaves the audience satisfied, it serves up strong visuals, and has kept viewers’ atten tion for 25 years.
Gattaca characters assess their confusing situations in the film. Photo courtesy of moviebreak.com.
Marvel superhero movies have influenced a fair amount of the new films in theaters today. From the original release of Iron Man in 2008 -- the first movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) -- to 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder, Marvel films have been in novating and creating a lasting impact on film pro duction. It’s undeniable that all of the good and notso-good Marvel movies will be remembered for their bold moves and cinematography. But at what point does it go too far for fans?
As with all good film franchises, there are always some questionable or generally disappointing mov ies in the collection. While Marvel hasn’t necessarily made any bad movies, the whole universe feels like it’s run on for far too long.
At this point, Disney and Marvel are trying too hard to continue their big money-maker. Whether it’s a good or bad thing is subjective: Some people may be okay with the near mass production of superhe ro movies, but others may not be so interested in a quantity-over-quality franchise.
Again, Marvel hasn’t exactly made any “bad” movies, but as the years go by, it feels like the films are stray ing from what they used to be. They’re looking more like a flashy, heavily CGI-ed light show.
So the question is: Should Marvel continue produc ing roughly two movies a year, along with the addi tion of the five newer mini-series streaming exclu sively on Disney Plus?
The answer that seems obvious is no. At this point, it becomes apparent that the best choice for Marvel is to find a way to end the franchise and move on to something new and fresh.
The community gathered at Echo Hills Church Sept. 17 in a memorial service for Dominik Shorey. The LHS junior died Sept. 11, 2022.
When asked about Shorey, people who knew him at LHS quickly responded with kind words and mem ories. Shorey was known by friends and staff for his quiet yet joking personality, and his love for different subjects. He was also recognized for his calming and friendly demeanor. They shared that he would often make people laugh and could brighten a day with just a few words.
To Pat Zink, who taught him in math, Shorey was a quiet yet engaged student, with a unique personality.
“He was more than willing to share his knowledge and understanding of things,” Zink said. “He was more comfortable keeping some of those things to himself
and sharing the information one on one.”
Lexi Halberg, a junior, was a close friend of Shorey’s, and remembered him as “an absolute jokester.”
“He was very kind and uplifting. He was a nerd, of course, but we all miss him,” Halberg said. “We need him back.”
Jenny Whitehead taught Shorey at LHS, where she has been a new faculty member this fall.
“He was quiet but well-behaved,” she said. “I remem ber that he was friendly and made me feel welcome at a new school.”
For others, Shorey was more than a friend -- he was considered family.
“I loved him like a brother because that’s pretty much what he was,” said Ry Lincoln, a junior. “He was family. I can’t say how much I miss him.”
By Jasmine Schmidt Co-Editor-in-Chief
Rachel Sheppard, a senior at Lewiston High School, is well known around her school and community as a dedicated worker with a strong work ethic. This fall, her commitment was rewarded as she received the notable 5A-level Interscholastic Star Award from the Idaho High School Activities Association. This award gave Sheppard $1,000 in scholarship money to use at the school of her choice, and it also provid ed $500 to the school.
The Interscholastic Star Award has been given from the IHSAA since 1992, and it recognizes stu dents who are involved in a variety of activities within high school. Sheppard is currently involved in FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America), Key Club, The Bengal’s Purr, band, tennis, youth groups and volunteering.
The process of applying for the scholarship in cludes a submission of all high school activities, a written essay by the applicant and an interview for those who are selected as a top candidate. Corey Williams, assistant principal and athletic director at LHS, was in charge of handing out applications after teachers anonymously nominated students for the award. Williams was excited to see an LHS student win, and to win the money for the school.
“She’s representing all of us. She represents our staff, our students, our community… she represents the Bengals,” Williams said.
Sheppard’s experience in submitting the appli cation showed her perseverance and work ethic. Because Sheppard was out of town at an FCCLA conference the week the application was handed out, she received it the day it was due. Williams told Sheppard that it was not necessary for her to fill out the form, but Sheppard would not let the opportu nity pass her by.
With the permission of her teachers, she spent two class periods crafting an essay and documenting her accomplishments in high school. Sheppard said she felt grateful to have educators who knew it was
important for her to apply for the scholarship, even though she had little time to prepare.
She found out a few weeks later that she was se lected as one of the top students in the district, which meant she would be interviewed over Zoom. When she found out she won the scholarship from Principal Kevin Driskill, Sheppard said jumped up and down in his office, so excited to have won the award.
One reason Sheppard feels motivated to be so active at school is to make connections. She hopes to make a difference in other people’s lives, and vice versa.
“I have been given so many opportunities in life, and I don’t want to waste them,” Sheppard said.
The most important aspects of her life include her family, her friends and her faith, she said. She feels lucky to have a supportive family and friends who motivate her to be the best she can be, adding that she wants to make sure that the kindness she has received gets passed on to others in her life.
Many teachers have helped Sheppard move forward with her academics. Some teachers she especially appreciates include Justin Miller (sev enth-grade English), Jamie Bakker (Relationships and AP Language), Brendan Burns (Band), David Cornelia (Math 147), Brent Jacobs (Algebra 2), and Tom Leachman (Honors Biology and Anatomy). She feels grateful for the challenges and support that they have provided, she said.
“She always wants to do her best, and she’s always one of the top students because of that,” Leachman said, who has worked with Sheppard in college-level classes. “She’s got a work ethic that is just amazing, and she is always wanting to go beyond and take in formation that we learn and take it to a deeper level of understanding.”
For other students, Sheppard recommends getting involved in the community. Her top recommenda tions included FCCLA, KEY Club, music programs, sports programs, Distinguished Young Women (DYW), Leachman’s classes and any other club or ac tivity that offers a way to be connected to people.
“Taking opportunities to be with people and make friends is so important and makes your life more ful filling and valuable,” Sheppard said.
After high school, Sheppard is considering attend ing Grand Canyon University or Whitworth Univer sity, wanting to stay close to family but also want ing to go to a good school. Her ideal college major changes frequently due to her variety of interests, but she expects she will end up studying in a field of biochemistry, specifically molecular biology.
She believes that connection is one of the most important aspects of life, quoting one of her favorite sayings: “You’re not yourself by yourself.” She hopes to live out this aspect of life in her future.
“She has the whole world ahead of her,” Leachman said. “Whatever she decides her interests are, she will ultimately be successful at anything she decides to do.”
Editor’s Note: While Sheppard is on staff for The Ben gal’s Purr, the choice to publish this story was deter mined soley because of her outstanding achievement.
Rachel Sheppard poses in a flower field. Photo courtesy of Sheppard.
The Lewiston School District had many new hires this year, including 18 new addi tions to the teaching staff at LHS. The Bengal’s Purr surveyed each new teacher to find out more about these new Bengals.
Compiled by: Seyi Arogundade, Kaitlyn Fowler, Gabby Wormell
Grades: All Teaches: Special Education Fun Fact: She wants to visit every football stadium in the U.S.
Grades: All Teaches: Teaches health, P.E., and sports medicine
Fun Fact: He has a fan page on Instagram (username is lhs_adam_ fanpage).
Grades: 9th and 10th grade
Teaches: Algebra 1, Geometry Fun Fact: She really loves dinosaurs.
Grades: 9th and 10th grade
Teaches: U.S. History, World History Fun Fact: She plays the bassoon.
Grades: All Teaches: Life Skills, Special Education Fun Fact: She enjoys gardening and is a mosaic artist.
Grades: All Teaches: Consumer Science, Adult Living, Foods and Nutrition, Hospitality and Tourism
Fun Fact: She teaches spin classes.
Grades: All Teaches: Freshman English, Comtemporary Novels Fun Fact: He is a musician.
Grades: All Teaches: U.S. History 11, Global Studies, Economics Fun Fact: She once won a head-banging contest and the prize was a can of tuna fish.
Grades: All (mostly 9th grade)
Teaches: Spanish 1 Fun Fact: She is allergic to corn.
Grades: 9th and 10th grade Teaches: English Fun Fact: She has swam across the Salmon river more than three dozen times.
Grades: 9th grade
Teaches: Earth Science, Freshman Success
Fun Fact: He has nine ducks with sunglasses in his room.
Grades: 9th grade
Teaches: Algebra 1 Fun Fact: He has a chocolate milkranking PowerPoint.
Grades: 9th Teaches: Algebra 1 Fun Fact: He won a mutton busting compeition when he was a kid.
Grades: 12th grade Teaches: AP Government, Government Fun Fact: She likes to dive with sharks.
Grades: 9th, 10th and 11th grade
Teaches: Algebra 1, Algebra 2 Fun Fact: She was a foreign exchange student in Mexcio.
Grades: All Teaches: Physical Education Fun Fact: He is from California.
Grades: 10th Teaches: Geometry Fun Fact: He played baseball at LCSC and won two nation championships.
Grades: 11th grade
Teaches: English Fun Fact: She moved to Lewiston from Boise.
Sabrina Bramlet
Colton Maddy
Annette Haag
Austin Hall
Alicia Hasenoehrl
Blaze Dugger
Janelle DeWenter
Roni Coleman
Candice Carlson
Brynnli Carlson
Crystal Kirk
Adam Cadez-Schmidt
Darren Trainor
Jenny Whitehead
Alissa Sears
Jesse Roehl
Jennifer Johnson
Some may find themselves getting stuck in a rut as we settle back into our school routines and prepare for the year ahead. It can be diffi cult to focus or retain information when in the same space day in and day out. Freshen up the typical routine with these fun local study spots.
Blue Lantern is quite possibly one of the most popular study spots in town. Almost every teen ager in the valley knows about it by now, but for those who don’t, let me just say that this cafe has an incredible atmosphere. With all the lights and plants, great drinks and baked goods and open seating, this is the ideal place to hit the books.
Address: 326 Main St. Byp., Lewiston, ID
Hours: 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Libraries are obviously a classic work or study spot. The Lewiston City Library offers not only a quiet space to focus and knock tasks off your list, but a vast selection of books on a wide va riety of subject matter to help out as well.
Address: 411 D St., Lewiston, ID
Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, closed Sunday
The Hot Shots Cafe brings a lot to the table when it comes to local study spots. They offer a variety of deli cious drinks and snacks, lots of natural light and both outdoor and indoor seating. Supporting them also means supporting a local business (always a plus).
Address: 631 Bryden Ave., Lewiston, ID
Hours: 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
The area has so many beautiful parks to choose from. Parks are a great change of pace and scen ery for students. They offer sunlight, fresh air and all the comforts of nature. Whether studying alone or with friends, a simple study session can be
turned into a study picnic just by spreading a blan ket on the grass, maybe throwing in a few snacks, and getting to work. Some popular local parks in clude Kiwanis Park, Hereth Park, and Sunset Park. Kiwanis Park Address: 718-865 Snake River Ave., Lewiston, ID Hereth Park Address: 1534 Powers Ave., Lewiston, ID Sunset Park Address: 2725 Willow Dr., Lewiston, ID
The Blue Lantern Coffee House offers a calm and welcoming atmosphere for students. Photo courtesy of the Blue Lan tern Coffee House. The Lewiston City Library located in Downtown Lewiston provides a calm, focused study environment. Photo courtesy of lewistonlibrary.com. Hot Shots Cafe is a casual and fun local study spot. Photo courtesy of Hot Shots Espresso.On Aug. 25, the California Air Resources Board is sued a rule stating that no gasoline-powered vehicles can be sold after the year 2035. This rule will also re quire vehicle manufacturers to speed up production of zero-emission automobiles starting in 2026. Since issuing the rule, there have been several angry meet ings and attempts to abolish it, but none have seen any success. Dr. Steven Cliff, the executive officer of CARB, announced that in light of the concerns and complaints, CARB has developed a much more rea sonable plan so car manufacturers don’t have to rush vehicle design and production. As CARB announced Sept. 5, in an attempt to resolve the issues with the new rule, they have made a compromise. Starting in 2025, no more automobiles of any kind may be produced, manufactured, or sold in the entire state of California. This will ensure that California is doing its part to stop climate change. So as of 2025, all Cal ifornians will be walking or riding new eco-friendly biodegradable bicycles made by a cheap Chinese company.
Starting with the new school year, the school ad ministration has taken drastic measures, and some say these new rules have gone too far.
The superintendent has stated that all electronic devices must be taken from students and immedi ately destroyed in the nearest oven, as they “distract from education.” This includes earbuds, cell phones and all other mobile devices with the exception of school-provided Chromebooks. However, if Chrome books prove to be another distraction for students, they too will be destroyed for the good of the school.
The district has also informed LHS that a “mini-oven” will be installed in every classroom for easy access, with ventilation shafts leading outside of the school.
Construction on these will begin within the week, and students have been asked to ignore any distrac tions that might interfere with classroom activities, such as construction, necromancy or woodworking.
Other new rules include prohibiting animal prod ucts, forcing all students to be vegan. This means the
removal of items such as Big Daddy Pizza, chicken nuggets and mozzarella sticks from the lunch menu. All students will receive an all-vegan meal called “Mys tery Mush” every day that includes vegetables, fake meat and a mystery ingredient each time it’s served.
Going further, the school will ban all pockets, as they give students the ability to hide weapons along with other contraband. A heavy punishment of expulsion will result in the use of pockets, as it will be assumed that students are carrying a weapon.
The students will also be forced to wear “no-no bracelets.” The purpose of these bracelets is to reduce and eliminate the use of profanity during class time and in the hallways. If students do use a “no-no word,” a shock will be delivered to the wearer and an elec tronic detention slip will be sent to Study Hall for ex amination. Students are not allowed to take off these bracelets for the duration of the school day and will recieve a Saturday School punishment if the bracelet is taken off. If the bracelet is found to be broken, each student will be fined $2,000.
The repercussions of these new rules have result ed in a riot of students and teachers alike. Because of this, the principals have hired Justin Beiber for the students’ entertainment during lunch.
Put your LHS knowledge to the test in this crossword puzzle!
1. Mascot for LHS rival
5. The street LHS is located on 7. Name of LHS rival school name
8. What the upper hallways at LHS are named after 10. LHS school colors
11. LHS mascot’s name
DOWN
2. The county Lewiston is located in 3. What the lower hallways at LHS are named after 4. What is played after every LHS touchdown
6. What LHS stands for
9. Name of LHS football field
12. LHS mascot
3201 Cecil Andrus
ID 83501
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