Lewiston High School, DTEC 407, 3201 Cecil Andrus Way, Lewiston, Idaho 83501 Lewiston High School, 3201 Cecil Andrus Way, Lewiston, Idaho, 83501
The Bengal’s Purr
Since 1927
Since 1927
”Devious Licks” pranks shock, pages 4-5 Cover art by Aydann Long
Cover art by Aydann Long
Vol.94, Vol. No.94, 1 No. No. 1
Halloween excites, pages 10-11
Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021 Friday, Oct. 29, 2021
Heathcare workers stressed, pages 14-15
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Variety
THE BENGAL’S PURR Meet the Staff Art by Aydann Long
Rylie Regan
News Editor, Opinion Editor, Copyeditor
Cece Thomas
Chayton Brewer -Burgin
Editor-in-chief
Hannah Shoffitt
Website Manager
Managing Editor, Features Editor
Lauren Martin
Matthew Dugdale
Declan Cattrysse Entertainment Editor
Josh Tatko
Sports Editor, Copyeditor
Seyi Arogundade
Madeline Gibson
Jasmine Schmidt Copyeditor, Features Assistant
Ariana Flaig
Buisness and Distribution Manager
Aydann Long Social Media Manager
Sydney Ball
Josie Sager
Danica Keane
Copyeditor
Historian, Opinion Assistant
Photography Manager
Features Assistant
News and Entertainment Assistant
Sports Assistant
Opinion and Entertainment Assistant
News 3
Friday, Oct. 29, 2021
Biden protest forms in Boise
By Hannah Shoffitt News Editor Over 1,000 protesters gathered Sept. 13 in Boise to rally against President Joseph Biden. According to the Associated Press, the crowd was heavily opposed to Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate and the result of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Due to the spread of wildfires this summer and fall, Biden visited three western states to promote his administration’s utilization of wartime law to help with wildfire preparedness and surveying wildfire damage, as well as pushing his economic agenda. The president landed at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise the morning of Sept. 13. According to the Idaho Statesman, Boise police officers set up a boundary around the gate, and at least two people were charged with connection to the violent pro-Trump protests that happened Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol. Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate seemed to be the cause of frustration at the Boise protest. As stated by White House news releases, the mandate requires any employers with over 100 employees to have their employees either fully vaccinated or tested weekly. Vaccinations are necessary for federal workers or anyone doing business with the federal government. Healthcare workers who are employed in Medicare or by hospitals participating in Medicaid or other healthcare settings must be vaccinated for COVID-19. It also requires employers to provide paid time off for workers to get vaccinated. “I would quit my job if they forced me to take the vaccine,” said Christi Bugen, a woman from Rupert, Idaho, told the Idaho Statesman. She brought her eight children to protest alongside her, all wearing anti-vaccine shirts. Idaho has the lowest vaccination rate in the country, according to covidactnow.org. Many hospitals here are buckling due to patient loads caused by the COVID-19 delta variant, particularly among the unvaccinated. As of Oct. 21, 587 patients were hospitalized state-wide, and 176 patients were in intensive care due to COVID-19. Both of these are record numbers and are due for an increase as hospitals send in more data. “I don’t think anybody should be forced to put something in their body,” Michelle Ballon of Caldwell said to the Idaho Statesman. She attended the Boise protest with a sign claiming that forced vaccines are “medical rape.” Another fault the crowd found with the president was the recent hasty military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Many attendees seemed to believe that Biden is responsible for the suicide bomber in Kubal who killed 60 Afghans and 13 U.S. soldiers. One man, William McNabb of Nampa, arrived with a mobile
Protesters gather outside of the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, on Sept. 13. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press.
display honoring the fallen U.S. soldiers. According to the Associated Press, McNabb takes the display to different events across the state. It includes a leather jacket and names of soldiers who died in Afghanistan adorning it. He said to the Associated Press that the display wasn’t usually used as a political statement. “That’s kinda what made this political -- we lost 13 [soldiers and] we shouldn’t have,” McNabb told the Associated Press. Several far-right groups used Biden’s visit to Boise to promote their opposition to the current administration. In attendance were groups such as the Liberty Dogs, whose members frequently show up to protests heavily armed and wearing militia-type clothing. They urged others to “unwelcome” the president, and other groups followed suit, such as Health Freedom Idaho, People’s Rights, Bring Our Troops Home, and Biden Killed Americans. A few Biden supporters made an appearance at the rally. A man from Boise, Billy Martinez, waved a Black Lives Matter flag and walked into the middle of the crowd saying “Trump lost” into his megaphone, according to the Idaho Statesman. An online video by Martinez’s boyfriend, Leonardo González, shows protesters surrounding the pair and attempting to disconnect the megaphone. The crowd also used homophobic slurs as a woman in a Trump T-shirt grabbed Martinez’s flag. During the president’s Sept. 13 meeting inside of the National Interagency Fire Center, Biden spoke on the dangerous effects of global warming. He told wildland firefighters that the nation owed it to them to make sure they have the necessary equipment to fight the deadly fires, according to the Idaho Statesman. “It’s not a Democrat thing, it’s not a Republican thing, it’s a weather thing,” Biden said.
District, State, City report COVID-19 numbers
By Hannah Shoffitt News Editor As of Oct. 27, two LHS students and zero LHS staff members had COVID-19 and were quarantined. According to the superintendent, Lance Hansen, a total of eight students and five staff members were infected in the Lewiston School District at this time. Since the beginning of the school year, 166 students have returned from quarantine, as well as 57 staff members. The district has seen a total of 168 student cases and 57 staff cases since the school year began. According to covidactnow.org, Idaho has the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rate of all 53 states (including District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico). As of Oct 27, 48.7% of Idahoans had received at least one dose of the vaccine and 43.5% were fully vaccinated. Over the last week, the Lewiston-Metro area averaged about 45.4 new confirmed cases every day. As of Oct. 27, 17 local COVID-19 patients were hospitalized with five in the ICU.
Out of order
“It ultimately comes down to the students stopping it.” - Chad Arlint
Staged photo by Madeline Gibson.
News 5
Friday, Oct. 29, 2021
“Devious Licks” trend takes hold of LHS National trend encourages students to vandalize, steal from schools By Madeline Gibson Features Assistant
In mid-September Chad Arlint, vice principal, started noticing soap dispensers and soaps were stolen from both the girls’ and the boys’ bathrooms. After that, urinal dividers, paper towels, toilet paper and urinal pieces were also stolen at the school. Various students have attempted to rip sinks off of the wall as well, according to Arlint. The vandalism has continued overall this fall, with various cafeteria condiments in bathrooms, along with writing on the bathroom walls. So far, a few vandals have been identified and caught at LHS. Charges have included: petty theft, malicious injury to property, aiding in the commission of a misdemeanor, and restitution, according to LHS Student Resource Officer Rob Massey. “It ultimately comes down to the students stopping it, having enough pride in their school, [and] doing the right thing,” Arlint said. Arlint added that he hopes students will realize that they don’t have to put up with vandalism and theft, and that the trend doesn’t have to go any further. “It’s our school. We need to take care of it,” Arlint said. The men’s bathroom in the LHS DTEC building has closed multiple times this school year due to vandalism. Photo by Madeline Gibson.
Why are so many people are participating in the “Devious Licks” trend?
Christian Lyber, senior
“I think the idea behind people stealing at LHS is peer pressure. The fact that students can convince each other to take a soap dispenser from a bathroom is pretty absurd.”
Amelia Black, senior
“I think for the most part, people get in their heads that they want to be part of a trend because they think it’ll do something for them. Everyone wants in, even if it defies common sense or human dignity.”
Cade Hill, sophomore
“I think so many people are participating in the ‘Devious Licks’ trend because they want validation and attention.”
6
THE BENGAL’S PURR
Sports LHS FALL SPORTS
SEASON RECAP & RECORDS Compiled by Matthew Dugdale, Josie Sager and Josh Tatko
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FOOTBALL
The LHS varsity football team has won seven of its nine non-conference games and two of its three conference games. On Oct. 15, the team won against Lake City with a score of 35-28. The next game was a loss against Coeur d'Alene on Oct. 22. The score was 7-38. Their most recent game was on Oct. 29 against Capital, with the scores unavailable at press time.
GIRLS SOCCER
Katy Wessels jumps to block the ball as an opposing player tries to push it over the net. Photo by Josh Tatko.
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The girls varsity soccer team at LHS, with coach Richard Gayler, has won seven of its 14 non-conference games and five of its 10 conference games. The team's most recent win was on Oct. 16, against Coeur d'Alene, where they won 3-1. The team's most recent game overall was against Lake City on Oct. 19, ending with the Bengals losing 0-3.
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VOLLEYBALL
Under coach Cassie Thompson, the LHS varsity volleyball team has won 11 of its 21 non-conference games. For conference games, the girls have won two of their seven games. On Oct. 12, the Bengals defeated Coeur d'Alene, 3-1.
Cross country runners board a bus to the state tournament. Photo by Madeline Gibson.
6 CROSS COUNTRY
BOYS SOCCER
The LHS boys varsity soccer team has won eight of its 18 non-conference games, as well as three of nine conference games. On Sept. 30 the team won against Eagle, 3-1. On Oct. 22, the Bengals lost to Thunder Ridge with a score of 1 to the opponents' 6.
Peytin Thompson serves the ball to the opposing team. Photo by Josh Tatko.
5 LHS band and students attend a state competition send-off for soccer players. Photo by Matthew Dugdale.
SWIMMING The Lewiston swim team has been work-
ing hard and preparing for district and state tournaments. The team has participated in five swim meets thus far and has two meets left to go. On Oct. 30, the swim team has meets at Coeur d’Alene, where it will be decided who goes to compete at the state level.
On Sept. 2, LHS varsity cross country athletes participated in their first event, a Post Falls River run in Post Falls. The event was 1.8 miles. The highest placing Bengal there was Jordan Poulsen, who placed fourth with a time of 10:30.8. The Bengals' next cross country event was on Sept. 11. It was a 3-mile event in Clarkston. The highest placing Bengal was Kobe Wessels, with a time of 17:14.74. He placed second in this event. On Sept. 18 in Asotin Wessels placed first in a 5,000-meter event. There was another 5,000-meter event on Sept. 25 in Connell. Wessells was once again the highest placing competitor from LHS, coming in third with a time of 17:19. The team also competed in 5,000-meter events Oct. 2, 9 and 21.
Sports 7
Friday, Oct. 29, 2021
Bengals stomp the Bantams at home
Lewiston High School cheerleaders perform at Bengal Field Sept. 10 during half-time for the annual Battle of the Bridges rivalry football game against the Clarkston High School Bantams. Photo by Cecelia Thomas.
Compiled by Rylie Reagan Editor-in-chief The 2021 annual Battle of the Bridges rivalry football game between the Lewiston Bengals and the Clarkston Bantams was held on Sept. 10 at Bengal Field. The Bengals celebrated with a final score of 54-13. •
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FIRST-QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
With 6:45 left in the first quarter, LHS quarterback Jace McKarcher ran the ball into the end zone for the Bengals’ first touchdown of the game. The extra point attempt by senior Thor Kessinger was no good. The Bantams scored their first touchdown with 2:37 left in the quarter. The point afterward was no good, hitting the left upright. With 2:14 remaining in the quarter, the Bengals’ touchdown was called back due to a Bengal flag on the play for holding on. The ball carrier was Cruz Hepburn. At the end of the first quarter, the Bantams and Bengals were tied at 6-6.
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SECOND-QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
With 11:55 remaining in the second quarter, and with 2 yards to go on a third down, Hepburn ran the ball into the end zone, scoring a Bengal touchdown. Bengals went for a two-point conversion but threw an incomplete pass. CHS regained possession of the ball but soon had to punt it away on a fourth down with 9:59 remaining in the second quarter. Lewiston’s Hepburn scored a touchdown at 9:46 on a first down running play. Bengals went for a two-point conversion with quarterback McK-
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archer shoving his way into the end-zone. With 8:30 left in the second quarter, CHS threw an interception picked off by senior, Blake Earl, returning the ball to the end zone. A Lewiston flag on the play, nullified the touchdown. Bengals then started with the ball with first and ten at the Bengal 34-yard line. The first down was an incomplete pass into the end zone. After gaining yardage on the second down, the Bengals were on the Bantam 27-yard line. During the Bengals’ third down, offsides were called on the Bantams, resulting in a 5-yard penalty. With a Bengal first down at the Bantam 22 yardline, Hepburn made a touchdown with 7:26 remaining in the quarter. Bengals went for the twopoint conversion, which fell incomplete. With 6:22 remaining in the second, Bantams punted the ball away on a fourth down. Bengals had the ball on the Bantam 44. LHS player Ethan Shaw ran the ball into the end-zone for a touchdown. With 5:35 left in the first half Bengals went for the two-point conversion and McKarcher converted. Bengals increased their lead to 34-6. Kessinger then kicked off to the Bantams. Bantams punted away on the fourth down and Bengals took over on their own 16. During that drive, the Bengals fumbled on the play, losing yards. From the Bengals 6, McKarcher punted the ball away on the fourth down. Bantams took over at their own 47-yard line. Bantams reached the Bengal 36 but time ran out. At the end of the first half, the Bengals lead 34-6.
THIRD-QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
With 11:12 remaining in the third quarter, LHS
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player Jared Jelenik caught a pass in the end zone for a Bengal touchdown, and the Bengals got the 2-point conversion. The Bengals pulled further ahead with a score of 42-6. Bantams began their next drive and on the third down, and had an incomplete pass with 9:41 left in the quarter. The Bantams punted away the fourth down. The Bengals received the ball at their 31-yard line. The ensuing drive resulted in Bengals’ Shaw running into the end zone, scoring a touchdown for the Bengals with 5:49 left in the quarter. The Bantams blocked the extra point. Lewiston´s Kessinger kicked off with 5:41 remaining in the third quarter. Bantams received the ball at their 22-yard line. After an unsuccessful drive, with 3:31 left in the quarter, Bantams punted the ball away on a fourth down. Bengals had the ball on a third down with 5 yards to go. The ball was at the Bantams’ 18-yard line. Lewiston senior, Vinny Shriver, made a touchdown on the same drive, with 46 seconds left in the quarter. At the end of the quarter, the score is a devastating 54-6.
FOURTH-QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
Landon Taylor scored the second touchdown for the Bantams with 6:06 remaining. The Bantams converted the extra point. The Bengals started at their 21-yard line with 5:31 remaining. Bengals kept the ball until the clock ran out. The 2021 Battle of the Bridges ended, 54-13.
For more sports photos, go to bengalspurr.com.
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Opinion
THE BENGAL’S PURR
20-year war in Afghanistan comes to an end
By Seyi Arogundade Opinion Assistant
“We did not go to Afghanistan to nation-build,” President Joseph R. Biden said in a speech from the White House July 8, 2021. “Afghan leaders have to come together and drive towards a future.” After a 20-year war that was first ventured by former President George Bush after the 9/11 attacks, the last U.S.troops in Afghanistan were pulled out in late August. Amidst the ending of the decades-long conflict, chaos has unfortunately erupted. Polls showed that many Americans supported the evacuation of U.S troops from the Afghan nation, so much so that the Biden administration ran with that main policy in mind; a policy set in motion by his predecessor, Donald Trump. However, it was the way that the current administration constructed the evac- Afghan women sit with children on the runway at the at Kabul Airport in Kabil Afghanistan. Photo courtesy of Vanity Fair. uation that left many citizens and officials mystified. How could they bring an end to a decades-long war lapse if the withdrawal happened too quickly, his as a “Taliban 2.0,” the new government is attemptwithin five months? How could a president with ex- team reassured the public that it would be unlikely ing to acknowledge their mistakes and promises a tensive experience in foreign policy go about this for the Taliban to completely take over Afghanistan. better future for their citizens, specifically women. Interestingly enough, that is exactly what hap- However, there is little to no proof to support these so haphazardly? The Office of the Director of National Intelligence pened. The instability has wreaked havoc and in- claims. In fact, they do not even have a specific reported back in April that the Afghan government stilled terror in the hearts of citizens living there to vision or plan for Afghanistan. The question now would not be able to fight the Taliban without con- the point that many Afghans have left the country is, how will the Taliban present themselves on the sistent support. A report by the Special Inspector in droves. “I need to get a passport and get the hell world stage? General for Afghanistan Reconstruction described out of this country,” said Abdullah, a 41-year-old that attacks by the Taliban against the government Afghan, according to an interview conducted by were increasing, saying that Taliban soldiers had the New York Times. After the Taliban took control taken control of key border crossings and district of the capital city Kabul, two suicide bombers and centers. The report also said that Afghan Army other gunmen flocked to the Kabul Airport as many units refused to complete missions without aid citizens tried desperately to leave. While a different from the special operations forces. Such unfavor- terrorist group claimed responsibility for the atable conditions should have halted any withdrawal tack, the message was one in the same: leaving the plans. However, the Biden administration ignored country will be difficult and, in some cases, deadthese warnings, and followed through with the dis- ly. But for many people, staying in Afghanistan is a organized plan, deciding to first remove U.S. forces, worse fate. Sixty Afghan civilians were among the aircraft and weapons, before closing many airfields casualties, as well as thirteen U.S troops, and many and bases, and finally evacuating civilians. This more were injured. Still, while many people have proved to be a catastrophic approach. Even gotten out of the unstable country, many are still though Biden was forewarned of government col- struggling to leave. Trying to position themselves
Have an opinion? Send your letter to the editor to bengalspurr @lewistonschools.net.
9
THE BENGAL’S PURR
Opinion
Popularity of Halloween dwindles as years pass By Lauren Martin Copyeditor
Halloween has long been a special time of year when children all around the world dress up as whomever they wish to be for a whole day and receive candy for their efforts. For many, it creates a sense of community as they welcome kids to their door to give them treats and greet their families. In recent years, however, we have seen a decline in this holiday’s popularity as Christmas has taken center stage. Social distancing and other COVID-19 precautions also cause many to hesitate when inviting strangers to their door. Could this age-old tradition really be on its way out? Christmas items can now be seen on shelves in retail stores around the world as early as September. According to Ana Serafin Smith, senior director of media relations at the National Retail Feder-
ation, retailers have seen benefits of early ads as far back as the late 19th century, but their volume has significantly increased. With almost everyone carrying a cell phone in their pocket nowadays, the field for marketing has expanded. People are bombarded with messaging, radio ads, fliers, online pop-ups, and, yes, corner Santa Clauses, making the competition for holiday spending fierce. Because of this, fall holidays such as Halloween and Thanksgiving tend to get lost somewhere in the hustle and bustle. Additionally, since the outbreak of COVID-19, many are hesitant to celebrate Halloween as they did in the past amid fear of infecting loved ones and stranger alike. According to data from statista.com, close to 70 percent of United States consumers believe the pandemic will affect how they celebrate Halloween in 2021, while another 16 percent presume it will have a major impact. Although roughly one third say it will have no impact on their spooky celebrations, the
overwhelming majority could potentially be enough to put a damper on the typical night of trick-or-treating for the foreseeable future, leading to a rise in popularity among other holidays. Trick-or-treating has always been a main attraction of the Halloween holiday. Going door-to-door, asking for candy is something that most children have been able to look forward to for years, and that’s a large part of what made the holiday so appealing. In recent years, however, the tradition has seemed to fade away. Lesley Bannatyne, a historian of Halloween, states, “When you don’t have kids and you don’t know your neighbors, you’re less apt to turn on the light and put out a bowl of candy. And the kids who are looking for Halloween neighborhoods look down their street and they only see one light, and they just don’t bother.” If situations like this become reality for families, Halloween will most definitely become less popular.
Point-counterpoint: Age cap on trick or treating Point: Max age should be 12-13
By Ariana Flaig Features Assistant
Halloween is a tradition that has existed for centuries; children dress up in costumes that embody their wildest dreams and their current obsessions. Shrieks of delight are heard and children are slowly corralled door-to-door to collect candy. This tradition of children enjoying Halloween and the complimentary traditions that surround it have continued for a years, but for many, these activities end as they grow up. With this past year and COVID-19 decreasing the number of trick-ortreaters who participate, the question arises: How old is too old to trick-ortreat? This question has a simple answer. The maximum age at which one should trick-or-treat is 12-13. Without an age cap on trick-or-treating, those younger than 12-13 have the joys of Halloween diminished because of the older generation causing chaos. For those younger than 12-13, Halloween is a day fueled by imagination and the promise of sweets. For those past the age cap, Halloween no longer holds the same meaning it used to. Halloween used to be about the kindness of others, dressing up in grandiose costumes and having an amazing night because of the offering of candy. Now, those past the age cap are in an environment that no longer belongs to them as they cannot connect to the center of Americanized Halloween: creating joy for young children. Rather, those past the age are focused on col-
Counterpoint: Max age should be 15-16 By Matthew Dugdale Photography Manager
lecting candy through making adults feel guilty and obligated to give them sweets. For younger kids, having the streets filled with older children adds an element of terror as older kids’ costumes are commonly more graphic, and seeing a surplus of older children may intimidate young children. Teenagers and those past the age of 12-13 could be viewed by adults as potentially being in the area to vandalize homes, steal pumpkins, or destroy Halloween decor. For adults, the process of handing out candy to teenagers with costumes commonly with little care put into it, such as throwing on a random mask and whatever the teen has around their home, shows the adult that the teenager is only trying to get free candy. Those younger than 12-13 are still viewed as being innocent and pure by adults. They wouldn’t vandalize homes or swindle people which is why adults are more likely to handle trick-or-treating in a kinder manner. For children, those who are 12-13 are still roughly equal to them and not their superior as opposed to the the intimidation that teenagers bring The mild social stigma of trick-or-treating past 12-13 may remove the joy from trick-or-treating from those participating as well, which poses the question; why even bother trick-or-treating past 12-13 when the criticism from society will be too great to bear?
Many of us have experienced the joy of knocking on the house of a random stranger and asking for their kindness to give a small sweet, but the question remains: How old is too old to trick or treat? Trick-or-treating is a healthy thing for children and teenagers alike. Trick or treating can help someone be comfortable around people in general. According to Mayoclinic.org, the best way to deal with social anxiety is to slowly be involved in social events. “Any sort of social interaction with other people is a healthy opportunity to repress any anxious feelings.” If you struggle with social anxiety, trick
or treating is a great way to make getting to know your neighbors more comfortable. Knowing your neighbors will give you a great relationship with the people you will be living around. Maybe they’ll be willing to give you extra sweets to snack on. Trick-or-Treating also gives access to sweets galore for anyone interested in snacking during the spooky season. From Snickers to Twix and M&M’s- it’s literally free candy. Who would pass up that opportunity? The oldest you should be out trick or treating, is 15 -16 years of age.
Children stand in line anticipating candy from trick-or-treating. Image courtesy of nypost. com
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Friday, Oct. 29, 2021
Spotlight
Purr Throwback from 2000: What’s your biggest fear?
What are your Halloween traditions overseas? By Madeline Gibson Features assistant
Frederico NavarroLopez, senior, Spain: “We don’t celebrate anything like here, with costumes and the houses decorated; not in Spain.”
Marc Truco, senior, Spain:
Francesco Ceruti, junior, Italy:
“We don’t do the trick-or-treat thing, but sometimes we get costumes; old celebrations are disappearing, and we’re starting to do Halloween.”
“We don’t celebrate Halloween, but we do Carnival in February, and Christmas.”
“Nacho” PérezCortina, senior, Spain: “All the little kids celebrate ... We go to houses and kind of do your stuff, but it’s not that serious.”
By Seyi Arogundade Historian
Luca Sottile, senior, Italy:
Matheo Marseille, senior, France:
“We don’t celebrate Halloween, we celebrate Festa Dei Morti, on Nov. 1, so we don’t have school that day or Oct. 31.”
“For Halloween, we do costumes and eat candy.”
Folklore Story: Bloody Mary By Chayton Brewer-Burgin Features Editor
Bloody Mary is a scary game that kids sometimes play during sleepovers or even on their own if they are daring enough. While the actual origin of the story isn’t concrete, and Bloody Mary is not a real entity, several theorists have attempted to connect the game to historical figures. One figure was Mary Tudor, also known as Mary I of England, often beheaded Protestants for heresy, giving her the nickname “Bloody Mary.” Another historical figure alleged to be Bloody Mary is Elizabeth Bathory, known as the “Queen of Blood.” She was allegedly convicted of murdering hundreds of girls in order to bathe in their blood. Since these events, the story has changed a lot, and so has the potential origin of the Bloody Mary name. A more recent story alleges that during the third plague in the 1800s, people would seemingly drop dead only to apparently come back to life. The only way for doctors to check for life was either by pulse or putting a mirror under the body’s nose and looking for condensation. Oftentimes, they mistakenly buried people alive. In order to preBloody Mary staring back through the mirror. Photo courtesy of medium.com vent this, they attached a string to the inside of coffins leading to a bell on the surface. Cadavers were also buried outside their house or
Spotlight
a family member’s house so someone would hear the bell if it rang. One Bloody Mary story goes that Mary had been bedridden for days due to illness. She finally gave in to the illness, so the coroner came to check for a pulse and condensation on the mirror. After concluding that she was deceased they put her in a coffin but didn’t nail it shut or bury it. They waited to ensure she was actually dead. Mary’s parents waited day and night for her to spring back to life, but after over a week, they accepted that she was gone. But they buried her with the bell and string just in case. Mary’s parents decided to visit a neighbor’s house. While they were gone Mary woke up and started ringing the bell, but her parents weren’t within earshot. After ringing the bell endlessly it fell off the stick that it had been attached to. In a panic, Mary began clawing at the coffin till her fingers were bloody. She never succeeded at escaping and suffocated in the coffin. When her parents returned, they found the bell several feet from the stick. They dug her up to find her petrified corpse, her fingers covered in blood, along with the white dress she had been buried in. Her parents used a mirror to check for condensation, and it is believed that her spirit latched on to the mirror.
More tales on page 12...
By Cecelia Thomas Website Manager
History of Halloween
Halloween began as the Ancient Celtic Festival of Samhain. Samhain was a religious festival celebrated Oct. 31-Nov. 1 as a way to ring in the “dark half” of the year. Those who celebrated Samhain believed that there was nothing separating the physical world from the spiritual world during this time of year. The Celts, who first celebrated the festival, lived over 2,000 years ago, in an area now known as Ireland. For them, Oct. 31 marked the end of summer. This day was considered the beginning of cold and darkness for the rest of the year. They believed the darkness meant that the ghosts of the dead were returning. Celts believed these ghosts damaged their crops and caused trouble. This led Celts to partake in a form of sacrifice. For these sacrifices, they would burn crops and animals for themselves the rest of the year. Oct. 31 is now a day where children, and sometimes adults, dress up in costumes and walk door to door, collecting candy. As Halloween evolves, it becomes more wholesome. Halloween is now considered to be a fun holiday, instead of a dark, gloomy time of year.
Children pose for their photo of their halloween costumes. Photo courtesy of History Daily.
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THE BENGAL’S PURR
Features
Folklore story: Jacqueline Flipper passes far too soon La Llorona By Chayton-Brewer Burgin Features Editor
By Chayton Brewer-Burgin Features Editor
La Llorona was a woman who lived in Mexico whose misdeeds left her soul trapped on Earth after she passed. The story goes that long ago there was a woman named Maria who adored her husband. She loved him with all her heart. They eventually got married and had two kids. As the days went on, she noticed that her husband was spending more time at work and when he was home he only spent time with the kids. Later on, Maria saw her husband with another woman, in a fit of rage, she drowned her children in the river. After realizing her mistake, she cried out, “Oh, my children” (in Spanish). After this, she drowned herself. She was denied entrance to heaven and banished to purgatory on Earth to find her children. Maria is now known as La Llorona. It is said that she wanders the river, looking for her children. She is spotted in a white dress, floating over bodies that are found in the river. She is also purported to attack cheating men.
See more Halloween folklore features on pages 10 and 11.
Jacqueline Flipper was a staff member who many at LHS might not have known. She spent most of her time with foreign exchange students and also those who were immigrating to the U.S. permanently. Sadly, on Oct. 7, Flipper passed away at age 73 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston. Since 2007, Flipper had worked for the Lewiston School District’s English as a Second Language program. Her specialty was Spanish, according to Kathleen Vellegas, human resources supervisor. “Jacqueline was a truly valued member of our staff and her work was commendable in every aspect,” Vellegas said in an email. Flipper was known as a kind and caring person who worked hard with her students and colleagues. Her coworker, Cynthia Yarno, showed joy in her face when she described Flipper’s kindness. When Flipper worked with her students, she didn’t just work for a paycheck, but in a manner that was caring and full of joy, Yarno shared. Flipper was also highly positive. It was clear that she left an impact. “She was cheerful and kind,” Yarno said, adding that Flipper made students feel at home with her charm.
Jacqueline Flipper. Photo courtesy of Monica Flipper.
Jillian Felgenhauer joins LHS staff
By Rylie Reagan Editor-in-chief Jillian Felgenhauer joined the Lewiston High School staff as a speech teacher at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. In replacement of retiree Dawn Melton, she has transferred to the staff after working as an instructor for the University of Idaho and St. Maries High School. Felgenhauer instructs LHS students, grades 9-12 in speech courses. Before her teaching career, Felgenhauer originally intended to study veterinary medicine. She later switched to teaching based on her ex-
La Llorona stands near the river with children, dressed in white garments. Photo courtesy of HeraldNet.
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For students from other countries, school can be daunting. Flipper was able to take students’ terror and uncertainty and turn it into positivity, Yarno said. She also had an attitude of empowerment with students, Yarno said. “She didn’t enable the kids. She provided the tools to help them succeed without giving them the answers,” Yarno said.
Jillian Felgenhauer
periences mentoring high school student volunteers at the vet hospital she worked for. She grew up in Clallam Bay, Washington, and later moved to Moscow, Idaho, where she has remained for the last 10 years. She attended Washington State University and the University of Idaho. Her aspirations to teach began with working with the student volunteers at the vet clinic, then taking a few education courses at University of Idaho. Once she figured out that she enjoyed it, she made the decision to return to school for education. After graduating, Felgenhauer began her career teaching at St. Maries High School, where she taught various English and speech classes. Prior to teaching at LHS, Felgenhauer received additional years of experience while she taught education courses for future teachers at the University of Idaho. During the transition here, Felgenhauer has enjoyed being a part of the welcoming LHS staff. ¨Coming from a smaller school district, it’s been fun seeing all that this school has to offer its students,” she said. “ We have a great group of students and staff here that have been very welcoming!¨ Her goal this year is to create a fun classroom setting where students gain the confidence to speak in front of others, no matter the situation. Whenever free time allows outside of school, Felgenhauer enjoys crafting, reading, writing, and playing video games, as well as loving on her two cats.
Friday, Oct. 29, 2021
Features
13
Homecoming royalty takes reign By Jasmine Schmidt Features Assistant
The Homecoming game Oct. 8 and consecutive dance Oct. 9 were successful events with a winning football game and fun-filled dance. 12 students joined then Homecoming court, having been voted on LHS varsity athletes.
Sean Carper
Homecoming King
How does it feel to be on homecoming court? “It feels great to be a part of it. I’m very glad that I got to share this experience with my brother Ryan.” What are your plans for after high school? “I plan to go U of I and pursue a degree in education.”
Karlie Taylor Senior Princess
How does it feel to be on homecoming court? “I felt honored to be a part of the homecoming royalty.” What was your favorite part about homecoming? “My favorite part about homecoming was riding the float and the actual dance.”
Katy Wessels Junior Princess
How are you involved with the school? “Sports-- volleyball, basketball and track.” What was your favorite part about homecoming? “Going to the dance and seeing all of my friends.”
Ryan Carper
Sophomore Prince
How does it feel to be on homecoming court? “It feels good to be on homecoming court, it’s very special that I got it with my brother, too.” What was your favorite part about homecoming? “My favorite part was having lots of fun with friends and the experience of homecoming royalty.”
Lindsay Hall
Homecoming Queen
How does it feel to be on homecoming court? “I feel honored. I genuinely love the people who make this place a home.” What are your plans for after high school? “I’m going to college as a pre-med, then onto medical school to pursue a career as a physician.”
Jace McKarcher Senior Prince
How does it feel to be on homecoming court? “I feel grateful and it’s pretty cool to win something like this.” What was your favorite part about homecoming? “The game and everything that lead up to the dance.” .”
Mike Wren Junior Prince
What are some of your hobbies outside of school? “I like hanging out with friends, playing video games, and playing golf.” Describe your homecoming experience: “It was super fun, the dance and football game were magical.”
Skye VanTrease Freshman Princess
How does it feel to be on homecoming court? “It felt very exciting, almost unreal, and selfmotivating.” How are you involved with the school? “I play volleyball and basketball.”
Thor Kessinger Senior Prince
What are some of your hobbies outside of school? “Playing football and doing track, and hanging out with friends.” Describe your homecoming experience. “It was a lot of fun and I’m glad I participated in my senior Homecoming.”
Stormi Randall Senior Princess
How are you involved with the school? “I’m involved with the school by playing varsity soccer.” What are some of your hobbies outside of school? “Hanging out with friends/family, boating, camping, shopping.”
Maggie Madden
Sophomore Princess
What was your favorite part about homecoming? “I liked going on the float, I also liked getting all ready with friends.” Describe your homecoming experience: “It went really good. It was set up nice and everyone that helped out did a great job and were all so nice. It was definitely an experience to remember.”
Cole Arlint
Freshman Prince
What are some of your hobbies outside of school? “I play sports, hang with friends and family.” What was your favorite part of homecoming? “Probably the game because it was a close game that came down to the other team missing the field goal.”
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THE BENGAL’S PURR
Features
Local healthcare workers still experience burden of COVID-19 by Jasmine Schmidt Features Assistant The Lewiston-Clarkston Valley has dramatically eased up on COVID-19 protocol since the disease first appeared in the community in early 2020. But healthcare workers here are still experiencing the weight of the virus’ impacts. The recent arrival of the delta variant continues to overwhelm those who are working directly with the illness and other patients needing medical care. Donald Greggain is a family physician at Southway Family Medicine in Lewiston, and he’s also director of the COVID-19 Respiratory Infection Clinic for St. Joseph Regional Medical Center here. He confirms that local residents in the younger demographic, including the 20- to 25-year-old group and children, are getting very ill from the virus. People with the delta variant tend to be younger, sicker, and need hospitalization earlier, he said. And this has led to more of the overall public being sick than a year ago. Greggain found several correlations for the rise in cases. The delta variant affects younger people more than the original COVID-19variant, but the community as a whole is also less cautious than before, he said. Masks are less common and social distancing is rarely practiced here, creating a larger viral load than individuals were exposed to last year. He added that locals who are getting ill, hospitalized, and dying of COVID-19 are overwhelmingly from the unvaccinated group. Healthcare workers in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley have experienced many challenges since COVID-19 became prevalent here. One difficulty with the pandemic has surfaced in the process of testing potential patients. Greggain’s office still gives COVID-19 tests on Thursday afternoons
from 3-5:30 p.m., in addition to providing its regular services. The lengthy process of testing includes patients waiting in their cars and coming into the clinic one person at a time. Then each patient uses a different exam room, with medical staff changing personal protective equipment each time. The room previously used is sterilized and cleaned using viruscide. Meanwhile, local hospitals are out of beds and nurses to care for patients, Greggain said. This means that patients, both those experiencing COVID-19 and those in need of other hospital care, are being sent to places as far away as Reno, Nevada, or Sacramento, California. Greggain mentioned one emergency room doctor who phoned 83 hospitals to find an empty bed for someone with a non-COVID-19-related illness. Greggain said he also feels concerned for those who might avoid care by staying away from medical offices. He worries about those who are unable to get care because specialists and hospitals are preoccupied with COVID-19 patients. He recognized that mental health has experienced a decline in the community. Social isolation, as well as polarizing views on vaccines and COVID-19, have taken a toll on individuals. This has contributed to a rise in use of less helpful coping techniques, such as drugs and alcohol. Greggain recommended reaching out to others, but cautioned that people should still try to maintain a pandemic “social bubble.” He encouraged the practice good social hygiene, especially when a person is uncertain of another person’s COVID-19 vaccination status. He said he hopes people will be willing to admit when they need
help and seek support. Healthcare workers are tired and fatigued from the past year and a half of a pandemic, he said. Many are asking that community members get vaccinated to stop the spread of the virus. The only way to lower the number of infected people, and in turn decrease the workload for healthcare workers, is thorough and comprehensive population vaccination, according to Greggain. “It just saddens our hearts, those of us that are working in this, to know that we have an answer . . . and it doesn’t need to be this tragic,” Greggain said. “But we have a reticence for people to believe in the science and in the legitimacy of vaccinations. That’s a huge heartbreak for those of us who have watched this vaccination being developed over the last 12 years.” Greggain pleaded with locals to get the COVID-19 vaccine, adding that people who experience negative reactions to a flu shot and other vaccines should not expect a negative reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine. “I recognize that people don’t like being told what to do, [and they] particularly don’t like being told by a government to do anything,” Greggain said. “But [if ] it’s because you ideologically disagree with the politics, well, look past the politics. . . . The virus doesn’t care. It just knows it’s an RNA organism looking for a host.” “For all of the people that stood on the corners or on their front walks and cheered and applauded front line workers a year ago, when we didn’t have a vaccine, if those same people are not vaccinated now, then all of the cheering that they did last year means nothing,” Greggain said.
Carrying the weight
“For all of the people that stood on the corners or on their front walks and cheered and applauded front-line workers a year ago, when we didn’t have a vaccine, if those same people are not vaccinated now, then all of the cheering that they did last year means nothing.” -- Dr. Donald Greggain
Photo by Jasmine Schmidt
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Entertainment 17
Entertainment Friday, Oct. 29, 2021 The long-awaited Venom sequel proves a total success
> WHAT IT’S ABOUT
> KEY CHARACTERS
Symbiote-clad Eddie Brock poses in front of camera courtesy of Wallpapersden.com
By Declan Cattrysse Entertainment Editor On Oct. 1, Venom: Let There Be Carnage was released in theaters. This sequel has been a highly anticipated movie ever since 2018’s Venom brought an entirely new approach to the comic book anti-hero. Directed by Andy Serkis, Let There Be Carnage has a modest runtime of an hour and 37 minutes and features popular actors such as Woody Harrelson, Tom Hardy and J. K. Simmons, who reprised his role as J. Jonah Jameson. The movie feels far shorter than it really is and it is very fast-paced. Let There Be Carnage starts off showing a different kind of relationship between Eddie Brock and Venom than they had in the original Venom. Brock visits serial killer Cletus Kasady on death row and Kasady gives cryptic messages that don’t make sense at the time. The day before his execution, Kasady
talks to Eddie once again. This time, Venom takes offense to something he says and strikes him in the face. While Eddie tries to restrain Venom, Kasady bites Eddie’s hand. They leave, and Cletus licks the blood off his lip. The blood however, is symbiotic blood, and that is when Carnage is born. Cletus breaks out of jail, and steals a car to hunt down Brock. Eddie and Venom get into a fight, and Venom leaves Eddie by himself. Venom goes on a small rampage, killing people who he uses as temporary hosts, while police take Eddie in for questioning. Kasady takes Anne as a hostage to lure Eddie, which is successful because he goes after them. Once Eddie reunites with Venom, it’s time for the two symbiotes to fight. They have an intense battle that almost brings an end to both sides, but inevitably, Venom emerges victorious. Venom kills Kasady and flees from the police. They escape to a tropical island resort.
Eddie Brock Protagonist
Venom Protagonist
Cletus Kasady Antagonist
Eddie Brock is a journalist and the host for Venom. Eddie Brock has had one other film appearance, which was the 2007 film SpiderMan 3. In this film, he is played by Tom Hardy.
Venom is a symbiote that inhabits the body of journalist Eddie Brock and is the main character of the movie. His first appearance in this franchise was in Venom from 2018.
Cletus Kasady is a convicted serial killer and the eventual host for Carnage, the blood thirsty son of Venom. In the film, Cletus Kasady is played by Woody Harrelson.
Like all Marvel movies, Let There Be Carnage has a cool and slightly confusing end scene after the main credits. In this movie, it shows Eddie Brock in a hotel on a tropical island. He is looking at a news broadcast with a picture of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man on it. It is just
Actors with the Lewiston Civic Theatre perform their musical, The Addams Family, for fans in October. Photo by Matthew Dugdale.
The Addams Family proves successful Carnage Antagonist
Anne Weying Deuteragonist
Frances Barrison Tertiary Character
Carnage is an evil symbiote that is the son of Venom, created through his symbiotic blood. His ultimate goal is to kill Venom and be the only powerful symbiote, and he is voiced by Woody Harrelson.
Anne Weying is the ex-wife and love interest of hero Eddie Brock. In the movie, she is played by Michelle Williams and serves a fairly important role in the plot because she is used as bait for Eddie.
Frances Barrison is Cletus Kasady’s love interest and has sonic screech powers. Several times throughout the film, her ability has nearly killed both Venom and Carnage. She is played by Naomie Harris.
The Addams Family is a wonderful play about a particularly strange family. There is one outlier that stands out from the rest of her family. A girl named Wednesday Addams (Sydnee Swift) has found love with a quite normal boy named Lucas Beinke (Max Schaefer). Many troubles come from this story of love. Ancestors (played by Abby Seward, Alex Everett, Brenna Brady, Cassidy Spencer, Ellisa Dilling, Harmoney Jordan, Katherine Black, Kathy Witt, Kyler Zellerhoff ) are locked out of their graves. Meanwhile, Gomez Addams (Michael Keene) and his wife, Morticia Addams (Amy Baker Stout), fight over trust, and Pugsley Addams (Connor Stout) worries he might even lose his sister. Then there’s the question of whether Uncle Fester (Aven Sparkmen) will confess his love for the moon. Sydnee Swift Protagonist Sydnee is a senior at LHS and plans to pursue music in college. She has been part of the Lewiston Civic Theatre for about eight years, playing roles including Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Jane Banks in Mary Poppins, Mary in The Secret Garden, Jetsam in The Little Mermaid and Belle in the Beauty and the Beast. Other shows she has performed in include Oliver, Shrek, High School Musical, Bugsy Malone, and Jukebox Goes to Broadway. All cast photos courtesy of the Lewiston Civic Theatre.
> RATING REASON
> RATING REASON By Declan Cattrysse Entertainment Editor
Max Schafer Protagonist Max has been in theatre since 2011, with the show Alice in Wonderland at age 6. Since then, he has been active in summer shows, last as Aladdin in 2019. He is a junior hat LHS, where he has performed in many shows, such as Once Upon a Mattress as Prince Dauntless.
like the one from Spider-Man: Far From Home when Mysterio reveals Peter’s identity. This is likely a way of hinting at Venom in the new Spider-Man movie, or even an appearance from the Sinister Six, a group of villains who fought Spider-Man in the comic books. Because of its well developed plot, awesome cinematography and killer soundtrack, Venom: Let There Be Carnage deserves a 4/5.
By Matthew Dugdale Photography Manager Overall the play was a huge success. The actors really brought out the character’s emotions, and let the audience feel like they were in the world of the Addams family. The music was absolutely amazing. October 16th, 2021 was the perfect night to watch. There is no mistake everyone made every effort they could to make this play happen. Although, there is one crit-
icism I have; the play needed a little more. Whether it be the comedic effect, or dramatic tension, it needed something that would bring it to the top. Make no mistake, the play was astounding, and I am not demanding more. I just feel that it could’ve been pushed just a little farther. Besides that, the play was a huge success, and deserves lots of praise. Congratulations to the cast who made the performance a success. 4/5
Michael Keene Protagonist Michael has been heavily involved with the Lewiston Civic Theatre since 2006. His past roles include Bert in Mary Poppins, Lord Farquaad in Shrek, Dr. Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein, and Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd. This year he has returned to the theater to play as the wonderful and loveable Gomez Addams.
18 Entertainment THE BENGAL’S PURR Shang-Chi makes history for Marvel
Shang-Chi gets ready for battle. Photo courtesy of rollingstone.com.
By Danica Keane Entertainment Assistant WARNING! Spoilers ahead On Sept. 3, Marvel Studios made history. Shang-Chi is the first-ever superhero movie with an Asian lead and an all-Asian cast in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). With that, the movie has received a lot of racism from “fans.’’ Some say they won’t see the movie because of the all-Asian cast. Other fans are angry with Marvel because of the lack of promotion and marketing for
the film compared to the attention that white leads tend to get for their movies. Based on the Marvel comics, martial-arts master Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) confronts the past he thought he left behind when he’s drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. It starts right away with the past of Shang-Chi and the history of the Ten Rings. Since the death of his mother (Fala Chen), he has trained in Martial-arts with the pressure from his dad (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai). On a mission to assassinate the group of men that killed his mother, he leaves his past behind and starts a new life in America. He meets his best friend Katy (Awkwafina) and his life changes for the better. But when everything seems normal, Shang-Chi and Katy are attacked on a bus by Razor Fist (Florian Munteanu) and the Ten Rings organization created by his father after the death of his mother. Shang-Chi goes to find his sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang) after receiving a postcard. Their father thinks their mother is still alive and wants to destroy her village to find her. The movie takes place after the events of Avengers Endgame in 2023. The Ten Rings organization was involved with the kidnapping of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) when he built his first suit. While ShangChi and Xialing are seeing their father, they run into Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley), the villain from Iron Man 3. But in the film, Slattery is a British actor who was only acting as the villain in Iron Man. The final battle is filled with suspense as Shang-Chi’s
father breaks a dragon out. The dragon releases smaller dragons that suck souls and can only be killed with a specific weapon. As the dragon gains more souls from smaller dragons, it becomes more powerful and harder to kill. When Shang-Chi fights his father, he is able to wield the Ten Rings.
> RATING REASON The film has a run time of 2 hours and 12 minutes and is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. The film has beautiful images and colors. There was never a point in the film where it was boring or slow, it was very fast-paced. The music in the film was perfect for each scene. Shang-Chi is soulful, and Marvel needs more of that. It’s easy to understand and follow, even if you haven’t seen any Marvel movies or haven’t read the comics. The film’s rating is PG-13, so it is great for older audiences and families. It was a very enjoyable film and is probably one of the best Marvel films . Overall, it deserves 4/5 stars.
Newest Conjuring movie disappoints fans
raine Warren (Vera Farminga) and Ed Warren (Patrick Wilson), as they set out to find a demon and stop the chaos following it. Ed and Lorraine, along with Debbie (Sarah Catherine Hook), her boyfriend Arne Johnson (Ruairi O’Connor), and Father Gordon (Steve Coulter), sit in on the exorcism of 8-year-old David Glatzel, played by Julian Hilliard. During the exorcism, Arne allows the demon to enter his body in order to protect David. Ed watches the demon shift from David’s body to Arne’s. The following month, Ed reveals to The cast of The Conjuring looks shocked. Image courtesy of Indian Express. Lorraine that he saw the demon enter By Seyi Arogundade Arne’s body. She sends the police to Opinion Assistant the Glatzel household and warns them of tragedy. Arne and Debbie go back to their apartment, and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, is the third in after feeling unwell, Arne murders his landlord, stabthe Conjuring series of movies. Released June 4 and bing him 22 times while his is possessed. With the directed by Michael Chaves, this highly anticipated help of Ed and Lorraine, Arne’s case becomes the first movie unfortunately does not meet the level of hor- American murder trial to claim demonic possession ror that many fans expected it to have. as a defense. This leads to an investigation of David’s Set in 1981, the movie takes place in Brookfield, original possession. Connecticut. The story follows demonologists LorThis film has some great jump scares and quality
cinematography. It also includes terrifying audio with the ending credits, which is an actual recording of David Glatzen while he was allegedly possessed. But other than a few scenes, the movie does not meet the standard of blood-curdling fright that many fans expected. It does, however, allow Farminga and Wilson to reprise their nostalgic roles, and to do them justice.
> RATING REASON
The movie received a 5.8 out of 10 on Rotten Tomatoes. Some regaled it as a good watch, but it did not instill the adrenaline-pumping terror that it could have. Some critics, such as Joshua Rivera of Polygon, describe this installment of The Conjuring as a supernatural detective film. Overall, it’s an averagely scary movie. It earns a 3/5.
19 Haristoween: New tradition combines Halloween and Christmas Friday, Oct. 29, 2021
Satire
By Ariana Flaig Features Assistant
FAKE NEWS
The 181-year old tradition of Halloween being held on Oct. 31 has officially ended. With changes occurring in the ideologies of individuals due to COVID-19, a decision was made that Halloween will move to Dec. 25. This dramatic change is due to exhaustion from the pandemic and the public wanting an easier life after COVID-19 trauma. The new date of Halloween lies on Christmas, giving both holidays a re-branding. This holiday merger has been branded Haristoween. Haristoween is the celebration of the roots of Halloween (pagan traditions) and the roots of Christmas (the birth of Jesus). With this culture clash, new holiday traditions have arisen such as trees decorated with carved pumpkins, candy canes and Halloween icons. Stockings are now filled with special costumes for the Haristoween exchange, and the traditional figure of Santa now has a pumpkin head. The primary tradition is the Haristoween exchange. Small gift bags are filled with a few pieces of candy and tiny presents and are given out to those who come to the door with the best Haristoween costume. As time goes on the traditions are likely to shift and grow as the culture changes.
Santa treats himself to some candycorn. Photo courtesy of retaildoc.com.
Local couple to give out homemade, vegan, gluten free, non-GMO candy on Halloween By Joshua Tatko Sports Editor
A smiling woman and man pose with a dog, representing the fictional couple. Photo courtesy of businessinsider.com/au.
FAKE NEWS
Children receive all kinds of candy on Halloween. But one Lewiston couple has noticed that very few candy brands offer options that are vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO and free-range. This couple is Matt and Melissa White. “Sugar canes deserve rights too,” said Melissa in an interview with the Purr. “What the big corporations do to make this candy is animal cruelty,” Matt told the Purr. He refused to comment on the fact that sugar cane is a plant. The White couple recently moved to Lewiston from San Francisco, California, and felt appalled at the lack of vegan restaurants here. They have since started their own vegan restaurant with homemade, gluten free, non-GMO, free-range dinners and desserts. Because big corporations neglected the vegan, gluten-intolerant GMOtruthers this Halloween, the White couple elected to give children the candy they make, all while spreading the good word of PETA. The three candies they will give out are chocolates, caramels and mints. The chocolates will be made with all natural cocoa powder straight from Cote d’ivoire, where diminishing returns on cacao farming will make chocolate a luxury on par with caviar by the end of the decade. The caramels will be made with humanely-sourced sugar, straight from the farms in the Amazon that are rapidly replacing the rainforest. And the mints will be made with spearmint from the couple’s backyard.
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Friday, Oct. 29, 2021
THE BENGAL’S PURR
Throwback to 2005: Mikey G’s Hot Takes By Seyi Arogundade, Historian
In the Dec. 20, 2005, issue of The Bengal’s Purr, Michael Gibson, who was editor-in-chief at the time, gave his raw and unfiltered opinions on journalistic censorship and Christianity. Responding to the backlash he received from a piece published in November 2005, he offered an explaination (but no apology) for his controversial views. Needless to say, many people in the student body were not pleased. In true Mikey G fashion, however, he brushed them off swiftly and with a hint of humor.
Image courtesy of The Bengal’s Purr 2005 archive.
