March 2014

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VOLUME 91, ISSUE 7

MARCH 2014

SANDPOINT HIGH SCHOOL, SANDPOINT ID

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M IDAHO MINIMUM WAGE LAW PER $7.25 HOUR FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, EXCLUDING

“TIPPED EMPLOYEES” WHO MUST BE PAID A MINIMUM

$3.35

PER HOUR

+TIPS TO EQUAL $7.25

NEW EMPLOYEES UNDER 20 YEARS

OF AGE MAY BE PAID

$4.25

FOR THE FIRST 90 DAYS

from the Idaho dept. of labor DEAN KNAGGS | STAFF MEMBER

n UNDER FIRE: Mike Armstrong prepares a dish at the Hydra Steakhouse in downtown Sandpoint. Armstrong is the owner of the Hydra, as well as the parent of SHS senior Jack Armstrong. Armstrong pays employees the federal minimum wage (adjusted for tips), according to senior hostess Alison Guthire.

THE WAGE WAR Students, lawkamers divided on changes to basic payment (MINIMUM)

Jessica Bovee Digital Media Editor

Steakhouse for close to a year as a hostess, and earns the federal and Idaho standard $7.25 per hour. “I think $7.25 is a fair amount,” Guthrie said. “Yeah, it would be nice to make more, but you get what you get.” A friendly atmosphere, Guthrie describes those who work at the Hydra as being “like a family... sometimes [they] argue, but what family doesn’t argue?” While some find satisfaction in their wages, the debate continues in response to the various increases in prices. Some believe that an increase in the minimum wage would lead to an overall higher price point for customers. “Employers [would]

PEER PRESSURE Though the federal minimum wage is $7.25, states bordering Idaho have set their wages higher than this standard

uM WASHINGTON

$9.32

SOURCE: DOL.GOV

Earlier this year in Boise, supporters gathered as Idaho’s legislature agreed to introduce a bill to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $8.50 on July 2 and eventually $9.25. Proponents must gather over 53,000 signatures by April in order to place the measure on the November ballot, though opinions in Sandpoint vary on the effects of a minimum wage increase. Senior Samantha Brown has worked at Starbucks for about a month, and feels that her slightly-above minimum wage pay is adequate for the work she is expected to do. “I go to the back, find my apron and clock in,”

Brown said. “Then I go to the floor and assign myself to a register and then just go. I do whatever they want me to do.” Brown still shares concerns for those that have more financial needs that are merely “scraping by” on the pre-set $7.25 “Many people are unable to get by on minimum wage,” sophomore Makenzie Tillberg said. “Times have changed and payment of workers should do likewise.” Calum Denova, a sophomore employee at 41 South and Shoga, agrees that a raise is necessary, and should be at least $8. Paid at $5 per hour with tips included, Denova cleans tables, pours water, and helps the servers. Senior Alison Guthrie has worked at the Hydra

*HIGHEST IN THE

U.S.

$9.10

$7.25

Z

k OREGON

IDAHO

MONT ANA

$7.90

AcaDeca state comp On Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15, the Sandpoint High School Academic Decathlon team competed in their state contest at Boise State University. Senior Paul Meyer, along with freshmen Jett Murdock and Clay Rasmussen swept the overall varsity division. Meyer and senior captain Caitlin Wikel both earned a perfect 1000 in the Interview event. The team took second place overall, runner-up to longtime rival Centennial High School. “Overall we won lots of medals and did very well,” Wikel said. “We got second, and get to compete in online nationals.” -Tyson Bird, Editor-in-Chief

Dance shines at PNW The Sandpoint High School dance team traveled to Boise last Friday to compete in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) competition. The team uses this event as a way to prepare and see some southern schools before their state contest on March 20. “We use [PNW] to figure out what we need to fix and clean,” senior Katie Maddux said. Sandpoint earned five awards overall, including placement the small dance, large dance, hip hop, prop and kick routine.

TYSON BIRD | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

have to raise prices, basically canceling out the extra money you are making,” senior Jahna Briggs said. Local employers, such as Readery owner Michael Boska, understand

that there is a delicate balance between keeping costs down for customers and paying employ-Tyson Bird, Editor-in-Chief ees a decent wage. “There has to be some Schweitzer 24 hours On Friday, March 21 kind of protection for Schweitzer will be hostworkers,” Boska said. ing the sixth annual 24 Hours of Schweitzer, also FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE HISTORY known as 24 Hours for $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Hank. The event takes place over a 24 hour period 1938 1956 1964 1974 1981 1997 2009 where teams take as many runs as possible. All proceeds benefit “Should Idaho raise the minimum wage from $7.25 per hour?” Hank Sturgis, a Sandpoint local, who is battling cystinosis. Hank was diagnosed with this genetic disorder when he was only 16 months old. The organization was “It should be at least $10 “It shouldn’t be changed “It should go up...Idaho “Yes, because the cost of “I think it should be at because there are people because teens are just hasn’t exactly kept up set up by family and living is going up.” least $7.50” who barely get by.” learning money.” with rising prices.” friends of Hank to raise funds to find a cure. WYATT HAGEN | 9 HAILEY COMBS | 11 NATHAN STANGEL | 11 LEIKYN MOORE | 12 SPENCER SMITH

$0.25

S

$1.00

$1.15

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23 30

3 10 17 24 31

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4 5 11 12 18 19 25 26

T

F

S 21 Panida Student Night

1 7 8 6 13 14 15 20 21 22 27 28 29

$3.35

basicallyspeaking:

MARCH 2014: DATES TO REMEMBER M

$2.00

21 “Auntie Mame”, 7 pm 22 “Auntie Mane”, 7 pm 24 First Gen. College, 5:30 28 No School (End of Q3) 28 ASVAB, 9 am 31 Spring Break begins

SHS LIST : WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR SPRING BREAK?

$5.15

“Going to Hawaii” “Staying here” -Felice Caven, Grade 9 -Taylor Martin, Grade 11 “Flying to Egypt” “Hangin’ out, working” -Amos Crossingham, Grade 9 -Emilee Rowland, Grade 12 “Sleeping in” “Going to the sand dunes” -Violet Plummer, Grade 10 -Adam Finney, Grade 12 compiled by Darbey Scrimsher, Staff Member

$7.25

-Emily Chatburn, Staff Member

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