Our Voice by Gannett Wisconsin Media

March 2011

is near INSIDE: • Poetry contest • Students protest budget bil • Students’ short stories A product of the Stevens Point Journal & Boys & Girls Club

By Kaylyn Kluck Our Voice Staff St. Peter Middle School Eighth-Grader Summary So far, we have learned that Lydia, Kat, and their friends are all Dream Catchers, mystical beings that live up in the clouds and distribute dreams at night while the earth sleeps. When Lydia and Kat were struck with lightning, they went to see Cairo, the only one who could have done this to them. They learned that he was their father and that he was going to kill them in order to gain their power so he could destroy the Earth. Now Kat and Lydia are trapped and desperate to escape before they are executed.

hat’s worse, finding out that your father is an evil destroyer who wants to end the world and kill you to do it, or finding out that the person you’ve hated more than anything in the whole world for your entire life is actually your twin? Okay, so probably the first thing, but Kat and Lyd weren’t too happy about the second part either. “You know what’s wrong with this,” Kat said later. “As Dream Catchers we’re not supposed to have nightmares. Well I’ve never experienced one, but I’m pretty sure this is exactly what they’re like.” Lyd said nothing back. They were trapped in what seemed to be a metal cube, which Kat had referred to as the Box of Doom about

March 2011

DREAM CATCHERS: Imprisoned

Editor’s note: This is the eighth installment of Dream Catchers in Our Voice. The ninth will appear in the April issue.

10 seconds after they were thrust in. She wasn’t exaggerating. Certainly, there were better places to wait before you were executed. Everything was made of gray metal. The walls, ceiling, floor, and bunk beds were cold and hard. Actually, the bunk beds were the only piece of furniture. And they had no sheets or pillows or anything on them at all, so they just sat bare, like a skeleton. There were no windows, so the room was lit by a flickering, fluorescent light bulb hanging from the ceiling that hurt your eyes. There was a wide, flat, television screen on one wall. But it had no remote to it, and there were no buttons or switches to turn it on. So it sat mounted on the wall, useless and blank. Their only possessions were in their backpacks. The ones they took with them on their trip. Now all that remained were tool kits, some food, and an abundance of the grape soda they had brought along. The tool kits were worthless in breaking out of the metal room. Nothing would make a dent in it. There was no escaping. At first, they thought and thought of how to get out, but they eventually gave up. There was no door, since Cairo had magically teleported them in there. They argued at first, but that died

along with their spirit. After about a day of captivity, the television screen flickered to life. The girls jumped. On screen were two unnatural-looking men. One had a scraggly red beard and long hair. He wore sunglasses, a purple Hawaiian shirt, and was sipping a brown liquid out of a bottle. The other wore all white and seemed to have a golden glow. He had gold hair and shining skin and bright, accepting eyes. The sight of the first man made Kat and Lyd shudder, while looking at the second man made them feel almost happy. He appeared so inviting. They didn’t need to question who these men were. Megusa and Brathea were the brothers of Cairo. They made dreams too, just not nightmares. The girls had never seen them before, but they were too upset to be in awe over seeing their powerful uncles. “What do you want?” Lyd asked. “Hello,” Brathea said. His golden glow made him hard to look away from. “Having fun being held hostage?” the scraggly one asked. “What, are you in on this whole destroy-the-worldplot too?” Kat narrowed her eyes. The girls sat defiantly on the bunk beds. “I seriously don’t care

what Cairo does,” Megusa told them. He drank from his bottle. The guy was crazy, just like the dreams he made. “I’m very sorry for it all,” Brathea told them, his voice full of sadness. “Then get us out of here and knock some sense into Cairo!” Kat exclaimed. “We can’t. Your father is the dominant one in our trio. We can’t stop him for anything. But we are sorry.” “I’m not,” Megusa said before walking away from the screen. Now just Brathea faced them. “Is there even a camera in here?” Lyd looked around. “No. You may need a camera to see me, but I don’t need one to see you.” His voice was warm and friendly, and the girls fought the urge to relax. This was serious. “Why are we being kept here? Isn’t he going to kill us?” asked Lyd. Brathea nodded sadly. “Yes. But he’s still preparing, it could take a little over a week. Once you die, he will immediately start on the destruction of Earth.” While Lyd shuddered at the thought of Earth’s fate, Kat banged her head on the metal. Any more time in the Box of Doom would drive her insane. “This is so unnecessary. Can’t you go down to Earth and help everyone?” Lyd asked. “If I or my brothers went

down to the atmosphere of Earth, we would parish. That’s why we have Dream Catchers. You give out our dreams,” Brathea told them. “Why are there dreams in the first place?” Lyd questioned. Brathea replied, “You have no idea how important the element of dreaming is for humanity. They provide visions of the past, present, and future. They have shaped the decisions of important people, altering history. They are windows into the depths of the human mind, giving anonymous wisdom. It’s our way of shaping Earth, our way of secretly ruling it. But lately it hasn’t been enough. Each generation is less wise than the last. That’s why Cairo insists on stopping the planet’s evolution now.” Lyd nodded, taking this all in. Even Kat stopped her outburst to consider this. “There must be some better way,” Lyd said quietly, “to fix things.” Their uncle gave them a weak smile. “There is. It’s up to you two now, to find it. I must leave you now. My best wishes to you both.” The screen went blank. “Well isn’t that just fantastic. We can’t do anything to help from this metal prison,” Kat said. “Escape is mandatory.” Lyd looked around. “It’s also impossible.

Our tools don’t work.” Kat reached for a can of the grape soda and pulled it open. Lyd was silent. She just stared at the soda her mind spinning rapidly with intense thought. “What?” Kat asked. “There are select things that dissolve metal. One of them is phosphoric acid,” Lyd noted. “What’s that?” “It’s an ingredient found in soda,” Lyd said. They looked at the can. “You mean we could break out of here with this?” Kat looked up at her sister. “Maybe. If we used a ton and then waited, just maybe it would eventually weaken the metal. Over time the acid would make it soften, and the floor would give out. This room is on top of clouds, I can tell, because of the way it rocks, and we could escape through there.” “How do you know all this stuff?” Kat asked in amazement. Lyd shrugged. “I don’t know; I just like science.” “Well then it gives me hope.” Kat smiled at Lyd for the first time, ever. “We got a billion cans of the stuff.” “Great.” The girls opened up can after can of the purple, fizzy liquid. They dumped it on the floor, so much that eventually there was an inch of grape soda CONTINUED on page3

March 2011

OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST OFFERS FUN FOR ALL FOUR SEASONS F

By Gabrielle Morey Our Voice Staff Home-Schooled Tenth Grader

or central Wisconsinites, one of the most appealing things about our state is being able to enjoy all four seasons, and what better way to enjoy them than from the back of a horse? Fortunately, whether it’s a scenic sleigh ride or rustic trailblazing, KR Stables of Stevens Point offers an array of horse-oriented activities year-round sure to satisfy the cowboy or cowgirl in you. Kurt and Kay Ross opened KR Stables two years ago in 2009 with the purpose of bringing a piece of the west to central Wisconsin

and to fulfill a lifelong dream of working with horses. Weather permitting, the stable offers guided trail rides along groomed wooded trails surrounding the property. Also offered are hay and wagon rides, pony rides, and in the winter, sleigh rides. They also host birthday parties, anniversaries, campfire cookouts, and, occasionally, trips to South Dakota to explore the Badlands on horseback. Additional services include

horse boarding and bunkhouse rental. Sleigh and wagon rides have been exceptionally popular this winter as a great way for passengers to unwind and enjoy the scenery while spending time with family and friends. Occasionally, wagon rides are given in downtown Stevens Point, where the wagon and horses never fail to attract attention and bring smiles to passengers and

onlookers alike. For those who want a more “rustic” experience, trail rides, led by a friendly guide, allow riders to connect with nature on a more personal level. They spend time with horses and improve their riding skills, while observing the abundant wildlife from an entirely different perspective. It’s also a great way to meet other horse enthusiasts. If you would like to know more about KR Stables or join in on the fun, visit their website at www.krstables. com.

DREAMCATCHERS: Continued from page 2

out of the room, Lyd quickly cut an escape hole. They waded through a wet cloud until they surfaced upon it. Their prison really had been a metal box in the sky. Brathea had left them a present outside of it. The tag on the gift read I knew you could do it. They opened it up, only to find an airball. “This isn’t an ordinary one though,” Kat said, “it’s a messenger ball. You record your voice in it, then you send it to anybody you want. The receiver can see where the message was sent from with it, and the ball can lead them to you. Brathea really is trying to help us.” They both agreed to send it to their friends as an S.O.S for help. “Hey guys,” Kat began, “it’s me, Kat.” “And Lyd.” Lyd said. “I know we left unexpectedly, and we can’t even begin to explain what’s happening. All we can say from here is that you have to come quick, or we’ll die, along with all of the Earth.”

“Don’t call us crazy,” Kat continued. “This is real. We need your help, or it could be the end of everything. Just come. It’s not like us to ask for you to do things for us, but that doesn’t matter anymore. Follow the ball and it will lead you to us. Over and out.” “Over and out,” L yd repeated. They sent the ball flying in the direction of their friends. “Think it will work?” Lyd asked. “I sure hope so. The more I think about it, we’re just as bad as humans, if our leader is willing to destroy them in such a cruel way.” “That is certainly not true.” A frightening voice boomed behind them. Cairo stood, looking impassioned and maybe a bit surprised that his daughters had been able to outsmart him. He blinked, and hand cuffs appeared around the girl’s wrists. “You’re execution,” he divulged, “will be very, very soon.”

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on the ground, sloshing around when they walked. Then they waited for about a week. It was agony, the waiting. There was nothing to do in the sticky metal room but sit as the hours slowly crawled past. Sometimes they talked, other times they sat in silence, wanting desperately to spread their wings and fly around freely. They wondered if the acid really would weaken the floor, or if they would be killed before the plan would work. The days crept by, and they grew more fearful with every one of them. After what seemed to be a millennium, Kat said one day that the floor felt less stiff. “YES!” Lyd jumped off the top bunk and grabbed a knife out of the tool kit. She cut for about an hour, and then, finally, grape soda started to leak through a crack in the floor. They screamed and danced with joy. With the soda drained

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March 2011

Poetry Contest

Calling all writers

re you a junior high or high school student in Portage County who loves to write? Are you interested in learning what it takes to put a newspaper together? Do you want your artwork or creative writing pieces published? If you answered yes to any of those questions, this student newspaper in Portage County needs your help. Our Voice, a monthly product of the Stevens Point Journal and The Boys & Girls Club of Portage County, needs students to write about issues affecting them, entertainment, fashion, books, sports and more. Co-founder Sam Dinga created this publication in summer 2006, recognizing that youths often are disengaged from newspapers. He

Calling all poets! created it to boost interest in reading and writing. Our Voice is delivered to all households in the boundaries of the Stevens Point Area Public School District with students in grades six to 12. It also is available at the Boys & Girls Club sites. There is no fee to join the staff and students can write as much or as little as they want. If you are interested in learning more, call adviser Nicole Strittmater at 715-345-2249 or e-mail her at nstrittmater@gannett.com.

ur Voice is holding a poetry contest and we want you to participate. Send us your work and it might be published in the April issue of Our Voice for National poetry Month. The deadline to submit your work is 5 p.m. March 4. E-mail poems to Nicole Strittmater at nstrittmater@gannett.com. Only e-mailed poems will be considered. The work must be original and anyone in elementary, junior high or high school in Portage County can participate. You can submit two pieces per person. Good luck and get to writing!

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March 2011

DEAD OR ALIVE By Hanna Burch Our Voice Staff Ben Franklin Junior High School Eighth-Grader Editor’s note: This is the seventh chapter in a continuing series. For the next chapter, see the April issue of Our Voice.

hen Angela awoke, she sat up dizzily and then fell back to the ground, groaning in pain. “Is she okay?” she heard a gruff voice ask. “ I d u n n o. W h e r e ’d you find her?” replied an unidentified voice, coming

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from right above Angie’s face. “In the tube. Think she’s with the governs?” the first voice asked. “I doubt it. Too young. And vulnerable,” a voice replied. “I don’t think they’d send a girl, either. You know how they are. They think girls are wimps.” A soft laughter filled the empty space. “If only they knew.” Daringly, Angie opened her eyes. She blinked. The images she saw seemed unreal. She could see that she was lying on a mat in a huge circular ball shaped

room. All around her, small dogs were roaming about, working. They seemed to be carrying messages in their mouths and on their backs. Two men were standing above Angie. She sat up and her eyes widened. “SHARK!” She screamed. Her yell pierced the silent nature and was a loud shrill that echoed in the sphere room. Now, she had noticed that the walls were transparent. And outside, there was a shark heading right towards the room. Seconds after her scream, the small dogs responded by running around every-

where crazily. It was like a mini stampede in one small area, with dogs trampling other dogs and their barks drowning out other sounds. “Dang it, girl. Why’d you have to scream? Sling, trigger The Dog,” the man said. Sling stumbled over to the side of the room and opened up a door in the wall that blended in with the pale gray colors of the room. He reached in a hole and clicked something. Immediately, there was silence. The dogs looked confused momentarily, and then started back to their hurried stages.

“What’d you do?” Angela questioned, forgetting for a brief moment about the oncoming shark. Sling grunted in reply and turned towards the other man. “Trig, go get Olive. Tell her there’s a girl here. From the outside,” Sling requested. “I’ll get the girl to the quarters. Got it?” Trig nodded and headed for a dark tunnel connecting the room to somewhere else. M e a n w h i l e, A n g e l a turned back towards the shark’s direction. Seeing it getting closer, about 100 feet away, she jumped up and shook Sling’s arm. “Help! Help! What are we going to do?!” she wailed. “Knock it off, girl,” Sling responded, yanking his arm away from her tight grip. “The animal can’t get in here. These walls

are made of solid glass. Nothing could shatter them,” he bragged. Angela didn’t believe him until five seconds later when the shark hit the walls. There was a huge BOOM and then silence as the shark spun around and started sinking. Angela just starred in shock. “Oh,” she mumbled. “So, you ready to head to the quarters?” Sling asked. “Um, I don’t know. Where am I exactly? How’d I get here?” Angela stood up and brushed her torn-beyondrepair pants. Sling just looked at her for a minute, and then finally answered, “Girl, you stepped into the tube. The tube’s the tunnel that connects our pods in the ground. Right now, you’re 3,000 feet under the ocean.” ■

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March 2011

TEACHERS, STUDENTS PROTEST WALKER’S BUDGET PLAN JOURNAL STAFF

bout 100 students protested Gov. Scott Walker’s budget bill Feb. 17 in front of Stevens Point Area Senior High, chanting in unison and holding signs supporting their teachers and workers’ rights. The local protests were in solidarity with the massive ones taking place around the Capitol in Madison that began earlier that week. Some SPASH teachers headed to Madison to join in the protests. At 7 a.m., before school began, a group of about 40 people, mostly teachers and some students, picketed quietly in front of the school. They were there for about 25 minutes and left when teachers contractually had to be in their classrooms. Statewide protests were sparked after Walker introduced a few days earlier his budget bill that would, among other things, restrict collective bargaining rights for most public employees. Several school districts across the state, including Mosinee, shut down Feb. 17 because of teachers calling in “sick” to protest the bill. But classes went on as usual in the Stevens Point district. Why picket The teachers who picketed said this issue isn’t about money. It’s about workers’ rights and the right to collectively bargain, not just for teachers, but for all public unions. Picketers also had been out in front of other schools in the district that week.

“It’s the loss of collective bargaining, to be able to have a say in the hours that we work, the prep time that you have,” said Sandy Schroeder, a SPASH teacher, while holding a sign that read “Silence workers? Not in our Wisconsin.” “I feel that with this bill, we’re taking a giant step back for workers’ rights. I feel that Gov. Walker is kind of attacking the middle class. I do believe it’s all about supporting unions,” Schroeder said. SPASH chemistry teacher Gee Pope said teachers are “backed into a corner.” DOUG WOJCIK/STEVENS POINT JOURNAL. “This is the last place Stevens Point Area Senior High faculty and a few students protest Gov. Walker’s budget repair bill before the start of school. I want to be. I want to be in the classroom teaching kids,” he said while picketing. “This is not about money. It’s about destroying the union rights. I love teaching, as does everybody here. We have an outstanding education (system). Walker is trying to destroy it.” Student voices Students who picketed said the majority of them either signed themselves out for the day, if they were 18, or their parents 1059 Main St., Downtown Stevens Point called the school to excuse them from class to protest. SPASH Principal Mike Bring This Ad In For $ Devine said many were on junior or senior release privileges. Devine said he made a Hardwood Floors, Brick Walls, special announcement at Breakfast & Lunch Cozy Fireplace and school stating that it was a Daily 7 am to 2 pm Unique Antique Chairs regular school day, and the 341-1133 Serving Natural & Healthy Foods expectation was to be in Enjoy Old-Fashioned Charm Smoke-Free Environment class. Students who missed class to protest were unexSome of the Best Omelettes, Baked Goods cused. and Sandwiches By the morning of Feb. 17, he said there were This side of the River. as many as 100 to 150

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March 2011 the country that I really don’t want to see. We worked hard for our union rights,” he said. By about 10 a.m. the student picketers said they were headed to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campus. There, they joined about 40 university students protesting the bill. ■

DOUG WOJCIK/STEVENS POINT JOURNAL.

Stevens Point Area Senior High faculty and staff members, joined by a few students, protest Gov. Walker’s budget repair bill before the start of school. PROTEST: continued from page 6

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students on the sidewalk. His primary concern was to keep the day safe and orderly, and he said it was. Shane Saddison-Bradford, 17, a SPASH senior, was among the protesters. DOUG WOJCIK/STEVENS POINT JOURNAL. “Ultimately, this bill is going to affect a lot more than Stevens Point Area Senior High students Shane Saddisonteachers. My mom is a social worker (a state employee). Bradford and Celia Sweet protest with teachers before the If this bill would get passed, it would start a wave across start of school, over Gov. Walker’s budget repair bill.

SPASH STUDENT RECEIVES AWARD

Stevens Point Area Senior High student Jasmine Rose has been named a 2011 Discus Award winner for her achievements in academics, athletics and community service. The Discus Award is a national program that provides recognition and scholarship opportunities to high school students who excel in three of ten areas. Rose, a senior, is eligible for 2010-11 Discus Award scholarships. She plans to attend Marian University in Fond du Lac.

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