GHS The Voice December 2007

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Gretna High School • 11335 South 204th Street • Gretna, NE 68028 Volume VI • Issue III • December 2007

Cop on top Page 2

Growing up 90s Page 8-9

Winter sports under way Photo by Anthony Jourdan

GHS One act, year 6!

Page 16

School News Officers brave the cold temps to help out December 2007

By Brittany Hannigan Design Editor It’s a Sunday afternoon, bright and sunny and 50 degrees out. While holiday shoppers are getting a jump start on their christmas shopping, two sheriffs from the Sarpy County Police Department are sitting on top of the roof.

For the past eight years Deputy Lance has participated in Cop on Top. He spends three days on top of a building collecting money for Nebraska’s Special Olympics. “...We used to sit on Wal-Mart and we did Vala’s Pumpkin Patch last year,” Deputy Lance said.

This year they have decided to sit on top of Hy-Vee by Shadow Lake.

“What we do is sit up there during bad weather and get sympathy money for Nebraska Special Olympics,” Deputy Lance said. “Every cent of it stays in Nebraska.”

They have to stay up there for three days and not come down.

“We have a little hut we stay

up there for three days.” Deputy Lance said. “We eat up there and sleep up there and don’t come down.”

Deputy Wheeler and Deputy Lance from the Sarpy County Sheriff’s office go up on top of the roof while Lieutenant Griger, Corporal Bishop and Scott Jenson stay down below to collect money.

“We get volunteers to help collect with buckets by the doors and they wear little aprons that say Special Olympics on them,” Deputy Lance said.

This all happened the day after Thanksgiving, on November 22nd.

It lasted through that whole three day weekend.

Students who want to get involved and help out should check out the website, firstgiving.com/scso. Donations will be accepted until January 28th.

Deputy Lance said that he enjoyed the experience but it was very cold.

“It was good though, they

Page 2

Deputy Rick Wheeler and Deputy Lance Shickert raised money for the Special Olympics during Cop on Top. brought down ten Special Olympic ath- enjoy it but he’s not sure he is going to letes to help collect money,” Deputy do it next year.

“Every year I say no, but I Lance said. “Talking to them about probably will. We are talking about dowhat they did and stuff was worth it.”

They were able to collect ing the polar plunge, but I don’t know.” $7,000 in cash, but they still haven’t Deputy Lance said.

He does know what his favorcounted the change and checks.

“People must’ve felt really sor- ite part was though.

“The best part was to see the ry for us,” Deputy Lance said. “We usually get a good $10,000 when it is all smile on the athletes faces as we were raising money for them.” said and done.”

Deputy Lance said that he did

Choir gets ready for Cookie Walk Gretna students gather food from the class competition food drive. All food was given to the Gretna Neighbors.

By Jess Crawford Staff Writer The show choir members will perform at the Cookie Walk, Dec 20, at 6:00 p.m. to raise money.

“It’s a full play, but within it will be different spoofs,” senior director Pat White said. “All the show choir will somehow be involved.”

There are two parts to the cookie walk, said Mr. Ribar.

Part one is the cookies. Approximately 400 dozen cookies will be made. Those in the attendance will pay based on the amount of cookies.

Part two is the show.

“The show is designed by Pat White,” Mr. Ribar said. “It’s for more young people, it’s a fun show for our community that our kids put on.”

The show choir has put on cookie walks in the past.

“Two years ago we spoofed the Wizard of Oz. Last year we spoofed Peter Pan, and this year it’s youtube,” Mr. Ribar said The members of the cookie walk have a goal for their performance “It’s fun and different, but I want to reach out to the kids, but more to the teens this year,” White said How many cookies do they want to sell?

“Just as many as we can,” White said Where does the money go that they make?

“It goes to the vocal music department, but mostly to the choir,” White said.

School News

Page 3

School breaks vary among districts

By Brit Stock Staff Writer It’s 3:18. The day of Christmas break. Three minutes to freedom from school for 11 days. This is a short amount of days compared to Omaha Public Schools, where students get 18 days off to enjoy the holidays.

Students definitely have their opinion on how short our breaks are.

Junior Jamie Kindschuh says she doesn’t like the way different breaks are set up.

“I don’t like them because we barely get any days off,” Kindschuh said.

Junior Tyler Mullen agrees, saying our breaks are too short.

One of Gretna’s vice-principals, Mr. Miller says, that the superintendent, Dr. Riley, sets up the general schedule of the school year. But 90% of the schedule, including breaks, remains from the year before. The only things that change may be Easter break and the end of the semester.

The actual start date of Gretna High School? August 23. Reason?

“For a very long time, a lot of schools in Nebraska have been farming communities, and in order to harvest for the fall, that requires the summer,” Miller says.

Gretna High School’s official winter break begins the December 22nd and goes until the January 1.

“Winter break is the second longest break next to summer break, so it should be longer.” Kindschuh thinks that winter break should be about two weeks long.

“I think winter break should be 17 days long because Hannaukah, Christmas, and New Year’s are all in a row, and this would be a good chunk of days to allow for family and vacations,” Mullen says.

During the month of October, schools like Millard South and Millard North get a week off for “fall break.”

At Gretna, students get one day off, courtesy of the end of the quarter.

Schools Millard OPS Elkhorn Plattsmouth Gretna

Days 184 170 178 175 180

Many students think that Gretna should have an extended fall break, including Kindschuh.

But to some students, like junior Brian Harmon, the way fall break is arranged does not really matter.

“I think we should have a week off for fall break because it’s not too long, but it’s not too short,” Mullen said.

Now what about spring break?

There’s only a few more months before school is out for the summer. So why the need for a spring break?

Many schools, including Gretna, only give the weekend for the spring break.

Mullen thinks there should be a two week spring break because the end of the year is nearing and it allows people to take vacations and be refreshed.

Even though most people don’t like the way Gretna’s break system is set up, there are still some pros to having them the way they are.

“I like how they are spaced out,” Kindschuh said. “I just wish they were longer,” “I think the only thing I like is that we have at least one day off,”Mullen said.

The reason why Gretna’s breaks are so short? Mullen thinks that Gretna is trying to raise the grades of Gretna by cutting down on break time.

“I think the breaks are shorter so that we can get out earlier for summer vacation.”

Kindschuh said otherwise.

Harmon agrees with Kindschuh, wishing the breaks were longer, but enjoys having a longer summer break.

Whatever the case may be, Gretna’s break system may cause some controversy among students.

“The more days we have off, the happier everyone is,” Harmon said.

Christmas Dec.21-Jan.7 Dec.24-Jan.4 Dec.22-Jan.2 Dec.21-Jan.4 Dec.22-Jan.3

Spring Apr.7-11 Apr.7-11 Mar.21-24 Mar.20-24 Mar.21-24

Fall Oct.22-26 Nov.22-23 Oct.26 Sept.3-7 Oct.26

December 2007

Salsa Dancing at El Museo Hispanico

Learning the basic turn, students spin their partner around to the music.

Senior Alena Vala learns to salsa dance from the instructor.

Junior Laura Fisher, senior Laura Cejka, senior Kelsey Strehlow, and junior Karissa McDowell participate in the Spanish Club activity.

Editorial

December 2007

Page 4

Vacations:nice Assigned but no place like home seating at lunch?

The bell rings, and you`re absolutely starving, you sprint out of your class, to your locker, and in to the lunch line. You go through the line, get your crispito, and head to the exact same spot you sit every day, like it’s assigned or something. But instead of sitting in “your spot” there’s someone else sitting there.

FREAK OUT! Have you seen what happens when somebody sits in another person’s “spot.” Some people try and squish back into their seat and be so tightly scrunched in with other people that they can hardly eat their food.

Or, they try and push them off the end of the table. Sure, it would be hilarious to see somebody fly off the end of the table in the middle of lunch.

But I mean seriously, we’re in high school . . . Shouldn’t we be a little more

By Taylor Bradish Staff Writer

mature than that?

Not to mention the people who are a little too packed in. When they can hardly get out, it’s time to go sit somewhere else.

I just don’t see the big deal of sitting next to somebody else for the day. You could meet and make more friends. And the next day sit in the spot you usually sat in minus the drama.

So if this happens, go sit somewhere else for lunch, and save the gossip to your girls about how so and so sat in my spot today. After all we don’t have assigned seats.

Cartoon By: Laurenne Wilkie

Hawaii. Also known as the Island Paradise. I’d call it a paradise when it’s 30 degrees here and 80 there.

Definitely an improvement. Yeah, Hawaii is a good place to go to get an awesome tan, but nobody says it better than Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, “there’s no place like home.” And what else came out of this besides a great tan? A lot of history and different culture.

Hawaii may be paradise, but there is a ton of history that has occurred there. One important piece of history is Pearl Harbor. On December 7, 1941, a little before 8 a.m., America suffered a catastrophe that started a war.

Just off the shore of the island Oahu, lies Pearl Harbor, a harbor that surrounds Fort Island, a large military base. This harbor was once home to many military vessels. Today, there are a couple of vessels still used for military purposes, but the Missouri, a ship from Pearl Harbor, is now used as a museum-like place to learn more about the attacks. There is also another memorial that commemorates the battle, which was built directly over the remains of the Arizona, a sunken ship from the battle.

Along with history, comes a very different culture. The people in Hawaii are very friendly and welcoming. They sometimes act like they’ve known you their whole lives! Another common thing one might see when visiting Hawaii is the ever-famous ‘hang loose’ sign, which is often used as a greeting.

Here on the mainland, people from different parts of the country

By Brit Stock Staff Writer

may be given names that are relative to where they are from. Example: people from the Alabama region are called southerners.

Some of the native Hawaiians are also called Samoans. The ancestors of the Samoans are the ones who actually founded the islands of Hawaii.

Chances are, most of the natives can be caught down at the beach catching waves, along with about the million other tourists visiting the island too.

In fast food restaurants, such as McDonald’s, SPAM is among the many choices for a dinner delight. Can you say nasty? A gallon of milk here is about $3 a gallon. A gallon of milk there, almost $5 a gallon. An 18-pack of eggs here cost about $2. An 18-pack of eggs there, almost $6! And some people think that getting groceries here is expensive!

Random facts: Gas in Hawaii is $3 and 60 cents a gallon. Try filling up your tank for less than $40. Cemeteries there get gravestone and a couple flowers and that’s. There is literally no grass around anything.

Hawaii is an amazing place to vacation, don’t get me wrong. But I definitely wouldn’t like to live there full time. It would get way too expensive.

And I really don’t want to be an old lady with wrinkled leather-looking skin as a result of too much sun. Eww...

The Voice News Staff Editor-in Chief........................Christie Berglund In-depth Editor........................Amber Greser Photographer...........................Anthony Jourdan Design Editor...........................Liz Stratman Design Editor...........................Britt Hannigan Advertising Manager...............Laura Cejka Staff Writers: Cassi Milroy Taylor Bradish Kelcie Pinkes

Brit Stock Jess Crawford

Contributors: Nicole Andrews Alexis Busch Faith Cotton Natalie Doering Damara Duin Morgan Mumby Hilary Stover Chelsea Vorland

Riley Haug Troy Hoover Jahn Kuiper Meghan McMahon Natalie Miller Alyssa Stahr Tiffany Strilka

Advisor.............................................Jamie Hestermann

The Voice is a monthly publication sponsored by Gretna High School, 11335 South 204th Street, Gretna, NE 68028. The office of The Voice is located in sponsor Jamie Hestermann’s room, room 400. The phone number is (402)332-3936.

Reader response is welcome in the form of suggestions and ideas. They can be dropped off in room 400 at any time.

Editorials are solely the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of The Voice staff or Gretna High School.

Page 5

Editorial

The hallways:

Sort of like a battlefield

What’s your

By Christie Berglund Editor-in-Chief

you want to talk, move off to the side instead of creating a road block. There are also the lines of people who refuse to be separated from one another as if they’re protecting themselves from the big, bad upperclassmen. It’s going to be ok, I promise. You don’t have to walk in a line of four to every class.

These students wouldn’t be as big of a problem if they walked just a little bit faster. I admit that I’m a relatively fast walker and I tend to weave through the masses of people like many weave through traffic when they’re late for work, but you don’t have to take the other extreme and saunter through the halls.

Do you know what my favorite thing is? It’s the sudden stop. I love when I’m walking and the person in front of me sees someone they know and stops. They don’t slow down, they stop, and I plow right in to them. A little warning would be tremendously helpful.

Whether it’s the stepping on heels or being hit by backpacks or by someone else’s shoulder, or when someone walks on the wrong side, I personally feel like I’m fighting a battle every time a venture in to Gretna’s main hallways. I dread it every time.

Mr. Haun. He is very smart and treats us like adults for the most part, and he helps me with college.”

Kelsey Vala Senior

opinion

As the bell rings and my classmates and I pile out of the room, I venture in to the loathsome hallway.

We all can relate to despising Gretna’s hallways and how people tend to walk in them.

One of the major annoyances I find in the hallways is backpacks.

Lots and lots of backpacks. Walking down the hallway there are people lugging their backpacks that are literally two and a half feet wide. They waddle down the hall like a penguin with too much weight on top of him. They are crammed full of, I suppose, every book they need for every class. I may be wrong, but doesn’t every student receive a locker at the beginning of the year? Then why aren’t students using them?

Seniors occupy the only hallway in which you would not be able to go to your locker every period. Some of us even have lockers at the very end of the farthest hallway and you don’t see us with massive backpacks! Please just make a quick stop. It’s painless, really.

The reason backpacks are such a problem is students don’t seem to realize the amount of space they consume. I have been a victim of several backpack attacks. A certain student will spin around and smack me with all the books crammed in their backpack.

Ouch!

Furthermore, every period the hallways contain dawdlers who seem to want to conduct a conversation smack dab in the middle of the hall. I say if

December 2007

“Brugg because I don’t like sitting down all period.”

Ethan Donica Junior

“Ms. Suhr cause she’s not that strict and really nice.”

Hannah Dittmar Sophomore

“Mr. Swanson because he’s hilarious. He has good jokes and a good personality.”

Kevin Anderson Freshman

Who’s your favorite teacher?

Cartoon by: Noel Rasmussen

December 2007

Operation: Military Kids

By Anthony Jourdan Photo Editor Having a parent deployed. What does that mean to you? For some people it might be the hardest thing to go through, missing kids events, birthdays, and watching people just grow. And for some people it doesn’t even cross them about what some people have to go through. To the kids or teens that do have a parent over serving in the military it seems like a lifetime for them to get back. Jim Oliver who just got back from Iraq said it was difficult to be gone for along time.

“It was extremely difficult. I believe that the family has the harder job being back here sometimes by themselves while I was with a family of brothers and sisters who always were looking after one another.” Oliver said. “My eldest daughter grew 5 inches while I was gone, I missed birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and special events. Things that cannot be replaced. I truly value my family and friends now.”

With the help of the United States army in 2004 a group called Operation: Military Kids was created to support the children of all military who serve our nation. The group is widespread through over 40 states. In Nebraska, Mark Simmons who is a Nebraska Military 4-H Liaison made this group possible in Nebraska.

“We do this through raising community awareness across the state and building capacity withing those communities to provide outreach services to those youth before, during and after their parent is deployed,” Simmons said.

To reach out to the communities OMK has several aspects to it. Some of the aspects are Speak Out for Military Kids which is a speaker’s bureau of civilian and military teens who want to help others by raising awareness of the issues that face military youth. Some other things is HERO, Ready, Set,. Go! Trainings which basically are meetings that can be held in any community across Nebraska to generate why OMK is so important of how communities can get involved.

This program was basically set up as a result of the Global War on Terrorism where our nation was seeing a record number of deployments.

“When a parent is gone for over of year of a kids life, missing things like football games, first dates or prom, and unlike someone who lives on an army installation, they are often the only person in their community whose parent is away,” Simmons said. “Sometimes their friends, teachers and neighbors may have difficulty understanding the stresses related to having a parent working in a war zone on the other side of the globe.”

When asked Mark Simmons says he has respect for the men and women who serve for our nation.

“I have so much respect for the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, and if through OMK we can provide them the satisfaction of knowing that Nebraskans are rallying to support their families during that difficult time, we have done our small part in serving our Nation,” Simmons said.

“That knowledge is very rewarding for me and all the members of our state and the local teams who deliver OMK programs.

Features

Page 6

Senior expen$e$

www.stcloudstate.edu

Final year of high school adds up

By Cassi Milroy Staff writer So it’s the last year of high school and it’s finally almost over. After spending the last three years at Gretna with hope in never losing the moments experienced during high school, seniors get ready to finish off the last year. Senior year will be the most memorable and exciting year yet with last memories being made. But then there are the expenses.

Some expenses for seniors are optional; others are needed to move on to college. Either way, senior year can be an expensive year of high school. Money goes toward pre-college tests and finishing off the year with a bang and great final

“You are only in high school once and itʼs a big part of your life.”

-Krystle Ridpath memories.

Seniors Des Whiteside and Krystle Ridpath both agree that they spent a lot of money on their graduation pictures and final high school expenses.

“You are only in high school once and it’s

a big part of your life,” Ridpath said.

These expenses include senior pictures, graduation announcements, college applications, enrollment fees, ACT and SAT, and the graduation party.

Senior pictures are taken at a wide variety of places so prices range. Andi Daly got hers taken in Ashland at MJ Studios and spent $300-400. Schuetz’s were taken at Cherie Phelps. Deyo’s charges a minimum of $300 for pictures.

Most seniors have been so focused on getting through their last year of high school that they haven’t put much thought into their graduation party.

Invites for the party vary for each person. Some people print theirs through a company with photos of them and others choose the traditional ones the school offers for $8.80 for ten invites.

“I’m going to make my invites myself just to be creative and easy,” Daly said.

Both Daly and Schuetz say they plan on the party being at their houses.

Testing is the most obvious expense.

Seniors can choose to take the ACT or the SAT. The ACT costs $30 and the SAT costs $32. Students can retake the tests if they are unhappy with their scores. Ryan Schuetz says he spent around $60 on tests.

“I spent a total of $80 on testing,” Daly said.

Another non-optional expense is the cost of the cap and gown $24.50. The gown is rented and the cap and tassel the graduate gets to keep.

Average Costs for Seniors Senior Pictures - $400 Graduation Announcements - $30 Party Invites - $30 Party - $200 ACT - $30 Cap and Gown - $24.50

TOTAL: $714.50

December 2007

Features

Page 7

Students survive with siblings at school

By Liz Stratman Design Editor Looks, mannerisms, and the way a person talks can often be similar to that of a sibling. Though that’s not always the case. Some siblings act or look nothing alike so people may be surprised when they find out they’re brother or sister.

A lot of people don’t even realize siblings are related, especially if they’re completely different.

Sophomore Emily Lawry and senior Katie Lawry are complete opposites.

“People say ‘you act nothing like Katie’, or ‘look nothing like Katie’,” Emily said.

E mily says it bothers her that her older sister Katie is at the same school.

“People are like ‘Oh my gosh, I didn’t Freshman Tyler Novak and se- even know Katie had a nior Scott Novak. sister’ and it annoys me,” Emily said.

Katie says it doesn’t really bother her.

“We get along good, so it doesn’t really matter,” Katie said. “I don’t mind it.”

Emily says they don’t argue much, but don’t have deep conversations either.

“If we do [argue], it’s not pretty,” Emily said. “I get really scared sometimes because I know she could seriously hurt me and could like bench (press) me.

She’s a beast.”

Senior Scott Novak and freshman Tyler Novak don’t mind having each other at school.

“He’s nice to me and he drives me places,” Tyler said.

Scott says people tell him that he and his brother look alike.

“They can usually tell,” Tyler said.

Senior Courtney Schaffer says seeing her sister Chelsea, a freshman, at school is just like seeing her around their house.

“It doesn’t really matSenior Katie Lawry and sophomore Emily Lawry ter,” Courtney said. “It’s the same thing as benot that often. ing at home.”

“Unless they’re out with her and are Courtney like ‘oh that’s your sister,’” Courtney said. and Chelsea are Throughout the day, the Lawry sisters someon dance team times see each other in the hallways. together, so that’s “Usually it’s kind of like ‘Emily’ ‘Katie’, or a mainly the only nod and walk by,” Emily said. “We don’t really stop time they see to talk, although she did tell me she liked my hair each other durlast week.” ing the day other Emily and Katie say they don’t ignore each than occasionaly other at school. in the hallways.

“We talk to each other usually, or at least ac“I never Freshman Chelsea Schaffer knowledge each other,” Katie said. see her,” Chelsea and senior Courtney SchafTyler likes having his brother at school, but said. usually just passes him in the hall without stopping fer C o u r tto talk to him. ney says people “I usually just walk by,” Scott said. “Only if sometimes ask about Chelsea being her sister, but he needs a ride.”

SCARRED: Students share their stories

By Taylor Bradish Staff writer Warning: Do not attempt these bone crunching, skin splitting stunts under any circumstances. They can cause serious injury. Or leave you permanently SCARRED. “I was TPing a house, so I was running around a tree with toilet paper and I ran into a fake deer,” junior, Chase Randall says.

Whether students were doing something that they knew was a high risk of getting hurt or not, the chance is always there. Point proven with Randall.

Senior Laurenne Wilkie was walking in her house when she stepped on a medical razor blade that was sticking out of the carpet. Her mom, is a nurse which would explain why there was a medical razor blade in her

house in the first place.

“It went 3/4 of an inch into my foot.” ‘It felt great,” Wilkie says.

Although Willkie had no idea that a sharp object was about to jab through her foot, sophomore Dominic Damone was doing something a little more extreme. While starring at the seven stair ledge he was about to challenge, he could see a potential accident in his future.

Damone and two of his friends were skateboarding by Platteview High School.

“I was kick flipping a seven stair ledge,” Damone says.

Something went wrong.

“My friend Connor went inside to get help, and like the whole Platteview school came out,” Da-

mone said.

“They called an ambulance and I went to the hospital,” Damone said.

For some people its a quick fix. Go to the hospital, get a few stitches, and return home. Not for Damone. He underwent a serious surgery.

“They put two plates, 13 pins in my leg and ankle, and 32 staples to sew it up because stitches wouldn’t hold it,” Damone said.

For Willkie, things weren’t as serious.

“My mom is a nurse so she should know what to do, but because it was me, she kind of like panicked,” Willkie says.

Wilkie didn’t have to go through surgery, or many follow up checkups, but she did have to use some surgical glue to close her wound.

Center

December 2007

The toys we all had

Reminisce

The

9

‘S

my screen,” Jones said.

One of the major toys of the nineties was Furbies. They talked, their eyes moved and they gradually learned our phrases. But Jones, like many others, grew tired of the electronic toy.

“I hated them,” Jones said. “They were creepy and irritating.”

Jones recalled one of her memories of not being able to play with her brothers as a kid.

“My brothers used to lock me out of the room and hog all the Lincoln Logs and have massive wars,” Jones said. “I would just sit outside the door and cry because they said girls couldn’t be in the war.”

Freshman Jordan Josoff was a big supporter of Hot Wheels during his childhood.

“They were cool and some of them had fire and others had rims,” Josoff said. “They were just little cars you could play with and set up tracks.”

Unlike Jones, Josoff thought Furbies were amusing toys.

“Furbies were fun because they talked and had long hair,” Josoff said.

Sophomore Jessica Wagner’s favorite toys when she was growing up were Furbies and Barbies. One popular toy she didn’t have was a Giga Pet. “Everyone had to have them,” Wagner said. “I didn’t understand them.”

Wagner remembers one of the trendy toys that most elementary students were not allowed to have at school.

“Slap bracelets. They were banned after a while because everyone was slapping them on people,” Wagner said.

Out of all the toys from the nineties, Beanie Babies are thought of as topping with popularity, and Wagner agreed.

“People would pay a ton of money for them,” Wagner said.

When asked why she thought certain toys became so popular, Jones claimed it was because kids were lonesome.

“Cause kids were lonely and wanted friends and some can only seek that kind of companionship in automated things,” Jones said.

Gigapets: $9.99

to have

Non-Retired Beanie Babies: $5.00 Retired Beanie Babies: Unlimited

students remember

By Laura Cejka Advertising manager Think way back to elementary and middle school years when everyone was completely obsessed with Spice Girls, N’sync, Backstreet Boys, and Brittney Spears; or maybe that “little” obsession still lingers. One thing’s for sure: our childhood was filled with talent show remakes of *NSYNC’s “Bye, Bye, Bye”, and arguments over who got to be Baby Spice. . . and the stories are still haunting us.

Even at our last homecoming, the famous “Wannabe” hit by the Spice Girls was the hilarious highlight of the evening, where even the guys were belting out the lyrics. What was it about ‘90s music that was so contagious that it totally took over our tape players? It was probably the fact that the songs were just

Senior Tessie Stednitz displays an *NSYNC No Strings Attached CD.

December 2007

*Dawsonʼs room: Andie is dancing and watching ʻFootlooseʼ on Dawsonʼs TV while Pacey, Dawson, and Joey sit on the bed and watch her dance and laugh.* Andie: Oh my God! I love ʻFootlooseʼ! Donʼt you guys love to dance? I am so excited about the homecoming dance next weekend.

Pacey: The homecoming dance? *Andie nods* Pacey: Oh my God, weʼre hanging out with Marcia Brady.

Andie: I donʼt understand. Whatʼs wrong with the school dance?

Dawson: I think what Paceyʼs actually saying is that weʼre not exactly the school dance type.

Furbie: Retail Price $30.95, but auctioned at a steaper price

the

so catchy.

Senior Tessie Stednitz can vouch for this. She remembers when she was completely obsessed with *NSYNC. “My friends and I would choreograph everything and pretend we were them at a concert,” Stednitz said.

“Me, Rhea, Emily and Carleigh did ‘It’s Gonna be Me’ for the fourth grade talent show. Also, for 6th grade show and tell I brought all of my *NSYNC stuff: puppet dolls, trading cards and posters.”

Senior Jake O’Neal was also a big fan of *NSYNC, performing their hit “It’s Gonna be Me” at the 7th grade talent show with Tyler Johnson. They even added some flare to the end by flinging their visors out into the crowd, but it was his memory of the Spice Girls craze that really takes the cake. “[I remember] watching the Spice Girls’ movie with my sister and her friend multiple times and then they dressed me up like Sporty Spice,” O’Neal said.

Sophomore Laura Sterling was a little more comfortable with her obsession with the Spice Girls.

“I would dress up like Baby Spice,” Sterling said. “My friends and I would listen to Spice Girls all the time.

We each got a Spice Girls barrette because there were five of us. We also did Karaoke to all their songs.”

While the pop scene was emerging with full force, bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smash Mouth, and the Baja Men were taking a different ap-

lyrics

By Christie Berglund Editor-in-chief When we were all in elementary school our minds were centered on one thing, toys. We only cared about who had what and the toys we were bound and determined to get.

From the Beanie Baby craze where Hallmark was taken over with the plush toys, to the Giga Pets that teachers wouldn’t let us have in class, there are some toys we’ll always remember.

Senior Melissa Jones grew up in a house full of boys and preferred her brothers’ toys.

“A Bop-it, oh my gosh my parents ended up hiding it because I would play with it at night,” Jones said. “My older brothers and all his friends had to have one and I had to achieve optimal coolness.”

Everyone can remember the old fashion Polly Pockets and how little girls fawned over them. Jones’ friends were no different, but she didn’t feel the same way.

“I had one, but I was more of a tomboy and I liked Power Rangers better,” Jones said.

When Giga Pets came out most children didn’t want to leave them at home for fear that, gasp, they may have died. Jones remembers when her digital pet suffocated because she forgot to digitally clean it.

“We could have them on the bus, but not at school. I had one, but it died from asphyxia from defecating all over

Center

Page 8 Page 9

. y t i l i b a t c i d g e n i r n p e o v t e d , y e o n b e r p e p p a a p h e r e h t v , te n a a h m W k l i m The

By Amber Greser In-depth editor

? v T

The 90s was a time before parttime jobs and 500 word essays, but after first words and diapers.

It was a time of turning five, six, seven, etc. Before the stresses of high school, even before middle school. This was the time of being in the house as the very hint of darkness approached.

So what was there to do between being ushered into the house and then into bed a couple of hours later?

Watch TV. Shows in the early 90s, like Rugrats that aired in 1991, were popular.

Rugrats was an animated show about four babies getting into all kinds of

proach to the popularity of upbeat music. Junior Gil Gunderson remembers meeting Smash Mouth in person when he was younger.

“I met Smash Mouth because my guitar teacher opened for them so he introduced me to them,” Gunderson said.

Looking back on our obsession of ‘90s music, Stednitz puts all of it into focus.

“Growing up it was great, but I think MTV really pushed it on us kids,” Stednitz said. “It just brings back memories.”

trouble. The relation to these characters probably came because most GHS students were still babies at the time of the release. As the 90s progressed, shows like Full House and Dawson’s Creek entered our lives, along with movies like Jurassic Park and Toy Story.

“I was big into Power Rangers, mainly the pink ranger, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” senior Tara Smith said. “Because they were always kicking the bad guys butt, saving the day, and doing it in style.”

“My favorite movie was The Lion King, because it made my cry and sing along with every song at the same time,” Smith said. “It was the ultimate movie.”

Senior Ashley Heesacker watched shows like Rocko’s Modern Life, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Pokemon and Hey Arnold.

“I liked cartoons and animated movies because they made me giggle” Heesacker said.

Students watched shows in the 90s that appealed to them, like Power Rangers and Pokemon, but some teachers, like Mr. Jim Ryan, also watched 90s TV. “Spin City, Home Improvement, Mad About You, and Monday Night Football,” Ryan said. “That’s pretty much what all the cool kids watched.”

As for 90s movies, Ryan believes they were “the best movies.”

“The best by far was the digital remake of the Star Wars trilogy,” Ryan said. “And others were Austin Powers, Forest Gump, Pulp Fiction and A Few Good Men.”

So, have movies and TV changed over time?

B ecome more revealing, like Grey’s Anatomy?

O r more violent, like Prison Break?

“Today’s TV is less stereotyping based on gender, religion and race,” Ryan said. “But today’s is also far less restrictive in terms of suggestive material and language.”

The provocative language and behavior was usually left in the movies, but as time progressed, into the millennium and to the present, it has trickled into everyday TV. “I like a mixture of both 90’s and present,” Smith said. “Because I still have a little kid in me.”

“I like today’s, because I’m older, and the things I used to think were funny are not anymore,” Heesacker said.

Now we are in high school, and bed times are basically a thing of the past.

Since we are older, do we enjoy more suggestive material and language in what we watch, as opposed to the kid shows of the past?

December 2007 Jessica Kerwin, junior

Third grade I figured it out when we went to different malls and they all looked different.

Entertainment

Page 10

When did you find out about Santa?

Ty Blackstun, sophomore

One morning when I was six I woke up to go potty and I saw my mom and dad putting presents under the tree.

Timbre Backen, sophomore

It was like seventh grade, my cousin was three and I overheard my aunt talking about bringing in his santa presents.

Justine Ward, junior Ginny

In sixth grade, I heard friends talking about how Santa wasnʼt real! I went home and cried, it broke my heart!

Ostransky,

sophomore

Santaʼs Christmas gifts had mommyʼs handwriting on them!

Gifts Ideas for Guys Hats IPOD Touch Guitar Hero 3 Cologne Itunes gift cards Shirts Gift cards

Gifts Ideas for Girls

Jewelry Digital Picture Frame Hoodies Perfume and lotion Gift cards Designer product Coach keychains Camera

Anna Weigandt, junior

Second grade and kid at school told me and I got in an argument with him and went home to talk to my mom about it and she told me it was true.

On snow days, GHS students have a winter blast

By Laura Cejka Advertising Manager Waking up to the sound of nothing but soft snowflakes hitting your window pane, you jump out of bed and rush to turn on the TV. There, scrolling at the bottom of the screen are the prized words, “Gretna High School...Closed”. You want to scream and shout, but who does that this early in the morning?

So you just snuggle back under your flannel sheets only to be kept awake by the possibilities the day could bring.

Those possibilities are endless, but to the less creative among us, it seems as though sleeping is the only option. Well, wake up! There are people actually having fun on their day off. Senior Amy Nitchals, for example, doesn’t waste these rare days.

“One time me and Ashley (Blum) went to her friends’ house and they took an old car hood and hooked it up to the back of their truck,” Nitchals said.

“We laid on our stomachs and they drove us around through the snow.”

Riding on various objects chained behind a

truck seems to be a popular winter past time for quite a few GHS students, including junior Tim Boehmer.

He may be the kind of guy who relishes sleep on a snow day, but at least he has thought about doing something crazy.

“I really want to hook a couch to the back of a truck on a snow day” Boehmer said.

Besides fun involving trucks and snow, several students see snow days as a chance to break out their snow boards and skis. Sophomore Nick Schroeder does just that.

“I go out to Mt. Crescent and snowboard for about six hours,” Schroeder said.

It’s well known that snow boarding can lead to some traumatic injuries that can have students coming back to school in wraps. Schroeder knows about these kind of experiences first hand.

“I broke my arm and had to get surgery,” Schroeder said. “My friends and I had made a homemade ramp to snowboard off of. When it started getting warmer, the ramp started collapsing and I went

off of it the wrong way.”

Getting hurt in the snow usually brings back childhood memories when students had the courage and energy to go sledding in the middle of a cornfield for countless hours at a time. Freshman Katie Gramlich had a blast when she was little with her new spin on sledding.

“My dad would run the hose on the snow and wait for it to freeze,” Gramlich said.

“Then me, my brother and my cousins would all sled down it.”

For the more “warm- blooded” people among us, there are also fun things to do in the comfort of your living room when it’s just too cold to go outside.

Here are some ideas: “I watch Elf and eat Chili with Ritz crackers and cheese,” Schroeder said.

“I sleep in, make a really big breakfast and then watch Home Alone,” Gramlich said.

Whether you have a blast inside or out, the vote is unanimous; we love snow days!

Entertainment

December 2007

Page 11

Step away from the controller?

Students confess to their video game addiction

What’s On Your

By Amber Greser In-Depth Editor No way.

Three kills away from the ultimate win.

Attacked from behind with an energy sword, one more hit and your dead. In a fit of panic, you swing around attempt to slap a Spike Grenade to your opponents face, all in the blink of an eye.

Of course you don’t get away fast enough.

Suicide. And your opponent walks away with some heavy damage, but alive.

Getting too much into the game is a norm for gamers, and so is playing for hours on end.

“It’s a daily event. I’ve broken three controllers and a table,” senior Chase Sorenson said. “And one time me and Josh [Torres, a senior] made a kid cry because we destroyed him so bad.”

“Master Chief returns to a Covenant Dominated Earth on a mission to kill the final alien leader.

Meanwhile, the Arbiter, Johnson, and Keyes form a loose alliance and escape from Delta Halo.”

Foreign language?

If not, then you’re at least somewhat familiar with the game Halo. Halo 3 in particular, which was released September 25, 2007. The Halo 3 release sparked the interest of many Gretna High School students, including seniors Chase Sorenson and Derrick Winje.

“FlakyBiscuit (senior Dylan Wellenstein) shot some kid when I was on top hill at Valhalla when some bad kid rushed me,” Sorenson said. “I attempted a sick no scope on this kid but missed. The shot went to the back of a base and took some poor kid’s brain out on a mongoose. I then shot the kid Dylan had and got the sickest dub of all time.”

Halo CE is the game that got Sorenson into really being a gamer. Other than that he’s been playing for around nine years.

At the moment you’ll probably find Winje playing Halo 3, but he enjoys all of the Halo games,

though he says that “out of Halo Gaming one, two, and three, two is the for worst.”

Dummies Winje has even been spon- Halo CE - Halo 1, Combat sored to go to St. Evolved Louis and Chicago COD 4 - Call of Duty 4 “all expenses paid” RPG - role playing games to participate in Energy Sword & Spike Gretournaments, and nade - Halo weapons on a scale of one Valhalla - Halo level to ten, consid- Rushed - basically attacked ers himself a six Sick no scope - To shoot an when it comes to opponent in Halo with a being obsessed sniper rifle without using the with video games. scope He does consider Mongoose - Halo vehicle himself a gamer, since he’s been playing video games from around age seven or eight when he received a Nintendo.

Senior Amanda Dudley also started playing video games on a regular Nintendo.

“Since I was a wee child. I used to play Mario and Donkey Kong,” Dudley said.

Dudley does not think of herself as a gamer, or obsessed with video games, but says that one time she spent “about six hours playing Kingdom Hearts,” one of her favorite games along with Guitar Hero and Harvest Moon.

But why?

What is so special about video games?

“You can do stuff in them that you can’t do in real life,” Sorenson said. “It’s the excitement and the joy of destroying [other players].”

I-Pod? Tommy Dudley, freshman

Chase Sorenson has broken three controllers while playing video games.

DECEMBER EVENTS CALENDAR 1 A Christmas Carol Play, Omaha Community Playhouse- Dec 1-23rd

When I’m gone - Eminem Crank That - Soulja Boy Seatmen - SeatmenJohn Down with the sickness - Disturbed Theheretcanthon - Slipknot

2 Holiday Lights Festival, Gene Leahy Mall- All December

3

4 Henry Doorly Zoo’s Zoolightful, 5-8pm

5

6

7 The Golden Compass opens in theaters

8

9 United Methodist Church Live Nativity- 6pm

10

11

12 Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Qwest Center7:30pm

13

14 I am Legend opens in theaters

15 Linkin Park Tickets go on sale at 10am

16 Clay Aiken with the Omaha Symphony- Dec. 14-16th

17

18

19

20 Show Choir Cookie Walk

21 National Treasure 2 opens in theaters

22 Salsa Dancing Lessons, El Museo Latino, 8:30- 1pm, $5

23

24

25

26 27 Manheim Steamroller, Qwest Center- 7:30pm

28

29

30

31 First National Bank Fireworks Show- 7pm

Style

December 2007

Page 12

Fashion Flashback

Today’s style reflects eras past

Savannah Pickinpaugh, junior

By Liz Stratman Design Editor From flapper dresses to bell bottoms, wool jumpers and tweed jackets to mini skirts and short dresses, leather platform shoes to Uggs; each decade is filled with unique styles outlining different patterns, fabrics, and cuts.

Junior Zenaida Smith says she goes for oddly cut clothes.

“I look for bright colors and weird cuts,” Smith said.

She says she likes 1920s flapper dresses.

In the 1920s and 30s, Hollywood had a dominant effect on American fashion, according to fashion-era.com. Actresses Louise Brooks and Greta Garbo were two completely different fashion icons during this time. While Brooks was the signature image of a flapper girl, Garbo had a more mysterious, softer look.

Sophomore Anne Torczon says she doesn’t really have a fashion icon or celebrity she bases her style off of.

“Just stylists like Dolce and Gabbana,” Torczon said.

By the late 40s and early 50s Dior and Chanel introduced fitted suit jackets. In the mid 50s people wore kitten heels and metal tipped steel stiletto heels. Hairstyles started with simple pony tails and ended with complex beehive arrangements. The French pleat and poodle cut were also popular through the 60s when women starting wearing their hair in coiled ringlets, spirals, or curvy curls.

Many late 50s styles still existed during the early 60s.

By the mid-60s women began wearing mini skirts or dresses.

According to fashion-era.com, the 60s was a very fast-moving decade. Hippies of the 60s brought ethnic clothes to the 70s.

Torczon says her clothes best reflect the 70s because of her high-waisted, flared dress pants and jeans.

She likes the 70s the best especially because of the

straight, long hairstyles.

During the 1970s people wore flared trousers, trouser suits, and bell bottoms. The early platform shoes grew from about a 1/4 inch sole to 4 inches throughout the 70s. Disco hot pants and tight spandex tops were practically required to gain entrance to night clubs, but were not worn during the day. The mismatched attitude led to the 80s soap opera-inspired trends.

Shoulder pads and big feathered hairstyles were often portrayed by popular TV show stars, designers, and pop icons like Jane Fonda. The Fonda look was very popular and many people dressed in gym and aerobics wear, styling a leotard, tights, leg warmAnne Torczon, ers, belt, and Reeboks.

“I like the 80s the best, but I don’t sophomore wear a lot from it,” junior Savannah Pickinpaugh said. “I wear more modern stuff I guess.”

Pickinpaugh says she likes how the 80s style is really coming back now.

“My mom has these Reebok shoes,” Pickinpaugh said.

“They’re very 80s hip hop.”

Fashion icons in the 90s took the classic 70s bell bottoms and wore flared jeans instead. The 60s and 70s platform shoes returned as did gowns of the 1940s.

It’s said, “history repeats itself.” Fashion does too. People’s style and eye for fashion reflects eras past.

70s

Model Twiggy

30s

www.dentrocinc.com

Actress Greta Garbo

50s

Actress Farrah Fawcett

www.thejudyroom.com

Actress Judy Garland

20s

60s

40s www.bettedavis.com

Actress Bette Davis

www.absolutemadonna.com

80s

Today www.smh.com

www.60s.ch

www.allposters.com

media.justjared.com

Actress Reese Witherspoon

Singer Madonna

www.audreyhepburn.com

Actress Audrey Hepburn

90s

Princess Diana

December 2007 Steven Novak, Junior

In the Hallways

Car-of-the Month

Q. What kind of car do you have?

A. ‘97 Dodge truck, 3/4 ton, long bed

Would you like to see your car or a friend’s car in next month’s issue?

Drop by Room 400 and let us know!

Q. What’s the inside like (clean/dirty, seats)?

A. Leather bucket seats, very dirty Q. Where did you get your car?

A. Nebraska/Wyoming border Q. Why did you select this car?

A. Because I like this body style Q. What is your dream car?

A. ‘69 Dodge Charger Q.Any special details you want to brag about?

A. It’s loud, fast, and has a lot of power Q.Name 3 random things in your car.

A. CDs, clothes, toolbox

Logan Ackley-Sophomore

Q&A

Page 15

Q. If you could buy any rare collection in the world which would you choose?

A. Cars Q. If someone offered you a trip to any foreign country where would you go?

A. Germany Q. If you could carve your name in stone were would you carve it?

A. Mt. Rushmore Q. Which famous person do you imitate or impersonate the best?

A. Jim Carrey

Kami Havick-Junior Q. If you could fly in a hot air balloon over any city were would it be?

A. Chicago Q. Which sport would you most like to play professionally?

A. Football Q. If you could have one superpower what would it be?

A. Flying Q. In your opinion what animal is beautiful to you?

A. Cheetah

Demi Duin-Freshman

Nolan Debord-Senior

Q. What do you think is the most soothing sound?

A. The ocean Q. If you could change your name what would you change your name to be?

A. Brooke Q. If you were a migrating bird where would you fly for the winter?

A. Australia Q. If Christmas were tommorow what gift would you want the most?

A. New cat

Q. What sound would you like your telphone to make?

A. Lion’s roar Q. If you owned a yacht what would you name it?

A. The Nolan Q. What do you beleive is the greatst unsolved mystery of all?

A. Bermuda triangle Q. If you joined the circus what act would you want to perform?

A. Lion tamer

Sports

December 2007

Page 14

Students gain athletic trainer experience

By Brittany Hannigan Design Editor It’s 3:30 p.m. and athletes are in the locker room getting ready for practice. Basketball players are checking into the training room to get taped up before they begin practice.

“We tape ankles and wrists and give ice,” Sophomore Emma Tessiere, a student trainer, said.

“We also do rehab and wound care, like blisters and all that stuff.”

Junior Danielle Streit is also a trainer.

“We are there to help Amy [Wood], the head athletic trainer, and we do small things when she’s not there,” Streit said.

Wood is there Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The other student trainers choose what days and times they want to work.

“It depends on the person though not everyrone has to stay that much,” Tessiere said.

Streit said that she only goes in about twice a week and stays until about 5:30 or 6:00.

Tessiere said that it’s really not busy at all.

“From 3:30 until like 3:45 it’s pretty busy,

but then after that, it’s pretty quiet,” Tessiere said.

Trainers aren’t assigned sports but they are allowed to help out at games. “...If we want to go help out at games you can sign up but it’s not required,” Tessiere said.

Being a trainer is helpful for many reasons.

“It’s good on college resumes,” Streit said.

It also helps students learn more about the medical field.

“I want to go in the medical field so it’s teaching me things,” Tessiere said. “It’s a good experience.”

When they aren’t helping a student, both Streit and Tessiere say that they usually just hang out and talk.

“We just sit and talk or do homework,” Tessiere said.

Streit also said that they clean things out and restock supplies.

Students who are interested in becoming a trainer, should talk to Wood.

“You just have to talk to Amy.” Tessiere said.

“Basically you learn as you go. She teaches us everything that you need to know.”

Trainer Amy Woods records junior Cari Hawk’s progress with her injury.

Photos by Anthony Jourdan

Junior Trent Miller drives the ball down the court as the team participates in drills.

Aiming for a 3 pointer is senior Trent Tibbs who joined the varsity basketball team this year.

(Right) As time runs out to pass the ball, senior Avery Dennis looks for an open player.

Going senior gardt ward

for a layup, Tyler Brunjumps tothe basket.

(Left) As freshman Monica Crockett plays defense, junior Kristen Goldenstein looks to pass the ball.

Sports

Page 15

TIME Bowling season OUT strikes again WITH...

HITMAN

Movie you’re dying to see?

Weirdest nickname you’ve been given?

You wish your name could be...

Best vacation spot?

Photos by Anthony Jourdan

Teaching freshman Nick Barber some new wrestling moves is Joe Janovich, a 2006 graduate, who was a two- time state wrestling campion.

Jared Gottberg

Ogre Roland

Amy Stiggie

Enchanted

Amo MeRgin

Canada

Chase Brion

Hilary Stover

Pirates 4 I AM (If they LEGEND make it)

Poota

Derik

Zoolander

Canada California

wrestling

By Kelcie Pinkes Staff Writer Your feet step up to the foul line, you swing your arm back and launch the ball down the lane.

Cross your fingers. You never know if it will be a strike or headed straight for the gutter. This season, the high school bowling team is hoping for more strikes than gutters.

Freshman Erin Lemon, sophomore Audrey Petrovich, junior Joe Caffrey, and senior Jeff Stewart are four out of the 23 students participating on the bowling team this year. The team practices on Mondays and Wednesdays between 4-5 pm at Elkhorn’s Thunder Alley. In all, they have 11 matches, districts and one tournament competition, but only a few select team members are chosen to participate. Each bowler had different reasons for joining the team.

“Because I love to bowl and [I want] to have some fun” Lemon said.

“Because my dad wanted me to” Petrovich said.

“I think it would be fun” Caffrey said. “Everyone can play no matter how good you are or how bad you are.”

“Because I’ve been bowling since I was 12 and It’s a lot of fun “ Stewart said.

Will it go straight down the lane for a strike or curve at the last second for a gutter ball? This year’s bowling team is hoping all their practices will pay off with more strikes and a great season.

December 2007

Don’t have one b

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Alaska

Getting ready for a westling move, senior Mark Mintken pushes away junior Mark Beran.

February 2008

Photo Story

Winter Sports

Senior Lee Henning holds on to a Blair wrestler. and the Dragons would end up winning the dual.

Page 16 Junior Dwight Jones goes up for the shot against Waverly. They would end up beating the Vikings 5545.

He would later get the pin

Ryan Harnett gets ready to make a move on a Blair wrestler. Harnett would later get the pin.

Senior Bryce Arp gets ready for the jump ball. He and the team have the Dragons at a 14-4 record.

Freshman Nick Barber gets wrapped up in a dual against Blair. He would end up losing later by fall.

Senior McKenzie Shepard gets ready to pass the ball.

The Dragons have a record of 12-6.

Senior Carissa Gregory gets Trent Miller ready to pass the ball. The Junior Dragons would end up win- shoots a free throw. The Dragons are rated ďŹ fth in ning the game 53-33.

Class B.