August 2008

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johnston high school

black&white AUGUST 2008

VOLUME 18 ISSUE 1

515.278.0449

6501 NW 62ND AVE

JOHNSTON, IA

Buller runs for board BRITTANY DEAL editor in chief

Former student Tyler Buller, 20, added his name to the list of candidates for the one-year term for school board.

“I guess my interest first started when I was in high school and I covered school board sophomore, junior, and senior year,” Buller said.

Buller, who is currently focusing on communications at Drake University, had planned to run for a one-year term before, however chose not to when he heard Karen Coaldrake was running in 2006.

“I sort of had the idea floating around that maybe after I graduated high school I would run,” Buller said.

“But Karen ran in ’06, and obviously she’s not someone I wanted to run against. I had tremendous respect for her. She was just phenomenal. And, quite frankly, she would do a better job than anyone else I’ve ever met, including myself.”

Then, in 2007, according to Buller, Coaldrake motivated him to run.

“She said something to the effect of if you don’t run for school board, I’m going to kick your (butt),” Buller said. “Then after talking to a lot of students I still know, and some kids my age that still graduated, I kind of wanted to stay involved and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to bring something new to the table.”

School board member Jill Morrill points out that this “something new” is Buller’s point of view.

“He has that perspective of what helped him, of what he was lacking,” Morrill said. “He has an understanding of what the graduates need to go on.”

Buller agrees that he has an advantage of being a recent graduate.

“If you have a question about if school policy is working, hello, I can answer. I just went through that,” Buller said “If you want to know if our math requirements are preparing people for college, obviously I wasn’t prepared at all when I went into my math class, and I took four years of math at Johnston. So just those kinds of questions that someone who’s 35, 40, 50, 60 on the school board, how would they know that? You couldn’t possibly expect them to.”

One of Buller’s goals for the school board is to improve communication within the district.

“It seems very foreign to me that someone could think that they can determine all kinds of these academic policies, curriculum, things like that without asking kids if what they’re learning is what they’re supposed to,” Buller said.

He calls his plan of starting the communication of

Brittany Deal / BW

In an interview with Amy Lovejoy, school board candidate Tyler Buller discusses the absentee ballot system. Buller hosted Greet at the Gazebo Aug. 12. people “engaging”.

“I think if people get engaged with something, no matter what they’re going to be successful,” Buller said. “And that means you get students engaged with the board, you get parents engaged, you get teachers engaged, but it’s two ways. You have to get the board engaged with students, the board engaged with parents, and so on.”

Buller chose to run for the one-year term because he graduates in May and doesn’t know what he will be doing next.

Vicki Selinger and Julie Walter are also running for the one-year term.

“I am a parent of four students and a taxpayer. I have a lot at stake,” Walter said. “I want the best for my children and all children.”

Selinger, who ran last year for the three-year term, considers her philosophy similar to Coaldrake’s.

“I don’t think anyone can fill Karen’s shoes. I will try very hard,” Selinger said. “Karen was in a class all by

herself.”

Morrill, John Dutcher, and Jackie Heiser are running for the three-year term.

“I think it’s really important to come to the board with the willingness and commitment to look at all sides of the issue and make a decision that is based on our policy and our commitment to student achievement for all learners,” Morrill said.

Dutcher agrees with Buller about the improvement of communication.

“We have a really good school district here, but we have some holes and some opportunities to improve on here,” Dutcher said.

Heiser emphasizes the importance of voting for school board.

“The most important thing is for people to get out and vote in these elections and I guess we’ll see what they decide,” Heiser said.

The school board elections will be held Sept. 9 between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

The big move, unloading behind schedule CHELSEA NELSON staff writer

Johnston High School is welcoming back its students with 17 new classrooms and an unfurnished fitness center to serve as the lunchroom. Construction is still being done on the new cafeteria, despite having passed its expected completion date.

According to associate principle Randy Klein, the building project is almost finished.

The only thing that hasn’t been completed is the cafeteria,” Klein said. “All the classrooms are done; they just need the little bits and pieces.”

Some teachers, including math teacher Danielle Pippert, moved into their new classrooms with extra upholstery such as couches.

“It’s nice, a little hard to get used to, mainly because a lot of us have more furniture now,” Pippert said. “It’s a little hard to play interior decorator, but it’s nice to have all new things.”

English teacher Mark Schillerstrom also had the chance to get newer material

Chelsea Nelson / BW

Shoving terrazzo into the crack, construction worker Mike Janning sweeps the trowel to level the new cafeteria floor while J Willenborg surveys his work. for his classroom.

“The good thing is that (moving) gives you a chance to go through and discard things,” Schillerstrom said.

Math teacher Adam Retzlaff believes

that the renovation of materials, including furniture, has some drawbacks.

“I miss having student tables instead of having individual desks,” Retzlaff said.

“I just think the tables offer more room

for the students and their notebooks, textbooks, and calculators and the tools the students need for their daily work.”

For several teachers, the long moving process was tiresome.

“Moving is like having an ulcer and a heart attack and a stroke at the same time,” Schillerstrom said.

Pippert feels that the result of process did not have a profound negative affect.

“I can’t say anything bad about how it all turned out,” Pippert said. “The teachers had to have a lot of patience.”

While the teachers have begun to settle in, students will have to remain eating in the fitness center, the temporary cafeteria. According to Bob Lindner, Superintendent for Harold Pike Construction, and Johnston’s current contractor, the cafeteria was expected to be completed by the first day of school.

“Weather was the biggest factor for (the completion delay),” Lindner said.

“Weather delay for a few days can add up to a week. Not only that, the schedules are quite short, and workers had to go do something else during the delay. Sometimes it’s hard to get them back.”

The cafeteria is now expected to be done by the end of September.

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Corrections Clarifications

The Black and White strives to be both accurate and fair.

Readers who believe the paper has printed an error should call 515-278-0449.

State adopts new playoff system A change has been made to the Iowa State High School Football Playoff system. Beginning in 2008 twice the number of teams will be included in the state tournament.

Coach Brian Lutter said that the change in class 4A will mean 32 teams will play in the opening round of the tournament. This implement of the new system is intended to cut down the amount of debate and controversy of who makes the tournament.

Fall Leadership Retreat Scheduled This years S.A.I.L. leadership retreat will be held Oct. 3 - 5. This is the weekend in which the retreat is traditionally held at the Y Camp in Boone.

It will conflict with other school sanctioned events such as Marching Band competitions and Cross Country. The event is not however expected to conflict with State football.

“We try to plan it so everyone can come but it’s difficult to avoid all conflicts,” SA.I.L. leader Alicia Rollison said.

New year notes:

schedule changes The final day for students to add a class to their schedule is Thursday August 28.

Guidance counselor Stephanie Guthrie said that if students want to drop a class, they must Guthrie do it by Oct 3. Drop slips require a parent or guardian signature. All classes dropped after this date will go down in the grade book as an F.

Homeroom for start of year The homeroom schedule for the beginning of the year has been different than the typical week. The first three days of school were homeroom days and the usual Tuesday was not a homeroom day.

Guidance counselor Stephanie Guthrie said that this is to acclimate students with the building and rules in the new year. The homeroom schedule will return to normal following labor day.

Compiled by Nels Engblom, staff writer

August 2008

B&W

Heidbreder leaves, Brimeyer steps up Shawna Polen review editor Jessica Heidbreder, co-band director of the high school band, diminished her contract and left her spot open to vocal director Ted Brimeyer.

On June 9, Heidbreder and her husband received the call that they had been waiting months for. They could now travel to China to adopt a new addition to the family, 19-month-old Grace Heidbreder.

“I felt that by continuing with the high school activities like marching band and jazz band, I was not giving Grace my all as a mom,” Heidbreder said. “So I made Heidbreder the tough choice to decrease my contract with the high school to only one period a day, and still teach ninth grade band at the middle school.”

Working with the high school band for 15 years, Heidbreder finds herself already missing it.

“The thing I’m going to miss the most is seeing the kids grow,” Heidbreder said.

“Teaching the ninth grade band is fun, but I only get to keep them one year.

With the high school, I get to watch them grow over the four years.”

However, Heidbreder has plans to take on more responsibility with the high school again in the future.

“I’m looking at some juncture, coming back in the future when Grace gets older,” Heidbreder said. Until then though, I’m going to be the band’s biggest fan in the stands.”

Between the administration, and Heidbreder, it was decided that current vocal teacher Ted Brimeyer would be replacing Heidbreder for the duration of the upcoming school year.

“It was a convenient solution to a difficult problem,” Brimeyer said. “Mrs. Heidbreder was a phenomenal, very passionate teacher. I am happy to step in and attempt to fill her huge shoes.”

Brimeyer will still be a vocal director; he is just adding band to his schedule.

“Its a great solution for both of us. Mr. Brimeyer is a French horn player and a former ISU (Iowa State University) drum major,” Heidbreder said. “He has a great credibility and relationship with the stu-

Photo by/Shawna Polen

Vocal director Ted Brimeyer conducts the band during the “Star Spangled Banner”, filling in for co-band director Jessica Heidbreder. dents already.”

Students feel indifferent about the change of teacher.

“I love (Heidbreder). I think the transition will bee good for both (Heidbreder) and Brimeyer. That way, Brimeyer can get more experience outside the vocal department, and (Heidbreder) can still be part of the band program,” senior drum major Lindsay Fredrickson said.

Brimeyer began working with the marching band Aug. 11, on the field and in the practice room, perfecting the mu-

sic and drill.

“It is a new challenge and I am definitely out of my comfort zone, it’s a lot of work, but I am excited,” Brimeyer said.

Brimeyer will not be taking the band on his shoulders alone.

“Mr. Brimeyer will be an asset to the band,” band director Patrick Kearney said. “He will be co-directing with me, helping with lessons and directing the second band. Change makes things work differently, but with a new person comes new energy.”

Borders hosts party for the opening of Breaking Dawn Shawna Polen

from the mini café within Borders.

Later in the evening, Twilight fans review editor competed in a contest for best dressed.

Borders and other book stores all over The fans dressed as Bella, prom attenthe country hosted parties dedicated to dants, vampires and werewolves. They Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series newest lined up and pretended to walk down a book Breaking Dawn. catwalk, showing off their costumes.

Walking through the doors, customThe voting was based on claps. Whoers first eyed the display on their right, ever got the loudest or the most applause holding the Twilight series collection and would continue to the next round. other related items from the upcoming At the end of three rounds, the winner Twilight movie. This included posters, was Chelsea Nelson, a senior at JHS, and calendars and stuffed wolf toys. her costume of Victoria, a nomad vamMatt Forbes, book seller at Borders pire with leaves sticking out of her crazy and master of ceremonies for the party red hair. said, “The party went well, we got double “I was psyched because my friends and what we were expecting.” sister dressed me up for it,” said Nelson.

Everyone there for the book signed “Their work made me look creepy, that is in on a list and received a paper bracelet what made us win.” detailing a number that The balancing reserved a copy of the Who among the characters in New Moon says this? contest proved to book for them later. be harder for the “You are so bizarre even for a human.”

In the far back left fans. Based on Answer: Alice corner, trivia games In Eclipse, Bella is released from grounding on what Bella’s wedding in took place. One game condition?

Dawn, Answer: Balance test Breaking quizzed Twilight read- What is the name of the girl Jasper is thinking of kill- fans were given a ers about Meyer’s three ing in the first chapter of Midnight Sun? book to balance previous books in the on their head and Answer: Whittany series: Twilight, New The trivia questions above, were asked by Forbes. walk to the end of Moon and Eclipse. The a book shelf and prizes were stickers and T-shirts for an- back without dropping or touching it. swering a question right.

Being to easy, Boarders workers raised “The trivia really heated up with peo- the number of books. It went from two, ple trying to win,” Forbes said. three, four, and five. The winner was to While waiting, Borders workers float- be first in line. ed around with trays filled with cups of Finally as the clocked ticked closer to smoothies and treats for the eager fans 12 p.m. Readers lined up according to

Photo by/Shawna Polen

Chelsea Bisenius, Christie Sitzer, Heidi Bibler, Chelsea Nelson dress in costume. number and counted down till they could perches their copy of the book.

Breaking Dawn sold for $22.99.

Boarder’s members received forty percent off, paying only $13.79 for the new hardback book.

Breaking Dawn landed in the hands of customers on August 2 at 12 a.m.

August 2008

Opinion

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New perspective needed for board As school board elections near, the Black & White has decided to endorse a candidate with a plan to make a difference, a young person who we feel we can relate to and seek advice from. This person would know how effective certain school board polices are, after spending an entire childhood under some current rules.

As a recent graduate, Tyler Buller, 20, is a youthful, fresh-faced candidate with a mission to engage every student and provide an excellent education to every child.

Buller, a three-and-a-half year member of the Black and White, reported on a variety of topics involving athletics and academics throughout his career as a staff writer and editor-in-chief.

As a senior, and editor of the Black and White, he reported on the election of superintendent Clay Guthmiller. This reporting sparked his interest in the school board. Buller became interested in how the board ran, the topics they covered, and ultimately how he could contribute to the board as a future member.

As the youngest potential member of the school board, Buller, 20, will help lend a new perspective on the district, not only as a young person going through the same issues as many of the students, but as a person who spent 12 years under many current school board policies.

Buller, a junior at Drake University, has seen a student’s transition from high school to college first-hand.

He feels confident that he can help to better prepare students for life outside of high school.

If elected, he will be one of only two board members who actually attended school in the district, along with Tracey Orman, who graduated over a decade ago. He will know how effective some current policies are because he has experienced them as a student.

Provided / Buller for Board

Tyler Buller, a 2006 graduate, is running for the one-year term in the school board election on Sept. 9.

“I took four years of math in high school, all the way through (pre-calculus) and still didn’t feel prepared in college,” Buller said. “Even though that was two more than the required number of courses.”

Another common problem that Buller has seen among his peers is lack of writing skills, and the inability to write a lengthy, college-level paper.

Buller’s age will also make him more approachable, aiding him in his main campaign goal, engagement with students, faculty, and parents throughout the district.

Students will feel less intimidated to talk to him, because he is much closer to their own age than the other board members.

Credit for Batman belongs to Ledger Scott Monroe staff writer

We’re done mourning over his death. We’re through conjuring up theories about how he passed away. Some people have even abandoned the R.I.P. Heath Ledger group on “Facebook.” But no one has stopped celebrating the celeb.

That was confirmed the day The Dark Knight hit theatres. The film set a box office record for best opening weekend with $155.34 million dollars in sales. That topped Spider-Man 3, which clocked in at $151.1 million.

But who deserves the credit? Christian Bale, “Batman?” Christopher Nolan, Director? Whether you want to accept or continue denying the truth, Heath Ledger provided not only the 4 million needed to top “Spidey,” but also much more.

I spent 152 minutes of my life viewing this movie, merely because of Ledger’s tragic yet convenient death.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan, but there’s something fishy about the sudden overdose. Whether it was somehow crazily planned or just flat out beneficial for the movie, it worked. Normal people who agree with the world that cinema tickets are far too expensive flocked to see the bat in action yet again.

One theory states that Ledger was actually so engrossed in his part that he became afraid of his own character. He couldn’t sleep, and accidentally took one too many sleeping pills.

Still the questions arise. Did Ledger win the award by acting, or overdosing? Don’t kid yourself. It was a great

Last year, due to construction in the cafeteria, students had to attend lunch in the fitness center. There were many downsides to eating lunch in the fitness center. However, one perk stood out: Papa John’s pizza on Fridays.

The construction in the cafeteria is still not completed, so students will have to continue to attend lunch in the fitness center. Luckily, the perk from last year is back. Papa John’s pizza will assist the students through the difficult times of migrating to the other side of the school to eat. Thanks to the nutrition department for making this happen, again.

staff staff

Brittany Deal

editor in chief

Jeremy Mullen

Steph Ivankovich

Caroline Byrd

Shawna Polen

Kallen Kramer

Haley Johnson

Julia Manning

Kiera Morrill

managing editor opinion editor

double truck editor sports editor

news editor

review editor

backpage editor photo editor

Staff Writers: Catherine Caracci, Nels Engblom, Jonathan Houp, Kelsey Kruse, Amy Lovejoy, Dwight Lykins, Scott Monroe, Philip Mortens, Chelsea Nelson, Eric Oatts, Ben Vander Ploeg, Brennan Winget Provided / Warner Bros. MG

performance, sure, but the movie starts with every soul in the room feeling sorry for him. That is one significant advantage right there.

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Papa John’s pizza

In addition to Buller, there are two other candidates running for the one-year term: Julie Walter, a stay-athome mom with children in the district, including senior Eric, and Vicki Selinger.

Both women are heavily involved in the community and would make fine additions to the school board, but they lack the personal experience that Buller has had as a student.

Their view of the district’ curriculums, students, and staff may be slightly warped because they have not personally experienced it, but are instead hearing it from their children.

It is also doubtful that either woman will have the same kind of relationships that Buller can have with the students and faculty, simply because of the generation gap.

While still able to maintain a sense of authority, Buller is also able to befriend students because of the age factor.

He shares many of the same interests as students, such as a similar taste in music and movies, or the innate ability to write a long text message in under 30 seconds.

Buller still has a strong connection to the district, especially with the high school. As a recent graduate, he has taken classes from teachers that are still employed, played soccer with the current soccer coach, and even attended school with some of the current students. He also captained his mock trial team for six years, and returns every season as a coach and mentor.

Buller has volunteered to help with numerous projects around the building, including help to Sarah Wessling’s Advanced Placement English class.

A young person as a member of the school board, especially a recent graduate, will aid the district in its most important goal: an excellent education for every student, every day.

Buller can help engage young people by being approachable, relatable, and knowledgeable about issues many student are facing now or may have to face soon.

that we care about this month

New gym lockers

The construction throughout the high school has brought many great new things, one of them being excellent gym lockers. No longer do PE students have to undergo a rat race to get the large, spacious lockers as opposed to the small lockers that could barely hold a good pair of sneakers.

Now, all of the lockers are spacious and large. Although some of the lockers are larger than the others, they all provide enough space. Not to mention, students do not have to put up with the nasty yellow color of last year, for the lockers are now painted a vivid purple.

The Black and White is a publication produced solely by the newspaper staff. Its goal is to inform, enlighten and entertain the Johnston students, faculty and community. It is an open forum.

In accordance with Iowa law, students assign and edit material.

Publications are released monthly during the school year.

The paper will print nothing libelous, obscene or an invasion of privacy. The law does not require parental permission to use student quotes. Ethically, we believe students can speak for themselves.

Staff editorials represent the opinion of a majority of the editorial board. Editorial and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the adviser, school officials or the district.

Letters to the editor must be signed. Grammatical and spelling errors may be corrected and length edited. Like all material, letters may not be libelous, obscene or an invasion of privacy.

Bring letters to room 413 within one week after publication to be considered for the next issue.

The Black and White strives to report accurate and timely information. If you believe that an error has been printed, please contact the Editor at bblosee@gmail.com or contact the school via phone at 515-278-0449.

The Black and White is a member of CSPA, NSPA, Quill & Scroll, and IHSPA. Recent issues of the Black and White earned these honors: Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist, National Scholastic Press Association All-American, Quill & Scroll Gallup Award, IHSPA State Champion, IHSPA First Place Photography Second Place Layout/Design and Honorable Mention Writing.

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May 2008

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Baseball team goes 40-0, and wins the state title for the first time in 31 years.

All photos provided by Deena B

Troy DuBay

Team Chemistry

Catching the last strike and winning state Flash Playing ball in the backyard with dad at age 3 Flash Winning numerous AAU games by age 9 Flash Beating Valley first game of the season Flash Winning sub-state Flash Troy DuBay saw his whole baseball career flash before his eyes, just like a scene from a movie; he had to blink to make sure this was real. Before he had time to think, he was running towards Larpenter and before they knew it they were at the bottom of the state championship dog pile. “If I could move right now, I would kiss you!” Larpenter shouted as the two teammates embraced one of the most defining victories of their athletic careers.

Rewind about 14 years and take a trip around town, you can find most the boys playing ball in the backyard with their dads. Justin Hoellein, for example, could be found playing with a giant plastic red bat his dad bought him. Ryan Torgerson was doing the same, begging his dad to keep playing whiffle ball with him. For Josh Camos and Keaton Schuck it was the first ball they picked up, between the ages of 2 and 3. Most of the boys started playing on AAU teams at the age of 7, and that is when their brotherly bonds began. Mark Camos, Larry Larpenter, Mark DuBay, and Bruce McCauley, all dad’s of the boys,coached AAU teams.

They continued to play with one another throughout the summers building up to their high school seasons. Some played together on different teams, like Bryan Lippincott, James Stone, and Trevor Haden. Some moved to Johnston and joined the team, such as Jonathan Nelson. Joining the group did not seem to be a problem.

“They’re a bunch of good guys, they would definitely take you in as a friend and as a teammate,” Nelson said.

Although the boys had different levels of varsity experience, they could tell this team was going to be something special.

“We were all really close, and no matter how mad we got at each other we never let it effect us in a game or practice, we just let it go.

Anytime someone messed up there was always someone there to help them back up and keep them in the game,” Shuck said.

Deena Byrd, who was in the dugout for all but three games as a photographer, describes the chemistry, “this was the loosiest, goosiest, group of guys that I’ve ever been associated with in the dugout, they just really had fun. “

Ryan Torgerson

SHOUTOUT: “I just want to say thanks to all the players I’ve been able to work with throughout the years, and all the players I’ve worked with at Johnston, and the students I was able to work with and the support they gave us at the state tournament. Its been a once and a lifetime opportunity and its been wonderful for me and my family so thank you for that.”

ee W . r -M

Team Roles “Baseball is a very disciplined, unselfish, sport, and you have to know your roles. On this team, everyone knew their roles, nobody wanted to be the center of it all, and they realized early on it was about the team as a whole.” Byrd said.

Torgerson agrees,“The non-starters and those who didn’t play as much, their role was just as important as the people who did.”

It was very evident that the boys did indeed know their roles. For Lippincott, he saw himself as one of the “unofficial captains and leaders.”

DuBay who was the vocal captain of the team explains his personal role on the team, “My role is keeping everybody’s mind focused on the game. I harp on them when the need to get harped on, and I will compliment them when they’re doing something right or good.”

Superstitions

Along with having fun, as the season progressed and the team stayed undefeated, the guys developed various traditions/ superstitions they would do before and during the games. For Larpenter, Camos, Shuck, and Darin Davis, that meant meeting at Larpenter’s house and taking Larpenter’s car, on the exact same route to Jimmy John’s, where they would order the exact same thing, and sit in the exact same spots.

They did this before every single game, and after they would typically go back to a house and watch 3-4 episodes of Entourage. For pitcher Ryan Torgerson he had to play NCCA ’09 on X-box live. Hoellein and a group would occasionally go to McCauley’s and watch the Rambo movies, Hoellein would also have to have his phone in his cooler before a game. Shuck would have to drink a Mountain Dew. Jewell wore the same purple undershirt, and had to put his right sock on, then his left.

Lippincott would only wear socks that were from the same packaging, and Larpenter always left his back pocket out when he was hitting. For DuBay, personal hygiene was key, he had to be showered and shaved before each game. The food that was in the dugout during games also became tradition. Joey Gowdy, along with the help of his mom Deena, contributed to the ‘pantry’ for the team. Among the dugout food was: shelled peanuts, Swedish fish, pretzel sticks, and milk duds, these foods were in the dugout for the three games at state.

Another thing the boys did was in between sub-state and state they watched the movie the Perfect Season, where they take dirt from their home field and place in on the field at state. Byrd had also saw the movie, and at the banquet she gave each boy a vile of dirt from our field labeled “It’s a kind of magic.” There was also a bag of dirt from our field at the state games, and before each inning McCauley would throw some out by his base.

Next Year

“We’ll try to help incoming juniors understand what it’s going to take and how hard they have to work and we will try to teach them the whole concept of not being wrapped up in rankings or wins and losses, you just have to play the game now. We’re obviously going to go for another state championship, 2 is better than 1. “Nelson said.

Although 9 seniors have left, the remaining members from the team are ready to step up and lead the team. “We will miss every single senior, but we’re just going to take one game at a time and make sure everyone is working hard,” Shuck said.

“This is the best team I’ve been on or been apart of,” Torgerson said.

They made there mark in history.

“This state championship is not something that’s going away, it’s going to be there forever,” Nelson said.

State baseball team (from left to right)- Coach Tony Kruse, Coach Keith Lippincott, Keaton Schuck, Coach Randy Wee, Ryan Torgerson, Troy Dubay, Reid Jewell, Ryan McCauley, Trevor Haden, Austin Hartsook, Shaun Miller, Nathan DePenning, Manager Ryan Bole, Darin Davis, Eric Walter, Chris Soroka, Josh Camos, Charlie Dick, James Stone, Greg Larpenter, Bryan Lippincott.

State Tournament Going into the state tournament the boys were as optimistic and focused as ever, “We all knew we had a pretty good shot at state, but last year when we lost at sub state it left a sour taste in my mouth, it gave me that chip on my shoulder to play with and to really go after it,” Lippincott said. They defeated Dubuque Hempstead 5-2 in their quarterfinal match. They then outplayed sixth-ranked Ankeny 7-5 in front of a crowd of 5,119 people at Principal Park. The guys wanted to make sure Coach Randy Wee’s last game was a good one, “We wanted to win for him, we wanted to do something to make people remember him more than they already would,” Shuck said.

“Walking out of the locker room and onto the field with all of the fans was huge, I just couldn’t hold my adrenaline back,” Shuck said. Being on the mound in front of the 5,279 spectators that day, is an experience Jewell, Torgerson, and Larpenter got to take part it. “It’s just me, the batter and the catcher, I don’t hear anything else,” Jewell who pitched the first 4 innings said.

Johnston scored four runs in the top of the third inning on a walk, a sacrifice bunt, a hit batter, two wild pitches and four straight singles hit

by DuBay, McCauley, Torgerson and Nelson. Marshalltown then closed the gap to 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning. For the last inning, Larpenter went into pitch, “My adrenaline was going, but I wasn’t nervous, more excited and confident,” Larpenter said. We then went on to load the bases with two outs in the seventh on a walk and singles by McCauley and Torgerson, which ended up improving the score to 6-2. Larpenter then struck out the last two batters and the game was over and won.

Johnston became the first team to ever win a Class 4-A state title with a perfect record, and it was the schools first championship since 1977.

“When Greg struck him out everything in my mind left and I was so energized with enjoyment, I cried, I couldn’t have asked for a better last game, “Camos said.

“I just got really happy with a sense of excitement, and the next thing I knew the team was on top of me, it hurt being on the bottom of the dog pile, but we were happy so it didn’t really matter,” Larpenter said.

“I was just shaking at the end of the game, there’s nothing like this, the team we had was just crazy,” Shuck said.

“It was complete euphoria and joy. I was always curious what it was going to feel like. I would put it behind marriage and kids. It was very emotional, I was so happy for the players who played so hard, the excitement was so neat, and to see them with their parents, all those things go through your mind, and to see my wife and kids was amazing,” Wee said.

After the celebration on the field, many went to go see their family members in the crowd. “’You guys did it,’ my dad whispered in my ear after the game. All of us players knew the time and support our parents put in, they do everything for us and this was something huge we could give back to them.” Camos said.

For many it was more than just a game. “Johnston doesn’t get too much respect in sports, ever, and this year for volleyball and us to win state, that was huge for our school, “Nelson said.

“I went back on the field after the game and it kind of hit me, ‘we’re state champions,’ to go from being so low personally, to winning a state championship was crazy, that just made my year, there’s just no better feeling than that. It was such an emotional high, I cried pretty much the whole night, and it was tears of joy, and tears of realizing that we did it, and I was on the team that won state and went 40-0. It’s going to go down in history and when I look back someday when I’m a grown man, when I look in that state book and it says 2008 State Champions--Johnston Dragons, that’s something special. There’s no feeling that could ever compare to the feeling I had that night.” Shuck said.

<

Greg Larpenter

compiled by: julia manning (sports editor), caroline byrd (opinion editor) & haley johnson (backpage editor)

Review/ Entertainment

6

J. Benjamin’s delectable dishes Kiera Morrill photo editor

The BookWorm

Breaking Dawn

BY: Shawna Polen

AStephenie Meyer Kiera Morrill / BW

Simon’s J.Benjamin’s is located at 5800 Franklin Avenue in Urbandale across the street from Video Warehouse. olate cake and on top.

This cake even beats the chocolate Mafioso torta al cioccolato I ate in the Italian North End of Boston and in New York’s Little Italy.

The service at J Benjamin’s is charming. Simon, the owner of the restaurant, not only provides a comfortable seat, but a warm smile and cheerful conversation to top it off.

Now, if your lucky, you’ll make it to J. Benjamin’s on a Live Jazz night.

The atmosphere sets the mood for something creative and smoky like jazz.

Small candles light up each table, cranberry splashes of color in the room, and

tiny bulbs are strung along the window.

Several local artists have performed contemporized and classic jazz pieces for customers to enjoy. Due to of the assortment one is never quite certain what to expect, though some favorites make their way back into the spotlight from time to time. I have heard incredible covers of songs like “Take Five,” originally by Dave Brubeck Quartet.

This neighborhood kitchen is a good excuse to dress up or the perfect spot for your jeans and T-shirt. Come for the music and food. Bring friends and family, take out a date, or come solo and meet someone new.

Ben Stiller’s new action comedy Tropic Thunder is at the center of worlds of controversy, from both the homosexual community as well as the mental handicapped. Provided / Dreamworks

“Tropic Thunder” or a tropic blunder? staff writer

B&W

A

Simon’s J. Benjamin’s is a hole-in-thewall family style restaurant. Walk in the doors some evening Monday thru Saturday to find a classic Italian style menu with everyday specials.

J. Benjamin’s offers a delectable list of dishes and appetizers to please any appetite. The bar hosts a variety of experimental wines and classy drinks.

Start the meal with complementary bread and butter and an order of drinks.

Then take a look at the diverse Italian plates.

Their various fresh garden salads completely fill the plate, for $6 to $8, and no doubt your stomach. There are half salads to fit your preference, for half the price of a regular. Also offered is their “soup de jour”, seafood bisque, in a cup or bowl, as well as soup of the day, $3 to $5.

The pasta dishes are traditionally picked but originally prepared. Graziano sausage in the layered lasagna, and stuffed manicotti have made themselves famous among friends of mine. Last time a group of us went out to dinner there, I had the pasta Aioli. This savory combination includes angel hair, olive oil, olives, and a variety of spices. Prices range from $9 to $15 for pasta.

J.Benjamin’s is famous for gourmet pizzas, which come in a variety of combinations from “Hawaiian” to “Beane”, a vegetable and spice blend with marinara sauce. The dough is sweet and crusty. It is sure to flatter any taste you choose for your pizza. The prices are easy and also very affordable My all time favorite item on the menu is Chocolate Cloud Cake. Creamy chocolate icing smothered in between two decadent layers of rich, dark, moist choc-

dwight Lykins

August 2008

D

Ben Stiller’s latest action comedy Tropic Thunder hit theaters Aug. 15 amongst a swarm of controversy over some of the movie’s subject matter and word choice.

The movie is the story of a group of actors who go to Vietnam to film veteran “Four Leaf” Tayback’s (Nick Nolte) memoir. The cast of the movie is action star Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), fivetime Academy Award-winner Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.), rap star Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson), comedian Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black), and character actor Kevin Sadusky (Jay Baruchel).

One of the controversial parts of the movie happens in the trailers so it is not even part of the movie, but there are fictional trailers, the first few are funny in there own rights each focusing on a character and their style of movie they usually play, Stiller’s action character having one and Blacks having a bad comedy spoof, then they reach the last.

The final trailer, is for a movie called

Satan’s Alley featuring Robert Downey, Jr.’s character Kirk Lazarus as a homosexual monk whose partner is Tobey Maguire obviously a spoof on Brokeback Mountain. The trailer, while supposed to be a spoof, rightly offended some in the homosexual community.

So as the movie starts I suddenly realized why this movie has its R rating; it is full of vulgarities which only caused more problems for the writers.

The movie uses the word “retarded” because a character played a mentally handicapped person. They chose to use the r-word instead of the excepted vernacular. Obviously, it didn’t fly with the mentally disabled community or their supporters, who chose to boycott the film amidst the private screenings they were offered by Dreamwork executives.

The boycott did not work. Tropic Thunder opened at number one knocking Batman out of its perch at top.

The movie centers around the group of fictitious actor. They wreck what is supposed to be the filming of the movie by blowing up $4 million worth of equipment. Then they are left in the Vietnam

jungle to fend for themselves; yet, they think they are still filming the movie and keep acting. They run across a gang known as the Flaming Dragons who are huge in the drug trade. Army fatigues are the last thing the gang wants to see.

The movie has a few good twists and one liners, but the plot and the characters get old.

With the controversy surrounding the movie, Robert Downey, Jr.’s character is interesting. Downey plays a successful actor who changes his skin color to play the role of the black sergeant. Yet, the black community has not voiced much of a outrage. Of all things to garnish anger, little to nothing has been said about this issue which would have been the center of controversy 20 years ago.

Out of Stiller’s repertoire of movies this is not one of the better attempts.

It’s no Zoolander. If you want to have a few good laughs and be able to throw out a few good one liners after you see it — go. If your looking for a great movie try something else. And don’t take your grandmother. She definitely won’t like the language.

WARNING: Readers if you have not read Breaking Dawn, sorry about the spoilers that lie ahead.

Stephenie Meyer threw all Twilight readers a curve ball with Breaking Dawn.

My jaw was glued to the floor within the first half of the book.

Breaking Dawn starts off with Bella getting ready for her wedding that Edward has conned her into. Past readers think back to Eclipse.

Shock! But wait, there is more.

Bella has not one but two cars! A Mercedes Guardian before the wedding and a Ferrari for the after gift.

On Bella’s and Edwards honeymoon on Isle Esme, they receive some shocking news. Bella’s pregnant!

Four words come to mind; shocking, amazing, holy cow!

Not even I, a Twilight freak saw that coming. I did not think vampires could reproduce, being suspended in time and all. Meyer found a way, and used it well.

The even weirder thing is that what should be happening in nine months is happening in one.

With the child being half vampire, it is killing Bella slowly. During the birth, in an emergency cesarean section , Bella breaks her spine and is starring death in the face.

Meyer had to think a lot about the pregnancy, not only did she speed up the process, but she kept in mind that the child would not be fully human and incorporated the inhuman changes. Brilliant.

Acting quick to save her life, Edward injects Bella with his venom to make her a vampire.

Three days of blinding pain and Bella’s turned, and has a strong baby girl named Renesmee to show for it.

In turning, Bella has gained the ability to make herself act like a mature vampire rather then a blood-sucking monster, saving her years of training.

As with the other three books; Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse, Meyer keeps using great detail, drawing a crystal clear picture of everything that happens.

When everything seems to settle down, the Volturi plan to show up to dispatch of the Cullen coven.

They must now band together with allies from afar to defeat a common enemy to saves their lives. Or is it deaths?

Meyer gave readers a lot to chew on, my brain is still reeling. But that is not a bad thing, even when the book went into a direction I did not like, I could not put it down.

If you have not read the Twilight series yet, what are you waiting for? If you have, keep your eyes and ears open for Midnight Sun AKA Twilight in Edwards version, coming out in the fall of 2009.

~

Starting in this issue, as you see above, all reviews will be accompanied by a letter grade. The range from A+ to F will be giving the writers overall opinion of what they were reviewing.

~

For questions, comments or feedback, e-mail me at Batty_forlife@yahoo.com

Feature

August 2008

B&W

7

Senior’s relatives survive tornado Philip Mortens Staff Writer

Sixty-nine thousands deaths, 400,000 homeless.

When people hear of extreme weather conditions occurring all around the world, like the recent May earthquake in Sichuan, China, they think that it will never affect them at home. But the recent EF5 tornado that struck a small town in northeastern Iowa hit much closer to home with one senior and her family.

Senior Kate Nielsen was safe at a friend’s graduation party on May 25 when an EF5, the strongest class of tornado, stormed through northeast Iowa almost completely destroying the entire town of Parkersburg and many other towns along its path.

Over 222 homes and 21 businesses were completely destroyed in Parkersburg. Included in the destruction were Nielsen’s aunt and uncle, Linette and Loren Spree’s home. Nielson also had three other relatives living in Parkersburg at the time but they lived a few miles out side of town and were not seriously affected by the storm.

For Nielsen and her family, her aunt and uncle were out of town when the storm hit.

“They were out in Williamsburg at their daughter’s house when their she received a text from a neighbor that their street was gone,” Nielsen said.

Not really understanding the extent of what had happened, the family drove home to see the damage.

“My aunt and uncle’s house that live in town wasn’t totally gone, their was one wall still standing up,” Nielsen said.

The day after the tornado hit Nielsen went to Parkersburg to help their family with the reconstruction.

Her older brother Troy Nielsen was on his way to Clear Lake, Iowa, when the tornado hit.

“I was on my way to Clear Lake when it hit, and so I jumped in line with all the volunteer firefighters and made it to Parkersburg going 90 miles per hour the entire way in like 18 minutes,” said Troy Nielsen.

“We went at 1 p.m. and drove to my aunt’s house who lived out of town, and then we drove a four wheeler into (Parkersburg). To find the streets they had to put up cardboard signs with the streets’ names because the originals were destroyed.” Nielsen said. “When we got to my aunt’s house their was like 30 people helping including the Williamsburg Fire Department because their nephew worked there.”

Fortunately for the entire town of Parkersburg, city employees had decided to install another severe weather warning siren in the southern part of the town just ten days prior to the massive tornado according to Governor Chet Culver. So while the town of Parkersburg is slowly rebuilding itself to its former glory, Nielson is just grateful that no one in her family was hurt.

Provided / Nielsen family

Provided / Nielsen family

(Above) Aftermath of the EF5 tornado that hit Parkersburg, Iowa. The storm picked up this camper and tore the frame from the camper and threw it against a brick building, wrapping the frame around the buildings frame.

(Below) The effect of 205 miles per hour winds are devastating to any place on our earth. The winds that pounded Parkersburg left a wave of destruction where ever it hit. The view was taken from the Spree’s house after the day after the EF5 struck the town. Of the destruction, the Spree’s faired better than most, some houses were reduced to lumber.

Jayatilleka jumps in at U of I Jeremy Mullen Managing Editor

High fives, hugs, and other greetings flow through the hallway. Seniors feel the pull of senioritis as they enter their final year of high school. The same cannot be said for senior Senuri Jayatilleka. As she enters her senior year she’ll attend classes of fifty students, a campus the size of the city of Johnston, and the start of her college career. Jayatilleka will be attending the University of Iowa this year due to a family move to New Prague, Minnesota.

When she first learned that she was moving and the lack of classes at the New Prague schools, she tried to work out a way to stay in Johnston with fellow classmate and friend, Allison Kane. However that did not work out. Luckily, Senuri’s mom, Nimalte, had heard about an early entrance programs at college universities from a friend.

“My friend had talked to me about early college admission after staying with the Kane’s could not work out,” Nimalte said. “I looked into Iowa and Iowa State, and also some schools in Minnesota, but Iowa’s was the best.”

The Early entrance program at the University of Iowa is called NAASE. According to the University of Iowa, NAASE stands for the National Academy for the Arts, Sciences, and Engineering. The program is for high school students who have completed their junior year of high school and would like to get a head start on their college career. According to Jayatilleka, the program required an application and two recommendations from high school instructors.

“It was very easy to apply, I talked to Mr. Larkin

Provided/Senuri Jayatilleka

Senior Senuri Jayatilleka holds a snake on a recent trip to Sri Lanka. Senuri will be attending Iowa this fall to study Biology as well as finishing high school classes. about what classes I needed then I got the recommendations the same day from Ms. Beghun and Mr. Larkin, it all happened very fast,” Jayatilleka said.

Once Jayatilleka had been accepted, she had to decide which classes she wanted to take. Although she is enrolled in college, she still has not graduated from high school, so getting the high school classes out of the

way was a priority. However, for her PE class, she had more options and decided to take ballet, which she used to do when she was little. In addition to her required high school courses, she also has the opportunity to get a jump-start on her college career by taking an advanced chemistry class, which mostly consists of labs.

Another departure from high school is Jayatilleka’s residency in Daum hall, which houses 2008 graduate Jenny Pray as well. Jayatilleka said she is excited to have Pray and friends Tim Clay and David Zhang at Iowa to help and guide her and also as people she can spend time with right away.

Although she is excited for all the new opportunities and activities in college, she will be missing out on traditional senior activities.

“I’m sad that I won’t be able to do the regular senior things like senior breakfast, rock around the clock, and student council,” Jayatilleka said. However, she does plan to go to prom and she will also be graduating with her class of 2009 in May. Fellow classmates are also sad to see Jayatellika move, but excited for her new opportunity at Iowa.

“I’m sad that she’s leaving our school but I think it’s a great opportunity for her to experience something that not all high schoolers get to. She will be able to handle it extremely well,” Kane said.

“I’m sad she’s leaving one year early, but I will be happy to see her get done with school earlier,” Nimalte said. I’m really happy about how it turned out and so is Senuri.”

Senuri plans to start taking classes for a major in biology, and also to fulfill Pre-med requirements. “I’m really excited, I can’t wait, but I’m really nervous at the same time,” Jayatilleka said.

Backpage

8

This year, be a

August 2008

B&W

REBEL with a cause ”I think our generation is sick of the world.

They’re sick of everything it has to offer. The only reason they’re pursuing it is because that’s all they’re given—honestly.”

-Leeland Mooring (Musician)

The Rebelution A teenage rebellion against low expectations While the majority of the teenage generation is worried more about what movie comes out next week than the homeless population in inner city Des Moines, nineteen year-old twins Alex and Brett Harris are crying for revival and a new perspective. These two home-schooled twins from Oregon are pursuing countless teens to re-evaluate what it means to be a “teenager”.

To Those Who Don’t Expect Much...

The teen years have only recently become a time for slacking. In fact, it hasn’t even been a century since the term “teenager” came into existence. This movement of the teenage generation today called the Rebelution suggests that everything the world says about teens is twisted to make teens sound as if they are simply consumer-oriented and not competent enough to accomplish much. Thankfully, the labels that the media applies to this generation are not accurate. However, these low expectations are bought by the majority. The junior high and high school years are pivotal. Alex and Brett Harris would say that the years are a “launch pad” for the rest of life, not a time for slacking. Habits and character are acquired during this time and the decisions made have lifelong effects.

Get Excited!

It may be discouraging to realize how our expectations have been lowered, it is exciting to consider the untapped potential. In the Harris brothers’ book, Do Hard Things, they give advice on how to overcome the low expectations and the culture to do what most people don’t think is possible. Instead of viewing difficult things as fun-suckers, they view them as more exciting than going to the mall or seeing a movie ever could be. This book is a challenge to change the attitudes and actions of teens in the world so that they can find satisfaction in real accomplishment.

Alex and Brett Harris

“People say ‘Well, I’m not a people person’ or ‘I’m not a math person’ , I’ve always said that I’m not a math person but with the right attitude I think I can do well this year.”

Courtney Sabus Junior

5 Hard Things

1 2 3 4 5

Stepping out of Over achieving Collaborating Small Things your comfort zone

For more info:

Visit therebelution.com

Compiled by Kallen Kramer (double-truck editor), Brennan Winget, Ben Vander Ploeg

Stepping outside of routine or doing something that scares you. That could mean signing up for student council, going out for a new sport or even just talking to someone new.

Usually the best experiences are the hardest experiences.

It is time to stop wasting our talents on mediocre work and really putting our all into the things we do. Whether that be your homework, sports, your job and even your chores around the house.

There are some things that are too difficult to do alone, and that can be accomplished better as a group. We should take advantage of the people we have around us so that we can do more. Things like starting a band or raising awareness for something.

Some things may seem monotonous and pointless so we do not even bother doing them. Little things like picking trash up off the ground, doing homework, or being nice to someone who is usually ignored. Doing these things by yourself can make a difference.

Going against the flow

Through out history many people have stood up against the cultural norm.

These were the people that changed the world and how it functions. Instead of just going along with the way things were, they recognized problems and decided to take a stand.