MHS Courier November 2020

THE

COURIER 905 8th Ave. NW, Mandan, ND - Volume 29, Issue 2- November 2020

Read about the senior recognition wall that AVID is implementing to bring positivity to the Class of 2021.

Page 11

Co-News Editor, McCartney Fix, reviews several albums and movies from 2019-20 for the students to check out.

Page 16-17

From The Editor...

We made it to the second issue of The Courier with staff members in and out of the classroom due to the wretched coronavirus. It has been a stressful year, but we are approaching a season that is full of giving.

With the 2020 election, the ongoing pandemic and applying for colleges and scholarships, the sweet and simple things in life slip my mind nowadays. I am thankful for many things, but this winter I want to take into account the silly things I encounter everyday. I am thankful that I can sing and dance without worrying about who is watching me. I am thankful that I am able to buy an iced white mocha coffee from Starbucks whenever I am deprived of caffeine. I am thankful for the Courier staff who constantly distract me during work time but always make me smile. I encourage everyone to perform a random act of kindness such as, paying for the person behind you in the McDonald’s line, holding the door for an elder or picking up trash on the ground, because something as small as smiling at another person, can make their day a lot better.

I hope to stay in school, so the staff and I can keep publishing The Courier for everyone to read, because I think it brings a sense of certainty during this uncertain time. In the November issue of The Courier, read about having a positive outlook on life, the new restaurants in Mandan and the importance of giving thanks this year.

Table Of Contents

Page 2........................Letter From The Editor Page 3.............................................Catcalling Page 4........Having Positive Outlook On Life Page 5...............................The Teenage Mind Page 6.............COVID-19 effects on College Page 7...............................................Calendar Page 8................New Restaurants in Mandan Page 9.....................................Find Your Aura Page 10..............................................Flipside Page 11.......AVID’s Senior Recognition Wall Page 12....................................Giving Thanks Page 13.....Fun & Cheap Thanksgiving Ideas Page 14......................MHS’s Hardest Classes Page 15...................Maximizing Productivity Page 16-17.....Fix’s Movie & Album Review Page 18.............The Future of MHS Students Page 19..............................Jaxon Duttenhefer Page 21........................Athlete Of The Month Page 22-23............................Sports Roundup Page 24.................................Sports Spotlight Mandan High School students share their thoughts on The Weeknd’s new album, After Hours, which is featured on McCartney Fix’s album and movie review on page 16-17.

02

Kelsie Hildebrand, Editor-In-Chief

Courier Staff and Editorial Policy Kelsie Hildebrand...........................................Editor-In-Chief Scout Hurley....................................Assistant Editor-In-Chief Feature Editor Aspen Jewkes..................................................Opinion Editor McCartney Fix.............................................Co-Sports Editor Co-News Editor Ryan Ulrich..................................................Co-Sports Editor Co-News Editor Daden Dolajak.............................................General Reporter Leah Emineth................................................General Reporter Nathan Stramer.............................................General Reporter The Courier is a news/feature magazine that is published throughout the school year. As an open forum for student expression, all content online and in print is decided and moderated by student editors.

The staff welcomes letters, articles, submissions, of any student, faculty, or community interest.

Submissions may be turned into the Courier, room 221, and by message to mhscourier@gmail.com. All submissions must be signed by the author if they are to be published and subject to editing if space is restricted.

The Courier strives to be objective in its news coverage.

Columns and letters reflect only the opinions of the writers, not those of the Courier staff, administration, teachers, or student body. Editorials that are not signed reflect the consensus of the staff.

The Courier is funded entirely through advertising sales.

Contact the Courier at mhscourier@gmail.com if interested in advertising.

Cover photo by Kelsie Hildebrand

November 2020

Opinion

The Disgusting Truth Behind Verbal Harassment Called Catcalling

— Kelsie Hildebrand, Editor-in-Chief

A 17 year-old-girl had just arrived on the first day of her new job, and she was introduced to the 20-year-old man she would be working with. He was very nice and helpful at first until he took things too far. He started joking about a woman that he had interacted with a couple weeks back, until the young girl started to feel uncomfortable. The man started directing the inappropriate jokes towards her such as, “you look cute from behind” and “we should meet up again.”

When Precious Red Legs, feeling anxious and uncomfortable, reported the inappropriate conduct to her head boss that night, he told her to keep it to herself and forget about it. Catcalling is unrecognized in today's society by peers, adults, supervisors and sometimes law enforcement.

“It has happened before and the guy would say things to others as well, but he took it to me, an underage girl at the time,” senior Precious Red Legs said. “The experience was very heartbreaking.”

In workplaces, schools and public environments, we come in contact with people everyday that we may not know, so when a man or a woman gets catcalled, it is comfortable. The problem is not with victims speaking up, wearing clothes with more coverage or watching the way they are talking, because most predators take things too far with certain jokes.

“These people who are not comfortable with you do not see the jokes to be funny,” Red Legs said. “People should look more into seeing how they say things first.”

Sophomore Trinity Baker spoke out about her friend that would make excuses such as, “I am just a touchy person,” when he would wrap his arm around her. He would not let go even when she told him to let go, and she confronted him about it making her feel uncomfortable. In most cases, the stereotype of girls or boys wanting attention overshadows the issue.

“I think it is a really big problem with men and women, because it is not just women who are victims and men doing it to women,” Baker said. “It is immature and gross, making it uncomfortable for people.”

Taking action against this type of harassment is hard, because most people require evidence of the harassment in order to act on said accusations. Finding a handful of trusted people or stepping in when you notice anything unusual can aid in stopping catcalling.

“We need to be heard,” Red Legs said. “When there is a situation out in a crowd, I think people should not be bystanders, and should get into it so there are witnesses.”

The community needs to work on supporting one another instead of tearing each other down. The only way our society can end this Photo by Kelsie Hildebrand harassment is by joining forces and being kind.

Sophomore Trinity Baker poses in order to accurately “Talking about it more and making it known in a class that this does represent the horror behind catcalling. happen,” Baker said. “You need to respect each other.”

CALL 800.656.HOPE (4673) FOR SUPPORT AND INFORMATION FROM A TRAINED SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICE PROVIDER

Opinion

November 2020

03

The Importance Of Having A Positive Outlook On Life — Aspen Jewkes, Opinion Editor Having a positive outlook on certain situations may be hard, but it is more important to have a positive outlook on life itself. Life is a roller coaster full of ups and downs, and understanding how to change the negative mindsets that come with those downs will help one live a happy life.

According to Health Fitness Revolution, “we all go through stressful, difficult and unfulfilling times in our life, but part of being healthy is maintaining a balanced psyche and realizing that your attitude directly affects each day.”

While it may not seem likely to change your negative attitude if it is bad, you are the only one who has power over thoughts that bring your mood up or down. It can be hard to change your attitude if the only thing you think of are the negative thoughts, but if you change those negative thoughts into positive thoughts it can change your overall outlook on life.

I would consider myself a very positive person, but some days are harder than others to stay positive. With the stresses that come from work, school, sports and life itself, it can be hard to see the light in the darkness.

I practice a lot of self care and stay physically active in order to keep my mental health strong. Keeping your mental health strong allows for negativity to come into your life, but maintaining a balanced psyche does not let the negative thoughts completely overtake one’s life.

Simple self care acts like taking a bath, going on a walk, going to bed a little earlier and sitting in a sauna are all ways that have helped me stay sane when stress overtakes my life. I tend to feel panicky and sometimes it even gets hard to breathe when I am overwhelmed. By slowing down and taking deep, slow breaths, I have dealt with stress that brings me down in order to keep my head up.

According to the New York Times article Stay Healthy With More Sleep Each Night, “ missing as little as 16 minutes tonight could harm your cognitive functioning tomorrow.”

Sleep is one of the number one things our bodies and minds need in order to function properly the next day. Although getting enough sleep can be hard if you get up at different times each day, setting a reminder on your phone can be a way to get into a sleep schedule which is really important.

With sports and school I wake up at different times throughout the week between five AM and seven AM. Making sure I get enough sleep is one of the biggest things I do because without sleep, I feel more irritated and become a negative person.

By getting enough sleep, doing some simple self care and participating in some kind of physical activity each day, I believe one’s positivity in life will increase.

04

November 2020

Opinion

The Reasons Behind Teenagers Making Impulse Decisions — Leah Emineth, General Reporter

All graphics made by Leah Emineth The teen mind is something that confuses a lot of people including parents and teens themselves.

Diving into the teen brain has shown many reasons as to why teenagers act the way they do.

The brain is not fully developed until around the age of 25, which means that teens brains are still developing causing teens to have a different outlook than adults.

It is unfair to say that teens are wrong for thinking a certain way because in their mind the stuff they are thinking and feeling are justifiable.

Teens are constantly getting into trouble, but it is not necessary to get mad at kids for doing things that they do not realize are bad.

A teens brain will tell them that the things they are doing are justifiable. A person would not yell at their young child for not knowing right from wrong, so why would it be any different for a teen who is still trying to learn right from wrong?

Teens need to be allowed to take risks and have fun while they are young, instead of being under constant stress and anxiety.

Teens do a lot of things that are rebellious and crazy, but there is a reason for those reckless decisions.

According to University of Rochester Medical Center, “Adults

think with the prefrontal cortex which is the brains rational part, and teens process information with the amygdala which is the emotional part.�

This is why teens may act on impulse and have a lot of complex emotions and feelings.

Teens act in a way that seems inappropriate to adults, but good judgement is not something that a teen can excel in yet because their brains physically are not ready.

Kids can not be judged for their faults because it is simply not the teens fault.

Parents are hard on their children when they do something wrong, but teens have not gone through the same things that parents have.

It is important for parents to be understanding, because they have gone through the same things teens have.

The teen brain is far from being completely developed, so they still have a lot to learn.

Teens are far from perfect, but they still have time to grow and figure out who they are, while still being a little rebellious.

Take a Look at This Podcast!!

This podcast takes a deeper look into the problems that teens deal with in their day to day lives and gives fun tips and tricks to live your best life.

Opinion

November 2020

05

This Year Only, Colleges Will Not Be Requiring SAT Scores, ACT Scores, Application Fees And Essays For The Graduating Seniors — Aspen Jewkes, Opinion Editor Due to COVID-19, colleges around the world have stopped taking ACT and SAT scores for the Class of 2021. While the application process may be the same as previous years, many colleges have stopped requiring students to pay a fee for their submission of the application.

“Most colleges have identified that there were a lot of issues with students being able to take their ACT or SAT starting in the spring and into the summer,” Mandan High School Counselor Alyssa Caya said. “I think that they were hopeful that students would be able to make up some of their spring testing in the summer, but unfortunately that did not happen.”

While ACT and SAT scores are important for admission, they are also very important for receiving scholarships. Many of those requirements have been waived or overlooked due to COVID-19.

“Many colleges have scholarships that students can be eligible for when they apply if they have specific ACT scores, but they have also waived those and have gone to just looking at your cumulative GPA,” Caya said.

There are many different changes to the admission for colleges and universities for the Class of 2021 with one being placement testing.

“Colleges still have to use some kind of assessment tool to determine where students are at to go into different classes,” Caya said. “They might not be using the ACT, but then they will make them do some kind of placement testing.”

While there are changes to the requirements for applying for the Class of 2021, there are also going to be things put into place for the Class of 2022 that were previously supposed to be tried “This fall was supposed to be the first time ACT has started to offer subject tests,” Caya said. “Where if students performed well on three out of the four areas, they could just come and take the section they did poorly in instead of the entire test.”

By allowing students to retake sections they did not perform well in, colleges around the United States will start looking at the highest composite scores given in that section.

“A lot of colleges are going to start super scoring, which means they could take the students highest subject test scores to give them their overall highest composite scores,” Caya said.

While composite SAT and ACT scores will not be used for the Class of 2021, scholarships will still be available with different requirements.

“There are many different scholarships this year that will not be looking at scores, but more of your cumulative GPA.” Caya said.

“In early October the FAFSA opened, which is really important to fill out because it is one easy way to get money right away.”

The Class of 2021 has many changes for their upcoming college admissions journey, but the changes that were made for this year’s graduating class will not last forever.

Photo by Aspen Jewkes

06

November 2020

Acceptance letters from UND and NDSU represent the capability of getting into universities early.

News

Courier Calendar November 2020-December 2020 — Ryan Ulrich, Sports and News Editor

Sports:

Clubs:

Volleyball:

Latin Club:

Nov. 10, 12, 14, West Region Nov. 19-21, State @ Fargo Dome

Nov. 17, Preview Night Dec. 10, Movie Night

Football:

Choir:

Nov. 13, State @ Fargo Dome

Dec. 14, Women’s Choir @ 6:00 pm Dec. 14, Concert Choir @ 7:30 pm Dec. 15, Mixed Choir @ 6:00 pm Dec. 15, Mixed Choir @ 7:30 pm

Girls’ Swim and Dive:

Nov 14, State @ Bismarck/Mandan

Girls’ Hockey:

Dec. 1, Dickinson @ Home 7:00 pm Dec. 4, Fargo @ Home 7:00 pm Dec. 5, West Fargo @ Home 2:00 pm Dec. 8, Bismarck @ Home 7:00 pm Dec. 12, Grand Forks @ Home 1:00 pm Dec. 18, Williston @ Home 7:00 pm

FCA:

Photo by Kelsie Hildebrand

Senior Olin Halstengard taking the field for the Braves.

Meeting every Friday @ 7:30 am room 121

Other:

Nov. 13, AP Test Registration ends Nov. 16, Last day to register for Work Keys Test Nov. 26-27, Thanksgiving Break Dec. 2, Work Keys Test

Boys’ Hockey:

Dec. 3, Dickinson @ Home 7:30 pm Dec. 8, Bismarck @ Home 7:15 pm Dec. 15, Century @ Home 7:30 pm

Dec. 7-11, Practice ACT registration in Counseling office

Dec. 14-22, Spring Dual Credit registration Dec. 16-17, Practice ACT Test

Boys’ Basketball:

Dec. 8, Bismarck @ Home 7:30 pm Dec. 17, St. Mary’s @ Home 7:30 pm

Wrestling:

Dec. 18, St. Mary’s @ Home 7:00 pm

Dance & Drill:

Dec. 5, TBA @ Home

Gymnastics:

Dec. 18, Invitational @ Starion

News

Photo by Aspen Jewkes

Junior Emily Toman serving up the ball against Minot.

Some dates of events are subject to possible changes November 2020

Graphic by Ryan Ulrich

07

Mandan Revamps Local Restaurants — Scout Hurley, Assistant Editor-in-Chief

Station West Station West is a new restaurant on Main Street in Mandan,

North Dakota. This restaurant was recently reopened by the Verhaeghe family. They opened their establishment towards the end of September, and it quickly regained popularity.

The Verhaeghe family has always wanted to open a restaurant.

Once they started looking at opening Staion West Bar & Grill, they realized it was a perfect place for their family.

“The biggest challenge to opening up has been to get all the pieces to come together.” Co-Owner of Station West, Becky Verhaeghe said. “Opening a business requires many people within several organizations to work together.”

Station West offers a plethora of food ranging from mac and cheese to mango chicken. The most popular items on their menu are the Texas Burger and Western burger. They also offer a deal on lunch for students.

“We are offering a student week day lunch special which consists of a 1/4 LB Classic Cheeseburger, fries or chips, and a fountain drink for six dollars with the option to add Bacon for a one dollar,” Becky Verhaeghe, Co-Owner of Station West said.

They hope to be known for their quality food and service as well as their family friendly atmosphere. If interested in dining at Stations West, one can contact them at (701) 751-6010.

Photo submitted by Stephen Vetter

The Paddle Trap

Dinner by the river is a great way to spend a North Dakota summer night with the whole family, and before the Paddle Trap existed, Mandan did not have that.

The Paddle Trap is a new restaurant that recently opened in Mandan, North Dakota. They offer a wide range of American cuisine with a Southern twist. The Paddle Trap opened June 20th, 2020.

They decided to open their establishment because they were looking to open a family friendly restaurant on the river. In the future, they hope to host a few river-side activities.

The paddle trap is best known for their spicy chicken sandwiches and being a family friendly restaurant where people of all ages are welcome. Even though their food hit it off with the community, opening their restaurant during COVID-19 was a bit of a set back.

“While opening the biggest challenge would be staffing properly with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting business hours, staffing, and sales,“ an owner of The Paddle Trap, Stephen Vetter, said.

Despite their original challenges, they are now a well established restaurant with many loyal customers and a productive team. If interested in dining at The Paddle Trap, one can contact them at (701) 202-3421.

08

Photo submitted by Dan Verhaeghe

November 2020

News

Find Your Aura and Its Meaning

Orange

Red

— Nathan Stramer, General Reporter If you could describe yourself in a color, what would it be?

A dark, angry and hateful color? Maybe a bright, lively, goofy color? This color you would describe yourself as is called an aura. It’s a color that matches up with your personality and the way you live your life.

The internet has many aura quizzes. Most of them use colors to describe different qualities. One example of the colors that can be seen is orange.

A person who has an orange aura is described as lively, optimistic until something changes, good with friendships and adventurous.

For people who want to figure out their color, it is as easy as taking a quiz. Different quizzes from different websites may have different answers. The QR code at the bottom of the page has a quiz from Buzzfeed.

According to Allie Flinn on mindbodygreen, an aura is an unseen spiritual energy field. The world of spirituality has many dynamics and can offer information about the world and the people in it.

Some people have a very strong aura, and others barely have one at all. There are a couple layers to someone’s aura, also known as bodies or planes.

The first is the physical aura plane, this one is the aura that represents physical well being. The second is the emotional aura plane, this one directly correlates to emotions and changes with them.

The third is the mental aura plane, this one appeals to thoughts, reasoning, and logic. The fourth is the astral body aura plane, this one has to do with love and spiritual health.

The fifth is the etheric aura plane; this one represents the body’s blueprint, and physical abilities. Using these five planes can really help a person determine their aura.

Good understanding of the physical world, passionate and unapologetic

Works very well with other people, has an alone side, easy to make friends with

Blue

Green

Highly skilled in public things, can get on a stage and make anyone look their way

Radiates love and the ability to be gentle, caring and always willing to help

This is just a few of the many aura colors.

If your color is not listed, Google is a good information source.

Jimmy Hendricks, a real Jack-of-alltrades with auras, he was described as all in one with personality.

Disclaimer: After clicking “I’m done”, scroll down for your results.

to take the aura test

Feature

Photo by See-ming Lee from Creative Commons

November 2020

09

The Flipside

— Scout Hurley, Assistant Editor-in-Chief

“Probably corn mazes, they are kinda scary”

“Pumpkin pie”

If you could get rid of one fall tradition what would it be?

Pumpkin pie or apple pie?

Freshman

Anna Huettl

Is pumpkin spice worth the hype?

“No”

Sophomore

Sophia “My grammas pumpkin pie, period” Anderson Junior

Marnie Barrios

“No one actually enjoys apple pie”

“Election Day”

“Ugg boots”

Senior

Nicole Wu

“Pumpkin blizzards and real blizzards”

“A cutie pie, HMU”

“Only in the Dairy Queen blizzard”

“Only Culvers’s concrete mixers”

“Nothing beats raw pumpkin”

All photos by Scout Hurley

Freshman

Andi Nelson

Which senior do you look up to the most and why?

“Sydney Gustavsson, because she is always really nice to people.”

How big is your freshpack?

“The zippers broken two times.”

Noobs of the Month

Which senior do you look up to the most and why?

Freshman

Ryder Piehl

“Jackson Duttenhefer because he is swole.”

How big is your freshpack?

“Big enough to give me a workout going to french.”

If you could be one celebrity, who would you be?

If you could be one celebrity, who would you be?

“Travis Scott because of his sick batman costume.”

“Danny DeVito”

10

Feature

November 2020

AVID Students Shed Light On The Class Of 2021 By Spreading Positivity With

The Senior Recognition Wall

— Kelsie Hildebrand, Editor-in-Chief AVID is a class that helps students prepare for college life and life after graduation. Starting in seventh grade, students are recommended by teachers to be enrolled in AVID. This year an AVID student, Senior Ashleigh Tuttle, had an outstanding idea that would showcase the 2021 senior class because of the many things being taken from them this year and last year.

“We decided to shift our focus from what things we can do as a class to what things we can do for our school and community,” AVID teacher Megan Schaff said. “The big idea and the one that we wanted to start with was the senior recognition wall.”

There have been students with positive and gracious responses, but others may be confused as to what the senior recognition wall is. As of right now, the wall will feature twelve students each week for a week with questions about one’s high school career, what one is missing out on this year due to COVID-19 and what one is looking forward to.

“With the senior recognition wall, students' timeliness in getting responses back is key,” Schaff said. “If anybody wants to participate now that they have seen it and intentionally said no, students can absolutely participate by contacting me or one of their classmates in AVID.” The senior recognition wall is meant to bring positivity to the seniors and the school during this school year when there are not as many chances to show Mandan pride. This is a chance for seniors to share their voice and take back their Mandan pride.

“I realized we have lost more than the seniors last year, because they were able to have a homecoming and go to school with all their classmates for a majority of the year,” Tuttle said.

On the other hand, AVID is a class that helps its students with everyday skills to implement ideas just like the senior recognition wall. AVID class may have an unappealing reputation and stigma, but it holds a high expectation for its students as far as academic work and educates its students on the future and what it has to offer.

“Before I was in AVID, I was planning to drop out when I turned 16 and get my GED, but being in that class made me realize how important high school is,” Tuttle said. “Because of it, I am going to college next year when I never had that plan originally.”

Schaff expresses that she would love to bring back the AVID club with the intention for its students to support one another.

Depending on the purpose of the club, it could be extended to the whole student body.

“All it would take would be for some of our students interested in doing something with an idea,” Schaff said. “If you have an idea or want to get something started, let your elective teacher know and let's run with it.”

Feature

The senior recognition wall is located on the first floor by the elevator.

The wall features six new A students and six new B students every week.

Seniors can contact Mrs. Schaff or an AVID student for more information.

Pictured from left to right are seniors Elizabeth Felderman, Aspen Jewkes and Kelsie Hildebrand during the first week.

All photos by Kelsie Hildebrand

November 2020

11

Spotlight on the Importance of Giving Thanks

Photo by Alasam from Creative Commons

Pumpkins, Squash, and Gourds are traditional foods/decorations for the Fall.

Photo by Lorianne DiSabato from Creative Commons

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is a timeless television classic.

— Ryan Ulrich, Sports and News Editor

Photo by Martha_Chapa from Creative Commons

With the train wreck 2020 has brought for everyone this year, many have been impacted in some way by the major issues of this current year. However with Thanksgiving coming right around the corner, this will allow many to look past the negatives of this year and instead focus on things that are most important or worth giving thanks towards.

Even though there have been many terrible things that have happened in the year 2020, this year has perhaps made more people be thankful for the things that are closest to them. This outlook ties in directly with the main message of thanksgiving, which perhaps more Americans this year will appreciate instead of passing it over and looking ahead to Christmas.

“I think that with everything going on in this world it is especially important to appreciate any oportunity of joy that happens,” senior Brandon Moser said. “We can not look past anytime to celebrate the highs of the year, even if this year has not been the best.”

Besides tying into the main message of Thanksgiving, giving thanks is important for a lot of other reasons as well. The importance is quite significant as it helps to live a better life.

“It is important to have things to be thankful for so you know what you are living for and to recognize the people in your lives,” senior Braden Ressler said. “Even though not everyone has those support systems, it is important to appreciate them as their love is unconditional.”

Thanksgiving, however, is more than just a time of being thankful.

Thanksgiving is also a time to connect amongst different people and cultures throughout the country, which is extremely important with some of the modern issues today.

“With everything going on this year, it really makes me appreciate the things I have, because I see not everybody else has those things,” Ressler said. “It also makes me more aware of others’ struggles.

With all the uncertainty that is happening in the world, Thanksgiving provides those with the perfect opportunity to take a break from all the bad things that are going on. Thanksgiving instead brings a time to reflect on the good in life as well as what is there.

Even though a good majority of Americans look past Thanksgiving, it is important to really sit down and appreciate Thanksgiving for what it truly is. While Black Friday this year will be more online, Thanksgiving may not be as consumerous as Christmas, but the main message Thanksgiving holds is still equally important as Christmas for all.

This year make sure to take the time to really appreciate Thanksgiving

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a festive tradition millions tune in to watch, but you will only be able to watch it on television this year.

Photo by Thisgetsold from Creative Commons

NFL on Thanksgiving gives sports lovers plenty to enjoy during the holiday

and not take it for granted. The true message of thanksgiving is one many can truly learn and grow from.

12

November 2020

Feature

Use These Ingredients to Plan a Budget Thanksgiving — Daden Dolajak, General Reporter

Turkey

1 12-20 pound turkey ▢ 1 onion, peeled and quartered ▢ 1 lemon, quartered ▢ 1 apple (your favorite kind), quartered ▢ .75 ounce container fresh rosemary * ▢ .75 ounce container fresh thyme * ▢ .75 ounce container fresh sage *

Mashed Potatoes

Pumpkin Pie

Photo by Timsackton from Creative Commons

▢ 5 large potatoes, peeled and cubed ▢ 2 Tbsp. sugar ▢ 2 Tbsp. butter ▢ 1 tsp. salt ▢ 1/2 cup milk Photo by BrownGuacamole from Creative Commons

▢ 1 pie crust ▢ 1/2 tsp. ground ginger ▢ 1/4 tsp. ground cloves ▢ 1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk Photo by Djwtwo from Creative Commons

Classic Stuffing ▢ 8-10 cups dried bread, cubed or torn (You can use anything including hot dog buns, dinner rolls or French bread.) ▢ 1/2-1 lb. pork sausage ▢ 1/2-1 onion (or onion powder to taste) ▢ 3 eggs, slightly beaten ▢ 1 1/2 cups broth* ▢ 1 chicken bouillon cube ▢ 1/4-1/2 cup butter or margarine ▢ 3 heaping tsp. ground sage ▢ salt and pepper ▢ 1 small bag or box of seasoned croutons

Feature

November 2020

Photo by my_Amii from Creative Commons

13

How to Survive Mandan High School’s Hardest Classes — Leah Emineth, General Reporter

Mandan High School offers a plethora of classes ranging from broadcasting to welding. Some of these classes can be particularly challenging, but having a bit of insight on some of these classes before going into them can be very helpful.

Latin is one of the more challenging classes at Mandan.

“I decided to stay in Latin all four years because I love the Roman culture and the history behind the language that helped form the English language.”, Senior Olivia Obrigewitch said, a four year Latin student.

Learning another language has challenges, but Latin is especially hard for many people because Latin does not have a set word order.

“The most difficult part about Latin is definitely translating because there is no set word order so you are always looking at endings to see what nouns go with what adjectives.”

AP Chemistry is another historically hard class at Mandan.

“AP Chemistry is hard because you have to learn and retain a lot of information, and it can be really overwhelming.” Junior Ashton Boehm said.

AP chemistry has a lot of intense course work that can be very difficult especially with the hybrid schedule.

“One thing I wish I would have known is that AP Chemistry is not a class that you can succeed in by yourself,” Boehm said. “Chemistry teacher Dewitt Mack and my classmates provide much needed help and encouragement.”

A lot of these classes come with loads of homework, and the content is overall more advanced. A lot of people struggle with classes like Latin and AP Chemistry due to the hard material and the class takes a lot of dedication. “ My best advice for someone interested in taking AP Chemistry is to be prepared to work hard, it is not an easy class, so be prepared to have to study for countless hours. It is a great class if you are looking for a challenge.” Boehm said.

Keeping in mind that these classes are very advanced, it is important to remember that these classes are not a good fit for everyone. Many people taking these classes plan on using the information and content learned in the class in their career.

Photo by Aspen Jewkes Photo submitted by Livia Obrigewitch

Pictured above left is the Latin IV book used at Mandan High School to translate terms and to learn the culture of Ancient Rome. Pictured above right are bottles of chemicals that are frequently used in AP Chemistry labs.

14

November 2020

Feature

Complete Tasks On Time By Maximizing The Time in A Day — Aspen Jewkes, Opinion Editor

Feature

Maximizing productivity can be difficult at times, because we tend to veer off course when times get stressful, or we get lazy. It is very important to stay on track. Staying on track not only means with studies, but also one’s day to day life.

“Finding how you can get yourself organized is key, because we are all over the place online and in the classroom,” Mandan High School Counselor Kaitlyn Nichols said. “I think each person really needs to find how they can get organized and get stuff done, in order to continue progressing throughout the school year.”

Not only is it important to stay on schedule, but it is also important to get into a routine. Starting a routine can help people stay planned and organized, which in return can maximize one’s productivity.

According to North Shore University, “starting a routine starts with deciding what needs to be in one’s routine, setting small goals, laying out a plan, being consistent with time, being prepared, making it fun and rewarding yourself.”

Pushing off things that need to be done can create stress, and can keep one up late at night, which is not healthy.

“I personally believe that kids should not put off school work until eleven, twelve, one or two in the morning, because they are not getting it done.” Nichols said. “I think getting up and trying to follow what your school day would look like is better for kids, and I have noticed that the kids that do that more are far more successful.”

Putting off homework, chores, work and other day to day activities is only a lack of motivation.

Motivation can be hard to have, but it is necessary in order to succeed in life.

“I believe that basic needs have to be met in order to have motivation to get things done,” Nichols said.

“Kids need to eat well, and they need to make sure they are getting enough rest, exercising and doing some self care.”

Self care is one thing that can easily be forgotten about, but it is one of the most important things to do for oneself. By doing some self care, one is more likely to succeed, because they are taking care of themselves and allowing stress to escape.

According to Perimeter Healthcare, “look for the things that make you feel alive and make dates with yourself, and when you commit to working out or doing something for yourself, keep the commitment you make to yourself.”

By keeping commitments to oneself and planning ones days, it can be far easier to concentrate on the task that is in front of one, not twenty tasks at the same time.

“Having a schedule really helps me focus on certain tasks without getting overwhelmed.” Nichols said.

“I have three calendars that I use to stay organized, one for work, one for meetings and one for my life outside of work.”

By staying organized and on top of one’s day to day life, the things such as school work will get done because of the time management that comes with building a schedule or a routine.

“Sometimes it takes stepping back and taking things one at a time even if you are overwhelmed,” Nichols said. “Even turning in one or two assignments will lift some of the weight off of your shoulders and can increase your positivity, which is super important when you are using the time that you have to get your work done.”

While it may be hard to get in the swing of things, it is really important to set a routine that works for each individual in order to make sure that one is maximizing the time that they have to stay on top of things. There are many factors that play into staying on track, and it is important to find the things that work for each individual.

November 2020

15

The Fix from Fix

A round up and review of some of 2020’s finest films and albums.

Dua Lipa “Future Nostalgia”

— McCartney Fix, Co-News Editor

Taylor Swift “Folklore”

Photo sourced from Warner Music

Photo sourced from Reddit

Future Nostalgia is the second LP from Australian pop starlet Dua Lipa. The bright poppy album was released on March 27, 2020. Dua Lipa’s second LP is as practically perfect a pop album as has ever existed.

Working with a solid stable of certified hit makers, Lipa is able to find her voice and refine her kaleidoscopic vision for pop music that’s just as much inspired by Kate Bush as it is Prince.

This apparent clashing of styles only serves to diversify a deep track list chock full of brilliant moments and songs worthy of a spot on the hot 100.

Lipa is able to explore a number of sounds while never straying away from that which makes her unique. Shes able to wear her influences on her shoulder while never getting enveloped by their shadows.

The synth and thumping percussion aid in the creation of a retro-modern soundscape that Lipa wields with power and fully imbues with the qualities likely to make her a star in the coming years.

Through a combination of incredibly energetic, layered production, and powerful hooks, the Australian starlet subverts the sophomore slump and supplants herself as one of the most promising figures in modern music.

Folklore is the eighth LP from Taylor Swift.

Swift utilizes her background i country and pop to create a unique album, which was released on July 24, 2020. Folklore sets out to subvert the astronomical expectations of an LP by pop music’s queen, and does so wonderfully.

Taking a jarring genre shift in stride, Taylor Swift reinvents herself artistically, reenters the limelight of country music, and revitalizes her creativity all on an LP that’s one part indie (“exile”) one part country (“betty”) and wholly inspired throughout.

It’s clear that Swift took the criticism of her overproduced and underwhelming prior two LP’s to heart, opting to return to her roots. Wielding little else more than a somber guitar, a serene piano, and a sharp as ever pen, Swift crafts her most honest and introspective work.

In the midst of this folk renaissance one may worry about a lack of truly great pop melodies, but that concern is swiftly and resoundingly made mute by the incredibly crafted melodies of tracks like “cardigan” and “the 1” On this LP, Swift delivers a lovingly crafted yet crushingly desolate, isolated listening experience that brilliantly echoes the lonely, quarantined conditions under which it was recorded.

16

November 2020

The Weeknd “After Hours”

Photo sourced from Reddit

After Hours is the fourth studio LP from R&B crooner turned pop star The Weeknd.

The unique blend of 80’s pop and modern R&B was released on March 20, 2020. The Weeknd entirely reinvents himself once again on his fourth studio album, retaining the smooth stylings of his mixtape era while introducing himself to the spice of 80’s pop music. Through this subtle balancing act, The Weekend is able to establish himself as the preeminent pop star of our time, the last true heir to the throne of R&B infused pop left vacant after Usher and Justin Timberlake’s departure from the spotlight, while never losing his unique artistic vision.

The Weeknd has always excelled at laying bare his soul over production that existed on a spectrum from uninterestingly bare to overbearingly extreme never truly finding the balance, yet he manages to do so effortlessly here. Whether its an impeccable homage to 80’s synth wave (In Your Eyez) or cold, calculated trap (Snowchild), The Weeknd has never so effortlessly imbued his flair into such broad horizons.

After Hours is an LP rich with depth and variety that’s sure to have a little bit of everything for everybody, never sacrificing the quality of its whole for the sake of any of its individual parts.

Feature

“Tenet”

Dir. Christopher Nolan

“Da 5 Bloods” Dir. Spike Lee

“I’m Thinking of Ending Things” Dir. Charlie Kaufman

Photo sourced from Reddit

“Tenet”, the time bending action film featuring Michael Caine, John David Washington, and Robert Pattinson is the 11th film from English director Christopher Nolan. It was released on September 30, 2020 and is currently playing in theaters.

Tenet is a well acted, well shot, impeccably scored, and conceptually fascinating film helmed by a visionary filmmaker, which is to say, it’s really nothing special.

Christopher Nolan once again stretches himself thin, with far too complex a premise he hopes to explore in far too little time, creating the perplexing illusion of this half baked film feeling too long instead of not long enough.

This compiled with a clear lack of focus on the storytelling front and a disappointing turn by the leading man John David Washington left me feeling underwhelmed.

With many analysts assigning the weight of an industry to the shoulders to this film, I wanted to love it but care barely manage lukewarm, primarily technical praise for what I believed would be more than just a vehicle for pretty effects.

Though it clearly considers itself a Pandora’s box hoping to be fully unlocked after multiple viewings, Tenet is simply too bloated and boring to justify even a single one.

Feature

Photo sourced from IMDB

“Da 5 Bloods”, a film exploring themes of PTSD post Vietnam stars Chadwick Boseman, Delory Lindo, and Jonathon Majors. The film was released on Netflix June 12, 2020 and has yet to receive any theatrical showings.

Da 5 Bloods, is a film that so easily could’ve fallen victim to its own scope and ambitions, but Spike manages the balancing act expertly, creating a film that perfectly captures the dichotomy between the scope of war and the personal demons and desires of those that fight in it.

The story is interesting but more so acts as a vessel for the brilliant interactions of the films solidly defined characters.

The direction is brisk and psychedelic, solidly emulating the imagery of its poster.

The films use of Marvin Gaye’s “Whats going on” provides an incredible backbone for the film to pace itself with. For every mode the script evokes theres a track that just as well matches it.

Delroy Lindo and Jonathon Majors are electric on screen, each likely to earn well deserved Oscar nods for their work, but I’d be remiss not to mention what is likely to be the final role of Chadwick Bosemans illustrious career. This film makes evident has transcendent talent and makes his passing hurt all the more.

November 2020

Photo sourced from Netflix

“I’m Thinking of Ending Things” is a familial horror film written and directed by Charlie Kaufman, and released to Netflix.

I’m Thinking of Ending Things confused me, and after a subsequent re-watch, I’m inexplicably more confused by it.

Kaufman’s work has always been eclectic and idiosyncratic, but never before has it so uniquely translated to the films final cut.

The film’s plot, which follows a young women as she contemplates ending her six week relationship with boyfriend Jake while taking a trip to meet his parents at their secluded farm, acts as a unique backdrop for films events to unfold.

While watching this I grew mildly frustrated, the plot was very chaotic. That being said I think that my confusion added to the experience. I feel although the authors hoped to confuse their audience in order to let them draw their own conclusions.

During this film it seems although the main characters can almost hear each other’s thoughts. Toward the end of the film I began to draw the conclusion that Lucy was merely a figment of Jake’s imagination.

The ending of this film is not necessarily left open ended, however it is most definitely up to the audience.

17

Professionals Share Their Insight With Students Interested In Pursuing Similar Career Paths — Kelsie Hildebrand, Editor-in-Chief

Junior Damian McCormick & Orthopeadic Surgeon Timothy Juelson There are many students who are undecided on what their life’s calling is. A survey was sent out for the students of Mandan High School that already have their college major set in stone. Ranging from tending to the needs of sick animals to the divine arts of grilling hamburger patties, students and professionals share the why’s, what’s and how’s for their career choice in hopes to learn something new and inform others who are confused.

Junior Damian McCormick has an interest in helping people and making the world a better place. He has wanted to go into the medical field for as long as he can remember, and he would like to be either a trauma or orthopedic surgeon.

“I plan on attending UND for four years as an undergraduate and UCSD or UCLA for four year as a transfer for medical school.”

McCormick said. “I want to live in Los Angeles, and complete the surgical residency program, which is about four years long then continue working at a teaching hospital, so I can help other students become doctors too.”

Doctor Timothy Juelson tore his ACL playing football in high school, which changed his life instantly. Juelson went through eleven months of ACL reconstruction and two additional surgeries to get back to regular activities.

“Orthopeadic surgery encompassed math, science and working with a team of professionals to help people become active again, which seemed like the perfect profession,” Juelson said. “We have a tremendous opportunity to help people regain function, so all the work and hoops we jump through become worthwhile when we see our patients accomplish their goals, and they can go back to chasing their dreams.”

Juelson focused on passing the Medical College Admissions Test, which set him up for the rest of his medical schooling. He completed a total of fourteen years in school which includes undergraduate school, medical school, orthopeadic surgery residency and orthopeadic surgery sports fellowship where he helped perform a sixteen hour spine deformity correction surgery.

“Try to do something every day to make yourself better and spend some time with a surgeon to make sure surgery is the right choice for you,” Juelson said. “Most importantly, shoot for the stars and realize that you can perform better and accomplish great things.”

18

Senior Keira Horner & Executive Director and Founder of Sleep Hollow Theatre Susan Lundberg Senior Keira Horner hopes to get into one of her top college picks being University of Jamestown or Valley City State University for a minimum of four years. While in college, Horner looks to perform with choir and theatre clubs in order to get opportunities to go somewhere else afterwards.

“This has been my passion since seventh grade, because I had a hard time fitting in at school,” Horner said. “I once was told that when words fail music speaks, and that is when I fell in love with music and theater, because I found my voice.”

Executive Director and Founder of Sleepy Hollow Theatre, Susan Lundberg, grew up being active in choir and theatre throughout high school, which resulted in her enrollment at Stephens College in Columbia, MO. She majored in music no doubt, but also history with excellent teaching.

“Going to college is beneficial as it is not only about a field of study, but also about interacting with new people and having experiences in attending lectures, concerts, performances, etc.”

Lundberg said. “It allows a person to grow and expand your world.”

Lundberg established Sleepy Hollow Theatre with her family in 1990 with the idea “to nurture youth by providing quality preprofessional educational opportunities in the arts that result in the cultural enrichment of our communities and state.” The theatre’s motto is “be prepared,” which is accurate for almost every career out there. Preparation, organization and cooperation are valuable skills which Sleepy Hollow teaches its young stars.

“We literally found a park on the east side of town which was hilly and totally undeveloped and hosted our first show, which featured a live orchestra and full cast of students with lights, sound, sets and costumes,” Lundberg said. “It was another world where creativity was everything.”

November 2020

Feature

Jaxon Duttenhefer Breaks Barriers Jaxon

Duttenhefer

— Scout Hurley, Assistant Editor-in-Chief

is a Mandan High school senior. He first joined football in the third grade under the Mandan Touchdown Club. In sixth grade, he began to lift weights everyday, and has been motivated to improve his skills ever since.

“I’ve been around football my whole life, and I started playing football in third grade,” Duttenhefer said.

Duttenhefer has beat several weightlifters since he began, he credits a lot of his accomplishments to Coach Morast.

Coach Morast works with the younger kids in weight lifting, and teaching them new and important skills.

“Coach Morast does an amazing job with the younger kids in getting them introduced to the lifts, while stressing a full range of motion,” Duttenhefer said.

During his high school career Duttenhefer has beat several school records. During his freshman year he beat the power clean and bench record, in the following years he went on to

beat the power clean (again), bench, and squat records.

“The biggest challenge I had to overcome was getting faster,” Duttenhefer said. “Speed is important in any sport, and it takes a lot of work to get faster.”

In the years to come he hopes to be a starter for the North Dakota State University football team, then eventually onto the NFL. In his free time Duttenhefer enjoys reading, he is also interested in accounting.

“I stay motivated by knowing that there are countless other kids around the nation doing something when I am doing nothing,” Duttenhefer said. “I work harder and more often to not fall behind.”

Staying motivated is very important to Duttenhefer, especially considering his future goals. His dedication to football and weight lifting is what has allowed him to come this far.

Photo submitted by Jaxon Duttenhefer

Jaxon Duttenhefer lines up while getting ready to make a play.

Sports

November 2020

19

Check out the online version of The Courier here! And follow our instagram

@mhscourier

Thank you to this issue’s sponsors Burning Desires, Capital City Construction and Eide Bailly!

Athlete of the Month November 2020 — Daden Dolajak, General Reporter

Braden Ressler What were your goals for this year? ‘‘My goal was to make State as a team.’’

What is your pre-game tradition?

‘‘Roll down our car windows and blast music in the parking lot.’’

Do you have a luck charm? ‘‘We have a toy owl named Clud.’’

Who is your loudest cheerleader?

Photo submitted by Braden Ressler

Senior Braden Ressler returning a hit with a forehand swing against Williston.

‘‘Keaton Pritchett.’’

Aysia Mettler What were your goals for this year?

“Make top ten at State and I took sixth.’’

What is your pre-game tradition?

“Listen to music.’’

Do you have a luck charm?

“I have a lucky bracelet.’’

Who is your loudest cheerleader?

“My mom.’’

Photo by Leah Emineth

Junior Aysia Mettler getting ready to hit her drive at Prairie Rose Golf Course.

Sports

November 2020

21

Sports Roundup — Ryan Ulrich, Sports and News Editor

Girls’ Swim and Dive The girls have had a young team this season.

That has not stopped the team from performing well even with a season impacted by outside circumstances.

“The team members did a great job focusing on fundamental skills, which led to consistent time drops, and many girls were willing to move to different events from meet to meet,” Head Coach Claudia Schoellkopf said. “This allowed for us to reach our improvement goals as a team, and we had several team finishes that surprised us, which was fun to see.

Swimmers Josey Jackson, Taylor Adamski, and diver McKayla Lindbo have been event winners so far for the Braves.

Senior Quarterback Jayce Lowman looking down the field trying to make a play..

Photo by Scout Hurley

Photo by Ryan Ulrich

Sophmore Brady Helbling hitting a forehand.

Boys’ Cross Country

Girls’ Golf This season for the Girl’s Golf team went down to be historic. The team ended up finishing second at Regionals and third at State, which is the best finish for a Mandan High Golf team in decades, and the amount of hard work the team has put in ended up being key for the Braves.

“Our golfers have never worked so much on their games during the off season as they did this summer,” Head Coach Dean Johs said. “It certainly helped that the golf course was a safe place to be during our COVID-19 times.”

Besides having great team success, the team also ended up having great individual success as well as at Regionals. Freshman Anna Huettl and senior Deona Roehrich earned All-Tournament team honors, and freshman Anna Huettl finished fourth and junior Aysia Mettler finished sixth earning them All-Tournament team honors at state. All in all, it was a great season for the Braves, and they have a bright future to look forward to as seven of their top ten golfers are freshmen or younger.

22

November 2020

This season, the boys ended up finishing 18th at state. However, the young teams’ effort that they brought daily was something to pride themselves on.

“I believe that the team preformed well, as we gave it all that we had,” Junior Raine Skjod said. “We worked hard to improve each other and support each other, which is a great part of our teams.”

The team this season would have no seniors and only one junior, so years such as these will be good for development.

This provides the Braves with a young core and bright future.

Sports

Boys’ Soccer

Girls’ Cross Country Volleyball While the team ended their regular season ranked 17th and 18th after state, that does not mean that the Braves did not have individual success. Sophomore Acey Elkins placed sixth at State, which brings a bright side of promise for the teams’ future.

“We are a very young team, having only one junior and no seniors, so I am excited to see what we can achieve next year when we have everyone back with us again,” Head Coach Hillary Feist said.

The team ended up dealing with a variety of outside obstacles throughout the season.

However, the team showed true passion by continuing to give it their all

This season the Girls’ Volleyball team ended up finishing the regular season with a record of 14-4, and they were the second seed in the West Region. While the team found success throughout the regular season, it will take a lot of physical and mental toughness for the success to carry over, and that is something the players understand.

“Mentality is everything, and many times it was our mental toughness that helped us stay focused and finish out close matches with good teams,” senior Taylor Leingang said.

The Braves’ first postseason will be on November 10th. For more on the team check out page 24.

Junior Morgan Sheldon spiking the ball against Minot.

Photo by Aspen Jewkes

Boys’ Tennis The Braves finished the regular season fourth in the conference. More importantly, the team ended up accomplishing one of their biggest goals throughout the season.

“One goal we have every year is to improve every day and I think we achieved that this year,” Head Coach Paul Christen said. “The players worked hard every day in practice, and I do not think we had one wasted day all season.”

The teams’ continual improvement ended up going well for the Braves in the post season. Five of the top seven qualified for state, and sophomore Brady Helbling and senior Keaton Pritchett ended up being named All Confrence for placing third at West Region.

Sports

This season the boy’s soccer team finished the season seventh in the West Region. While the finish for the team was not ideal, there was still plenty of good to come out of this season regardless of the circumstances.

“Some key takeaways from the season are that we developed as the season went on, and in the last game of the year, we played our best game as a team without some key players due to COVID-19,” senior Austin Horn said. “We still gave it our all through the entirety of the season.”

Freshman Kelbi Pritchett winding up her swing.

Photo taken by Leah Emineth

Football The Braves finished third at WDA with a record of 4-3 this seaon.

A big key for the team this season was leadership, and this proved to be important during the season.

“The greatest strength of the team is senior leadership and willingness to see your teammates succeed even if it means you individually will not get the recognition,” Head Coach Todd Sheldon said. “Regardless of the situation athletes are placed in, there are still universal truths: kids are resilient, adversity will strike, and your attitude and effort will determine what happens next, but there is no replacement for senior leadership.”

The Braves had their offensive line return from last year, so the team had a solid foundation. However, there was plenty of others who stepped up for the Braves as senior Quarterback Jayce Lowman finished third at WDA in passing with 918 yards and senior Tyler Thilmony (316 yards) and senior Treys Tietz (311 yards) finished third and fifth at WDA in receiving respectfully.

November 2020

23

Sports Spotlight

Mandan Girls Volleyball:

A season of success

— McCartney Fix, Co-News Editor

Over the last number of years, the Mandan Girls Volleyball team has remained consistently successful. In the grand scheme of previous triumphs, this season still feels special. The atmosphere emanating from the court once the team enters is tangible.

It is clear that in the months since most of them have played in front of a crowd, they have not lost their fire. In fact it only burns brighter inside them.

That may in part be due to the return to normalcy present in the playing of sports again, which they previously took for granted.

“They understand how valuable each day we get to play is,” said coach Anna Folk. “Taking each practice and match as if it is their last.”

Folk, however, understands the issues with such an endgame focused approach.

“Emphasizing more the importance of not getting too caught up in the end game was important,” said Folk.

Success in the game along with the roster anchoring the court, has led to tremendous results “They are very physically talented and smart players,” Coach Anna Folk said. “Our senior group has set the tone of making our practices fun yet competitive and hold themselves and each player to a high standard.”

No matter the regular season success, it is clear this group of girls have passion for their sport.

“We will be satisfied with a trip to state,” Junior Morgan Sheldon said. “Nothing else.”

Photo by Aspen Jewkes

Senior team captain Taylor Leingang executes a spike of a set from Sydney Gustavsson.

24

November 2020

Sports