December Pelladium

tuesday, december 9, 2008

Influential people, events An in-depth look into the people and events of ‘08 that have helped shape the lives of students. pp. 7-8

volume 21, issue 3 Tulip Court announced Senior Aemelia Tripp earns a spot on the Court. p. 4

Hang Time “The Pelladium” hangs out with senior Bom Tutler. The illest hip-hop track ever composed, also included. p. 14

Students take advantage of college course options As their year reaches midway, many seniors are thinking about college. However, a rising number of seniors are already taking post secondary classes at colleges.

“I decided to take classes at Indian Hills because I would know how the classes would be next year,” said senior Alex Valster, who plans to attend Indian Hills.

There are many advantages to taking post-secondary courses.

Iowa’s Post Secondary Enrollment Options Act enables juniors and seniors to take college level classes not only in school, but also outside of school. In addition to being worth college credit, a college class counts for one required high school course. Six seniors currently take such classes.

“The idea is to get students on college campuses to experience college life; additionally, taking college courses is advantageous

because it saves (students) a ton of money and can lighten the load of classes a student will take at a college,” said Counselor Mike Ballenger.

While taking classes at nearby colleges allows students to study a broader range of topics, around 20 college credits and advanced placement (AP) courses per semester – ranging from college western civilizations to geography AP are offered at the high school.

Last year college credit and AP courses accounted for 234 seats.

“Taking college credit classes at the high school enables (juniors and seniors) to not only gain a lot of credit, but it is also easier to take a couple college classes with the rest of the high school curriculum, versus taking all high level classes when students get to college,” said Ballenger.

While completing college credits

may be advantageous to some, it can present disadvantages to others. College classes often not only add extra homework, but also the teaching style of college differs greatly from high school.

“Classes at the high school are a lot different than those taught at Central in the teaching styles and the difficulty of the class. Most of what we do in class is listen to lectures and then take exams after three weeks – so I have to make sure I take really good notes and study a lot to do well on the exams,” said senior Nicole Roorda, who is taking a class at Central.

Overall, students feel wellprepared for what lies ahead.

“I think the high school does a good job of preparing us for college because (our teachers) help us realize that (college) is going to be different,” said Valster.

•Michael Suplee (ms.pelladium@gmail.com)

Brillhart remembered with athletic fund Through the newly-established Jamie Brillhart Fund, Brillhart’s legacy as a team player can retain its contribution to Pella athletics. Brillhart, a graduate from the Pella High class of 1979, died in October after a three year battle with cancer.

For years, Brilhart used his own construction company, Contractor’s Edge, to help create and renovate numerous athletic facilities. The most recent results of his hard work are the press box and the concession stands, where Brillhart provided free labor for the construction. Not only did he build much-needed facilities, he was also known as a regular spectator at his daughter Haley’s sporting events, as well as numerous others. To keep the memory of his positive attitude and selfless contributions alive, the fund was created. It was then designated for the athletic department.

“Jamie was instrumental in the renovation of the softball and baseball facilities. He was a huge supporter of the Pella High athletic department throughout his life. He would attend any game, no matter if his daughter was playing or not,” said Athletic Director, Bill Van Horn.

After gaining permission from his family, wife Denise and daughters Danielle (04’) and Haley

news briefs ....

• The debate team of seniors Ben Lyng, Alex Lopez, Will Harris and Greg Ellingson placed first at their conference meet Nov. 25, marking the first time PHS has won the CIDL championship.

• Fourteen publications students attended the JEA/NSPA national high school journalism convention in St. Louis, Nov.

(08’), the memorial for Brillhart was finalized and now exists as a fluent fund for Pella High athletics.

According to Van Horn, the fund contains over $1,000 in individual donations made by members of the community. The money will then be dispersed throughout the general athletic budget, and be used for various sport-oriented uses, depending on what is needed the most.

“I can’t tell you where exactly the money’s going, but it will be going towards something which was a part of Jamie’s life. I think this is a great way to continue to remember a person who will be dearly missed by his friends and family. It is a positive way to not dwell on the sadness of his death but appreciate what he brought to Pella,” said Van Horn.

“My family is honored and appreciative of the response to the Jamie Brillhart Family Fund. Only in a community like Pella would you receive such an outpouring of love, along with generous gifts of money, cards, letters, food, encouraging words and stories about Jamie. He touched many people’s lives, and I am sure he would be overwhelmed and humbled by the number of people who have donated to the fund on his behalf,” said Denise.

•Megan Card (mcpelladium@gmail.com

13-16. Of 1,989 participants, senior Nick Birkel received an excellent in review writing and senior Will Harris and sophomore Jacob Martin received honorable mentions in commentary and logo contests.

• Seniors Carley De Jong, Stewart Beyer, Josh Dale and Dan Haws and junior Todd Wegter were accepted to Luther College’s

Happy Holidays!

“The Pelladium” Staff

Nelson wins Walmart’s Teacher of the Year Award Excellence, commitment and improving education are a few of the qualities needed to be the Walmart Teacher of the Year. Psychology teacher Joyce Nelson was named as the local winner of the annual award due to exhibiting these qualities and more.

To win the award, the teacher must be nominated in a local “Teaching is a passion, store. Then, the employees from and you want to that store vote on whom they believe is most deserving. The encourage students to winner wins a $1,000 grant to continue to learn.” their school. The use of the grant Joyce Nelson has not been determined, but it will go to improving education Psychology Teacher in the high school. With these Pella Walmart supplies, it is Nelson’s hope that Teacher of the Year she can keep the psychology program strong and improve the education of her students.

Nelson was presented the award in the media center Nov. 10.

“The Walmart manager Aaron Rohr presented me with the framed award and a $1,000 check for the school district, which was given to Superintendent [Mark] Wittmer. I also got a $100 credit card for purchasing supplies for use in teaching psychology. To get an award for what you love doing from current and past students makes teaching very rewarding,” said Nelson.

Nelson has been teaching for 50 years, 46 of those at Pella. She is the sole teacher of psychology and college psychology. During her tenure, she helped organize Iowa Teachers of Psychology, the first organization for psychology teachers. She also helped grade the SAT exam and got a scholarship to Yale University for test and measurement research.

“Teaching is a passion, and you want to encourage students to continue to learn. I try to teach wisdom, enthusiasm, motivation and a passion for learning. I want to make a difference. And right now in tough times it’s very important students receive free, college credit for taking psychology. My motto is that teachers are like brain surgeons because when you teach something, you create a teaching memory, you have to make sure you’re correct (in your teaching),” said Nelson.

•Andrea Huffman (ah.pelladium@gmail.com)

Dorian Honor Vocal Festival.

• The Dec. 19 Pella Christian vs. Pella High varsity basketball games will be held at Pella High School. Tickets will be presold at each school starting Dec. 15 for normal prices. Student activity tickets will not be accepted, and there will be no ticket sales at the gate.

• The National Honor Society elected officers: senior Anna Lockridge, president; senior Josh Hones vice-president; senior Greg Ellingson, treasurer; and, senior Mary De Vries, secretary.

• Holiday break begins at the end of the day Dec. 23. School reconvenes Jan. 5.

•Nathan Kooker

2

Life

Jointhe

12.09.08

Club

BAM! Sophomore Katey Mitchell and junior Megan Hardesty strike a pose during Dutch Divas’ JV show choir practice. •Photo by Josh Dale

When I went to the Dutch Divas practice, I thought it was going to only involve a bunch of girls dancing around in circles, with the occasional song. What I didn’t know was

Director: Michelle Chaplin Assistant Directors: Carley De Jong. Josh Dale Choreographer: Kyrsten Klein Members: 30 girls How You Join: Tryouts in May

that it was going to be hard to learn all of the footwork, arm motions – and of course, singing.

Director Michelle Chaplin leads practices, along with seniors Josh Dale and Carley De Jong, assistant directors. ’06 graduate Kyrsten Klein, choreographs the moves.

Practices are held Tuesday and Thursdays after school, sometimes until 5 p.m., giving them plenty of practice time. Thirty girls participate.

When I got to the practice, I joined their first routine and tried out the routine. It was a slower routine, yet I still struggled, even under the supervision of Dale. Once the practice went on, I improved, and by the end of the night, I started to get down some of the songs they were singing as well as the moves. It was interesting how the Divas mixed in the singing with all the complex dance moves. I also thought that learning the routines might be difficult, but they executed the songs and singing well.

My premonitions about the Dutch Divas were no more as I left the practice. If you are interested in dancing and singing music, then Dutch Divas is the group for you. It does take a lot of hard work as a variety of songs, dances and setups must be practiced for the show to be good. Members must be devoted, especially with all the practices.

Overall, it was a good experience, and I walked away knowing something about dancing.

•Caleb Klyn (ck.pelladium@gmail.com)

Food director sheds light on common speculation with answers to questions about school lunch By the day of their graduation, the average student will have spent over 700 hours in a Pella School District cafeteria.

However, by this date, such a student may not have even spent a fraction of this time pondering the true origins of the meals he or she has consumed. Questions such as, ‘What kind of meat am I eating?’ or ‘Where did this come from?’ might have crossed students’ minds at one point. Carolyn Klein, the district’s director of food services, was willing to shed some light on such inquiries.

What are your specific duties as food service director?

“I plan the menus for the month and see that the regulations are followed. I also hire and direct employees. I keep check on prices with the groceries. I mainly just keep an overall watch on things.”

Does the school district prepare its food, or is it purchased from somewhere else? Which food items come from where?

“Sometimes items are prepared after we purchase them, but we do all of our own bread from scratch. Any baking product is made here at Jefferson, the primary kitchen. The high school…and Madison do their own preparation of some products…”

Where do the ingredients used in school-prepared foods come from?

“We receive foods and ingredients through a commodity with the USDA. We also bid through wholesale companies where we purchase items. So we can try to get a better price on food supplies and keep lunch prices low.”

In recent times, there have been noticeable changes in the high school lunchroom seemingly directed at health. (For example, the nutrition facts posted in the a la carte area) What provoked this? “(We post the nutrition facts of purchasable items) because

of the state wellness program that we’re required to follow.

We must have all of the nutritional facts for the student’s benefit… (this would directly apply if a student is watching their weight or is diabetic) Nutrition information gives students choices so that they can choose where they want to expend their calories or carbohydrates.”

Where did the white rolls go?

“The USDA has stated that the plain white roll is not very nutritious. Since we have to serve one wheat product daily, we decided that the best way to do it is through the bread products, because they supply the most wheat and grain.”

What kind of meat is in the crispitos?

“Chili and beef. I know it’s spicy, but it’s good (for you).

You can always go back to the kitchen to ask about the ingredients in them. We add the cheese sauce to meet nutritional requirements.”

Is there anything that students need to know about the food services?

“We are a business … our food service department is self -supporting. If we don’t make any money, we don’t make anything. When we say ‘you need to pay for your lunches,’ that is what is supporting the lunch ladies’ incomes.”

•Nathan Kooker (nk.pelladium@gmail.com)

Pella

Io

wa

United States

Pella-

The Pella Municipal Airport is planning on replacing last winter’s snow removal truck. The new truck would be a single-axle dump truck with an 11-foot plow. The current truck needs replacing because the transmission isn’t functioning properly. Currently there is $54,144 in FAA funds that needs to be obligated by December 2008. The new truck’s cost would be about $118,000 but most of its cost would be covered by the resale of last year’s truck. The Airport Commission approved the use of the entitlement funds for replacing the truck Oct. 27.

Iowa -

According to “The Des Moines Register,” many Iowa school districts have failed to obey a state law that requires them to hire a registered nurse. Currently, at least 38 small schools have no records of having school nurses. Schools could get away with avoiding the law in the school years of 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 when the school districts were allowed to apply for waivers, but those won’t be available next year. Lawmakers have now decided that each school district needs at least one nurse.

United States -

According to msnbc.com, chances of getting hired for a part-time job around the holiday season in the country is more difficult than being accepted into Harvard. On average about 450 applicants are competing for 10 jobs per store. Those are tougher odds than Harvard, who accepted about 7% of their applicants for the class of 2012. Last year stores were struggling to fill the holiday jobs, but this year the jobseekers are coming at a bad time. The retail industry is cutting back on holiday hiring because of the struggling economy and the fact that consumer spending is down. The retail industry alone cut 38,100 jobs, raising the unemployment rate to about 6.5%.

•Kelsey Van Tasell (kv.pelladium@gmail.com)

Ways to $ave

With the recent economic downturn, increasing college tuitions and high inflation, students are not excluded from feeling the squeeze of tighter family budgets. Follow these quick and easy tips to help save money.

1.

Instead of spending money to get into a movie, go to the nearest Redbox and rent a movie for a dollar.

2. Save your coins in a jar; it can really add up.

3. Don’t keep unneeded clothes and electronics around; sell to a secondhand store or on eBay.

4. With the holidays approaching, give your friends and family homemade gifts, like scarves or paintings.

5. Hold back on buying drinks; bring your own.

6. If you have a job, resist the urge to spend your whole paycheck. Put most of your check in the bank; cash only what you absolutely need.

7. Limit the amount of money you carry, or the amount

you have on your debit card. The less you have on you, the less you’ll spend.

•Morgan Anderson (ma.pelladium@gmail.com)

Our Platinum Support...

812 University 641-628-5285 www.central.edu

3 Life Bossard bounds over breaks, bruises page editor

andrea huffman

12.09.08

After breaking her leg, fracturing her back twice and having too many calluses to count, sophomore Jordan Bossard continues her love-hate relationship with gymnastics. Since her start in gymnastics during the fourth grade, no amount of pain or hospital bills have slowed Bossard’s success as a gymnast.

Working with three practices a week, two-and-a-half hours each, Bossard has competed in 16 competitions this year alone. Bossard, with her coach, Robin Brown, work diligently to clean her routines for the four competitive rotations: beam, bars, vault and floor.

“I have been in gymnastics for seven years, and while it is sometimes painful, I think it helped me gain a lot of friendships along with some healthy competition. My favorite rotation is floor, because tumbling is my best talent, but I like pretty much everything that has to do with gymnastics. Well, maybe not warm ups so much,” said Bossard.

To understand how much work a gymnast has to put into their routine, just look at their regular warm-ups.

•Photo submitted by Bossard family

My Pella Top 5 Senior Ben Lyng

Eat: “Oriental Express recently got a buffet line. So, now I can’t really seem to pull myself away from there.”

Shop: “When summer comes around, I tend to spend a good amount of time at the Marina at Lake Red Rock. I like to get food there because we have a family tab, so it’s like free ice cream.”

Be in school: “My favorite place to be in the school is in the practice rooms in the band hall. The practice rooms are soundproof and relatively remote from the other students.”

Be outside school: “I have friends that have some sweet houses. Greg’s [Ellingson] place has two massive bean bags and a refrigerator. Jake’s [Meyer] house has a home theater and a ping-pong room.

Luke’s [Elzinga] house has a trampoline and a pool, so it just depends.

Thing about self: “My favorite thing about myself is the fact that after all the crazy things I have done, I haven’t died.

Hopefully, this keeps me from dying in the future.”

•Amanda Laverman (al.pelladium@gmail.com)

At Team Gymnastics Academy, on the outskirts of Des Moines where Bossard attends, a warm-up consists of 40 back hand springs, 40 front hand springs, and possibly 50 -100 push-ups. The rest of practice is then dedicated to perfecting the routine, which most likely means tumbling, balancing and swinging on the bars until exhaustion. Her hard work is then put to the test at competitions all over Iowa and some parts of Nebraska. These competitions can take about three hours to complete, and each rotation is around 25 to 30 minutes long. With two judges at each station, gymnasts perform their routines, and then they are scored according to what level they performed and how cleanly they executed it.

“My coach always tells me to never look at my score while competing because that can throw you off for the rest of the competition. I just try not to get overwhelmed with everything going on around me. I’m not sure how far I want to continue gymnastics, but I would recommend it to anyone who is interested,” said Bossard.

•Megan Card (mcpelladium@gmail.com)

Sample performs with equestrian drill team Name: Liz Sample, junior Group involved in: Red Rock Riders What it does: “It’s an equestrian drill team with 12 girls from around the area [including junior Kate De Haan]. We ride our horses in a routine, set to music. We perform difficult maneuvers that require horsemanship skills. While we ride close, we also carry flags and shoot cap guns.”

What practices involve: “We practice in a horse arena. We spend time warming up our horses and run through a few drills to perfect our riding ability and timing. Then, we go through our routine. Our season is all year long, but we only get together once a month to refresh our memories.”

Performances: “We perform at local horse shows, county fairs, and in several parades. Our biggest performance is at the Iowa Horse Fair in April. This year we hope to start doing some competitions.”

•Andrea Huffman (ah.pelladium@gmail.com)

Former exchange students reflect on experience

Over the years, students from abroad have been a part of the student body. Each student had a unique experience.

Many got to know the individuals as they spent a year here.

What are they doing now?

Christian Hjuler Christensen, Denmark How was your overall experience at Pella High?

My experience overall was very good. I made so many friends, and I took a lot of sweet classes. In Denmark you’re with the same people all the time and have the same subjects with them, so it was nice to try something different. It was very social. What I didn’t like was all the high school drama; I hate drama and gossipping. In Danish high school we are way more chilled and don’t really make a big deal out of a small thing.

What was your favorite thing about Pella High?

My favorite thing were the classes and lunch breaks because they were very social and you made a lot of friends.

What are you doing now?

I am a student at Næstved Gymnasium & HF at the moment. The path, or what you would call it, I’ve chosen is math, physics and chemistry. I do have other classes as well,

though. When not in school, I go clubbin‘ and pubbin‘.

Saskia Meyer, Germany How was your overall experience at Pella High?

I had a very nice year in Pella High School. It was very interesting to see how different school systems can be.

School was very exciting most of the time, but I didn’t like taking tests.

What was your favorite thing about Pella High?

My favorite classes were Foods I and painting; they were so much fun! My favorite thing was that the teachers are so nice, and the relationship between students and teachers is way better than it is in Germany.

What are you doing now?

Right now I am going to school in Germany. I have oneand-a-half years left. I stay busy working in a coffee shop, taking driving lessons and hanging out with my friends, of course! In March, two of my friends from Pella are going to come to Germany and visit me for two weeks! I’m very excited.

•Caroline Phillips (cp.pelladium@gmail.com)

page editor

4

caitlin simpson

12.09.08

Tripp joins four PC girls on Tulip Court

“It was really nerve-wracking, but the hard work really paid off in the end. Overall, it was an amazing experience.”

Senior Aemelia Tripp ‘09 Court Member

ROYALTY. Pella Christian seniors Karlie Monsma, Leah Dykstra, Rachel Van Gorp, Queen Morgan Kuiper and Pella High senior Aemelia Tripp await the announcement of the 2009 Tulip Queen Nov. 10. •Photos by Isabel Metcalf

For senior Aemelia Tripp, Nov. 10 was a night filled with vibrant dresses, speeches, numerous presentations – and above all, nervousness – as the much anticipated 2009 Tulip Court was announced. In all, 12 girls took the stage in a wellrehearsed effort to become the 2009 Tulip Queen.

“I was really, really nervous and shaking before I went on stage,” said Tripp, “I was really afraid that I would forget everything, but in the end it was a really fun night.”

Tripp will join Pella Christian seniors Leah Dykstra, Karlie Monsma, Rachel Van Gorp and Queen Morgan Kuiper during the festival.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know the other girls more and going around Iowa to promote Tulip Time,” said Tripp.

“I feel truly blessed to have been chosen [as part of the court].”

Nov. 29, the court debuted to the public for the first time during the Sinterklaas parade, but there are many more performances still to come.

“It (the parade) was our first outing as the court and it started snowing, which made it extra special. I’m really looking forward to spending time with the other girls and getting to know them better.”

•Michael Suplee (ms.pelladium@gmail.com)

“At first I was absolutely terrified, but it was a great experience even though I didn’t make it. I did my best and had a lot of fun doing it.

My favorite part was playing word association back stage.

It was a blast!”

Senior Mary De Vries Top 12

“It was a lot of fun. It was great to put myself out there and know that I accomplished something like that. It was great getting to know the other girls.”

Senior Melissa Van Norden Top 12

As the holiday season comes around, cooking can become very stressful, especially for parties. So to make the cooking process less stressful, try making some peppermint bark.

First, take about 60 mini candy canes and smash them into pieces no larger than one-fourth inch. Then melt the white chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly. You have to melt white chocolate slowly because it is very temperamental and at any other temperature could burn or could melt unevenly. Once the chocolate is melted, stir in the crushed candy canes, and then spread the chocolate mixture evenly over a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper. Put the cookie sheet in the refrigerator for at least 45 minutes. Once the 45 minutes are up, take the pan out and break the bark into pieces (I enjoy dropping the pan on a countertop until the pieces are broken). Place the bark into fun containers, set them out, and ENJOY! Ingredients: 32 ounces white chocolate 60 mini candy canes •Caitlin Simpson (cs.pelladium@gmail.com)

Our Platinum Supporters...

“It was such an honor to be selected for the top 12. It was a great experience to perform for everyone and to get to know all the girls. I’m really happy for the girls that made it. They are great girls, and they’ll represent Pella well.”

Senior Katie Henry Top 12

“It was a fabulous experience, and I have no regrets. All the girls were awesome. I met new people, and I’m excited for the girls who did make the court.”

Senior Mollie Kingma Top 12

Cooking With Caitlin

Best Christmas present?

Freshman T.J. Melhus Sophomore John Sheldon Junior Emily Flahive

Favorite board game?

“Rockband.”

“Risk.”

“Gameboy.”

“Chess.”

“A teddy bear.”

Senior Kaitlyn Schaudt

“My American Girl doll”

Teacher Bryant Hancock

“A knight with armor and a horse.”

“It was really fun, a great experience. The best part about it was when we (all the girls) played cards and talked behind stage. It was an honor to be selected as top 12.”

Senior Carley De Jong Top 12

Early Out or Delay?

“Delay.”

“Early Out.”

“Monopoly.”

“Early Out.”

“Life.”

“Delay.”

“History of the World.”

A mohawk is...

“Spiky.”

“Funny.”

“Weird.”

“An extremely nasty haircut.”

“Delay.”

“An Indian tribe.”

• Addie Smith (as.pelladium@gmail.com)

5 A&E Madrigals begin holiday season of cheer through song page editors

amanda laverman josh dale

MADRIGAL SINGERS Seniors Stewart Beyer, Josh Dale, Carley De Jong, Dan Haws, Hannah Maakestad, Aemelia Tripp, Nick Wills Juniors Morgan Anderson, Katlyn Bokhoven, Sydney Doty, Maggie Landon, Ben Muller, Todd Wegter, MacKenzie Van Zante Sophomores Ben Palmer, Lynae Toom ALTERNATES Senior Matt Davids Juniors Jared Gerber, Madeline Mueller Sophomore Brittany Rempe

12.09.08

Madrigal is a word that most people associate with 16th Century men in tights who drink wassail and carol through the snow on Christmas Eve, but the school’s Madrigal Singers have turned this title into so much more.

Each year, as the holiday season approaches, choral director Michelle Chaplin selects a group of talented individuals to perform pieces that celebrate the special time of year. The group sings each one of their songs a capella (without accompaniment), and with so many songs, this is quite an accomplishment.

“With an hour-and-a-half practice, we can’t get through all of the songs”, said Chaplin with a smile, “but, then again, they do chatter a bit.”

But, who could blame them? With so much Christmas spirit in the room, it would be difficult, and not to mention significantly less entertaining, to watch a group of carolers with no joviality.

With approximately 13 performances, including one at the Mall of America, Madrigals will be sharing their talent and cheer with countless people.

“We work really hard to bring the Christmas spirit to everyone’s hearts,” said senior Hannah Maakestad. “It’s a great group to be a part of.”

•Liz Core (lcpelladium@gmail.com)

CAROLING. Juniors Katlyn Bokhoven and Jared Gerber sing outside the Molengracht with Madrigals during the Festival of Trees Nov. 24.

“Caroling around the square was really fun; it was expecially cool because we were on KCCI,” said Gerber. •Photo by Liz Core

Jablonski pursues interest in drawing

Cheaper by the

Dozen BREAK A LEG. Junior Madison Vander Well and sophomore Jacob Martin, left, play two of the 12 Gilbreth children in the Union Street Players’ production of “Cheaper by the Dozen.” Set in the 1920’s, Frank and Ernestine (Martin and Vander Well), led the audience through the show as narrators. As the plot developed, the straightlaced father finds trouble maintaining control of his eldest daughter, Anne, played by junior Liz Core, top. In an attempt to find herself, she pushes away her father’s strict expectations. The play was performed Dec. 4-7.

•Photos by Josh Dale

Our Gold Sponsors...

Edward Jones Investments Scott Van Tasell

809 Washington St. Pella, Iowa 628-1552

An Extra Hand Cleaning Service

Embellish

Community 1st Credit Union 500 Main St. Pella, Iowa 628-2022

Eyecare Partners 823 Franklin St. Pella, Iowa 628-9225

601 Hwy. T14 Pella, Iowa 780-8160

605 Franklin St. Pella, Iowa 628-1738

Fareway

2010 Washington St. Pella, Iowa 628-9995

G&B Concrete

313 Oskaloosa St. Pella, Iowa 628-3535 Garden Chapel Funeral Home 1301 Main St. Pella, Iowa 628-2430

She’s an ‘A’ average student, a member of the varsity Forté squad and a gifted artist, she’s junior Megan Jablonski.

“I’ve loved to draw ever since I can remember. I especially liked my drawing classes in elementary school,” said Jablonski.

Jablonski has been involved in art courses since her freshman year, taking 2-D Visual problems, digital graphics, drawing, drawing II and this year will be taking a drawing III independent study class with the art teacher, Julie Stratton.

“In drawing III Jablonski and another student will be expanding on portrait drawing and creative drawing styles,” said Stratton.

While going through all of these classes and all •Photo Submitted of the different pieces of art, Jablonski was still able to pick a favorite, which she drew as an independent study for Drawing II. “My favorite drawing is of a wooden figurine of an angel. I liked working with that piece because of all the different textures,” said Jablonski.

Jablonski received a blue ribbon from the art conference for her Intaglio prints (pictures scratched into plates as ink goes through a printing press) her freshman year during her favorite class, 2-D visual problems. Why is this deserving of a first place blue ribbon?

“There are not many schools that do intaglio prints, the quality of the work was great and it was different. It helps a lot if these drawings are different, it catches the eye” said visual arts teacher Jim Emmert.

“I really enjoyed 2-D because of all of the different styles and mediums you get to work with,” said Jablonski.

•Tyler Elliot (te.pelladium@gmail.com)

Green Committee plans concert The Green Committee is planning a concert to be held over the week of Christmas break. It will take place at either Smokey Row or the Memorial Building and will feature acts by local bands and student bands such as a group consisting of freshman Marielle Gaiser and sophomores Jake Anderson, Devon Dawson, Michael Ge and David Rozendall.

“We do a lot of covers, but we will perform a song we wrote ourselves. We’re in the Green Committee so we thought we’d contribute our musical talents to help and have fun,” said Anderson.

The purpose of the concert is to raise awareness for environmentally friendly causes.

The Green Committee will also be encouraging people to live in a more environmentally friendly way, something they believe is not difficult to achieve. The Green Committee is planning on having people talk about some of these issues in-between sets.

While the concert will be free to attend, donations will be accepted. For more information, contact junior Chelsea Byers.

•Marcus Haustein (mh.pelladium@gmail.com) Grafx2aTee

2017 Washington St. Pella, Iowa 620-8337

Kooyman Lumber 221 South St. Pella, Iowa 629-9663

Off The Square Portrait Studio

1003 Broadway St. Pella, Iowa 628-1426

Jansen’s Decorating & Kitchens 614 Franklin St. Pella, Iowa 628-4247

Leighton State Bank

Oriental Express

Leighton Processed Meats

MidWestOne Bank

Pella Glass & Home Improvement

227 Otley St. Leighton, Iowa 626-3211

900 Washington St. Pella, Iowa 628-1566

700 Main St. Pella, Iowa 628-4356

706 Main St. Pella, Iowa 620-1199

2415 Old Hwy. 163 Pella, Iowa 628-4381

6

In-Depth Killoren retires after 31 years

It’s hard to miss - the squeaky clean floors, the sanitary bathrooms, and the pleasantly inviting tables. Quietly and modestly, one man has spearheaded the charge in keeping the school this way.

For the past 31 years, custodian Max Killoren has been working throughout the entire infrastructure of the school, engaged with the building, students and staff.

“Max has done an awesome job on the building, and with the students and staff.

He’s available at any time with a positive attitude. We’ll miss him greatly walking through our hallways,” said secretary Charma Vander Wert.

Overall, Killoren considers his experience a positive one.

“It’s been great. I don’t think there’s anything I would have rather been doing in the past 31 years. I wouldn’t trade being here with you guys for anything,” said Killoren.

Killoren plans on retiring following the conclusion of the ‘08-’09 school year, at least partially.

“I plan on working part-time, hopefully here at the high school. Other than that, I want to spend quality time with my best friend, my wife. I hope to get a lot of fishing in. I want to spend time with my nine grandchildren. I’ll also be playing some golf, and then taking a nap in between,” said Killoren.

Killoren has always been available for anybody in need and has been outstanding in behind the scenes work.

“I freaking love Max. He does all the dirty work around school and not many people recognize him for that. I think we should have a janitor appreciation day for him and Rita,” said senior Kirk Korver.

“Max is unbelievable. He’s been a tremendous asset to our school, and he has done a fantastic job of being there for anyone and taking the time to accommodate the needs of every individual,” said vice principal Eric Nelson.

•Josh Van Ee (jve.pelladium@gmail.com)

page editor

devon o’brien cameron downing

12.09.08

VanderWell makes a difference

Junior Madison Vander Well spends much of her time helping others. She is young and already influential in her efforts to help the people of the world by making a difference.

“My faith [drives me to help]. I believe that one person can make a difference, and it starts with you,” said Vander Well.

Last year, Vander Well organized a school clothing drive; she has been on many mission trips, including a month-long trip to Thailand in both the summers of 2006 and 2008, to offer evangelism, support poor communities and work with an organization called Pure Heart, to fight sex slavery.

“Working with (sex slaves) made it really click that this is real and these are girls just like me and what (Pure Heart) doing is really important,” said Vander Well.

Because of this Vander Well is now working with sophomore Beth Van Wyk to raise money in effort to free sex slaves. They will be working through the International Justice Mission (IJM) by selling calendars and ornaments to raise this money.

Not only does Vander Well take part in large projects to help others and reach out, she feels that she can make a difference daily.

“I think on a daily basis, just trying to be nice to people and making myself available for people who want to talk or need help (can make a difference). I even like reading the announcements in fun ways just to make people laugh,” said Vander Well.

Vander Well also enjoys her job at Thistles because she feels that is just one more way she can reach out to others.

“I like to give people their flowers when they are trying to feel better. Some people call for funerals and I like to talk to them and know that I am helping to give someone comfort during a hard time. I love my job in that I get to help people,” said Vander Well.

•Devon O’Brien (do.pelladium@gmail.com)

[

question: what influential person or event has impacted you the most this year?

“The election of Barack Obama to presidency, because I’m going to be going out into the world, and I’ll be paying taxes soon.”

“My football team, because it made a tight family structure, and we depended on each other and bonded.”

-junior brandon zwank

-senior alex black

“The Desperation Conference because it was a life-changing event to see 12,000 young adults worshipping together.”

-sophomore beth van wyk

“The Challenge Conference in Salt Lake City because it gave me and many others spiritual challenges.”

-sophomore jessica van wyk

]

7

•Kelsey Van Tasell (kvt.pelladium@gmail.com)

“Flavor Flav, because he gave so many young girls great opportunities on his VH1 shows.”

-junior juliana gonzalez

“When the year started I was very optimistic, maybe even idealistic about politics. I attended the caucuses and was full of ‘hope’ about ‘change’ I could believe in. Then my congressman, senators, and presidential candidate all voted

for the Wall Street bailout. As a result, I am left very pessimistic, even cynical.”

-government teacher mark core

“My basketball coach last year, Mr. Hellbusch, because he not only made me a better basketball player, but he also taught me many life lessons, how to be a better person and work hard.”

-freshman reagan cooper

Influential Influential

from left to right: Thyrza Steward (photo submitted), Max Killoren (photo

by Kelsey Van Tasell), Monica Jansen (photo submitted), Madison Vander Well (photo by Devon O’Brien)

Reflections on people & events that shaped 2008

Steward watches every game for 46 years >>>>>>>>

Thyrza Steward has an influential role in the Pella athletic system by being a loyal fan for the past 46 years.

You wouldn’t know it by her knowledge of sports, but Steward never had the opportunity to participate in athletics while attending Oskaloosa High School.

Upon moving to Pella in 1961, her first taste for sports came when watching two of her daughters, Teri and Tricia, cheer on the Dutch as cheerleaders.

“My heart will always be with the green and white,” said Steward.

From the early sixties, Steward couldn’t get enough. She and her husband Tom attended athletic events to see good competition. After graduating three girls, Tomi, Teri and Tricia, she still attended

games on a regular basis.

Her daughter and high school secretary Teri Buitenwerf is a familiar face for all students who pass through the office.

Also in the high school is her son-in-law, counselor and assistant boys’ basketball coach Mike Ballenger. Her daughter Tricia Ballenger, kindergarten teacher at Madison, remains close to her mother, while eldest daughter, Tomi, lives in Lincoln, Neb. It wasn’t until her grandson, Jeff Buitenwerf, wore the Pella green that she again had a family member in the athletic system. Following Jeff came his sister Jaci, then Josh and Luke Ballenger.

With all of the associations to Pella High, Steward has been able to find

Jansen creates youth center for teens

familiar faces on the court. Steward never misses a boys’ basketball game.

“I enjoy watching basketball because I can see who is playing. I know most of the athletes, but they may not know me.

It’s also a way for me to keep up with the youth and stay close to the kids,” said Steward.

Steward anticipates the athletic seasons so much that she waits for the athletic calendar and proudly displays it in her home.

“I think sports are an opportunity to build character. You have to work with others, compete, and you learn life skills they can’t teach in a classroom,” said Steward.

•Addie Smith (as.pelladium@gmail.com)

events in 2008 that made a difference

ADORABLE. Monica Jansen and junior Caitlin Mock play with Jansen’s new dog, Olive, while hanging out at The Place. •Photo by Devon O’Brien

Most teenagers have had the opportunity to be influenced by an individual who changes their life. For some, this person has been Monica Jansen, the youth director for First Reformed Church works at The Place on Main St. The Place opened Jan. 3 and is owned by First Reformed Church. Their goal is to entertain kids with healthy, safe and fun activities.

“I discovered in college I had a passion for reaching out to high schoolers. A couple of years ago, I had a vision for a youth center type of building. I shared it with a couple of people at church, and people at church did all the renovations.

After a few years of research, we were able to rent the building,” said Jansen.

Over the 10 months The Place has

been in business, countless students have spent significant amounts of time enjoying the atmosphere and activities.

Students can play games on the Wii, peruse the web on the computer, watch movies or shop for handmade African bags made by Jansen herself.

“I obviously love teenage people because I hang out, talk and play games with them. I like high schoolers; they keep me going. Everybody needs a safe place to hang out that doesn’t belong to adults or belong to other kids,” said Jansen.

“A few years back I started regularly attending First Reformed Church youth group with Monica Jansen as youth leader. She has encouraged me to ask questions and to think big. I was

fortunate enough to be able to help out with the creation of The Place, a God inspired Monica idea. This building creates, for me, an atmosphere that is friendly, faith building and judgment free,” said junior Nicole Stafford.

Other interests of Jansen include reading, traveling when her job allows it and training her new puppy Olive.

Jansen does not have any solid plans for her future, but does not plan on leaving Pella any time soon. She will continue to serve and influence for many years to come.

•Caroline Phillips (cp.pelladium@gmail.com)

•Devon O’Brien (do.pelladium@gmail.com) Information retrieved from http://infoplease.com

8

Opinion Editorial Cartoon

page editor

ranier worstell

12.09.08

Q:

How do you think that the Obama administration will affect high school lives?

“Barack Obama will not change anything for high school students in a positive way.”

-Freshman Whittney Reinier “Minorities will have a better education and a chance to succeed.”

-Sophomore Elizabeth Yang “The laws he is planning to make will be a problem when we are adults.”

-Junior Brent Smith “Getting scholarships and going to college will be easier.”

-Senior Alex Andrade •Eric Moore (em.pelladium@gmail.com)

Staff Editorial

As 2008 comes to an end, our staff began to reminisce about the events and people that made this year exciting. What we found is that many people in our town are quite inspiring. There are those that dedicate their time to being faithful spectators of our sporting events, and others who diligently drive our students to these events. Students have also worked hard to succeed in fall sports, such as our amazing volleyball, cross country and football seasons, not to mention the success of the debate team. We also applaud the girls’ basketball team, who sold purses to raise money for the Jamie Brillhart family, There’s much volunteer work in our school, as students participate in Literacy Army, blood drives and much more.

As a staff, we feel our school is full of people who are full of dedication, teamwork and the desire to do good. We want to see these attributes carried over to the new year, and hope others will feel as motivated by them as we are. It’s time to reflect on the positives of 2008 and to see how we can top these. Set the bar a bit higher for this year; let your past success drive you to do even better.

Try to give back to the community and people that have done so much to support your achievements. Take part in Kinship, by adopting a younger “brother” or “sister.”

Participate in the Green Committee or Peer Helper PE. There’s an abundant amount of opportunities to volunteer, or you always take the initiative to start a fund or volunteer project of your own. If you’re pressed for time, simple things can make a difference, too.

Talk to a classmate each day that you don’t normally socialize with. Help that freshman who dropped a book. Give a friend a ride.

Celebrate all the great things about ‘08, but also take the time to reflect. Realize that while you can work harder, being number one isn’t everything. Be proud of all accomplishments and don’t downplay them if you don’t come out on top. May 2009 be a year of success, but also a year of good attitudes and a renewed enthusiasm for volunteering.

The staff voted 24-0 in favor of this editorial.

President-elect rethinks Bush’s stem cell research policy President-elect Barack Obama is already rethinking some of President George W. Bush’s ideas; one of those topics is stem cell research.

Obama has been a long-time fan of stem cell research and will now be pushing for embryonic stem cell research. In this research, scientists would use embryos that had been made by in vitro fertilization that the parents don’t want because these embryos would otherwise be destroyed.

Some view stem cell research as a form of murder because, to some, embryos are already living beings. Others see it as a way of finding cures for certain diseases.

“I believe that they are extra embryos that are not being used as a baby, so if they are going to go to waste, why not use them for the benefit of medicine through stem cell research?”

-Science teacher Carly Montgomery “I’m against stem cell research using human embryos because I think that every embryo is a life created by God and doing anything but letting it live is destroying a life by God. I think there are a lot of better ways of experimentation, maybe like on animal embryos.”

-Senior Anna Lockridge “If the embryo is going to be thrown away, which, in most cases, it is, then it makes no sense to not use it to look for a cure for many diseases and advancing scientific research.”

-Senior Greg Ellingson •Caitlin Simpson (cs.pelladium@gmail.com) CORRECTION: Last month’s Pelladium incorrectly stated that senior Heidi Vander Molen was one of two volleyball captains. She was one of three volleyball captains.

•Caleb Klyn (ck.pelladium@gmail.com)

[ Alt. News] For some unknown reason, it appears that many citizens of the United States have forgotten the basis of their nation. Just to refresh everyone’s memory, I’ll do a quick run through of the origin of the United States.

It all began with some immigrants who wanted to be free of oppression. They came here to be able to practice their own beliefs without being persecuted for it. They took a huge risk just to be able to live a free life, and over time, it blossomed into one of the most prosperous nations in the entire world. The founding fathers would be proud.

A few hundred years later, the United States is known as the land of the free, a place where all people are treated equally. This is the way it should be; after all, it’s kind of hypocritical to run from oppression to a new place where you are the oppressor.

The United States took a huge step in civil rights Nov. 4 when Barack Obama was elected our new President, the first African-American to achieve this great honor. As one would expect to occur in a democracy, not all Americans agreed with the election of Obama.

I have no problem with this, because I believe everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion; we live in the United States, that’s how things work around here. However, I do have a huge problem with the way some people are expressing their anger about the new President-elect.

From the time Obama was elected until Nov. 17, over 200 hate crimes were reported throughout the United States. This means crosses were burned in people’s yards, property was defamed with racist graffiti and other instances of bigotry took place, including attempted murder.

When I hear about instances such as these, the first thing that comes to mind is terrorism.

We are off fighting a war in the Middle East to rid the world of terrorism, and we’ve got nut cases performing hate crimes all over the United States, simply because a black man was elected President. I say we take care of them first; they are only hurting us in our stride for equality. All these old, crazy white guys are afraid Obama is going to take away their southern culture and guns, so now they’ve got their panties in a bunch. Everyone knows the best way to take care of one’s own fears is to make other people more afraid, so they perform hate crimes. They’ve returned to the way of being the oppressor.

The election of Barack Obama was a big step in the progression of civil rights in the United States. I know there are people who disagree with some of his views, but to commit hate crimes because of the color of his skin is simply un-American. People should be ashamed to have resorted to such nonsense.

•Marcus Haustein (mh.pelladium@gmail.com) as an informative, educational and entertaining communications media and to provide an open forum to students and readers. •Letters to the Editors are welcome and encouraged. These letters must be signed and should, in no way, be libelous, irresponsible or obscene. Letters must have verified facts and should deal with issues. The Pelladium reserves the right to edit grammatical errors, libelous content or length due to the space limitations.

Letters may be brought to Room 201 or sent to Pella Community High School, Box 486, Pella, IA 50219.

•The Pelladium will strive to deliver information in a fair and truthful manner. The Pelladium will function in accord with all applicable laws, both in regard to the rights and restrictions of journalism.

•The views expressed in this publication are those of the individual writer and not necessarily those of the Pella Community High School Administration or the Pella Community Schools Board of Education.

The Pelladium will make retractions in the event of errors made in the content of printed stories.

Retractions will be printed in the issue immediately following the issue containing the errors. •The The Pelladium is a monthly tabloid produced by Pelladium is a member of the Iowa High School the high school journalism department to serve Press Association.

Co-Editors: Will Harris, Marcus Haustein Copy Editor: Michael Suplee Design Editor: Cameron Downing Page Editors: Nicholas Birkel, Josh Borgerding, Cameron Downing, Clarke Hammes, Will Harris, Marcus Haustein, Andrea Huffman, Amanda Laverman, Devon O’Brien, Caroline Philips, Andrew Sagers, Caitlin Simpson, Josh Van Ee, Ranier Worstell Photographers: Josh Dale, Tyler Neff Cartoonists: Michael Ge, Eric Moore, Ranier Worstell Business Manager, Associate: Josh Borgerding, Megan Card Reporters: Morgan Anderson, Liz Core, Tyler Elliott, Michael Ge, Caleb Klyn, Nathan Kooker, Telan Paulson, Addie Smith, Kelsey Van Tasell Adviser: Ann Visser Photo Adviser: Jeff Bokhoven Editorial Board: Mary DeVries, Cameron Downing, Greg Ellingson, Will Harris, Marcus Haustein, Dak Rasmussen

page editor

nicholas colin birkel

9

12.09.08

Wall St. Bailout is ineffective, immoral

POINT

For a moment, we were told that all of us---rich, poor, middle-class---were sinking together. And, although over the past 30 years we have witnessed our country’s economic inequality rise to levels not seen since the Great Depression, we were told that all of our predicaments could be remedied by bailing out Wall Street.

But let’s disregard the immorality of directly giving $700 billion to Wall Street with the hope of indirectly fixing the Real Economy, lifting lower and middle-class citizens from the depths of an economic crisis and placing them in an economy still wracked by economic inequality.

Instead, let’s focus on the effectiveness of the Bailout.

The objective, apparently, is to inject money into the economy so that large financial institutions can continue to make loans to businesses, keeping jobs secure. While the Bailout does indeed provide money for Wall Street, it does

so artificially, paying no attention to home foreclosures, the real problem that has given birth to the economic crisis.

When the economy was booming, the majority of money on Wall Street was placed in real estate. Suddenly, in order to raise home prices, a push was made to increase the number of homeowners, via subprime mortgage schemes, where buyers are encouraged to accept mortgages with unfixed interest rates while interest rates are extremely low. However, since the rates are unfixed, homeowners have to often pay more than they can afford when interest rates begin to rise, as they did in 2006, causing many homeowners around the country to be foreclosed upon. Afterwards, with many homes unoccupied, housing prices began to drop rapidly, impoverishing Wall Street and placing us in our current crisis.

However, although the Bailout was predicated upon the

notion that by giving money to Wall Street we would be solving the crisis faced by all, in actuality the Bailout simply split the country in half, throwing money to financial institutions while leaving struggling homeowners in a precarious state.

Moreover, Wall Street itself will not be fixed until we improve the Real Economy’s situation, through banning foreclosures, which will raise housing prices, and freezing interest rates, allowing homeowners to stay in their homes.

Lastly, we should push for institutional change, separating investment and commercial banks, keeping our money safely outside the scope of market meltdowns.

•Will Harris (wh.pelladium@gmail.com)

Bailout necessary to ensure success COUNTERPOINT Easily the biggest issue for America this year has been the overpowering decline of the national economy. On Oct 3, a $700 billion dollar bill was passed to purchase numerous bad assets of banking companies, which held billions of dollars in trust for Americans. Before the bailout was enacted, the banking industry was in an utter tailspin, causing nearly all fields of industry and the American people to panic. The bailout has clearly restored the economy onto the right track once again, avoiding an even worse meltdown on American’s economic stage.

The bailout is a morally wrong, but financially necessary move for America. While it may be completely wrong to give money that comes out of the pockets of hardworking American citizens to correct the mistakes of greedy Wall Street investors who screwed up life as we know it, that doesn’t make it a poor decision. While Wall Street investors

Josh Borgerding’s

may have made a colossal screw-up, now is the time to invest money in the economy to keep it from going belly up. If these banking firms become bankrupt, a disaster akin to the Great Depression will take place, as millions of Americans’ savings will be lost, severely limiting the spending power of the average consumer. This would result in less money circulating through the economy, resulting in the decline and death of our capitalistic society.

The bailout has not only filled America’s obligation to its people, but also to the world community. When the American economy crashed, countless other stock markets around the world, from London to Hong Kong, entered a period of decline. The entire world economy has gone the way of America, as America is the world economic leader.

By passing the bailout, the American government has saved the global economy. By doing so, it only makes it easier

Postulates

(jb.pelladium@gmail.com) Time is an interesting construct. It surrounds each and everyone one of us, yet at times, we seem oblivious to it. It is not simply the glances at the clock that inform us of what we should be doing or where we should head. It provides a sort of reference point that unifies an entire human race. The lineation that we find ourselves accustomed to has not always been our benefit. Centuries ago, time was not measured in seconds, or nanoseconds for that matter. It was measured in moons, and if a civilization was advanced enough, periods of a day.

What does this mean for the people of today? Is it possible to look longingly at the world of the past and hope for simpler times? With the current precision in time, people find themselves with many more responsibilities. It is no longer good enough to spend a day foraging for nuts and berries.

Instead we must find our food, prepare it, work to better ourselves intellectually, participate in monotonous activities, and follow the code of chronological order that has been passed to us. Though we are able to perform all of these functions in a day with the aid of modern conveniences, when our order is disrupted or the load becomes to great to carry, it becomes so easy to drop it all. This is what I believe procrastination to be: not simply the delay of action, but the impossibility of falling back into a groove.

I do not think it unreasonable to say that each of us has procrastinated on one task or another. The legitimacy of this trend can be seen by the aisles of self-help books that line bibliothèques and bookstores across the country. You see, it is not socially acceptable to fall into individual recession. If we do not act on our responsibilities, we damage the livelihoods of ourselves and others.

I look to an episode of Grey’s Anatomy for inspiration. As an aspiring physician, I realize that the challenges that I have to face will be similar to those represented in this show. The protagonist, Meredith, had let her life slip through her fingers. With a mother in an Alzheimer unit, a severely compromised social life, and a 80 hour

You can open your eyes to a community that is bettered... work-week, it was no wonder she let her responsibilities get the better of her. She had fallen into a seemingly bottomless void.

The best solution to this problem is, take every action and reaction in stride. Like all other divisions in mental and physical health, the best medicine is prevention.

Armed with this knowledge, I implore each and every one of you to make a statement.

Stop putting off a task just because it has become an albatross; stand up and take action. Every influential man or woman in history had the same number of hours in their day. Not one of them spent their time worrying about what could be or what would be. You, like them, must take initiative and see what is. Blink -- you can open your eyes to a community that is bettered by your influence. Now is the time to take action. We have the opportunity and the obligation to take a brush and paint our own destinies.

for America to get back on its feet due to other countries’ abilities to trade with us after stabilizing their economies as a result of the timely bailout.

The bailout has clearly been beneficial for the entire world. It has saved both the American economy and the world economy. The bailout is only a quick fix and should not be seen as the ultimate solution to the problem. More work on the part of the American government’s and the American people’s part is required to solidify the economic base of our nation. Combined with new government regulations and the punishment of those responsible for the cause of the current crisis, the bailout could herald a new future for the flagging economic situation.

•Andrew Sagers (sagers.pelladium@gmail.com)

Tessellations

Ranier Worstell’s (rw.pelladium@gmail.com) During the election, several people I know voiced an ultimatum. They threatened that they would move out of the country and live in Canada if Obama won the election.

Fast forward to today. You know where they are? Living in the same place they were before. After all the rants and threats, they don’t have what it takes to carry out their actions. I’m not implying that they should leave the country; I’m just saying that they shouldn’t make a threat if they’re not willing to carry that threat out.

Nothing irks me more than someone who makes empty threats. If I make a threat to someone, I have no problem carrying that threat out to the letter. As a result, I don’t like making threats to people if the threat is idle. Because of my willingness to carry out actions to their extremity, I’ve often been warned that I should be cautious when speaking my mind about political issues.

They tell me this out of some kind of crazy fear that one day, I’ll be taken away by shadowy government figures and never be seen again, all because I decided to criticize the government.

I believe in freedom, I really do. I believe it with all of my heart and soul. One thing I do not believe in is fear. I don’t believe people should be afraid of their government.

If I find a problem with the government, believe me, you’ll be able to tell. I’ll be the first to cry foul, but sometimes talking can’t be the end of it. Action is a much more powerful tool than words.

Many people, including myself, have prayed that one day this country would change for the better, but I, for one, understand that change can never happen without people taking action. God isn’t going to come down and change the world by magically making everything better.

Go out and really do something...get your point across.

Everything happens because people are used as instruments of change. Anyone can change the world; the only difference is whether or not you have the guts to make that change.

There are two basic things that you can do; you can do something like what I’m doing now, where you try to get the message out to people and inspire them to take sides with your cause, and then there’s direct action. You can go out and really do something. Write a letter to a politician, join a group, start a group, march on D.C., do anything to get your point across.

While there are certain bounds that I’m telling you straight out that you shouldn’t cross (anything involving murder or a federal offence being among them), but as I’ve known for a long time, people won’t do anything without extreme examples to shake them out of apathy.

On second thought, there are occasions where a federal offence would be justified.

If a government is corrupt, then doing good would definitely be considered illegal at by them (them being “The Man” as I love to call them), and it could still be considered noble. If these people are right (not saying they are but just in case), and our country somehow descents into madness, I’ll be there with you fighting the good fight.

10

Reviews

Play: Gears of War 2

It has been two years since the first “Gears of War” rocked the gaming world, and “Gears of War 2” is no sophomore slump. The game was highly anticipated and arguably the most hyped game of the fall. “Gears of War 2” is unique, and the game play seems of 10 fresh and different. The game drew me in the instant I put my hands on the controller. The more time I spent on the game, the less time I wanted to spend doing anything else.

The game’s plot was simple, but complicated at the same time.

It was set in the future in a time where humans had colonized a planet called Sera. War was not uncommon for the opposing human factions, but when locusts emerged from the planet’s lower crust, mankind’s position was everything but optimistic. The main character, Marcus Fenix, and Coalition of Organized Governments, are the only thing stopping the locusts from destroying Sera.

Whether a newcomer to video games or a grizzled veteran, the game play in “Gears of War 2” offered a single player campaign that everyone could play for hours. When I got bored of single player, I started multiplayer with “Xbox Live”. There I played with all my friends and competed in various modes. There is also an offline multiplayer where I played against NPCs to hone my skill.

“Gears of War 2” is rated M for a reason: there is profanity and intense violence. There is an option to turn both of these features off if the player has a weak stomach.

This game is one of those games you won’t regret after you buy. The game has a lot of surprising features and the story is surprisingly deep. The graphics of “Gears of War 2” are some of the best I have seen in a long time. The game is easy to pick up and is one of the best games ever produced.

“Gears of War 2” is a must have for all fans of the sci-fi and the shooter genres.

• By Michael Ge (mg.pelladium@gmail.com)

9.0

page editor

josh borgerding

12.09.08

Watch: Madagascar 2

DreamWorks Animation cashed in with their 2005 production of “Madagascar”. Considering it made them millions and won an ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) award, why not roll the dice and get some more with of 10 a sequel?

“Madagascar 2, Escape to Africa”, began where the prequel ended. A cub named Alex (Ben Stiller) was taught to fight by his father Zuba (Bernie Mac). Young Alex isn’t quite what his dad was hoping for; Alex would much prefer dancing and chasing butterflies. While Zuba fought for alpha lion, Alex fell into a trap set by poachers. Zuba chased Alex, not knowing that the crate imprisoning Alex had fallen into a nearby river and had drifted to the ocean.

Now, Alex, Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), Gloria the Hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer) are still stranded in Madagascar awaiting the completion of an escape plane. When the aircraft is completed, they take off, and the plane flies successfully, until it crash lands in the middle of the African mainland.

The rest of the story revolves around Alex’s adventures in Africa as he is reunited with his family, is isolated from his friends, and eventually, saves the day.

All in all, the movie was a typical children’s movie that got many laughs and giggles out of the little girl behind me. The one negative thing that I noticed about the movie was the lack of a strong theme. Other than that, the acting was great and could get a laugh out of anyone.

•Tyler Elliot (te.pelladium@gmail.com)

8.0

Go: De Kelder

The outside is only marked by a white fold-up sign. Just follow the stairs down, open the small door and you find yourself in the cozy abode of De Kelder. The warmth embraces you and your stomach starts to growl, competing with the aroma of fresh bread. of 10 Nestled underneath Strawtown Inn, De Kelder, which means “the cellar”, is the sister restaurant to what was once Strawtown Restaurant (still open to private parties and banquets). Right upon entering the restaurant, I was transported to a warm oasis away from the winter chill. The combination of brick and wood adds to the rustic yet homey atmosphere.

There were vintage signs hanging all around the restaurant and oldies music was playing in the background, this gave the place a laid back and casual feel.

After being seated, the wait staff immediately arrived to help me settle in and give my order.

The menu included many barbequed options as well as pizzas and a few appetizers, such as Buffalo wings and bread sticks. The prices I found to be extremely reasonable, with most items in the six to ten dollar range. I ordered breadsticks as an appetizer. Though they didn’t look or taste like typical pizzeria breadsticks, their uniqueness translated into a very yummy start of the meal. All the barbequed meat was advertised as cooked for a minimum of 16 hours. I knew that this was true on the eve of my first bite. The meat was incredibly tender and exceptionally delicious. The barbeque pork sandwich with the savory meat and the divine bakery roll was a delightful surprise to my taste buds. Don’t just count this place as a BBQ joint. There was an eclectic assortment of pizzas with names from margarita to Chicago style. The pizza tasted like it was made entirely from scratch. It stood out to me as a delicacy in a world of carbon-copy pizza chains. Though there was little help, the waitress was courteous and helpful.

Although a very pleasant dining as a whole, De Kelder also has a few down sides. There were only two people working, one the waitress, the other the chef. Luckily, we were the only party in the restaurant, but the lack of help could cause a problem in busier times. Also, the ceilings are a bit short, so if you’re a typical Dutchman standing at six foot or taller you’re probably going to have to duck to maneuver within the building.

De Kelder remains one of Pella’s fine restaurants and a jewel in a treasure chest of rocks. It’s perfect for a casual night or a cozy date. So try it, with the cool atmosphere, reasonable prices and delectable food, I doubt you’ll be disappointed.

•Andrea Huffman (ah.pelladium@gmail.com)

9.0

Listen: Plan to Pull Through Plan To Pull Through is a alternative rock band from Pella.

The members are all Pella High graduates: Kelly and Kerry Van Hemert, Phil Davidson and Matthias Merideth. I went to a highly publicized show on November 18.

This band was really good live. Their stage presence was unreal. of 10 By the end of the show, the entire room was hoppin‘ to the beat. I left the show more excited than when I walked through the door.

That says a lot.

As for the music, the instrumentals were crisp and the volume was perfect. Kerry and Matthias really know their way around guitars. The vocals were also fantastic; Kerry is a really amazing singer. His words were molded to fit the lyrics perfectly.

It is not often that I find a band that really delivers. Plan To Pull Through is a collection of extremely talented Pella musicians. I recommend you check them out. You‘ll have a great night and wonder why you haven‘t started your own band.

•Tyler Neff (tn.pelladium@gmail.com)

8.0

Our Gold Sponsors...

Pella Motors

604 E. Oskaloosa St. Pella, Iowa 628-4124 Pella Supply and Metal Fabrication 717 210th Ave. Pella, Iowa 628-2352

Red Rock Chiropractic 1400 Fifield Rd. Pella, Iowa 628-9997

State Farm, Agent Kevin Van Wyk 606 Oskaloosa St. Pella, Iowa 628-2550

Sports Page Apparel

Stravers True Value

1582 Washington St. Pella, Iowa 628-4999

Sports Page Bar & Grill 1111 W. 16th St. Pella, Iowa 620-1149

818 Main St. Pella, Iowa 628-3330

American Family Insurance. Erikka Ter Louw, Agent 604 Liberty St. Pella, Iowa 628-1581

The Latin Bistro

813 Washington St. Pella, Iowa 620-8888

Van Berkum Appliance 822 Main St. Pella, Iowa 628-4000

Van Hemert Chiropractic Center 1310 Washington St. Pella, Iowa 628-2099

Ulrich Ford-LincolnMercury

Van Gorp Insurors, LTD.

Vander Ploeg Bakery

1130 W. 16th St. Pella, Iowa 628-2184

723 Main St. Pella, Iowa 628-4100

US Bank

Van Gorp Corporation

Vermeer Sales and Service

801 Broadway St. Pella, Iowa 628-2121

1410 Washington St. Pella, Iowa 628-9212

711 Franklin St. Pella, Iowa 628-2293

661 Hw. T 14 Box 168 Pella, Iowa 628-2000

page editors

josh van ee clarke hammes

11

12.09.08

DEFENSE. Senior Kirk Korver keeps his head on a swivel as he guards his man in their first bout of the season against Newton Dec. 2. Korver earned himself a doubledouble on the night, with 11 points and 11 rebounds. The Dutch won the game handily, 63-36, starting the season with a step in the right direction. Senior Steven Overbergen led the offensive attack with 18 points. •Photo

by Jaime Ruisch

•Graphic by Jake Meyer

FALL TEAMS EXCEL ... on path for success once again in 08-09

Picking up where they left off, the Dutch sports teams are on track to claim another Class 3A All-Sports Award. Similar to the 2007-08 seasons, all three fall sports were able to make state tournaments and meets once again.

The football team had a season unrivaled by any other in school history with a 12-1 overall record. This is the most victorious record, as 32 teams made the state playoffs instead of the usual 16. This year, the Dutch were able to travel to the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, the first time since 2003. Number seven in the state, Decorah, upset them 37-20. The Dutch were semifinalists for the second time in school history.

“I was really proud of our football team, because it is not every year teams get to do what we did. Being 12-1 is something to be proud of, and it meant a lot to everyone. We could have gone farther, but we did work, and it’s just one of those things. Someone had to lose,” said senior leader Michael Bettger.

Both the girls’ and boys’ cross country teams made the state meet in Fort Dodge for the second year in a row. The boys all ran extremely well, as the team placed runner-up in the state again this year. The girls, with no senior leadership, placed tenth overall of 13 teams.

They look to rebuild and have another amazing season.

“Our season really went well, and I was pleased with every aspect. Our team really bonded this year, which made our results more memorable than in years past. Going through everything we did with injuries and Gerrit Visser’s cancer really made everything special for all of us,” said junior Nathan Buchheit.

The girls’ volleyball team showed great success again with a 28-9 overall record, 7-1 in the conference. For the third year in a row, the Lady Dutch made the state tournament at the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. They lost in the first round of play to Mt. Vernon, the number one seed in Class 3A who went on to place second in the state.

“Overall, our season was a success, because we grew a lot over the year. We not only improved our skills, but our relationships became stronger as well. It was great that we got to make a return visit to the US Cellular Center for state again, and it was a great way to end our year,” said senior captain Kellie Korver.

•Clarke Hammes (ch.pelladium@gmail.com)

Intramurals offer alternative to interscholastic athletics Each year the elite non-elites of sport sign up for intramurals to achieve a common objective, to achieve greatness, their place in school history and to obtain a t-shirt that displays their athletic prowess. Intramurals are usually held on Mondays throughout the school year.

Competitions in soccer, basketball, tennis, ping-pong, archery, sand volleyball and many more are offered. Although some of these sports are competitive intercity competitions, the intramural versions maintain a relaxed feel that precipitates a diverse following of the gifted and the untalented.

Senior Greg Ellingson has participated in intramurals for four years, in four different sports, for a total of 11 intramural competitions and three championship t-shirts.

“Intramurals are a place where the intense athletic dropouts of our competitive sports come together without practice to determine who has the most raw talent. Only the best wield the glory and power that comes with the words “Intramural Champion” on their chest,” said Ellingson.

•Nicholas Colin Birkel (nb.pelladium@gmail.com)

Our Gold Sponsors...

Windmill Cafe 709 Franklin St. Pella, Iowa 621-1800

Vincent S. Klyn Attorney at Law 729 Main St. Pella, Iowa 620-1707

Work Systems Fitness and Rehab.

308 SE 9th St. Pella, Iowa 628-4622

Wells Fargo Bank

Dr. Mark Recker Dr. Eric Recker

712 Washington St. Pella, Iowa 628-1606

935 Main St. Pella, Iowa 628-1604

Grafx2aTee

2017 Washington St. Pella, Iowa 620-8337

Jock Talk

•Clarke Hammes (ch.pelladium@gmail.com)

Senior Bryn Boswell has been involved with school basketball for the past six years, and is currently starting his last season of high school basketball. He has played the guard position for the last two years on varsity and has experienced highs and lows. “Practices so far this year are going well. Everyone seems to be working hard, and our team looks pretty solid. I hope that this year we can play more as a team to help us extend into the playoffs and do well,” said Boswell.

Senior Isabel Metcalf started her final year of high school basketball late November. Metcalf has been involved in school basketball for the past six years. She is a captain (with senior Brooke Gritters) and plays the guard position, doing so for the past three years on varsity. “We recently got all of the volleyball girls back, which is awesome. We are looking really good in practice and we are all excited for this year. We have a lot of experience and we have a good chance to make it back to state,” said Metcalf, left.

Senior Austin De Jong recently started his practice for the upcoming wrestling season.

De Jong has been involved with wrestling for six years scholastically, four of which spent on varsity. He is a captain, along with junior AJ Arrendell, and wrestles at the 160 lbs. weight class. “I want to build a good team this year and fill every weight class. I really hope that we can come together and have a winning season,” said De Jong.

Football, volleyball players earn post-season recognition Des Moines Register All-State: Seniors Steven Overbergen, Austin Steenhoek. INA All-State: Seniors Michael Bettger, Steenhoek. INA Second Team: Overbergen. 2008 District 6 All District: Seniors Bettger, Carl DeVries, Marcus Haustein, Overbergen, Steenhoek, Andrew Terlouw, Steven VanderWert, juniors Blaine Forsythe, Matt Meyers. Honorable mention: Seniors Clarke Hammes and Will Wadle, juniors Conner Kelderman, Jordan Youngman. District 6 Coach of the Year: Jay Mc Kinstrey.

Class 3A All-State, 2nd Team: Sophomore Brooke Fessler; All-State, 3rd Team: senior Kellie Korver; All-State Honorable Mention: junior Lindsay Bentzinger.

Little Hawkeye All Conference Honors: Korver, Fessler, first; Bentzinger, second; senior Heidi Vander Molen, junior Jordyn Vande Lune, honorable mention.

Green Sponsors...

Bouwers Insurance Agency, 808 Washington St., 628-9235 Classic Aviation, 501 W. 15 St., 628-9393 Comfort Inn & Suites, 910 West 16th St., 621-1421 Copy Connection, 808 East 1st St., 628-4332 Digital Solution, 809 W. 8 St., 628-0088 Dutch Meadows Garden Center, 100 1/2 Vermeer Rd., 628-4450 Georges Pizza, 629 Franklin St., 628-2802 Gosselink’s Christian Bookstore, 719 Franklin St., 628-4911 Maid-Rite, 1590 Washington St., 628-4442 Midtown Tire Company, 109 E. Oskaloosa St., 628-1072 MidWestOne Investment Services, 700 Main St., 628-9973

Midwest Sanitation, 906 West 9th St., 628-2610 Papa Murphy’s Pizza, 412 Oskaloosa St., 628-7272 Pella Concerete Contractors, 669 S. Highway T14, 628-3753 STC Tire & Exhaust, 815 West 10th St., 628-3153 Town Crier, 810 East 1st St., 628-1130 Tri-County Vet , 650 Hwy. T14, 628-4040 Tulip City Agency, 700 Washington St., 628-1270 Ulrich Meat Market, 715 Franklin St., 628-2771 Van Maanen & Associates, CPAs, 705 Main St., 628-3737 Van Maanen Seed & Chemical, 2073 Eaton Ave., Leighton, 626-3471 Walmart, 1650 Washington St., 628-4583

12

Mental Hug

Top Five Backwards Names •Cameron Downing pelladium@gmail.com)

(cd.pelladium@gmail.com),

Jake

Meyer

(jm.

1. Bom Tutler -King Bom Tut! 2. Krett Bingery -The thuggin’ist kid you know.

How To: Meet New People We know that once the school year begins its monotonous course, it can be difficult to branch out of your ordinary group of companions and make new friends. We’re here to help you break free of the status quo and find yourself some new and improved comrades.

You want to make a good first impression. To look more mature and professional, we recommend that you make personalized business cards. Yes, we know, you don’t actually own a business, but your new friends don’t have to know.

To ensure friendship success, make up a really awesome sounding business or create a new identity, like “Gustav McCool.”

Generally, when people don’t start a discussion with others it is because of the lack of conversation starters. To get the

convo flowing, we suggest that you wear a funny and/or offensive t-shirt or other item of clothing to get your peers to notice you. The best conversation starting shirts are those that are pop-culture relevant and have a catchy phrase such as one sporting the phrase “Cars don’t kill people, squirrels do” or “I Believe in Bigfoot.”

Next, if you’re not in your hometown, you could try speaking in an accent.

Everybody likes to talk to the foreign kids!

The most approachable accents are of European origin, like French or British, but Australian and Brazilian can also be a hit.

Lastly, we know it may seem silly or just plain scary, but we advise that you say “hello”. This is always the best conversation starter, and it is a lot easier than explaining to your new friends that you don’t actually own your business, and you aren’t, in fact, an offensive immigrant who believes in Bigfoot.

•Liz Core (lcpelladium@gmail.com), Morgan Anderson (mapelladium@gmail.com)

12.09.08

page editor

andrew sagers

3. Daddy Mavis -Dutch crime lord, wanted in 16 states.

4. Harcus Maustein -Now more German than before.

5. Dick Norman -What?

They’ve started torturing us. We showed up seconds late for our Obedience Classes. Next thing we knew, we were in the Interrogation Cell, dim lights, electrocution tables, All the Amenities.

Somehow, we made it out alive, just in time to be forced into a Yellow Guagua, driven to meet our Guest for the Evening, senior Bom Tutler. We settled in at the Meyer Residence and watched a movie about a chicken that escapes a near-certain death on the Free Market, only to almost get hit by an oncoming truck, ending up in a street war. It’s called “City of God.” Rent it.

After the film, we showed King Bom Tut the Official Hang Time Jingle, which is a piece of Lyrical Genius: Droppin’ a rhyme it’s Hang Time, Yo, we’re sicker than a beef recall, tossin’ rappers off a cliff and then it’s free fall, Nick enters the room bus tin’ rhymes that stick, lyrics lick . . . the surface of incredible, our

factual basis is constantly credible, Will leaves an imprint on your brain indelible . . . Yo, we don’t base decisions on popularity, rather the ability to chill skillfully, it’s just a matter of chillability, get silly and we’ll pick you willfully, and after thank us or we-will-kill-thee . . . Or break you like a school clock, we’re not owned

by Murdoch, retreat from the Loch, ‘cause we’re about to get Nessy and it’s about to get messy, let’s go, uh, Verbal annihilation, straight domination, proclamation to the population this is the creation of the Hang Time invasion.

Bom said, “It’s bitchin’,” or something along those lines. We replied, “Word.” Then Bom had to journey home. We boarded into a spaceship and rocketed to Mars, where we spent the majority of the time talking about how cool it is to be on Mars.

• Will Harris (wh.pelladium@gmail.com), Nick Birkel(nb.pelladium@gmail.com)

Nick’s Greenhouse & Floral Shop - 641-628-2230 O’Reilly Auto Parts - 641-620-8013 Pella Chronicle - 641-628-3882 Pella Construction - 641-628-3840 Pella Foot & Ankle Clinic - 641-628-3542 Pella Hometown Variety - 641-628-3640 Pella Implement - 641-628-2131 Pella Motor Works - 641-627-5275 Pella Pets - 641-620-8880 Pella Printing - 641-628-4941 Red Rock Marina - 641-627-5743 Reflections Hair Design Studio - 641-628-1868 Reiswinkel Travel Shoppe - 641-628-2579 Royal Amsterdam Hotel - 641-620-8400 Steenhoek Appraisal, Inc. - 641-628-8454 Sunrise Manufactured Mobile Home Community - 641-628-4482

TD & T Financial Group, P.C., CPA’s - 641-6289411 Thistles - 641-628-9360 Tom’s Collision - 641-628-3644 Tony’s Auto Parts - 641-628-3991 Topaz Styling Salon - 641-628-3501 Total Choice Shipping - 628-4888 US Cellular - 641-628-9520 Van Den Berg’s - 641-628-2533 Van Veen Chocolates - 641-628-4222 Village Cleaners - 641-628-4324 West End Auto - 641-628-9294 Zylstra Welding - 641-628-3920 Pella Opera House - 641-628-8628 Cammie’s Place -641-628-1222 Dr. Kurt Vander Ploeg - 641-628-2222 Henry’s Barber Shop - 641-628-4844

Brain Toothpaste •Eric Moore

We Want To Help ...

Adams Photography - 641-673-3471 Arnold’s Motor Supply - 641-628-2172 Beek’s Barber Shop - 641-628-1981 Best of Thymes - 641-628-3332 Boat’s Home Furnishing - 641-628-2040 Bob’s Automotive - 641-628-1553 The Boutique of Pella - 641-621-1155 Braafhart BP - 641-628-2474 Brom Auto - 641-628-1700 Brown’s Shoe Fit Co. - 641-628-2251 Central Cellular - 641-628-9520 Cook & Son Agency - 641-628-4909 Cornerstone and Cornerstone Kids - 641-6288707 Country Inn & Suites - 641-620-1111 Crown Pharmacy - 641-628-1612

Culligan Water - 641-628-1516 Cutting Edge - 641-628-4871 D & D Pump - 641-628-3585 De Ruiter Lawn Equipment - 641-628-1583 Doug’s 4-Wheelers - 641-628-2755 Attorney Dwaine Meyer - 641-628-2323 Gritters Electric - 641-628-3816 Hills Photo Center - 641-628-3811 Home Realty - 641-628-4282 Iowa Dermatolotgy, Dr. Jennifer Palmer - 641620-9119 Kitchen Hearth and Crystal Bath Shoppe - 641628-1491 Kreykes Law Office - 641-628-2383 Lanser Home Service - 641-628-4093 Main Street Design - 641-628-2561 Mainstream Boutique - 641-628-3534