January 2012 Pelladium

PELLA GOES GREEN BLUE

OSCAR “EXPERTS” OFFER RUNDOWN

PELLADIUM P. 2

P. 11

THE PELLA COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL NEWS PUBLICATION

TO VOTE OR NOT TO VOTE? THAT IS THE QUESTION

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q NOT.

01. 31. 2012.

Volume 24, Issue 5

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Pella strives for Blue Zone status Blue Zones. Though the name might be slightly chilling, the meaning is quite opposite. In fact, a blue zone is a naturally-occurring regions of the world where people routinely live very healthy lives. In these zones, 10 times more people live to be 100 than in the United States.

In 2004, author Dan Buettner, with the help of “National Geographic” magazine, hired researchers to find places in the world where people live considerably better and longer than the norm.

As they went through their research, they began to look for characteristics of a place that may result in living longer. What they discovered was that all the Blue Zones shared nine characteristics, which they refer to as the Power 9 (listed below).

The idea of Blue Zones began to take place in Iowa through the collaboration of Wellmark Insurance.

Wellmark will choose 10 Iowa communities that will go through a transformation in regards to environment and policy changes. These changes are intended to improve the emotional, physical and social health of the residents. A project team from Blue Zone will collaborate with the communities to help guide the transformation into a Blue Zone demonstration community. The team will help evaluate needs, develop a plan and provide training and toolkits to make it possible. If the transformation is successful, the result should be lowered health care costs, higher productivity and increased economic viability.

Pella has submitted an application to be one of the 10 communities to be a Blue Zone demonstration community. Wellmark will decide Jan. 28 which communities will be chosen. Members of the Pella Blue Zone committee feel quite optimistic that Pella could be selected. As of right now, Pella ranks 14th on the list of candidates.

“We have major employers in the community

and a lot of the employees live in the community.

Also, we already have a strong foundation commitment towards health through things like PE-4-Life and bike paths. I feel like we also have a very good plan outlined on our application that has some uniqueness to it,” said Principal Eric Nelson, a member of the local Blue Zone committee.

Should the application be accepted, there would certainly be some changes made around the town.

“If the application is accepted and everything on it happens, you would see things like a community garden, more bike paths making the town more connected, or a baseball/softball complex. You may also see menus around town varied with healthier options, such as French fries being put at the bottom and healthier things at the top,” said Nelson.

•Nathan Clayberg nc.pelladium@gmail.com

Power 9: 9 Secrets of Longevity

NEWS

2 Take

PAGE EDITOR: JILLIAN SAGERS

01. 31. 2012.

AcaPella takes on DCG competition, places second overall

1) Moving constantly throughout the day 2) Knowing one’s talents and passions and applying them 3) Reduction of stress 4) Stopping consumption when one’s stomach is 80 percent full 5) Adding beans and nuts to a meal once a day 6) Drinking wine one to two times a day 7) Attending church or a faith-based service four times per month 8) Putting family first and keeping positive, committed relationships 9) Hanging out with friends with healthy lifestyles Information obtained from bluzone.com

>>RISE. Sophomore Jack Parisee sings a solo atop a lift while junior Beth De Wolf, senior Jessica Boertje and junior Tim Seo dance below during AcaPella’s parent preview.

In the background, group members pose during the grand finale. “I feel like we did our best. It doesn’t really matter what place we go because we all just have fun out there. I loved watching people’s reaction as the lift holding Jack went up for the first time,” said De Wolf. •Photos by Marielle Gaiser; Photo illustration by Blake Lanser

Bokinsky arrives: new police chief begins duties Jan. 24 Thirty-two years of law enforcement experience with the Ocean City, Maryland Police Department, captain and commander of the criminal investigation unit at a police department with over 100 year-round, sworn officers and a father of three. Robert Bokinsky became Pella’s police chief Jan. 24 after being selected Dec. 14.

After retiring from his position as Captain in the Ocean City Department, Bokinsky decided to continue contributing his law enforcement experience in a new area.

“I was looking for a new job as a police chief and decided to apply for the position in Pella. I wanted to be in a nice community, and after doing some research on Pella, I was very interested,” said Bokinsky.

After a nationwide search for the

position was initiated, approximately 65 applied. With the assistance of Mulder and Associates, the applications were reviewed and narrowed to 15 recommended applicants. The list was then certified by the Civil Service Commission, and the approved individuals were then interviewed individually to determine the finalists.

Finalists included individuals from Frankfort, Ky., to Naples, Fla., but the City Council ultimately selected Bokinsky.

“What’s most prudent to me is to get there and get a gauge of what’s going on in the town and in the department. Right now, they [the police department] seem to be doing a lot of things right. First, we need to find ways for the community to be drawn into the department and

ways the department can reach out to the community,” said Bokinsky.

As a new member of not just the department but also the city, Bokinsky plans to gather public opinion to better fulfill his new role.

“What I ask is what kind of police department does the community want? I’m big on working with the youth and through working with the community, I’m sure I’ll have plenty of opportunity to seek opinion. I plan on being very active in a lot of different areas, including schools,” said Bokinsky.

•Tiffany Carter (tc.pelladium@gmail.com)

01. 31. 2012.

LIFE

PAGE EDITOR: MADDY SCHOLTEN

Doschadis transitions in family’s best interests

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Most would consider leaving a lucrative job to be wish I would have spent more time with my kids’, and now on things and plays in to my daily

•Photo by Sarah Muller

a custodian ludicrous, but for head custodian Ryan they’re kind of envious of me in that perspective. That’s just life and observing students. My Doschadis, it’s reality. Doschadis willingly traded in his one thing I look forward to; when they do go off to college, I 12 years in banking has helped me briefcase for dirty work and now spends his days working won’t have a regret of ‘I wish I would have’,” said Doschadis. to know how to manage people. dutifully at the school instead of behind a desk. However, With his new occupation, Doschadis calculates that he now It’s fun that I can use past careers his reasoning for this choice may be a surprise to some. spends about 1,200 more hours a year with his two young at my job here,” said Doschadis.

University of Iowa graduate with a degree in sociology, daughters, ages six and two. Working from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., Reflecting on the decision, Doschadis first tried his hand at social work. His the free time allows him to spend quality time with his kids, Doschadis does not regret the passion for kids and hope for making a difference drove from witnessing first steps to teaching them how to ride bikes. choice and is reaffirmed of it him to pursue the career, but the stress and pain of the “My girls were like my two little shadows; they couldn’t daily by his family, staff and situations soon became too overwhelming. Doschadis believe that I wasn’t leaving off for business again. Both students. His refreshing outlook next entered the realm of banking, working with loan my kids were just wanting to be with ‘Dad’ and I got to on life is backed by his passion acquisitions at Wells Fargo in Des Moines. A family make up for a lot of lost time with them,” said Doschadis. for others and drive for man, Doschadis soon found himself to constantly be Any change in life takes getting use to, and so far making a difference. This is away from his young family, and reassessed his values. Doschadis has made the transition seem fairly easy. Not also reflected in his recent “With the banking job I was at, I was flying all the time only does his new occupation allow him to grow closer to induction to the school’s and always away from my family. I was missing out on my his family, but also to be a part of a new environment. A Character Counts board kids. That’s great I can drive any kind of car I want or have 1994 graduate himself, Doschadis enjoys observing the for being a caring person. a big house, but it’s about my kids and potentially missing progresses of the school and getting to know the new faces. “This job just kind of out on those important things in their life,” said Doschadis. “I’ve gotten a great response from the staff; they confirms what I was After talking with his family and carefully considering have been very welcoming. That encouraged me thinking about, as far the choice, Doschadis decided to follow through with the and made me feel accepted. It’s good to see all the as the important things decision, and was hired as head custodian here. Doschadis students; I like to joke around and talk with them. It in life. It’s enabled me encountered some who questioned his change in lifestyle but makes every day a little bit different,” said Doschadis. to be a better person also received praise for being brave enough to make the switch. Doschadis enjoys the challenge of learning new trades, but instead of focusing all my efforts “I’ve gotten back a lot of positive feedback from other people. he also draws on past knowledge to help with the daily work. on chasing the dollar,” said Doschadis.

The number one thing I hear from a lot of adults is ‘Wow, I “My degree of sociology just puts a different perspective •Maddy Scholten (maddys.pelladium@gmail.com)

Stralow sells bracelets, key chains to raise money for Uganda

A typical class room set-up involves 20 to classroom. For journalism adviser 25 desks facing a huge white board. While Ann Visser, inspiration is further some are able to use cellphones or fall asleep, up. Her ceiling’s tiles are painted it still doesn’t get rid of the tedious feeling humorous and factual information. of math. Teacher Wade Van Vark took this To be featured on the ceiling, students into account when he must have a design that arranged his classroom. is approved by Visser.

“For most people Three tiles were a way math makes them tense to save Kyle Korver’s and nervous, but in this clippings and pictures setting, it is more relaxed from his college days. and calm,” said Van Vark.

“I think Kyle Korver With only six desks, is the only NBA player the rest of the room who has a ceiling consists of kitchen tables, dedicated to him at his chairs and couches. high school,” said Visser.

Van Vark received the Discussions in class furniture as donations can get pretty heated, •SPACE. An alien adorns the ceil- especially from students and staff. when the Trying to create ing in journalism adviser Ann Viss- subject is politics. er’s room. Photo by Sarah Muller. an environment like Government teacher home, Van Vark Mark Core tries to bring believes it brings a positive energy to order by splitting the classroom into the classroom, instead of feeling formal. liberals, conservatives and moderates. “[Students] love it. For some, it’s a little “It’s just like a seating chart, but I’ve tried too relaxed, but they have done well. It’s turning it into a lesson. This way I know where good to try something new,” said Van Vark. the conservatives are and such,” said Core.

Some teachers cover their walls with •Sarah Muller (sm.pelladium@gmail.com) encouraging posters and rules of the

Can and clothing drives are great ways to make a difference in someone’s life, but sophomore Savannah Stralow found an alternative way to change the lives of others forever; she sold bracelets and key chains that she made to support Ugandan orphans by building orphanages.

Stralow sold the bracelets during basketball games and at her youth group for only one dollar. The square bracelets are adorned with simple letters and can be customized at the request of the buyer, while the key chains are made of beads.

“All I had to do was get the supplies and make them [bracelets and key chains] before or while I sold them. Then, the money will be sent to build orphanages for the kids in Uganda,” said Stralow.

Senior Sarah Van Maanen was Stralow’s supplier, and she explained how Savannah started her campaign to aid the unfortunate.

“This was entirely her idea. After hearing about orphans in Uganda, S a v a n n a h thought of ways

•Photo by Jack Parisee

Teachers experiment with classroom settings in hopes of improvement

to raise money. Our youth group, CORE, at Third Church, had a time period of collecting money that went to the orginization Heartwork. This orginization uses the funds to build shelter for the children in need living in Uganda,” said Van Maanen.

Supported by the community and fellow students, Stralow sold around 1,000 bracelets and keychains. Each bracelet had an uplifting word, such as hope or love, to remind people of what cause they chose to support.

“Savannah was incredibly giving of her time and energy to make and sell so many bracelets and key chains. Some were personalized, and I believe that the money made will go a long way to help the children,” said Van Maanen.

One dollar doesn’t seem like much, but it can goes farther than one can expect. Fifty cents alone can provide life saving materials such as vaccines, medicine and nutrition packed food.

With many participating in the same fund raiser as Stralow, the money can easily be raised to make a difference by building a home for children in need.

•Jillian Sagers (jsag.pelladium@gmail.com)

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PAGE EDITOR: GREGORY FROMMELT

LIFE

01. 31 2012.

Graduate sent to experience Morocco •Graphic by Blake Lanser

Many students look forward to the opportunity to study abroad while at college, but at Goshen College, stationed in Goshen, Ind., traveling to another country is not an option, but a requirement.

Goshen requires students to participate in a study service term (SST), which takes approximately one semester. 2010 graduate Liz Core, a sophomore at Goshen, is currently preparing for her SST. The program has been in place since 1968 and was created to help students experience other cultures while performing service.

“As a Mennonite college, we are part of a tradition that has valued service. We think it is vital that our students experience the world beyond the borders of the United States.

Most of our programs have been in developing countries and thus students are exposed to a very different set of life circumstances than they experience at home.We do have a study abroad program, but it is different in the locations we send students and the scope of their semester,” said the Director of International Education at Goshen College Tom Meyers.

Students are offered a variety of options as potential destinations for their SST. “We have had programs in 23 countries and next year will add a 24th. Current active locations are Nicaragua, Peru, Cambodia, China, Tanzania, Senegal and Morocco,” said Meyers Core initially chose to go to Egypt, but because of the current turmoil, the SST program will not be traveling to Egypt in 2012. Instead she will go to Morocco, another Arabic country.

The SST consists of two major parts. During the first part, students stay with their SST group, which usually consists of around 15 students and a professor, and take classes in an urban area. The second portion is focused on service rather than a formal education.

“You break up from your big group. I will be in a smaller town, maybe a village or the

countryside, and I will be living with a host family, and they will take on the role of my family. Other SST units let the family know that the student should be accepted as a daughter or son. If they are farmers, you help farm; if they own a business, you help with that,” said Core.

The Study Service Term is unique to Goshen College, and Core credits it as the main factor which drew her to Goshen. The program offers students a chance to experience the world and become more culturally aware before they enter the work force.

“It is interesting to see when someone gets back from SST. People become a lot more mature in their world view, because they see a different part to the world. They work with people from a completely different culture and viewpoint and they are more tolerant and loving of other cultures. It creates a very cool and mixed culture of people,” said Core.

Core believes visiting an Arabic country will be useful as she prepares for life after college and a career in journalism.

“For me, as someone who is going into journalism, understanding differences will be helpful for me to connect to people on a relationship level with people who are different than me. For Egypt specifically, learning the language of Arabic can build bridges because there is a large difference that has been created with those of Arabic descent in the United States. I think I can help people here understand that there are not negative differences that should separate us,” said Core.

The program has had a lasting effect on students and the community.

“I know people from the community who are very elderly, and it’s interesting to hear about their stories from their SST’s. It impacts you. I think it makes you want to do it more when you leave college. It makes you want to do volunteer service and build bridges with other people,” said Core.

•Alexander Ropes (ar.pelladium@gmail.com)

“Brighter days, lighter spirits and happier hearts.” This inspiring promise is the motto of a trend that seems to be attracting girls and women alike; Hippie Headbands. Created by ‘09 graduate and junior at Iowa State, Ashley Swanson and her mother, Cherie, Hippie Headbands has experienced a wave of success from its humble beginning.

The concept of Hippie Headbands began as a simple request from Ashley to her mother for something that ‘kept her long hair out of her way while studying and exercising, and still looked great’. Thus, the experimentation and creative processes of Hippie Headbands began. With the first couple of headbands finalized in April of last year, Ashley began to realize the potential of these fashionable head pieces.

“Hippie Headbands started out as myself and just a few of my friends from Iowa State wearing them. But, I kept getting stopped on my way to classes; everyone was asking about them and wanted a Hippie Headband,” said Ashley.

As the demand increased, the headbands began to take off, becoming an official company in July. Connections with Sports Page brought the opportunity to sell the headbands at its four store locations. As far as the name ‘Hippie Headbands’, Ashley was inspired by the Californian atmosphere, hoping to bring a little of it back to Iowa.

“I came up with the name when we were doing a race out in California- Hippie Headbands. It captured the essence of a headband being brightly colored, wildly patterned and boldly worn, all in one. Hippie Headbands are meant to make a statement, to dare to be wild. It’s all about living in color,” said Ashley.

Made out of dri-fit spandex material and ranging in a variety of patterns and colors, Hippie Headbands plans on keeping it local by hiring women in the community with sewing abilities to work for them. Ashley’s grandmother, Ruth Fennema, also participates

in the company, incorporating three generations into the business. Prices range from $6.95-8.95, making the headbands an affordable fashion accessory.

Hippie Headbands are currently in 19 stores in Iowa, occupying salons and boutiques across the state. With an account on Etsy.com and a Facebook page, Hippie Headbands continue to receive business across the country. The headbands have also received national acclaim, being featured in a Shape magazine article. The editor of the magazine even donned her own Hippie Headband.

The Hippie Headband enthusiasm continues to spread.

“Hippie Headbands have become so successful because we are so passionate about it. We love hearing from people around the country who also love them and can’t wait to get the newest style coming out. It’s all about the inspi- >>Graduate Ashley Swanson •Photo ration. Hippie Headbands inspire people to be Submitted different, to make a statement and get out there and live in color!” said Ashley.

•Maddy Scholten (maddys.pelladium@gmail.com)

Headbands bring Hippie spirit to Pella

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01. 31. 2012.

SPORTS

PAGE EDITOR: MADELINE MEYER

Van Horn recognized for excellence into making the district a better place,” said senior and three-sport athlete Kim Korver.

“I would say that when you look at the character of a person, their attitude, their willingness to serve others, and their dedication to their district and their job, Bill Van Horn would be a poster child of a Hall of Famer. He’s definitely one of the good guys,” said math teacher and former colleague Wade Van Vark.

The induction ceremony is March 10 during halftime of the 3A boys’ state championship game in Des Moines. This year, nine administrators will be recognized.

“The board of control and school administrators are a committee of principals and superintendents from each geographical region of the athletic association. The criteria [for the award] is years of service, and basically an evaluation of the quality of interscholastic programs and activities that a administrator manages for the schools and the children in his communities,” said Information Director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Bud Legg.

Bill was the athletic director for 14 years and saw many successes throughout his career. During his time as athletic director, the programs brought back five team state championships, eight individual team championships, over 50 state appearances and over 90 conference championships.

“Pella has had a long tradition of success in sports, but the last decade or so, we have had incredible success in virtually every level, and every sport.We’ve had natural changes in coaching through retirement and other reasons.

I’ve never viewed myself as an agent of change so much as

continuing to support each program in a way that would help them to achieve success, in not just winning, but retention of athletes and the positive growth of the individuals involved,” said Bill.

The success of Pella sports programs since Bill’s involvement with athletics is impossible to ignore. With so many successful sports programs, an abundance of memories comes, Bill enjoys it all.

“Honestly, I have so many fond memories, and you know most people would suspect it would be winning back-to-back state basketball championships or making it to the Dome in football, or even coaching state finalists in wrestling. They certainly are, but the best memories actually are just seeing teams progress in seasons, even when those teams weren’t projected to do as well as other teams but did well in their own right,” said Bill.

•Photo by Kenn Krpan

It’s impossible to put into words the impact that does former athletic director Bill Van Horn justice. However, ‘Hall of Famer’ comes pretty close to describing Van Horn, who is scheduled to be inducted in to the 2012 Iowa High School Athletic Director’s Hall of Fame in March.

Bill and his wife Margene have played an active role in the district since 1976, when Margene became a physical education teacher. Bill came to Pella in 1988, serving as a wrestling coach and tag-teaming physical education with his wife. In 1997, he assumed the role of athletic director.

Bill’s goals were initally to be in collegiate administration as opposed to high school administration, but he changed his preference in order to meet his family’s schedules.

“Essentially, we were on three calendars. I was operating on the William Penn College school year, my wife under the Pella school calendar and my daughters were on the Oskaloosa calendar. I was gone, especially on the weekends, during the winter. So, we were meeting ourselves coming and going. My coaching took a lot of time, and Margene was teaching as well as coaching basketball and tennis, so we decided that there would be a career path change for me, one that would be more conducive to my family life,” said Bill.

The Van Horns are known throughout Pella as two who have truly given back to their school and community.

Students and staff alike still feel the legacy that Margene and Bill left on the district.

“Their whole family is just extremely giving. They’re kind of like everyone’s parents. They have invested a lot of time

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•Madeline Meyer (mm.pelladium@gmail.com)

After almost 30 years ...

Schulte’s track record still stands

•Photo•1982 Duchess Yearbook

>> Sophomore Levi Azinger grapples an opponent from Knoxville. The wrestling team will compete in the district meet Feb. 4. Team record leaders for the year are junior Houston Naaktgeboren (25-7) and sophomore Levi Azinger who broke the school’s pin record. The new record is eight seconds. “The team and I have been working hard all season for this time to come, so I think we could have some really good outcomes if we keep working hard,” said Azinger. •Photo by Derrick Akers

Teachers all around the school put in countless hours, but few can say that they have been a part of this school as significantly and for as long as math teacher Matt Schulte.

Schulte, Class of 1982, was not an average student. He excelled in academics and extracurriculars. “[I was a part of ] band, choir, football, basketball, track and the school play/ musical,” said Schulte.

In the school play, Schulte played the lead role of Abner. Although the play has faded into the past, Schulte’s high school career has not been erased from Pella’s history books.

“It is a lot different; the school is about twice as big now. There are a lot of things different from 30 years ago,” said Schulte.

One of the things that has not changed is his school record mark in the 400-meter race coming in at 49.90 seconds, that record has stood since 1982. Schulte has no hesitation about his reaction if the record would be broken.

“I would be very happy for [the person that breaks my record], probably jumping up and down,” said Schulte.

It is fair to say that extracurriculars left a long-lasting effect on Schulte.

“[I liked] that you could do lots of extracurriculars and still get your school work done,” said Schulte.

Not only did Schulte make a mark here, but he continued into college and played four sports. Many students would think that just playing one sport is overwhelming in college, which makes what Schulte did even more rare.

“If they love the sport, I would say go for it. Thats why I picked a small school, so I could continue playing,” said Schulte.

After college, Schulte taught for seven years at Belmond-Klemme. These seven years were some of the few spent away from Pella.

“I always wanted to come back because my wife and I were both from Pella,” he said Schulte returned to Pella and took a teaching position here. He continues to influence Pella athletics by coaching girls’ varsity basketball, boys’ varsity track and varsity football.

“[I would rather be] coaching [than playing] right now; I’m too old and slow now,” said Schulte.

Although his competing career is done, Schulte still stays involved with athletics through his seven children and coaching career.

•Gregory Frommelt (gregf.pelladium@gmail.com)

American Family InsuranceTerlouw Agency 604 Liberty Street, Suite 133 Pella, IA 50219 641-628-1518

Dr. Gregory Vannucci 2601 Washington Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-2011

Great Clips 1586 Washington Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-8111

Klyn Law Office Vincent S. Klyn 729 Main Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-1707

Pella Orthodontics Dr Kim Wass 715 Main Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-9195

Royal Amsterdam Hotel 705 East 1st Street Pella, IA 50219 641-620-8400

Boat’s Home Furnishings 620 Franklin Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-2040

G & B Concrete 2174 Coolidge Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-8223

Iowa Bike & Fitness 814 Main Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-1373

Leighton Processed Meats 227 Otley Street Leighton, IA 50413 641-626-3211

Pella Pets Veterinary Clinic 411 Oskaloosa Street Pella, IA 50219 641-620-8880

Tri-County Veterinary Clinic 650 Hwy T-14 Pella, IA 50219 641-628-4040

Brom Auto Service & Sales 202 Main Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-1700

Grafx 2 a Tee 2018 Hwy. G-28 Pella, IA 50219 641-620-8337

Jansen’s Decorating & Kitchens 614 Franklin Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-4247

Midtown Tire Company 109 E. Oskaloosa Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-1072

Precision Pulley & Idler Inc. 300 SE 14th Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-3115

TRIUMPH Martial Arts P.O. Box 41 Pella, IA 50219 641-628-8480

IN FOCUS 6 To Vote Or Not To Vote?

PAGE EDITOR: TIFFANY CARTER,

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01. 31. 2012.

As students approach the legal voting age, they must make a decision as to whether or not they will participate in deciding the next national leader. Between Barack Obama’s 2008 grassroots movement and Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses, Iowan youth have political opportunities unique for young adults.

Three political issues to consider for 2012

While it may seem as though voting and the world of politics are decades away, the age of adulthood is rapidly approaching, and whether it seems so or not, current students will be entering into this stage with a new national leader.

It is predicted that a rise in apathy in young adults is occurring for the upcoming election, likely decreasing the number of voters from that age group. Young adults are encouraged to again possess the same enthusiasm that existed with the 2008 election. Three main topics emerge that young adult voters are encouraged to watch in the next presidential election.

The Economy The nation’s debt is at a record high, topping $15 trillion. Government officials are scrambling to come up with solutions, and few actual policies have been put into place to attempt to recover from this incredible damage to the economy. Students will soon be entering the world of finances and consumerism, buying houses, paying for college, cars and other various products and means to survive. With a struggling economy, students will have to compensate.

Unemployment According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate for November 2011 was 8.6%. As students will be either heading to college with plans to enter the workforce or immediately taking up a career, they will be forced to fight in an even more competitive environment for job positions. Promises to provide new jobs for Americans are abundant within candidate proposals, so students should pay close attention to the details of these claims.

Health Care Reform Since President Obama’s health care reform bill was signed into law in 2010, it has been under scrutiny, and due to its lack in popularity, many candidates have promised to repeal the bill once in office. Under the current health care law, children have been able to stay under their parents’ health insurance coverage up to age 26. Health care is often viewed as a necessity, but costs worry many voters. It is likely a new health care reform will be proposed to Congress after the next election, meaning it may be a potential policy next adult generation has to live with.

•Tiffany Carter (tc.pelladium@gmail.com)

Newt Gingrich

13% Vot es

“The government is too involved in the economy sector.

There needs to be enough restrictions placed by the government to keep things under control, but the majority of decision-making should be left up to the American people. In instances like the government bailing out Wall Street, I think the government could have put the money to better use. To make things less government officia;-oriented, the government should be more open to public opinion. I would like websites to be set up for people to post thoughts, lthat the government would actually look through. Maybe certain individuals could be hired who had enough knowledge to sort thruogh the good and the bad and move the good to a viable authority, and get some public thought and suggestions to a higher power. I would encourage a high schooler who wants their voice to be heard to find someone in our local government, ask for advice or assistance, see what they have to say and go from there. Just start local.”

Senior Matt Renaud

“The government should definitely be highly involved in working with the economy. I don’t think the population, mainly business owners, should have as much say, because their goal is to make a profit. They are worried about themselves, not the people. The government needs to step in and have more control, so that they can more evenly distribute the money.

The government will be more concerned with the people, because the government is run by the people. That’s why we’re a democracy. No, we shouldn’t fully rely on the government, and the government should still be more careful about corruption.

While regulating the public, they need to follow the rules too. I get that people should be able to run the country because we’re a free nation and everything, but because of how high our debt is, we need to leave things to the authorities and see how they handle things first. Until the economy is stabilized, the government should deal with how the country manages money.”

Sophomore Emily Yee

Rick Santorum

Rick Perry

Who would you vote for in the Iowa Republican Caucus?

20% s Vote

247 students were surveyed over the course of one day. Both Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry have since ended their presidential campaigns.

19% Votes

Iowa caucus results in close finish; Romney places first (or not) Three days into the New Year, the world watched as Iowans flocked to the Republican caucus for the Republican candidate of their choice. In what turned out to be the closest caucus in history, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum essentially tied in a split decision, with Santorum coming out ahead by 31 votes.

Iowa is trying to prove that it is still an important state in the process of an election, despite recent attacks on the state’s integrity. Presidential hopeful Utah Gov. John Huntsman even said in response to Romney and Santorum’s strong showing in Iowa, “Welcome to New Hampshire. Nobody cares.” He then claimed that people will forget about Iowa hours after the caucus. Huntsman’s ignorance of Iowa was obvious.

He took home less than 1,000 votes and had no representation at the Marion County Republican caucus. Though, his campaign failed just a few weeks after the Iowa caucuses, he may have been some what right about Iowa. After, such a close result, Romney initially won by 8 votes, and several botched attempts at a recount before the final result was achieved, it is possible that Iowa could lose it’s first-in-line spot during election season.

Despite Huntsman’s negativity, other candidates took Iowa very seriously, most notably Santorum, who campaigned in all 99 counties logging making over 300 appearances. Romney didn’t trek through all 99 counties but focused heavily on metropolitan areas. Ron Paul’s libertarian views received a surprising number of votes, notably from all sides of the political spectrum, resulting in 21 percent of the vote, a breath behind the the front runners. Texas Gov. Rick Perry dumped millions into advertising and commercials but only came away with 10 percent of the votes in a fifth place showing.

With two polar opposite campaign strategies that worked out to virtually the same amount of votes, it is important to understand the system by which caucuses work. All caucuses require voters to register for the

party before they vote. After registration, speeches on the candidates are made, in a last ditch effort to scrape up a few more votes. Then, the votes are cast, using the simple method of tossing votes into a bucket (Marion County’s approach utilized Blue Bunny ice cream buckets to keep things local). After all the votes are collected, they are then counted and reported. Thus, was the end of the voting, but a forum was also held to get in put from the county.

Marion County’s Republican caucus also involved a few extra touches to drive home the county’s social conservatism, a prayer and and a prolife poem. Not surprisingly, Santorum’s heavily conservative social views were more than enough for him to win Marion County.

Even though Santorum had a sweeping victory in the county, other candidates sent out important speakers. Michele Bachmann’s husband spoke on her behalf, Ron Paul’s daughter for him, a lively and local Scott Bailey for Santorum and a long time friend for Perry. Other candidates were notably lacking during the speeches. Utah Gov. John Huntsman was unrepresented, Gingrich had a supporter read a short note he had written and Romney’s speaker used less than half of the time limit.

Santorum may have been the clear favorite in the county, but Paul and Perry, with their speakers, were able to capture the two and three spots, respectively.

Senior Hannah Van Wyk attended the caucus with her support directed towards two of the candidates.

“I was supporting either Ron Paul or Rick Santorum. I did love how strong and demanding Bachmann was, but it wasn’t her time. I finally picked Rick Santorum after Mr. Bailey’s speech for him.”

After such a close finish between Romney, Santorum and even Paul, Iowa’s importance and status will likely be decided by the success of those three candidates.

•Evan Jones (ej.pelladium@gmail.com)

Mitt Romney

Michelle Bachmann

13% Vot es 6% es t o V

Other 29% votes •Poll conducted by Hallie Von Bank •Graphics by Blake Lanser

8

PAGE EDITOR: ALEX ROPES

IRREGARDLESS

OPINION

01. 31. 2012.

“KEEPIN’ IT REAL DOESN’T MEAN TYPING EVERY THOUGHT YOU’VE EVER THOUGHT” •BENJI MCELROY (BME.PELLADIUM@GMAIL.COM)

Absolutely nothing is worse than logging into Facebook and having your news feed clogged with “Truth Is” after “Truth Is.” I enjoy cat fights that quickly devolve into “I’m rubber. You’re glue. Whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you.” territory just as much as the next guy, but there’s a point when the fights are embarrassingly open.

Truth is, people need to watch the amount of honesty they ooze while behind a keyboard.

For those who are either reading this in 1967, or are one of the five people still on Myspace, a “Truth Is” status is a Facebook post that receives likes from approximately 50 people of varying degrees of familiarity with the original poster. The poster (aka a 14-yearold girl) then has to write something “truthful” on every likers’ page.

For example, here’s a Truth Is that may or may not be real:

Of course, there are other kinds of Truth Is statuses that are generic, copy/pasted compliments, but the dirty-laundry-airing-Truth-Is statuses are the greater of evils. By principal, the fake kumbaya post should be worse. After all, honesty is the best policy, but nobody, outside of talent scouts for Jerry Springer, needs to read about love triangles and potential paternity tests on Facebook. Especially because of a Truth Is. The Internet is like a truth serum. No matter what corners of it you roam, you’re bound to find countless numbers of people saying things they would never dare speak. In fact, I’m surprised the United States hasn’t ditched waterboarding in favor of the Internet yet.

The filterless feedback, in theory, should be refreshing. Except, in practice, it’s about as refreshing as dehydration.

EVERYTHING’S NOT LOST

Brands and logos have become nearly omnipresent, and escaping their influence is impossible. Whether someone is covered with Coach “C’s” or runs from a label as though their life depends on it, their decisions are constantly influenced by brands.

If someone walks down the street, and sees a car, or another person’s shirt, but it is void of any logo or link to who created it, even if they like it they will not be able to purchase one later on. If that same person sees the three-pronged Mercedes symbol, or Polo player for Ralph Lauren, a positive connotation will be made with the brand, and that individual will be more likely to purchase from those companies later on, given they have the financial means. A company marking its products is a logical thing to do.

Over time, a logo has come to mean far more than just a mark from a company, though.

The symbol for Mercedes implies substantial wealth and social class of the owner, as does a Rolex, or the more affordable, but still higher end Ralph Lauren Polo player. Upon seeing a symbol, a plethora of judgments may be formed about the owner.

The power of brands, and associations made with their logos affect all of society. Most commonly, high school is seen as the battling ground of the various clothing and sportswear brands. I will concede that brands have a larger influence on teenage students than adults –who are weathered and knowledgeable of the ploys of advertising- but I still maintain that no one’s thoughts and decisions are immune to the influence of brands and logos.

Though I do not wish to reiterate clichés, it is true that high school is a sort of social proving ground for many students, and a student’s desired social group may not always be the same as their reality. Because of this, many look to brands and their corresponding logos, to fit in. Social groups, or cliques, which are founded on mutual interests, often breed unity, and this unity may spread to what an individual wears. Whether an individual feels pressured to buy a brand in order to stay up-to-date with their friends or in an attempt to fit in, they are constantly affected by brand names.

On the contrary, there is a substantial group of individuals who look at logos with

A

Do you make New Year’s resolutions?

Do you think that they are effective?

•Ben Konfrst (benk.pelladium@gmail.com)

•ALEX ROPES (AR.PELLADIUM@GMAIL.COM)

disdain. They see them as the bane of consumerism and frown upon those who succumb to the pressure to fit in. I agree that some individuals have let their attachment to specific brands and logos get out of control, and it seems ridiculous to wear a massive red seagull on a daily basis, but individuals should not be criticized for wearing a logo once in a while. They should not feel the need to run from logos as though their life depends on it.

Society needs to calm down about logos and brands on both sides of the issue. On one hand, individuals should not feel so pressured to wear a brand just to fit in, but on the other end, people should stop worrying so much if someone chooses to wear a piece of clothing with a brand on it. Wearing a shirt with an affiliation to a company may just mean you like the shirt, not that you are desperate to fit in. Logos are not going to suddenly disappear, so we need to all stop being so brand conscious, and buy things we like rather than worrying about fitting in or being categorized because of it.

•Graphic by Blake Lanser

“SOCIETY NEEDS TO CALM DOWN ABOUT LOGOS AND BRANDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE”

Keepin’ it real is certainly an admirable way to live your life (just ask any 90's rapper), but there’s a fine line between keepin’ it real and turning life into a soap opera. Sometimes biting your tongue, or fingers, can go a long way. Particularly when it’s done on Facebook’s virtual soapbox.

That’s not to suggest Former Vice-President Dick Cheney authorizes the use of the Internet everybody should act like Regina on an accused terrorist as a means to extract vital information.

George on the World Wide Web. •Graphic by Mitch Shepperd There’s no need to compliment somebody’s sweater on Facebook to chastise it as a Cosby-reject offline.

Keepin’ it real doesn’t mean typing every thought you’ve ever thought. It means acting like you would in real life. It’s not like the Facebook version of John Van Doe is treated like a separate person from the real life John Van Doe. Every Facebook post might as well carry your signature, social security number and an embarrassing picture of you with it (well, it already has one of those, I guess).

Posting behind a screen name isn’t equivalent to putting on a virtual cape that entitles you to fight “Internet injustice.” Superheroes go far enough to wear costumes when they’re contributing to the greater good, so isn’t something wrong with contributing to petty drama and, instead of opting for an excessively-flamboyant costume, choosing to hide behind nothing more than a profile?

Truth is, truth is always the best way to go. Just don’t be too truthful. Some words are better left unsaid (and untyped). Kind-of like “truth is.”

“No, because if I do, I never complete them. They would be effective if someone really tried for one.”

“Yes, I stick to them [resolutions] well. They are usually pretty effective. I have had the same resolution for five years; NO POP!”

“Not really. I do think they [resolutions] are effective if you shoot for one. It’s a new year and a new start, great for people to make resolutions.”

“I do not personally do New Year’s resolutions; there is always good intention behind them, but few people actually follow through with them.”

>>Freshman Nikki Holdeman

>>Sophomore Kylie Roslien

>>Junior Keegan Fitzsimmons

>>Senior Isaac Pezley

01. 31. 2012.

OPINION

PAGE EDITOR: JACK PARISEE

Editorial Cartoons

Alternative News Dictator’s death shocks world

•Mitch Shepperd

Staff Editorial Our democracy isn’t as strong as it used to be. Politics and elections are more important to congressmen and presidents than their actual job at hand, which is to provide for the American people. Government leaders are more worried about getting re-elected rather than taking a stance on important issues. We see this today with a bipartisan committee’s failure to cut spending and the budget deficit. In addition, people are not well-versed on many issues that the government decides. Instead, people are more worried about what political party they represent and who their candidate is- not the issues they stand for.

Democrats and Republicans alike are disagreeing just to disagree and not solving important issues.

Political parties constantly attack the other side, focusing on the negative things at every turn, rather than carefully researching topics at hand. Instead of pouring money into election campaigns, why can’t we pour money into fixing the economy or helping someone find a job? Our founding fathers did not want political ‘factions’ (parties), and now we are in the midst of a war between parties. Straight ticket voting is becoming more prevalent, and people are taking for granted the liberties that their ancestors fought to obtain. American citizens need to exercise their rights as defined by the Constitution to educate themselves on the issues at hand and elect leaders that will fulfill their duties to the people.

In the 2008 presidential election year, only 64.36% of eligible voters actually took part in the elections process; on the contrary, 89.66% of eligible voters cast their ballots in the 1968 elections. This frightening statistic shows that in a matter of merely 40 years, 25% of American people have lost the desire to have their voices heard (IDEA). Non-voters use multiple excuses, but one of the most common is the firm belief that their vote does not count. They believe that whoever is in favor to win will win, regardless of if that nonvoting person votes or not. This is an ever-present issue in America, and the reason it is so prevalent is because American citizens do not feel valued by the very government that was built on the foundations for providing and catering to the people. Politicians might run around with handshakes and smiles, but genuine concern for the average American’s viewpoints is seemingly extinct.

America’s democracy as we know it today is weakening due to uninformed citizens, election-based politics, and the ignorance and blur of political parties. The Pelladium staff recognizes the problems that the media has in shaping the political agenda and will remain truthful and unbiased in political reports. As election year looms closer, so does the chance for young adults to shape American history, and we want our voices to be heard. Take the time to inform yourselves on important issues at hand. Look outside the comfortable realm of Pella and at least think about the future of our nation. Don’t miss out on your chance to be a part of these decisions.

(The Pelladium staff voted 14-2 in favor of this editorial.)

9

After years as North Korea’s dictator, the life of Kim Jong Il ended abruptly Dec. 17.

At the age of only 69, the death of this widely known leader came to a shock to both his country and the world.

With Jong Il no longer in power, it’s difficult to determine if his son, Kim Jong-un, whom he had chosen as his successor, will be a valid replacement. Alleged to be in his late twenties, his inexperience and young age has became debated as to whether or not he is suited to be a leader. Transitioning leaders has already caused controversy over the possibility of war or other military classes between the Koreas.

Jong Il dedicated his life towards transforming North Korea into a nuclear-weapons powerhouse. For years, North Korea posed to be one of the United State’s biggest threats on nuclear warfare and South Korea has lived in fear of their brothering country for equally as long. Once the news of Jong Il’s death got out, South Korea’s military was already set on high alert, and without a knowledgeable leader, North Korea could be the most unstable it’s been since before Jong Il took power.

One benefit to the end of Jong Il’s reign as leader is the possibility that North Korea will open its doors towards other countries. His government was kept strictly private and the country was secluded from the rest of the world. With a new leader in power, this could be the time to change. Another issue is the fact that Jong Il left his country in a poverty. If Jong-un is more willing than his father to resort to help from other countries, it could help revive his country. However, more needs to be done for North Korea, and the change isn’t going to happen over night.

Though a leader so loved by his country is now out of the picture, it is a time for this country to rebuild itself. Jong-un could be the one to pick up the pieces of the country his father left and bring it back to life.

•Haley Sytsma (h.s.pelladium@gmail.com)

Hundredth day warrants review

The 100th day of school has come and gone, once again. As changes are implemented, and new staff are welcomed, it’s time for a 100-day review. We’ve broken down the first 100 days of the year with three major changes that have affected student life the most.

1. Late Starts Changing our once-loved early outs to late starts sparked contoversy and talk across the school. Administrators thought the change would lead to higher productivity in the morning. The change feels less like a late start and more like an annoyingly short extra few minutes to sleep in. Little amounts of extra teacher productivity doesn’t warrant the change. Because of this, I give the first change a D+.

“I like early outs a lot more than the late starts. It gives you more time after school. The administration should’t have made the change. There wasn’t enough reason to change, “ said sophomore Lexi McGinley.

2. New Appointment Forms Apparently, our parents aren’t honest enough anymore to excuse us from class for appointments. Since the start of the new semester, students have been required to get signatures from physicians to be returned to the office by the next day. The appointment start and end time must also be provided along with the signature. The only thing this seems to accomplish is giving students one extra thing to worry about. This added nuisance has not been accepted well. Change number two receives a definite F. “I shouldn’t have to fill out extra sheets for medical absences. Overall, the system wasn’t really being abused. It doesn’t make sense to add signatures from your doctor just for good measure; it’s a huge pain,” said sophomore Alex Moore.

3. Police Liason Officer Seemingly terrifying at first, school police officer Matthew Huston has proved to be a positive change. Huston’s friendly face around the school is a nice addition to the building. This positive change has done nothing but let students feel secure on school grounds.

Change number three receives a masterfully high, B+.

Others disagree.

“I think the decision was stupid to add the officer. I mean, we haven’t had any real threats to the school, I just honestly don’t get the point,” said senior Ashley Mink.

Overall, school changes have been less than satisfactory. Sometimes, the best solution is leaving unbroken policies where they’re at. However, it cannot be said that the year has not run fairly smooth, and with that, the 2011-2012 school year pulls in with a final C-.

•Jack Parisee (jp.pelladium@gmail.com)

Executive Editors: Tiffany Carter, Benji McElroy, Madeline Meyer, Maddy Scholten Page Editors/Reporters: Benji McElroy, Jillian Sagers, Maddy Scholten, Gregory Frommelt, Madeline Meyer, Tiffany Carter, Alex Ropes, Jack Parisee, Evan Jones, Mitch Shepperd, Marielle Gaiser Visuals: Marielle Gaiser, Blake Lanser, Jillian Sagers, Mitch Shepperd, Micah Zeimetz Reporters: Derrick Akers, Nathan Clayberg, Jake Dorman, Ben Konfrst, Sarah Muller, Haley Sytsma, Adviser: Ann Visser The Pelladium is a monthly tabloid produced by the high school journalism department to serve 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 Pelladium is a member of the Iowa High School Press Association.

10

PAGE EDITOR: EVAN JONES

Reflecting on2011:

ENTERTAINMENT

01. 31. 2012.

Top 10 Moments of the Year 1) Tiger’s Blood: Hey, Herman Cain, we know you like attention, but Charlie

Sheen was the original Internet sensation and Twitter whore. No one can top going from the highest paid television actor in 2010 to being fired and a major hash tag trend in 2011 the same way Charlie did. Best hashtag ever created: winning.

2) A Night to Remember: You were either at the party, or you were picking

up people after the party was busted. The fallout was a modern Chernobyl and the house is now... infamous.

3) Osama Dead: The evil leaders of the modern world are dwindling. Osama Bin Laden’s death was a mark for the end of the war on terror. President Obama’s original campaign when competing for the presidency that he would retract troops from Iraq once Osama was dead. Oh, and so is Kim Jong Ill.

4) New Gym: The school remodeled a new gym in 1997. It flooded over the

summer in 2011. So they remodeled the new gym, into a new new gym. Ironically, the oldest teacher in our school has the name Jim. Trippy....

>>2011 was a combination of love, divorce, controversial court cases, misuse of alcohol, dead terrorists, video games and wizards. •Graphic by

THE ROYAL WEDDING. Kate Middleton went from a small town hero to a global icon with the words, “I do.” Her marriage to Prince William was viewed by approximately 300 billion people. Sadly, her sister Pipa stole most of the spotlight. Those statics though are pure fact that every man on earth is whipped. Oh, and Kim, sorry your wedding didn’t have the same credentials, thus bumping it off the list.

6) Steve Jobs: He died. So did all of our dreams.

7) Avada Kadavra:

The end of an era, the last page has been turned, we crossed the finish line. Harry Potter and the "Deathly Hallows Part Two" was released July 15. Across the globe, fans lined up to see their childhood heroes partake in the fight of a lifetime.

The completion of the theatrical series was bittersweet, but the legend will live on for many. Remember all the line jumpers at the premier?

8) Dam: The gateway to heaven, more commonly referred to as G-28, was closed due to construction that affected the travel of many.

We enjoyed all the scenic routes as opposed to the short cuts; however, gas is costly and the majority of the public is impatient.

9) Mother of the Year Award goes to: Casey Anthony! You know why.

10) Mass destruction: Every male on the planet was affected with a deadly disease. “Modern Warfare 3” was the first illness to strike the nation, but now an even bigger epidemic threatens the existence of human kind: “SKYRIM.”

• Marielle Gaiser (Marielle.Gaiser@gamil.com)

Unspoken rules exist for Super Bowl parties

4Don’t give your opinion on anything regarding football. Nothing is more frustrating than sports-stupid people trying to to dissect the decision to run on 3rd-and-1 like they’re the next-coming of Cris Collinsworth. It’d be like a football fan walking into the operating room and telling the surgeon that his scalpeltechnique is all wrong.

4Don’t pick a “favorite” team. It’s okay to root for a Ulrich Motor 1130 West 16th Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-2184

Wiskus Group 821 Franklin Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-1505

Van Hemert Chiropractic Center 1310 East Washington Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-2099

Van Gorp Corporation 1410 W. Washington Street Pella, IA 50219 641-628-9212

Van Sant Collision Repair 80 Truman Road Pella, IA 50219 641-628-3206

close game and it’s okay to root for the chips to be refilled as soon as possible, but there’s no reason to specifically root for one of the teams unless you are actually a fan of said team. Real fans have gone through what amounts to three bad high school break-ups throughout the course of the season, and your bandwagonjumping-behind isn’t going to bring out any left over holiday cheer.

4Don’t quote commericials. Ever. I know some Doritos commercial will inevitably be replayed more times than anything that happens in the game short of a 185-yard Hail Mary (yes, 185-yards). So, please don’t quote it for the rest of the night. I’m sure your exquisite taste in commercials needs to be shown off, but please refrain. Nobody needs a walking, talking Doritos billboard in their living room for the whole game.

No need to worry about caring about football, despite participating in an entire day based around football.

Just make sure you don’t let anybody know, especially the die-hards in the room. Ambiguity is key to a successful Super Bowl party. Oh, and don’t set the Declaration on fire.

•Benji McElroy (bm.pelladium@gmail.com

Support Publications Advertisers!

Note: Predictions were made Jan. 11. The experts’ Top 5 movies were nominated for Best Picture, as well as: “Moneyball,” “The Tree of Life,” “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” and “War Horse.”)

Marielle Gaiser

5) Every Girl’s Fantasy:

The Super Bowl might be the last thing anybody thinks about on Super Bowl Sunday. People’s motives vary from socializing to eating three times their body weight to just awkwardly sitting in the corner. B u t , what about that other guy in the corner? No, not the one who still hasn’t mastered the fine art of casually socializing. The one who is intensely leaning forward with approximately a pint of sweat making its way from his forehead to his lap drip-by-drip. Or, as he’s more commonly known, the real football fan.

This is how to socialize, eat free food and awkwardly sit in the corner without doing the equivalent of lighting the Declaration of Independence on fire while graffiting “OFWGKTA” on Thomas Jefferson’s grave.

“Experts” name best pictures 1. Alexander Payne’s “The Descendants” takes the lead. Payne’s heartfelt and honest directing combined with lead actor George Clooney’s brilliant portrayal of a father desperately trying to keep his family together, make this the best film of the year.

2. Following closely behind was Michel Hazanavicius’ silent, black and white film, “The Artist.” The film is full of wonderful screenwriting and acting, on all of the lead character’s parts. Lead actor, Jean Dujardin successfully leads the film without ever saying a word. The film’s 1920’s format correlates beautifully with its sad tale about the end of the silent film age. Hazanavicius gives us just a little bit of what these films were truly made of, almost a century later.

3. Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo,” a family movie with impressive 3D and visual effect craftsmanship, pulls into third place. “Hugo,” much like “The Artist,” is a nostalgic look at early cinema and film. Scorsese, who rarely directs family movies, is one of the main reasons for the film’s success. His directing holds the entire film together, and the special effects and 3D are an added bonus. The film’s one down side is lack of award-worthy performances. Without these performances, “Hugo” is destined for a Best Picture nomination, but won’t have the fume to garner up a win.

4.Falling into fourth place was Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris.” Allen’s always wonderful writing and directing bring the roaring twenties back to life in modern day Paris in this romantic comedy about what really happens at midnight in Paris. The film is an English teacher’s delight, with characters such as Ernest Hemmingway, Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein and Pablo Picasso. However, the film lacks enough emotional pull and bite to take the top spots.

5. In fifth place is “The Help.” “The Help” is this year’s acting juggernaut. Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis each have great chances at bringing home a golden statue, Spencer for supporting and Davis for lead. With a great-outing by Jessica Chastain added to the mix, this film is guaranteed a spot in the Best Picture category. If it weren’t for the performances of the actresses, “The Help” wouldn’t even be considered. Due to the movie being carried on the shoulders of the actresses, “The Help” won’t walk away with Best Picture come Oscar night.

•Jack Parisee (jp.pelladium@gmail.com) •Mitch Shepperd (ms.pelladium@gmail.com)

Green Supporters...

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01. 31. 2012.

MENTAL HUG

11 <><> Horoscopes <><>

PAGE EDITOR: MITCH SHEPPERD

Aries (March 21- April 19) - Due to your generous nature, you will donate everything you own to a charity. Surprise! The charity is actually a front for a terrorist organization. Have fun in prison!!

Students’ Top 10 tweets from the past month 1.@JessicaHolt

- freshman Jessica Holterhaus. You know it’s bad when you shave your legs and lose 0.4 of a pound. #ihopethatwasntjustthehair

6.

@maceyguerena - junior Macey Guerena. My cat always comes in the bathroom and sits on my lap while I’m going to the bathroom. #weirdo #pervert

Taurus (April 20- May 20) - You’ll meet your real parents this year. What? You didn’t know you were adopted? Well, look at the time; I really should move on.

Gemini (May 21- June 21) - You will win the lottery and invest one hundred percent of your winnings in more lottery tickets. You will win several more lotteries and almost double your money and retire at a very young age.

Cancer (June 22- July 22) - A virus in dairy products will kill over a quarter of the population. You will survive and open up a very successful dairy-free yogurt shop.

Leo (July 23- August 22) - In 2012 you will... oh... um... yikes. Remember, that virus I was telling you about?

Virgo (Aug. 23- Sept. 22) - A Nigerian prince will email you with a great business opportunity. You’re going to be rich!!!

2. @6etnyre9 - junior Michael Etnyre. I’m 7. @Reptat - junior Sean Krall. #smack Libra (Sept. 23- Oct. 23) - At some point this year you will be exposed to radiation, and you will get asking for a truck so I can get a blue sticker and poorly park in the red lot. #mendrivetrucks

#smack my mouth is dry and tastes like #candy

superpowers. Sadly, it’ll be something lame like being able to shoot milk out of your eyes.

8. @Kollin_schaudt - junior Kollin

Scorpio (Oct. 24- Nov. 21) - This year you will win a gold medal in the Summer Olympics; You’ll become a national hero and get your face on a Wheatie’s box and everything!

3. @VanVark1823 - sophomore Blake Van Schaudt. I need to get less scandalous pajamas!

Vark. last family christmas... grab bag... got a shake weight. #bestgiftever

Everything hanging out... #feelthebreeze

4. @SarahVanMaanen - senior Sarah Van

Smart and sexy is trending? I didn’t realize that many people enjoy talking about me.

Maanen. Slam dunk! Touchdown! What sport are we playing? Baseball! #3yearolds

5.@wadepingel10 - junior Wade Pingel.

Constantly people tell me I can’t, doubt my abilities. All I can say is haters gon hate, just do it. #tacojohn’sandbackin10min

WhateverMan

9. @JewliaRose - senior Julia Stuckey.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22- Dec. 21) - The United States will start a war with Canada. After being drafted into the Army, you will be gravely injured in a moose-related attack.

Capricorn: (Dec. 22- Jan. 19) - You’ll become a prop comic this year. At least all the Leos out there know they don’t have the worst thing on the list!

10. @mandy_nossamon - freshman Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) - You will meet your true love this Valentine’s Day. (If you want, I’d be Mandy Nossaman. i wanna have the number one tweet in twitten by. #please

•Evan Jones (ej.pelladium@gmail.com)

•Micah Zeimetz

willing to set you up with the handsome boy who writes the horoscopes.)

Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20) - You’ll make the game winning basket in the seventh game of the NBA finals. I bet you didn’t even know you were a free agent.

• Jake Dorman (jrd.pelladium@gmail.com)

Into The Wild To celebrate the tardy arrival of winter, the two boys set off into the

High School Hazard •Jillian Sagers

wilderness on a quest to explore and celebrate nature’s beauty. They embarked from the North Overlook near the Red Rock Dam. Though the idea sounded good in the 68-degree school, the bros immediately regretted their decision as they stepped out of their vehicles into the biting wind and bone chilling temperature. Fear not! The intrepid explorers are not known to back down from a challenge, and nevertheless, they ventured into the wilderness.

After 20 minutes of gossiping like school girls, they had a startling realization. Aside from six Fiber One muffins that Evan ate, not knowing what they would do to him later, they had not had their afternoon snack!

Crippled by hunger, they collapsed in the snowy tundra and awaited death, but as Evan watched his tears fall into the snow, he saw, not six inches over, a single hoofprint, in the shape of a hoof! Filled with hopeful vigor, the two set off, fast on the trail of a deer.

After 30 minutes of intense tracking (which would’ve brought tears of pride to Squanto’s beady eyes), Evan became jealous of Alex’s superb skills and took the lead in an attempt to regain his manhood. Within five minutes, he lost the trail. Embarrassed, Evan abruptly ended the deer hunt, so the bros trekked back to their cars, with snow seeping beneath their ankle length socks, in silence.

The bros returned to their cars with hungry stomachs, potential third degree frostbite and clattering teeth that could put a jackhammer to shame. Having endured the brutal wilderness, they returned no longer bros, but men.

Men still have appetites though, so the two returned to Alex’s home and feasted. The bros then had to make an attempt to appear to be happy with each other in front of Alex’s siblings while they babysat them, much like your parents do for you. To assist with the babysitting was the Ropes’ baby sitter and the duo’s good pal, Tiffany Carter.

To keep the kids entertained, and Evan and Alex from ripping each other’s throats out, they decided to play Hide and Seek. It turned out to be an awful idea and culminated with the dramatic toppling of the holiday tree. Tiffany and Alex rushed to clean it up. Evan, who wasn’t terribly interested in cleaning, took the kids downstairs to go sift through Alex’s closet (this just led to the throwing of Alex’s underwear into Evan’s face), judge his clothes and talk about the pros and cons of Gap’s advertising campaign.

After a particularly bitter loss to Alex’s 11-year-old-sister in air hockey, Evan decided to cut his losses and declared he had “business to attend to.” He sulked out of the house, but even the stinging defeat was not enough to damage his child like ego permanently, or destroy his friendship with Alex.

Besides, they had to keep it together for the kids...like your parents.

•Evan Jones (ej.pelladium@gmail.com) •Alexander Ropes (ar.pelladium@gmail.com

12

PAGE EDITOR: MARIELLE GAISER

PHOTO

01. 31. 2012.

>>NEW YEAR. Sophomores Grace Byram, Mallory Lynch and Bri Buzick celebrate the end of 2011 and welcome 2012 at sophomore Shannon Ewing’s house. •Photo submittedœ >>VOCAL. Sophomore Tristan Miedema solos during the Acapella show choir parent preveiw. Students showcased their differents music selections, including three costume changes, a French-themed number and a stage raise. Their first performance was Jan. 21where AcaPella received first place in the day show and second overall at the DCG Take 2 Invitational. •Photo

by Marielle Gaiser

BEGINNING

>>BRO TIME. Seniors Trevor Wood and Brennan Mejia hug it out in the stands in celebration of another win for varsity boys’ basketball, this one against Pella Christian Jan. 13 with a final score of 76-64. “It felt good to win at home, especially against one of our biggest rivals. It was also really great being a senior and having a lot of frineds our there playing,” said Mejia. •Photo by Tiffany Carter

of a

New Year

As the new year started, students began new activities and celebrated a new year. Students kicked off the new year with wnter formal, show choir performances, basketball games, the Iowa Caucuses, and speech competitions. Another year of success began with a great jump start.

>>SPIRIT. Senior Hallie Von Bank cheers on the basketball team in the boys’ game against Pella Christian Jan.13. The Pella vs. Pella Christian game brings more viewers to any other basketball game of the entire basketball season. •Photo by Tiffany Carter

>>CHEESE. Winter Formal was held Jan. 14. Among those attending were freshman Kaila Wimmer, junior Leilone Rethmeier, freshman Todd Van Dyke, freshman Sally Ropes, senior Morgan Sprunk, senior Sierra Hrdlicka, sophomore Sydney Swanson. BACK: Sophmore Jordan Pingel, junior Jessica Widmar, senior Josh Ravenstein, junior Adam Saunders, sophmore Maria Belding, junior Jacob Vollmar, sophomore Derrick Akers, sophomore Kaylyn Roose. Over 300 attended the dance, sponsored by the student council. >>REPRESENT. A participant in the Iowa Caucus displays his candidate <<DRAMA. Senior of choice, Ron Paul. The Jordan Baker and Iowa Caucus ended with junior Sam Palmer the closest race in history. practice for the one•Photo by Tiffany Carter act play “Totally Red” for district speech competition Jan. 21. >>JUMPSHOT. Senior Brett The group received a Renaud participates in the Dollars “I” and advanced to for Scholars competition during compete at state Feb. 4. halftime of the Pella/Pella Chris•Photo by Jack Parisee tian varsity boys’ basketball game Jan. 13. •Photo by Tiffany Carter