December 18, 2018 ECHO Newspaper

When RHS Speaks, We

Echo

Rolla High School - 900 Bulldog Run - Rolla, Missouri 65401- Volume 70 - Issue 5 December 14, 2018 - www.rhsecho.com @rhsechonews

High school thespians collaborate with Drama Kids across district to spread cheer with performace of One Act holiday-themed shows

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Staff Writer

During the holidays, many people are left without gifts, food, and even someone to visit them.

RHS Student Council is very active in the community during the holiday season. In addition to visiting the St. James Veterans home, STUCO will be offering a giving tree to collect hats, gloves, and scarfs for those without. If interested, donations will be collected outside of the counseling center.

They will also be sponsoring families and

residents at a local nursing home and purchasing gifts for those who cannot afford to, or just don’t have the means.

“When we sponsor a family, we have to raise the money for the gifts, which we will do by offering to wrap gifts for staff and students. We’ll have more information on that soon. Then, we can shop according to the sizes and interests of who we are sponsoring” said president Ashley Barth.

This year’s winter spirit week is also an activity brought to the school community

by Student Council. The spirit week will be held December 10th through the 14th,

and there will be a door decorating contest for advisories. Most of the work done by STUCO for these events is by advertising, and they strongly encourage everyone to participate “STUCO’s door decorating contest and ways to raise money for sponsoring families are new this year. We have done the other projects in the past. I would love if STUCO would continue these traditions, and we are always up for new suggestions!

Rolla High School Drama Department, under direction of Kelli McNeven, continues its tradition of holiday one act performances. High school students pair up with elementary, middle school, and junior high students to rehearse and perform. This year, performaces were on December 4 at the Middle School auditorium. Proceeds from the performaces support the high school drama department.

“The younger kids have a lot of potential to be great actors someday,” Junior Erin Pfeifer said.

Photos taken by Nalani Massaro

The social norm: road rage is unncessary, dangerous b y

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To many, traffic jams are a frustrating daily disruption, and far too often used as an invalid excuse to be disrespectful to those also in traffic. Road rage is normalized nowadays; excessive rudeness to others is viewed as an acceptable response to the same frustration everyone in the situation experiences. Although often times, no one is at fault, there is no shortage of blame to be assigned.

If you were to individually ask a group of adults how they feel about traffic, you might receive a couple emphatic eye rolls, a sigh of exasperation, or even a fervent rant. The results would be mostly unanimous. “It’s a waste of my precious time,” or “I have important places to be.” In essence, you would likely receive an answer that reflects a strong sense of personal exceptionalism.

However, it is unlikely that you are any more important, or that you time is any more valuable than the woman in the car next to you. Part of the reason for our disproportionate reaction to traffic is the self-oriented mindset that has become the norm.

Traffic is a powerful, albeit unwanted, reminder that not everything is in our hands. Furthermore, it is one of the few

remaining things in modern society that favors no one--the money in your pocket or the fancy car you drive gives you no advantage. Traffic jams unite us--in frustration and anxiety oftentimes--but they unite us all the same.

Bordering on minor inconvenience, traffic is no reason to allow yourself to get hairy. The key to maintaining your composure is to remember everyone around you is in an identical position. Perhaps you do have an important business meeting at 2, but the woman next to you may be in labor with triplets. This is to say that you are unaware of the circumstances of those around you. For this reason, you should be calm and courteous, and do your best to give everybody the benefit of the doubt. Given others reciprocate this courtesy, your major traffic dilemma turns into a minor inconvenience--a bump in the road if you will. Break the social norm.

Note to Readers: This article will be the last issue of my beloved column “The Social Norm.” Next semester, a new column titled “How to be a Little Better” will take its place and continue through May of 2019. I’d like to thank my loyal readers for staying with me for the duration of “The Social Norm.”

New young adult romance hits shelves What’s your favorite genre to read?

Go to @rhsechonews Twitter and

Is it for you? b y

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Staff Writer

Sierra’s family has run a Christmas tree farm in Oregon for as long as she can remember. But, she doesn’t live there. Every year her family packs up and moves to California for the season. In a way, Sierra lives two lives; her regular life in Oregon, and her Christmastime life. Going back and forth makes her miss the other.

This Christmas is different, though.

Sierra meets someone. Caleb. This isn’t a normal romance story, as Caleb doesn’t have the most perfect reputation. He made an enormous mistake a few years ago, and

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continues paying for the consequence.

Although Sierra sees through this, very few agree with her. Caleb and Sierra are forced to face challenges they do not know how to handle, and swim through others misunderstandings and disapproval.

Caleb hopes for forgiveness as he is given a second chance by Sierra, but Sierra has her own complications switching between her two lives.

Complications they must deal with and their hope for the future clash with Caleb and Sierra’s possibility of a successful relationship, all while Sierra must prepare to leave. Will love really get them through this, or will they be forced to forget?

ECHO Staff

Letter from the Editor Senior Maia Bond

While December is the best month because of Christmas and time off school, it is also the time of Hallmark movies. I’m fairly certain the main source of seasonal depression is not the weather, it is these classic stories and second rate actors hired only because of their well known relatives.

No matter how much I hate the writing, acting, and blatant product placement, the formula for these movies must work because so many people watch them.

A woman lost her roots and moved to the Big City to pursue her dreams, but does not realize her real dreams are to be with her High School Sweetheart back home in Miracle, or Wish, or Hope, or basically any

Christmas word that could be made into a town name. Also her name is Noel, Angel, Christy, or any Christmas word that could be a name. The high school sweetheart she loves is also conveniently named Chris every time. They could only be more obvious if his name was Santa or Jesus.

Anyway, eventually she goes back to her sweetheart, obviously not without a quick five minute falling out before they reconvene for the finale. I understand this ‘if it is broke, don’t fix it’ mentality these producers have, but also I hate it and the entire concept is ridiculous, who wants to marry their biggest regret, the country boy they dated in high school?

Adviser: Mary Gillis Editor In Chief: Maia Bond Managing Editor: Kayla Copeland Copy Editor: Jace Swearingen Arts and Entertainment: Nalani Massaro Webmaster: Blaize Klossner Photography: Bailey Allison News: Taylor Miller

Opinion: Courtney Kelley Sports: Brandon Kirchner Feature: Lorren Black Staff Writers: Cameron Cummins, Julia Leventis, Lauren Ulrich, Rosalia Bolyard, Genevieve Huber, Emma Starns, Kate Brand

ECHO is an open forum for student expression. All letters to the editor must include the writer’s name, signature and class or position. Anonymous letters will not be published. ECHO reserves the right to reject any letters. Letters should be sent to ECHO, Rolla High School, 900 Bulldog Run, Rolla, MO 65401.

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ECHO is a member of Missouri Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association, and Quill & Scroll Honor Society

Snow, possible ingredienfor multitude of treats b y

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Snow has the potential to be the magical ingredient that might be missing in your otherwise bland recipes--so long as you do not fail to follow a few general guidelines.

Always check the consistency of your snow before preparing it. A vital mistake many people make is the assumption that all snow works for all recipes. Hardly! For instance, compact snow is preferable for

forming flavored ice pops, whereas fluffy snow is perfect for shaved ice. A mix-up or, even worse, not cultivating a developed understanding of snow consistency in the first place, is no small mistake. You risk compromising the quality of your recipe, and wasting the snow on the ground (especially if you are working with a quarter inch)! In conclusion, a brief alliteration may help you to remember this point: “Try testing to take!”

A second crucial misconception many people have is the idea that snow is just water.

Those people are likely the ones who do

not believe in happiness or sharing or balloons on holidays. Do not let others get you down. Know in your heart that snow is a magical substance that scientists fail to understand at this point. When possible, argue this point with others. Ice is water.

Snow is super secret special stuff.

This may come off as an obvious piece of advice, but I am always surprised at the lack of common sense displayed by the students of Rolla High School. I fail to see why this should be any exception. Always choose the white snow as opposed to the yellow snow under your dog’s leg or the

brown snow under your car’s tires. Need I say more?

Finally, let us discuss the endless possibilities that snow presents. Maple syrup pops, cherry slushies, chilled water? Put a snowball in the freezer and get it out during the summer. You will be grateful you saved a little bit of magic for the hotter months.

In conclusion, snow is for you and for me. Let us share something special this winter season. Happy holidays! Cheers: to snew and me!

Winter weather tips to make things easier Driving safely in icey weather b y

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Before heading out onto potentially dangerous roads, you might find it helpful to check the roads in your area. A great website for this, at least in Missouri is MoDot.org. If roads aren’t safe, try and avoid the potential danger of driving all together. But driving may be necessary

and unavoidable, in that case, a couple helpful tips should get you to where you you’re going.

Slow down and adjust your speed to the conditions.

Give snowplows plenty of room, and don’t pass them.

Always wear your seat belt.

Keep mirrors, windows and lights clean; keep your lights on.

Dressing for cold weather Winter in Missouri is often fickle. I can be sixty degrees and sunny one day, then thirty with a dash of sleet the next. Layering up is often the best way to handle the indecise weather. If you get too toasty, you can always take off your layers of hats and cozy mittens, but you can’t put on clothes you don’t have. Staying drr is always a must in the cold. Besides damp clothes being uncomfortable and satisfying, it’s also going to make you lose precious body heat.

Caring for a cold car Cars can have just as a rough in the cold as you, so keeping your car happy can be the difference between getting to school, and asking for a ride. Winterizing your car doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult, here’s a few tips.

Keep a flashlight handy in your trunk for low visibility Pop up your windshield wipers if you’re afraid to get them icy

Fuzzy friends love their families forever b y

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When I come home from a long day of school and practice afterwards, the first thing that greets me at the door is my dog.

Well, dogs. There are three of them, two Jack Russell terriers and a moose of a black lab. Feeling the two little ones jump on my legs in wild excitement and the big black moose pushing her cold, wet nose lovingly into my palm, it is hard to remember that not everyone loves dogs as much as I do. I cannot recall the exact moment that I started loving dogs so much, but I am certain that I could not live the rest of my life without one. There are several reasons why someone might not prefer dogs; some can be that dogs are messy, needy, and uncontrollable. And yet through all of your frustrations and annoyances, they still come back to you openly and love you unconditionally.

First, dogs are messy. They have wet

noses that want to get into everything.

Their favorite pastime appears to be rolling around in mud puddles and tracking their dirty little paw prints all over the floor. They get into the trash bin as soon as your back is turned. Granted, those are all good arguments against having a dog, but a dog is like a child. They are messy and they are carefree, but they love you where it most counts. Dogs should be cherished and nurtured like children. They should be allowed to make messes and mistakes sometimes, but the one responsible for correcting those mistakes when they happen is the owner. Perhaps it is easy to get frustrated with them, but all they need is a little love and guidance. If you have made a mistake or a mess, a dog will still love you so you should still love your dog through their messes.

Second, dogs are needy. They constantly whine at your feet, expecting to be entertained. They are repeatedly dropping their toys onto your lap. They are always begging for more treats even though you

have already fed them. In those situations, it can be very easy to get frustrated or even upset with your dog. What people often forget about, though, is putting themselves in their dog’s shoes. They have hardly seen you all day when you were at work or school, while they were cooped up in their boxes or dog pens. It is a treat, something to look forward to, or to get extra excited about when you are home. It is hardly their fault if they just want to spend time with someone they love. As the owner and the one to provide them with food, you are all that the dog has ever known and loved.

Dogs may seem needy, but they just want you to make a little time for them and give them some attention in your busy schedule.

Third and last, dogs are uncontrollable.

The new puppy never seems to stop; whether it is running in circles, nibbling at anything and everything, or licking every inch of your face that it can reach. In those wild moments, it can feel like dogs are wild and uncontrollable. You have prob-

ably once had dreams of a sweet, tamed furry best friend that likes nothing but to cuddle with you and be there for you. That is when reality takes a blow. While it is the nature of some dogs to be perfectly sweet and calm without any effort, no dog is perfect. One does not expect humans to be perfect, so why is it fair to expect dogs to be? In those moments of crazy excitement, your dog isn’t perfect, it is just being itself.

When all these expectations are put on a new dog, like potty training and trickslearning, the dog needs some down time to just be silly and happy.

On days when you’re not having it or when the whole world appears to be against you, do not forget that there is still a little furry bundle of love waiting for you at home. When its big, watery brown eyes are staring up at you, it seems like it understands all of your troubles. When you are sore and tired and in need of someone, your dog will be there for a warm, furry hug. That is when you know that dogs have unconditional love.

Teacher feature: Kelli McNeven b y

Photo taken by Bailey Allison

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Drama teacher, Kelli McNeven, enjoys the dramatic arts. She teaches the drama classes at Rolla High School, and a class at the Junior High for eighth graders.

McNeven is also a sponsor of International Thespian Society, which is an honor club for students who show excellence in theater. She is also a co-sponsor for Link Crew. McNeven directs all of the high school’s plays, which is a big responsibility. She directed the latest play, “The Good Doctor,” and will be directing “Oklahoma!” the spring musical showing eighth through tenths, and “Charlotte’s Web,” in April, which will be a district wide play.

“We just finished the play, the Good Doctor, by Neil Simon and Anton Chekhov, which is a comedy. It is a series of short stories that are all put together into one bigger play. This play went well, but we did not have as big of an audience as we had hoped. The actors did a good job and the audience we did have had really positive feedback. Everyone seemed to enjoy the show,” McNeven said.

McNeven enjoys working with high school aged kids.

“Since they are older, we are able to do more challenging work. They are able to perform plays that have more substance

to them than plays that I would select for younger students,” McNeven said.

When thinking about a career, McNeven did not expect to become a teacher.

“My career as a rockstar didn’t take off. I had entertained the idea of moving to New York and trying to make it as an actress,” said McNeven.

Even though this job is not what she originally wanted to do, McNeven found an interest teaching high schoolers what she loves.

“I really enjoy theater, and I knew in order to keep it in my life, that I would need to be a drama teacher to do that. I get to do it every single day and I don’t have to worry about whether or not I got the role.

I get to be the director all the time,” said McNeven.

Teaching drama is a passion to McNeven, and she enjoys sharing that passion with others.

“Seeing the growth in my students’ abilities, whether they are performing, building sets or taking on leadership roles. I like watching them apply the things I’ve taught them. I also like the variety. In the course of a day, I get to teach students how to use power tool, how to develop a believable character, and how to stage fight. There’s always something different that we are doing,” McNeven said.

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MS&T professor, students explore links between lakes on Earth, Mars b y

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When one mentions ‘lakes’ the immediate connotation is a large body of water, usually for swimming and watching fireworks over. However, Dr. Melanie Mormile is researching a different kind of lake located in Australia in hopes of discovering what kinds of life forms could have possibly lived on Mars.

“These lakes are interesting because they are very salty and very acidic. There are not many places here on Earth that you can find that. However, when you consider what has been found on Mars, it appears that there were ancient watery, salty, acidic environments,” Mormile said.

These lakes are able to form on Earth because of evaporation. A body of water filled with dissolved minerals evaporates, but the salts stay behind.

“In Australia, the groundwater has a lot of these different salts present in them.

Over time the groundwater rises up and these ephemeral lakes form. Some water is present but then it evaporates, so you have the deposition of the salts. Then more groundwater comes up as well as some rain, but it evaporates again, leaving more salt to build up,” Mormile said.

These lakes are few and far between on Earth, some popping up in Chile as well as Australia. However, lakes like these also happen to exist on Mars, one of the few similarities between the two planets.

“More fresh water was present, but as Mars lost it’s atmosphere, it also lost it’s water. Mars went through a period of time where it most likely had mildly salty water, but as the water evaporated away it was not being recycled because of the loss of

Flu season brings annual absenses b y

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The winter season brings a couple things; snow, Christmas, and sickness. Or, more commonly referred to as the flu. Most people run at the sound of the word, but there are also the ones who are not even sure what the flu actually is, or how the vaccinations can help.

Influenza, or more commonly known as the flu, is an extremely contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza A or B viruses. The flu appears most frequently in the winter and early spring. The flu virus attacks the body and the lungs. Because it is mostly in the chest, the flu can be mistaken as the common cold. Congestion, sore throat, and sneezing are common with cold. Both the common cold and the flu may bring coughing, headache, and chest discomfort. With the flu, however, people are more likely to run a high fever for several days and have body aches, fatigue, and weakness.

Symptoms of the flu also tend to come on abruptly. However, these are both different from what is knowns as the “stomach flu.” The stomach flu is a popular term, but not a true medical diagnosis. It is not uncommon to mistake gastroenteritis for the viral infection we know as the flu.

Viruses are the most common cause of the stomach flu. With gastroenteritis, symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Since all of these are viruses, they are also all able to be prevented. Because there are different strands of the flu that evolve each year, there is a new vaccination that you can get during the flu season. This vaccination is not guaranteed to prevent the flu, but there is a good chance that it can help. It can also be prevented by washing hands frequently and not sharing things like drinks or utensils. Cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, get plenty of rest, and drink lots of fluids. Stay warm and healthy this flu season!

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atmosphere and the planet became drier and drier,” Mormile said.

As the water evaporated away, what remained became more concentrated and increased the salinity and acidity. On Earth, the water is cycled because of the atmosphere, kept intact through the the magnetic north and south poles. Earth has an iron core surrounded by a liquid iron layer, creating a kind of dynamo, causing the magnetic poles. Mars lost it’s atmosphere, and although the reasoning is not definitive, some theories have arisen.

“Mars is one third the size of Earth.

Even if [Earth and Mars] began with very similar cores, and even though we have this solid iron core, it is incredibly hot and has strong pressure keeping it solid. With Mars, because of it’s size, [researchers] think it cooled faster,” Mormile said.

The successful landing of Insight, a robotic lander designed to study the the interior of Mars, provides hope of finding the conclusive answer to the question of Mars’ atmosphere.

Current day Mars is incredibly dry, but minerals found on the planet suggest that at one point it did house standing bodies of salty water. Mormile confirms the ultimate meaning of the similarities between Earth and Mars: “It means, and not for millions of years, but Earth will probably become Mars like,” Mormile said.

There is a considerable amount of talk about terraforming Mars, making the planet more like Earth, but Mormile speculates about how expensive it is and questions how successful the process would be.

However effective that process would be, Mormile is optimistic about what her studies could lead to. This link of lakes between

Earth and Mars could possibly open a door to better understanding the dry planet.

“What we are hoping to do is, by understanding the microorganisms in these lakes in Australia, we will have an idea of what could have possibly been able to live in those ancient environments on Mars,” Mormile said.

These microorganisms would most likely be single cell, extremely basic life forms, if there even was life present. In order to understand these miniscule life forms, Mormile, colleagues and her students extracted the DNA present in the water, sediments, and groundwater of the lake.

“After that, a colleague at Georgetown University, Sarah Stewart Johnson, and her students did the metagenomic analysis. Essentially they took the DNA and sequenced it. Then with those sequences, they determined the types of bacteria and other microorganisms present,” Mormile said.

Though there has been no definitive evidence of life anywhere besides Earth, but with the results from Mormile’s and her colleague’s research, they “can possibly look for biomarkers of possible previous life.”

These biomarkers are a result of when an organism dies, but certain cellular structures degrade slower and could still be preserved in salt on Mars.

In the lakes in Australia, Mormile and her associates have gathered unexpected results of protozoa able to thrive in the extreme environments. In turn, she is hoping to be able to work towards aiding the Earth, not only learning about Mars.

“What we are hoping to do is get a better understanding of these organisms like the protozoa and bacteria to better understand

things here on Earth. In these lakes, there are lots of sulfur and iron present. If we can better understand the biogeochemical structures of sulfur and iron, we can possibly use them to benefit us,” Mormile said.

Another interest area of Mormile’s is bioremediation, taking microorganisms to use them for cleaning up polluted environments. She believes these extreme bacteria from the lakes could help.

“There are plenty of contaminated areas that have lots of salt present. Typically bacteria don’t handle salt well, they simply shrivel up and die. We can possibly use these extreme ephelec bacteria at these sites that have been contaminated,” Mormile said.

Her immense interest and research into these microorganisms and what they could bring about in terms of discovery across planets stemmed from simply wanting research collaborators.

“One of the things I studied was the microorganisms that become trapped in salt as it forms. I wanted to find someone else who was also interested in this, but a geologist. I found that Dr. Kathleen Benison was interested in this research, so we invited her to do a seminar here at MS&T. With that, we were able to find that we had a lot of mutual research interests. We wrote our first proposal about 15 years ago.

That is where it began,” Mormile said.

Within this process, Mormile has worked with countless colleagues and stresses that she “hasn’t been able to do this research by myself. There have been wonderful collaborators as well as great students here who have helped me do this.”

Holisitc medical options Finals schedule, available in, around Rolla study tips for success b y

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As finals are just around the corner, it is never too early to start preparing for the dreaded week. Studying earlier can help students understand what is going on in their classes and what they need to know for the big test. Junior Kate Mallery prepares by studying every day.

“Study every night. Even just reading over what I learn every day for like five minutes when I have time after school helps so much. That way I’m not cramming when finals come; I already know the material” Mallery said.

Reading over notes and rewriting vocabulary are things to help remember specific things better. Senior Olivia Holmes shares on what helps her for specific classes.

“I read over notes, especially in math and science, and I work problems out that I think will be on the test. I also get all projects out of the way as soon as possible so I won’t even have to think of them during finals week,” Holmes said.

While reading over material, take note of terms, dates, and formulas that you need to know, practice a few problems, or read on the subject more if it is hard to remember. If struggling with a foreign language, use a mnemonic or phrase to remember.

“For Latin, it helps if I hear the words out loud, so I make my little sister quiz me on vocab. If it does come down to crunch time, I like to fold a sheet of notebook paper in half hotdog style. Then I write numbered questions about the material in one column, with respective answers on the other side. That way I can fold the paper in half and quiz myself instead of passively glazing over information,” Mallery said.

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Health conditions are traditionally treated with specific medicinal tactics. Surgeons specialize in surgery, physical therapists provide rehabilitation to patients, and chiropractors help relieve muscle pains. Medicine has various ways of aiding patients in areas of concern, but holistic medicine, a form of medicine that considers all aspects of the human body: body, mind, spirit, and emotions, may prove to be as or more beneficial for retaining general wellness.

Certified Nurse Midwife and holistic nurse at the Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla, Karen Ulrich, believes holistic medicine is a good way for patients to help themselves.

“By practicing holistically, I help my patients be part of their own healing. They help figure out what things might be making their symptoms worse, and we work together to come up with a plan that will work for them to improve their health,” Ulrich said.

While the holistic approach may not have as much scientific research as traditional medicine to prove its effectiveness, it is an option many people take into bettering their health. As stated here in article “Why Do People turn to Alternative Medicine,” written by Steven Novella, he received an email from a skeptic of alternative medicine who experienced back pain, that later said he received the best treatment by reading John Sarno’s book on Healing Back Pain. “‘I followed his treatment program, which involved completely foregoing standard treatment, throw away the meds, do serious back exercises etc; because those mainstream treatments reinforce to the mind that the problem is physical and not psychosomatic, and this perpetuates the process. Within a couple weeks, I was completely pain free and have been for the past 20 years. I do not accept some of Sarno’s hypothesis (that the pain acts as a “distraction from repressed tension), but I am 100 percent convinced in the underly-

ing cause in my own case; there is simply no other explanation for the evolution of my pain and how it reacted to ‘treatment’ the pain switching locations, and a number of sensory symptoms that would be impossible for me to verbally describe to you,’” The anonymous person said.

Among other things, holistic methods prove to be a reliable source for general wellness. In replace of medication prescribed by a standard doctor, holistic treatment has a more natural approach.

“Holistic medicine and nursing use tools that are often called Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), or sometimes called integrative medicine. There are so many different types of treatment. Some examples include: relaxation, meditation, touch therapies (message, reiki, acupressure, reflexology), acupuncture, aromatherapy, and herbal therapy. Another important part of holistic care is being present, and really listening to your patient to find out what is really going on in their lives that brought them to the office or hospital. A simple example would be a patient who is having trouble sleeping. Sure I can recommend a sleep medicine, but what is going on in their lives that might be causing stress? Then I talk about relaxation techniques to wind down and maybe using lavender essential oil in a diffuser. Traditional medicine, or ‘Western’ medicine, tends to focus on the pure anatomy and physiology of a human body. It can sometimes overlook the important influence of emotions, mental health, and spirituality on the physical body. It can almost be mechanical, like you take your car into the shop to be fixed,” Ulrich said.

While pills work to an extent, there are things that pills cannot heal.

“It was clear to me early on in my nursing career that each patient has a complex situation that cannot be fixed just by taking a pill. The mind and spirit have a major influence over a person’s physical wellbeing. Holistic practices give me tools to truly care for my patients-mind, body, and spirit,” Ulrich said.

Artist of the month Athlete of the month

Photos courtesy of Rob Barth b y

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Opinion Editor

Kids dream of making it big. They dream of being up on stage in front of thousands, maybe even millions of strangers who are there just to have a good time and enjoy some music. Many artist’s often start out from humble beginnings, and practice the art that they love just for pure enjoyment, but some take it farther. One local artist who is on the rise has set his sights of the big stage: Freshman Brody Light.

“For me, music started in preschool, we would start every day by singing silly little songs. My first performance was in Kindergarten, when I sang for the Wyman talent show. I honestly think my parents were more nervous than I was,” Light said.

Light is a participating member of Chamber choir at Rolla High School, All-District Honors Choir for Missouri, and part of of the community jazz choir. In addition to his singing, Light also plays various instruments, playing several ranging from strings to brass.

“I play guitar and trumpet mainly, but I’m learning a lot of other string instruments on my own, mainly bass and guitar,” Light

said.

Light is fourth chair trumpet player in Symphonic band at Rolla High School, guitar player for the jazz ensemble at Rolla High School, and a part of the All-District Honors jazz ensemble. Light takes guitar lessons with Jason Adams at Merle’s Music once a week as well.

Light has many inspirations within his life, and has many people who have been there for him to cheer him on throughout the course of his musical career so far.

“I don’t have one big inspiration, really.

Mr. Martin, Wyman’s music teacher while I was there, made music fun and exciting for me. My grandpa bought me my first guitar. He has always encouraged me and has always pushed me to do more. Ms. Nevel, the music teacher at the middle school, pushed me to sing more in choirs, and helped me build my reputation. My dad has worked extra jobs at times to get me the instruments, the funding, anything money wise that I have needed. My mom has hauled me around to the numerous practices for the four choirs, the three bands I’m in. I owe it to them for what I have today,” Light said.

Light uses his vocal and instrumental music as a way to deal with any hardships he experiences.

Light lives by a quote he created that is very near and dear to him. It helps him through the roughest times in his career.

“To keep from thirst, we have water. To keep from hunger, we have food. To keep from madness, we have music,” Light said.

“Music is my escape from everything. If I’m sad, I pick up my guitar and play for an hour or two until I feel better. I know whatever I’m dealing with is a big problem if music doesn’t help. Learning music is also like learning another language. Notes instead of words, singing instead of speaking. It’s a beautiful language that is the same in every country,” Light said.

Light feels like the stage is his home away from home. When he is up on stage performing, je feels he is as safe as he is at his own home.

“When you get up on stage and you have the crowd in front of you, you can leave all of your problems at the door. Nothing can touch you, bother you, or hurt you for however many minutes you are up there,” Light said.

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Zack Fennell is a two time state qualifier and current Rolla High School junior wrestling captain. He has been involved in wrestling since the sixth grade and loves the sport and competition that is a part of wrestling.

“Wrestling is different from any other sport. It doesn’t matter how big you are or how smart you are you can still succeed when you give it your best,” Fennell said.

So far, Fennell has placed sixth and third in state. He has worked hard his freshman and sophomore year to be able to make it to the top, and he is continuing to put in the work so that he can accomplish his goals this year.

“I’m not the young guy anymore, so maturity is definitely going to play a huge role this year. I have grown a lot mentally and physically, and that is going to help me a lot this season,” Fennell said.

He plans to go to state once again by putting in the hard work that is needed to make it to the top.

“Going into practice and working as hard as I can everyday, also learning form my experiences, that is what will make me the best,” Fennell said.

Besides going to state, Fennell has big plans for his team as well. As team captain, he wants the best for his team, and that means setting high goals for them.

“I want my team to win state champion-

ship, and I want individual state championship. We have a lot of good wrestlers this year,” Fennell said.

As Fennell and the wrestling team are poised for a successful season, look out for Rolla wrestling to take its place as one of the top school in the state.

“I just want the team to succeed, and I want myself to succeed too,” Fennell said.

Photos courtesy of Zack Fennel

Trap shooting team shines in its season b y

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Most people think of football, baseball, and soccer as high school sports, but one often goes unnoticed: trap shooting. Trapshooting is competitive clay pigeon shooting. Many people are unaware of the Rolla High School trap shooting team. With season starting in September and ending at the beginning of November, coach Randy Stockstill believes it is a great way to spend your Monday afternoon, “It’s really fun, it’s safe. People talk about guns in a bad light, but it’s a very safe sport. Great way to enjoy the outdoors, and it’s just a great way to compete,”Stockstill said.

They ended this years season on the right path, and Stockstill is excited for next year, as he’s already been setting goals.

“Personally I have some goals. I’d like to see some more shooters come join us,” Stockstill said.

They will be losing some helpful leaders

Photo courtesy of Wyatt Sowers

as some graduate, but Stockstill is pleased with this years new comers.

“We competed in Lickening, that was the other trap shoot that we did this year, and I was really really pleased how the guys shot down there, and competed. I believe we were 7th or 8th out of about 16 - 17 teams. So we were middle of the pack. That was the first competitive trap shoot that they’ve been to, but they averaged pretty good. So I’d just love to see us be more competitive. Maybe get up into that top 5 consistency next year. “ Stockstill said.

Beau Black Senior encourages interested students.

“I think if you wanna do it then you should, because it’s a lot of fun,”Black said.

He learned that it was a mental sport saying that “It’s more mental than anything else.”

He also encourages anyone that enjoys being outside and some good competition to look into joining the trap shooting team.

RHS cheerleading perseveres through coach changes b y

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This year in the cheer program, there has been a change. The previous head cheer and varsity coach, Rachel Green retired from her high position last year halfway through the season. This led to confusion as the remaining coaching staff had to decide how to arrange the program to fill in the gaps. In preparation for this season, two new coaches were added to the staff- Coach Wrightsman and Coach Wells.

Wrightsman and Wells are the junior high cheer coaches and the former junior high coach Coach Crecelius was moved up to

head varsity coach.

Crecelius shares some of her thoughts in taking on this big role.

“I was nervous at first taking on such a big role for a couple of reasons: being the varsity coach meant being the program leader, which is a big responsibility. I had never coached high schoolers before and I didn’t know how they would respond to my coaching style. I didn’t really quite know what all my responsibilities would be until I got into the season, so I was learning a lot on the job. I was also excited because I had a lot of ideas that I wanted to implement with the varsity squad and the program as a whole,” Crecelius said.

When asked how this season was compared with previous ones, the responses were immediately positive.

“This season has by far been one of the best years I have ever participated in. This year is full of a closer team in all.

We get along easy and work well together and just have a fun time,” Junior Chloe Lortz said.

In regards to the accomplishments this year, Senior Varsity Captain Brooke Henry replied enthusiastically.

“I’m 100 percent satisfied with what our squad has accomplished this year, from bring home the title from cheer camp three years in a row, and pushing ourselves to hit

all of our stunts, really shows how strong we are,” Henry said.

Crecelius is proud of all the team has accomplished and believes they have come out on top despite the changes thrown their way.

“I love how this season has gone!

We have good days and bad days but we have always come out on top. The girls work so hard on their dances and sideline stunts and it shows. Their performances have all been near perfect and they are forming lasting friendships on the squad and that’s more than I could ask for,” Crecelius said.

Photos courtesy of Claudia Burns

Working through holidays, a reality for many retail employees b y

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Most are fond of the holiday season; a time for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and everything in between. The season is welcomed across the country with open arms as students anticipate winter break and parents look forward to some much needed family time. But for many high school students, the time that should be spent relaxing can turn into the opposite of a break. With the pressure for teenagers to get jobs once they turn sixteen, many working students pick up more

6 Sports

hours during their school’s holiday breaks.

“I have to work most holidays because I work for my parents. You would think we’d get to spend that time together still but I end up missing the time I spend with them a lot because work can get so busy,” senior, Abby Huskey said.

As with any subject, there are opposing sides to this debate. Some would say teenagers should not spend most of their school holidays working part-time because their academic performance may be affected. Schools grant holidays off to give students a much needed break after the weight of the semester, and as a result

they are able to come back to school after their break well rested and ready to start up again.

“When I work over a break and come back to school, I don’t really feel as rested as I used to before I got a job. It always feels like the break went by way too fast,” Huskey said.

On the opposing side, some see nothing wrong with students working over their holidays. They are able to focus more on their jobs and work more hours, resulting in more money and experience that is needed in the future. Students’ jobs inevitably will not have holiday “breaks” once

they graduate, so some would argue they should experience working on big holidays.

Alternatively, it could be argued that teens should be able to celebrate and relax with their families while they still can, because once they are in college or working full time, they may not be able to get away or travel home.

“I do like my job, and I’m glad I know what it’s like to work before I go out and get my first serious job. And the extra money is obviously a plus. It’s nice to be able to afford quality gifts for my family, or sometimes even myself,” Huskey explained.

Bulldogs show off talent at annual ‘Talent Show’ hosted by leadership class b y

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Rolla High School’s school-wide talent show took place on the evening preceding Thanksgiving break, Tuesday, November 20th. The show was put on by Leadership and headed by senior Kat Conaway.

“This was my first event like this and I’m really glad for the experience. I grew a lot as a person and I’m not afraid of putting on a big [event] all by myself,” said Conaway.

Lyndsi Blakley, hosting with Jeron Hicks, spoke on her first time experience.

“When Kat asked me to MC, I was really honored. We actually got rid of the script partway through because we wanted to im-

prov and have a little fun. And I think the crowd was pretty responsive,” said Blakley.

However, this was not Blakley’s first rodeo—prior to the talent show, she hosted Night of Theatre last spring.

“I hosted Night of Theatre with Riley Stevenson, but I think we stuck to the script a bit more with that one. [The talent show] one was way more fun--just to get to play around with it and take the show wherever we wanted,” said Blakley.

Hicks seemed to have just as much of a blast as Blakley.

“I hadn’t seen [the contestants] perform, so I was a lot like the audience in that way.

I was definitely impressed; we always have great talent here and I’m always proud of it,” said Hicks.

Sophomore Adalia Valentine received second place overall for her impassioned reciting of a poem by Maia Mayor.

“I’ve loved poetry for as long as I can remember; it is beautiful and brings different emotions to different people. People relate to poems and it makes them feel like they aren’t alone,” Valentine said.

In addition to her own act, Valentine was satisfied by the contributions of her fellow contestants.

“The other acts were unique and amazing, and I’m very proud of everyone who participated this year,” said Valentine.

Sophomore Serra Ward placed third overall for her singing and ukulele playing.

“I was crazy nervous until I got on stage and started playing ukulele. I calmed down

a bit. Honestly, I didn’t expect to place at all--I just knew I wanted to perform,” Ward said.

When prompted for her advice to those considering participating in next year’s show, Ward responded thoughtfully.

“The talent show was something I’d never done before, so to do it and be so comfortable with the people around me was a great experience. I simply can’t wait to do it next year, and I highly advise you to try it!” Ward said.

Overall, it seems the 2018 Talent Show was a triumphant success, and its participants look forward to next year’s.

“I hope more people get the courage to do it [participate] next year. It’s an amazing feeling,” Valentine said.

December: This month in history b y

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December 1, 1989: Mikhail Gorbachev became the first Soviet Russian leader to visit the Vatican and meet the Pope, thus ending 72 years of strict atheist policy in Communist Russia.

December 2, 1804: Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned Emperor of France by Pope Pius VII in Paris.

slavery nor involuntary servitude, save as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

December 9, 1992: Buckingham Palace announced the separation of Prince Charles and Princess of Wales, Dianna.

December 8, 1941: A day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States and Britain declared war on Japan.

December 10, 1901: The first Nobel Peace Prizes were awarded worth $30,000 each.

Nobel, a Swedish chemist, had died five years earlier leaving the fortune he had amassed from his invention dynamite, to the awarding foundation.

December 6, 1865: The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified abolishing slavery, stating, “Neither

December 13, 1642: New Zealand was discovered by Dutch navigator Abel Tasman of the Dutch East India Company.

December 14, 1799: George Washington died at Mount Vernon.

December 14, 1911: Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first person to reach the South Pole.

December 15, 1791: The Bill of Rights becomes part of the United States Constitution providing protection for the basic rights of the individual to free expression and justice.

December 15, 1964: Canada adopted a new national flag featuring a red maple leaf on a white background.

death penalty in England

December 23, 1922: The world’s first regular entertainment radio broadcasts are transmitted by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

December 23, 1987: Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager set a new world record of 216 hours of continuous flight around the world without refueling. Their aircraft Voyager traveled 24,986 miles at a speed of about 115 miles per hour.

December 27, 1927: Josef Stalin consolidated his power in Soviet Russia by expelling rival Leon Trotsky from the Soviet Communist Party.

December 16, 1969: The British House of Commons voted 343-185 to abolish the

Service clubs, nonprofit agencies provide opportunity help those in need

Photo taken by Bailey Allison b y

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As Christmas approaches, Rolla has become --- with the traditional symbols of

the holiday season. Christmas trees and wreaths adorn shop windows, the radio is overflowing with renditions of “Jingle Bells”, and neighborhoods shine with the fluorescent glow of Christmas lights.

Among these symbols are the annual signs and announcements for holiday charity.

The phrase “the best gift is giving” appears to ring true in Rolla during the holiday season. Almost every organization has their own version of a Christmas charity or drive. For example, GRACE will be hosting over 400 hundred families in the Rolla area by providing gifts and food. The Optimist Club of Rolla’s annual Christmas tree sale will be using their profits to provide free sports programs to Rolla’s youth. The Chamber of Commerce is launching their annual Give Christmas program that provides various businesses and organizations with “angel trees” that collect gift donations for children in need.

Among these programs are also the small individual acts of kindness that provide their own form of charity, such as friendly gift exchanges and visits with family. Ashley Brooks, the executive director of the Rolla Mission, explains why there appears to be an influx of such charity during the Christmas season.

“I think the needs are year round, but around the holidays people are in the mindset to reflect and look at all the things they’re thankful for. That naturally turns to like, ‘Wow, there are people out there who do not have a home at Christmastime, who don’t have a family to sit down with,’.

That turns to, ‘So how can I help? How can my family give back this Christmas?’”

Brooks said.

The Mission is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those in poverty in the Rolla area through providing various services, including a warm place to stay during the winter and hot meals. This Christmas, the Mission will be having their own version of an “angel tree,” which will provide needed items for their patrons.

“We just got our first [requests] back yesterday, and it was this husband and wife.

She really needed a coat for this winter and he really needed long johns and winter boots. It’s just a way for people to get those needs and ask for something from their wishlist,” Brooks said.

The Rolla Mission was originally founded by the Vineyard church. While they have since separated to be an independent organization, many of their volunteers and support come from members of Rolla’s churches.

“The churches are constantly looking for outlets for that and they just haven’t had a way to do that. They haven’t been able to really meet the people who are the most in need, the people who are homeless that are hungry that Christ called us specifically to help,” said Brooks.

Churches and religious organizations are often the biggest proponents of charity in communities across America. During December alone, 30% of annual charity donations are collected, which can be attributed to the -- of Christmas.

“I don’t know how many people have come into the Mission from different churches and they just thank us for giving them the opportunity to help. They have this desire to help, but they haven’t had an opportunity to get in there and have this hands-on experience helping someone, folding their laundry, washing their dishes, and just talking to them,” Brooks said.

Rolla’s Salvation Army, another religiously affiliated organization, also runs charity programs during the holidays.

Their contributions will be focused on small, personalized efforts to raise spirits during the holidays.

“This year we have a couple families that we’re adopting that have been in some really bad situations, so we’re doing that on top of which we’re doing something for the nursing home,” Salvation Army Case Manager Bri Delafuente said.

“I think time is the best gift in the world, whether you’re volunteering with a charity organization or going to spending time with someone who doesn’t normally have someone to spend time with. That’s the greatest gift you could give anyone,” Delafuente said.

7 News

Christkindl Markt

connects Rolla, German sister city

Photo courtesy of City of Rolla’s website, feating Rolla’s sister city b y

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The Rolla Christmas parade is a cherished celebration that takes place every year, and this years’ celebration was just as festive and fun as ever. While the parade may be considered a valued tradition, perhaps even more culture and tradition was found afterwards in the Christkindl Markt. The Christkindl Markt is a traditional German Christmas market that is held downtown each year after the Christmas parade in honor of Rolla’s sister city, Sondershausen, Germany.

America’s sister city program was formed

by President Roosevelt after World War

II in an effort to rebuild relationships and cross-cultural understanding between American and European countries. Rolla’s sister city was established in the 90’s, after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Since then, the Rolla Sister City Association has attempted to maintain the relationship between Sondershausen and the Rolla community.

Madonna Woelk, Chair of the Sister City Association, has assisted in these efforts, the most prominent of which being the Christkindl Markt.

“Christkindl is a Christmas market where you have food, entertainment, and handmade crafts. This is something where people would get together during advent time with their friends and family. That’s their meeting point for the season,” Woelk

said.

This years market was equipped vendors selling traditional German food such as schnitzel, potato pancakes, and Glühwein (mulled wine). Entertainment was provided by the Rolla German Band and other musical ensembles, choirs, and dancers.

The Eco Miners manned the recycle station and provided reusable cutlery in order to showcase Germany’s sustainable mindset.

The event’s purpose was to share German customs with Rolla’s citizens and to foster a positive holiday spirit that would have been found in an authentic German market in our sister city of Sondershausen. “[Germans] have a special word, “gemutlichkeit,” that means a feeling of togetherness. There’s not one English word that

can translate it. It’s cozy and a feeling of comfort when you get together. That’s the feeling they try to get for the Christkindl market, and you see that here today,” Woelk said.

As well as hosting the Christkindl Markt, the Sister City Association has organized the exchange of delegates between Rolla and Sondershausen. A group of delegates from Rolla, including Woelk, visited Sondershausen in ---. Sondershausen shares some similar characteristics with Rolla, including size, geographic features, and a mining connection. Rolla’s delegates were also able to experience Sondershausen’s unique culture and customs..

“The Sister City Program lets you learn from other people because of course you’re not going to be the same. I think from experiencing any culture, you learn not only about a different culture but about yourself,” Woelk said.

Frau Luek, the high school’s German teacher, was one of the delegates who had the opportunity to visit Sondershausen.

Luek also sees value in cross-cultural experiences and shares her own experiences with the German students of RHS. By having a German sister city, Rolla’s German students are given more opportunities to experience German culture.

“International travel is expensive and a lot of families can’t afford that opportunity. Foreign language is the best second option for students. Cultural understanding of the language is vital to learning that language,” Luek said.

Having a sister city not only aids in the cultural understanding of Rolla’s students, but in the town as a whole.

“Being able to see someone else’s life does make you appreciate what you have at home, but it also allows you to see the world through someone else’s perspective.

I think that anytime you have the chance to do that it makes the world a better place,” Luek said.

A commercialized Christmas season is a symptom of a nation in moral crisis b y

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Christmas is understandably a holiday many people can enjoy. From warm hot chocolate by the fire, to participating in the festivity of games and movies, this holiday has a lot to offer. However, as a holiday that promotes “giving back”, one may wonder why Christmas is so commercialized.

This early commercialization can even be seen with Black Friday shopping. Stores like Walmart and JCPenney start Black Friday sales on Thanksgiving, a holiday meant to bring thanks and appreciation, but what does that say about the intent of these stores or shoppers? According to Katy Langston Combs, employee at Red Door Gifts, she understands the reasoning of both sides to the issue.

“I think businesses wouldn’t put it out if people weren’t buying it. For us, we get Christmas items in July, but we do store it and hold on to it until November or mid-October, and then put it out. This year we put them out on October 15th, and that was the earliest we’ve ever done it, and I was so glad that we did. People were interested in buying it. Once the 4th of July’s over, not a lot people are going to decorate.

So would you rather see empty shelves because for us we have a lot of stuff kept in the back, but I feel like full shelves are better than empty shelves,” Combs said.

Along with the financial benefits of selling Christmas products relatively early, Combs believes it can be justified.

“For us, our prices are not just made up out of the blue. I hunt on market for the most affordable things I can find, and then our prices reflect what the manufacturer charged out. It’s not like, ‘Oh well I’m gonna charge a $150 for this because I can,’ it’s just based on what I had to pay to get that product. We also sell a lot of ten to 15 dollar gifts because people can overspend. I don’t think it’s good for people to overextend themselves to buy gifts and to spend more than they truly can, but I don’t know that we see a lot of that here. We see a lot of people that they openly tell you, ‘This is my budget, will you please help me find something within it,’ and then we do,” Combs said.

As stated by Pew Research Center, 90 percent of Americans and 95 percent of Christians say they celebrate Christmas.

This undeniably shows how vastly this holiday is cherished regardless of religious and commercial beliefs. A shopper at Red Door Gifts who wanted to remain anonymous believes Christmas lifts the spirit.

“Sometimes you go places, and because it’s Christmas time, there’s Christmas music and people smile at each other, but it can also be the opposite, if you’re shopping and it’s Black Friday, people can get mean.

But generally I think people’s spirits get nicer. I like that the most, don’t you?” The

shopper said.

The debate over whether too much commercialization of Christmas exists depends on many factors, but of those factors, consumers have a lot of influence on those decisions.

“I think that Christmas is commercialized, and it’s just a choice that people have to make themselves like, ’Okay, I’m not going to get so wrapped up in this and over spend,’ And I know some people are unhappy with how early things get decorated and I’ve even had customers come in and say, ‘Well, it’s not even Thanksgiving yet,’ but I’m telling you, the day after Thanksgiving, it’s like instantly it should be Christmas. And it’s not instant, I mean it takes weeks and weeks to get ready. But for the most part, people are happy to see Christmas and they’ll say, ‘I’m not even ready for Christmas yet, but I’m glad to see your stuff and I’ll be back in a couple weeks to buy,’ But we will never put Christmas out in August or July,” Combs said.

The hours spent putting up decorations also show the dedication stores and society have to keeping the spirit of the season alive.

“To get this amount of product out and make it look good is a lot of work. It’s like a clock just flips and people come in and they want everything to be Christmas, but it takes weeks to get to that point. I mean, it takes us hundreds of hours to get the

store ready for the holiday. So because of that, I can see why retailers decorate early ‘cause once consumers are ready, there’s no, ’Oh come back next week and we’ll have our stuff out,’ you have to have it out when consumers are ready. But people do love it, and they are shopping for it, so it kind of is profitable to go ahead and put it out,” Combs said.

The consumers at Red Door Gifts believes consumerized commercialization negatively impacts this holiday.

“They spend too much. They need to stay home with their kids, and let them enjoy what Christmas is about: the birth of Jesus Christ, and the joy of being with family. Going out, maxing their credit cards, not paying their house payments, call me to borrow money, and they think that’s Christmas. So no, I don’t like it,” shopper said.

While there are various beliefs and ways of spending this holiday, there is always something one can appreciate from Christmas.

“I put my Christmas tree up and my little girl helped me. It was a fun thing that we did together and she’s so excited about it, so I think it’s good because it does help build memories. I mean, I know most people don’t decorate super early and that’s understandable, but it’s a good feeling that you get see everybody you care about and have fun,” Combs said.