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Youthful journalism Each year the Ravalli Republic offers students from local schools the chance to show us what we can expect from the next generation of journalists. Their work Perry Backus never fails to Editor enlighten us all. And, often as not, it also offers a chance to smile once or twice. This year is no exception. From charming creative classifieds advertisements that can’t help but make you grin to well written editorials that will certainly make you think, the work of this year’s young journalists is as thought provoking as it is fun. This year’s crop of editorial cartoons offered insights to youthful thinking on a variety of current events. The weather art is – as always – just delightful. And the advertisements are forever fun to peruse. We here at the Ravalli Republic would like to especially thank all the teachers who took time out of their busy schedules to talk with their students about the importance of newspapers and offer them a chance to try their hand on our craft. Thanks again to you all for a job well done.
Editorial writing Wolvles in the Bitterroot Wolves. Just simply speak this word to Bitterroot Valley residents and you will get a scowl. Recently the reintroduction of wolves has become a topic of great debate in Montana. As an avid hunter and outdoorsman, I have noticed an abundance of wolf tracks, but deer and elk have vanished from usual hunting spots.
Four-day school week The idea of a four-day school week here at FlorenceCarlton School has been tossed around lately; what’s with take home surveys and online polls in an attempt to gather the public’s opinion of such a change. But what would the change entail? The reasons behind such a change are many, but it mostly boils down to the frugality of the school board. Also, they bring up the fact
School uniforms Should students be required to wear uniforms? I say no. Uniforms take away the individuality from the student and the school. Kids wouldn’t be able to express who they are anymore. School officials say school uniforms are equalizers. It’s not like if students get uniforms that bullying will stop and everyone will suddenly become nice and friendly to
Introducing predators to the environment is not a bad thing, but at least do it with some control. On hunting trips when I have come up empty-handed, the only thing game wardens wanted to know at the game-check stations was about the predators that I have seen. In fact, I saw mountain lions, spotted, which leads me to believe that the information they collect is not entirely accurate. Reintroduction of preda-
tors to Montana’s forests is something that can be done with the proper steps. The government needs to get their facts straight and not allow wolves to take the Montana way of life away from the people who hold it dear. Kendall Cotton 10th grade Florence Carlton High School Ms. Murphy
that families would be given a whole extra day to spend with their children. What they don’t realize is that most parents would be working on either the Monday or Friday that was eliminated from the school week. I doubt these working families want their child sitting at home doing who-knows-what all day. No matter how you put it, the change would only negate the students this community so earnestly tries to help. With either a much longer school day or a much shorter
summer vacation, the students at FCHS would have to pay the price for the district’s whims. Whether or not the fourday school week is put into effect, I hope the powersthat-be take some real time to analyze the pros and cons of such a decision before rushing to a money-saving conclusion. Sam Mendoza 11th Grade Florence-Carlton School Emily Murphy
the entire universe. Sorry to say, but there are mean people in the world, and mere clothes won’t change them. Others say it will give a better impression of the school. I believe a school gives a better impression with the diversity among its students, instead of identical clones that roam the hallways, is clearly seen. Also, parents would have to buy 3-5 sets of these uniforms to wear. That money used to buy the uniforms could have much more potential. It
could be submitted towards the child’s college funds, or groceries, or paying bills. The school shouldn’t get to have a say in how the student’s family spends its money. These are just reasons that students should not be required to wear school uniforms. Kelsey Johnson 8th Grade Corvallis Middle School Duchien/Corn teachers
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Editorial writing Bitterroot passenger rail Why not a Bitterroot passenger rail? I think we should put a passenger rail in the Bitterroot Valley to transport people from Hamilton to Missoula, and to other cities along the way. A train would use only a fraction of the gasoline that cars use. Passenger rails save tons of energy and carry 100 times more passengers than a car would. We talk about how much we need to save energy, yet we use our cars more and more everyday. If we had a Bitterroot passenger rail, it would give people the chance to go places they need to without having to take their
own cars. However, there will be some glitches to work out. There could be bus service to take you to North Reserve, the Mall, downtown or to the University. Using this method it would not only take people to school or for shopping but it would cut down on how much people shop for things unneeded. Congress talks about saving energy, if we had a Bitterroot passenger rail, it would help save a lot more money, gas, and energy. Passenger rails are a good place to start! Rhonda Gold 8th grade Corvallis Middle School Lynda Corn/ Christy Duchien (teachers)
Able and the horses The men who took Able and all the other horses up the mountain shouldn’t have gotten arrested. The men got way in over their heads. It’s hard to stay up in the mountains and keep weight on your horses. When you’re up in the mountains, you don’t have anything really to keep your horses from getting saddle sores. Even if you’re up there for a week, let alone a month, you are going to lose weight. There’s nothing you can do about it. The men weren’t really horse people and didn’t know much about them. It’s not even fair for the men that one of the vets only
looked at pictures of the horse. The humane society knows how to get just the right picture with all the bruises and sores, so they would look bad. The horses may have been in bad condition, but the men already have had bad publicity. They should’ve only had to pay a fine, and get the horses taken away from them. When in this world did the animals become more important than the people? Briana Bienusa 6th grade Corvallis Middle School Mrs. Vanhuysen
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Editorial writing Wal-Mart I think Wal-Mart should move in to Hamilton because they have low prices. If there is low prices you’ll have more money to pay for your heating bill or for gas to drive to work. It also will cost about three times as much gas and natural resources to drive to Missoula than to drive to Hamilton. Other businesses should lower their prices for competition against Wal-Mart rather than complain and not let Wal-Mart move in. They should also get things WalMart doesn’t carry if they want to stay in business. Wal-Mart also has employees that let you return something even if employees are never grumpy and are always happy to help. Wal-Mart is a well
run and organized company that I believe should be allowed to move in to Hamilton. Luke Channer 5th grade Corvallis Middle School Mrs. Puyeur
Trapping for you Some believe that trapping does not belong in the Bitterroot Valley, but I do believe it belongs in the valley, just as much as anything else. As people move into the valley, our history has been forced to move out, and that’s not fair. But the reality of it is trapping does more good than bad. Trapping keeps animal population at a healthy level, prevents
most human-animal conflict, and brings millions of dollars to the state each year. Trapping has been part of America’s history for hundreds of years. In the past animals have been over trapped, but today there are more limits for the amount of animals that can be caught. Populations are monitored more closely. There are laws to keep the non-trapping public safe, but the public needs to do their part to keep themselves safe. Overall, trapping is a very effective way of keeping animal populations in check. Very few catches are accidental catches, which includes pets and animals caught in a trap that wasn’t set for their species. Trapping is not the vial activ-
ity some would like you to believe it is. It helps you more than you know. Darby Martin 8th grade Corvallis Middle School Amanda Bestor/ Lynda Corn, teachers
Loggers One of the most dangerous jobs in the world is logging. Loggers risk their lives cutting down trees, knowing that cutting one down could fall right on them. One of those people is my step-dad Derrick Wood. Every day my step dad risks his life providing wood for local lumber stores. If loggers didn’t do their job there wouldn’t be any paper for
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Editorial writing books, or wood to sell at local lumber stores so builders couldn’t build houses. Which means plumbers, heating people and electricians wouldn’t have jobs. It has a domino economic effect on all of us in the Bitterroot Valley. It trickles down on real estate agents, bankers and the entire valley. Logging is one of the toughest jobs in the world. It has become a TV show on the History channel, the show is about the history of logging. It’s called Ax Men, this season Ax Men includes a lot of local loggers from the Bitterroot Valley which may further help the economy. Please help me support loggers such as my step dad by watching season 2 of Ax Men starting this
open on Thursdays and Fridays, March on the History channel. Randee S. Skelton but it is always crowded. I’ve also Corvallis just heard that it’s closed down for some reason. That’s why I think a skate park should be built A skatepark in in Hamilton. Hamilton Trenton Kautzman, 5th Grade I think a skate park should be Corvallis Middle School built in Hamilton because kids who like to scooter, skateboard, and bike could go there to have Abused horses fun. I also think it should be I think that animal abuse is a indoors because you could go cruel, awful thing to do. Locally, there all year round, because you the Heydons just abused 4 horses never know what the weather this summer. They were found could be like in Montana. The guilty of all 21 charges of cruelty admission fee would be five doltowards animals. They chose to lars. Helmets would be required. appeal. It could help provide exercise. Looking at the pictures was I’ve noticed here in Corvallis awful. Anyone could tell that there are a lot of skate boarders. that was animal abuse whether There is a skate park here that is
the Heydons purposefully did it or not. I believe that the judge was a little harsh but they probably deserved it. When the trial is reviewed, I hope they are found guilty again. Animals are very important to the people in the Bitterroot. Dogs and cats keep people company. Many people keep cows. Many people love and ride horses. We won’t stand to have animal abuse in our valley. I hope the trial taught people to take notice of animal abuse and know it is out there. It is a terrible thing. Rachel Devine Grade 6 Corvallis Middle School Teacher Mrs. Vanhuysen
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Editorial cartoons
Sam Burdette, 6th grade, Corvallis Middle School, Ms. Van Huysen, teacher
Christa Cranmore, 8th grade, Corvallis Middle School, Lynda Corn/ Amand Bester, teachers
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Editorial cartoons
Lindsay Cuiral, 6th grade, Corvallis Middle School, Ms. Van Huysen, teacher
Hanna Gale, 6th grade, Corvallis Middle School, Ms. Van Huysen, teacher
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Weather drawings Drawings by Right: Brady Hall, Grade K, Corvallis Primary, Carleen Popham Bottom left: Azia Treece-Evans, Grade 2, Victor Schools, Mrs. Ioder Bottom right: Juan Williams, Grade K, Corvallis Primary, Mrs. Wampler
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Drawings by Left: Noah Kanenwisher, Grade 2, Daly Elementary, Mrs. Yoakam Bottom left: Jaren Lue, Grade 1, Florence - Carlton, Karla Crawford Bottom right: Skyla Martello, Grade 1, Florence Carlton, Mrs. Warner
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Classifieds Free refrigerator Free refrigerator, the ad said in big, bold letters. I wondered to myself, why would someone give away a free refrigerator? Maybe some guy on a motorcycle busted through a window, trying to get away from the crazed maniac following him with a refrigerator. The maniac threw the refrigerator through the window at the motorcycle guy, and the people living in the house didn’t know what to do with the refrigerator so they decided to give it away for free! No… that was unlikely, how would a maniac run with a refrigerator and then throw it? Maybe, the refrigerator is evil and keeps eating their mayonnaise and…
no I don’t think that’s possible. Maybe, the people selling this went to the circus and dunked the clown in the water tank and won a refrigerator, and so now they’re giving away their old one for free? No… I don’t remember a circus being in town. Well, maybe it’s for a simple reason, like they just bought a new refrigerator and now they would like to give away their old one. Whatever the reason, I guess I’ll never know. Right then the phone rang, my mom picked it up, “yes, we have that free refrigerator.” Nicole Steinhoff, 8th Grade, Covallis Middle School, teachers: Lynda Corn/Christy Duchien
Brown Swiss milk cow, good producer, $200
Free Rhode Island Red chickens and roosters
Brown Swiss milk cow for sale, $200 for a cow named Cocoa. She’s no ordinary cow. She makes chocolate milk and if you shake her up and she gets cold she’ll make chocolate whipped cream. She eats hay, grass and oats and if you really want to give her a treat, one king sized chocolate bar will do it. She’ll also make white chocolate if you give her white chocolate chips. She’s a great pet, you can even ride her! She’s great with kids too! Hurry and get her before she’s gone! Kenna Guenther, 3rd Grade, Florence Carlton School, teacher: Ms. Miller
Hi, I’m a Rhode Island Red chicken and my master doesn’t want me so he’s giving me away along with my friends. He put us in a classified ad. Then a few months later a guy in a black Subaru Forester showed up in the driveway. My master came out to meet him. He was about 6 foot 6. In perspective that is 6 feet and 6 inches. Then he came over to me and said “he’s a bit skinny, don’t you think?” I wanted to peck his eyes out, he was so rude. But when he took me to his house it was heaven compared to my old home. It was a five-story mansion and I got to go inside the
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Classifieds house. My friends loved it. “It’s so cool” said one, “It’s awesome,” said another. “Well it seems nice” I said. Chris Hall, 4th Grade, Florence Carlton School, teacher: Mrs. Lightfield
‘78 Chevy El Camino, rebuilt engine and trans, body good, $1,600 This El Camino is for sale because there is a badger living inside of it, and no one can get it out. The badger got in there through an open window when I was out hiking Blodgett one afternoon. When I got back I
was hungry. I decided to go to McDonald’s for some cheese burgers. I got to McDonald’s, ordered in the drive-through, and set the food beside me. That’s when I noticed the badger! It was asleep. Trying not to panic, I sat there frozen in the drive-through. I was slowly getting out of the car when the impatient lady behind me honked her horn. That woke the badger. That badger sure did a number on me and the interior. When there was a lull in the attack, I got out and ran for my life. Since then I have towed the car to a local parking lot near the forest. Call the first number for directions to the parking lot and second number for animal control.
RJ Webber, 8th Grade, Corvallis one soon we will be evicted from Middle School, teachers: Lynda our home. We love this dog and Corn/Christy Duchien we wish we could keep her but we cannot afford another house. We only giving her away because Free to good home: 1 are our landlord comes every other black Dachshund X, day for tea, and one day he saw the dog washing the dishes and female cleaning the house. He didn’t Weiner Dog to be given to good think that it was too healthy when home. Be aware this dog has a the dog tried to polish his shoe. big OCD problem. This dog likes After that he said that we had to to clean house, likes to take lots get rid of the dog because instead of showers, and likes to wash of using shoe polish, she spitdishes. Do not be scared when shined his shoes. We hope that you walk into the house and whatever family she goes to will she is on her hind legs using the love her as much as we do. vacuum. Added on to the dishes Kenyon McDaniel, 8th Grade, part, instead of using a sponge, Corvallis Middle School, teachers: she likes to use her tongue. Please Lynda Corn/Christy Duchien help, if we don’t give her to some-
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Classifieds 2 reg. black labs, not fixed, female 5 yrs, male 3 yrs., not related, good with kids and pets Hi, I’m Lily. I’m a female black lab. Last night we heard our owners talking about giving a pet away. All night I hoped they were talking about the family hamster, Bugsy. The annoying Bugsy would wake us up each night with his squeaky ball. I awoke in the morning and was in the car. I looked out the window and we were by a big building. We went inside.
There were a bunch of ads for dogs on a big board and my name was one of them. My owners brought me to a room. It looked like the auction room on TV. I got on stage and 100 people raised their signs for me. I was up for $8,000 bucks! Of course, that bid won. My new owner’s house looked familiar. I was scared to death. It was the White House! The President did promise his daughters a puppy! I love my new home. It’s better than my old home, way better! I can run around and not get in trouble. I can even get on the girls’ beds and sleep! I love my new life. I
Call 555-5555. I’m $9,500. I run like new. Someone bought me today and of course they like me and they think I run like new. They use me all the time. It was so HOT they would put the top of me down. We were 35th anniversary cruising down the highway. Mustang GT We’re in winter now and they convertible, only 22k, put me in the garage. They stay all options, mint cond, inside but the children come out to play every now and then. $9,500 Can’t wait until spring so I’ll My owner put me in the clas- always get used again. sified ads because he thought Dayton Holtkamp, 4th I was old but I’m only 25 years Grade, Florence Carlton School, old. I’m a 35th Anniversary teacher: Mrs Lightfield Mustang GT convertible. I can go 23 mpg. My color is mint.
wonder what happened to my sister. Anna DeCan, 4th Grade, Florence Carlton School, teacher: Mrs. Lightfield
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Classifieds ‘01 Arctic Cat 800 Mountain Cat. $2,800. ‘89 Yamaha Phazer $1,200. Robot Snowmobiles – On a Friday after school when I came home my dad had bought the snowmobiles. It was an Arctic Cat 800 and an ‘89 Yamaha Phazer. The next day we had to take them for a test drive. The snowmobile I was driving didn’t let me control it. The harder I tried the more it would stiffen the handle bars. I told my dad to take the one I was driving. He could drive it fine. I was so confused, I couldn’t even speak. Then the snowmobile I was riding did the same thing the other one did. When we got back, no one would believe me so I came up with
a plan. I put cameras on the snowmobiles. Then my dad saw the tape and believed me and we got rid of the snowmobiles forever. Humter Harrington, 4th Grade, Florence Carlton School, teacher: Mr. Parker
Lost cat: long hair, fat, black w/white paws, white mark above lip I was looking around for a frozen pipe when I found today’s newspaper. I saw a lost cat ad and I thought I saw that cat somewhere by the old barn. I got on my bike and went down to the barn to take a look. I didn’t see anything. So I rode down to my hideout and went on my zip line over the lake so I could see if the cat was there. I didn’t see anything. I looked at the ad
so I could get a picture of the cat in my head. I went to my brother’s room so I could tell him that I am looking for a cat. When I opened the door, there was the cat! I got him in the car and returned him to his owner.
Colton Richards, 4th Grade, Florence Carlton School, teacher: Mr. Parker
Lost brown puppy Shih Tzu/Beagle mix, 3 Mile Area, Stevensville Hi, I am a brown beagle mix and just a puppy. One day my owner opened the window and I jumped out. Then I ran away. I kept running and running. Then all of a sudden a net landed on me. I got thrown into a truck. Then I was at a big building
that said POUND. I was put in a cage for a long time. Some people came and said they wanted to buy me. The guard opened the cage and I ran. The guard tried to stop me, but I was faster that him. I kept running and running until I saw this sign that said YOU ARE NOW LEAVING MONTANA. I ran for miles until another sign said YOU ARE NOW ENTERING IDAHO. I went to the forest and found a tent. I went inside and a person grabbed me and said “are you lost?” I nodded so he took a picture of me and put it on his computer. Then he printed it and went to town to put up all of the posters. My owner was going fishing at the Great Salt Lake and saw the poster. He went to the tent and picked me up and we went home.
Nathan Binder, 4th Garde, Florence Carlton School, teacher: Mrs. Lightfield
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Editorial cartoons
Hannah Grout, 6th grade, Corvallis Middle School, Ms. VanHuysen, teacher
Alexander Hayden, 6th grade, Corvallis Middle School, Ms. VanHuysen, teacher
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Editorial cartoons
Thor Montgomery, 6th grade, Corvallis Middle School, Ms. VanHuysen, teacher
Chelsi Rogers, 6th grade, Corvallis Middle School, Ms. VanHuysen, teacher
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Our American heritage and our responsibility for preserving it ASHLEY HAYES The heritage of America has been built over many years. Before our country existed, pilgrims arrived from England hoping that they would be able to practice their own religion. As the people in England tried to exert more power over the people in the colonies, the colonists decided that they no longer wanted to be under British control. Fighting for rights and change is a major part of American heritage. The colonists decided to fight for their independence. Their victory marked the beginning of our country. Later on in our country’s history, another war was fought over rights. Southerners relied upon the use of slaves while North did not. The Civil War erupted over the idea of slavery. But the North’s victory didn’t mean immediate equality for black people. They were forced to pay taxes if they desired to vote. Black people saw that they weren’t being treated fairly, so they protested and committed acts of civil disobedience. Even after segregation became outlawed, life still wasn’t easy for black people. Many were killed as integration started to be enforced. But the black population continued to work towards change. In January 2009, America will be run by the first black president. Even our government documents have undergone change. We started with the Articles of Confederation. When that didn’t work, we moved on to the constitution. After its ratification, the Bill of Rights and other amendments have been added. Our country also has a heri-
tage of helping those in need. After the terrorists attacks, many people worked together to help clean up the mess and save our lives. Today, people continue to work to protect our country. When natural disasters occur, many people work to provide supplies and refuges for those affected. We also have refugee programs for people whose countries are suffering, such as Africa. There are many ways that we can help preserve our country’s heritage. For example, people need to vote. If our country has a reputation of constantly changing for the better, we can’t expect the positive changes to continue unless we vote and express our opinions. Second, we need to support our troops. They are sacrificing their lives for our country. Their affects make it possible for us to experience positive changes. Without them, our country could be in a state of disorder. If we were attacked and there was no one to defend us, our government would be in complete chaos. Nothing good comes from chaos. Last, we need to honor our country. We need to do the little things such as respecting our flag and following laws. If we don’t respect our country and its heritage, it will not be preserved. Ashley Amanda Hayes from Hamilton High School tied for second place with Joseph Michael Mitzel from Loyola Sacred Heart High School in the annual essay contest hosted by the Bitter Root Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.
ISAAC HUNTER On July 4, 1776, the United States of America declared itself an independent nation from the over powering grasp of Great Britain. One hundred and sixty-five years later on Dec. 4, 1941, Japanese military forces attacked a United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, “A day that will live in infamy” according to America’s 32nd president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Then on Sept. 11, 2001, a United Airline flight, sieged by foreign terrorists, plunged deeply into the heart of America’s most beloved metropolis, New York City. Finally, on Nov. 4, 2008 the first African American was elected as President of the United States of America, nearly 150 years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This is the heart and heritage of America. It is dates like these that define who and what the citizens of the United States stand for. Our history is remembered every day as our children get on the school bus every morning, free to speak their mind and choose their path. As citizens of the United States of America our essential responsibility is the preservation of our national heritage so that we can provide our future descendants with the tools they will need in order to uphold the outstanding reputation the previous Americans have fought so hard to establish. It is extremely imperative that we pass on our tradition of historical education to our children. The preservation of American heritage provides Americans with an understanding of our past, which in turn helps us to develop a promising future. Mistakes are an inevitable stepping stone in the unique construction of any nation. The important thing is that America continues to learn from its mistakes. This
is what makes our history the most important tool that we as citizens of the United States possess. By analyzing our past, each and every American has the necessary education in order to guarantee a bright future. Not only do we have the responsibility of educating our future society, but we also hold an emotional responsibility in honoring the memories of American citizens of the past. The United States has witnessed so many hardships, that the fact that we can stand united under the common goal of improving humanity is truly heartening. For example, that unforgettable shot at Fort Sumter in 1861 separated our beloved nation over the issue of slavery so many years ago. But today the United States of America is proud to have come together and inaugurate our first African American president. Of the thousands who died in the American Civil War, we owe it to them. And finally, of the thousands who died in the top of those towers in New York City on Sept. 11, we owe it to them. America stands as a symbol of hope to all its citizens and others around the world. However, it is important to remember that it has not always been this way. Freedom has not always been flown through the streets of every small town in America. Our history and heritage is what has gained us such numerous opportunities. And if we remember this, then America is guaranteed to remain as that symbol of hope. It is guaranteed to remember its mistakes and learn from them. And lastly, if we are successful in preserving our heritage, the United States of America shall always be the greatest nation on Earth. Isaac Lewis Hunter is a senior at Stevensville High School. His essay won the Bitter Root Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution annual essay contest.