Hetuck Thursday 2023

Volume 84, Issue 4

Thursday, June 15th, 2023

Getting to Work: Legislators Discuss First Bills

By Jacob Baltes

plies for people who come from less financially secure means… and hopefully allow all students to Wednesday was a particularly hectic day for start on the first day of school with the supplies and American Legion Buckeye Boys State (ALBBS) delethe tools that they need to succeed.” gates, due in large part to the large amount of legislaThe Floating Minimum Wage Bill came tion. Many bills were proposed, including the Weeback into the house for Woo Bill and the Tax reconsideration on ThursHoliday Education Bill. day. The bill, introduced The Wee-Woo on Wednesday, is sponbill was proposed by Pont sored by Thomas Blaha of Shaw of Bishop City on Jordan City and Charles Wednesday. Shaw said Gill of Zulch City and “[the bill] states that any would establish a floating state trooper that pulls minimum wage that any Buckeye Boys State changes every five years citizen over for a citation, and is unable to be lowa fine or even just a warnered. ing… will be obligated to Speaker of the House MiSenate in session, Credit: Colt Fyffe disperse a high pitched cheal Doris of Pelter City, ‘wee-woo’ sound to alarm explained that “It is a floatthe person or the citizen that they're being pulled ing minimum wage bill... we're going to have a basiover.” cally fluctuating minimum wage based on inflation, Shaw explained that the goal of this bill is to and it is set to be adjusted every five years.” make it clear to citizens when they are going to be Getting a bill through the House of Repreconfronted by an officer. sentatives is a complicated procedure. “I've said this The Tax Holiday Education Bill, proposed in private, but I'll say this here, this is a very long

by Drew Wilson of Strong City, is another bill in conprocess,” says Doris. Once a bill is drafted, the sideration.

House sends it to the Legislative Service CommisWilson described the bill, stating, “I am sion (LSC). working on a bill that is designed to ease the access to After the LSC sends the bill back, it goes education supplies… Ohio has a tax holiday for three through first consideration. Once it is approved by days for school supplies. We wish to extend this tax the clerks then it is brought to the floor, where evebill, or tax holiday, from its current three day length to ryone will debate on which committee they will send a full 14 days.” Wilson says the bill would also move it to. Finally, it will go to that committee where they the holiday to earlier in August. will debate on it.

He expanded on the details, explaining, “We hope this will allow easier access to educational sup-

Pg. 2 The Hetuck

Legion Legends

By Haddon Lockyer As many delegates at the American Legion Buckeye Boys State (ALBBS) know, the names and labels that have been given to their cities and counties aren’t made up. In fact, the reality is quite the opposite.

Each location is named after a different member of the American Legion who has been recognized as a hero. Two of these “Legion Legends’' who have made an impact here at ALBBS are Legionnaire Paul Wiehe and Legionnaire Richard Schuck.

Richard Schuck. Photo by Haddon Lockyer

Residents of Brandon Hall likely recognize the second part of Paul Wiehe’s name, as one city in their building is named in his honor. Wiehe is currently an ALBBS Trustee, having served in the United States Army as a battalion mail clerk from August 1963 to August of 1965 during the Vietnam War. Wiehe is a longtime Legionnaire, having joined the organization about 40 years ago.

At ALBBS, cities are named after Legionnaires who have served a one-year term as the ALBBS President. Wiehe was elected to this prestigious position in 2014 and served until 2015.

When asked to give a message to 2023 Buckeye Boys State delegates, Wiehe said, “Life’s a journey. Enjoy your journey.”

Meanwhile, across the campus in Withrow Hall, another name has renowned fame.

The name is Richard Schuck, from whom the city of Schuck in Wagonseller county gets its name.

Schuck served in the Vietnam War; “I baked bread in Vietnam,” he stated. After returning home from the war, a friend of Schuck’s told him about the American Legion and encouraged him to join.

In 1975, Schuck became a member. Like Wiehe, Schuck was voted as the ALBBS President in the 2018 election. He is now a Boys State Trustee.

Schuck’s message for the delegates was a call to encourage them to tell others about Buckeye Boys State. “I hope they're having a good time,” he said. “We always want them to spread the word that they had a good time and get us delegates for next year.”

Wiehe and Schuck are not the only members of the American Legion who make Boys State possible, however. According to the ALBBS website, “The staff of American Legion Buckeye Boys State is composed of over 100 highly motivated and qualified individuals who work with one goal in mind: to make the week at Buckeye Boys State one of the most rewarding, educational, and worthwhile weeks of a young man's life.”

The Hetuck Pg. 3

New “Wee-Woo Bill” and Other Police Regulations

By Connor Campbell

to know that they are being pulled over.

In addition to the legislation over the Views on law enforcement are a constant issue, there are many delegates who want to lower source of contention. This remains true at Amerithe current fines so that no one has to worry about can Legion Buckeye Boys State (ALBBS). The how they are going to pay for them. The Ways controversy began on Wednesday when the and Means Committee is listening to these worALBBS Highway Patrol was formed. There are lots ries and is working to cut the fines in half so that of tensions and fears because many delegates bethey are affordable. lieve the police officers are abusing their powers.

Malachi Bryant of Vaughan City exThe main source of outrage over the poplained the consequences police could face if lice is their these laws are ticketing durpassed, “If the ing recreation police officer time, where fines you for many delegates more than feel they what it’s actushould be free ally worth, from their reghe’ll pay that ulations. normal Beamount, so cause of the he’ll be held alleged corrupaccountable tion in the pofor his aclice force, tions.” This many different will prevent houses of the police from government going out of have made it a their way to priority to put fine people. rules and reguJauchius belations in place lieves the to prevent the most imDavid Olsen (in hat) patrolling local county HQ. police from portant part of Photo by Corin Chao abusing their having a police power. force with There are many ideas that are trying to be power is that the citizens of ALBBS have a good passed with one being the “Wee-woo” Bill. Mikey relationship with them. “I think it’s better if we Jauchius of Zulch City made sure to fully explain just obey the law enforcement and if we take off, that his goal is to not take away power from the it just leads to further problems. We want the law police but to educate. enforcement in the community to be close.”

“We want more informed constituents and If the bills become law, the police will we want them to know that their rights are not behave more rules and regulations to prevent them ing trampled upon,” Jauchius said. By requiring the from potentially abusing their power and unjustly officer to make sound, the bill intends to give the ticketing people.

Boys State delegates a notification and allows them

The Hetuck Pg. 4

Kate Strickland, Head of Mock Trial, Visits Boys State

By Haddon Lockyer

Although Strickland has long been aware of ALBBS, she hadn’t visited until this year. After On Wednesday, the Executive Director of Ohio just a few hours of witnessing the program in action, Center for Law-Related Education (OCLRE) Kate she said, “I’ve really been amazed… I think the Strickland paid a visit to the American Legion future is really bright.”

Buckeye Boys State (ALBBS), encouraging deleThe organization is also known for its gates to keep working and learning as the week mock trials, which allow students to act and work goes on. through fictional court cases. These simulated trials Strickland is give participants the no stranger to working opportunity to learn with young people. Afhow the United States ter graduating from Mijudicial process ami University in 1999, works. she began her career as Strickland noted the a violence prevention similarities between and mediation specialist OLCRE’s programs for the Alcohol and and ALBBS, adding Chemical Abuse Counthat both bring a level cil of Butler County. of authenticity to There, she helped juvelearning, which niles charged with stamakes education tus offenses, serving as about government a path to conflict resolumuch more memoration for their families. ble.

Next, StrickIn closing, Strickland land joined the team at shared a message for OCLRE, a program 2023 delegates, statpromoting “partnering ing, “I would just like with teachers to bring to say, keep doing citizenship to life,” acwhat you’re doing. cording to their official Keep challenging website. yourselves. Keep beIn 2016, she ing curious. Keep was promoted to execuresearching. Keep tive director of the prolistening to other peogram. In this position, ple’s perspectives, Kate Strickland, Director of OCLRE, Picture Strickland collaborates with even if it’s a very differTaken by Corin Chao the OCLRE board of trusent opinion. I think tees and staff to ensure that the nonprofit is staying that’s the most hopeful answer I can give, and I'm true to their mission by giving students opportuni- seeing a lot of promise.” ties to learn about government in authentic ways.

She believes that the delegates are Strickland says that her position has had a “incredibly bright, capable and engaged young peomeaningful effect on her life. “I’ve been able to ple,” and is confident that they will remain exemplalearn and grow as I develop professionally,” Strick- ry. Strickland shared that she hopes to collaborate land said. “The team of us that works together… I with the ALBBS more in the future. always want to be learning from them.”