The Black and Gold Volume 3: Issue 4 October 20, 2023

fighting tiger pride By: R.M. Mydland

Volume 3 Issue 4 | October 20, 2023

Editorial Staff Abigail Miller Managing Editor Helaina Geoffroy Editor-In-Chief Marshall Jones Digital Media Editor Rawley Mydland Assistant Editor-In-Chief

Reporters Boston Burdette Maggie Hall Emma Pitts Shaylynn Coffelt Gavin Moore Ashlee Derry

Digital Media Team Sidnie Nance Nat Griffin Shelby Pinaire Brayden Bowen Kaylee Layton

Assistant Nathan Lance

Pictured: Mason Punzo Preparing For Battle Photo Credit : R.M. Mydland

De Kalb played East Atchison to cap off the Homecoming week. The Tigers looked for their first win of the season facing off against the always tough Wolves. Hopes were high, and the boys were looking to give their all.

After the STUCO President Rawley Mydland and Senior Rachel Reagan won Homecoming King and Queen, the game started off with the boys running full steam. Though they didn’t score, they didn’t allow East Atchison to score until a few drives later. The defense had a hard time against the tough Atchison Defense, and it was soon looking like the boys were going to lose by halftime, but, the Tigers stopped the Wolves just in time to play a full game.

The second half was full of conflict on both sides, resulting in players on each side being ejected. After ejections and yelling subsided, the game continued with more scoring by the Wolves. Near the end, it looked bleak for the Tigers, but one man stepped up to the plate, and that man was Sophomore Blake Norton.

Although the game ended with a 72-6 loss, the boys still had some bright spots in the loss. While it may be the last time some of the boys play the Wolves, hopefully the youthful spirit will avenge the Seniors and let their souls lie in peace.

When asked about the loss, Gavin Moore said “It was a tough loss and a hard-fought game. In the end, one of the most important things we learned is to stick up for your team no matter what.”

FFA Trapshooting By: Emma Pitts The De Kalb Trap Shoot team is off to a strong start this season. They have only been to two Trap Shoot events so far this year.

There are 6 new members on the team this year, and 13 team members in total, the most they've had on the team in about 5 years.

Pictured: Riley Piles and Jacob Vogan Photo Credit : Sidnie Nance

New team members are still improving and learning how to get the hang of it.

Freshman Jesse Ashpaugh has been the highest scoring new shooter. He shot 38 out of 50 targets during the October shoot. Jesse says that so far, he has done “better than I thought I would. I think I am doing pretty great for a beginner.”

The leading scorer so far is Junior Riley Pyles, averaging 80% of targets. Next is Junior Jacob Vogan, averaging 71% of targets.

Trap Shoot events occur once a month in Smithville during the season, which gives team members some time to improve and get better between events. They shoot in the Area 1 FFA Association Trap League, which includes 30 schools in our surrounding area. They shoot 50 targets each month and there are 9 trap houses.

Overall, team members find that Trap Shoot is really fun and are looking forward to the rest of the season’s events.

OCTOBER 20, 2023

Pictured: Jesse Ashpaugh Photo Credit : Sidnie Nance

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What to Read By : Kaylee Layton

If you’re looking for something to read you’ve come to the right place! Looking for romance or maybe even some suspense? Then Verity is your book. As you go through this wonderful book it leaves you wondering after almost every chapter. Shock is no surprise for this book, starting with a gut-wrenching scene.

As you read Verity, you follow struggling author Lowen Ashleigh as she stumbles into the man of her dreams, or in other words, delusions. She is given the task of taking over a famous series by Verity Crawford.

After a terrible unknown accident, Verity is left unable to write and her husband, Jeremy Crawford, is scrambling to find someone. Although these things seem like fate, things tend to fall into place too easily.

Verity is easily one of my favorite books and left me questioning everything I knew. If you're looking for a quick escape or a shift in reality, you can rely on Verity. Take a chance and spend some time this weekend reading this amazing book!

Listen to This By: Ashlee Derry Christopher Lunsford, also known as Oliver Anthony, is a 31-year-old county/folk music producer.

Anthony is not as well-known as other country music artists, but recently he released a song called “Rich Men North of Richmond.” This song became a hit overnight, and within days reached the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100.

Oliver is the first person to ever reach the number one spot without any prior history on the chart. Anthony said his lyrics attempted to speak for the working class and he aspires to be a voice for those people. We can't wait to hear what he has coming our way in the near future.

OCTOBER 20, 2023

Photo Credit : The Vulture

Photo Credit : The Vulture

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First Quarter Ends on a High Note

Cross Country on the Road to State Championship

By Gavin Moore

By: Shay Coffelt

It's finally here, the end of the first quarter.

This year has been going fast so far, and it's been a really good year. There have already been some really good memories just from this quarter.

Freshman Corbin Dale says his first quarter has been going really well so far, and it’s different from last year because he's not in middle school anymore.

Senior Abby Miller says she can’t wait to learn more next quarter, and not much has changed from last year, only the teachers. “Next quarter I get to see Kelsey's new dance moves she's learned. Senior Abby Miller says “This quarter has been tough but informative.”

Junior Helaina Geoffroy said her 1st quarter has been good this year. “Being a Junior is a whole different ball game from being a Sophomore. You have to start looking into colleges and figuring out what you want to do with your life.”

Since it’s the end of 1st quarter, the 2nd is coming. The 2nd quarter is going to be good if it's anything like this quarter. This quarter went by really fast, and hopefully the next quarter will be the same.

Pictured: Cole Kovac, Kaiden Myers, Kasey Steiner Photo Credit: Mrs. Taylor

Our Cross Country team competed in the 275 Conference Cross Country Meet on Monday, Oct. 16. The boys ran very well, Kasey placed 11th with a new PR of 18:55. Kaiden Myers placed 14th with a time of 20:00. They’re all improving very well as the season goes on.

Kasey says that practices are “very fun and amusing.” He says he’s improved very well, cutting multiple minutes off his time since his first meet.

Mrs. Taylor says they’ve grown together as a “band of brothers.” She says Cole Kovac, Kaiden Myers, and Kasey Steiner are more than a team. They’ve all accomplished better times and are all running Varsity races, which is a huge accomplishment for the freshmen.

They have Districts coming up on October 28th. Steiner is seeded 10th and Myers is seeded 20th to go to State. Mrs. Taylor says “It’s very doable.” She says it’s mind-blowing that a first-year team could accomplish this.

We hope the very best for our Cross-Country team and we wish them luck with Districts

Photo Credit : R.M. Mydland

OCTOBER 20, 2023

and possibly go to State coming up.

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What to Play By: Boston Burdette Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of my favorite games because of the gameplay and the Wild West time setting. Gotta say I love the storyline, the old west standoffs, and the free-roaming. It’s pretty much GTA in the 1800s, but you get to play as Arthur Morgan and John Marston, trying to survive in a changing Wild West with Dutch and a whole group of outlaws.

There are two ways to play the game. You can either be kind and not hurt innocent people and be a bounty hunter, or be an outlaw and kill for money. You can also be both, and rob banks and not get put on death row.

I give it 5 stars while others give it 4 & ½ stars.

Photo Credits: TheVariety.com OCTOBER 20, 2023

De Kalb Band Plans Haunted Hustle By: Boston Burdette

Pictured: Mrs. King and Jayden Schneider Photo Credits: Sidnie Nance

The Haunted Hustle is a fundraiser for the band, to help purchase new instruments, or to fix broken instruments, run by Mrs. King and a few band members.

The event is a 5K run or walk that starts at 9:00 am on October 28th at Rushville Elementary. It costs $25 for adults and kids are $15 per person.

Mrs. King is hoping to get a lot of people to come to the event, “but not a lot of people come during the fall season because of the cold weather,” says Drum Major Jayden Schnieder.

If you want to go to the Haunted Hustle, you can contact Mrs. King or a band member, or find more information on the school website and Facebook page.

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Seniors Win Powderpuff By: Emma Pitts

Photo Credits: Helaina Geoffroy During Homecoming Week, the girls were able to show their school spirit by playing flag football.

Each class faced off once, and the two winning teams went on to battle it out in the championship round.

The Seniors won 12-6, against the Sophomores in the final match. Harlie Hall said, “We did well and won fair and square, and we didn’t have to cheat like the other seniors have done in the past.”

The Sophomores won their first game 18-12, against the Juniors. Tori Hawk said, “We did good, but we need to work together more.”

Freshman Ava Donaldson said, “We played well and we did better than last year but we need to work on defense.” The Freshman lost the first game and the score was 36-6. Kelsey said, “We did not do good and we need to talk about the plays and not get so mad at each other.”

Overall the girls played well and they had fun and the crowd loved it as well. The Seniors have bragging rights because they won again, until next year's game.

OCTOBER 20, 2023

In Memoriam By: Nat Griffin

When you walk outside the school, you can see many different critters, like Cash, aka Root Beer, ground squirrels, birds, chickens, and cows. One thing the band always loved seeing in years past was Band Dog. Band Dog was a sweet older blonde Labrador, who would always love to join the band while they went through their sets.

Band Dog even made a special appearance and dropped quite a number during the National Anthem in the 2020 football season. Even though he had to be removed from the field, it was still the highlight of the marching season.

Unfortunately, shortly after this, he and his owners packed their bags and moved away. He is still dearly missed by all of the band and many more of the students here in De Kalb.

Wherever he is now we wish him the very best.

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Students Cut Loose at 2023 Homecoming Dance By: Shay Coffelt As every year, we had our Homecoming dance after the big game to celebrate the end of Homecoming week.

For five years, Ms. Cagle, Student Council Sponsor, has been in charge of planning and hosting the dance. “The dance went decently well,” Mrs.Cagle says.

It was better attended than the last ones we’ve had. There were about 30 students who showed up to bust a move.

It didn't take Mrs. Cagle a long time to set up, and the cost was low, because they didn't have a DJ. Instead of the DJ, they just had speakers to pipe in a student-made playlist from a laptop.

Senior Ashlee Derry went to the Homecoming dance, and she says “The dance went okay. I enjoyed spending time and hanging out with my friends.”

She said she would go to the Courtwarming dance in the spring, too.

Junior Tori Hawk says “The dance went really well.'' Her favorite memory was taking pictures. She would go again, but there weren't a lot of people there like she had hoped.

Hopefully more students will turn out at the Courtwarming dance, so more fun can be had by all.

OCTOBER 20, 2023

Photo Credits: Mrs. Miller

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Softball Season Comes To An End By: Maggie Hall As the softball season comes to an end the lady Tigers played their last regular game on the 9th.

They played a tough game against Maryville, varsity won 10-5 and JV lost 3-2. They both played a very tough game.

For Varsity, it was their highest-scoring game and ended the regular season on a great note. Senior Rachel Reagan says “We kicked butt finally.” Mrs. H adds that some strengths they had in that game were running bases and having short-term memory which they have struggled to do in the past. She says that we were able to shut down the errors consistently that game. Although they didn’t win every game, they worked their butts off every day and ended the season with a great win.

The Lady Tigers have had a lot of fun this year and are very sad that this season has come to an end.

Freshman Kelsey Chatman says that her favorite memory was “when we were in Centralia and our waiter was singing happy birthday to Grace and he screamed in our ears.” Junior Lauren Marriot says hers was “when we did a Scavenger hunt and I got to watch people jump into Jayden’s disgusting pool.”

Coach H says “ I'm really proud of how all 20 Lady Tigers competed on the field this year and we’ve progressed every single game and we ended the regular season on a really good note.”

The Lady Tigers varsity team advanced to district and lost their first game vs Stewertsville, with a score of 6-5. They played a really tough game and fought hard to win. Although they didn’t win they didn’t go down without a fight. Even though the seasons are over we are looking forward to a great start to next season.

Photo Credit: R.M. Mydland

OCTOBER 20, 2023

Pictured: Aliah Weyer Photo Credit : Shelby Pinaire

New Faces at De Kalb By: Ashlee Derry Among the new faces at De Kalb this year is 7th grader Aliah Weyer. Aliah is originally from Kansas City but is now living here in De Kalb.

In her free time, she enjoys playing basketball, football, and occasionally boxing. Aliah also mentioned that one of her favorite colors is pink, with blue being a close runner-up.

Aliah loves being in Mrs. Taylor's classroom.

She enjoys all of the classes she has with Mrs. T. She said she feels that Mrs. T really understands her and that they get along quite well. Aliah loves listening to music and said that country was her favorite genre, but occasionally she will listen to some pop music.

Her favorite song as of now is “Son of a Sinner” by Jelly Roll.

Coming to a new school can always be scary and there can always be trouble adjusting.

Aliah said that the hardest adjustment so far this year is having classes with the same people all day. She also said that there are a lot more people in her math class now than there were in her old school, so there isn't as much one-on-one time. Despite this Aliah says that Dekalb is treating her well, and she really enjoys it here so far.

We are happy to welcome Aliah with open arms and hope she has a wonderful year here.

Welcome to the family Aliah.

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De Kalb’s New Middle School Math Teacher By: Gavin Moore

Mrs. Bridgett Baker is the new middle school math teacher this year. Even though this is her first year teaching at De Kalb, it is not her first year as a teacher. She taught at the Atchison Public School District before coming to De Kalb. She has taught 3rd grade for 5 years and 7th grade math for 9 years. She also coached Volleyball for middle school for 4 years.

Her many years as a teacher and a coach have given her a no-nonsense attitude when she has to deal with the Junior Class as a sponsor. She has taken up the responsibility of sponsoring the juniors. That means she’s helping organize the fundraisers and concession stands so they can get everything ready when prom season comes around. She has been a big help in organizing the class and getting everything done with little to no difficulty.

Before she became a teacher, she was a stayat-home mom. She was also a substitute teacher and baked wedding cakes on the side.

Baker is a De Kalb alum, graduating in 1995, so some of her role models were her math teachers, Mr. Luedke and Mrs. Gilliland. She was also inspired by her volleyball and basketball coaches. Outside of school, her inspirations were her mother and her grandparents.

In her long-term future, her goals are to travel more and enjoy her children and grandchildren. She wants to travel, enjoy life more, and stay healthy.

She says she’s loving De Kalb so far. She’s glad she got to come back and teach for the same school she graduated from in ‘95. She loves the students because they’re very friendly to each other and helpful, and the Junior class is very helpful also. She’s glad they’re so excited for Prom.

We hope to continue giving her a kind welcome back to the Tiger family.

Mrs. Baker went to college at the University of Missouri for a year before she got “homesick” and came back and finished her Bachelor's at Missouri Western. After teaching for 7 years in Atchison, she got her Master's degree at Benedictine in Atchison. In her free time, Mrs. Baker watches her son play football for Benedictine College and watches her, 11 month old, grandson. She likes to travel with her husband and her sisters, she still bakes wedding cakes, and she remodels homes.

Mrs. Baker found interest in teaching through her mother. Her mother would take in and help those in need. In high school, Mrs. Baker helped people with their math and tutored her sister with her math. She says it “came naturally” She says she sees herself teaching or staying in the field of education until she eventually retires.

OCTOBER 20, 2023

Pictured: Mrs. Baker helps Boston Burdette with a math problem.

Photo Credit: Sidnie Nance

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Recommended by Shelby: Spooky season is upon us, and it's time to start stocking up on popcorn and spooky movies. In this article I'll be discussing the top ten movies to watch during the Halloween season or just anytime really. We have a good selection of films that could fit any taste. We’ve got some gory movies for all you violent sickos, some good-old 80s fics, and some less spooky films for all you pansies that can't handle gore. As we go down this list, I'll be discussing why the movie is significant to the spooky season and just film in general. There's no specific rating for these films, just a fun little list. So, here we go: the top ten horror movies to watch this spooky season.

#1: Halloween (1978) Directed by John Carpenter, this film reinvented the horror/Slasher genre. With 13 sequels counting two different remake timelines, this movie has become a horror icon with its main slasher Micheal Myers. This film stars scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis, PJ Soles, and Nick Castle as Michal Myers.

This film Laurie Strode(Jamie Lee Curtis) spends her halloween baby setting two young kids while her friends and residents of Haddonfield get brutally slaughtered. On this night Laurie not only has to fight to protect the two children but fight for her own life. If you like slasher films and masked killers this is an iconic horror film to watch.

#2: Friday the 13th Part 6: Jason Lives (1986) Now this franchise was one of the longest-running, spanning 10 movies along with one remake in 2009 and crossover, but I want to highlight this specific one. It would be logical to highlight the first one which followed Jason’s mother as the killer and it is indeed a great film, but this one really stands out to fans. This film was written and directed by Tom McLoughlin and starring Thom Mathews as Tommy Jarvis, the director wanted to make something different and while it feels like the same things, this film has a different tone. It was the only other movie besides the first film to take place at the camp and this one has more comedic timing and the cinematography is brighter, this movie also started what the fans call ‘Zombie Jason’. This was my introduction into horror so with personal experience I could say this is a good starter movie for anyone who's giving this genre a try.

#3: Ghostbusters (1984) It's no secret that this movie is a classic, I'll fight anyone who disagrees. This film was written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, and then directed by Ivan Reitman. This film is known for the four heroes known as the Ghostbusters, played by legend Bill Murry, Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, and Ernie Hudson. This is a lighthearted film for those who are scared easily. To put it simply this movie is the best and is full of laughs. The movie took over the world and became an icon in pop culture, it would be a crime not to watch this during the spooky season. And while you're at go watch the 2nd one too.

#4: The Lost Boys (1987) Do you like Actual vampires? Ya know the ones that don't sparkle. Do you like Handsome 80s actors and gore? Well, this is an excellent movie to watch, it has everything that made the 80s so memorable and what's even more unforgettable was the movie's ensemble cast. Starring the gorgeous Kiefer Sutherland, Brooke McCarter, Alex Winter, and Billy Wirth as the vampires. This movie tells the story of two brothers going to a small town called Santa Carla where they met four motorcycle-riding vampires. This film was directed by Joel Schumacher and featured the iconic song Cry Little Sister by Gerard McMahon and Mike Mainieri. This is a great film for anyone who loves Vampires and the 80s aesthetic, the best part is this film follows the original vampire rules. This film is a classic and a must-watch.

#5: A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984) Directed by legend Wes Craven this ionic movie created the burned man himself, Freddy Kruger. Even if you don't like horror movies Freddy is the face everyone knows, what's even more iconic is his razor blade glove. This movie follows final girl Nancy Tompson played by Heather Langenkamp and her battle with the dream stalker Freddy Kruger played by the iconic Robert England. This movie is up there in the classics and helped shape the slasher genre. The movie company New Line Cinema is nicknamed the house Freddy built and this movie is the reason the company stayed in business. This franchise developed seven movies, one remake, and a crossover. This is a must-watch during the Halloween season.

OCTOBER 20, 2023

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Spooky Movies for Spooky Season #6: Child’s Play(1988) Based on the original script ‘Blood Buddies’ by Don Mancini then directed by Tom Holland(no not Spider-Man) this film starred the iconic Francis with the killer doll Chucky. This movie is probably the reason most people are afraid of dolls but that doesn't mean it's not worth the watch. Introducing actor Alex Vincent as Andy, the movie follows the small child as his life gets terrorized by the possessed doll Chucky voiced by Brad Dourif. I know in the past few movies I said the slasher was iconic, but Chucky is definitely up there even if the fancies had its ups and downs. Spawning 7 movies, 1 remake, and now 3 seasons of a TV series. The TV series is actually streaming on the SyFy channel every Wednesday as of now. This francis is fun to binge watch and if you like horror with some comedy these are your movies.

#7: Corpse Bride(2005) So here is a movie for the people who really don't like horror movies but still want to get involved in a spooky movie night. This is an underrated Tim Burton movie, it has beautiful art and amazing claymation. This is a heartbreaking story about a woman named Emily (voiced by Emily Watson) and a man named Victor(voiced by Johnny Deep). I think this movie is stuck in A Nightmare Before Christmas’ shadow. It's a good movie but Corpse Bride is definitely a movie that keeps you interested and has an unexpected twist. The best part of the movie is the animation and its a great watch for just about anyone.

#9: The Shining(1980)

#8: Beetlejuice(1988) Another movie by Tim Burton, this is the movie that gave us beetlejuice. In the film Beetlejuice is Played by Micheal Keaton in this comedy horror. I don't think this film is classified as horror but it's still a fun movie to watch during the spooky season. In the movie, a ghost couple Adam(Alec Baldwin) and Barbra(Geena Davis) are stuck in their house and unable to leave, after a new family moves in the couple call Beetlejuice for help but his help soon takes a chaotic turn. This is a classic full of laughs and is definitely worth checking out if you haven't.

Based on the Chilling Novel by Stephen King then directed by Stanley Kubrick, this is a psychological horror classic. Starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall this classic takes place in the haunted Motel called the Overlook which is actually based on the real hotel the Stanley. This was one of Stephen King’s first novels and he wrote while staying in the haunted Stanley Hotel in Colorado. The film is very different from King’s Novel but despite all that is an amazing film with great effects and chilling set designs. The movie is mostly known for its crazy orange and red carpet and chilling ghost twins known as the Grady twins but is more than just that. The movie uses Psychological horror to scare you instead of using a masked killer that slashes everyone. This movie has been adapted into a mining series by Stephen King himself and has spawned a sequel and a documentary. If you chose any of the movies on this list it should be this.

#10: IT chapter 1/2(2017/2019) If you want to see something more modern, this is for you. Also based on a novel by Stephen King this movie follows the iconic killer clown Known as Pennywise and the seven kids known as the losers club. This was originally made for TV film but then in recent years got adapted into two films that are more faithful to the book. Even if this movie uses cheap scares to keep your attention this is a great movie filled with great actors. The first film focuses on the seven kids and their fight against Pennywise, then two years later the second film came out which shows the kids coming back to the town of Derry 27 years later. Of course, if you're afraid of clowns this isn't the movie for you, but in hindsight, these are both excellent films to watch during the spooky season. And if you like huge novels check the book out.

OCTOBER 20, 2023

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n I O n I O u p u p r e r e S P S P t r t r e e e e p p g g i ! i !

TT

Homecoming 2023 OCTOBER 20, 2023

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Homecoming Royalty Announced By: Maggie Hall

If you haven’t heard, we have a new Homecoming Prince, Princess, Queen, and King.

Congratulations to Juniors Tori Hawk and Kasey Stiener, and Seniors Rachel Reagan and Rawley Mydland.

These four freshly-crowned winners have been involved in many activities throughout the year.

Tori has been involved in Softball; Kasey is a part of Cross Country; Rachel has been in StuCo, NHS, and Softball, and Rawley is StuCo president, and is also involved with FBLA and Newspaper.

Although the year just started, they have already made some pretty great memories. Tori's favorite memory was “when Faith dropped her retainer in the trash can.” Kasey enjoyed playing dodgeball during P.E. The best part of Rachel's year so far has been winning Queen. And Rawley’s has been making all his friends along the way.

Rachel says that when they called her name, she didn’t realize they called it, so she didn’t walk forward. Meanwhile, Rawley was dreaming about how great he was, and when he heard his name he was thinking about how everyone chose the right candidate. Tori was thinking about how cold it was and wasn’t phased by the fact that she just won.

Kasey says he already knew that he won, so he wasn’t surprised.

Rawley would also like to add “I’m the best, and go Tigers.” Tori says, “Thanks, guys, for voting for me.”

The news staff would like to say congratulations to all of this year's homecoming winners. You guys have been working very hard this year and it's good to see it getting recognized.

OCTOBER 20, 2023

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9 1 r e b o t n e c w o O it: Brayden B

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