THE
Physics Bridge record shattered
See Feature, page 4
VOLUME 52 ISSUE 13
1015 Division St. Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
Student car catches fire from the fire department. “They are well trained Friday, Dec. 9, was routine as usual at putting out car until minutes before school started fires, and they when a red Ford Focus in the parkdid a nice job,” ing lot started smoking and burst into Stensland said. flames. Roethler had No one was injured in the shocking some perspecevent, and the fire fighters arrived four tive on the event minutes after they were called. The fire later in the day. “I was put out before it could spread to just didn’t know other cars, but not before completely what to think right consuming the red vehicle. away, but now I’m Students witnessed senior Hannah just happy that I Roethler emerging from the smoke, got out and that it shaky but unharmed. Karl Sadkowski Photo didn’t start while “When I went to get out of my car I was driving. I’m and I took the key out, all of a sudden Emergency crews arrived on Friday, Dec. 9 to put alive, so it doesn’t smoke started spewing out of the sides out the fire on senior Hannah Roethler’s car. The really matter,” cause of the fire is still under investigation. of the hood,” Roethler said. Roethler said. She got out of the car immediately, She didn’t go back into the car to components, and that’s what we are sensing danger. “And then, all of a salvage anything. Her iPod and phone going to do. From where we are at sudden, flames just started shooting were already on her. Roethler said, “I right now, we just know it started in out, so I called 911,” Roethler said. lost my debit card and my work shoes, the engine compartment and worked The fire fighters were able to put but those are replaceable.” its way into the inside of the dash of the fire out as soon as they arrived. Friday night she planned to get all the car,” Stensland said. They did not know Friday morning of her stuff out of the car that wasn’t Stensland warned that fires can what caused the fire. grow very quickly. “You see there how ruined, and then take the car to the Battalion Chief of the Cedar Falls fast it went from when she first discov- scrap-yard. Fire Department Roger Stensland said After this, Roethler will have one ered it, to where we’re at right here.” that car parts are hard to determine. thing left to do. “Now we just have to Stensland called the quick work of “You have to dig into some of the find me a new car,” she said. putting out the fire a “good response”
Maya Amjadi News Editor
Music students prepare for winter concerts Rhydian Talbot Staff Writer
Director Eliott Kranz will lead the men’s choir, women’s choir and concert choir in a joint holiday performance on Monday, Dec. 12, featuring music from a variety of seasonal celebrations. Traditional Christmas classics like “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and “Lo’ How A Rose E’er Blooming” will be showcased, as will cultural carols, like the Nigerian “Betelehemu” and a celebration of Hannukah, “Hanerot Halulu.” As per a CFHS choir tradition, the evening’s performance will conclude with a mass choir candlelit performance of a Christmas lullaby, “Still, Still, Still.” For an added twist, all three choirs are joining together with a full string and brass ensemble to perform the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah.
“I think it’ll be an exciting performance for both the singers and the audience, because the vocalists will be combining with an orchestra set and everybody knows this piece,” Kranz said. The orchestra, under the direction of Scott Hall, will play a variety of combinations and genres on Thursday, Dec. 15. Featured instrumentalists junior Clarissa Sutton and sophomore Megan Tomson will be performing violin solos, the string orchestra will showcase multiple holiday-themed pieces, and the full orchestra comprised of strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion will join in the festivities as well. “The string orchestra is doing a collection of selections that are Mannheim Steamroller arrangements. [Mannheim Steamroller] is a group that’s a fusion of rock and classical musical styles, so they’re somewhat
unusual. They take a lot of classic Christmas tunes and stylistically change them with a more rock feel,” Hall said. The wind symphony and symphonic bands, directed by Gerald Ramsey and Kyle Engelhardt, will present a secular winter concert on Monday, Dec. 19. Ramsey’s ensemble will perform such percussion-heavy selections as “Incantation and Dance” as well as pieces rooted in dissonance, like Eric Whitacre’s melodic “October.” Engelhardt’s students will pay tribute to the anniversary of Rosa Parks in “Today’s the Gift” and allude to the band’s upcoming spring break trip to Washington, D.C., with a piece entitled “Cenotaph.” All performance begin at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. The cost of tickets for each show is $4 for students and $5 for adults. Activity passes will be accepted.
Student group replaces Just Eliminate Lies Sandra Omari-Boateng Feature Editor
S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive Decisions) has become the latest label for a group that focuses on prevention and education of drugs, alcohol and violence. The first group meeting was held after school on Nov. 16 to get to know new members and returning members from last year’s tobacco prevention group, J.E.L. (Just Eliminate Lies). The group meets once a month on Wednesdays. During the first meeting, the group members discussed the reasons why students attended the meeting and what they wanted to learn. The group also discussed concerns that they have about the student body. The group is led by counselor Josh Carnelley. In the past there were groups similar to S.A.D.D. named P.L.A.A.D and S.S.R, which stood for Students for Social Responsibility. P.L.A.A.D had focus on educating students about prevention and making positive choices in their lives. Last year, the state-run group J.E.L was introduced to students and caught on quickly. However, at the end of the year, state budget cuts of $4 million eliminated the group. J.E.L. had about 21 members in its group last year; this year S.A.D.D. has about the same amount, but the group is still in its beginning stages of coming together. S.A.D.D. is building upon the efforts of what J.E.L. started: trying to broaden students’ views in regards to other concerning areas like drugs, alcohol and violence. “My expectations are for the students to jump into this wholeheartedly and be a part of this group for the right reason. I’m supporting the group, but most of the work and ideas need to come from the students,” Carnelley said.