BW the black and white
the black and white. Feb. 2011. volume 19 issue 6. 5152780449. 6501 NW 62nd ave. johnston. iowa one copy free
in this issue february four Get to know our new prin-
ten-eleven Read about the problem
cipal for next year, Brent Ries-
of homelessness in the Des
facts about himself with the
council members visited the
sen. He shared four interesting
Moines area and how student
B&W.
homeless.
twelve Who doesn’t love pie? The
B&W really does, so we re-
viewed five places to get it. Check it out!
eighteen The Dungeon is back! Read
about senior Anid Nezirevic and his passion for basketball.
ary
u
r b e F
1 1 0 2
*THE BLACK & WHITE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kelsey Kruse
News 3 4
DESIGN EDITOR Kelly McGowan
Relive the past month through photos Meet the new principal News briefs
PHOTO EDITOR Michael Knoedel
Opinion 5
The elevator is less than acceptable That’s what Shi said: Lockers
6 7
Media creates unwanted stereotypes The school needs to warm up a bit The government need not protect us from ourselves
NEWS Mike Shi OPINION Kristine Hayes
Editorial
in this issue...
8
Stop hiding behind a crowd, and stand up for what you believe in
Entertainment 9
Look here for helpful apps
Doubletruck
ENTERTAINMENT/REVIEW Evan Culbert
10-11 Student council takes on homelessness awareness
Review
FEATURE Lauren Coffey
12 Where to get pie in the Des Moines area
Fashion
13 Check out fashion from around the world
FASHION/HEALTH Spencer Vasey
Health 14 Random foods that will do you good
SPORTS Ryan Smaha
Feature 15 A look at former industrial tech teacher 16 Student performers audition for college Weiss’ lunch club- a fun alternative to the cafeteria 17 Freshman welcomes Colombian adoptees into her family Agan’s adventures
BACKPAGE Ethan Meng
Sports
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Ian Dunshee
18 Anid: dedication at its finest 19 Church League Ballers Full Court Press: Student Section
STAFF WRITERS Isabella Engblom, Wes Monroe, Alexa Anderson, Sarah Margolin, Mallorie Goodale, Ashley Enger, Elisabeth Lowe, Mirza Besic, Chris Coble, Hannah Sawyer, Paige Cramer, Taylor Mithelman Ashley Shay
Backpage
20 Students work toward their future occupation early
3
12
6
15
10
Illustrators Rosemarie Freymark, Trevor Fisch, Austin Smoldt-Saenz
20
PHILOSOPHY
bacon
Want the B&W online? Send us an e-mail, to jhsblackandwhite@gmail.com and we’ll send you a PDF of the paper every month
EDITORIAL Zach Winjum
The Black and White is published solely by the Johnston High School newspaper staff. Its goal is to inform, enlighten and entertain Johnston students. It is an open forum. In accordance with Iowa law and board policy, students assign and edit material. The paper is published nine times per school year. The paper will avoid material that is libelous, obscene or an invasion of privacy. The law does not require parental permission to use student quotes. Ethically, we believe students can speak for themselves. Staff editorials represent the opinion of a majority of the editorial board. Editorial and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the adviser, school officials or the district. Letters to the editor must be signed. Like all material, letters may not be libelous, obscene or an invasion of privacy. Bring letters to room 413 within one week after publication to be considered for the next issue. The Black and White strives to report accurate and timely information. If you believe that an error has been printed, please contact the editors at jhsblackandwhite@gmail.com. The Black and White is a member of CSPA, NSPA, Quill & Scroll, and IHSPA. Recent issues of the paper earned these honors: Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist, National Scholastic Press Association First Class rating, Quill & Scroll Gallup Award, IHSPA state placings and sixth in the National Best of Show.
on the cover: Megan Rice does track 6 PE at climb Iowa photo credit: Kelsey Kruse
news
feb 2011
the b&w p.3 2
1 3 4 Michael Knoedel/BW
layout Kelly McGowan
1
Senior Charlie Engblom rock climbs while hooked
to the auto-bulle at Climb Iowa on Thursday, Feb. 10. Rock climbing is one of the units done in Track 6 PE, also known as Outdoor Pursuits. The students went through
one day of training and are now certified to climb up any wall at Climb Iowa, if they dare.
2
Hanging out and chatting after school, students
enjoy the new furniture that mysteriously appeared in the commons on Wednesday, Feb. 9. When students Kelsey Kruse/BW
got to school that morning, they found the old brown
HelenLagerblade/Dragon Lagerblade/Dragon Helen
tables gone and replaced with new chairs, tables and comfy couches in an orange and green theme.
3
Junior Alex Cordes (left) and senior Katelyn Lun-
ders (right) whip their hair as part of their dance team
routine at the recognition assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 15. The routine was choreographed by senior Allie Crist
and consisted of several songs mixed together, including “Whip My Hair” by Willow Smith.
4
As she waits for her ramen to finish cooking, ju-
nior Joy Tan stirs the pot with a pair of chopsticks to
make sure the noodles do not stick. The Asian Cultures Club celebrated the Chinese New Year by holding a
noodle party where they made and tasted many different ramens from across Asia. Meetings are held every other Monday in adviser Sara Kate Howe’s room.
Mike Shi/BW
the b&w p.4
news
feb 2011
The new old principal Four things you may not know about Brent Riessen, the new high school principal
2
3
He three-peated in state basketball, winning state as a player for Bettendorf in 1986 and twice as a coach for Mt. Pleasant in 1997 (fourth place) and North Scott in 2003 (second place).
Foster care
Twenty children lived with the Riessen family in a fiveyear period. “My wife has got a very big heart,” he said. At this time they lived in Mount Pleasant. They still keep in touch with some of those kids. The experience changed the whole family. While the Riessens no longer do foster care, Brent, his wife and their three children have learned a lot. “It opened our kids’ eyes to the situations some kids are in,” Riessen said.
High school sweethearts
Riessen and his wife, Stephanie, have been together since their senior year. They met through mutual friends and by playing basketball. He was a senior and she a sophomore. He left for college at Cornell two years before she left for college at UNI. They were engaged for 8 months, some of which were spent in a long-distance relationship. So every high school sweetheart stereotype was disproven by them. “Yeah, we just broke all the rules on that,” Riessen said.
TP Expert
While Riessen was coaching basketball at North Scott High, a co-worker and family friend of the Riessen’s was a brother-in-law to Kurt Warner, a former Iowa Barnstormer and NFL player. Warner got two girls to TP Riessen’s house. Riessen caught them. “[Warner] TP’d me about nine months later and I didn’t catch him.” After all of this, Riessen got really good at TP removal. “You can take anything that telescopes out,” he said, “and wrap the toilet paper around it. You light that on fire and use it as a torch to kind of burn the rest out.”
NB
Green tip of the month Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Compost
news briefs
4
1
Three-time state qualifier
words & layout Mike Shi
The environmental club and
The Black & White have teamed
together to bring an environmental tip of the month.
Reusing packaging material saves more
energy than recycling. By avoiding extra packaging, you save both energy and land-
fill space. Yard and kitchen waste (leaves/ grass/vegetable scraps) are 30% of trash.
Reduce this amount by composting. Also be sure to re-use plastic bags, or better
yet... reuse plastic bags when you really don't need them.
Kristine Hayes/BW
The Black & White is now on Twitter
“It is another way to communicate with
our readers and to give up to date news
about things concerning our
school,” editor Kelly McGowan said.
In the changing world of journalism, we
as a newspaper must always be on the lookout for new means of communicating
with our audience. By using twitter, The Black & White can now communicate and break stories to the public instantly.
Follow us @Johnston_BW and tweet us
what you want to see in the paper.
Provided/Twitter
words Kristine Hayes
Club holds coat drive
In keeping with their goals
to raise awareness, Global Perspectives held a coat drive to give new or gently used winter coats to refugees in
need. “We are doing this coat drive to help those who are
underprivileged and unfortunate enough to not be able to buy their own coats,” senior
Victoria Horstman said. “Around 12 coats were collected.”
The collected coats were dropped off by
adviser Kate Lechtenberg at the Catholic Charities Diocese of Des Moines
opinion
the b&w p.5
feb 2011
Going up! Bringing the elevator up to standards words & layout Hannah Soyer It is about the size of a bathroom stall; the smell is simi-
lar. While in operation, the creakings and rumblings resem-
bles those made by ancient torture devices. No idea what I am talking about? Welcome to the elevator. An elevator that is sorely in need of some attention.
As a regular user of the elevator, I can personally say
that it is an extreme pain in the butt to fit both my chair and my associate inside the ridiculously small box. Andrew
Tubbs, a junior that has had to use the elevator this year because of surgery on his foot, seconds this. “If I drive in
too far and try to back up I get stuck because there is not enough room to move around.”
Other students, however, are unable to fit inside the el-
evator with their associate. Take senior Teddy Strand, for
example, with his associate, Amanda Rynning. Together
they would not fit in the elevator. Fortunately for him, he
is able to operate the elevator on his own. If my chair was as big as Strand’s, I would not be able to go upstairs, limiting me to classes only offered on the first floor. This would
mean that I would not be able to take classes such foreign language, history, and journalism, among others. How’s that for a fair and equal education?
One would think this is enough to warrant a change. But
on top of this, the current elevator is not up to code. However, this doesn’t seem to present a problem. “We don’t have
to do anything to the elevator, because it is grandfathered
in,” Tim Kline, the Director of Buildings and Grounds, said. “If we were to put in a new elevator, it would have to be up to code, but we do not have to change the current one.”
While there is a law protecting the school from having
to change the elevator, there is also a law protecting stu-
what
That’s
KT Galloway-Menke
Sophomore Hannah Soyer squishes herself into the current elevator. The elevator measures 3x7 feet. dents, by the name of Least Restrictive Environment as a
such projects as Timber Ridge, a new cafeteria at the Mid-
means students with disabilities should be able to access
School. A new elevator was always overlooked. In the next
part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This
the same things as other students. This includes classes,
extracurriculars and other school programs. Luckily for the
school, they haven’t run into this problem yet. However, if a student would be restricted to classes only offered on the first floor, this would be a direct violation of the law.
There is, of course, also the matter of safety. About
15 years ago, Marty Pierce, a past Spanish and English teacher, got stuck in the elevator. “It went part way down
and stopped. I rang the alarm bell,” Pierce said, “but I was
worried about it because we never paid much attention to
dle School and a new fitness center and turf at the High ten years, an estimate of $35.6 million will be used to add on to or improve the schools, with $4.5 million alone to add
more seats and nicer bathrooms to the football stadium. I
ask you: is this necessary? As necessary as a safe elevator? As Rynning said, “If they’re trying to make the school better for students by adding a new fitness center and new
lunchroom, they should be able to add a new elevator.”
And the real kicker here? A new elevator, construction included, would only cost $0.5 million, according to Kline.
It is wonderful that our district is making all these new
it, so I didn’t think anyone would notice.” Pierce’s absence
additions and planning another option for the high school/
yells for help. “I was in there about 20 minutes total.” Sadly,
until all students’ basic and safety needs are accounted for,
was finally noticed, but only after multiple bell-ringings and the phone put inside in case of a situation like the above was missing, and still is.
Since 2005, 36.5 million has been used to complete
High School Locker Letdown
middle school. However, our school can never be complete and this means, first and foremost, replacing the current
elevator. As Tubbs said, “I thank God every time I get off of there, because it could break any second.”
school like something and something else
it. Instead, people overstuff their bags and
that symbolized “high school” to me.
mean really, isn’t there one passing period
related. It was just something about lockers And yet, now that I’m actually in high
school, the locker is just meh. It seems that no one even bothers with their locker. Now,
I’m not saying that lockers should play a Illustration/Rosemarie Freymark
All throughout elementary and middle
school, I couldn’t wait for high school. And,
said words Mike Shi
pivotal role in high school, that would just sound pathetic; I’m just wondering why no one bothers to use theirs.
In the classroom and around the halls,
this is going to sound really weird, one of
you always see people carrying around
you’d always see lockers. Whether it be
nothing wrong with this per se, I don’t un-
my reasons why was lockers. Watching TV,
the stuck locker that leads the main char-
acter to frustration and a love interest, the heroine getting her locker searched in an apparent setup or the classic nerd stuffed
into his locker, lockers went along with high
probably suffer back issues because of it. I when you pass by your locker. Does it really take that long to turn your lock and pull
up, that is, if you even know your combina-
tion. But, then again, it seems that no one even touches their locker in the first place.
I find it kinda funny to still see posters from
back in October telling us to beat Ankeny or that pasta makes us run fasta.
When people enter high school, they
their backpacks, I do it too. While there’s
have this sort of vision of the classic high
derstand why people feel the need to carry
mine involved lockers. This lack of locker
their entire (what’s supposed to be inside
their) locker on their back. At their most basic level, lockers are meant to hold stuff,
you know, lock it up when you’re not using
school ingrained in because of television,
culture at JHS has left me vaguely disappointed; I really would have loved to see someone stuffed into a locker during my time here.
opinion
feb 2011
the b&w p.6
A Hollywood Horror
How media’s interpretation of beauty affects how we view ourselves.
words & layout Ethan Meng When watching a movie or TV show I find myself asking
the same question over and over again. Where the heck
are all the ugly people? (When I say ugly people I mean anybody that doesn’t look like a super model.)
For guys it is as simple as this. You have to be an all
American football loving, manly-man with impossibly huge
muscles. When in real life not everybody likes football or has gigantic redwoods for arms but as long as its up on the silver screen any guy from 15 to 50 will sit there thinking they need to hit up the gym sometime soon.
As for the ladies, you must be a hot and sexy tooth-
pick model who fits the typical Megan Fox profile. The only problem is that the only way anybody actually looks like that is pounds of makeup or some serious Photoshop.
The average model today is 25% thinner than the aver-
age American woman according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This is just one illustration of how the media falsely characterizes women in magazines and movies.
It would be nice for once that when I turn the TV on and
watched a show, movie, or even a commercial that there
was somebody that looked remotely similar to the 150 lbs. “scrawny” teenager that is myself. In other words it would be cool for there to be an average looking human being on the screen.
What the media out there does is it portrays every guy to
look like some mythical hybrid between muscles and perfect looks while girls are made out to be hourglass shaped
hotties with no flaws. The reality is that not everyone looks
like that and through the years we as a society have be-
come so accustomed to looking at people like this we do just assume this is how everybody looks.
Growing up every teenager has the idea jammed down
their throats that this is what the world looks like. The only thing wrong is it is not the media’s fault people view them-
For many people the idea of being able to escape your
selves as less than what they see on TV. The fault lies di-
girls will never be satisfied with how they look because they
to someone that they see on the screen.
ria’s Secret models. When in fact the average jean size is
airbrushed is almost something of second nature. As a so-
mirror and be completely satisfied with what they see. Not
wonder how many times commercials advertise for size
selves to those who are in movies. What we need to do is
I have never met a celebrity, so I reserve the right to
for entertainment and not put as much thought into how
rectly with those who will allow themselves to be compared
assume their boyfriends will want them to look like Victo-
own life and go to a place where everything is perfectly
I find it very hard to believe any teenager can look in the
about eight to ten according to about.com. It makes you
ciety we place too much stake in how we compare our-
once wishing to be taller, thinner, or to have bigger muscles
two clothing rather than larger sizes.
recognize that the people on the screen are figures purely
people on such a high pedestal we ourselves can never be
believe they are robots designed in government labs to
they look compared to ourselves.
No guy in their right mind will want to ask a girl out if
thinking why would the government create robots to make
rying about what we look like, putting it towards something
with the idea that a girl will not like him because he doesn’t
rationalization to explain how absurd it is that we even put
plish and the lack of stress for many people would simply
like their favorite celebrity. As a society we put “attractive”
If we took all of the time and effort that we put into wor-
as seemingly perfect as they are.
make people feel bad about themselves. You are probably
she will always compare him to Zac Efron. Always worrying
us feel bad about ourselves? Understand this is a comedic
productive. Think about how much more you could accom-
compare the movie stars, which is a stupid reason. The
this much thought into something like this.
make life much more enjoyable.
opinion
feb 2011
the b&w p.7
Students get the cold shoulder words & layout Mirza Besic
Everyone knows that the Midwest isn’t famous for balmy
weather or sunny beaches. Cold winters and gigantic
snowdrifts are a common sight this time of year. Usually, you can retreat into a heated building and escape the chilliness. But don’t count on going into this school for warmth, as we keep it fairly chilly, for energy reasons.
Energy Czar David Beason is in charge of monitoring
the school’s thermostat, and he says the school does
not get to decide what temperature it is. “We keep the temperature at 68-72 degrees in the winter months, and
at 75-78 during the warmer months,” Beason said. “And that is recommended by Energy Education Incorporated.” And the cold of the school isn’t even the thermostat’s fault. The big reason many people feel so cold is the wind chill
factor. The feeling of air moving over the skin creates a cooling effect, no matter what the actual air temperature
Illustration/Rosemarie Freymark
is. So even though the thermostat reads, say, 70 degrees,
scheduled activities,” Jan Noel-Smith, director of public re-
how the heating system works.”
going through the hallway. Very upsetting to all of us who
is to conserve energy.” They use the Association of Energy
ways wear a sweatshirt so I don’t notice it so much, but it
it might feel way colder because of a lovely winter breeze are essentially cold-blooded.
Our school has to follow some rules set by Energy Edu-
lations of Energy Education Inc. said. “And the second goal
Engineers’s standards for comfort. So, in a nutshell, we set
out thermostat according to standards set by a company,
She isn’t the only one. Junior Joe Scanlan agrees. “I al-
definitely isn’t a warm school,” Scanlan said.
So what can we do about the cold? I hate to say it, but
who has their standards set by someone else.
nothing. I myself have terrible circulation in my hands and
fort is their main priority. “We help save energy and costs
student body is not happy. Junior Enya Dougherty is one
cepted that I live in Iowa. The school will always be cold in
in those guidelines, with the main goal being to ensure a
Dougherty said. “It’s hard to think when it’s so cold. I don’t
cation Incorporated when we adjust the school’s thermostat. They worry about energy cost, but they say that comin school districts, recommend the temperature settings comfortable learning environment during class time and
Whatever the reason for this cold air, be sure that the
of these unhappy people. “It’s frigging cold everywhere!”
know anything about how they decide the temperature or
I would love it to be like Hawaii every day, but I have acthe winter. Energy conservation is the top priority on administrators’ minds, and if you start to feel that it is nippy, you can follow Beason’s advice: “Put on a coat.”
Nanny state laws: the end to personal liberty words & layout Zach Winjum
Whether it’s state, local or federal, the
government loves protecting you from
to sit on the couch and eat Ho Hos all day.
safer and healthier. For example, taxing
relieve the rest of society from those that
smoking and in turn improve their health.
drink, eat bad food or engage in harmful
kids away from cookies and doughnuts and
nanny staters that harm society. The nanny
these laws may sound good and dandy in
do things that they do not like. Smokers,
plied to almost anything.
targets for these unjust laws.
The same goes for seat belt laws. Is it
millions of people every year. After hearing
had negative consequences. Biking would
the decision for you? If I don’t want to
completely in order to save lives? Society
ry and death are a possible outcome. So
form of transportation.
boarding or skydiving. Even sex would be
If someone dies from obesity would it be
law sex. The list goes on and on.
state legislation relate to keeping people
outlaw homicide and theft; there is an obvi-
ous need for them. Nanny state laws are what concern me. Although it may be some-
Slowly but surely our freedoms are being
snatched from under our noses with little to no fight. For example, in San Francisco the
local government decided to ban toys that are given away with Happy Meals. Why
would anyone want to do such a thing you might ask? The answer is simple; people
want kids to be healthier. Kids need to eat less and exercise more, but the solution is
not legislation that cracks down on the consumers of Happy Meals. When government
rest of society because someone decided
Usually the stated goals for nanny
good.” I’m not talking about the ones that
of individual liberty and common sense.
it. A state law on top of it is unnecessary.
ar content. No, the burden is placed on the
that are enacted for the so-called “greater
a major problem. They attack the principles
right to outlaw foods with a high fat or sug-
enough evidence to make you want to wear
yourself. They do so by the passage of laws
what attractive to pass such laws, there is
could save your life, but that should be
Illustration/Austin Smoldt-Saenz
does this, it punishes everyone for a few fat kids and bad parenting. Allowing kids and
parents to fail and experience the conse-
quences may just be the right wake up call, not some nanny state legislature looking out for the “greater good.”
really the government’s business to make
wear my seat belt I shouldn’t have to. We
all know that fatality statistics are in favor of wearing your seat belt, but that’s where
common sense comes in. Sure, a seat belt
Many may argue that nanny state laws
tobacco is aimed at getting people to quit
choose to not wear a seat belt, smoke,
The Healthy Kids Act’s purpose is to guide
activities. However, truth be told, it is the
choose carrots and broccoli instead. While
state laws only target groups of people that
theory, the goals of these laws can be ap-
gamblers, and the obese are the primary
It is proven that automobile accidents kill
Imagine if they outlawed anything that
that statistic should we outlaw automobiles
be out of the picture because severe inju-
would be upside down without cars as a
would any extreme sport such as skate-
The same is true with nanny state laws.
outlawed. STDs kill people, so why not out-
editorial
feb 2011
Standing up
the b&w p.8
The editorial board votes on the opinion behind the editorial. A simple majority is needed to pass. This month’s vote was 10-2
for beliefs
In the Dec. 22 Des Moines Register article “Some Adults Call Teen
Dance Fad Too Close for Their Comfort,” no students that were in favor of
the comment.
These anonymous kinds of comments were well represented on the
grinding had their voice heard. Some criticized Todd Erzen, the reporter
Register’s online site. In the comment section of the grinding story, those
grinding student because few of the students that he talked to would go
that accompanied the story. Some of these comments most certainly
who wrote the story, for not covering all sides. He did not quote any proon the record. This highlights some students’ inability to stand up for their beliefs as individuals.
Erzen did talk to students. One day, he spent 30 minutes in the high
who commented made statements about the girl in the Register photo made unjustified assumptions about the girl whom they most likely had never met.
This type of behavior even trickles down to school activities. Think of
school parking lot interviewing. Many of the pro-grinding students he en-
the last time there was an assembly. When students were being recog-
was only able to print the names of students that were willing to offer
assemblies it takes a while to get everyone’s attention long enough to
countered became tight-lipped when he asked for their names. Erzen quotes for publication.
Instead of giving their names out, many students voiced their opinions
by purchasing the grinding T-shirts for $23. While there is nothing wrong
with buying the T-shirt, perhaps being quoted in the Des Moines Register would have made a more significant impact on the grinding controversy.
While T-shirts are one way to get a point across, the internet and cell
phones are another outlet for anyone to speak their mind. However, one
common dilemma with technology is that screens enable people to express their views without being held accountable with face-to-face con-
frontation. Some of the nastiest fights happen over Facebook, or text messages. The reason much of the time is simply because those involved
nized, were you talking? Did you stop to recognize them? Usually during
make an announcement. While name reading takes up a good portion of the assembly, common courtesy tells us to cut the talking and respect their accomplishment. It is unrealistic to expect complete silence from a
student body over 1000, however it is realistic that students will at least be
respectful. If it was not important to recognize student achievement, then we would not have the assemblies in the first place. There are always a few that exhibit distasteful conduct during assemblies, or any event for that matter. If even one or two people object to some bad behavior it is usually enough to stop the group that is doing it. Yet few are willing to stick their neck out and address the situation.
Students must conduct themselves in a way that is based on their own
do not have to look that person in the eye and call them that name.
morals. Standing up for beliefs and admitting when something is wrong is
things that they type would never escape their mouth in a real conversa-
else is doing it” is never an excuse. When we are given the opportunity to
For example, when two people engage in a fight on Facebook, half the
tion. This keyboard courage extends beyond Facebook and emerges into
chat rooms, e-mails, and text messages. Some seem to think that saying
something is okay as long as they are not the one directly representing
imperative to a striving society. Technology, or the typical “well everyone
express our beliefs we must do so with no restraints, whether it is buying a T-shirt or offering a quote to a newspaper about a highly controversial topic, your own morals and beliefs will trump everything else.
entertainment
feb 2011
s p m Ap o d e r o B
9
4
lor
f Co o h s a
D
Kindleis
le Kind hat The pp. W a l is n a ecia now s sp i h t ave es ks h mak o o b e text ecom that gly b n i e s a th incre with tible a p may com This . xe l the e Kind d to a e l bags even book f o ion tinct
Aro
ou und Y
that app n a is n of You catio d o l n u e If Aro of th em. user nd th e u em h o t r lls th e tells op a t h t i s m, rtain and crea a ce shop t ice m n a a w cre rated they nteg t ice i s y e l r te ea mple the n map is co t yI GPS . n s ’ o ep-b e so hon or st f P . i s e th ation allow with estin d hich w e an em to th , it c syst tions ions t c a e vir c i d s pre n va p o step o d h s se find tly u Mos ed to s u be . even own unkn y l s ou
the b&w p.9
words Paige Cramer & Michael Knoedel layout Michael Knoedel
m Shaza
ople e pe h t but r o ead de f h a r i m the was this k in zam fixes stuc g m Sha n a m or so az . Sh ve a er hu e a h t m i h a e es n who user com w its e p o h p n t a k g t h the don’ lettin user whic m by s the o t t e l e l c b i n pro store the m t eve into unes ng. I T o i g s n i e s t is th the plain from with m g o k n c c so ba ardnly wkw he o o the a t T e n . t h i e ct. rt d list obje y fin t ove t e e n h t g e t s once adam is e mu an in eopl bies o p t m t o g a Z in th sing omts vs vs z s of Plan s s t e n n pla lants that, yer p just a l ts p plan . The bies such ming onco e h use t f e ho h ld of t o g h in o tack ers t m at hoot o s r f a t e ins. gh as p slau s bra ’ n r o e y e la bi zom the p lock ting a Unb e e d m n a a le g e puzz of th The d off rafe s a me T sb a i g e d m oar er is lar b play e h popu ng T getti fic. with d e e mov task g to n i v t’s ha so. I hile g w n i t i o x d an e y in e wa ck to h o t l f b to . a red s ou aser lock b r in te e a r b oth ig ext b the n
ies
omb Z s V ts
rn a an tu c k r e us r bac colo lor, a d o d C a u o ld d of ser c ash te an i u D h a h w t , t for ce Wi nd xcep stan ck a e n a i l e r t b i o h re as. F nd w pictu . ck a n are i a l a ffect t b r l ool e e al c to ce y e a s ng e thi ausi mak lor c o c ye the e
Plan
e
ck M o l b n U
r iCoptethe old
s
Bird y r g n A
ter is that iCop ame g r e ea opt insid r helic e s the u bsta puts ing o g d o ,d The cave way. e h t eps on pt ke e cles c n at co to be mple i g s n i f t o n one s wa p is to save ore. user p a r h sc t e g n i d e h n i F tud maps their Fuel ras The ways fo hanging es to plac est er c th the b y. It’s ev heapest aybe wi c e M y n e . u o h b t m m ould t out d the scou s aroun y, they c a e get g tra mon x e the apps. more
er
ind F l e u F
f rol o cont s k e k a -s c r ta acky laye r h p h e c r th o de un irds, lo la es in B r d u y t e r c g u us pigs e str h is In An a-lik whic aped g t h l n s u a J d ck tap into ehin y-sa a ca ept b birds hack c d the n e e o h t ec p of of g o l shap l t n a a e r t th nystroy the s es a ot to o e h t d i s to de . p . y . l e es is ick som e. D line s qu tory insid re is s it ha e t , h e t e Th at mmi am o co ay th tore. t s the g s s t p s d p ir ll ts ju es A ss b to ki o. Le iTun ghtle ngs N i i fl d ? l for i e e u car ugh gb thes o n i r n d o e l f one e ffo on otuld b t sca reas he b T ains t sho odd . g a e a h t , rg e ikaz at la learn , and kam nity y to pigs u s s a m s eel f e e com onl t it” t it’s o g a g n i h t t moti s s am almo me i pp g it’s “ is ga d the a h t n f a o irky, line re. is qu tom t p g mo e n i c t n n o a it’s c ers w play s p e ke
homelessness
the b&w p.10&11 feb 2011
without a home words Kelsey Kruse
layout Kelly McGowan
After following a white pick-up truck all over
I realized how much I take for granted,” senior
apartments to talk with those who recently got off
Chris Beguhn puts her vehicle in park next to an
which seems like something everyone would
to them and talk to them,” Campbell said.
downtown Des Moines one afternoon, teacher opening in the woods for their last stop of the day. The students pile out and head immediately
roll of toilet paper.
he knows differently. “I wish that we were able
a small community of maybe four or five structures. The group yells “Joppa” and ask if anyone is home. No answer. They see piles of bikes,
naïve,” Kaufman said.
“I met a girl today and she said to me ‘There
to take all 1,300 students in the school to visit
are homeless people in Des Moines?’,” Kaufman
that the Week of Giving can be an effective way
message there is a lack of awareness.”
the homeless but since that’s not realistic, I hope of making students aware of what is going on in
said. “Are you kidding me? I think that’s a clear Jacki and Kaufman agreed there are a lot of
his wife Jacki Stevens and their now 10-year-old
Campbell said, “They just got dealt a bad hand.”
and bottles, an artificial Christmas tree, a struc-
began as a private family thing, but the family of
may become homeless. “(My work) is a constant
met needs to take on themselves. “Immediately
different based on one little thing,” Kaufman said.
an old camper with what seems to be a built-on
porch and a clothes line with an Iowa cap on it,
but no people. They turn around, bags in hand,
In 2008, Joppa was founded by Joe Stevens,
son Caleb. The interest in homeless outreach
three soon discovered there were too many unwe had to get people involved,” Jacki said.
On the back of Joppa’s pamphlet reads the
walk back to the parked vehicles, and drive to
verse “In Joppa there was a disciple named
There they unload the leftover supplies and
the poor,” Acts 9:36. Joppa is a city in Israel and
118 S.E. 4th Street.
are given a tour of Joppa’s warehouse, where
coats, gloves, socks, propane tanks, water,
books, food and anything else one would need to survive unsheltered, is stored. This warehouse
is the home of Joppa, an organization that was
founded with the purpose of eliminating homelessness, one person at a time.
Student council members on the Week of
Tabitha who was always doing good and helping
is from the Hebrew word, Yafo, meaning beauti-
“Not everyone that is homeless is a drug addict,” There are several reasons why an individual
reminder of how easy it is for someone’s life to be She gave examples like death, divorce, physical injury or illness, just to name a few. “Someone told me the other day he is 35 and he has been
homeless for 19 years. Nobody was there for him. The relationships he had were abusive.”
“It could be you next year,” Jacki said. “These
ful. Joppa, the organization, defines itself as a
are normal, every day people.”
conditional love, support, hope and aftercare.
There was a homeless woman who lived near a
Des Moines and that’s a big task,” Jacki said,
workers last summer. The woman told Kaufman
local homeless outreach and community of un“Our mission is to help end homelessness in
“but it really happens one person at a time.”
Joppa is nonprofit and relies almost com-
But, they are not always treated that way.
bridge that was being worked on by construction
that she felt like “a circus animal in a cage getting
stared at.” Kaufman described the situation as a
Giving committee volunteered with Joppa on
pletely on volunteers. They only have one paid
perience. “I always thought homelessness was
Kaufman has her Master’s Degree in social work
one you put your head down and walked past,”
Senior Mitch Campbell volunteered at Joppa
Joppa, he now knows not to judge a book by its
Jan. 16. The students learned a lot from the exa choice,” senior Monika Sehic said, “but after meeting and talking to (the homeless) I found my
staff member, care-coordinator Ashley Kaufman. and Joppa is her full-time job.
assumptions to be wrong.”
this past fall for his service learning project. He
“When I went home after visiting the homeless
ing with the homeless people, as well as going to
The students were thankful for what they had.
5
“People are naïve and sometimes intentionally
cial flowers scattered in leaf-less bushes, a lawn
ture with a cot inside and an overturned chair,
3 6
Jacki and Kaufman agreed that there is a need
for homelessness awareness in Des Moines.
stereotypes when it comes to homeless people.
mower buried in snow, buckets of empty cans
4
ness was a very big problem in Iowa. But now
the streets. “They all just want someone to listen
our own backyard.”
tables full of empty propane tanks, bright artifi-
2
Before he went to the visit the homeless with
Joppa, Adams said he did not think homeless-
each with a warm sandwich, a water bottle and a
down a snowy path to a place that appears to be
1. Matt shows the students his tent. 2. Flaco, meaning skinny in spanish, stands by his hut. 3. Senior Owen Ballard lifts a bike out of a truck to give to a homeless man. 4. Ballard and junior Kensie Noble play with a homeless man’s dog. 5. Flaco’s neighbors shelter 6. Ballard pets a homeless man’s cat.
have but in reality so many people go without.”
to the trunk, grab several plastic bags, and fill
They then follow the man in the white pick-up
1
Jordan Adams said. “I was warm and I had food
said it involved going out into the camps and talk-
pretty eye-opening thing.
“I used to see (a homeless person) as some-
Campbell said. But, after his experience with cover. “When a cover is all torn and dirty it’s hard to look past that. (But) I learned that everyone deserves to be looked at in the same way.”
the b&w p.12
review
feb 2011
Piece of Cake Pie
1
words & layout Sarah Margolin & Alexa Anderson
A couple members of The Black & White went around the Des Moines area to help find our readers the best places to get pie. Five unique places were chosen: Waterfront, Noah’s Ark, Village Inn, Sweet Binney’s and the Iowa Orchard. The five places were rated on the taste, quality and atmosphere of the restaurant. We put the pies in order from first to fifth.
4
Noah’s Ark
Pie of Choice: Snickers 2400 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines 515-288-2246 $3.75/slice
Noah’s Ark may be the furthest away, but it is worth the long drive. Noah’s Ark is the oldest-
owned restaurant in the count. It has been around for 64 years, and the quality of the
1
3
food is shown. Make sure you stop in for their
top-selling Snickers pie This pie had a more cheesecake-like filling, which made it very rich. The chocolate and peanuts on top made it taste like an real Snickers bar.
5
Iowa Orchard
Pie of Choice: Strawberry Rhubarb 9875 Meredith Dr, Urbandale 515-276-0852 $11.00/pie
Iowa Orchard has the freshest ingredients and the larg-
2
est selection of different fruit pies compared to the other
restaurants. They have a honor system were you can go in, grab a pie and drop off money. The pies come
frozen, or you can pick up a fresh one with a day in adhand. I don’t even like rhubarb but it didn’t even taste like rhubarb after it was mixed with the strawberries.
8527 University Boulevard, Clive 515-270-9128 $5.00/individual pie
Sweet Binney’s is good to get any baked good
you want. To buy a pie you have to special or-
der at least 2 days in advance. They come in two sizes, individual or regular. You can order in
many flavors and they are willing to bake what you want. The individual pie is perfect if you
want something small for yourself. The apples
3
stayed nicely under the crisscrossed crust.
Pie of Choice: Key Lime
Pie of Choice: French Silk
pies. The pie had sweet and tart flavor, but not over-
Village Inn
Sweet Binney’s
Pie of Choice: Apple
Waterfront
2
vanced. This pie still tasted fresh even if frozen before-
4
and crunchy texture perfect for the soft filling. Even
5
2900 University Ave, West Des Moines 515-223-5106 $4.95/slice
The Waterfront restaurant only carries one type of pie. This key lime pie is our top pick for best local
whelming. The graham cracker crust had a crispy
if you don’t like whipped cream, this beats the stuff
8510 Birchwood Court, Johnston 515-727-6440 $3.99/slice $12.49/pie
This pie is more like a minute steak than a filet mignon. The restaurant is a great place for students
to relax and enjoy a variety of pies without the cost.
Their specialty is the french silk which we tried and it’s sweet and light and better if you don’t want a super rich piece of pie. It is perfect for a little taste
from the can. It has a homemade taste which makes
of chocolate on the run especially if your like any
fish restaurant which originated in 1984 from selling
money to spend.
you want more. This pie comes from a family owned shrimp from their U-Haul on 86th and University.
other high school student and don’t have a lot of
fashion
Foreign Fashion Lithuania
the b&w p.13
feb 2011
words & layout Spencer Vasey
Brazil
Provided/ Sérgio Savarese
Lithuanian fashion is all about being
Brazilian style uses bold prints and
unique. “In Lithuania, fashion is a big
bright colors frequently. “Clothing
deal to people. It is a statement,”
in Brazil is a lot like ours, but women
foriegn exchange student Marija
wear it differently,” senior Julia North,
Dagyte said. There are not dress
who has visited Brazil several times,
codes , and people are not
said. “They aren’t afraid to wear very
afriad to be creative with their
tight, revealing clothes, no matter
clothing. “It’s being original
their body type.” Brazilian clothes
and making a statement to
often have lots of natural move-
the world,” Dagyte said,
ment in them.
“it is an art.”
Get the look: Brazilian
Get the look: For-
style is largely influenced
ever 21 and Urban
by beach wear. Try
Outfitters sell
bringing your sum-
clothes similar
mer clothes into
to those worn
your winter
in Lithuania.
wardrobe.
In
Provided/Marija Dagyte
Sweden,
Japan
In Japan, color is key. Bright
colors mixed with lots of gothic
skirts and
dresses are
common for
everyday wear.
Individual style is
black rule the fashion scene. Tokyo is
highly valued. “Peo-
the capital of the Japanese fashion scene,
ple in Sweden show
and Tokyo street fashion features a combina-
how they are by the way
tion of gothic and girlish styles. Tokyo style
they dress,” senior foreign
is far from ordinary, and the desire to be
Pro
vid
ed
exchange student Agnes
different is immense.
/M
ari
ja D
Marcusson said. Hoodies and
Get the look: The gothic yet girly
ag
yte
sweats are very rarely worn in
look common on the streets of
public.
Japan can be hard to find in
Get the look: H&M, a Sweden-
America. Just adding a mix of
based clothing store, expanded into
black and bright colors to
the US market in 2000. They now have
your wardrobe can help
stores in several Midwestern cities. Or-
to make it completely
ders can also be made online at HM.com.
Tokyo.
Provided/Carlos Castillo
Sweden
health
feb 2011
he
By an Ev
S pa S ne c n a be k h ack ky ne idd s fit en s
to
Fo
lp
od
s fe yo G
e u O l O D
the b&w p.14
chips & salsa
Salsa and baked tortilla chips can now double as your
Who doesn’t want to feel good and
favorite party food, and healthy snack option! ¡Fiesta!
be healthy? Nobody. But many people
Baked tortilla chips contain less bad fat, and more mag-
will often choose that tasty snack over
nesium than normal chips. Salsa packs a serving of veg-
rt be ul
C
the one with the health benefits. So
etables, and a number of healthy vitamins and minerals.
what foods can make you feel good, while being delicious at the same
time? Check out some unlikely foods that will keep your health in check, and satisfy that craving at the same time.
pudding
jerky
Jell-O takes on the task of making
Loaded with protein, jerky is an ide-
our beloved pudding snack healthy. Just one snack pack contains 30%
al food for athletes, promoting muscle
tion. Try to find the sugar free variety
raise insulin levels that tell your body
Jell-O powdered mix. Pudding is also
the sodium under 500mg per serving.
of the daily calcium recommenda-
recovery after workouts. Jerky won’t
or make your own pudding using the
to store fat. Just make sure to keep
a good source of vitamin D.
dark chocolate Dark chocolate. Usually not the first thing to come to mind
when looking for a healthy snack. In moderation, dark chocolate can be the perfect snack to indulge in, while keeping one’s
heart and stress levels in check. The antioxidants similar to those in dark vegetables protect the heart and cells, while also lowering blood pressure.
vitamin daily values copper...............14% magnesium.......12% potassium.........10% calcium............. 8% iron.................... 7%
popcorn
While buttery, cheesy movie popcorn is quite possibly the worst
snack when it comes to health, five cups of microwave air-popped
popcorn contains only 156 calories. This healthy snack also packs over six grams of fiber, lowering the risk of diabetes and heart disease and keeping you full to prevent more snacking. Popcorn contains high levels of antioxidants, which will prevent cell damage, and
just three cups gives you a full serving of whole grain. So as long as you don’t dunk popcorn in salt and butter, you’ve got a new favorite snack.
feature
feb 2011
the b&w p.15
Wayne with his grandaughter Linnea, who was giving him a manicure.
Wayne Madsen in 2008, in their boat at Black Hawk Lake in Lake View, IA.
Wayne Madsen
Provided/Barbara Madsen
words & layout Lauren Coffey Ba ba ba, ba Barbara Ann. You got me
rocking and a-rolling rocking and a-reeling Barbara Ann. Wayne Madsen’s phone
starts to buzz with the Beach Boys song,
while the rest of his students belt out the lyrics right along with it. Madsen looks around
the room, smiling at all his students before answering his phone.
Madsen, an industrial technology teach-
er, enjoyed making class as fun as possible.
“He would bring in his sense of humor to the class,” senior Melinda Busch, who was
Madsen had a knack for making con-
nections with students. “He’s one of those kinds of people that could hold a conversation with anyone,” Madsen’s daughter Robin said. His positive energy also drew students to his class.
“I think the biggest impact he did here
was get the woodworking program started again,” industrial tech teacher Rhys South
said. “He created a lot of student interest in the program.”
Madsen started teaching at Johnston
a student of Madsen’s Principles of Engi-
when he was 57, after leaving Exira High
is Barbara Ann, so whenever she called
miles each way from his home in Audubon,
neering class, said. “Like his wife’s name the song “Barbara Ann” would play and we would all sing along.”
Madsen began teaching at Johnston last
year, and loved to fill the class with fun moments, until March 23, 2010, when he was
diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia. He passed away on January 10, 2011.
“We went to the doctor, thinking he had pneumonia,” Barbara Madsen, Wayne’s
School in southwest Iowa. He drove 75 Iowa, to Johnston. “He drove a good hour
to work everyday, he even bought himself a Prius,” industrial tech teacher Mitch Gearhart said. “He just was always happy to be
here. The whole time he worked here I re-
ally enjoyed his positive personality.” Both Gearhart and South taught with Madsen the seven months he was at Johnston.
Madsen always loved teaching, return-
wife of 39 years, said. “It was really hard
ing to it after being a businessman. “I think
someone who was never sick, never took
him of his high school days.”
to get that diagnosis. He had always been medicine, never went to the hospital.”
it kept him young,” Robin said. “It reminded After receiving his diagnosis, Madsen
was determined to keep teaching. “He talk-
A student of Madsen’s, junior Madi Buck-
ed about how he still wanted to keep teach-
ley said, “He would be walking us through a
South said.
it, like if we were talking about trust calcula-
the student atmosphere even if it did not
bridge out of balsa wood.”
had a bus driver’s license, so he even talk-
ried into his home life as well. “He and I
Although at Johnston for a short time, he
about the frustrations or joys of teaching,”
the shortest job of his life, but it meant the
what I miss the most, having someone who
ing part time, or even substitute teaching,”
problem and try to find a physical way to do
Madsen wanted to still be involved with
tions, he would actually build a suspension
necessarily involve teaching students. “He
He cared so much about teaching it car-
ed about driving a bus,” Barbara said.
would talk on the phone a lot or in person
cared about his job. “I think it was probably
Wendi, also a teacher, said. “I think that’s
most to him,” Wendi said.
could relate to that like he could.”
He helped 2010 graduate Justin Handel,
ny stories, making people laugh wherever
nets for a preschool. “I couldn’t have done
other people happy,” Wendi said. “In high
of my favorite teachers,” Handel said. “He
to our house. His way of showing he loved
teaching high school students.”
or anything it was just his sense of humor.”
very particular about what he taught. “I felt
met and will be truly missed. “He loved life,
of their weekends were spent going over
best friend,” Barbara said. “I heard from a
class as hands-on as possible and put real
and taught them a lot, not just in the class-
Madsen was committed to his students.
He was known for his big heart and fun-
with his Eagle Scout project, building cabi-
he went. “His favorite thing to do was make
my project without his help. He was one
school all my friends wanted to come over
had a lot to offer and quite the passion for
you was by teasing you, it wasn’t personal
Madsen’s daughter Wendi said he was
Madsen made an impact on people he
kind of bad for my mom, because many
was a person of good character, he was my
trigonometry books.” He tried to make the
lot of students that he touched their lives
world examples in the material.
room but about life.”
feature Students anxiously await audition results the b&w p.16
feb 2011
1
words Elisabeth Lowe
2
Senior Allie Crist slips inside a cramped stuffy room. She is
greeted by the faces of a hundred boys and girls with the same goal in mind; to be accepted into one of the best dance schools
in the United States. Eyes dart around the room, each individual
sizing the other up in an attempt to identify competition. A long time dancer, Crist plans on continuing dance in her future and
Elisabeth Lowe/BW
has tried out for several universities including University of Ari-
3
zona and NYU.
Crist is not the only Johnston senior who must undergo this
process. While many high school seniors are busy filling out college applications, sorting through scholarships and of course, combating senioritis, some of Johnston’s more artistic seniors who plan on majoring in a fine art are faced with an additional challenge; an audition.
Elisabeth Lowe/BW
(1) Senior Kyle Naig rehearses for an audition in Kansas City. (2) Senior Blake Schlawin plays his guitar for the Jazz Syndicate. (3) Senior Allie Crist preforms a routine she choreographed during the Feb. 15 assembly.
Like dancers, aspiring musicians must be assessed prior to
cess is so terrifying,” says Crist, “your mind runs from obsessing
getting a spot in Belmont University’s program for students who
that outfit, to having to smile at the judges and try to behave like
enrollment. Blake Schlawin recently flew to Nashville in hope of play commercial guitar. Belmont is acclaimed as one of the best music colleges in the United States with a student body around
five thousand. Kyle Naig underwent a similar process when applying to Kansas University for piano. Both boys had to sched-
over what your hair looks like and how awful your body looks in a normal and personable human being.” Schlawin shared similar
feelings, “[I was] stressed out,” he said, “you don’t really know how good or bad you are.”
Although it can be a grueling process, there are ways to mini-
ule an audition upon being accepted into the universities. Prior
mize stress. Many prospective students are unaware as to what
each day for a month. Naig was required to memorize approxi-
disclose helpful information such as what you will be tested on
to Blake’s audition, he practiced anywhere from one to two hours mately 50 minutes worth of music for his audition but was only asked to play a total of 10 minutes.
Although the audition process doesn’t vary much between
schools, the nerves never seem to go away. “The audition pro-
to expect when they go to audition. Many colleges are willing to or what specific songs you need to be able to play. Although the
process can be nerve wracking, Crist assures us that “you can keep your head in the clouds, as long as you’ve got at least one foot planted firmly on the ground.”
Helen Lagerblade/Dragon
Lunch club creates creative combinations words & layout Isabella Engblom
from the lunch room, but Weiss is definitely the one who brings
Lunch Club is held. Nobody remembers how exactly the club
ally sure where he gets his ideas for them at. He probably finds
was initially put together, it was just a group of art students trying to get some work done then more and more people began joining in to work, eat, and talk about life.
the most interesting ones. “Weiss eats a lot of weird food, not rethem very nutritious because he is all about that,” senior Briana Wengert said.
On occasion the students will find creative things to do during
“Anyone is welcome, of course,” Weiss said. “We enjoy food
lunch club time. “Sometimes we have these dare-you-to-eat-it
to be open to the concerns and issues that come up and I share
and serves them to us for fun,” senior Rebecca Campbell said.
and share stories about our lives. We discuss many things, I try my own perceptions and experiences with my students, fellow faculty, and friends,” Weiss said.
Every other week they hold a type of potluck of foods, that
they all share. “This year I have prepared octopus, barbecued
Daniel Weiss, Perry Leysens, Briana Wengert, and Gabe Terronez eat and talk during their lunch club that is held during A lunch.
Everyone contributes and brings in foods, sometimes just
Perry Leysens and Briana Wengert get their food from the
lunch room, walk into studio 302 during A lunch, which is where
Mike Shi/BW
Baker, who graduated in 2007.
beef heart, and fried pork brains,” Weiss said.
The specialty item that the club has introduced over the years
days, and that is when Weiss gets creative and buys crazy things They dare each other to mix and eat all different kinds of foods.
The club consists of everything that you would think. “We eat
and talk, and Weiss is like our psychologist, he patiently listens
to us vent about our lives and problems, it occasionally goes the other way too,” junior Ben Smith said.
The students enjoy their lunch and interesting conversations
is the twinkie-weiner-cheez-whiz sandwich. This consists of a
with peers and teachers in the laid back atmosphere that Weiss
spray cheese on top. It was invented by former student Trevor
without the hassle and stresses of the loud, noisy lunch room.
twinkie cut in half with a hot dog put in the middle and artificial
has provided. They enjoy being around their friends during lunch
feature
the b&w p.17
feb 2010
5+2=1 big happy family Freshman Sydney Houston and family in process of adopting Colombian girls
words & layout Mallorie Goodale
ily members. They will be there for three
When the Houston’s get off their plane
then return to the United States as a family
after seven different plane rides on Febru-
ary 27, they won’t be greeted by two little girls running into their arms. After waiting
15 months for this moment to finally arrive, the Houstons: freshman Sydney, thirteen-
year-old Jackson, six-year-old Evan, and Angela and Doug, are overcome with feelings of overwhelming excitement.
Instead, they have to wait a few days
in Colombia, then they get to meet the two
girls they have been waiting to adopt. After they spend some time with them, the girls
are able to decide if they want to go back to the U.S. with the Houstons or not.
Rosa, age 11 and Kimberly, age 9, are
Afro-Colombian, meaning they are Colombian with African ancestry. The girls don’t speak any English, only Spanish.
“During the first few weeks, there will
only be Spanish and English used in the family,” Angela Houston said. “I’m a little worried about the communication.” CurMallorie Goodale/BW
Doug Houston and his daughter, Sydney, paint the wall of a room in their basement. The room is going to be Sydney’s and the two girls they are adopting are going to share Sydney’s old room.
rently freshman Sydney is taking Spanish
II and both parents took Spanish in high school and some in college.
In March or April, the Houston family will
travel to Colombia to meet their new fam-
weeks so they can get to know the girls and of seven.
“You know what I like about it? No
cell phones. No Facebook, no texting,”
Doug said. “It’s going to be like being unplugged.”
Waiting another month to meet the girls
proves to be nerve wracking. “I don’t know,
I’m scared right now but when the day gets closer I will be more excited,” Sydney said. “I think it will be emotional for all of us.”
There will be a lot of preparation for the
girls that go into the adoption process. “I feel like there’s a lot of preparation,” Angela
said. “I have to go to Chicago for travel visas. We are all going together but I am going to leave later.”
The Houstons decided to adopt older
girls because it could take over three years to adopt a baby 0-2 years old from Colombia.
“It will be pretty exciting,” Doug said. “It
is a lot different than when you go have a
baby. We aren’t doing it because we can’t have a baby or anything. We are doing it because we have the room in the house
and the ability to do it. That’s why we are doing it.”
Agan’s coolest cop moments words & layout Chris Coble There are few men in this world that have the guts to
taze a raccoon. Fortunately for us we have one of those men in this school.
Many people do not know much about the School Re-
source Officer Kenny Agan. For them he is just a cop, someone to avoid. But he loves to tell stories.
There was once a time when Agan was a patrol officer
for the JPD. For ten years he was dealing with everything from drug busts to car chases.
“It was kind of like Mario Kart” Agan said.
So he began zigzagging through the field, swerving the
whole way, until he eventually was able to corner the kid and take him down.
But Agan’s career wasn’t all as serious as car chases;
he has a few funny moments to share as well. Like the
time he tazed a raccoon, which Agan believes is one of his defining moments.
The raccoon was inside some guys house and didn’t
want to leave. “It was a big raccoon!” Agan said.
If you came up against a crazy raccoon the size of a
Talking to Agan is like an episode of cops. Many have
beach ball what would you do? Agan would not shoot it;
video) which found him on the tail of a fifteen-year-old kid
a crazy raccoon, you don’t want to get too close,” Agan
heard about the infamous bean field chase (Agan has a
Chris Coble/BW
Officer Kenny Agan sits in his patrol car in the parking lot. Around here he does not often get a chance to use his car.
that would be just wrong. He could not catch it either. “It’s
ran outside as quickly as possible.
said.
would not give up his job here at Johnston for anything.
long bridge around Jester Park. Eventually the kid led Agan
was not a good idea. “Sparks shot out his mouth and he
with a police officer and not always in a negative setting.”
racing a truck in the country.
work on raccoons. Luckily, the creature did not get hurt, he
who had stolen his dad’s truck only moments before.
They were going about 75 miles an hour down the mile
into a bean field. Here Agan was at a disadvantage, he was
So Agan decided to taze it. But he soon realized that
defecated himself,” Agan said. So apparently tazers do not
But even though these moments are amazing, Agan
“It’s important that students have the opportunity to meet He enjoys helping kids make the right choices and he
wouldn’t change that fact. So it seems that we are not get-
the b&w p.18
dungeon
feb 2011
Anid Nezirevic: A Different kind of dedication words Ashley Enger layout Kelly McGowan Many people think talent is the only
reason to go out for a high school sport. Others, like senior Anid Nezirevic, play because they love the sport.
Nezirevic focuses more on change him-
self as a basketball player, and continuing to get better rather than winning.
“Last year I would not have been able
to do reverse layups with both hands, now
I can do layups with both hands,” Nezirevic said. “I’m right handed, so it’s difficult with left-handed stuff, but I still cannot dunk.”
Showing passion for the sport is one
way Nezirevic stands out to his team and his coach, Bobby Sandquist.
“Anid plays for the fun of the game,
always has such a good attitude, he’s a good teammate, and encourages his teammates,” Sandquist said. “He enjoys playing,
and with our “no cut” policy, we play everyone. They all get the opportunity to play and
that’s the purpose of JV. We will also dress Anid for varsity on senior night.”
When Nezirevic is sitting out, he thinks
about what he needs to work on.
“I either reflect on what I can do better or
reflect on my mistakes to try and improve
instead of missing the shot again.” Nezirevic said.
Some might want to know why Nezirevic
wouldn’t give up, just because he isn’t the best of the best.
“If I’m dedicated enough to the sport,
then I wouldn’t give up,” Nezirevic said, “If
you do give up, you’re giving up on the entire game. It’s not worth it.
Another thing that keeps Nezirevic inter-
ested in the sport is team bonding. Things like pasta dinners the night before a game with the team remind him of why he loves
it. Along with bonding, Nezirevic sets goals
with him teammates. He hopes they will be
able to make it to the championship, and that will be fulfilled as long as they keep working hard and stay focused.
In the future, Nezirevic will be attend-
ing the University of Iowa to study business management, which he has wanted to pursue since freshman year.
Playing basketball after senior year is
an option that Nezirevic has considered. Al-
though it would put more pressure on him, he is willing to put fourth the effort.
“If it takes weeks, months, years,”
Nezirevic said. “I don’t care, I just want to get better.”
Get to know Anid Favorite....
pro team “LA Lakers. I have loved them ever since I was little. They can come back from a large score difference.”
sports rivalry “Lakers against the Celtics, it has always been a huge rivalry in the NBA.”
sport to watch
basketball memory
“Basketball, because I know how to play and I know the background of the sport.”
“The first day playing competitively. I didn’t know what to expect, and it was really fun for my first time.”
sports
the b&w p.19
feb 2011
Pray together, play together and then push each other down words & layout Kelsey Kruse “Our father who art in heaven, hollowed be thy name…
Amen.” The whistle blows and the ball is up. Another game
of YMCA church league basketball is underway. For the
first-year team NNS Revolution, it’s bound to be a competitive one, smack talk included.
“It shouldn’t be called a church league,” senior Erik
Bergstrom said. “The only church related thing is that we
say a prayer.” Other than that, it can get pretty heated on the court.
“A guy got thrown out when we were playing a game
that Kramer was being a little physical during the game
his shoulders and went in for the tackle. Bergstrom said the
ball, and Moe slid at Kramer’s legs. Then, they were rolling
ref went crazy and kicked the guy out.
However, Bergstrom said that practices are way more
intense than games, at least for their team. They practice
x o
o x
o o
o x
x
By: Ryan SMAHA
Revitalized student section creates true 6th man I! I believe! I believe that! I believe that
“I tried to swing at (Kramer) but it didn’t land and that’s
all get over stuff like that in no time at all. “We’re not girls.”
each other.”
land is at the games to lighten the mood. “He cracks jokes
don’t call fouls so that’s how we get tough,” Bergstrom said.
dad doesn’t really know that much about basketball but all
The team doesn’t even establish an out-of-bounds. “It hurts our fundamentals because when we pass (in practice) it
So, the scrimmage continued on. Bergstrom said they Although he may not be at practices, coach Todd Dar-
sometimes,” senior Matt Darland said. Darland said his the guys like him so they decided to make him coach.
As far as skills go, Moe said they may be lacking. Their
can go off the wall but in a game it goes out of bounds.”
first practice they tried to do drills but Bergstrom said that
swung,” Bergstrom said. Senior Alex Kramer and Moe
well,” Bergstrom said “We’re more of the hustle team. We
Practices can get pretty hostile. “Punches have been
were after a loose ball. Bergstrom, a neutral party, said
lasted about five minutes. “None of us can really dribble have a lot of heart.”
student section and is one of many ex-
(count ‘em) two D1 basketball players in
plan ahead of time,” Sound Off reporter Bri-
spirit at a basketball game.
was covering the game, and it was my first
ful student section I’ve seen this year.”
amples one might find of newfound school
Listen, I was there when there were four
rows of legitimate fans at basketball games.
Doug McDermott and Harrison Barnes. I high-profile story.
student section took up almost half of the
Urbandale students, creating a home-court
if the team won or lost, not the ones that
gym. Now, I don’t know if that is because of
came to hang out with their friends. If you
have read the sports columns preceding mine, you know that Scott Monroe talked about this topic more than once.
Just ask Urbandale about the “Super-
fan” student section. On Jan. 28, the John-
dent support at that game, considering the
ally watched the game, the ones that cared
an Ross said. “(They are) the most respect-
I was blown away by the amount of stu-
And by legitimate, I mean the fans that actu-
the team we were playing, but the students
here clearly fell in love with basketball that night against Ames.
This year, WHO’s “Sound Off”, they dis-
ston student section far outnumbered the
environment for both the girls’ and boys’
basketball teams. This game also marked
the most successful “blackout” in the past four years at least.
The newfound school spirit in the stu-
This newfound school spirit really began
cussed the section after attending the John-
dent section is a complete change in cul-
over a year ago. Ames came in ranked
and deemed it, “the best student section in
what this school needed, a legitimate stu-
we will! I believe that we will win! This cheer
at the Johnston—Ames basketball game
sity, yet has found its way to the “Superfan”
number one in the state, and boasted two,
is one that originated at Utah State Univer-
up senior Joey Ridenour was in between them.
playing basketball for about three years now.“We’re all re-
During practice, it’s pretty much anything goes. “We
x
around on the ground for a little bit, and when they both got
how it ended,” Moe said.
ally good friends,” Bergstrom said. “But we hate losing to
Full-court Press
but nothing over the top. Kramer was running towards the
about once a week in Bergstrom’s indoor gym, which isn’t
much of a change since they’ve been hanging out and
Senior Erik Bergstrom tries to find an open teammate in a regular season game for the NNS Revolution against St. Augustin. St. Augustin won the game against the NNS Revolution by a score of 52-26. The team is 6-4 heading into the playoffs as the sixth seed in the single-elimination tournament.
Senior Thomas Thatcher Senior Joey Ridenour Senior Erik Bergstrom Senior Logan Moe Senior Matt Darland Senior Alex Kramer Senior Andy Lovejoy Senior Spencer Hyde Junior Sam Smith
once,” senior Erik Bergstrom said. Senior Logan Moe was
going up for a rebound and one of his opponents lowered
Michael Knoedel/BW
The Team
ston — S.E. Polk basketball game Jan. 14
the state.” “It’s cool to see how the students
ture from the past four years, and is clearly dent section.
the b&w p.20
backpage
feb 2011
Planning for the
Mull Future Rory Cooking
To Become a Chef
Looking through the fresh picks of the day junior Rory Mull surveys what the
farmer’s market has to offer for dinner tonight. He picks out some vegetables to saute and serve with the grilled meat of his choice.
“I think cooking is calming, it helps relieve stress,” Mull said. In fact Mull enjoyed
cooking and grilling so much he decided he wanted to be a chef.
To work towards his dream job Mull enrolled in the DMACC Culinary Arts Pro-
gram at Central Campus. The school runs a small restaurant called the Cafe so the students can practice their skills. The class also helps students learn about the business aspect of restaurants. Mull realized how hard it is to run a business and
figuring out how much things should cost. He decided he just wanted to be a chef instead of a restaurant owner.
“A lot of restaurants fail which is why I liked the idea of just being in charge of
the kitchen because I don’t have to worry about that as much.”
To become a chef you have to work through the system by starting at the lowest
position. Mull plans to get a job as a bus boy sometime soon. He also plans to go to college at Le Cordon Bleu to perfect his skills as a cook.
Connor Woody
Matt Daisy Teaching Special Education
Training To Be a Cop
Ever since senior Connor Woody was a kid shes always been enforcing rules and
making sure she never got in trouble. Now as a senior Woody is planning on making a career out of it.
Growing up, Woody heard many stories about being a cop from her dad, Steve
Woody, who is a police officer at the Des Moines Police Department. She knew ever since she was little she would be a cop, no matter what.
Woody has also been inspired by Lori Kelly, a woman she baby-sits for, a Des
Moines Police officer. Kelly tells Woody stories about her job. One that stuck out in Woody’s mind was about an elderly woman who had been neglected. Kelly’s job was
to investigate. The woman had fallen and was unable to get up. She laid in the same
place for so long her skin had begun to melt into the floor. It was Kelly’s job to find out
who was responsible for the woman. Kelly is exactly what Woody wants to be — a strong, confident woman police officer.
“Obviously I’m a girl, not a lot of girls want a job like this,” Woody said.
Woody is currently taking criminal justice classes at DMACC. She has taken a
Youth Leadership Program at a FBI academy and just a week ago she shot her first gun at her grandparent’s farm.
Shooting her first gun was not what Woody expected but it let her experience what
it was really like and how much work she still has to go to reach her goals.
Imagine walking into a classroom with your classmates and rather than
sitting down with them you get to teach them. This spring, senior Matt Daisy will begin student teaching with English teacher Kristi Mundy. Daisy is planning on becoming a special education teacher.
“Most kids with special needs are written off in society as people who
can’t do anything. Through personal experience I know that’s not true. They are active and responsive people,” Daisy said.
Daisy is currently enrolled in Teacher Academy at Central Campus.
Through this program Daisy takes classes, tutors at a middle school, observes classrooms and student teaches. He will also be taking classes in college so he can teach reading.
“Reading is one subject students struggle in,” Daisy said. “Since I’m
good at it I want to use my strengths to help better others.” As president of Best Buddies, Daisy is in constant contact with kids in special education.
“My favorite thing when I’m working with the kids is when I get a smile
out of a kid, you know they know you’re there. You see that spark of life in them.”
Compiled by Taylor Mithelman, Ashley Shay, and Ethan Meng