Big Sky High School Sun Journal January 6, 2022

The girls’ basketball team kicked off their season in early December with a new coach.

See full story Page 7.

the sun journal

PHOTO BY HAYDEN KEINTZ

Speech & Debate kick off new season, hire new coach

by Kylie Fisher & Hollin Keintz

of the Sun Journal

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he Speech and Debate team has experienced quite a bit of coaching turnover in the last several years, and this year has proved no different. The team started the season with new head coach Melissa Dowdy, who only lasted just long enough to kick off the season. Fortunately for the team, Big Sky graduate Jayden Beed (’21) was currently serving as the assistant coach and gladly stepped into the role of head coach, making the transition almost seamless.

“It is very surreal. Speech and Debate did

so much for me as a competitor, but has also done a lot for me as a coach. Being able to have come full circle and provide the same opportunities to others that I was provided is an amazing feeling,” Beed said.

Although she had a successful tenure as a competitor, Beed finds coaching more fulfilling, if not more challenging.

“As a competitor, your main focus is your events, especially given that we are an activity that is largely individualized,” Beed said.

“However, as a coach, you must spread your time between all events and coach all competitors in them. I have found that all of the skills I utilized as a competitor whether competitive, leadership, or otherwise have been

great assets in doing this.”

The team, too, is adjusting to the change, but is ready to start moving forward.

“We are super grateful for her commitment to our team and flexibility in becoming the head coach,” Senior Ashlynn Everett said.

“She is honestly the most consistent coach we have had yet.”

While it may be a bit “unconventional” that Beed, just a college freshman at the University of Montana, is the head coach, most students are happy she’s been able to take the helm--though they recognize the stress she is under as the sole head coach in her first year.

“She is an experienced and capable debate mentor, but she lacks expertise when it comes

to speech events,” Senior Octavio Jimenez said. “We are glad she’s around but are also disadvantaged by the fact she is the only one.”

While others have expressed some concern about experience, the overwhelming sense is relief and hope for the future of the program.

Senior Pilar Seielstad said, “I think she is fantastic. Initially I was concerned with her competing last year, but she is genuinely the best coach I have had. She cares for each individual, pushes them to perform, fundraises to make sure we can eat at tournaments, supports all of us speech and debate kids, and

Victorious Opener

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BPA adopts Hawthorne families

by Hollin Keintz

Editor-in-Chief

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s the holidays are quickly approaching, the Business Professionals of America students are giving back to the local community, adopting 14 elementary students from Hawthorne Elementary, one of Big Sky’s feeder schools.

Co-Adviser Jenn Keintz said, “We know there is always a need for extra supplies, but during the holidays, especially this year, we felt that helping out elementary students was the best use of our energies.”

The primary source of the projects comes from the school store, but also from some local donations as well. The BPA students bought the items from the students’ need

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PHOTO BY HAYDEN KEINTZ

Senior Caden Bateman grabs a board over Billings Skyview during their opening night’s victory, 52-44. Senior Louis Sanders led with 10 points, followed by Shane Shepherd and Josiah Cuaresma with eight points each. See page 6 for full story.

Veterans’ cemetery asks Big Sky students to show respect

by Hollin Keintz

of the Sun Journal

Model United Nations Success Carter wins Top 5 delegate scholarship

by Hollin Keintz

of the Sun Journal

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he Montana Model United Nations team had a successful outing at their two-day tournament right before Thanksgiving break. Several students walked away with honors, and seniors Ben Carter and Annie Migliaccio both won senior awards, with Carter taking home a Top 5 delegate award.

“I am honored to have received a scholarship to the UM and I am so thankful that I have had such good mentors in our previous seniors, Ms. (Nicole Sarrazin-) Strong and Ms. (Meleina) Helmer,” Carter said.

Carter took home Top 5 honors, meaning he was one of the top five seniors at the conference, for his work as a delegate for the Japan team in the United Nations Development Programme round. The honor comes with a scholarship to the University of Montana.

“I represented Japan’s stance on creating a sustainable and resilient blue economy and build back better from COVID-19,” Carter said.

He attributes his success to his confidence. “To do well in MUN you really need to be willing to speak in front of other people and take charge of situations,” he said.

INSIDE

PHOTO COURTESY OF MELEINA HELMER

Montana Model United Nations delegates competed Nov. 22-23 at the University of Montana for the 56th annual MMUN High School Competition. Front row: Reagan Remmers, Marin Seielstad, Hayden Bosshardt.

Middle row: Aaron Tribble, Analise Migliaccio, Noel Migliaccio, Pilar Seielstad, Lydia Reid. Back row: Brianna Machado, Elyse Huey, Ben Carter, TJ Higuera, Gavin Lemmon, Derek Johnson, Madelyn McInnis, Hannah King, Tennyson Smith. Not pictured: Gabriel Hendrix, Marcus Raines, Max Carter, Aaron Helms.

The Japan team of Migliaccio, Marcus Raines, 11, Hannah King, 10, and Carter won Outstanding Delegation. Greece, represented

by Noel Migliaccio, 11, Marin Seielstad, 9, Max Carter, 10, and TJ Higuera, 12, received an Honorable award.

Opinions

Other individual awards went to Hayden Bosshardt, Max Carter and Raines (Honorable); Regan Remmers, Higuera and King (Distinguished) and Ben Carter (Outstanding). Annie Migliaccio received and Honorable for Position Paper and Noel Migliaccio and Bosshardt

Features

Opinions......................4 Features.......................5 Backpage............................8

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Backpage “A pickle is not a pickle unless it bounces.”

Connecticut

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Sports.........................6-7

both received Distinguished Position Paper awards.

Each year, the University of Montana sponsors the MMUN conference, typically hosting approximately 20 schools and upwards of

illustration by Jacky Bloom

Stress season is here

School is stressing us out, and it’s only going to get worse as we head into finals.

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photo by Kylie Fisher

Cabaret returns

Now that the auditorium is complete, and audiences can return, Cabaret is back!

5

JANUARY 6, 2022

photo by Hollin Keintz

That’s illegal?

Check out some crazy laws around the states.

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ig Sky High School borders very silent neighbors and our neighbors are asking for silence and respect in return--at least during funeral services for our local veterans.

Last month, during a funeral at the Western Montana Veterans’ Cemetery, the cemetery that borders the student parking lot, Principal Jennifer Courtney fielded complaints from the adminstration at the cemetery about the behavior of Big Sky students during a funeral service.

Bureau Chief Matt Manning has asked that in the future, Big Sky students refrain from shouting vulgarities, revving car engines loudly, and honking horns.

“It’s not necessarily that we are upset about the whole issue,” Manning said. “It’s just that we feel bad for the families because you only get one funeral, you know? And if [students] are over there honking their horns it’s kind of ruined.”

Manning understands the behavior is just high schoolers being high schoolers, and he doesn’t mind that.

What is he requesting is for us to be aware of what is happening around us, and behave appropriately especially during a service.

“You know, if they are out in the parking lot being silly, it’s fine--we don’t mind that. We just ask that they have a little situational awareness,” Manning said. “Look across the street and see if there are any cars in the cemetery. If there are cars in the cemetery and the flags are at half staff, look around and make sure everyone is being quiet.”

Plus, even if there isn’t a service going on, Manning asks to just be aware of your surroundings.

“Somebody might be out there having a really tough day--they lost a loved one--and they are out there at their father’s, their mother’s, their huband’s grave,” Manning said. “It’s a tough time. Our cemetery is place we want people to come to and for it to be peaceful for them.”

the sun journal

January 6, 2022

2 News Carter tops at MMUN BPA CONTINUED FROM P1 300 students. At the event, students represent countries from across the world. Then, like real-world diplomats, they participate in UN committees such as the General Assembly and Security Council.

“I love advising MUN because it brings real global issues to life for students,” Co-Adviser Nicole Sarrazin-Strong said. “Students gain speaking, researching, writing and mediation skills. It is one of the most academic clubs that we have to offer and students enjoy working with all the different students from various schools.”

By writing, negotiation, and voting on resolutions, students learn to examine international affairs from different perspectives and experience what it is like to cooperate to solve real-world problems.

Carter said, “This is my fourth year in MUN and I have really enjoyed watching our team evolve.

Every year there is a senior on the team who is a leader and teacher for the new people and I tried to be that person this year.”

Co-Adviser Meleina Helmer said, “I like that MUN focuses so much on cooperation skills across

several groups. It is a great way to learn about how international cooperation actually works, and forces students to consider that what maybe is important to their own country may not be important to another and that makes for good perspective.”

Senior Annie Migliaccio joined MUN just this year and is happy she had the opportunity to do so.

“I’m so glad I had the chance to do it,” she said. “Not only did I learn so much, but it was an amazing experience to share with so many incredible people.”

Senior Pilar Seielstad competed the last two years at MUN, though last year was only virtual rather than in person.

“I like the foreign policy and problem-solving discussions MUN facilitates,” Seielstad said. “It has helped my public speaking and ability to read and write legislation.”

Although it sounds daunting, both Carter and Seielstad said being a part of MUN isn’t as stressful as one may think.

“It is a fun activity that isn’t a big time commitment with a ton of cool people to meet and become friends with,” Seielstad said. “The advisers of MUN are also phenomenal.”

list, wish list, and added stockings stuffed with additional items they felt the kids would like for the holiday season.

“Our school is third from the bottom in the poverty scale in Missoula County, so we have a lot of needs,” Megan Meyers, Family Resource Coordinator for Hawthorne Elementary School said. “We have food insecurity, housing insecurity. We have homeless unaccompanied youth.

We have a lot of needs in this school and anything from food to clothing to fixing a car we try to help with through the FRC.” PHOTO BY JENN KEINTZ Co-BPA President Ash- BPA students spent the last week before winter break shopping, sorting lynn Everett said, “When we and wrapping presents for Hawthorne Elementary students. “We know that asked if they had one of the sometimes kids can feel really left out at this time of year, and we thought, giving trees, they were all too even if we could make one kid’s holiday season better, we would,” Adviser happy to share with us. I just Jenn Keintz said. From left, Hollin Keintz, 12, Ashlyn Everett, Hayden Keintz, 9, think this is a really important and Kendall Toye, 12. to help those kids that may not have an opportunity to “I think Christmas can be a real- around $700 which Meyers was get cool gifts or anything fun for ly fun time for kids, but also a really doing her best to stretch. She was Christmas.” hard time for families,when they concerned with being able to get Everett stressed the importance don’t have the financial means to not only the humble gifts students of family during this time of year, give their kids gifts,” Everett said. were asking for, but also the items but how it is often most stressful “This has been so impactful. We the students needed for winter, such on those who cannot afford to buy have 78 students that qualify for as socks, shoes and boots. their children presents, knowing our Christmas Giving program this Meyers said, “This year we just that most of this kids around them year,” Meyers said. had so much need that this is really will be sharing “what they got” on The school has a fairly small so impactful. This just means the the return to school after break. budget for the program, sitting world to me.”

O p

Speech and Debate transitions to new staff, looks to state CONTINUED FROM P1 She cares for each individual, pushes them to perform, fundraises to make sure we can eat at tournaments, supports all of us speech and debate kids, and is incredibly organized--which is rare for speech and debate.”

When Beed stepped up, Haley Bennett, also a ‘21 graduate, stepped into the role of assistant.

“The assistant coach is also phenomenal, especially stepping in so quickly,” Seielstad said. “Honestly, we love both of our coaches. They are wonderful.”

Now that the season is in full swing, and the coaching staff is settling in, the students are excited to be back in full swing.

Junior Will Ruzanski said, “The season’s going great. I’m really proud of our team as a whole.”

Compared to last year, this season has seemed close to normal.

They’ve been able to travel around the state and compete in person, which is a new experience for some of the team’s younger members.

PHOTO BY KYLIE FISHER

The Speech and Debate team after their tournament in Bozeman, Montana. Back Row: Assistant Coach Haley Bennett, Abigail Durnell, Annabelle Henkins, Riley Laslovich, Madelyn McInnis, Zachary Kirst, Octavio Jimenez, Kylie Fisher, Noah Everett, William Ruzanski, Levi Rank, Head Coach Jayden Beed. Front Row: Ashlynn Everett, Emma Willhite, Marin Seielstad, Derek Johnson, Hayden Bosshardt, Erik Armstrong, Pilar Seielstad.

Not Pictured: Becca Sylte-Riggers.

“Next on our to-do is list is to push for state,” Ruzanski said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

The state competition will be at the end of the month in Helena. In the meantime, the team competes

this weekend at Glacier and next weekend in Butte.

Ruzanski said, “I have high ex-

pectations for myself and for our team at state. We’re going to do great!”

Scholarship Information:

Seniors: friendly reminder that you can find scholarships on the BSHS Class of 2022 Google Classroom. If you go the website of the schools you are applying for you can also apply for scholarships dedicated to that school.

Data Bases To find New and Updated Scholarships College Horizons: College Horizons is a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to increasing the number of Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students succeeding in college and graduate programs. Since 1998, they have served over 3,300 Native students on their path to higher ed through their admissions and financial aid workshops.

College Board: From the same people that produce the SAT Test, this is a scholarship search engine that doesn’t try to sell you anything and doesn’t make you create an account to search.

Fast Web Scholarship guide: FastWeb. com has over 600,000 different scholarships worth over $1 billion dollars.

The website does create a list of your name and contact information. It is recommended that students create a different email just for scholarships if using this search engine.

Scholly: There is free money for college out there, and Scholly has helped students win over $50 million in scholarship awards.

It is super simple, easy and accurate. Sign up for an account today. See your school counselor for the join code which will allow you to access the database for free.

Missoula Community Foundation General Scholarship Five scholarships of $1000 are available.

Requirements are attend a highereducation institution in Montana or attend a WUE school and must be in senior standing. Due by March 25, 2022.

Missoula Community Foundation Diversity Scholarship One scholarship of $1000 is availbe.

Requirements include attend a highereducation institution in Montana or attend a WUE school, identify with an underrepresented ethnic group and must be at senior standing. Due, March 25, 2022.

Maureen and Mike Mansfield Native American Scholarship

The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Native American Scholarship shall provide at least two scholarships each year for deserving female Native American students, at the undergraduate level, and who are from any of the seven Indian reservations within the State of Montana. The scholarships shall be available to students who wish to attend one of the four University of Montana campuses. Due April 4th.

Horatio Alger Montana Undergraduate Scholarship

Seniors at Montana high schools who want to go to college now have more help in reaching that goal. The program, administered by the Horatio Alger Association, is specifically for students who have confronted and overcome adversity in their young lives. Students from across Montana will be selected to each receive a $15,000 scholarship and have the honor of being named as a Horatio Alger Montana Scholar. Scholarships can be utilized to pursue higher education at the University of Montana, Montana State University, or one of their affiliates: University of Montana Western Missoula College – University of Montana Helena College – University of Montana Montana Technological University in Butte Montana State University Billings Montana State University Northern Requirements include be a U.S. Citizen pursuing first bachelor’s degree, exhibit critical financial need for tuition (family income under $55000), Display integrity and perseverance in the face of adversity, and

have a GPA of 2.0 and above.

Due April 15, 2022.

Montana’s STEM/Healthcare Scholarship Program

Montana’s STEM/Healthcare Scholarship Program is designed to provide an incentive for Montana high school students to prepare for, enter into, and complete degrees in postsecondary fields related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics and healthcare. The goal of this program is to increase the number of STEM/Healthcare degree recipients participating in Montana’s workforce.

Due March 15, 2022.

Montana Life Members Scholarship

One scholarship for $1000. Requirements include be a Montana resident and US Citizen majoring in Conservation, Horticulture, Parks or Forestry, Floriculture, Greenhouse Management, Land Management, or related subjects and a GPA 2.7. Due May 1.

UMW William S. Bender Scholarship

The UMW William S. Bender Scholarship is awarded to a Montana student with leadership skills and high scholastic ability who excelled in extracurricular activities in high school. Incoming freshmen are eligible.

MUS Honor Scholarship

The MUS Honor Scholarship is a 4-year renewable scholarship, which waives the recipient’s tuition when used at an eligible campus. Its average value at a 4-year Montana campus is $5,000 a year or $20,000 for four years. The Board of Regents intends to offer up to 200 scholarships (contingent upon continued funding of the program) annually. The scholarship does not cover mandatory or class fees. Due March 15.

Editor-in-Chief

Hollin Keintz Reporters

Kenadi Bailey James Bivens Jacky Bloom Darcy Cohen Kaydn Easter Emily Finlay Madison Glessner Hayden Keintz Micky Lapham Christian Morin Caden Mueller Riley Pellett Damon Quist Sara Nordtome Mariah Zentner Adviser

Jenn Keintz Principal

Jennifer Courtney The opinions expressed in the Big Sky Sun Journal are those of the individual staff members and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or administration.

Letters to the editor are encouraged, but may be edited for libelous or obscene material or omitted at the discretion of the administration. We will not accept any unsigned or anonymous letters.

January 6, 2022

the sun journal

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NEWS

at a GLANCE news & events in brief Betty White Dies at 99

Icon Betty White died Dec. 31, 2021, to punctuate a year of loss. White, best known for her work on The Golden Girls in the 80s and The Mary Tyler Moore Show in the 70s, captured the hearts of the younger generation in The Proposal and Hot in Cleveland. She died just two weeks before her 100th birthday.

MCPS to continue face mask requirements

As we are all acutely aware, the MCPS School Board announced the continuation of the face mask requirements for all students and staff due to the rise in COVID cases in Missoula County as measured by the incident rate on the MCCHD website.

As of Dec. 31, when the decision was announced, the country incident rate was 44 which is classified as high community transmission.

Omicron research looks promising for future According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Omicron symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, a new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea.

However, research suggests people who contract the Omicron variant of the coronavirus are about half as likely to need hospital care as those infected with the Delta variant, and one-third as likely to need emergency care, according to a report issued last week by British health officials. Although we are still in the beginning stages of this new variant, it appears that although it is highly transmissable even if fully vaccinated, symptoms seem to be more in line with the common cold and less deadly. Some

researchers are optistically hopeful a true herd immunity may eventually take effect as the variant appears to be resistant to current vaccines. All research, however, is still preliminary and needs to be vetted and peer reviewed.

Local metal artist Jesse Blumenthal visited the welding classes recently to demonstrate how to make art out of metal. In his presentation, he helped the students create a leaf from laser cut steel.

Teacher Scot Traeder said, “Jesse was a commercial blacksmith in Colorado for 10 years. His is first and foremost an artist, and encourages anyone who makes art to call themselves an artist.”

Blumenthal is part of the non-profit group Industrial Arts Montana and offers free metal working lessons.

AA Superintendents file complaint against State super Arntzen State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen is currently under a lot of scrutiny by several AA superintendents, as they have written a scathing letter of no confidence regarding the ability of the Office of Public Instruction leader to fulfill her duties with the best interest of the state in mind.

The letter was submitted in December to Arntzen, the head of OPI, by all eight of Montana’s AA public school districts.

Missoula County Public Schools’ Superintendent Rob Watson’s signature was included in the letter.

Colorado Fires destroy close to 600 homes At least two people are still missing, presumed dead, and almost 1,000 homes and other structures have been destroyed after a fastmoving wildfire swept through suburban areas northwest of Denver, Colorado officials said Sunday.

The blazes, which sparked Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021 destroyed some 991 structures and damaged 127 others in the towns of Louisville and Superior, as well as unincorporated Boulder County.

The fires burned more than 6,000 acres, whipped by winds gusts of over 105 mph that propelled them through abnormally dry conditions in the area.

NFL legend John Madden dead at 85 The Hall of Fame coachturned-broadcaster John Madden died unexpect-

PHOTO BY DARCY COHEN

edly Tuesday, Dec. 28, the NFL said. The NFL did not detail a cause of death. He was 85.

Madden’s exuberant calls combined with simple explanations provided a weekly soundtrack to NFL games for three decades. Madden served as the coach of the Oakland Raiders for a decade, making it to seven AFC title games and winning the SuperBowl in 1976.

During his tenure, he compiled a 103-32-7 regular-season record, and his .759 winning percentage is the best among NFL coaches with more than 100 games.

Local author’s work heads to Sundance

The short story “Winter Light” by local author James Lee Burke, who currently resides in Lolo, will be featured at the Sundance Film Festival next month.

The film, “God’s Country,” will star Thandiwe Newton and follows a college professor who enters into a conflict with two hunters who trespass on his property.

According to the festival website, the expanded story “explores issues of sexism and racism a Black academic faces in the Mountain West.”

Unabomber moved to prison medical facility The man known as the “Unabomber” has been

transferred to a federal prison medical facility in North Carolina after spending the past two decades in a federal Supermax prison in Colorado for a series of bombings targeting scientists.

Theodore “Ted” Kaczynski, 79, was moved to the U.S. Bureau of Prison’s FMC Butner medical center in eastern North Carolina on Dec. 14, according to bureau spokesperson Donald Murphy.

Kaczynski is serving life without the possibility of parole following his 1996 arrest at the primitive cabin where he was living in western Montana. He pleaded guilty to setting 16 explosions that killed three people and injured 23 others in various parts of the country between 1978 and 1995.

Montana minimum wage increases On Jan. 1, 2022, Montana’s minimum wage saw its biggest increase in years: rising 45 cents, from $8.75 to $9.20 an hour.

That’s the most it’s grown in a single step since 2007.

In 2006, Montana voters approved Initiative 151, which increased the minimum wage by $1 and instituted an annual adjustment to account for inflation. Since then, the largest single increase has been 35 cents.

Recreational marijuana legalized in Montana

The new year in Montana brings the legalization of recreational marijuana.

Marijuana businesses are allowed to be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and a 20 percent state sales tax is included in the purchase.

Adults can now buy up to one ounce of marijuana and are allowed to have two mature plants and two seedlings in their homes.

According to HB 701, the THC of marijuana flowers (the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces the sensation of being high) may not exceed 35 percent, and an edible or capsule must have no more than 100 milligrams of THC per capsule and no more than 800 milligrams of THC per package.

BSHS clubs updates Key Club had a successful food drive to finish out the holiday season. Big Sky students brought in over 3,000 for the Food Bank. They also volunteered for the Poverello Center, Adventure Cycling Association and the Missoula Public Library.

In January, they plan to start fundraising for Camp Mak-A-Dream.

NHS also completed a fundraiser for Camp Mak-A-Dream. In ad-

dition, NHS students have volunteered to start cleaning the tables in the Commons after lunch. In January, the club plans to work with the Soft Landing program, continue the after lunch clean-ups, and reinstate the Woot Woot wagon.

HSA Ambassadors created new academy groups. This initiative promotes camaraderie between grades. They are planning a blood drive in January.

Academic World Quest kicks off soon. If interested in joining, talk to advisers Meleina Helmer or Nicole Sarrazin-Strong.

Boosters request help Big Sky Booster Club is seeking parents to join. The parent club is on a mission to help all students, but they are seeking more support from the Big Sky community. The group is seeking donations, members, or sponsors. Interested parents should visit their website at bigskyboosterclub.org.

Finals week Jan 17-Jan 20

Finals week will be Jan. 17-Jan 20. Most of the week will be on regular schedule except there will be no advisory on Thursday, Jan. 20, and Friday, Jan. 21 will be intervention only. Make sure to check Infinite Campus and keep updated on your grades.

News Feature: American Serial Killers, Part 1 of our True Crime Series

5 of history’s most notorious serial killers: monsters & madness

Patrick Wayne Kearney

by Madison Glessner and Hollin Keintz

of the Sun Journal

During the height of the pandemic, when most of us were holed up in our homes, binging Netflix, waiting for another episode of our favorite podcasts to drop, true crime took the spotlight.

Books, TV shows, movies, documentaries, podcasts, even Saturday Night Live are tackling the guilty pleasure of the true crime genre.

According to Forbes Magazine, in the last year alone, “Why Did You Kill Me,” “White Boy,” “This is a Robbery: The World’s Biggest Art Heist,” “Murder Among the Mormons” and “Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel” all “cracked the top 10 most-popular shows” on Netflix. Forbes also noted that the biographical documentary “The Sons of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness” was briefly the No. 1 show on Netflix.

Whether it’s popular podcasts like serial or multi-part documentaries on Netflix such as “The Keepers” and “Making a Murderer,” it seems like audiences just can’t get enough.

The question is, is this a healthy obsession, or a psychologically unhealthy obsession with the potential to re-traumatize survivors of violent crimes, or potentially desensitize viewers of the real meanings behind these behaviors?

Chicago psychotherapist Kathleen Check was quoted in F. Diane Barth’s, psychotherapist, article for NBC News, “Why do we love true crime — and is it healthy for us?” stating that “true crime media pro-

Donald Harvey vided a particular kind of escapism” during the pandemic.

Check said, “Tuning in and following the specifics of a crime also creates a (false) sense being able to see inside the mind of a criminal, thus creating a psychological protective barrier. ‘If I know how criminals operate, I can protect myself.’”

Barth also claims, because most true crime media “focuses on cases that have been solved, seeing the judicial system in action, or as a force for positive change in some cases, can also be empowering.

Barth also cites Kelli S. Boling, an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Boling said, “True crime podcasts are starting the conversation--often on a national level--and pushing society to make measurable changes to support victims of domestic violence.”

With this in mind, we thought we would take a closer look at this genre, a genre that has come a long way from our grandmother’s Ann Rule crime novels. In this first piece, reporter Madison Glessner profiles five notorious serial killers, and takes a brief, yet disturbing look at what makes a serial killer a serial killer. Happy reading--if you dare.

Did you know that you could be born a serial killer, or a person who has no empathy? It’s all in brain chemistry. The three most common traits in early adults of a serial killer are the killing or torturing of animals, bedwetting after the age of 12, and arson.

Not every serial killer was born

Gary Ridgway a serial killer. Sometimes people were sexually abused, extremely neglected, and often had abandonment issues. These types of killers usually target people who resemble the people who hurt them. They will even keep killing until they have enough courage to murder that one person who hurt them.

Patrick Wayne Kearney was also known as the “Trash Bag Murderer,” as he would place his victims’ bodies in large trash bags, and leave them on the side of the road. On Jan. 24, 1977, a highway worker tripped over a wrapped object in the tunnel under San Diego Freeway. In the bag was the body of 28-year-old Nicolas Hernandez-Jimenez.

Before murdering his victims, Kearney would befriend them. Kearney would pick up his victims in Los Angeles and Hollywood. The people he would target were hitchhikers, runaway teens, and even young children.

Another victim of Kearney was 17-year-old John Lamay who was found stuffed inside a trash bag in a 55-gallon drum on March 18, 1977.

Lamay’s friends Sett and Roger told investigators Lamay would hang out with “Pat and Dave,” (Patrick Kearney and his partner Dave Hill).

In Kearney’s arrest he cleared Hill of any wrongdoing. He stated he committed the crimes when Hill wasn’t home. He confessed to 21 murders which detectives would later confirm. It’s believed Kearney committed to as many as 43 killings.

Donald Harvey claimed to kill 87 people while working as an orderly. Logan Evans, an 88-year-old

Jeffery Dahmer patient, was Harvey’s first victim.

He smothered Evans with a pillow and a blue sheet of plastic.

Harvey listened to Evans' heart rate with a stethoscope until his heart stopped. Then Harvey dressed Evans in a clean hospital gown, and disposed of the plastic. Without any fear of getting caught he notified the nurse on duty.

Harvey’s last murder triggered an investigation. On March 7, 1987, Harvey fed John Powell cyanide through his gastric feeding tube.

The same day he gave Detachol to Hilda Leitz (82) through her gastric tube and orange juice.

On July 9, 1987 he confessed to 10 murders and 2 attempted murders. He admitted to carrying out his killings using cyanide because of its hard to diagnose properties, he also used arsenic and petroleum distillate.

In 1988 Donald Harvey was convicted of 28 counts of murder and 7 counts of attempted murder. His total reached out to be 46 murder convictions, 35 men and 11 women with their ages varying from 42-91.

In an interview Harvey’s attorney stated that Harvey did not want to consider the insanity plea because he just didn’t want it. In a broadcast interview in 2003 Harvey stated the reason he got away with killing for 17 years was because doctors were overworked, and sometimes don’t see their patients after they’ve died.

Gary Ridgway also known as the “Green River Killer'' claimed to kill 80 women, during the 1980-90s. He pleaded guilty in 2003 to 48 murders. In 1980 he was arrested for choking a woman, but no charges

Ted Bundy

were made. Ridgway claimed she bit him, so he retaliated by choking her.

His first victim was a 16-yearold girl who ran away from her foster home in July 1982. Her body was found a week later after she went missing in the Green River.

Ridgway would rape and murder over 40 prostitutes or runaways over the next two years.

His victims would be found in or near the Green River, giving him the name of the Green River Killer.

In 1983 Ridgway was questioned about a missing prostitute who was last seen with him in his truck. He denied the allegations and passed a polygraph.

In 1987 investigators gathered more evidence showing Ridgway was the last person with most of the victims found by the dump place.

They obtained a search warrant to his work and home to see if any items could be linked to the victims, but none of the carpet or rope fibers could be matched.

Police also obtained DNA from Ridgway but with technology in the late 80s forensic scientists were unable to match his DNA with the semen found on the bodies. In 2001 with improved technology the semen found on the bodies matched the DNA to Ridgway. When Ridgway was arrested for the murders of the women at Green River, he instead he was innocent but later admitted to his crimes.

He told investigators he wanted to kill as many sex workers as possible. He thought since prostitutes

CONTINUED ON P8

the sun journal

4

January 6, 2022

OPINIONS

School is stressing us all out

Pocket-sized Opinions:

(just like real opinions, only smaller)

School is more than just going to classes for eight hours a day listening to teachers. It comes with tests, piles of unnecessary homework,

Let’s start 2022 off positively School has been tough on everyone this year, with the confusing schedule, and with the new variants of COVID-19 showing up. It’s been hard for students and teachers alike to deal with the stress of classes. I thought it would be a good idea to mention some things that would make a positive change as we finish out first semester and start 2022.

One of the first things that would help make the year more positive would be just being kinder to others and doing what you can to spread positivity. I usually try to do this by just complimenting people or telling them to have a good day. Even though it’s a small act, sometimes it can make a person’s day to spread some positivity.

Another thing that could be done that I constantly struggle with is making time after school to get work done. A lot of people have jobs after school and not much time to get work done and still have time for sleep, so just working hard to be productive during class as well as scheduling a couple hours of work time after school to do homework could be helpful.

Lastly, another thing that could be helpful is just asking your teachers how they’re doing, and how their day is going. Just letting your teachers know that you care about them and their lives is always a good thing, and spreads a bit of positivity.

I hope that any one of these could be a bit helpful and that you have a good day!

--by Jacky Bloom

Don’t touch the killer snail Popular video-sharing app TikTok is chock-full of different trends and challenges that range from inducing second-hand embarrassment to making you wonder: “Just how the heck did they do that?” The trend that involves the slimy little buggers isn’t about whether or not someone would eat escargot, it’s actually a hypothetical scenario that poses the following: Would you take the gift of immortality and a huge sum of cash under the condition that there’s a killer snail that follows you forever and if it was to touch you, you’d die a miserable death? If you did choose the money and immortality where would you go with life?

This trend first started back in 2014 by the podcast Rooster Teeth, hosted by Gus Sorola, Gavin Free, Matt Hullum and Burnie Burns.The hypothetical situation evolved and took on several other lives. There are tons of people who have created accounts just to be a snail and show their point of view and there are many people who have posted about the immortal snail.

Though this trend is strange, it’s also somewhat interesting. The money gives you the option of freedom, the ability to move around the globe, but there would never be an end to the running.

So, would you be willing to live with $10 million, as well as immortality, at the constantly having to watch your back on the off chance you are killed by an immortal snail?

by Riley Pellett

Mariah Zentner

Reporter

large assignments, grades, sometimes awful people, trying to focus for an hour without breaks, dealing with cliques, bullying, lack of sleep, and being yelled at.

Everyone understands we need school and education to move forward, but it could be done so much better.

Almost everyone needs better coping mechanisms and better time management-students and teachers. We need to learn how to deal with

ways been difficult, the constant bombardment of social media can, at times, make it almost impossible.

Just because social media exists and is readily accessible doesn’t mean one should participate in the negativity that comes along with it.

While we can’t eliminate social media from our lives, that’s not an excuse for participating in the constant issues going around on social media between groups of students.

Coming to school the next day and knowing that there’s a group of people talking about you or lying to you because of social media makes it so much harder to come in.

If you see anything like that going on, stop participating and just put an end to it.

Most of the time there’s zero reason for the drama going on--just bored teens. No one

A question that has been on my mind is: “Can something be both journalism and art?”

That, of course, comes with the age old question of “What is art?” That definition changes from person to person, but I think that art is an expression of humanity’s creative skill. Something you can make -- because you want to, because you can, be it for yourself or other people. And, generally, it is Hollin Keintz something that is beautiful, though the Editor in Chief definition of “beauty” is also determined on a case by case basis.

On the other side, journalism is about finding the truth. It is about being fair and ethical and explaining what is accurate and what is impactful to the people.

It is giving information to the public, to the ones who need it most. Genuine journalism is one of the most active and effective ways to not only inform the public, but to impact the future through knowledge.

With these things in mind: can art be journalism, or vice versa?

Can you be creative when explaining the truth?

Is that enough to consider it art?

-Tearin Rath, 11

They like listening to the Artic Monkeys and the Strokes

Gen Z making a difference A lot of generation Z has created an open environment for the LGBTQ+ community in so many ways.

It’s good to be understanding and educated about it whether it’s something you’re interested in or not.

It could help you learn more Mariah Zentner Reporter about yourself, or others you know.

If you didn’t know LGBTQ+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or questioning). The + symbolizes more to follow. Almost everyone is aware of LGBTQ+ but there’s more than just one. There’s LGBTQIA+, LG-

BTQI+, LGBTQ2+, LGBTIQ+, etc.

Generation Z has helped make people feel a lot more comfortable with finding their identity and feeling heard.

Gen Z activists are creating the lead for LGBTQ+ equality.

A recent study by the U.S. Gallup poll early 2021 showed that 16 percent from just the years 1997-2015 identified as LGBTQ+. Another one released in June 2021 showed that Gen Z is twice as likely to identify as LGBTQ+ and four times as likely to identify as transgender, nonbinary or genderfluid.

This is showing huge changes from our generation in equality. Generation Z has also taught the older generations more about sexualities, pronouns, genders, and explained how gender does not equal pronouns as a whole. We’ve opened up new terms for others to find somewhere to feel comfortable and we are educating not just ourselves but ev-

Let’s simplify the terms...

• • • •

• • •

•

The I stands for Intersex. Intersex is someone who was born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t fit “female or male” boxes.

The A stands for asexual. To be asexual means you lack sexual attraction to others. You have low or absent interest in desire for sexual activity.

Aromatic is having low or no interest in desire for romantic relationships.

2 is for two-spirits. Two-spirits can be for someone who identifies as having both masculine and feminine spirit. This can be used by indigenous people to describe their sexual, gender, and/or spiritual identity.

The sexuality lesbian means to be homosexual and its used for women.

Gay is homosexual especially used for male.

To be bisexual you are attracted to more than one gender. This means you can be attracted to male and female or non-binary, genderfluid, etc. with preference. (The difference between Pansexual and Bisexual is gender preference.).

Pansexual don’t have a preference to gender or

“I don’t like how it ended and the main point.” About Squid Game

-Sierah Kolbe, 9

-Charlie Ghidorzi, 11

They believed Squid Games is overrated.

-Aero Harger, 11

realizes how much happier teens could be with healthier relationships and getting themselves out of bad ones.

Deleting apps that I couldn’t stand or removing people that made me feel worse about myself was one of the biggest improvements I’ve ever made and I promise if you haven’t done it yet, you’re missing out on the enjoyment.

Everyone knows school is stressful but no one talks enough about balance. Opening people’s eyes about teen stress and teaching students how to handle stress better would be a large improvement alone.

Is it no longer journalism if a piece is created with creative freedom?

I believe that there is such a thing as too much creative freedom in journalism -- there comes a point when something is too far distanced from the truth that it simply becomes a lie. But then that creates a completely different set of questions.

Where is that line?

Is it set in stone, or can it change depending on the piece?

Where is too far?

Just because journalism revolves itself around the truth, does that mean that art can only be rooted in fiction?

Can something that is true also be beautiful without it being made into something false?

I personally believe that these two things, art and journalism, are not mutually exclusive. A case can and I’m sure has been made for either side, likely for several years now. The debate about the ethics of documentary film has been going on since these sorts of films first started to be created.

I know that this question is fairly philosophical, and I’m not typically one for philosophy.

But, if journalism is about finding the truth and spreading it to the public, why can’t it also be filled with art? Why must it always be one or the other?

If journalism was able to also be expressive, and still be true, what could that mean for the future of the way we see our news?

• • •

•

•

Say WHAT? Comments made by students, faculty, and staff around campus His thoughts on the snail trend: “I’d live on a segway.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JACKY BLOOM

Journalism as creative art?

Live action disappoints Bebop fans Netflix has been well known for butchering series with unwanted adaptations. The most recent adaptation that has been getting a lot of fire is the live action adaptation of the 1998 sci-fi anime Cowboy Bebop.

Netflix started to turn the gears of adaptations when the Death Note live action movie was released in 2017 which created a lot of negative feedback from both new viewers and fans. The result of the movie developed a trend of making fun of Netflix adaptations for bad quality, low budgets and lack of original source material. Not all Netflix adaptations are anime based, some might include books, comics, movies, tv shows and cartoons but for the most part anime is a large portion of the focus for Netflix with its rise in pop culture.

The Cowboy Bebop adaptation isn’t completely bad in my opinion and it has many good qualities but it has even more errors. Because the original Cowboy Bebop is an anime, the actors have to portray unrealistic character qualities that are considered strange and very uncommon to see in normal people. It is very difficult to turn something that has many fictional aspects and make it realistic.

For example at the end of the season we meet a character named Ed who has very strange and chaotic behaviors that work with an anime because of the normalization of dramatic qualities that in a sense are very abnormal in reality, Ed greets the main character Spike Spiegel in a very dramatic manner with chaotic expressions and upclose intensity while screaming at him and the viewer causing a break in immersion.

The Interaction is the same as the anime but because the adaptation is live action it comes off as irritating and annoying.

When I first finished watching I immediately started watching the original 1998 anime for more context of the differences between the adaptation and anime. Both seemed relatively similar but the main difference is, in the adaptation the characters felt less genuine and didn’t feel blended well within the world. I don’t think the actors were at fault but it was the fault of the writing. If the adaptation had aspects changed to make the characters feel more genuine and have human interactions with other characters and express emotions from their consequences, it would definitely have improved and turned things down a few notches. The problem with other adaptations is that they are too different from the original source material and makes it difficult to enjoy if you’re new or old to the series of what is being adapted.

I still recommend watching Cowboy Bebop if you like bounty hunting and sci-fi animes and have the time.

--by Caden Mueller

everything going on at once instead of constantly wearing ourselves out mentally and physically.

For many kids, school isn’t a happy place to be. For others, school is the safest, warmest, and best place to be.

No one enjoys going to a class where the teacher constantly forgets that students are humans and have personal lives too.

However, there is definitely room for improvement on the students’ end. I’ll admit, we need better study habits, need to talk less during class, and we should try harder to pay attention. But there’s a lot that teachers can work on too--understand your students, learn how they learn best, and perhaps go slower on the difficult concepts. Creating a happier relationship between students and teachers is a huge part of learning and teaching.

Probably the most stressful part of school is dealing with friendships and the impact of social media on friendships.

While maintaining friendships in high school has al-

eryone else too.

This doesn’t take away from the homophobia still received every day. In May 2021, Trevor Project’s National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health released that “42 percent of such youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year — including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth — and 94 percent reported that recent politics have negatively impacted their mental health, which is no wonder, considering the barrage of anti-trans bills aimed at youth being proposed or adopted in many states across the country.”

This shows the risks and damage that other people’s opinions on someone else are doing. We can still change this together and continue to create more equality in the LGBTQ+ community. I’m hoping that this incredible change continues and that we can get to as close as equality possible.

simply don’t care for a specific gender to date.

Transgender is people who have a gender identity or gender expression that differs from the sex that they were assigned at birth.

Some transgender people who desire medical assistance to transition from one sex to another prefer to identify as transsexual.

Cisgender is someone who identifies as the sex in which they were born with, but they do not have to be straight. It just means they are not transgender/ transsexual.

Nonbinary is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn’t comfortably fit with ‘man’ or ‘woman’. Nonbinary identities are varied and can include people who identify with some aspects of binary identities, while others reject them entirely. For example, a nonbinary person could use she/her/hers, they/them, he/they etc.

Genderfluid refers to change overtime in someone’s gender expression, gender identity, and/or both. The change could be in expression, identity, neither, or both. This change could happen whenever. Whatever the person is feeling comfortable with.

She said that Squid Game included good twists and turns.

-Dreah Chiles on the left, 9

He liked that snail trend probably came from Reddit and now people are emotional about it.

-Ethan Ingraham, 12

“I would do it and put the snail under a glass.”

-Kolby Kyer, 10

She loves listening to P!nk or Adele.

-Bri Gauer, 10

January 6, 2022

Features

Cabaret Comes Back

the sun journal

5

At left: Senior Faith Taberna performed an acoustic rendition of the Goo Goo Dolls’ Iris as the second song of the evening.

Below Middle: Sophomores Noah Everett and Gabriel Hendrix, and the Improv Team did a game called Freeze. In Freeze, you have four people in the scene with the rest of the team behind them. They start a random scene when one of the team members calls “freeze” from behind and taps one of the four people in the scene out. Based on the position of the person, they have to come up with a scene.

Far Below: Taberna, Octavio Jimenez, 12, and a few others in cabaret were in a skit called “School Meeting.” In this skit, there were different teachers putting together their ideal school day.

Top left: Finley Stratford, 10, performs “I Will Always Love You.” Top: Senior Ashlynn Everett, Junior Alayna Williams, and Noah Everett perform “Call the Doctors.”

Far left: Kaysa Haury, 10, Keeley Hendrix, 10, and other performers in “Our Odyssey.”

Left: Kion Nordberg, 10, Landon Roberts, 11, and the rest of the Improv Team performLong Form.

Nordberg gave a monologue on a word an audience member throughout.

Afterwards, the people in the background had to create scenes based around Nordberg’s monologue.

Above: Stratford and Roberts performed the duet Super Trouper.

The iconic duo used audience interaction to make their song so much fun.

At left: Senior Adeline Michels performs a monologue about Fiji water. Pepsi is a sponsor of the Big Sky’s Theatre Department which they showed in this act by replacing the Fiji Water with a can a Pepsi.

PHOTOS BY KYLIE FISHER

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6

January 6, 2022

Sports

Boys basketball kicks off season with win Team sits at 2-2 on season, play Helena tonight at home

by Hayden Keintz & Kaydn Easter

of the Sun Journal

Big Sky’s boys’ basketball team started their season off strong last month.

The beginning of the season came with a lot of fiery energy and confidence throughout the team.

With all of the support from the crowd and our rowdy student section, the boys powered through and kicked off the season with a win to their names.

On Dec. 10, the Eagles beat Billings’ Skyview with a final score of 50-44 in their first season opening win since 2015.

Senior Caden Bateman shared his thoughts on the season so far.

“I feel great. This is the most well rounded team we’ve had in a long time ... The only team that can beat us, is our team. It’s all mindset.”

Bateman recently signed to The University of Montana for basketball.

Senior Tre Reed said, “So far for the start of our season, I feel pretty good about our team. There have been a couple of hiccups so far, but I think we can overcome them and have a pretty successful season.”

The team lost the next two games, first in a nailbiter against Billings West, 58-55 on Dec. 11, then a second close loss on the road against Belgrade, 54-45.

They rallied on the road against the Great Falls High Bison, winning 64-53, bringing their record up to 2-2 so far in the season.

Senior Shane Shepherd is optimistic about the season. “We’ve had four before games, and only four practices during that and we took two wins and two losses, but we had a tough schedule in the beginning of the season. It just shows we are going to be a good team.”

Shepherd also said basketball is one of the toughest teams to make at Big Sky, as there are only 10 spots to fill. As a starter, he feels, “Hard work and effort can really get you to a high place if you keep trying.”

Reed praises his team’s work ethic and defense. “Every single day we work defense, and go back to the basics,” he said. “Because of this, I think our team is just so fundamentally sound on defense.”

Reed, who has started since his sophomore year, plans to play next year in college. He is looking at several schools, but is interested in staying in Montana, or possibly Northern Arizona. He plans to pursue a degree in business.

The boys take on Helena High tonight, their first home game of the new year. Sophomores play right after school at 4 p.m., followed by JV and freshman at 5:30, and Varsity at 7.

Top: Senior Kolbe Jensen makes lay-up against Skyview. In the photo above, Junior Josiah Cuaresma sinks a buzzer beater to end the first quarter. He swung varsity as a sophomore last year, but this is his first year on varsity full time. On the right, Senior Tre Reed shoots a free throw for the Eagles in the first quarter for their second game.

As a senior captain, this will be Reed’s last year playing for the Eagles. Reed is a dual threat guard, showing the ability to both lock down opposing scorers and fill up the hoop when needed. Both Reed and Cuaresma are in this season’s starting line up for the Eagles. We hope to see great things from Cuaresma and Reed as the season continues. The Eagles have a senior laden team with seven fourth year players in their 8-man rotation.

PHOTOS BY HAYDEN KEINTZ

January 6, 2022

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7

Sports

Girls team young but optimistic

by Hayden Keintz & Kaydn Easter

of the Sun Journal

Four games into their season, the girls basketball team is optimistic about heading into 2022.

The two-day opening games mid-December against formidable Billings teams got the girls off to a shakey start, but they have since rallied to bring their overall record back up to 50, at 2-2.

They dropped their opening games to Skyview and West, losing 63-18 and 55-29 respectively.

Yet, they turned it around with two wins on the road. First, they beat Belgrade 45-38 on Dec. 14 followed by another sound win against Great Falls, 63-39, two days later.

Now that new head coach Tyler Hobbs is settling into his position, the team also seems to be hitting their stride.

Hobbs said, “So far this season, I have been tremendously impressed with how our team has embraced our culture. Because of their buy in, they have tangibly improved, both individually and as a team, every day.”

Hobbs, a former defensive end for the Montana Grizzlies, and former head coach of the Stevensville boys basketball team, was hired earlier this year to take on the girls team--a team that has seen several coaching changes in the past few years.

Hobbs told the Missoulian earlier this season, “My hat’s off to those seniors who have had to deal with coaching change after coaching change,” he said. “And here they are again learning a new system and then having to execute. We talk about believing in what we can do rather than worry about what we can’t do.”

Freshman standout Kadynce Couture said, “We bounce a lot of ideas off of each other and I just think being understanding of where the other person is coming from is how we work best together.”

Hobbs said, “So far this season, I have been tremendously impressed with how our team has embraced our culture. Because of their buy in, they have tangibly improved, both individually and as a team, every day.”

Senior Grace Bunnell said, “I’m super happy with how our season has started out. We won two backto-back games which hasn’t been done in our girls’ program for seven years. I’m really excited to see how far this team can go.”

Hobbs said, “We have a lot of young kids who are seeing minutes, and adjusting to the pace of AA varsity basketball is always a

challenge. However, we have made that adjustment much quicker than I anticipated.”

Bunnell said, “Once we start to gel together a little bit more, I am confident that we can make a big difference and shock some people.”

Hobbs feels success is definitely in the future for the Eagles. “Getting a couple of wins under our belt before the break was huge.

Our team is eager for success and they have already got a taste of it.

It shows the character of our team and their commitment to our program.”

Couture agrees. “It’s all about the effort. We do end up having fun at practice, but if you’re there to put in a lot of effort, that’s when things good things happen.”

The girls are on the road tonight against Helena High, but will be back home Saturday when they take on Capitol at 2 p.m.

“We have a tough road ahead of us as we enter conference play and it will be exciting to see how we stack up against a very strong Western Conference,” Hobbs said.

Hobbs encourages the Big Sky community to attend the up-coming home games.

“Your energy in the stands really makes a difference.”

Sports Opinion

Could the Los Angeles Lakers miss the playoffs this season?

With the NBA season recently starting back up, after yet again, another crazy NBA offseason, there’s so many new questions, but one of these q u e s t i o n s Christian Morin stands out Reporter more than any other and it’s dealing with the Los Angeles Lakers.

After the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA finals, Every Team in the league knew they had to change up their roster during the offseason.

Once the offseason began the Lakers were quick to make a blockbuster trade. Trading a young talent in Kyle Kuzma, a 3 and D Specialist In Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a in the paint monster in Montrezl Harrell and also some draft picks to the Washington Wizards. In return Los Angeles got superstar Russell Westbrook, but who knew that could be the Lakers biggest problem.

After winning the 2020 NBA finals, Laker fans have had high expectations for the team. So, if this year’s Lakers team doesn’t even make the playoffs it could cause some serious damage in LA. We are currently 5 weeks into the new NBA season and usually this far in the season is when teams start to identify themselves as either a great good or bad team. Right now, the Los Angeles Lakers stand at 8-8 and are the 8th seed in the western conference. Though the 8th seed is a high enough seed to make the playoffs, it’s not exactly where Laker fans want to see their team. Seeds 7-10 in both conferences have to compete in a play-in tournament before the playoff start and only 2 teams from seeds 7-10 make it into the playoffs. Last year the Lakers had to compete in the tournament, they did make out of the play-in but shortly after lost to the Phoenix Suns in the first round.

After having such a disappointing season last year, a lot is on the line for this year but what’s scary is that the Lakers are having a rougher start to this season then they’ve had since LeBron first joined the team in the 2018-19 season when LeBron was the only all-star. Now this Lakers team has 3 all-stars with a great supporting cast but still can’t find their groove. To be fair to the Lakers, Lebron James, arguably the greatest player of all time, has missed a fair share of games and that could be a huge reason for their struggles. Most would think the other two all-stars would be able to carry the load but them failing to do so is causing a lot of fans and sport analysis to not believe in the team.

Even me, a huge Laker and LeBron fan is scared for this Lakers team to go far in the playoffs let alone even make the playoffs.

January 6, 2022

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backpage

50 of the most bizarre laws ever made in America - Prohibited to open an umbrella on a street-Alabama - Dominoes may not be played on Sunday-Alabama - Illegal to throw confetti or spray silly string-Alabama (Mobile) - Flamingoes are not allowed in barber shops-Alaska (Juneau) - Denying someone a glass of water is prohibited-Arizona - Dogs are not to bark after 6PMArkansas (Little Rock) - Spitting is only permitted on baseball diamonds-California (Burlingame) - Illegal to collect rainwaterColorado - It is illegal for car dealers to show cars on Sundays-Colorado - A pickle is not a pickle unless it bounces-Connecticut - One is not to walk backwards after sunset-Connecticut (Devon) - It is prohibited to fly over water without sufficient suppliesDelaware - The singing in public places while wearing a bathing suit is not allowed-Florida

- Skateboarding without a license is prohibited-Florida - One is not to live on a boat for more than 30 days-Georgia - Illegal to eat fried chicken any way but with your hands-Georgia (Gainesville) - Chickens are not permitted to cross the road-Georgia (Quitman) - No billboards allowed-Hawaii - You cannot place a coin behind your ear-Hawaii - It is prohibited to gift a box of chocolates weighing more than 50 lbs.-Idaho - No bicycles allowed in tennis courts-Idaho - The giving of whiskey to dogs is prohibited-Illinois (Chicago) - No kites allowed to be flown within city limits-Illinois (Chicago) - The value of pi is 4, not 3.1415-Indiana - The reading of palms is prohibited-Iowa (Cedar Rapids) - It is illegal to catch a fish with bare hands-Kansas - No false promises allowed-

Louisiana - Nobody is to step out of a plane mid-flight-Maine - Christmas decorations must not be up past January 14th-Maine - It is not permitted to take a lion to the movies-Maryland (Baltimore) - Beer is not to be given to hospital patients-Massachusetts - All putt-putt courses are to be closed no later than 1am.Michigan (Detroit) - Nobody is to cross state lines with a duck atop their headMinnesota - Anyone disturbing church services is subject to a citizen’s arrest-Mississippi - It is prohibited to frighten a baby-Missouri (Mole) - The raising of pet rats is prohibited-Montana (Billings) - Doughnut holes are not to be sold-Nebraska (Lehigh) - No camels are allowed on highways-Nevada - Tapping feet, nodding head, or moving to music in any way is

prohibited in restaurants-New Hampshire - It is required that a person lend a phone to another in need-New Jersey - No slippers before 10 pm-New York - It is illegal to sing off-key-North Carolina - No bingo games shall last more than 5 hours-North Carolina - The serving of beer and pretzels simultaneously is not allowedNorth Dakota - No one shall participate in a duel-Ohio - Drivers must not pump their own gas-Oregon - Professional sports are not to be played on Sundays-Rhode Island - it is prohibited to catch a fish using a lasso-Tennessee - Drinking of milk is mandatoryUtah - It is prohibited to harass BigfootWashington

Across: 1 - A subject taught by Sarra-

1

2

B

O

N

U

zin-Strong.

S

5 - A class about reaching for

3

4

the stars.

5

6 - The first name of the school’s principal.

6

7 - A class full of musical in-

7

struments without strings.

9 - The welcoming word of

8

room 36.

9

10 - A machine used to trans11

10

fer work from the computer to hand-held paper

12

12 - The HSA’s Medical In-

13

terventions class is taught in 14

15

16

this room.

13 - A class leading off to a

17

different building working with

18

the school.

19

15 - The school’s track coach.

18 - A summer sport with a

20

different team for each gender 21

that’s major in England.

20 - A teacher known for both

22

his smarts and his muscles.

21 - A sport related to the game monkey in the middle.

Down:

4 - The mascots of a neighboring high school.

1 - A celebration to welcome returning stu-

8 - Can be found on Infinite Campus, and are music, and get involved in community events.

dents to the school.

2 - A reading/placeholder for a year’s worth of school memories.

3 - A celebration involving a ceremony for students that have fulfilled all of their credits.

required to complete highschool.

11 - This staff member teaches Spanish and Driver’s Ed. They like to be called El Guapo.

14 - A gathering for people to eat, listen to 16 - The school’s orchestra teacher.

17 - Teaches IB English 3 in room 27.

19 - A fall sport involving different sizes of

13 - A class/break at the start of the day to clubs for different distances. help students make up work.

Bonus: Name of the Big Sky field.

True Crime Series: Murderers & Monsters CONTINUED FROM P1 might not get reported as missing he would get away with killing more. He pled guilty to the murders in 2003 and was sentenced to 48 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Jeffery Dahmer was an American serial killer and sex offender between 1978 and 1991. Dahmer murdered 17 males the methods of his choosing being rape, dismemberment, necrophilia, and cannibalism. At 18 he would commit his first murder, the victim being a hitchhiker named Steven Hick.

Dahmer invited Hicks over to his father’s house to drink beer. When Hicks wanted to leave Dahmer hit him over the head with a 10-pound dumbbell. Then Dahmer scattered Hicks’ remains throughout the backyard. Dahmer murdered Hicks, he claimed, because he didn’t want him to leave.

Dahmer’s next murder wasn’t for another nine years after Steven Hicks’. Steven Tumoi was Dahmer’s next victim, Dahmer woke up to the beaten dead body of Tumoi. Dahmer claims he never remembered ever committing the crime.

Over the next few years Dahmer sporadically killed people. Two victims in 1988, one in 1989, and four in 1990. He would lure men from bars or male prostitutes, which he would drug, rape, and strangle. With the new killings came new fantasy’s, Dahmer became to have intercourse with the dead bodies, take pictures of the dismembered limbs, he would display his victims’ skulls and genitals, and he would eat some of his victims.

What stories from serial killers would be complete without Ted Bundy? Ted Bundy was a serial killer, rapist, and necrophiliac. Bundy had a degree in physiology in 1972 and was accepted into law school in Utah.

Bundy fell in love with a female who had everything he ever wanted, money, class, and influence. After their break, up

Bundy was devastated and many of his victims resembled his ex: attractive, long dark-haired women.

Bundy confessed to killing 36 young women in several states in the 1970s. The exact number of women will never be known, but experts believe the murders tally up to 100 or more. One of the methods Bundy used was to pretend to be injured and ask for help with something, but their kindness would also be their death sentence.

In 1975 Carol DaRonch was one of his victims who escaped, soon after Bundy was arrested and sentenced to 1-15year imprisonment. Bundy escaped prison twice in 1977. His first escape was from the courthouse library window, he was missing for 8 days.

In December Bundt climbed out of the ceiling in his cell.

Police didn’t know he was missing for 15 hours. During this time Bundy attacked four sorority girls, killing two. On Feb. 9, Bundy’s last victim was 12-year-old Kimberly Lynch.