A WARRIOR STUDENT MEDIA Publication
McHenry Community High School | Volume 5, Issue 2 | October 30, 2023
Hitting all the bases (at some point) NEWS
Photo by: Leylah Moreno
See side two for the full story
McHenry community organizes Halloween events
During the spooky season, community organizations and families are sponsoring activities for all ages Kiera Miller Staff Writer
FEATURES
With Halloween right around the corner, the city of McHenry is preparing for the upcoming holiday, scheduling events for the scary season. With Halloween right around the corner, the city of McHenry is preparing for the upcoming holiday, scheduling events for the scary season. William Beith, a village administrator from Wonder Lake, states “Events like Fall Fest provide the opportunity for the entire community around the lake to gather and share wonderful Wonder Lake.” Wonder Lake is throwing their first Fall Fest at the Village Hall on Oct. 28. Nicki Jansen from Nightmare on Rogers, a local haunt in McHenry, stated, “we’ve always enjoyed it. People purposely come to our house every year. We’ve tried to trick or treat in the past and we’ve been coming for years.” Matt Mabus runs a haunt called CarnEvil next door to Jansen. He has been at this location for two years and before that in Round Lake since 2010. “I like decorating mainly for ourselves, but we also do it for the community to be able to enjoy it,” said Mabus. Mabus is a part of the Chicago Haunt Builders, a community with thousands of people that have larger yard haunts.
He advertises on Facebook and TikTok and posts the best scare of the week on his Facebook page. The best scare gets a trophy. Though the Haunted Hayride at Peterson Park ended on Oct. 21, it has become one of the most popular Halloween activities in the area each year. “It’s our major fundraiser of the year,” hayride volunteer Jacki Cullen said. “We have a lot of boats needing gas during the shows and pay for insurance for the boats.” “We have expenses for costumes every year,” she adds. “This is probably half our budget for the hayride.” Many MCHS students and community members enjoy these events and how they change throughout the years. They provide opportunities for the community to come together. Students in Key Club, for example, can volunteer for the Halloween Bash at McHenry Recreation Center on Oct. 27 and Riverwood’s Trunk-Or-Treat on Oct. 26. Sophomore Norah McMillion says, “Older siblings, when they were in high school, would always volunteer with Key Club, so you can get your hours.” This year's trick or treating times in McHenry and McCullom Lake is going on from 4:00 through 8:00pm. In Wonder Lake and Holiday Hills, trick or treating will be from 4:00 through 7:00pm.
Future fighters
Olivia Smith Social Media Manager
A student is disheartenedly looking at their college options. While they want to get a good education, and a substantial career, they unfortunately will not be able to cover the costs. The student then begins looking at their options. For the first time, they start to consider enlisting in the military, but they are unaware of how to enlist and what this option would involve. With an average of less than one percent of graduating students enlisting in the military each year, most people are unaware of what compels people to serve. While becoming an active member of the military is quite challenging, it also offers a multitude of benefits for those who enlist. “My experience has been primarily positive. I have been in the Marines for almost 15 years,” said Patrick Christensen, a U.S. Marine Corps Recruiter. "Of course, the Marine Corps is also very challenging, but it has shaped me into who I am today.”
There are many different service options offered. For example, one of the lesser-known options in the military is the National Guard. The National Guard is a part of the Army and Air Force Reserves that respond to local and national emergencies. The Guard is generally part time, which allows students to attend school while typically serving two paid weeks out of the summer, and one weekend a month. “A couple reasons I decided to commit were for one I'm strongly influenced and inclined to do all I can to help people, my community or even my country,” said Brayden Mosoff, a senior at MCHS committed to the National Guard. Some of McHenry’s graduating class enlist in the military every year. Choosing a military post secondary pathway is a commitment unlike any other. It requires a lot of time, dedication, and perseverance, which is why it is one of the lesser-chosen options. “Honestly, leaving my friends, family, and my girlfriend has been pretty hard on me,” said Mosoff. "I don't want to leave them, however knowing that I am
The CarnEvel in McHenry is a local haunt, a private residence that decorates for Halloween and invites trick-or-treaters to enjoy some quick scares. | Photo by Kiera Miller
About 25 MCHS graduates enlist in the military every year, though most students are unaware of what it entails
Raymond Wilkinson stands before military flags after enlisting into the US Marine Corps Delayed Entry Program on Sept. 12. | Photo Courtesy of Patrick Christensen
leaving for a good reason has also made me realize that it is a struggle I can work through with time.” There are many different reasons why people decide to serve our country. While joining the military offers many
benefitsand is often very rewarding, it requires sacrifice most people are not willing to take. Making the commitment. to become a future fighter may not always be comfortable, but it is fulfilling.