The Wright County
Monitor
144th year Number 44
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Official newspaper of Wright County
CGHS Chorus Student Selected to the All-State Chorus Elizabeth Lockwood, a senior from Clarion-Goldfield High School, has been selected as a member of the 2013 All-State Chorus. On Saturday, Oct. 26,
Elizabeth Lockwood
three high school vocal students from C-GHS auditioned in Hampton for the All-State Chorus: Elizabeth Lockwood, Amanda Nerem, and Claire Davis. Amanda and Claire were auditioning for the very first time while Elizabeth had auditioned for the last three years. Last
year, Elizabeth Lockwood and Laura Franzmeier were recalled. However, this year, Elizabeth was accepted on the first list. She was not recalled, which means she didn’t have to audition again. “I am very proud of all three girls. Auditioning for All-State is a very scary thing,” commented David Ackerman, CGHS vocal music instructor. All auditions are A Cappella (no accompaniment), and the director cannot be in the room. Michael McHale, a junior at C-GHS, gave pitches from the piano. After Michael gave the pitch, it was the singer’s responsibility to set the tempo, secure the pitch, and count every beat. The All-State Concert is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 23, at 7:30 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum in Ames. 600 vocalists from across Iowa are chosen every year to be a member of the All-State Chorus. Tickets went on sale Monday, Oct. 28, at 10:00 a.m. All tickets may be purchased through ticketmaster.com. Elizabeth joins a distinguished list of All-State Chorus members from ClarionGoldfield High School: Sarah Chipman, Paul Maxheimer, Eric Alberts, and Kelly Huisinga. This list covers 1994-2013. Elizabeth Lockwood is the daughter of Lee and Tammy Lockwood.
Computer Roll-out at Clarion-Goldfield High School
It is time for high school students to get their computer. Before they may pick one up, the student and their parents must attend a meeting. All meetings will be held in the high school gym on Monday, Nov. 11. Meetings have been set as follows: 6 p.m. for freshmen and their parents 6:30 p.m. for seniors and their parents
7 p.m. for juniors and their parents 7:30 p.m. for sophomores and their parent Families with more than one student will attend the first grade level meting in which they have a student. (Example: you have both a freshman and a senior, everyone attends the 6 p.m. freshmen meeting time.)
Shops and retailers in Clarion are gearing up For Ladies’ Night Out, devising new bargains, demonstrations, and giveaways. Ladies’ Night out is
scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 7, from 4 to 8 p.m. Here’s a preview of what a few local businesses have planned for this year.
Teala Melendez (left) and Kathleen Watts (right) from Appearances Salon and Spa will be demonstrating some of their new skincare and makeup products. Art U Creative and The Preppy Farmer will be featuring a number of new products for Ladies’ Night Out, including personalizable collector’s plates, printable picture frames, and new quilting items. They will also be promoting various new classes they will be holding on painting, quilting, glass painting, and tat, among others. “We just worked on our class list yesterday. We’ve got some things going on November and December for adults and kids classes,” said Jolene Rasmussen of Art U Creative. “I’m going to have the quilt machine running, so we’ll have a demonstration of that. We’re going to have different demonstrations. Dawn Rasmussen, of the Preppy Farmer, says that Ladies’ Night Out has been a good opportunity for them in the past. “We had some people that came in who’d never been here before. That was
By: Clae Goater Hannah McLaughlin started working as Director for Kids’ Korner on Oct. 21, but she already has big plans for the childcare program. “If I’m dreaming big- and why not dream big-I’m thinking ‘How could Kids’ Korner be like the Disneyland for kids in Clarion?’ How can we keep things exciting, which is pretty easy when you’re working with kids?” McLaughlin said. “When kids get bored, that’s when we have behavior problems.” Originally from New Sharon, Ia, McLaughlin learned that she enjoyed working with young kids while volunteering from high school “Some of my high school time I spent volunteering in an early childhood classroom, and my mom said ‘This (teacher) reminds me so much with you.’ And once I got to working with her, that made sense and it fit,” McLaughlin said. After getting her early childhood education degree from Central College moved around teaching, finally ending up in Aurora, Colo. McLaughlin has taught preschool, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and English as a Second Language. “I’ve really gotten interested in studying how kids learn, how they develop their temperament and things like that,” McLaughlin said. “Sometimes you might look at a twoyear-old throwing a tantrum, you might just think ‘Oh, it’s the terrible twos.’ Finding out what they’re really feeling and what they’re trying to communicate, … that’s what’s fascinating to me.”
McLaughlin ended up moving to Clarion this February, when her husband Coy got a job at Hagie Manufacturing. “We moved here because my husband got the job with Hagie, and I’ve been begging him to move back to Iowa ever since we moved away,” McLaughlin said. After taking some time off of teaching to be a stay at home mother to her kids Luke (5 years), Emry (3 years), and Bode (10 months), McLaughlin has found that working at Kids’ Korner keeps her busy without keeping her away from her kids. “Being new to the community, I get the itch to get out. (Being Kids’ Korner director) gets me out, and I can challenge my mind with things I love to think about, but I still get to see my kids. It’s really the best of both worlds,“ McLaughlin said. As a newcomer to the community, McLaughlin says that the Kids’ Korner program has a lot to offer to the community. “I definitely feel like they have a good things going on for kids. They have great manipulative toys and areas here. The ladies here are just great with the kids, and they’re great at keeping everything organized. I feel like there’s so much to think about and do, and they’re just very reassuring to me.” McLaughlin said. “With the right coaching and guidance, we can do some really cool things with the kids.” (Manipulative toys help with fine-motor development and hand-eye coordination, like puzzles, and interlocking blocks.) McLaughlin said that, moving forward, she’s interested in “tricking
“I’ve participated before and it’s a blast. It’s really fun to get out with your friends and walk up and down the street and see what everybody has,” DeVries said. “I thought that I wanted to get involved with it, too. “ Appearances Salon and Spa will be featuring it’s makeup and skincare lines at this year’s Ladies Night Out. “Everybody comes looking for hair, because they know we’re a salon,” said Kathleen Watts of Appearances. “We’re trying to show people that we do skincare and facials and stuff like that. “ Appearances will also be giving product demonstrations to the people who stop through. “There’s a new Christmas makeup line coming out, so we’re planning on showing people that. It’s not even out yet, it’s brand new. We’re going to kind of be hyping our makeup and our skincare lines this year,” Watts said. “In the past we haven’t done so many demos, because in the past it’s only been me, and it’s hard to do demos and product sales. This year, I have help, so I’ll have more
demos. “ Watts says that Ladies’ Night Out is a great opportunity for people to check out one of the new businesses in town, and meet Appearance’s newest employee, Teala Melendez. “Stop in and check out what we’ve got. Being one of the newer businesses in town, a lot of people don’t know what we have. Check the place out,” Watts said. “We’ve got new staff, too, so stop in and say hi to the new face in town. “ Heaven Scent Floral and Gifts will have a hot chocolate bar for Ladies’ Night Out, and will be offering samples of their dips. Heaven Scent will also hold a drawing for a stocking full of goodies from the shop. Heaven Scent’s owner, Danielle Scheffel, says that Ladies’ Night Out is a good opportunity to meet people in the community. “I like to get together and meet people that I don’t normally see. I get to talk to them and they get to see all the new stuff in the shop,” Scheffel said. Sheffel also said that, since Heaven
nice. There are still people who walk in and say ‘We didn’t even know you were open,’” said Dawn. “A lot of the ladies who work during the day have a chance to get out and see the businesses in town. It’s just a good time to kick off the holiday season. “ Wright Eyes by Danny will be offering substantial discounts on frames and lenses, and will be holding drawings for several different prizes. Danny DeVries wants to keep the grand prize a secret, but she will also be giving away free frames and lenses. DeVries’ sales representative will be doing a trunk show on Ladies’ Night Out, and she will have all her frames on display for people to try out. Wright Eyes will also be serving wine and cheese. DeVries says that wanted her business to be a part of Ladies’ Night Out because she thinks Ladies’ Night Out is a lot of fun.
Heaven Scent will have a hot chocolate bar for Ladies’ Night Out, and will have giveaways and samples. Danielle Sceffel (above) says that Heaven Scent is a great place to get your holiday gifts.
Dawn and Jolene Rasmussen say that the Preppy Farmer and Art U Creative will be having a quilt-making demonstration for Ladies’ Night Out. They’ve also got new products in stock, like personalizable plates, and will be holding brand-new classes on crafts like tatting.
www.clarionnewsonline.com
Hannah McLaughlin is new Kids’ Korner director
Businesses prepare for Ladies’ Night Out By: Clae Goater
$1.00 per copy
Scent specializes in gifts, it’s a great place to start your holiday shopping. “Stop in and see all the new stuff we have,” Scheffel said. Snively and Gildner’s office will be giving away presents and door prizes. Everyone who walks through the door will be provided with a voucher for a 20 percent discount on glasses through the end of the year. They’ll also be holding prizes for gift baskets, free exams, and coupons for glasses. “We’re going to have a lot of door prizes. We’re offering things that aren’t related to glasses, so even if you don’t wear glasses there will something there for you,” said Cheryl Gildner. Snively and Gildner’s office will
also be offering homemade treats and stocking stuffers, and the frame room will be open to people who want to try on frames. “We’re excited to be involved with Ladies’ Night Out. We hope we get people to come out,” Gildner said. “We’d just love to meet you. If you’ve never been in the office, this is your chance to stop in and see what we have to offer.” Don’t forget to stop in at the Monitor office to register for a drawing. The Monitor will be giving away two 6-month subscriptions to the Monitor free. They will also have a display of custom Christmas cards which are available for ordering.
New Kids’ Korner director Hannah McLaughlin and her children Lucas, age 5; Emry, age 3; and Bode, 10 months. kids into learning.” She’s hoping to start working with the kids on numbers and the alphabet, and helping them develop gross and fine motor skills. She also says that she hopes to start getting kids outside more, because she thinks the fresh air does them good. So far, McLaughlin has only positive things to say about Clarion. “I’m excited to be here. My husband and I are so thankful to be in a small community again, and we’ve just fallen in love with Clarion,” McLaughlin said. “(New Sharon) was really small, like 1,200 people, so this seems pretty
big. We have a Hardee’s here and everything.” Outside of work, McLaughlin enjoys singing, and sings with the worship team at Grace Evangelical Free Church in Eagle Grove. McLaughlin also likes getting outside with her kids and exploring the outdoors. McLaughlin says she’s dedicated to doing the best job that she can do at Kids’ Korner. “I’m just excited to get to lead here, and I hope I can do it really well for the families and the staff.“
Talking ghosts with the Wright County Paranormal Society
By: Clae Goater The Halloween season is upon us, as box,” a piece of equipment that rapidly you can tell from all the jack o’ lanterns, scans through high wave frequencies. plastic skeletons, and felt witches that Beise estimates that about 35 percent of have popped up around the county. The their investigations uncover some type Halloween festival marks the end of or paranormal activity. harvest, a transitional period between the “life” of spring and the “death” of winter. Many cultures have seen this as a time for remembering the dead, or a time where spirits and fairies have added power in our world. You might not believe in ghosts or spirits, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of people do. According to Mistee Biese, founder of the Wright County Paranormal Society, they get three to four calls a week asking for help with paranormal occurrences, and they regularly have to turn down applications to join the group. “You’d be surprised how Wright County Paranormal Society’s many residents and business mother-daughter team of Susan Haines owners call us. We get calls from Sioux City, Rockwell (left) and Mistee Biese (right). City, Webster City. We get calls from all Beise and Haines say that, in their experience, spirits seem to be more over,” Biese said. “I think more people believe in it active during storms, when there is more than you think,” said Susan Haines, energy to draw off of. Haines says that Mistee’s mother and fellow paranormal she thinks spirits are more active during the cold season. Beise says that there is investigator. Biese and Haines say that they’ve no time of day when spirits are more been connected to paranormal since active, but that we are more apt to notice Biese was a child. Haines says that them in the evenings when we’re not as scratches used to appear up Beise’s arms busy. The paranormal group goes out on a from out of nowhere. They recounted one time when Biese spoke in tongues while call about every other month these days. asleep as a child. In one house Beise Beise said that people have a wide range lived in, she ran into the apparition of a of reactions to the paranormal. “Some have dealt with what they little girl, smelled unusual odors, and felt strange electrical tingles through their believe are spirits in their house for bodies. She ended up leaving the house years, and they have accepted it. Others and abandoning a garage full of their are scared, and when we show up they belongings, sensing that that the spirit start crying and getting emotional. We was angry at them. Later, they found out try to comfort them as much as they that a little girl had been murdered in that can,” Beise said. “We try to either house sometime in the 40’s. Even now, debunk what’s happening or get them Beise says that her current home has evidence of what’s happening. That way, several spirits residing there, including they can maybe relate to it a little bit … A lot of people will just call me and talk the mischievous “General Ray.” “My house isn’t demonic. They’re to me, because they think they’re going very friendly. They like to play pranks nuts.” Beise and Haines say that when they like throwing vents across the room, trying to get your attention,” Beise said. work with ghosts, they do their best to “We had to take all of our light bulbs out understand them and be compassionate. of our basement, because we didn’t have If you’re dealing with a ghost in your a switch- we had to screw the light bulbs own home, they suggest reasoning with in. We had to take them out because it. we’d come home from work and all the continued on page 2 lights would be on in the basement. “ Beise and Haines may be believers in paranormal phenomenon, but they say that they don’t go into an investigation hoping for ghosts. They say that a person’s preconceived notions can get The Clarion-Goldfield-Dows in the way of an investigation. Instead, Transition Board held a special they say they try to keep an open mind meeting on Oct. 28. and collect whatever evidence they can, At that meeting, the board working to either debunk or prove claims approved a resolution that set a of spiritual activity. Beise and Haines public hearing on the continuation say that they look for photographic of the Instructional Support Levy evidence on DVR recorders such as for November 11 at 7:30 p.m., in either or orbs or apparitions. They also the Clarion-Goldfield Community look for auditory evidence, and listen for School District Board Room. direct responses to questions. For this they use voice recorders and a “ghost
Public hearing on ISP set