September 2026 by Portage Northern Light

NEW YEAR, NEW POLICIES Students learn to navigate new rules while adjusting their habits page 7

VOL. 57, ED. 1

PORTAGE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL

OCT. 2026

From the editor

Welcome back to a new year! We are so excited to share our very first edition with you. Throughout the creation of the September edition, our new staff members have stepped up in writing and our veterans have showcased their improved designing skills. From new policies to rivalry sports games, we covered a wide range of stories this edition, and we’re so proud. Happy reading!

Riya Bhatt, Editor in Chief

Staff Riya Bhatt Editor in Chief Madeleine Duhn Creative Editor Reese Graham Digital Media Editor Ana Van Dyke Digital Media Manager Kenna Hulick Managing Editor Sukanya Dunbar Asst. Managing Editor Sophie Amberg Opinions Editor Eva Sturgeon News Editor Logan Dowell Sports Editor Drew Collins Copy Editor La’bria Hawkins Asst. Copy Editor

Staff Writers

Maria Alvarez-Bravata Aayushi Dhaske Hayden Heggie Bryleigh Holdridge Phoenix McNeely Cadence Thorpe Rin Weller Alex Whitney

About Us -1

NL Policies

The Northern Light in print and online is the student-produced newspaper for Portage Northern HS. It is an open, designated public forum for student expression, and the newspaper provides staff members with independent reporting opportunities and individual evaluation. Writing is based on a wide variety of research for a broad and diverse audience and topics of coverage are decided by the staff and editorial board with consideration to what is timely, relevant, compelling, educational, and important to the student body. In accordance with best practice for student media, the Northern Light is not prior reviewed by administration. Building and district administration do, however, reserve the right to oversee the paper if necessary to ensure that the mission and vision of Portage Public Schools and the safety of students and staff are maintained. As a MIPA, JEA, and NSPA publication, the Northern Light adheres to the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Photos, art, and other visual elements are created by Northern Light staff, formally designated for free use, or part of the public domain. In rare circumstances, we may use other media with the owner’s written permission. It is our desire that our readers join the discussion on our published work. We welcome letters to the editor and guest contributions, and the Northern Light will publish online all pieces received provided that they include the author’s full name and are appropriate for publication in a school setting. Letters to the editor are limited to 150 words in length and guest contributions are limited to 350 words in length. Pieces can be delivered to Amanda Thorpe’s room, 3.121, emailed to pnhsNorthernLight@gmail. com, or mailed ATTN: Portage Northern Light to Portage Northern High School, 1000 Idaho Avenue, Portage, MI 49024.

Table of Contents News

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Link Crew and Say Hello week welcomes students back to school; Evan Turanzas starts as school resource officer

Zooming in on the impact: national to local gas prices increase

Opinion

5 6 7

Confidence: A mindset that changes lives

Staff Ed

Teaching responsibility starts with trust

Feature

New year, new policies: Portage Northern students, teachers, and administration approach the upcoming year as they begin to adapt to new changes around the school.

Sports

Fall sports are in full swing

More than an uniform: high school seniors reflect on sisterhood and personal growth

The Odyssey: a cinematic journey through greek mythology

Entertainment

A life in music: Dolly Parton’s life and legacy

At left, sophomore varsity tennis player Naveen Bhatt prepares to serve in a match against Portage Central on September 14. Photo by Reese Graham.

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HUSKIE HEADLINES News from the pack, brought to you in brief

Link Crew and Say Hello week welcome students back to school Story by Eva Sturgeon and Cadence Thorpe; design by Sophie Amberg

Portage Northern’s new school resource officer, Evan Turanzas, poses in front of his office. Photo by Cadence Thorpe.

Evan Turanzas starts as school n August 24th, freshman on September 8th and ended O orientation started with on the 11th. Interact Club made resource officer Link Leaders engaging fresh- and organized the daily dress-up Senior link crew leaders Abby Giddings and Ella Holdsworth hand out Portage Northern merchandise at the first day of school pep assembly. Photo by Riya Bhatt.

men through activities that had been planned over an eight hour period the week before. Junior Alivia Allman, a Link Crew Leader, said she joined Link Crew “to make the freshmen feel accepted” and “more welcome.” That feeling resonated with the freshman, as Marcus Green said it was “helpful just getting the freshmen eased in.” Freshman Skylar Sturges agreed, adding, “you have someone to look for and help you.” Say Hello week, which brought awareness to staying inclusive and meeting new people, started

News - 3

themes. Tuesday was wear green and say hello to someone new, Wednesday was favorite team, club, sport or fandom day and find connections, Thursday was pajama day to feel accepted, and Friday was Huskie gear day to remind students that they all are members of the pack. Freshman Alison Yancer shared that she wore green to “show people they could talk to her.” Senior Dallen Ekola-Labra said the week helps students “learn something new” about people they see every day and makes students across all grades feel like they belong.

Story by Eva Sturgeon and Cadence Thorpe; design by Sophie Amberg

With Officer Burleson returning to the road, his colleague Officer Evan Turanzas is taking over as the school resource officer for NHS, NMS, and CoHS. “I’ve always had a big passion for serving my community, which is why I became a police officer,” he says. “At my old department, I was a sergeant, but knowing some kids over at Portage, I thought it would be a good idea to continue growing that aspect with my career field.” For this year, Turanzas has a goal of staying triage while helping students as much as possible.

Zooming in on the impact as national and local gas prices increase Story by Sophie Amberg, Riya Bhatt, Aayushi Dhaske, Madeleine Duhn, and Alex Whitney; design by Sophie Amberg; illustration by Madeleine Duhn

Following the start of the most recent Iran war, Americans watch as gas prices surge. This month, the American Automobile Association (AAA) announced that gas prices for the first time in four years exceeded $4/gallon. Prices have risen to a peak of $4.40 dollars per gallon, currently sitting at $4.4352 statewide. The AAA reports that Michigan is above the national average, with an average price of $4.4352. Even more locally, Kalamazoo County has an even higher average price of $4.24/ gallon. The rising gas prices have not only affected adults, but the student body at Portage Northern too. While many students live within the district, those who live outside the district zone often have longer car rides to school. Junior Evan French, who lives in Gull Lake, travels about 25 minutes every day to get to school. “Definitely I’m spending way more money now than I have,” he shares. “I don’t drive as much. Like, I go to school, and then once I get home, I try not to go as many places, and if I do, I go with my parents, because I pay for my own gas.” French adds that he works two different jobs to afford to pay for his own gas. Junior Caleb Dewey has been driving to school for about a year now, and he has to fill up gas almost daily nowadays because he doesn’t want to spend too much every time he fills it up. “I probably, like, [fill up gas] on a daily basis,” Dewey says. “Because I’m not trying to spend 60 to 80 bucks every time I fill up.” In addition to the student body, teachers who live out of district have to travel longer distances and share similar experiences. English teacher Lindsey Wan-

gler travels from two different locations, both of which are 20 minutes away. “Having to fill up twice in a week, I mean, you’re looking at 100 bucks per week,” Wangler shared in the past school year. “Overall in the month of May, I think it’s easily over $250 worth of gas.” $250, she adds, is almost $100 more than she typically spends per month. Other students noted how the increase in gas prices affect their daily travels. “It [gas prices] has affected me a lot because I pay for my own gas,” senior Abby Giddings explains. “I hear my parents complain about gas prices as well, but not to the level at which

they believe these gas prices are detrimental to our well being.” Senior Kylie Musk elaborates on how gas prices have changed her routine. “I now have to require friends to pay me for rides to and from certain places in order to continue to afford gas.” With the rising prices students and teachers alike are finding alternate modes of transportation, from walking, to catching a ride with friends, to minimizing car use entirely. Gas prices do not solely affect the Portage community, but high school students too.

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Confidence:

a mindset that changes lives Story by Kenna Hulick, Maria Alvarez-Bravata, and Ana Van Dyke; design by Ana Van Dyke; illustration by Madeleine Duhn

hink of that one confident person: they’re on top of the world, owning a certain aura that’s magnetic and ethereal, and they’re never afraid to take risks. Most want to be this person themselves; to be so confident and seem like they have it all, but obtaining the trait is seemingly difficult. The truth is, though, it isn’t, and it’s the most important trait that a person should have, and can have if they put their mind to it. In today’s world, confidence is crucial, yet many people still struggle to develop this quality in themselves. It shapes the way a person sees themself and makes them comfortable in being who they are -- yet, fear and stress is still a constant that holds us back. Hark, an agency that helps organizations connect with students, mentioned in their UK “Listen Up Report” that

“[It’s] just being proud of who you are…and the different abilities that you have and the way that you decide to think.” - Stephanie Rojo-Garcia (11)

many ways to increase confidence and develop the skill of maintaining it. One common mindset teenagers tend to use is “fake it ‘til you make it,” it’s the philosophy that if one fakes their confidence, eventually it’ll create real confidence. All it takes is faking a mentally strong personality, one that eventually becomes real. Another successful tactic that can be used, though hard at first, is avoiding social media and accounts that risk one’s self esteem. Scrolling on social media can be entertaining, but seeing countless posts of an influencer’s seemingly ‘perfect’ life can make one feel inadequate. Unfollowing those influencers can decrease comparison and increase self-confidence. Confidence should never be something that’s avoided; young people say It’s mothey have little or no menconfidence* tous i n

1 in 3

35%

at age 16, “confidence drops to its lowest point - with 35% reporting little or no confidence.” This means of 16 year-olds report little that starting at age 16 -- or younger -- mental health or no confidence* worsens, and potential remains unreached. This is not how our society should go on. Junior Stephanie Rojo-Garcia has a reason why to choose higher rate of anxiety with low self confidence. “It can help open doors to new esteem, according to The Children's experiences, such as…volunteer work or…meeting new friends,” she says. Society in 2024 “[It’s] just being proud of who you are…and the different abiliour ties that you have.” However, society that a lack of confidence causes a dip the community must learn in mental health, self esteem, and affects h o w to face the idea of confidence and people interact with others. Sophomore Cambria develop it themselves. Only then will we build a Waynick explains that many individuals suffer with world that has faith in themselves and their ability to issues at home or within themselves. “It can be very succeed. After all, beloved Dolly Parton once said, easy for people to project that onto others through “…there’s a lot to be said about being comfortable aggression or other emotions like sadness,” she adds. with who you are, ‘cause I don’t know how to be Being confidence can be difficult to begin, especially anybody else. I don’t want to be anybody else.” if no one knows where to start.Thankfully, there are

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*1 in 3 young people lack confidence - here’s why it matters for business | PRCA Global. (2024). Prca.Global.

Opinion - 5

Teaching responsibility starts with trust Story by the staff; design by Riya Bhatt; illustration by Madeleine Duhn

Portage Northern is home to a range of maturity levels, and it makes sense that administrators and teachers may teach freshman and seniors differently. However, above that reality is another: none of us are middle schoolers, and we shouldn’t be treated as such. The new policies implemented this year, including MiNGA, reduce us young adults to chil-

High school policies should not hold us to middle school standards. dren. Decision makers must acknowledge that students, especially upperclassmen, are close to leaving high school and living and working in “the real world,” where we’ll have a variety of responsibilities that school is not developing independence for. Upperclassmen are voting, driving cars, applying to college, and completing other tasks to prepare them for life after high school. These new freedoms we have are incompatible with starting a countdown timer for a basic bodily function, a requirement many of us didn’t even have in elementary school. Policies like MiNGA work counteractively to the responsibilities we’ve gained in the past years. For juniors and seniors specifically, a bathroom timer is a step backward in our au-

tonomy. In many upperclassmen and honors classes, teachers promote independence and minimize interruptions by allowing students to quietly take a hall pass, mirroring a college or professional environment. Preparing students to live independently in the future includes trusting them to leave at appropriate times during class, with their understanding that leaving during instructional time could result in not knowing the content. Students who may misuse their passes or time in the hallway should be dealt with on a case by case basis. MiNGA forces students to create an online pass, hope the bathroom isn’t too crowded, race back to class, and end the pass, assuming MiNGA hasn’t frozen by then. If it has, they have to interrupt their teacher to ask them to end their pass, resulting in an experience that doesn’t make us feel respected or empowered. As we get older, we should be entrusted with more responsibilities, but also more freedom. With learning how to live independently and take care of ourselves, we should be able to use the bathroom when needed or step into the hallway to text our employers back, confirm a doctor’s appointment, or check a message from a coach– all real world skills. Teaching us to live and work independently comes first with trusting us to make simple decisions throughout the school day.

6 - Staff Ed

NEW YEAR NEW POLICIES

Story by Riya Bhatt, Sophie Amberg, Madeleine Duhn, and Phoenix McNeely; design by Madeleine Duhn

What’s changed?

chasing one each semester. A student would go to the office with their student ID, parent permission, and $10, allowing them to head out to lunch for the following semester. However, this now shifts to a month by month system, causing a few changes to what students are used to. This monthly

Like clockwork, a new year greeted Portage Northern Huskies. Routines changed from summer to school as sports games, homework, and rehearsals filled the calendar. Not only do daily lives shift, students began to adapt to policy changes. For starters, Senate Bill 495 and House Bill 4141 passed by the Michigan legislature brings “[MiNGA] is meant to be a way for a statewide call us to really track who’s in the hallto action for way, are we safe, are we using our restrictions on time wisely, and then also we’re devices during trying to win back some of that inschool hours. structional time.” While NorthJason Messenger ern had its rules on “no cell bell to bell” last year, it was left to teacher discretion, with each classroom having its own guidelines. As the new state law system is intended to enforce stricter ripples across school districts, North- qualifications for students to receive a ern is forced to adapt with the school lunch pass. Now, a student can have no wide ban, resulting in each class- more than three excused absences and room having equal responsibilities. one unexcused absence and no outSimilarly, a new technology system standing detentions. In response from makes its way to all Portage Northern the semesterly change to the monthly classrooms. While some dealt with change, the price for a pass stands at the hall pass system at West Middle $2, resulting in students paying $18 a School and North Middle School, oth- year as opposed to the previous $20. ers began to learn the ropes for MiNGA, a digital platform with a number What’s the reason? of applications. MiNGA implements The new administration at Portage policies students are all familiar with, Northern implemented these policies yet digitizes them in hopes to make it after looking at attendance rates and easier for staff and the student body. hall pass usage from the past school Students access MiNGA through using year. Principal Jason Messenger rethe hall pass feature, while on the teach- ported that in the 2025-2026 school er side, praise and disciplinary actions year, students struggled with chronic are placed all in one platform, helping absenteeism at a rate of almost 20%. build statistics for the school as a whole. Chronic absenteeism is when a student In previous years, lunch passes were misses more than 10% of the school implemented simply through pur- days in a year. Now, being able to buy a

7 - Feature

Portage Northern students, teachers, and administration approach the upcoming year as they begin to adapt to new changes around the school. lunch pass depends on the student actually being in their classes. “What we’ve done with the lunch policy is we’ve made it kind of incentive-based,” Messenger shared. “We’ve made it so that…it’s something you have, but you have to continue to earn it.” As for MiNGA, the timed bathroom passes aim to ensure students aren’t missing as much instructional time. Messenger mentioned that he noticed students at Portage West Middle school, where he used to be principal, would miss significant amounts of class and in reality, needed added help from teachers and staff. “It is not meant to be an ‘I got you’ system,” Messenger reiterated. “It is meant to be a way for us to really track who’s in the hallway, are we safe, are we using our time wisely, and then also we’re trying to win back some of that instructional time.”

What’s the scoop?

Whether it’s navigating MiNGA or putting away personal devices, adjusting to these new policies has been difficult for the student body. Students have given mixed reactions on the personal device ban, but especially on MiNGA. Most find filling out passes time consuming and a hassle, but appreciate the benefits that come with the new system. “I think I’ve got a little partial both ways on that place. Student safety and accountability is a huge deal with that,” senior Nic Bianco shares. “But again, it is a bit of an inconvenience.” While MiNGA is designed to limit distractions, many students find that it’s too tedious and takes away from

instructional time more than the old and the student body. “This is the pass system. Most feel like being first time we had the principal talk monitored so closely is unneces- to us at our senate business meetsary and does not allow students ing,” junior Class President Kush to exercise responsibility. Kolhe shares. “The interaction was “You are supposed t o filled with reasons [for] why they take responsibility chose to use the system…I mainly for your own actions thought this was the staff admin[…] MiNGA just comistration’s job and student pletely diminishes that senate members didn’t refreedom,” senior Ria ally have a say in this.” Samanta shares. UpperFrom an adminclassmen share Samanistrative standpoint, ta’s sentiment of being Messenger wants to in“babied” and find being corporate more of stumonitored inconvenient. dents’ ideas into conOther students hold more sideration for future positive views of MiNGA, policies. “I think it’s appreciating the pass system beimportant for everycause it holds students who skip one to know that one of the things class and misuse passes account- that I’m really big about is student able. “I think kids skipping class voice,” Messenger shares. “I am is obviously a problem and I think it’s a good way “You are supposed to take to keep responsibility for your own actions track of and MiNGA just completely people,” diminishes that freedom” freshman - Ria Samanta (12) Lachlyn H u m phreys shares. The administration can find through MiNGA the going to the [student] senate meetamount of time a student has ing every week. So if there’s things spent outside of class, and ad- that people have concerns with, dress these issues accordingly. they can reach out to their representative and their representative can have that at the meeting.” What’s to come? This past week, Messenger met with the Student Senate, a foundational step in establishing a working relationship with the new principal

8 - Feature

Fall sports are in full swing Story by Eva Sturgeon, Hayden Heggie, and Logan Dowell; design by Reese Graham

Portage Northern men’s varsity tennis team hits new program record On the 14th of September, the men’s varsity tennis team made program history when they won two 8-0 conferences in one day. Junior Kush Kolhe and senior Vishwanksena Chalasani earned varsity letters in a match against Battle Creek Central. As of now, their total W-L-T (Win, Lose, Tie) is 8-15-1. Some of their key victories were matches against Loy Norrix (7-1) and Kalamazoo Central (6-2) in August. Senior Nathan Mwanda says, “It’s been going really well for me, especially since it’s my first year.” One of the captains of the team for this year, senior Zachary Shaman, expresses his feelings about the season so far. “Yeah, it’s been pretty good. Definitely had some Sophomore Naveen Bhatt serves during the varsity tough losses with some good wins,” Shaman shares. “You just have 2-doubles match against Portage Central. Photo by to keep going and progress in our season. Definitely stay positive.” Reese Graham.

Portage Northern women’s varsity volleyball team starts their season with wins

Senior Rece Helsom and team prepare for the serve during their Kalamazoo Central match. Photo by Logan Dowell.

The women’s varsity volleyball team started their season strong on August 22nd, as they won 2-0 against Bronson High School. Only six days later, they played against Vicksburg in a setting called, “Under the lights.” Instead of a standard indoor court, they have a portable court set up at the Vicksburg football stadium. Now, PN currently leads a #1 in the Southwest Michigan league and has a W-L-T of 6-4-1. Sophomore player Brinely Welke says, “Our team is super close, we’re like family, since it’s been so fun.” Similarly, captain of the varsity volleyball team, senior Reese Meyer, shares, “We showed our grit and determination by going to five sets with St. Joseph and taking the win.” She adds that it has been “very successful because everybody has grown in so many different ways that has all contributed to the team.”

Portage Northern varsity football competes against cross town rivals On Friday, September 11th, Portage Northern held a moment of silence in remembrance of the terrorist attacks that took place in 2001. An American flag was held up, with PN and PC’s choir singing the national anthem. This was the rivalry game between PN’s and PC’s varsity teams. PN had a great start in the first half, before an eventual loss of 25-14. Shortly after kickoff, #20 made a 22 yard touchdown, and #4 converted a 2pt conversion after a completed pass by #2. This led the score to 8-0 with PN in the lead until the 3rd quarter. During the 4th quarter, PN brought themselves up 6 points with a passing touchdown right before the end. As a team, improvPN football team huddles around the bench during ing yourselves after a loss is crucial for team strength. Junior Aireus The the game against Portage Central. Photo by Cadence Jackson says, “We just got a couple of losses, but now we’re turning Thorpe. around.”

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More Than a Uni for m: cheer seniors reflect on

sisterhood and personal growth Story and design by Sukanya Dunbar

or seniors on head coach Brittney Deloach’s cheer squad, putting on the varsity uniform comes with a specific realization. The students in the stadium’s bleachers see the performance, smiles, and choreography, but they do not see the personal changes that happen over their high school years. For Micaela Salas, the sport started as a way to find community. “Sophomore year, I was shy; I didn’t really let anybody in,” Salas recalls. Paige Rolan, who joined her senior year with no experience, felt that same reassurance: “Coming in with no experience... it’s kind of hard.” Cheer Captain Alaya Branch adds that the bond is “genuine.” Now, as seniors, the team faces the reality of leaving the sport behind. “The first time I got my own uniform... I was excited,” Salas reflects.“But now... this is the last tme I’m ever going to wear it. It’s hard and sad because I don’t want to let the memories go.” For Rolan, putting on the uniform was a reminder of what she could achieve: “It felt pretty good to know that, like, I achieved the spot that I wanted.”

Senior Alaya Branch leads the student section in a cheer with her teammates in PN’s Homecoming football game against St. Joseph High School. Photo by Logan Dowell.

For Branch, the countdown is bittersweet: “Now that I’m a senior, it’s like a clock. Like I’m running out of time.” Onlookers assume the sport is strictly standing on the sidelines, but hitting a stunt requires intense physical conditioning. Rolan notes it is just as physically demanding as any sport. Branch points out the invisible labor involved: “There’s so much physical endurance that goes into it that people just overlook.” When the week is difficult, motivating an entire stadium requires feeding off the crowd. For Salas, hearing the crowd shout back drowns out the negativity. For Branch, the fans provide an immediate emotional escape:

“Especially when there’s like little girls that stand in front of us and try to do the cheers with us... it makes my day.” The discipline required to stay on the mat forces a maturity that dictates life outside the field’s lines. “In order... to have fun and cheer at the game, you obviously have to be strong academically,” Salas emphasizes. As graduation approaches, the seniors are preparing for their next chapters, knowing that when the season ends, the uniforms will be handed back, but the sisterhood remains.

10 - Sports

The Odyssey:

a cinematic journey through Greek mythology Story by Reese Graham; design and illustration by Madeleine Duhn

A story of war, pain, and sacrifice in mythological Ancient Greece has never felt so unbelievably human. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which aired in theatres on July 17, 2026, elegantly preserves the timelessness of the original Greek epic, while simultaneously retelling it as more than a heroic voyage, but a discussion on both hostility and hospitality. Homer’s poem follows the king of Ithaca, Odysseus (Matt Damon), as he embarks on his 10 year voyage home after the Trojan War. Throughout this journey, he encounters many iconic figures of billion in box office Greek mytholinternationally, as of ogy, including September 2026 cyclops and sirens. Unbeknownst to him, many in Ithaca on Rotten Tomatoes believe Odysseus is d e a d , and dozens of suitors are attempting to court his wife and queen, Penelope (Anne Hathaway) Nolan’s characters have a distinctly human feel, grappling with grief, morality, and heroism. Damon’s Odysseus dives into the psychological impact from the Siege of Troy, a consciousness mirrored in

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Entertainment - 11

the appearance of Athena (Zendaya), goddess of wisdom. The original epic focuses more on Odysseus’s hubris, or excessive pride, as a fatal flaw, so this extension captures an exploration of ethics in the face of violence. Samantha Morton also delivers a haunting and spectacular performance as Circe, the sorceress encountered by Odysseus’s men. Her chilling scenes force viewers to consider The Odyssey as a conversation on the nature of humanity as well. The film becomes a unique interpretation of the original classic, examining recognizable elements of the story, such as the Trojan Horse, in the context of their moral dilemmas. Beyond the characters and storytelling itself, the film required technological and cinematographical developments to produce the scale desired. In a CBS Interview, Nolan described his intent to shoot entirely on IMAX film cameras, a feat which would drastically improve image quality, but was formerly unattainable because of the loud machinery for reeling the film. A specialized enclosed “blimp” had to be developed in order to shoot close up dialogue scenes using the higher quality cameras, but with the new technology, The Odyssey became the first movie ever filmed with IMAX 70mm cameras. Additionally, Nolan avoided use of CGI as much as possible, relying heavily on practical effects, even for scenes with the 60-foot Cyclops puppet, which was operated by actor Bill Irwin. These cinematic techniques, partnered with Ludwig Göransson’s thrilling soundtrack of period instruments, added to the authenticity of the film and made the audience feel directly immersed in the story. In an interview with People Magazine, Tom Holland, who plays Odysseus and Penelope’s son Telemachus said, “I love the fact that we can tell a story that feels ancient, but also really relevant.” With a star-studded cast, innovative take on traditional cinematography, and a nearly 3000 year old story to work with, The Odyssey brings Homer’s epic to life at a scale unseen on the big screen today.

A life in music:

Dolly Parton’s

life and legacy Story by Bryleigh Holdridge, Labria Hawkins, and Rin Weller; design by Madeleine Duhn

Dolly Parton has been singing since the early seventies, and there aren’t many people out there who can hear her voice and not instantly recognize her. “I play a lot of folk and bluegrass music. So I grew up listening to Dolly Parton and playing instruments along with her song,” shares science teacher Colin Killmer. “I’ve played the song “Jolene” thousands of times. It’s just such a heart-wrenching, beautiful, little begging song. I love it.” Dolly Parton earned herself the nickname of the “Queen of Country Music,” which she most definitely was, but she was never confined solely to country music. Throughout her life, Dolly wrote songs, starred in television shows and films, published books, donated money and time to charities and non-profits across the nation, and she could put anyone around her at ease and made them feel as though they had known her their entire life.

Workin’ 9 to 5

Of everything that Parton did throughout her life her music was what truly made her stand out to people across the country and around the world. Even though she was known mostly for country music, the songs she wrote were not all the same, and they never felt like they were only meant for one type of person. She sang about love, heartbreak, family, working hard and growing up with very little, which were all things that plenty of people could connect to in one way or another. Songs like “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “9 to 5” showed just how much emotion she could put into a song, whether it was something sad, something personal, or something that made people want to sing along with it. “Jolene” was one of those songs that felt almost desperate, with Parton singing to another woman and asking her not

Dolly Parton’s thirty-fourth studio album cover, “Treasures,” which was one of three albums solely containing covers ranging from classic country to rock.

to take away the man she loved. “I Will Always Love You” was much softer, but still emotional in its own way, while “9 to 5” had a more upbeat sound and was something that a lot of people who worked every day could understand. No matter what the song was about, Parton had a way of making every lyric feel like a story, and it was almost impossible not to get caught up in it once she started singing. Parton’s music covered country, bluegrass, pop, and rock across a career that lasted seven decades, and her official discography includes albums such as “Coat of Many Colors” and “Jolene.”

Dolly’s Lasting Legacy

Dolly Parton passed away at 80 years old on the 25th of August after a short duel with cancer. Parton was admitted into the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville Tennessee on Friday, Aug. 21, where she departed four days later. Though she’s gone, she lives on in many hearts of the students and faculty here at PN. “I think the biggest thing you could take from her is to, like, honestly be yourself and not listen to other people,” said Charlize Lopez, a senior here at Northern, about Dolly’s legacy, “no one is going to love you to the extent that you think they are, and I think it’s important to love yourself before anything else.” Along with Lopez, Corey Downey, one of PN’s librarians, referred to Parton as: “...one of those people that we’re always going to refer to and think of when we think of generosity and just being a light and a powerful impact on those around us.”

12 - Entertainment

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14 - Ads

This edition, we asked five Huskies their current favorite songs. Can you match the quotes to their photos?

t s a L The d r o W

Design by Riya Bhatt and Madeleine Duhn; photos by Eva Sturgeon, Cadence Thorpe, and Phoenix McNeely

“Too Deep to Turn Back” by Daniel Ceasar “No matter the circumstances it helps me calm down and just makes me feel better in general.”

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“All Eyes on Me” by Bo Burnham

“In Loving Melody” by Waylon Wyatt “I like the lyrics and meaning behind it.”

“I like the discussion of mental health. It is very relatable.”

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“Do You Feel It?” by Chaos Chaos

ture” by “Human Na son k Michael Jac g song to “It’s a relaxine doing listen to whil homework.”

Answer Key: 1- Jackson Waber; 2- Jonah Willis; 3- Lachlyn Humphreys; 4- Mia Watson; 5- Brenden Cañenguez

Lachlyn

(9) Humphreys

“It’s in my favorite show, and I really like the lyrics, they have a lot of sentiment.”

Jona

illis (

11)