Red Devil Post, Vol. 1, Issue 3

RED DEVIL POST

Town’s growth offers unique opportunities for Tri-Creek elementary schools

by Sarah Gygi

The Tri-Creek School Corporation’s elementary schools are almost at capacity. As of August, Lake Prairie Elementary's 5th grade students have been relocated to Lowell Middle School, an entire grade level displaced because of Lowell's rapid growth. This greatly affects the entire school system. Presently, there has been a proposal to relocate classes and expand our schools. Lake Prairie requires at least six new classrooms just to accommodate the misplaced fifth graders as is. Tri-Creek already knows that its population will continue to grow. Without the space to accommodate new students, where does that put Lowell? Lake county has an annual growth rate of 0.05%, as the population increases so will Lowell's economy. On average it costs almost $11,000 to educate a child in Indiana. With this rapid growth, this price may increase. Not only do the lives of students change due to the influx of new pupils, but parents and caregivers will also likely be impacted financially. A growing community is not something to be upset about. Lowell is flourishing and growing at a considerable rate. However, our town needs to work with haste to ensure a productive and comfortable learning environment for all grade level students.

Masthead

Hannah Cano, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Sophia Emery, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Editors

Alyssa Andriese, School Counseling

Hailey Baran, Student Spotlight

Alyx Doty, Administration

Bella Funk, School Culture

Walter Kotlin, Class News

Morgan Laumeyer, School Culture

Madelyn Logan, Fine Arts

Mia McMillan, Diversity

Allie Mecha, Lower Schools

Hailey Moore, Sports

Olivia Perlick, Opinion

Bella Silva, Community

Lilly Susko, Pop Culture

Jacquelynn Van Der Linde, History

Payton Williams, Sports

Writers & Photographers

Savannah Amschl

Brooke Bane

Jon Budz

Jaiden Estrada

Emily Gerstenkorn

Sarah Gygi

Adam Hammer

Ethan Hernandez

Bre Kidd

Gabby Morache

Makalyn Patrick

Joey Paternostro

Daisy Ray

Emma Sampias

Addy Vaught Sponsor

Joe Gianotti

IN THIS ISSUE

Red Devil Pride

Annual Track or Treat to add Halloween character meet and greet

by Olivia Perlick

Track-or-Treat will be hosted at Lowell High School on Thursday, October 27 from 6-7:30 pm. Wristbands can be purchased at any Tri-Creek School for $5 per trickertreater. When entering for this event, guests will use either door 13, facing the football field. Or door 2, facing route 2.

As this event is approaching, the L-Club has been working very diligently to plan this event. Raeann Patrevito, the LClub president has been putting in numerous efforts to help coordinate this event. When taking on the role of being in charge of planning this event, Patrevito had her own vision she wanted to implement. She excitedly said, “I wanted to add something new, so I thought of adding a character meet-and-greet in the Wrestling Room.” She added, “This will help traffic flow and everything will run smoothly.” In addition to the new spot for character meetand-greets, there will also be face painting for a small extra fee.

When asked what to expect from this event, Raeann mentioned, “Be prepared for lots of crowds since many people show up.” She also added, “Bring your own bag and plan on getting lots of candy!” There will be many vendors at this event including LHS clubs and sports. There will also be local business representatives from the town. The last piece of advice mentioned was to let kids have their own fun adventures!

Track-or-Treat is a fun event that the town looks forward to every year. The L-Club especially looks forward to this event to provide children with a fun memorable night. They also look forward to this fundraiser since they get to give back by donating the profits to the Special Olympics Program and Angel Tree Christmas Shopping. The L-Club hopes to see everyone in their Halloween costumes!

Red Devil Pride

Page Turners look to spread literacy throughout the curriculum

by Savannah Amschl

“Literacy is the foundation of all classrooms and research proves that learners that are reading outside their structured class are exercising things such as; their global awareness, test taking skills, improving employability and communication skills.” Very quickly into an interview with Mrs. O’Neill, she made it very clear to me about the importance of encouraging reading outside the classroom. Mrs. O’Neill has been teaching at the high school for many years. Over the course of the past few years, she has seen the middle school changing their approach to literature in the classroom into a more self paced and self choice outline. Many of the freshman English teachers have seen more students entering the high school enjoying

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The Academic Spell Bowl team, coached by Mrs. Mikovetz, finished third at the annual Northwest Hoosier Conference Invite held at Lowell. Lowell spelled 35 words right, just behind River Forest at 36 and the champions, North Judson, at 38. The Red Devils defeated Rensselaer, LaLumiere, North Newton, and Kankakee Valley, who were distant runners-up.

Leading the way for Lowell were Bella Funk, Hailey Baran, and Jack Gangwisch. Funk spelled 8/9 words correctly, making her the highest scoring speller from any school at the Invite. Baran was just behind with seven words spelled correctly, and Gangwisch chipped in with five.

Funk spelled words right like varlet, impresario, and vestigial. Only etymological tripped her up.

Lowell’s next Spell Bowl competition is November 1st when they’ll compete against several area schools for a chance to make it to the Purdue state finals.

Alyssa Andriese, Hannah Cano, Sophia Emery, Hailey Fox, Katelyn Luttrell, Makalyn Patrick, Ryleigh Potat, and Jacquelynn Van Der Linde round out the team.

Spell Bowl finishes a competitive third at Northwest Hoosier Conference Invite

Red Devil Pride

Besides his love for the population unit and his creation of work packets (which have probably killed too many trees to count), what else do you know about Mr. Withered? Let's get to know the man himself, AP geography and Geography and History of the world teacher, room A212, Mr. Withered.

After high school, Mr. Withered went to college at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. From there, he continued to fall in love with geography and became a teacher. He has been teaching for 17 years and all 17 years have been at Lowell High School. He enjoys teaching AP Human Geography the most, as it dissects how people impact society. AP Human Geography examines human patterns, migration, and land use.

Aside from the workplace, Mr. Withered is a big family guy. He has a wife, Samantha and two boys, Adam (6) and Eli (2). “You can’t spend too much time with

people you love,” Withered says. The Post also asked Mr. Withered if he has any pets and unfortunately he does not, but students are trying to convince him to get a dog (Yay, go Adam!), so maybe there is a furry friend in the Withered family’s future!

A well known passion of Mr. Withered’s is golf. He loves to watch golf but loves to play it as well. However, something that most people do not know about him is that he loves to snow ski. He used to take ski trips every year to Colorado. He hopes to get back into this hobby in the near future as it is a big passion of his.

Mr. Withered is a great teacher, in a terrific department, at a fantastic school. He makes geography fun, and we appreciate him.

by Ethan Hernandez

In the Classroom

Red Devil female welders boast 100% certification pass rate

Last school year, LHS boasted eight female welders, all of whom earned their certification. Mr. Goss said, “Our female welders are true rock stars in the class, and I’d love to see if we could get our female enrollment up.”

Welding may not be for everyone, but it is important that we have welders in our world. They do the dirty work. Without them, things such as buildings, gates, fences, and kitchen appliances would not even be possible.

When it comes to the welding industry, America alone has an estimated number of 418,659 welders. 93.9% of which is men, and that other 6.1% is lady welders. Fortunately, Lowell High School is proud to say that we currently have five of these lady welders. Their perseverance and hard work has earned them their welding certificate which many cannot simply obtain. LHS is beyond thankful for these women and their courage and ability to go into a “male dominated industry” and represent the women and especially lady welders in this country and show just how skilled they are when it comes to welding. These 5 individuals are not only officially a part of that 6.1%, but also huge advocators for lady welding, and are for sure inspiring many to follow in their footsteps. Thanks to them, LHS’s welding program gets better and better everyday along with the other students in their program, and we hope to surely see new awesome projects out of these courageous lady welders! Lowell High School wants to thank them for being great role models and being themselves and impacting our school in a positive way!

Student Spotlight Getting to know Noah Jacobsen

by Emma Sampias

Noah was chosen as the student spotlight for this newspaper article due to his hard work and determination in class. Mrs. Witkowski has recognized his ability to go above and beyond, always try his best, and continuously keep a positive attitude. Noah's positive attitude and kindness are heartwarming characteristics of his. Not only does he treat everyone with kindness, he additionally helps everyone have a better day. Noah is filled with funny jokes that he enjoys telling others to share a laugh with.

Thank you Noah for always brightening everyone's days up!

Noahs interview questions:

What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?

Listen to music

What is your favorite snack to eat?

Pretzel sticks

What is your favorite band or musician?

Eric Clapton

What is your favorite movie?

Back to the future - Marty is his favorite character

What is your favorite school subject?

English - writing

Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

Florida

If you could vacation anywhere where would you go?

To a hotel somewhere tropical where he can go to the beach.

What is your favorite candy?

Mike and Ikes

What is your favorite part about school?

Gym

What is a unique talent you have?

Playing guitar - his guitar is one like Eric Clapton’s

What is your favorite game/sport to play in gym?

Tennis

If you could have any superpower what would it be?

Flying

What is your favorite Halloween joke?

What can you catch from a vampire in winter?

Frostbite

Student Spotlight

Catching up with alumnus Hannah Gerstenkorn

by Emily Gerstenkorn

Hannah Gerstenkorn graduated from Lowell High School this past spring. She has wanted to go to the University of Wisconsin Madison for as long as she can remember. Her family visits Wisconsin very often as Gerstenkorn’s extended family lives there. Her father grew up in a small town called Portage which is about 45 minutes away from the campus. I think Hannah’s main reason for picking

UW Madison is so she can be closer to my dad’s family, but the school has many more positive things that draw people towards it. There are tons of places to tour, like the capital, lots of clubs for everyone, and cool traditions such as Jump Around, Bucky’s 5th Quarter, On Wisconsin, and Build Me Up Buttercup. There are so many family-owned restaurants which give more variety and new things to try, and it has a good location for both city life and outdoor activities. Some clubs Hannah is involved in include UW Dance Marathon, Aspiring Educators, and UW Best Buddies. UW Dance Marathon is a dance marathon that raises money for local childrens’ hospitals. Aspiring Educators is a club for aspiring teachers and education majors. UW Best Buddies is a group of students paired up with IDD adults and they go on fun field trips and socialize. Not only does the school offer many extra curricular activities, but it also provides many opportunities for different classes, degrees, and chances to work towards your dream profession. The most popular majors UW Madison is known for are economics, computer and information sciences, biology, psychology, and finance. UW Madison is a great school to consider applying to if you’re looking for an out of state school that feels like home.

Student Spotlight

Alli Lukasik: Future teacher and animal enthusiast

by Bella Funk

Bella Funk: Do you participate in any sports or extracurricular activities?

Alli Lukasik: I play volleyball.

BF: What is your favorite aspect of volleyball?

AL: I enjoy the teamwork aspect of volleyball and the physical activity gained from doing it.

BF: Do you have a favorite subject in school?

AL: I really enjoy history.

BF: Favorite holiday?

AL: Halloween.

BF: How has high school been for you so far?

AL: Really good, I haven’t been too overwhelmed with my work.

BF: How do you envision your future after high school?

AL: I definitely want to go to college to pursue teaching.

BF: Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of school?

AL: I like to write, go on walks, read, and listen to music.

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Runnin’ Red Devil Camden Mikulich

by Jon Budz

For our most recent freshman student spotlight, Camden Mikulich has been chosen. As a freshman, the student body is curious as to how his transition into high school has gone, what he is excited for in the future, and where he sees himself headed throughout high school. When asked what he enjoyed so far, Mikulich’s response was “I have liked high school so far. Adjusting to the increase in school work from middle school to high school can be challenging. I've learned that time outside of school is required. Other than that, high school has been great. I have felt really accepted, especially by my cross-country teammates. I know it only gets better from here.” When questioned if he missed anything from the middle school, he did not. “I don't miss much from middle school. I love the feeling of having more freedom and responsibility in everything. In middle school, I still felt like a kid. Now, I am treated as a young adult in

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Student Spotlight

LMRD’s own, Austin Morache

by Makalyn Patrick

Makalyn Patrick: How long have you been going to Lowell for?

Austin Morache: All my life.

M.P: How have you enjoyed Junior year so far?

A.M: It’s been better than my last few years, I can explore more and have more freedoms.

M.P: How long have you been doing marching band for?

A.M: Since my freshman year.

M.P: Do you plan on continuing marching band after high school?

A.M: Yes, I do I believe that college would be a great opportunity for me.

M.P: Who is the most important person in your life? Why is that?

A.M: My mom, she’s always supported me through my moments of life and has always helped me to get back on top.

M.P: What is something you would like people to know about you?

A.M: I try to read the person if they're new and I’m talking to them. I don’t want to make a mistake when I’m talking to them.

M.P: What’s your favorite subject in school?

A.M: Social studies.

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Devils’ Advocate

State of Indiana needs to prioritize educators’ pay across the board, from support staff to teachers to administration

by Lilly Susko

The century-old question; are teachers financially compensated for? Teachers for decades have been fighting to increase education funding, greater personal salary, and altogether have better quality for public education that their students deserve. This is not a newfound endeavor that teachers across the world are embarking on. In spring of 1981, teachers in Ohio went on strike for eighty-five school days, making it one of the longest teachers' strikes in U.S. history. More recently and widely known, educators in Indiana rallied at the Indiana Statehouse demanding action from lawmakers. Although a significant factor for their marching might have been their stagnant salaries, most were driven by their passion for teaching and their students. As well as their desire of wanting to be given much-earned respect. Looking at our own school, a Tri-Creek teacher of twenty-six years, Mr. Gianotti comments, “Money doesn't make me feel compensated at all. Don't get me wrong. I want to make as much money as Tri-Creek wants to pay me, but when I think of compensation for my job, I think of the respect and admiration that I might earn from students. I also think about respect from the community and administration.” Teaching is a work coming from the heart, and most educators show up for the sake of their passion for teaching and love for their students. Kindergarten teacher Mrs.Wulitich adds “There are really amazing days in the classroom, and days you tell yourself you won’t come back the next day… But you show up because every day is a fresh start and those babies need someone like you!” Teachers will continue to advocate for greater financial compensation, but at the end of the day, most educators truly get their satisfaction simply from getting to come to school and help shape future minds of America.

Devils’ Advocate

Our view:

Crocheting soothes anxiety

and is one tool to fight an epidemic of depression

by Madalyn Logan

Crocheting is such a wonderful hobby that brings many comforts. It’s calming, hands-on, and trendy. I’ve been crocheting for nearly a year now, and it's taught me so much more than how to create things. I’ve made more connections with people, have been able to share something I love with other people, and have grown into a more creative, patient person. I’m self-taught, so I learned a lot of discipline to improve my skill.

Crocheting has recently become a popular hobby at Lowell High School. For this issue, I interviewed Kayanna Seely, Josephine Vercruysse, and another senior to get more insight into their unique hobby.

There is a special kind of joy that crocheting brings me, especially when I can give my creations to others. I love to create amigurumi (the Japanese art of making stuffed creatures) and have dabbled in clothing and bags. It’s amazing to think about where all of my creations could go, whether it travels the world or sits comfortably in someone's home.

So, I wanted to give back to crocheting and bring some more awareness to it. I asked some of my crocheting peers questions to learn more about their experiences with crocheting.

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Predestined Devils

Lake Prairie 3rd graders inspired by Museum of Science and Industry miniatures

by Allie Mecha

Down at Lake Prairie Elementary, they’re getting in touch with their creative juices school-wide. During their library time, They get the opportunity to do Cardboard Construction Maker Space. Mrs. Norton, Mrs. Oman, Mrs. Chapranda, and Mrs. Dingman’s 3rd grade classes are all building miniature rooms that are inspired by the miniature rooms at the Art Institue of Chicago. A little background on the Minature rooms: They were created by Narcissa Niblack Throne in the 1930s. She created intricate rooms on a small scale with very detailed interiors. This was to represent “a visual history of interior design that is accurate and inspiring. The result is two parts fantasy, one part history.”

A third grade student, Silas, says, “I like this project because it is very creative and when I grow up I want to be a scientist and I will have to be creative.” This project is helping students layout their futures as early as 3rd grade.

Another student, Brynn, says, “I like it because I am creating my dream room.” She’s getting to create something realistic that she won’t necessarily get to do.

On the other end of the library are the 4th graders in Ms. Scheidt’s class is working on creating a little library which the building staff will use for their personal book borrowing system.

Ethan, a student in Ms. Scheidt’s class claims, “I like it because we use cardboard and our imagination to build something the school can hold books in." These kiddos really enjoy making things for

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Predestined Devils

Mrs. Stinnet’s 4th graders visit

the Grand Kankakee Marsh

by Allie Mecha

At Three Creeks Elementary, Mrs. Sinnet’s 4th grade class went on a study trip to the Grand Kankakee Marsh. They spent the day switching between five different stations and learning more about nature by the Kankakee River. At station one, the students were taught about how the watershed flows from the river to the Gulf of Mexico, how the land is used, building homes, recreation- soccer games, trash and how these impact the river. At station two, the kids made a splash, learning about aquatic life. The students took the temperature of the water and discovered what lives in the water to know if the Kankakee is healthy water. At station three, the kiddos let their imagination soar as they learned about bird migration and what happens to bird habitats when we take away the nesting sites or restore them. Also, students learned about the impact of human expansion. At station four, the students see animal skin from animals who once lived in Indiana. Finally, station five, the kids got their hands dirty by taking a canoe up the Kankakee River, learning the safety of canoeing and how to paddle a canoe. They learned a chant to remember how to paddle. “Paddle, paddle, paddle… pizza, pizza, pizza.” Paddle stands for the paddle being pushed through the water and pizza is the paddle being parallel to the water as you prepare to put the paddle back into the water.

Often overlooked, the Grand Kankakee Marsh rivals the Indiana Dunes as far as offering unique natural phenomenon. In fact, geologists have been able to deduce that the sand at the bottom of the Kankakee is the same sand that comprises the dunes. Most people also don’t realize how long the Kankakee River is. It stretches from Momence, Illinois all the way to South Bend, Indiana. Lake County’s southern border teems with life and offers a unique and rich education to anyone who wants it.

Community Pride Two Hearts from Home: Senior living in Lowell

by Brooke Bane

Two Hearts Home for Seniors in Lowell has quickly become the senior living facility that all seniors and family members want to send their loved ones too. It is owned by two people that started this project with just a vision and in the end created a loving home for all seniors.These two owners are Ed McCraken and Janel Robilotta. They began the building process in 2019 and ended up having their first resident move in around June of 2020. Since opening they have received nothing but astonishing feedback from the community as well as the seniors' loved ones. These two amazing individuals built this home in hopes of creating a “ a loving home for those who truly deserve it.” Since opening the facility Janel and Ed have not stopped pouring their heart and soul into making Two Hearts Home for Seniors a safe and loving environment.

Since opening Two Hearts Home for Seniors these two amazing owners have hosted countless gatherings and parties for the residents. In the last couple of weeks Two Hearts has hosted a magnificent spa day that ended in every resident being showered in love and a glowing face ! This month they have also hosted the Two Hearts version of Oktoberfest. All the seniors were able to relax and crack open a cold root beer while enjoying their warm homemade pretzels. In addition on Johnny Appleseed day some of the seniors chose to take a little field trip down to one of the beautiful apple orchards nearby. They so kindly harvested enough apples to bring back home to share with everyone. This amazing senior living facility celebrates every holiday no matter how important, and is always throwing the best birthday parties for the seniors. This just goes to show the true love that Ed and Janel hold in housing the seniors here in Lowell, Indiana.

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Community Pride

Try a treat at Salisbury Sweets

by Bre Kidd

Salisbury Sweets is a place located in downtown Lowell, Indiana (405 E Commercial Ave, Lowell, IN 46356). Their hours are Tuesday-Friday 12 pm-6 pm, Saturday 11 am-6 pm, and they are closed on Sundays and Mondays. Salisbury Sweets is a family-owned business. They opened up their store on May 5th, 2022. They offer a ton of different things like dog treats, cupcakes, Caramel corn, ice cream floats, truffles, and puppy chow. They have any flavor of cupcakes from vanilla all the way to churro and more. One important thing to know about the cupcakes is that the flavors change every week. Their most popular flavors in cupcakes are churro, smores, and red velvet. Cupcakes cost $4 a piece, 4 for $14, or 12 for $40. Their Carmel corn cost $8 for a small, $15 for a medium, $30 for a large, or $75 for a party pack. Their truffles for 3 for $5, their dog treats are $4, and their puppy chow is $5. Their floats are $8 and they come in many different flavors. Their flavors are root beer, cream soda, orange soda, and green river. They also have summer flavors and they are Shirley temple and sparkling lemonade. Salisbury Sweets also does special orders for anyone who would like specific kinds of cupcakes. You can either go inside to get some treats or you can call them from the number (219) 300-2160. Overall Salisbury Sweets is a great place to go for a nice treat.

Modern Minute

Smile: Smash hit horror movie

leaves viewers shaking, not grinning

by Sophia Emery

The brand new horror movie to hit the theaters, Smile, reached its long awaited release on September 30th, definitely not disappointing the crowds who had the pleasure of purchasing a ticket. To any horror movie enthusiasts, this is certainly a must see, with the general consensus being overall positive for this new successful film.

Even a few short days after its appearance in theaters, Smile acquired some mixed reviews among online critics, most of which were positive in nature. The movie marked a 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, 68% for Metacritic, 6.9/10 on IMBd, and 4.1 stars on Google Reviews, An overwhelming amount of reviews said that the film was well produced, but the movie was almost a variation of many other fan favorites. Similar conceptually to The Ring (2002), some people who watched the movie felt that it was already done before. Besides that, others felt the movie lacked some exciting intensity throughout, leaving one of the opening scenes to be the most gripping parts of the cinematic experience. For any seeking a high quality horror movie with jump worthy scares and an enticing plot, Smile is guaranteed to give you just that. Some of the disturbing scenes with the smiling image will stick with its viewers long after leaving the theater. For those not squeamish to gore as the Halloween season approaches, Smile is a reliable movie to check out!

Diversity Matters

Breast Cancer and Roe v. Wade among women’s issues that matter in October and November

by Mia McMillan

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. Throughout the duration of the month, the National Breast Cancer Foundation encourages people to come together and tell people about the importance of breast cancer screenings and support. October 21st is National Mammography Day and the NBCF asks women to encourage people in their lives to prioritize their well-being through regular health screenings. You can do this by pledging to get your screening and using the hashtag #RISEforBCAM to spread the word

As a part of the Women’s Wave movement, a protest was organized by the Women’s March on October 8th, one month before election day in Washington DC. Protesters took Folger Park by storm in efforts to rally support for electing more women and pro-choice candidates around the country. Organizers expected 2,000 people at this demonstration and by early Saturday afternoon, there were easily that many people ready to march for their rights. Rachel O’Leary Carmona, the executive director of the Women’s March said, “It’s the first election since Roe has fallen in this new era of American democracy, and it’s really important that women turn out as a voting bloc.”

Since the Supreme Court eliminated the national right to abortion in June, some states are letting voters decide how abortion should be regulated. Six states have amendments or measures affecting abortion on the ballot in 2022. It’s the highest number of abortion-related ballot measures on record in a single year. Before this year, there had been 47 abortion-related ballot measures since 1970. This year, Michigan had a voter-initiated ballot measure that would preserve abortion rights for the first time in decades. Michigan, Vermont, and California have all added things to their ballots to protect abortions. Montana, Kansas, and Kentucky, on the other hand, added aspects to prohibit abortions.

Quirks of History

Russian/Ukrainian war rages on

by Adam Hammer

The Russian and Ukrainian war is still raging on across northern Europe and parts of Asia. The war is almost 8 months long thus far and no signs of anything being sorted out anytime soon. Since the invasion of Ukraine, there has been a total of nearly 7,000 casualties from combined sides. Not only has the war had a direct impact of the communities of both countries involved but has also caused ripple effects throughout the global economy of trade and prices of goods.

Millions across the world have been affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but many people don’t even know what the two sides are fighting for.

Putin’s main goal of

the war since the start has been to assure that Ukraine would not become part of the global alliance known as NATO. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a worldwide power of military forces that were made after the end of WW2 to stop major wars from happening. The alliance has grown extremely powerful with nations such as the United States and Great Britain along with most of Europe. Russia on the other hand is part of the Warsaw Pact which rivals NATO. Ukraine's attempt to join NATO was cut off since the invasion of Russian forces leaving them unable to aid because NATO cannot fight wars with countries outside of NATO. All countries to do to help the struggling ally is send resources and weapons to the front lines. While the whole globe refers to this as a war, Moscow continues to coin Europe's biggest war since 1945 a "special military operation." Many have been surprised that Ukraine has been able to withstand the Russian forces for this long being driven back to almost half a country at one point in the war.

While it is unclear when the war will end and how the end results will shape out for both sides, it is clear that both sides show no intention of stopping. Peace treaty talks have gone nowhere for both sides and with the threat of nuclear weapons from Russia, the whole globe is on watching to see what happens.

Quirks of History

A history of Halloween

by Jon Budz

Halloween is an international holiday and tradition celebrated across the world by every continent, excluding Antarctica; however, few people know how this holiday came to be. Dating back to the 8th century, Pope Gregory III declared that November 1st would become All Saints Day, and the day before that, October 31st, was known as All Hallows Eve. With the word “hallow” being another word for a holy person or saint, the name essentially would translate into All Saints Eve, similar to that of Christmas and Christmas Eve. The common tradition of carving pumpkins originated from Ireland when they used turnips instead of pumpkins to scare away evil spirits. Christian Missionaries also then created All Souls Day on November 2nd, which further strengthened the belief of spirits and the dead roaming the land at this time of year. To avoid being targeted by spirits, others dressed up as them which spawned the ever so famous Halloween costumes. Sadly, however, we only have theories for how trick-or-treating came to be. Theories range from people leaving food out to appease the spirits, to it being a modified German Christmas tradition. Overall, the history of Halloween makes it one of the older holidays that is commonly celebrated, and definitely shows how it has been shaped and molded by many different people and cultures across the globe.

Courts and Fields

2022 LHS girls soccer: A team to take pride

in

by Joey Paternostro

This past Thursday, the girls soccer team had a hard-fought battle against Hanover Central in the second round of sectionals. The Lady Red Devils gave their absolute all, but unfortunately, their efforts came up just shy of a win. The Hanover girls' team went 17-2 on the year, while the Red Devils went 14-3. The equally matched teams went head to head all game. Lowell scored 3 times in the first and Hanover scored 3 times in the second. During the shootout, the Lady Red Devils could not keep up with Hanover, taking the 5-2 shootout loss, after the 3-3 game. This capped off an incredible season for the Lady Red Devils. Going 14-3 is something that has never been done before in the girls' history. The girls were led by their 8 seniors and their team manager Sophia Emery. During the season, they held up a 9-game winning streak, beating the eventual sectional champs, Hanover Central, 4-2. This season the girls were led in goals by Allie Mecha(14), and assists(16) by Morgan Hutton. Even though the girls may have faltered, this marks the best season in Lowell High School girls' soccer history.

Courts and Fields

Boys tennis celebrates 2022 senior night

by Walter Kotlin

On September 19, the boys tennis team celebrated their senior night against Chesterton. Julian Cruz, Evan Krooswyk, Josh Babin, and Josh Overmeyer were the seniors in question, and they made sure to put up a tough fight. Even though Chesterton won 5-0, the team’s spirits were high, and the seniors had a lot to be thankful for.

Through the help of coaches Hudak and Cusak, the tennis lineup has improved immensely. Drills like “rush and crush,” bleacher running, and competitive challenge matches have kept the boys in line. “This season brought brand new players who have been great and improved a lot,“ Babin said. The work they put into every practice is what can get them through the tough matches and lets them close out their victories. Competitive drive and a desire for victory is what keeps them going. As Overmeyer stated, “this year has already exceeded our total wins last year, and we still have a handful of games to further exceed that record.” A vast improvement from years previous.

At the highschool level, tennis is refereed by the players not by any official. Because of this, Coach Hudak instills constant messages of self confidence and exemplary tennis etiquette to be a gentleman on the court.

continued on page 31

Boys and girls RDXC continue winning traditions by

Gabby Morache

The Boy’s and Girl’s RDXC teams left Hebron High School on a very high note this past Saturday, October 8th, as both teams placed third overall in the Sectional, qualifying for the Regional. Racing in perfect running weather, temperatures being in the low 60’s and little to no wind, the Devils were able to secure a spot in regionals, as well as personal best times from both teams.

For those who are not familiar with cross country scoring, the top five teams from the Sectional advance to Regionals, as well as top twenty individuals who aren’t a part of an advancing team. The same scoring effects go for the Regional race as well.

The Girl’s team finished with 88 points, finishing behind Crown Point and Illiana Christian. Top five finishers for the girl’s were Sidney Napiwocki (16th), Christina Friend (18th), Gabby Morache (19th), Reilly Boyer (21st), and Morgan Myers (29th). Napiwocki, Friend, and Morache all had a top 20 finish. Abigail Pflughoeft (35th) and Ally Fremouw (51st) rounded out the top seven for the Lady Red Devils. Napiwocki had her breakthrough race of the season, improving her 5k personal best by over 70 seconds! Napiwocki’s efforts secured the third place spot for the team.

The Boy’s team finished with 96 points, taking third behind Crown Point and continued on page 31

Courts and Fields

Red Devil football regular season wraps up with victory against the 59ers

by Hailey Moore and Payton Williams

With the regular season coming to a close, we interviewed seniors Jacob Kissel and Brett Thiele about how the football season is going from their perspective. Kissel stated that the season “started out rough but they’ve finally found their rhythm”. Brett also added that they’re doing outstanding now and they’ve made a lot of progress and growth as a team. Their efforts have shown on the field as the boys now have a winning record with 5 wins and 3 losses. The team has worked extremely hard this year, and will compete for the conference championship on October 14 at Andrean High School. Brett told us that although the game won’t be easy, he thinks the Devils will come out on top. Kissel agreed, also adding “In order to do this, some of the younger guys need to be able to step up and help fill some big shoes due to injuries.” Even with these injuries, the team is very optimistic for this upcoming game. Kissel and Brett also stated that after this championship, the next goal they have is to go all the way and win sectionals. In order to achieve this goal, our Red Devils will need to keep up the rhythm that has been so steady and successful. The football team has worked so incredibly hard this year, and will continue to fight until the end. Good luck Red Devils!

Courts and Fields

Scores from throughout fall sports

Girls Cross Country

6th at Highland Invite

10th at Bob Thomas Invite

20th at New Prairie Invite

Boys Cross Country

8th at Highland Invite

21st at New Prairie Invite

5th at Bob Thomas Invite

5th at Crown Point Invite

Freshman Football

Lowell 21, Hobart 14

Kankakee Valley 14, Lowell 0

Boys Varsity Soccer

Hammond Central 2, Lowell 1

Munster 4, Lowell 0

Lowell 3, Hanover Central 2

Merrillville 5, Lowell 1

Hobart 6, Lowell 1

Morgan Township 4, Lowell 1

Boone Grove 2, Lowell 1

Girls Varsity Soccer

Lowell 2, Munster 1

Lowell 2, Andrean 0

Conference Champions

Girls JV Soccer

Lowell 12, Merrillville 0

Lowell 4, Hanover Central 0

Munster 1, Lowell 0

Lowell 1, Andrean 0

Boys Tennis

Michigan City 3, Lowell 2

Crown Point 5, Lowell 0

Lowell 4, Wheeler 0

Chesterton 5, Lowell 0

Lowell 5, Hammond Morton 0

Lowell 4, Highland 1

Lowell 4, Merrillville 1

Varsity Volleyball

Munster 3, Lowell 0

Lowell 3, Griffith 0

Lowell 3, Hebron 0

Highland 3, Lowell 1

Freshman Volleyball

Lowell 2, Griffith 0

Lowell 2, Michigan City 0

Kankakee Valley Invite Champions

continued from page 4, page Turners

reading on their own and making the choice to read outside of the classroom. “This has made me think that we have a need in the student body that isn’t being met to encourage more students to choose to read.” This awareness has pushed Mrs. O’Neill into getting together with the English teachers at Lowell High School to create a Literacy Campaign. When asked about the campaign, Mrs. O’Neill told me, “The goal is not to be a book club, but to start creating access points for kids to begin reading outside of school. It is the idea that students will encourage other students.” For those interested, you do not need to be in the club to participate, periodically, information will be pushed out through your English teachers about contests and incentives that will be held by the club. “The student voice is what is most important. The teachers involved are not going to commit to any project that the students don’t want to do. The student will be making everything. It will be surrounded by them. From the national projects to the monthly themes.” If you are interested in being more involved in this process, you can become an ambassador for the club and you will have more opportunities to decide what the literacy campaign focuses on. There was a callout on Oct 12. You can email O’Niell for more information or if you missed the meeting!

continued from page 9, Crocheters

Logan: How long have you been crocheting?

Verycrusse: Since I was eight years old, so about nine years.

Anonymous: About one year.

Seely: About two years.

ML: How did you get into crocheting?

JV: My aunt used to do it and so did my grandma. I wanted to learn so badly, and my aunt told me she would teach me. I was kind of an impatient eight-year-old child, and I ended up not taking her up on her help. I was really into the rainbow loom at the time as well, so instead, I stole a bunch of yarn from her and looked up videos. Ever since I’ve been crocheting.

Anonymous: One of my best friends was doing it and I wanted them to teach me. That’s the way I learned.

KS: I watched Joey V. crochet during sophomore year and I really wanted to do it.

ML: What are your favorite things to crochet?

JV: Cardigans, stuffed animals, and maybe blankets.

Anonymous: Amigurumi or blankets.

KS: Amigurumi

ML: Any advice for someone who wants to start?

JV: Don’t be afraid to start and think it’s a grandma thing. You can do whatever you put your mind to, and don’t be afraid to look something up. Even if it seems silly, there are no stupid answers so go out there and ask!

Anonymous: Youtube has a lot of really good videos and tutorials.

KS: Start off with the basics and go from there. You’ll only get frustrated if you jump right into something really difficult.

ML: Thank you!

Make sure you check out Joey’s Instagram (@jvercruysse01) and my Instagram (@madymadegoods) to see our crochet creations. Go support our local crocheters!

continued from page 9, Lukasik

BF: If you could travel anywhere where would it be?

AL: I would like to go to Paris.

BF: Do you have any pets?

AL: I have four dogs and one cat.

continued from page 9, Mikulich

everything.” With our many great teachers at Lowell High School, Mikulich was asked who his current favorite teacher was and who he looked forward to having in the future. “My favorite teacher is Mrs. Hinchy. She has been really kind all year, and I have learned a lot in her class. I find a lot of the things in her class pretty interesting. I'm hoping to have Mr. Martinez and Mr. Hudak in my later years of high school,” was his response. As Mikulich is also one of our top runners for boys cross country, he was interviewed the question as to where he saw his running career in the future if he continued it and if so, what his goals were. “My goal by the end of high school is to go to college on the best scholarship I can, and running might be a way to do that. Honestly, I don't really have any goals when it comes to time, but I will strive to be good enough for college.”

continued from page 10, Morache

M.P: Who is one of your role models? (doesn’t have to be a family member but can be)

A.M: Tyler Moore, because he taught me how to be a leader and how to be a great person.

M.P: What do you consider one of your passions?

A.M: Percussion, I love hitting a drum.

M.P: Do you have a job? What is it? Do you enjoy it?

A.M: Yes, I do construction and I work with my dad part time. No, I don’t quite enjoy it, but it’s work.

M.P: Do you have a hobby you wish to pick up?

A.M: Basketball; I’d love to learn how to play basketball. I don’t have the time or the knowledge, though.

M.P: Do you believe that all people are good and just do bad things?

A.M: Yes, a lot of people including myself do not think before they do and that ends up hurting the people that they care about.

continued from page 12, Lake Prairie

their teachers that they’ll use and can use for the rest of the school year.

In the same library, you’ll find Mrs. Depa’s 4th grade challenging their creativity. They’re working on the ‘No tape or glue’ cardboard project. They were challenged to create anything their hearts desire but they can’t use tape or glue. They have to come up with new attachment techniques.

“I very much love working on this project because I love engineering. You can build so many amazing things with engineering,” says the very bright 4th grader, Mac.

Another very bright student, Hailey, says, “I like it, it brings out my creativity and I get to base my project on a movie I love.”

continued from page 15, Two Hearts

The love does not stop there Two Hearts Home for Seniors living facility is filled with thee most amazing staff and volunteers. One of the employees that stands out day in and day out is Fawn Lynn. Fawns love and compassion stands out to all when they visit the home. She is the manager at the facility and has dedicated each and every day to making sure the residents always have everything they could possibly need. In return for all of the amazing and hard work the staff has put into this facility. We are asking that any high school student that is looking to take part in this loving environment sign up to volunteer now. You can contact Two Hearts for home at (219) 600-2200. Do not skip out on helping to bring joy to the residents and receive community service hours.

continued from page 22, RDXC

Illiana Christian. Top five finishers for Lowell Jimmy Snow (2nd), Ben Keeton (15th), Seth Bakker (19th), Camden Mikulich (29th), and Dylan Hochbaum (31st). Zak Hudak (34th) and Ethan Wulitich (42nd) rounded out the top seven for the Devils. Snow, Bakker, Mikulich, Hochbaum, and Hudak achieved their career best times!

continued from page 22, Boys tennis

A sentiment shared by all the seniors can be summed up by Babin, “He has taught me so many important lessons, both about tennis and life.” Any help with technique or raw skill comes down to Coach Cusak. “He is very experienced and good at helping players improve their skills.”

When talking with the seniors, every one of them was very gracious to be on such an amazing team. The bond that Lowell’s tennis team has forged through thick and thin is unbreakable. Overmeyer–the team captain who has spent all four years with the group–said, “The number one thing that I am definitely going to miss is being part of such a great team. …when I graduate, I think it's going to feel like something is missing.” Over the course of the season, this lineup of guys have grown closer together. Varsity and junior varsity both have become friends as they cheer on their teammates. As Krooswyk puts it, “the tennis team is just as close-knit as ever, and everyone is supportive.” Win or lose the Red Devil tennis program has each other's backs. Congrats to the seniors and good luck to the Lowell Boys Tennis Team to finish out the year strong!

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