When RHS Speaks, We
Echo
Rolla High School - 900 Bulldog Run - Rolla, Missouri 65401- Volume 70 - Issue 7 February 22, 2018 - www.rhsecho.com @rhsechonews
The 70’s are Stayin’ Alive at Courtwarming
Photo taken by Bailey Allison
On Saturday, February 9th, Key Club hosted their annual Courtwarming Dance. The theme this year was a throwback to the seventies, encouraging students to embrace their inner hippie and have a good time. Sarah Woods, senior Courtwarming court nominee, believes the dance was a huge success. “The DJ was bumping, and everyone was having fun. I really recommend, even if you don’t like dances that much, to go to at least one Courtwarming. There’s much less pressure on you because there aren’t nearly as many people as Homecoming or prom, and it’s really nice to be up front by the speakers with a huge group of friends dancing and not having to worry about anything. I’ve really got to say good job to
Key Club for throwing an awesome dance!” Woods said. The coronation of the junior and senior candidates took place at the dance, crowning seniors Olivia Holmes and Ahmadou Boubacar, and juniors Maddie Lucas and Dathan Mickem. Freshman and sophomore winners were announced before the varsity basketball game on February 8, crowning freshman Katelyn Sowers and Matthew Bench, and sophomores Eliana Stanislawski and Titus Taylor. “Being nominated was really cool, because I’m not really that popular and it was really an honor to be nominated. Over all, I would say this was the best dance I’ve ever been to. I can’t tell you to go, but I would strongly suggest it,” Woods said.
Photo taken by Bailey Allison
Female Athlete of the Month p. 7 Photo taken by Bailey Allison
Male Athlete of the Month p. 7 Photo taken by Audrey Roberts
Special Education teachers Celebration of Nations work to provide classes for showcases diverse student everyone population
Photo taken byBailey Allison
The public education system serves a large variety of students with different educational needs. For students in the special education program, it takes a dedicated team of faculty to ensure they are not overlooked. In the Rolla school district, teachers and administrators work together to support these students. Stacey Reed is on her tenth year as the district’s Special Education Director. As director, Reed oversees the implementation of special education teaching and maintains compliance with state and federal guidelines. “I actually went to school to be a secondary English teacher, but then I ended up doing special education because I went and observed special education classes and I absolutely fell in love with those kids,” Reed said. Reed’s primary focus is to ensure the 550 students that are in special education throughout the district receive a proper education.
Continued on p. 4
One of the things Rolla is best known for is the diversity that comes with being a college town. However, MS&T is not the only place that can embrace the wide variety of people and cultures in Rolla. In fact, Rolla High School ran a Celebration of Nations right here in the school. The student in charge is Veronica Isik, a senior member of the Leadership class. “My dad is actually from Turkey, so I grew up with a lot of cultural difference in my house. I just feel like a lot of kids in Rolla don’t get the chance to experience the different cultures,” Isik said. One of the countries represented was Egypt, led by senior Goliana Barsoum and junior Marvena Kaliny. The two were extremely excited to have the chance to represent the country where they grew up. “I said yes instantly, but I was also nervous,” Barsoum said.
Photo taken by Bailey Allison
Continued on p. 5
Make plans now for dinner and a show
How to be a little better on Valentine’s Day b y
Ge
n e v i e v e
H
u b e r
Staff Writer
Love is in the air, except you probably can’t feel it! It is for this precise reason that brings us to this month’s installment of “How to be a little better.” So settle in, lonely losers, because this issue is for you. Can you smell the sickly sweet scent of a bouquet of red roses? Have you caught a glimpse of a batch delectable chocolates covered in shiny pink foil? Probably not, because as of now, neither is headed your way. Unless… unless within the next week, you can somehow turn yourself around. Cue me, your helpful Valentine’s Day guide. It will be difficult, yes--but worth it, after you get a taste of the affection you’ve been craving. You don’t have much time to spare, so I won’t waste yours (or mine) by beating around the bush. You need to smell nice. Actually, you need to smell more than just “nice”--nice is how one might describe a daffodil or a thrifted sweater. Nice isn’t enough--what you need is to smell desirable. Find a scent that masks the cat urine on your sweater and brings out your natural musk. Girls and boys alike enjoy catching a whiff of something sweet around the season of love. This next one may seem obvious to you, but there must be a reason why you’re reading this. How about a smile? Reveal
2 Opinion
brought to you by the Rolla High School Drama Department
those pearly whites and you’d be surprised at the effect it might have. It is wired in our brains to be attracted to happiness and confidence. Flash them a quick smile. Also, a breath mint doesn’t hurt. If you just ate your sardines and onion dip for lunch alone in the corner again, I’d be willing to go out on a limb and say no one wants to be able to discern all that from catching a whiff of your breath. Nowadays, they also make travel toothbrushes with the toothpaste built in. All you need is a few drops of water. No excuses for bad breath. Finally, if you’re standing in front of your crush with minty-fresh breath, sporting a toothy grin and some dollar-store cologne, and they still don’t like you? So be it. You tried. The only Valentine worth chasing is one who makes you feel good about yourself and proud of who you are. At the end of the day, the most important person to love is yourself. Being loveless doesn’t make you a loser. Instead of spending Valentine’s Day throwing away your money on an expensive dinner or overpriced jewelry, ask some friends out to a casual lunch. Get coffee with your mom. Buy a tub of chocolate ice cream and watch reruns of Gilmore Girls with your cat. You don’t need a date to cure your loneliness, and you definitely don’t need one to feel validated and special. Instead, spend this Valentine’s Day falling in love with yourself.
ECHO Staff
Letter from the Editor Considering that the day this newspaper goes to press is Valentine’s Day, I thought I would write a mildly untimely opinion on how dumb it is to hate everyone on this holiday. It is literally a holiday about love and being kind and appreciative of others and people have the audacity to be THAT person who grumps and gripes about other people being happy. It could not be more annoying when someone is talking about their plans and the other person HAS to bring up just how single and grouchy they are about it. Here is the thing: let people be happy, and if everyone is and you are not, maybe you should reassess your situation. A million people also love to bring up the gross ancient Roman origins that are
‘Oklahoma’
Senior Maia Bond
completely irrelevant today just to seem cultured but really they are just a big bummer. If people want to be with their significant other and enjoy flowers and chocolate, who are you to say that their happiness is invalid? The bigger picture is that people are resentful of others happiness and success because they are not, in fact, happy or successful. This overall issue is not news to anyone, but it is definitely an issue that bothers me particularly a lot. The effort and determination it takes to be a total buzzkill would put anyone in a bad mood, and is completely unnecessary. Though, I have no professional opinion on how to change this flaw, I just complain about it. But to those nice human beings, I hope you had a great Valentine’s Day.
Adviser: Mary Gillis Editor In Chief: Maia Bond Managing Editor: Kayla Copeland Copy Editor: Jace Swearingen Arts and Entertainment: Nalani Massaro Webmaster: Blaize Klossner Photography: Bailey Allison News: Taylor Miller
Opinion: Courtney Kelley Sports: Brandon Kirchner Feature: Lorren Black Staff Writers: Cameron Cummins, Julia Leventis, Lauren Ulrich, Rosalia Bolyard, Genevieve Huber, Emma Starns, Kate Brand
ECHO is an open forum for student expression. All letters to the editor must include the writer’s name, signature and class or position. Anonymous letters will not be published. ECHO reserves the right to reject any letters. Letters should be sent to ECHO, Rolla High School, 900 Bulldog Run, Rolla, MO 65401. ECHO is a member of Missouri Scholastic Press Association, Journalism Education Association, and Quill & Scroll Honor Society
Superbowl commercials raise questions about advertising strategies b y
Ge
n e v i e v e
H
u b e r
Staff Writer
Each year, multi-million dollar companies compete for attention during the breaks between plays of the most watched TV sporting event in America--the Super Bowl. With around 100 million spectators across the nation, the Super Bowl is considered by many companies the perfect occasion to premiere their commercial. And each year, many serious football fans and halftime watchers alike feed into the capilistic ploys without knowing it. Corporations use humor, sentiment, celebrities, and other clever psychological tools to appeal to their consumers (the viewers) and above all, to spark conversation the next day. As a general rule of thumb, when people are talking, products are being sold. That being said, a few commercials stood out this year. Instead of the humorous, celebrity-centered approach, Google opted for a more thought-provoking one. The commercial unsurprisingly showed off Google’s technology--specifically in the form of their program Translate--being used across the world as a way of navigating language barriers. It carried the hopeful, worthwhile message that Google connects us. On the opposite end of the spectrum of seriousness was the Bubly commercial-arguably the 2019 commercial that left the biggest impression. The commercial featured celebrity Michael Bublé as a confused shopper in a gas station. Bubly is a brand of sparkling water, similar to the popular La Croix. Its 2019 Super Bowl commercial was funny, and apparently effective because the Bubly brand name is still stuck in my head. And let’s face it, how can you go wrong with Michael Bublé? Pepsi and Doritos opted for the celebrity approach. This led to a derivative and forgettable advertisement. Chance the Rapper starred in Doritos, while Cardi B and Steve Carell were the only takeaways from the Pepsi commercial. Overall, the 2019 Super Bowl commercials were anticlimactic. I felt that many of the companies played it safe this year, although nearly all of them had room to take a risk or a leap of faith. Very few of the commercials were risky enough to spark conversations after the Monday following the Super Bowl. Oh well--it looks like our attention won’t be redirected from the Gillette ad anytime soon.
Going Vegetarian: Teens Is it right for you? struggle to strike a balance b y
b y
Emm
a
St
a r n s
Staff Writer
j u l i a
Le
v e n t i s
Staff Writer
Being vegetarian is more than a change in food, but a change in lifestyle. Although we only tried being vegetarian for a week, there were challenges that we faced in both a physical and emotional aspect. Both of which felt draining. While the vegetarian lifestyle is known to provide a lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes, a lot of us depend on different diets to get us through the day. This is defended through body builders who rely on the intake of carbs for their active interests as well as Monks who take on a vegetarian diet because of moral and religious beliefs. However, this week we found it difficult to find good healthy meals that provided enough protein and energy to last us through the day. Though it was nice to experiment with our diets, it was hard to change all of a sudden to eating no meat, when we both were so accustomed to our previous diet. We did not just change our eating habits, but we were also limited in the various combinations of meals we ate. Perhaps this is due to a lack of planning, but these combinations were widely affected by the meals our families eat. Even restaurants
do not have a wide variety of vegetarian options aside from salads. Nevertheless, although we did not have as good of a vegetarian experience as we would have liked, there are upsides to being vegetarian. According to the Washington Post, the amount of grain and land used to produce a pound of beef causes the methane from cows to be released into the air, resulting in a significant environmental ramification, particularly when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions. This along with the common moral dilemma of eating animals can be a factor for wanting to become or stay a vegetarian. For those of you interested in trying this experiment, here are some easy and healthy vegetarian options:
Clif bars and KIND bars Chickpeas and quinoa Lentil soup with rice Greek yogurt Granola and acai bowls Fruit and vegetable smoothies Egg sandwich Veggie burgers Peanut butter with apples and/or celery Avocado toast with tomato Pasta Tomato, Basil, and Corn Pizza Cauliflower soup
Should MLK Day be a make up day? B
y
Qu
i n n
Gu
f f e y
Staff Writer
On January 21st, Martin Luther King Day, Rolla Public Schools District announced school in session that Monday on account of inclement weather make-up. There has been a lot of controversy over whether schools should be allowed to use the historical holiday as a makeup day for lost hours. Other districts have made decisions to turn the federal holiday into a permanent makeup day, such as Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. While in places like Washington, D.C., schools have decided to permanently observe the holiday. With school in session, some believe kids miss out on the chance to reflect on what Martin Luther King Jr. did, and what he stood for. On the 21st, some acknowledgement was offered about the holiday, but students and teachers didn’t have the chance to discuss and learn. “I don’t think we teach enough about Martin Luther King, and the kids don’t have a proper understanding of him,” social science teacher Mr. Ellis said. Some argue schools can also have tight schedules, and want to fit in as many days as possible before testing season, making sure every student is prepared. School
being in session can also provide a place to talk about what Martin Luther King day is, and get that acknowledgement. Rolla Public School system, like all other public schools, has a set amount of hours and days that have to be in session every school year. The school board works with a committee of teachers, parents and others in the community to make mock calendars which they then narrow down to the most realistic ones. When they have their favorites picked out, teachers, students, parents, and active community members get to comment and share their thoughts and give feedback. “A few years ago, the community, I think, was surveyed about Martin Luther King Day, whether we should block that off or not. It came back about 50/50,” said Pritchett. Over the past ten years, Rolla has held school five days in session, and five days off on the federal holiday, falling into the half and half feedback. “Next year, they’re going to make Martin Luther King Day the second option, so if we have snow, or another weather problem the week before, we would still be off on that January 20th,” Pritchett said.
b y
Ge
n e v i e v e
H
u b e r
Staff Writer
Between overbearing work loads, overemphasized school sports, and the desire to keep up with social media, it seems difficult for young people for strike a balance. Young people have a lot to do--not to mention the engrossing world of virtual gaming that seems constantly lure adolescents away from their responsibilities. At first glance, it seems students have a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it. While this may certainly be the case, lots of the instances of “I lost track of time?” and “I thought it was earlier than 10PM!” can be attributed to subscious prioritizing. Prioritizing this way isn’t inherently a fault; I would argue than a great majority of high school age students are guilty of it. If your best friend/boyfriend/girlfriend texted right now, how many of you would drop the book in your hands instantly? I know I would. It’s not a bad thing in itself-smartphones have wired us to be sociallyinclined on a technological level. With a constant vortex of gossip, drama, information, and even casual conversations, it’s easy to understand where our time goes. But is our time always spent the way we intend it to be? Teenagers are guilty of procrastination, and more times than not, it happens by accident. Nobody wakes up and thinks “I’m going to make a to-do list in my head and make excuses for myself all day so that at the end of the day, I have nothing done that I wanted to.” Sometimes it just works out that way. There’s a million apps and programs that promise to break our frustrating procrastination tendencies. I’m sure many of them work fine, if we were to apply ourselves. However, it seems like the only time we get things done is at the point when it either has to happen or it won’t ever happen. It seems every doctor emphasizes the importance of getting enough rest--particularly in the stage of being a teenger, because our bodies are still developing. Still, it seems almost trendy to keep oneself awake into the wee hours of the night, wasting time on social media and thoroughly regretting it in the morning. There is no key to finding the balance. In fact, it is possible that there is no balance at all. Sometimes it feels like constant procrastination and drowsiness are just symptoms of growing up.
Importance of self esteem on Valentine’s Day b y
Er
i n
Pf
e i f f e r
Staff Writer
Valentine’s Day is perhaps the most popular time of year to show love to the people around you, whether it be romantic or platonic. However, on a day so devoted to love, often everyone forgets the importance of loving themselves. Parker Bourne, junior, has strong feelings on the importance of loving yourself. “Loving yourself is hard, but it is so worth it to find ways to be happy in who you are,” Bourne said.
Is that not what Valentine’s Day is really all about? Being able to find love in your heart for someone, even if that someone is you? Kandise Woessner, owner of Little Mother Photography, agrees that being able to care for yourself is important for everything you do. “One thing we actually do in the Studio is our Flirt Sessions. We provide ladies with hair, makeup, and wardrobe and then a photo session celebrating themselves. It is a fun way to feel special, amazing and own
your awesomeness,” Woessner said. She also has suggestions for recreating this with friends, because half the fun of self love is being surrounded by people you can share that love with. “Get dolled up, find a pretty place with lots of natural light to shoot. Most importantly is have fun, turn up the music, laugh and enjoy yourself. Genuine laughs make the best photos,” Woessner said. Times are hard in the world, especially for struggling high school students. We often feel like there is nothing left for us.
But the whole point of Valentine’s Day is to ignore the trials and tribulations that the world puts ahead of us, and jump straight into love and pride, and Bourne sums this up quite concisely. “I feel like we all hit a point in our lives where we think this is it, I’ve peaked. Humanity can never be at its peak because there’s always more to lifve and more to achieve,” Bourne said.
3 Opinion
Teacher Feature:
Mr. Ellis
to many countries around the world. “I’ve been to the Middle East, Kuwait, S t a f f W r i t e r Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, and France. My favorite country I have been Michael Ellis teaches the classes US to is Poland because it was really beautiful Government, AP Government, and World and I could see myself living there,” Ellis War II. Ellis is also the sponsor to the said. Rolla High School Debate Club, and this Ellis’ favorite age group to teach is high is his 16th year teaching. Ellis thought about being a teacher for a while before he school because they are more understanding and interested became one. in the subjects he “Being a teacher teaches. was something that “I like how high interested me from a schoolers are. I had young age. Initially, a few middle school when I was in college, classes, and I think I was working towards it’s more relatable my Master’s Degree for me personally for a history and pothan middle school litical science major. students. It just Then I got married seemed like it was and ended up manageasier to talk to stuing Costco. I then dents. They are more left Costco to teach, mature, and they are so this is my second more impressionable career,” Ellis said. to accept the things Ellis has an interestthat I am teaching,” ing story about how Ellis said. he came to teach at There are many Rolla. When Elthings that contriblis’ family moved ute to Ellis’ love for to Oregon, he got a teaching. teaching job there, but Photo by Bailey Allison “I like having students that undue to the economy, Elderstand and offer feedback. I like helping lis lost his job and moved to Saudi Arabia students understand whatever we are talkfor a year. ing about and helping them realize that “I spent a year in Saudi Arabia teaching there are many different views on things, English when my family wanted me to especially government because Missouri come home. I had an interview for a job at is a lot more conservative than Oregon is. Crocker in Missouri, and they hired me on I believe it is not my job to tell students the spot. I taught there for six years when what to think. It is my job to get them to Dr. Pritchett offered me a job in Rolla. I understand all aspects of the equation and got a $12,000 pay raise, so that kind of let them form their own opinions,” Ellis made me want to come here,” Ellis said. b y
R
o s a l i a
Bo
l y a r d
Along with Saudi Arabia, Ellis has been
said.
Species blooming, migrating in coming spring months b y
Au
d r e y
R
o b e r t s
Staff Writer Springtime in Missouri is diverse and colorful, if one knows where to look. It is easy to get lost in the green abundance of the Ozarks, but some of the most interesting creatures are a little harder to track down. There are so many reasons to get outside this spring. Dr. Robin Verdle, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at MS&T, and Director of the Ozark Research Field Station, explains how many benefits there really are. “It’s a great way to relieve stress. There are lots of studies that say being outside helps decrease frustration. Overall, the health benefits of taking a walk are well established, it’s going to help your heart, muscle tone, aerobic activity and your state of mind. Also vitamin D production, which often get depleted during winter,” Verdle said. Other than the benefits of exploring nature there is a lot of flora and fauna to look out for and enjoy. Dr. Verdle gave several examples of what to look for concerning the unique plants and flowers found in the Rolla area. “One of the first classic signs of spring you will see are the redbud trees; they have a bright, pretty flower to look forward to. You will start to see a lot of spring afiberal flowers, flowers only seen in the springtime. These are usually delicate small, flowers of different colors. The most interesting thing people can look forward to in the spring are the morel mushrooms--the tasty edible ones people hunt down. You start to see those mid March through the end of April,” Verdle said. There are a multitude of other organ-
isms emerging in the spring other than plants. Mary Beth Factor, an Education Consultant for the Missouri Department of Conservation, talks about the animals that emerge after the winter months are over. “Frogs are breeding, which means you may be able to hear frog calls. One of the first ones is going to be the Wood Frogs, as well as the more common Spring Peepers. Red bats will hang out in leaf litter, just remember as you are walking in the forest you may be walking under bats, or if you step off the trail you may tread on them. Skunks and opossums are breeding, they will both be done with their litters at the end of February, so you may see those little babies running around.” Factor said. As for where to explore, it may be hard to experience the full bounty of nature in populated areas. There are many public places bursting with wildlife to be observed. Dr. Verdle gives a few examples of places in the Rolla area. “One is the Audubon Nature Trails over on west side of town. They have a couple miles of walking loops that take you through a really neat series of habitats. Another is the Bray Conservation area, they have a half mile walking loop and it is mostly forested. Finally, the Bohigian Conservation area, just south of Newburg, it is 300 acres right in the National Forest and next to the Kaintuck Trail,” Verdle said. Verdle believes that the season during March, April, and May is usually some if the most pleasant times of the year, because of the cooler weather and low amount of insects. “Spring is one of the best time of the year to be outside. In terms of being able to be able to appreciate things without the discomforts of summer,” Verdle said.
Special Education teachers work to provide classes for everyone
Photo taken by Bailey Allison b y
La
u r e n
U
l r c i h
Staff Writer
The public education system serves a large variety of students with different educational needs. For students in the special education program, it takes a dedicated team of faculty to ensure they are not overlooked. In the Rolla school district, teachers and administrators work together to support these students. Dr. Stacey Reed is on her tenth year as the district’s Special Education Director. As director, Reed oversees the implementation of special education teaching and maintains compliance with state and federal guidelines. “I actually went to school to be a secondary English teacher, but then I ended up doing special education because I went and observed special education classes and I absolutely fell in love with the kids,” Reed said. Reed’s primary focus is to ensure the 550 students that are in special education throughout the district receive a proper education. Students receiving such services have a large range of disabilities and the level of severity varies from student
to student. As a basic principle, teachers provide what is called the “least restrictive environment,” meaning students with disabilities are educated with students without disabilities to the maximum appropriate extent. Students in the program can receive services starting with early childhood education all the way up to a transitional program preparing students for life after high school. Each student’s education is individually tailored to fit his or her needs through IEPs. “IEPs are individual education plans that the school team and the guardian are involved in. They’ll sit down, sometimes with the students, and we’ll talk about how their disability is impacting them and then we’ll talk about what actual special education services they need,” Reed said. Special education teachers provide a more individualized method of instruction that pays attention to each student’s needs. The district employs a broad range of special education employees, including teachers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and paraprofessionals. Reed expressed high satisfaction for the district’s special education employees. “I feel like our staff cares which is one of the biggest things. If you care enough,
you’re going to go the extra mile and you’re going to do what you need to do for your students,” Reed said. Darla Wells is one such teacher from Wyman elementary. Wells decided to go into special education in college, and has since then found her passion teaching early childhood education for students with special needs. If it is determined that a student ages three to five needs extra developmental support before kindergarten, then they can be tested to see if they qualify for the early childhood program. Students in this program may have difficulties in adaptive skills, social and emotional capabilities, language, speech, physical capabilities, and cognitive abilities. The early childhood program gives such students a leg up before they hit normal school age. “We don’t want to be a crutch. We want to be a support to get them to where they do not need our services. Some kiddos will get there quicker than others, and some will need special education services even through high school,” Wells said. Wells teaches a peer model special education classroom for students with IEPs as well as students who are typically developing. According to Wells, this structure helps students build empathy and understanding towards students with differences. Wells works to make her classroom as supportive and positive for her students, or “kiddos”, as possible. “We really talk about how we all need different things and we’re a family,” Wells said. The early childhood program and its teachers also provide relief for the families of special needs students. “For some families it’s hard to go, ‘oh is there something wrong with my kid?’ and I go ‘no, it’s just that they learn differently and that’s what we’re here for,’” Wells said. Wells and the special needs staff provide a critical support for their students that guides them throughout their educational career.
“Our students and teachers are very open and willing to work with students with special needs. We’re in it together. We’re a family, let’s do this. Let’s support these kids no matter what,” Wells said. While Wells and the rest of the Rolla faculty provide education for a broad range of students, some students may require additional educational support beyond their local district. Severely disabled students with an IQ or adaptive skills below 40 may attend the B.W. Robinson School. B.W. Robinson, situated next to Wyman elementary school, is one of 34 schools throughout the state administered by the Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled. B. W. Robinson enrolls approximately 50 students from Rolla and other surrounding towns from the age of 5 up to 21. Jeanel Tomnitz has been a teacher at B.W. Robinson since this past August. Her classroom includes high functioning students ages 12 through 20. Tomnitz focuses on teaching her students life skills and behavior, and also incorporates academics such as math, science, and english. “I have worked with special education since I was young. My cousin was special ed and my mom raised her, so I’ve had that close interaction. I’ve always seen them as such sweet people that need someone to advocate for them and take the time to unlock so much potential,” Tomnitz said. As a teacher for severely disabled students, Tomnitz faces her fair share of challenges in the classroom and has to put in hard work and patience for her students. However, similarly to Rolla’s teachers, Tomnitz finds her work to be fulfilling regardless of its challenges. “My first month here as a teacher’s aide I taught a child to feed themselves and the mother cried. I love celebrating those small victories. I love to see them succeed and grow. I’m gonna cry when they graduate, but knowing that I helped them have a better life means the world,” Tomnitz said.
Assisted living communties in Rolla provide care for elderly b y
La
u r e n
U
l r c i h
Staff Writer
Senior citizens play a vital role in the foundation of a community, but can be placed in a vulnerable position if their needs are not met. The Rolla chapter of the Agency on Aging works to ensure that seniors have the services necessary to live comfortably and to continue sharing their insights with the community. Scott Shaffer is the care coordinator for the Rolla agency. “We provide services to seniors to try to keep them independent in their homes, and to try to keep them out of nursing homes as long as possible,” Shaffer said. These services include delivering hot meals to seniors’ homes, transportation assistance, assistance completing medicaid and medicare applications, and advice on how to eventually enter into a nursing home facility. As beneficial as these services are, they may not always be enough on their own. “Money is tight and we try to take advantage of all the agencies that are there to help, but a lot of times we get calls from seniors who are just needing money and that’s hard to do. It’s getting harder and harder to try and contact some of these different agencies, so that’s always a barrier,” Shaffer said. The practical services that the agency provides are essential, but giving seniors companionship and a sense of purpose is an equally important aspect of support. Many groups in the community work to support seniors not just in terms of meeting practical needs, but in moral support as well. One such group is the Rolla High School Student Council. Freshman Ariella Lara recently coordinated a STUCO visit to the Oak Pointe assisted living facility to
play bingo and socialize with the residents. “I do it really because my great grandpa died of alzheimer’s and I was like I want to do this I want to help out,” Lara said. Lara and her fellow STUCO members used this opportunity to find companionship with residents of Oak Pointe and to learn from their experiences. Such residents included one happily married couple, Edna and Herman Waidman. The Waidmans are a prime example of senior citizens with contributions and insights to share with the community. Edna and Herman, ages 86 and 96 respectively, are lifelong residents of Missouri who moved into Oak Pointe recently. “Our health wasn’t good and our daughter didn’t live very close to us,” Herman said. “It was too much of a burden for her taking care of us. A girl that we knew was at Oak Pointe and she knew we were looking for a place to go, so she recommended here.” Although Oak Pointe is a far contrast from the house they built together, the Waidmans have found their transition into assisted living to be an altogether beneficial experience. Oak Pointe is at the higher end of nursing homes and the Waidmans consider themselves fortunate to be its residents. “It’s a very nice place. It’s the nicest one that I’ve ever been in,” Edna said. The Waidmans are happy with their current residence and even happier to share their lifetime’s worth of experiences. Herman, a World War II veteran, is ever eager to share a story or two, but Edna is the one to share the story of how she and her husband met. “I worked at Paramount Cap factory and Herman’s brother in law was the main guy there. One day he came in with a picture and it was a picture of Herman. He said,
‘this is my brother in law, would you consider going out with him?’ I said yes and so a couple weeks later we made a date and that was the beginning of our courtship,” Edna said. 64 years of marriage later, the Waidmans are able to look back on their lives together and reflect on both the good times and the bad. “I was raised up on a farm so poor that I didn’t get to go to school. Up to sixth grade is about all the schooling I got. From there on I had to make my own way. I was very very lucky that without an education I was able to do what I did. I shouldn’t complain,” Herman said. Despite his fair share of hardships, Herman remains thankful for the successes he has had. This mindset has been helpful in easing the burdens of old age and also influences Herman’s outlook on society. “I liked the country better years ago when I was growing up, when we had nothing. We were better off then than we are today with everything,” Herman said. Edna expressed similar conclusions. “People are happy now, but it was a different happiness back then I would say. They were happy with less,” Edna said. The Waidmans reflections on society are representative of the valuable perspectives that can only be formed from the experience held by senior citizens. When presented with the opportunity and care necessary to share these insights, seniors can inspire their communities and attain personal fulfillment, making the prospect of aging more manageable. “I know aging is not something interesting to look forward to advancing to. I never did think I’d be here, but as you get older things change. You go wherever you need to receive care,” Herman said.
New business gains popularity down town b y
Qu
i n n
Gu
f f e y
Staff Writer
Soda and Scoops, a quaint new addition serving ice cream and soda to Rolla’s Pine Street, opened its doors to serve the public on January seventh. Walking in, customers are hit with an inviting atmosphere of a 1940s ice cream shop. The ice cream shop offers 26 flavors, making sure there is one for everybody. The cozy establishment also offers a variety of old fashioned glass bottled soda, along with an atmospheric candy corner to browse while deciding on which ice cream and many toppings to try out. The staff is friendly and helpful, always showing bright smiles to customers. The soda shop has already secured frequent customers, one of which is sophomore Michael James. “Soda and Scoops seems really friendly, it’s really comfortable and relaxed. It’s a really good place to go to hang out, it’s all just you and your friends,” James said. The downtown Rolla area has been a favored hang out for the students of Rolla High to spend their free time together outside of homework, school and jobs. Soda and Scoops, being conveniently located on Pine Street, is just the perfect distance from the high school. Ted and Jenny Ruth, the owners of Soda and Scoops, decided they wanted to give back to the community, and they thought to give a cozy place to relax and catch up would be absolutely perfect. “When people go to have ice cream, it’s a happy time,” Jenny Ruth said.
Celebration of Nations showcases diverse student population b y
Er
i n
Pf
e i f e r
Staff Writer
Students responded well to their booth, and the two were happy with their success. “Lots of questions have been asked, and I like how much they liked it. They liked the food, liked our stories. I wrote their names in Arabic and they thought that was really cool,” Kaliny said. The whole event comes from the leadership class, which Isik explains concisely. “The whole basis of leadership is that you
Photos taken by Bailey Allison
pick something that’s important to you and that’s what your event is,” Isik said. When asked if she’s excited for her event to finally come around, Isik admits to nerves. “I guess I’m excited? Honestly I’m mostly just kind of anxious. There’s a lot riding on this for me,” Isik said. Overall, she’s proud of her event and of all the work she’s done. “I’ve put a lot of work into this, and I am pretty pumped to watch everyone do their thing,” Isik said.
5 Feature
Chinese New Year celebrated by students, families b y
b y
Le
j u l i a
v e n t i s
Staff Writer
Emm
a
St
a r n s
Staff Writer
For many Americans, the new year is a holiday marking the completion of 365 days, and is widely known to present a fresh start. For those participating in the Chinese New Year, it starts on Tuesday, February fifth, and follows the lunar calendar, where the months are coordinated by the cycles of the moon. As stated by sophomore Sheri Chan, for every Chinese New Year, a different zodiac sign is the symbol of luck for the year. “Every new year there is a new zodiac animal, which for this year, is the year of the pig. The Chinese New Year is also dragged out compared to America’s new year, since there are about 15 days of celebrations following the new year,” Shan said. Along with this difference, in an online article written by HISTORY, during the first five days before the New Year, those who participate in the Chinese traditional custom would eat long noodles to symbolize a long life. On the fifteenth day, the final day of the New Year, round dumplings shaped like the full moon are shared to signify family unit and perfection. On this day, extended families would join around the table for the last course of fish, representing an abundance and an appreciation for the New Year, and therefore would not be eaten. According to junior, Sudatta Hor, giving Hong Bao is another important tradition to this holiday. “I’m going to be an adult in a few years, so I will need to start giving Hong bao to the kids. Hong Bao is money in red
envelopes that older people give as a gift to children” Hor said. Chan also participates in this Chinese custom. “We put red strips of paper, usually with a little blessing on the doors, and squares of red paper with the character that means blessings/happiness on it around the house. We also have dinners with our extended families, like Thanksgiving. We go to family members’ houses (usually the elder family members) and say little blessings to them. It’s like a show of respect. And they give the younger generation - or at least the kids and the ones who aren’t married - red pocket money, which is just money in little red envelopes. Red is another big thing in China, because it symbolises happiness,” Chan said. In Hong Baos, it is important to stay away from the number four, because of its resemblance to a Chinese word meaning death. Eight rhymes with the word for good luck, and nine for longevity, so those numbers are often considered in choosing the amounts. As is said by Chan and an article written by the Chinese American Family, giving red envelopes filled with money is a way for the Chinese to show appreciation for one another. Not only that, but this tradition is meant to bring light on the act of giving and receiving, and is given on more than one occasion. Often times the only significant change in this gift is the amount of money inside the card or whom it is given to. On the Chinese New year, “It’s expected that you’ll give red envelopes to your own children (20 dollars is common), to any unmarried children among your family and friends (5 to 10 dollars is common), to your parents (50 to 100 dollars is common) and to any friends or family you visit (20 dollars is common) during the Chinese New Year holiday.”
Senior Kristina Happel wins state writing award b y
Ja
c e
Swe
a r i n g e n
Copy Editor
The Greater Kansas City Writing Project is a university based national writing site dedicated to improving and supporting student writing. They do this through offering writing classes, as well as an annual writing competition. Recently, Kristina Happel was one of ____ student writers to enter their competition, and is one of the few to advance to the next stage. “What it is, is you can submit nonfiction, short stories, personal narratives, poetry. I submitted poetry, and there’s three levels to it. There’s honorable mentions, which Abbee Hilgers got last year. Then there’s Silver Key, which is like second place. And then there’s Gold Key, which I was awarded- Gold Key goes on to be judged in nationals,” Happel said. While she and Mrs. Hargis, the previous teacher of Creative Writing, had been anticipating Happel’s participation in the contest since the year prior, the process of submitting her writing turned into an amusing story she recounted. [Mrs. Hargis] was waiting for them to email her with the information, and finally the day we got back, it was January 4th, I come and I’m like, ‘so have you heard anything about that contest because I know it’s due sometime in January,’ and she’s like, ‘I haven’t gotten anything let me look on their website.’ She can’t log in so she has to remake her account. Turns out the deadline was that day. I go to the library, and then I’m out there just getting my poems that I did in that one collection. I was picking like my favorites, kind
6 Arts and Entertainment
of fixing them, kind of not really. So I’m already stressed out. And then literally, three o’clock, I get all the stuff sent in,” Happel said. Happel has been interested in writing since it was first introduced to her as a hobby in second grade, and it became a dream of hers to write. “Third grade I decided, one of these days, I’m going to be published. I liked writing, I don’t know, I think I liked it more because people told me I was good at it. So I would write in my free time,” Happel said. Her skills in poetry, however, only became a recent development in her writing career. “Come early junior year, I had never written poetry before, and we did that ‘Where I’m From’ poem. I was like, ‘I like this, I like making words sound pretty.’ I would make my prose really poetic, because I like how words function together, how they sound together. I found out that I really like poetry, I don’t have to write 30 thousand words, I can write two pages and the poem can be done. It’s also really cool because since poetry is so short, each word is really important, and words have certain connotations. I find specific words to put in poems. I think poetry is really cool now,” Happel said. While it is still unknown whether or not Happel’s poetry will win at nationals, the chance to be published online in an edition of Missouri Youth Write is exciting, and succeeding this far has only pushed her further in wanting a future in writing. “I will definitely write in the future, because I would really actually like to hold a physical copy of my publications. One day I would like to write a book, have a physical book that I can hold in my hands and be like, ‘I made this,’” Happel said.
Artist of the month
Photo taken by Bailey Allison b y
R
o s a l i a
Bo
l y a r d
Staff Writer
Freshman, Morgan Korich is extremely busy. Some of the activities she is involved in are jazz choir, marching band, and cheerleading. She plays many instruments including the ukulele, the alto clarinet, and the saxophone. Korich has been interested in music every since she was young. She has been an active member of choir since fifth grade and band since seventh grade. “I chose band and choir because I am so music oriented. I couldn’t find anything else that interested me, and my grandpa kept trying to persuade me to play the saxophone,” Korich said. Being involved in so many organizations must be difficult, but Korich manages it well. “I have band and choir during the day, cheer right after school until 5:30, and
Athletes of theMonth b y
C
o u r t n e y
Ke
then I have jazz choir Saturday and Sunday. I’m not even sure how I manage it, but I do,” Korich said. Brody Light, freshman and close friend of Korich, expresses his admiration. “Morgan has got to be one of the most talented people I know. She writes some of her own stuff, balances cheer, band, choir, and still keeps great grades. Whenever something I’m working on is boring or I need help, she’s the first person that I turn to, always,” Light said. Band and choir has an extremely supporting community that draws Korich in even more. “The community is like a family for choir and band. If you are having a rough time, they will help you,” Korich said. Music means a lot to Korich because it helps her get through hard times. “Music is like an escape for me. It is like a best friend that will never betray you or leave you. You always have the ability to make music or listen to it. Music is always there to listen and help you understand whatever is going on in your life, whether it be sad, happy, or angry. It will never go anywhere,” Korich said. Being a part of marching band has been a rewarding experience for Korich. “I’m in marching band and they have helped me understand that that it doesn’t matter what other people say or what someone might think of me. It is still what I choose to do and nobody else can change my mind,” Korich said. Korich wanted to add some advice for other students of Rolla High School. “If anybody is having a hard time, and people are telling them they can’t do something, don’t listen and keep on keeping on because if you want something badly enough, and I mean truly want it, the amount of hard work you put in will pay off,” Korich said.
l l e y
Opinion Editor
Photo taken by Bailey Allison
Photo taken by Audrey Roberts He describes the feeling of finally having the finish line within your sight. The feeling of excitement and relief washed over him as he crossed the line at sixteen minutes and fifty nine seconds, his fastest race time ever. Noah Crutcher, Junior, says accomplishing this amazing feat is one feeling he will never forget. Both a track and cross country athlete at Rolla High School, Crutcher has fallen in love with both of the sports. But out of the two, Crutcher says Cross Country would have to be his all time favorite. “There are a lot less circles,” Crutcher said. Crutcher’s family has had a long history with the sport as well. “Basically my entire family have been runners, so I decided that I would try it. And eventually I fell in love with it. That is the story on how I got involved with Cross Country,” Crutcher said. Crutcher was very proud of this past Cross Country season, and is quite optimistic for this upcoming track season as well. “This last cross country season went really well. I am very happy with what we were able to accomplish. As for this upcoming track season, I have been putting in a lot of work in the off season, and I am very excited for what can happen, and what I can accomplish with my fellow teammates,” Crutcher said.
Freshman Carli Libhart is new to the varsity girls basketball team at Rolla High School, but she is definitely a veteran when it comes to the game of basketball. As a freshman point guard on the team, she has a lot weighing on her shoulders. “Sometimes it can feel very nerve-wracking. Especially since you have high expectations of yourself, and your teammates have high expectations from you,they expect a lot from you,” Libhart said. Nevertheless Libhart exclaims that basketball is her number one. Libhart has always enjoyed the game, even from a young age. “In general, it is a fun thing to do. In the AAU league, you could just bring a bunch of strangers together and they become your best friends. That’s why I pay the sport,” Libhart said This spring, Libhart is thinking about joining the track team, but is still on the fence. When she was younger, Libhart was involved in sports such as soccer as well. “Soccer was pretty fun at a younger age, when it wasn’t as competitive.” Libhart said. Libhart loves the environment on the team as well. “The people around you, and your teammates become your family. They motivate you to become your best.” Libhart said. Her memories with the girls team will be ones she will never forget as well. “We always get placed in the hosting team’s boys locker room. We just have fun and laugh and have a good time as a team. Every moment with them is definitely a highlight,” Libhart said.
Teams prepare for upcoming spring sports season b y
Br
Ki
a n d o n
r c h n e r
Sports Editor
With the Spring season right around the corner. Comes the start of Rolla’s spring sport programs. Last season, most of the teams had quite some success, meaning all eyes will be watching how Rolla compares this season. Add that to the new coaches coming in and another year of upcoming talent it will surely be another action packed season. Former Head Coach of the Track team Don Knapp retired after last season, and coming in to take over the track team is Football Head Coach, Jon Franks. Senior Bryce O’Connor is excited to see his football coach control the track team. “I feel like it will be a positive experience, just like it was when he took over the football team. Coach Franks is a great coach, and he knows what is best for athletes when it comes to working out and training on an off the field of competition,” O’Connor said. The baseball team is another squad with a new coach coming in to take the reins. Mr. Ken Hohe moved to Rolla in the past year, coming from Cuba as the head baseball coach and athletic director. Coach Hohe is excited for this year’s squad and the youth of the team. “Rolla High School baseball graduated ten seniors, seven starters, and seven players are continuing their careers at the collegiate level. While it will be a daunting
task to replace all of those guys, from what I have seen this past fall and over the winter, guys are putting in the time and the work to be prepared come March. We may be a young team in terms of age, but many of our players have been involved with baseball for a decade plus and are excited for the upcoming season. I believe there is a great amount of talent on the roster, and while we definitely will have our work cut out for us, we expect to show up every day and improve. As a coaching staff we are excited for the group we have this year,” Hohe said. As the coach of a high school sports team, a big part of building a program is constantly replacing talent with upcoming lower classmen. Head Coach of the soccer team, Coach Mike Howard, is looking forward to see how this year’s upperclassmen take over the team. “We lost some very good players, but that happens every year. It’s an opportunity for someone to step up and play a larger role. I think we will have some very good leaders this year and that it will be a very fun group to spend time with. Big spot to fill will be in goal, and we will see how that all plays out,” Coach Howard said. Senior Elsa Wise is one of the leaders on the soccer team looking forward to help teach the younger players this season. “Being a captain this year is going to be a huge responsibility. Our team has such great chemistry on and off the field; however, stepping up and always being the strong minded and positive one is going to
be an amazing opportunity. I plan to lead these girls as far as I can and would do anything for them,” Wise said. In the past few years they have had quite some success with many winning seasons and good competition at districts. Long time Coach, Joe Schisler, is excited for the younger guys to step up to carry the success from the past few seasons. “We lose our second, third, fourth and eigth players from last year, so there is a gap to fill. But as a team we work very hard at developing players so they are ready to step into varsity roles and find daily success. I think we have the experience, athleticism, and leadership necessary to win. I think we lettered nine or ten players last year with a difficult schedule, winning record, and district semi-final finish. It will be up to the individual players to show the maturity to continue the tradition. I also think some players who didn’t letter could step in and help a great deal,” Schisler said. Leading up to the start of a new season, athletes start preparing their bodies by doing many different activities, such as offseason training and in general staying in shape. Senior Blayne Yarger has spent this offseason preparing for a great season of Rolla Baseball. “My mentality for this season is to go into it giving everything I have left for the program. I want to leave a mark in the baseball program and possibly break some records while doing it. My expectations for the program are no less than last year’s
district championship,” Yarger said. When someone spends years on a team, they start to grow a bond with their teammates and it becomes a family instead of just a team. Senior Jacob Lenox is excited to play his last season with his tennis teammates. “This will be my fourth year playing tennis for Rolla, and I couldn’t be more excited to go out and play with a team I can gladly call my friends, but it’s bittersweet knowing it’s my last season with them. Our team has steadily gotten better every year I’ve played an I am excited to see what we can do this year and just how far we’ll take it,” Lenox said. Besides the tennis squad, another team that doesn’t get a lot of attention is the golf team. Coach Zack Nixon has been the head coach of the golf team for the past few seasons, and is looking forward to use his experience as coach this season. “A good training habit I picked up is better knowing how to help my athletes with the mental side of the game. The most significant portion is how to combat poor thinking strategies, and then understanding that the mental aspect of the game is a skill like any other that can be improved. When I was a new coach, I didn’t address the mental game enough or understand it well enough to coach my golfers past their problems,” Coach Nixon said.
Feature on New Track Head Coach Jon Franks b y
Br
Ki
a n d o n
r c h n e r
Sports Editor
Last spring, Track Head Coach Don Knapp retired after over three decades of being the coach of the Rolla track team. Coming in to fill the hole left of his departure is three year Head Coach of the Rolla Football, team Coach Jon Franks. Even though football has been his passion for most of his life. He still has quite a lot of experience in the world of track and field. “I was a thrower in high school, and at my first football coaching job at Stockton, I was an assistant for the track team for around five years. Then I was the head track coach for four years while I was at Stockton. While I was at Lebanon I was the thrower and sprinter coach for the track team there. When I came here they didn’t
have an obvious spot. When there was the opportunity for the job, I applied for it,” Franks said. While there are some familiar faces from the football coaching staff on the track staff, there is still variety between the two teams. Coach Franks is looking forward to working with the coaching staff on the track team. “Obviously, Coach MacCash has a lot of knowledge when it comes to pole vaulting and the jumping events. Coach Kinder is really involved with the distant runners. Coach Zink, I’m very excited to work with him and the sprinters on the team. Obviously, I worked with Coach Sneed and Coach Reeves on the football team. I’ve worked with Coach Bartle and Coach Terranova, but haven’t worked with Coach Brand or Coach Ballinger so that’ll be new for us. I’m just excited to start a new
adventure,” Franks said. With Coach Knapp retiring, Rolla loses over three decades of experience in the many events in the realm of track and field. Coach Franks, however, is excited to try to fill the whole left in his place. “Coach Knapp has been here for thirty plus years, so we’re definitely not going to be able to replace that type of knowledge since he has done such a great job for a long time. Just bringing the excitement, Coach Knapp did a great job at that. We’re just hoping to fit in and get excited for the new season. For me personally, I want as many people out there as we can. Speed is important not only in football but in every sport. The first two things they ask are how fast are you and how far can you jump. Track does a great job at promoting the concepts of those types of things,” Franks said.
Since coming to Rolla, Coach Franks has not had the opportunity to coach track for the past three years. However, he is still very excited to get back into the realm of track and field. “I have always enjoyed coaching track. I’m just excited to coach track again since I haven’t been able to the past few years. Football and track are two different worlds, it is still competitive but it’s not that contiguous animosity like it is in football. Track, you’re obviously still competing but it’s just a different experience in the realm of track and field. A lot of kids will find out that I’m different when it comes to coaching track, but I’m still competitive. Just different aspects I’m looking forward to coaching track again,” Franks said.
Programs attempt to cut down on hazardous waste in Rolla b y
Au
d r e y
R
o b e r t s
Staff Writer Hazardous waste is any type of substance that could be detrimental to the environment. It contaminates our water, soil, and air. A common misconception is that common citizens can not get their hands on truly harmful materials. However, there are many household hazardous matters which have great effects. Jill Hollowell, an employee at the Meramec Regional Planning Commision, talks about a few of these materials. “Something as common as a light bulb
or fertilizer. These are things that people don’t hesitate throwing into the garbage. Light bulbs have different elements, like mercury in them. If they were to break, you never know where those harmful chemicals inside could end up,” Hollowell said. Improperly disposed of hazardous wastes have an impact on the entire community. Hollowell broadly explains how harmful materials affect the environment and community health. “When you think about hazardous waste and proper disposal, if you are not putting it where it is supposed to go, it has the potential of having a huge health impact.
They have seen the results of that based on frogs and amphibians, which have become disfigured due to the chemicals that disrupt hormones,” Hollowell said. The Rolla Recycling Center, which has a hazardous waste program of their own, is also concerned about the negative effects of household hazardous materials. Stephanie Dowdy, the recycling specialist, has her own unique view of the harmful chemicals disposed of improperly. “It gets down into the soil, which then leads to the streams and spreads everywhere like a virus. It’s going to get in the wildlife. It’s like a sickness going into the ground.” Dowdy said.
The Rolla Recycling Center has many opportunities for people to correctly dispose of household hazardous waste. “What we do is collect hazardous waste by appointment on Wednesdays, March through November. Its free to anyone who wants to drop it off, you just have to make an appointment,” Dowdy said. Hazardous waste continues to be an issue in the Rolla community and almost everywhere else. This is a problem that local programs are trying to fix so that we can have a brighter future.
7 Sports
The 70’s are Stayin’ Alive at Courtwarming Photos taken by Bailey Allison
Partial government shutdown affects community, uncertainty creates tension b y
Ma
i a
Bo
n d
Editor In Chief
The longest partial government shutdown in American history lasted from December 22, 2018 through January 25, 2019. Because of this, hundreds of thousands of federal employees across several departments were unable to work, resulting in over a month of no paychecks for them. However, not all of the government was shutdown. One employee of the National Parks Service spoke on the subject, but asked to remain anonymous. “That means that part of the budget has been passed and when you look at what has and hasn’t been funded, some of that is the parks service. Every year Congress is supposed to pass a budget and typically there are line items. Different departments and bureaus get different funding. What folks don’t understand is that some agencies have been funded, but some haven’t. For example, right now the coast guard isn’t funded and they are under the department of homeland security. It isn’t a whole shutdown, it is just pieces and parts,” the source said. One part of the government that completely closed was the United States Geological Survey, which has a branch in Rolla. USGS contracted employee Andrea Huffman works in the interior department of the building on Independence Road. She works with a lot of mail, setting up packages, checking people in for appointments, and maintaining a safe and smoothly operating building. She describes her status of contracted as like construction companies contracting employees for a job. “They’re allotted a certain amount of money that they get and they can’t go over it, in a way. Every year I get a certain amount of money and then I work with whatever hours, but I can’t go over that money,” Huffman said. Because of this, she was unable to get furlough in December. She received her last paycheck on December 7, 2018, and did not get paid again until January 31, 2019. “USGS is a place that just shut down because it’s not something that we need for the government to keep running, like the TSA. Other places had to stay open but we didn’t, so nobody worked the whole time, but they still get paid after,” Huffman said. However, because she and many others are contracted, they will receive no pay for that month. She personally knows coworkers who took up other jobs because they simply could not wait that long for another paycheck to come in. “If I borrow money, I’m not getting any money back. I’m not like other people who can borrow money and then pay it back with the checks they get,” Huffman said. Though she cannot get paid or work during a shutdown, others can and it all depends on what is deemed necessary for the government to operate. This divide between who works and who does not can
cause tension and taxes the mental health of employees, according to anonymous. “They’re using certain funding to bring some employees back. There is more of a division between federal employees, which is really sad. Some people are being told they’re going back to work but their colleagues aren’t. Some people are applying for unemployment, but that unemployment doesn’t match exactly what they make. There were even people that were supposed to retire during the shutdown time,” the source said. In terms of logistical partnerships between departments, when only half of the team is able to work, deadlines do not get met, projects cannot be implemented, and decisions cannot move forward. Along with the effects on employees, detrimental setbacks plagued both USGS and the National Parks Service. In terms of Huffman’s job, many items of mail had to be sent back or were left for months unopened. As for the National Parks Service, there has never been a shutdown in which some aspects remained open, so there are new obstacles they faced. “There is money that comes into the park that stays there. For instance, your entrance fees helped to bring back staff to help with facilities and entrance stations. That money is supposed to go towards projects, so it’s like taking money from one bucket and putting it into another bucket,” the source said. They clarify that it cost millions of dollars to keep parks open and may even force them to lay off some employees. That does not include the money that will be lost due to pushed back projects and deadlines. “In the summer, that is a lot of parks’ field seasons. Right now, parks would be setting up projects or contracts and agreements with partners. The fact that none of that is happening, will really push us back for what can happen in the Summer. A lot of spring break planning has also been pushed back. The majority of certification and training would happen right now. I am personally working on training and those may not happen. The bottom line is that the contractor that may be helping put on that training is not getting paid,” the source said. The projects are reviewed and the budgets are decided, but that was not happening during the shutdown. Anything from restoring a building to trails crews need to be reviewed, however the further they go without that revision, the further back the start date will be. Those are only some of the tangible damages done, and the anonymous source is more focused on the immense intangible damages. “The forest service, parks service, and other federal agencies have internships and youth hiring opportunities. None of that can happen right now. We are anticipating that folks will not apply for those federal jobs and internships. The bottom line is that a young person will not be paid. Furthermore, it will affect them applying
for federal jobs in the future, knowing that the potential shutdown might happen,” the source said. The extended shutdown period affected morale and they fear the chances of the next generation wanting to work for the government. Anonymous has had to face employees not wanting to return to work, tired of the uncertainty and lack of pay. In conjunction with the employment issues, anonymous is worried about the future generations and how the current situation is damaging their experience at the parks. “There are hundreds of thousands of students planning trips to the parks. Families are planning vacations and if they are planning on staying at a resort, their experience is going to be completely different. If you’re a young person going on a field trip, and that field trip got canceled, we can’t promise that we can reschedule that. There may be a whole grade level of young people that did not get their Park Service field trip,” the source said. Even through the immense crisis at the National Parks Service and the lack of any function at USGS, the Rolla Housing Authority maintained relatively smooth sailing, even though the Housing and Urban Development was not working. Executive Director of the Rolla Housing Authority John Morissey specifies the two programs available and how they would potentially be affected. “We have a voucher program where people rent from private landlords and we subsidize them there. That is a 100 percent HUD funded. They give us money every month and that money goes out to landlords or to the residents,” Morissey said. The other program is the public housing where the Rolla Housing Authority owns the building and the tenants pay rent to them. HUD only pays about half for this program and the other half comes from the rent paid. Because they had January and February subsides already lined up, the only effects would show up in March. These would show as them having to stop helping people pay in the voucher program. “We also have reserves. But in order to make those reserves go a little further we would have to start dropping people off the program. The way we were leaning toward was to start with the people who get the least amount of subsidy first. We’ve got some people who might only be getting 10 dollars a month subsidy. If we cut them off and they have to pay that ten dollars out of pocket, odds are they’re going to be okay. We’re going to start at that end and the downside to that is to make significant impact in our budget, we would have to take a lot of people off,” Morissey said. If that were to happen, those people would be the first brought back onto the program once the shutdown was done. However, he estimated about 30 to 40 families that would receive letters at the end of March stating that their subsidies were terminated.
The public housing program would not be affected at all though, as kicking people out would actually cause them to lose money as that program requires tenants to pay rent. The only way that program would be impacted would be reduced office hours and speed of maintenance work. Because of the reopening, there has been little to no change in the operations. No one was cut off because the shutdown did not last into March. Currently, if the government were to shut down again, the Rolla Housing Authority would not see any impacts until May. For the other departments, coming back to work was hectic and involved a lot of sifting through emails and working out communication kinks. Huffman worked through nearly four crates of mail and working out late fees for payments that they did not receive until recently. The lack of communication and the amount of unknown factors caused the biggest headaches for anonymous. “We had interns that weren’t paid and are already here on a smaller budget and they did not know that they could work. We had the conversation of people not getting their stipend or not getting paid. Imagine working for a month and not getting paid or not knowing you could apply for unemployment,” Anonymous said. They are currently trying to navigate the gaps in communication concerning pay and projects while also dealing with interns lost time and employees quitting. They are not permitted to plan for any kind of shut down, even if a decision is impending. “It is very frustrating because how can you not plan when you have partners and staff that are dependent upon your funding and programs,” Anonymous said. Through all of this, they stand by feeling honored to work for the federal government and for the taxpayers, but believes it is just extremely difficult right now. “You want to have hope and you want it to end, but the reality is that this happened. In my career I would have never thought that there would be a shutdown that lasted this long. I’m still trying to process not going to work and what it meant. We will get through this, we will come together, but how long is that going to take?” Anonymous said. They are working on not over committing and planning to not be able to email or call if the government shuts down again in the future, but remains living in the moment and figuring it out as they go, knowing how detrimental the shutdown has been. “Years from now the impacts of the shutdown will still be seen. Whether it’s the restaurant that had to close or the nonprofit or the 20 kids that wanted internships but decided not to take them. It is a reality that I think a lot of folks are still trying to wrap their head around,” Anonymous said.
8 News