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Scarecrows - A History Lesson DevanHolly Staff Writer
Scarecrows have been used for over three thousand years by farmers to scare birds away from their crops. Over time, their roles in society have morphed into both an adorable icon of autumn and an apparition of someone’s nightmares. “[Scarecrows] terrify me. They look like stuffed people. Crows aren’t scared of them, only people,” sophomore Eunice Faullon said. Scarecrows appear in all kinds of media, such as in the Batman comics, and in The Wizard of Oz. Scarecrows have evolved from their origi-
nal use in farms, and have become more personified in stories, movies, and poems. “I think they could still use [scarecrows] in the field and as decoration because they were used originally for the fields,” freshman Macy Clum said. Scarecrows are continuing their jobs in the fields as well as invading people’s dreams and nightmares. Despite being replaced by modern technology, thereby losing some of their effectiveness, they still appear in many places in modern society. “Well, there’s one thing that stayed the same, and that is a scarecrow meaning stay away; now it means stay away-scary things ahead,” sophomore Juliann Heglund said.
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Spirit Week at DHS Continued From P1
The student council leader, Mrs. Dugan, keeps the school alive with her words of wisdom and support throughout the year. “Spirit week is a chance for an entire school to come together with a common purpose, even students who aren’t involved with many extra-curricular activities can easily participate. I plan on showing spirit by participating in dress up days, and creating many more events such as the friendship luncheon and the canned food drive,” Jamie Dugan said. Most schools throughout the world get together and raise their hearts to the students and staff throughout the year, but at DHS the entire town as well as the students and staff get together to show love. Each game is usually packed with screaming fans, anxious for games to begin. It’s spirit in and out, with the colors of black and gold.
Photo by: Kaylee Sanders
Drought Causes Corn Shortage Devan Holley Staff Writer
Corn is an ingredient found in most foods, but, due to a drought, this year’s corn yield is at its lowest since 1997. Due to the lack of corn food prices are expected to rise. America produces forty percent of the world’s corn, but due to the drought that has stricken the country the amount of corn harvested has drastically dropped. Ten to thirty bushels an acre are being produced in farms that usually harvest about two-hundred bushels per acre. Poor countries relying on America for grain will have trouble keeping up with the raising prices on corn, and will feel more of an impact from the drought than Americans will.
Oc tobe r 2012
Due to a mandate imposed by President George W. Bush about a third of the corn harvest must go to the production of ethanol. This mandate poses a problem for livestock owners. Corn is needed in feed and makes up two thirds of a turkey’s diet. It is also present in the diets of other poultry, cattle, pigs, and other livestock, but with corn being used for ethanol, obtaining feed for livestock will become more difficult. Pressure is being put on President Barack Obama to abandon the mandate, at least temporarily, so that livestock can be fed. Even if the mandate is abandoned, ethanol is a cheap and cleaner way of oxygenizing
gasoline, and, according to the 1990 Clean Air Act, gasoline companies must produce a cleaner blend of fuel. An average of three hundred thousand barrels of ethanol are used for gasoline a day. As a result of the lack of corn for livestock feed and ethanol, food and gas prices are expected to rise. It is suspected that the true shock of the drought will not hit America until late winter or early next year. Some farmers are killing their livestock early because they cannot afford to feed them. This will lead to a sudden surplus of meat, followed by a shortage of meat products, along with high prices.
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