Below are a majority of my works published in the Great Falls Falls Tribune as a Teen Panel member during my freshman and sophomore years of high school. The title of my articles are posted above each set of images and link to the original article on the tribune's website. The full printed article is below each set of images.
***The articles cannot be viewed on the Great Falls Tribune website without a subscription.
***The articles cannot be viewed on the Great Falls Tribune website without a subscription.
Let's give prostate cancer greater attention
Nathan Greiger asked his fifth period Bio 3-4 class what the ribbon color was for men’s prostate cancer. The class sat in silence. After a few minutes, one student suggested it was blue. Greiger asked what type of blue? His question was followed by more silence.
Then he asked what the ribbon color was for women’s breast cancer. The entire class immediately responded with light pink.
Greiger is a science teacher at Charles M. Russell High School. He brought up this discussion while he was teaching the cancer unit to his sophomore biology class. The class learned that although breast cancer has higher awareness, prostate cancer is almost just as common.
One in eight women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The ACS also states that breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, following lung cancer.
Prostate cancer will develop in one of nine men in their lifetime and is the second most common type of cancer in men.
According to the National Cancer Institution, in 2014 there were 3,327,552 women living with female breast cancer in the United States. Prostate cancer was not far behind with 3,085,209 men living with prostate cancer in the U.S.
In 2017 there were an estimated 252,710 new cases of breast cancer and 40,610 deaths. Once again, prostate cancer had similar statistics with 161,360 new cases and 26,730 deaths.
Since prostate cancer affects a similar number of men than women with breast cancer, why is breast cancer more commonly known?
One possible reason is the increased amount of awareness towards breast cancer compared to prostate cancer.
October is breast cancer awareness month in America. During this time, there are football players wearing pink, athletes paying tribute to the affected women in their family, and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks throughout communities.
However, if you were to try and research walks to promote awareness for prostate cancer, you would have to travel to the United Kingdom.
The U.K. holds a March for Men in the major cities during the months of June and July to help raise 120 million British pounds (about 168 million U.S. dollars) for prostate cancer research. In the U.K., one man is taken from prostate cancer every 45 minutes, overtaking breast cancer to become the third leading cancer killer in the country.
How much funding for research is being provided for both kinds of cancer in the United States?
According to the ACS, certain cancers receive grants, funding amounts, and specific amounts of money towards researching. The funded amount is the total value of funding that was awarded. The specific amount is found by multiplying the total funding amount by the percent relevance for the type of cancer in question.
Breast cancer received 162 grants, over $91 million in funding and a specific amount of nearly $63 million. On the other hand, prostate cancer only received 59 grants, $41 million in funding, and a specific amount of about $27 million.
Another possible explanation for the lack of prostate cancer awareness is its level of urgency for a cure.
The rates for new female breast cancer cases have been stable over the last 10 years and the death rates have been falling on average 1.8% each year over 2005-2014. Prostate cancer has had slightly better results with new prostate cancer cases falling on average 5.8% each year and death rate falling on average 3.4% each year.
There is a statistically minimal difference between prostate and breast cancer. Due to the number of people affected by prostate cancer and the minimal amount of funding provided, I believe the disease should have an increased amount of awareness throughout communities.
Then he asked what the ribbon color was for women’s breast cancer. The entire class immediately responded with light pink.
Greiger is a science teacher at Charles M. Russell High School. He brought up this discussion while he was teaching the cancer unit to his sophomore biology class. The class learned that although breast cancer has higher awareness, prostate cancer is almost just as common.
One in eight women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The ACS also states that breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, following lung cancer.
Prostate cancer will develop in one of nine men in their lifetime and is the second most common type of cancer in men.
According to the National Cancer Institution, in 2014 there were 3,327,552 women living with female breast cancer in the United States. Prostate cancer was not far behind with 3,085,209 men living with prostate cancer in the U.S.
In 2017 there were an estimated 252,710 new cases of breast cancer and 40,610 deaths. Once again, prostate cancer had similar statistics with 161,360 new cases and 26,730 deaths.
Since prostate cancer affects a similar number of men than women with breast cancer, why is breast cancer more commonly known?
One possible reason is the increased amount of awareness towards breast cancer compared to prostate cancer.
October is breast cancer awareness month in America. During this time, there are football players wearing pink, athletes paying tribute to the affected women in their family, and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks throughout communities.
However, if you were to try and research walks to promote awareness for prostate cancer, you would have to travel to the United Kingdom.
The U.K. holds a March for Men in the major cities during the months of June and July to help raise 120 million British pounds (about 168 million U.S. dollars) for prostate cancer research. In the U.K., one man is taken from prostate cancer every 45 minutes, overtaking breast cancer to become the third leading cancer killer in the country.
How much funding for research is being provided for both kinds of cancer in the United States?
According to the ACS, certain cancers receive grants, funding amounts, and specific amounts of money towards researching. The funded amount is the total value of funding that was awarded. The specific amount is found by multiplying the total funding amount by the percent relevance for the type of cancer in question.
Breast cancer received 162 grants, over $91 million in funding and a specific amount of nearly $63 million. On the other hand, prostate cancer only received 59 grants, $41 million in funding, and a specific amount of about $27 million.
Another possible explanation for the lack of prostate cancer awareness is its level of urgency for a cure.
The rates for new female breast cancer cases have been stable over the last 10 years and the death rates have been falling on average 1.8% each year over 2005-2014. Prostate cancer has had slightly better results with new prostate cancer cases falling on average 5.8% each year and death rate falling on average 3.4% each year.
There is a statistically minimal difference between prostate and breast cancer. Due to the number of people affected by prostate cancer and the minimal amount of funding provided, I believe the disease should have an increased amount of awareness throughout communities.
Student athletes exercise physical, mental prowness
Dumb Jock. It’s a stereotypical phrase seen in almost every high school movie. It’s two words which downgrade the intelligence of an athlete.
High School Musical is one classic example of a stereotypical movie. It represents not only dumb jocks, but also dumb blondes and women who are not good at sports.
Troy Bolton (Zac Efron) is the high school basketball star and the most popular student. From this point in my childhood and on, I was under the assumption that all basketball and football players were unintelligent.
Thankfully, as I grew older, I began to realize this was not always a true statement.
Two students in Great Falls have proven this stereotype to be false.
Ayana Gray is a senior at Charles M. Russell High School. Her school day consists of AP Chemistry, AP US History, AP English, Honors Physics, French, and orchestra. Gray is also the president of the school’s HOSA club.
She can proudly say she is a member of Chamber Orchestra - the top group at CMR - and the Great Falls Youth Orchestra.
Gray is not only a very intelligent student, but she is also an athlete.
“I swim for both the CMR High School and the Peak Waves Swim Team which is our club team,” said Gray. “I started swimming competitively when I was six years old. [We train] two hours every night, five days a week and then Saturdays if we don’t already have a meet,” she said.
Balancing swim practice, her music, and classwork has proven to sometimes be a challenge.
It creates “a lot of late nights doing homework and, especially with all my college applications and scholarship applications, it just adds more to what I have to do,” said Gray.
Gray is an athlete who placed in state at her swim competition and is taking on a heavy workload. A “dumb jock” would certainly not fit her description.
“I feel like sometimes students today are a lot more well-rounded than they were like 20 years ago or whenever all the famous high school movies were created,” she said. “Most of the athletes I know are also very intelligent.”
Mackenzie George agrees.
George is also a senior at CMR High School. Some of her classes include AP English, Honors Statistics, and AP Government. She is also the editor-in-chief of her school newspaper and senior class president.
Aside from her school work and extracurricular activities, George is a cross country runner and tennis player.
“I’ve been running since elementary school and I did cross country and track in middle school,” she said. “I’ve played tennis since I was pretty young as well.”
Training for these sports takes up a large amount of free time.
“For cross country [the practice] varies between long and short runs and speed workouts, but I would say on average an hour and a half for cross country and about two hours for tennis,” George said. “I like to do some tennis outside so I also play probably two hours a night like three extra times a week [during the season].”
George, however, has a very optimistic point of view about maintaining a balance between work and sports.
“It’s definitely kind of a learning experience in terms of learning time management,” she said. “I really enjoy being a part of athletics because it taught me time management early and I think that’s going to be very important in terms of a career.”
George believes it is possible to be involved in a variety of different activities and have fun. It just takes a little bit of extra time and commitment.
As an intelligent individual and busy athlete, George can also say she does not agree with the stereotypical phrase “dumb jock.”
“When I was younger, I definitely saw that stereotype in movies,” she said. “I never really thought of it as true just because I’ve met so many really smart athletes and I know how hard athletes have to work to get to where they are.”
Edwin Moses is a more famous example of why jocks are not necessarily dumber than the average person.
Moses was an American track and field star athlete. He earned two Olympic gold medals and won 122 consecutive races in the 400-meter hurdles over the course of a decade.
He is known for his athleticism, but his academic success is easily forgotten.
Moses took school seriously as a child and went to college on an academic scholarship. One of his famous quotes is “I was always more of an academic than a jock.”
Even Olympic athletes are smarter than many are led to believe.
There may be a few “dumb jocks” in the world, but the phrase does not need to be used to summarize a group of very hardworking student athletes.
High School Musical is one classic example of a stereotypical movie. It represents not only dumb jocks, but also dumb blondes and women who are not good at sports.
Troy Bolton (Zac Efron) is the high school basketball star and the most popular student. From this point in my childhood and on, I was under the assumption that all basketball and football players were unintelligent.
Thankfully, as I grew older, I began to realize this was not always a true statement.
Two students in Great Falls have proven this stereotype to be false.
Ayana Gray is a senior at Charles M. Russell High School. Her school day consists of AP Chemistry, AP US History, AP English, Honors Physics, French, and orchestra. Gray is also the president of the school’s HOSA club.
She can proudly say she is a member of Chamber Orchestra - the top group at CMR - and the Great Falls Youth Orchestra.
Gray is not only a very intelligent student, but she is also an athlete.
“I swim for both the CMR High School and the Peak Waves Swim Team which is our club team,” said Gray. “I started swimming competitively when I was six years old. [We train] two hours every night, five days a week and then Saturdays if we don’t already have a meet,” she said.
Balancing swim practice, her music, and classwork has proven to sometimes be a challenge.
It creates “a lot of late nights doing homework and, especially with all my college applications and scholarship applications, it just adds more to what I have to do,” said Gray.
Gray is an athlete who placed in state at her swim competition and is taking on a heavy workload. A “dumb jock” would certainly not fit her description.
“I feel like sometimes students today are a lot more well-rounded than they were like 20 years ago or whenever all the famous high school movies were created,” she said. “Most of the athletes I know are also very intelligent.”
Mackenzie George agrees.
George is also a senior at CMR High School. Some of her classes include AP English, Honors Statistics, and AP Government. She is also the editor-in-chief of her school newspaper and senior class president.
Aside from her school work and extracurricular activities, George is a cross country runner and tennis player.
“I’ve been running since elementary school and I did cross country and track in middle school,” she said. “I’ve played tennis since I was pretty young as well.”
Training for these sports takes up a large amount of free time.
“For cross country [the practice] varies between long and short runs and speed workouts, but I would say on average an hour and a half for cross country and about two hours for tennis,” George said. “I like to do some tennis outside so I also play probably two hours a night like three extra times a week [during the season].”
George, however, has a very optimistic point of view about maintaining a balance between work and sports.
“It’s definitely kind of a learning experience in terms of learning time management,” she said. “I really enjoy being a part of athletics because it taught me time management early and I think that’s going to be very important in terms of a career.”
George believes it is possible to be involved in a variety of different activities and have fun. It just takes a little bit of extra time and commitment.
As an intelligent individual and busy athlete, George can also say she does not agree with the stereotypical phrase “dumb jock.”
“When I was younger, I definitely saw that stereotype in movies,” she said. “I never really thought of it as true just because I’ve met so many really smart athletes and I know how hard athletes have to work to get to where they are.”
Edwin Moses is a more famous example of why jocks are not necessarily dumber than the average person.
Moses was an American track and field star athlete. He earned two Olympic gold medals and won 122 consecutive races in the 400-meter hurdles over the course of a decade.
He is known for his athleticism, but his academic success is easily forgotten.
Moses took school seriously as a child and went to college on an academic scholarship. One of his famous quotes is “I was always more of an academic than a jock.”
Even Olympic athletes are smarter than many are led to believe.
There may be a few “dumb jocks” in the world, but the phrase does not need to be used to summarize a group of very hardworking student athletes.
Initiative aims to reduce number of dropouts at CMR
In 2009, Charles M. Russell High School had 85 students dropout. By 2017, this number had decreased to 35 students. The improved dropout rate is believed to be due to the Graduation Matters initiative.
“Graduation Matters is an initiative that is trying to increase the number of students graduating from schools,” said CMR principal Kerry Parsons. “The school district and our community participate fairly heavily. Our goal is to increase the number of kids who graduate.”
Amanda Blair is an individual at CMR who assists students and is involved in the Graduation Matters initiative. She works with kids on school work and encourages them to stay in school.
“[Graduation Matters holds] a couple of forums a year to find out more facts about dropout rates, importance of school, and how a diploma provides more opportunities,” Blair said.
By holding these forums, faculty can remain updated on information that may lead to a decrease in dropout rates.
“We have been trying to decrease the dropout rates for a lot of years,” said Parsons. “We’re exhausting every possible option to keep kids in school."
Teachers and school faculty recognize the disadvantages of dropping out of high school and are doing their best to prevent more kids from doing so. Some of the consequences include a decrease in financial safety and overall well-being.
One of the solutions offered to students is credit recovery, a class which allows them to make up courses they have not passed in previous years. This program has been ran at CMR by Velma Jordan for the past 25 years.
“When I was the head of summer school, I didn’t like to see young people [read] ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ three times,” Jordan said. “And so credit recovery was put in place [for] students who had been in the class 60 percent of the time and they were in between the 50 and 60 percent in the class.”
“If you come to credit recovery, you need to get that grade up to a 70 to get the credit. Only regular teachers can give the D-.
By taking credit recovery, a student can recover a certain credit and meet all the state mandates without retaking the entire class. The program is also free to all students.
Math teacher, Brad Packer, and science teacher, Christine Sundly, assist Jordan in the credit recovery program.
“They help because it’s pretty hard for me to do it all by myself,” she said.
Thanks to their hard work, every young person in their program two years ago graduated because of credit recovery.
According to Parsons, there are a variety of reasons students drop out.
For some kids, they are disengaged from a very young age, making it more difficult to get students involved in school. For others, it is a drug or alcohol abuse problem.
“Some students are convinced they will drop out before they get to high school,” Parsons said. “I’ve had some students come to me who are considering dropping out. Sometimes we are fortunate and convince them to stay, but sometimes we are not.”
Blair believes “they lack a sense of belonging.”
February was Graduation Matters month and a few of these days were used to spark conversation about the number of students who are dropping out. Blair and her students cut out lifesize outlines of kids in green and yellow paper and placed them along the walls of CMR’s commons.
“[The cutouts] represent individuals who dropped out and helps people try to conceptualize what that means,” Parsons said.
According to Blair, 32 cutouts were made to represent the number of students who had dropped out so far during the 2017-18 school year.
“[The goal was] to make an impact and start a conversation about staying in school and not dropping out,” Blair said.
Parsons produced a similar concept while he was the principal at East Middle School. Empty desks were placed in the front lawn of the school building to represent the number of students who dropped out.
The purpose of this representation was to provide a visual for people to observe and gain a better understanding of the issue.
Nine years ago, our dropout numbers were over double what they are today. With the persistence of school faculty and encouragement from others throughout the community, we can continue to decrease the number of students who choose to dropout.
“Graduation Matters is an initiative that is trying to increase the number of students graduating from schools,” said CMR principal Kerry Parsons. “The school district and our community participate fairly heavily. Our goal is to increase the number of kids who graduate.”
Amanda Blair is an individual at CMR who assists students and is involved in the Graduation Matters initiative. She works with kids on school work and encourages them to stay in school.
“[Graduation Matters holds] a couple of forums a year to find out more facts about dropout rates, importance of school, and how a diploma provides more opportunities,” Blair said.
By holding these forums, faculty can remain updated on information that may lead to a decrease in dropout rates.
“We have been trying to decrease the dropout rates for a lot of years,” said Parsons. “We’re exhausting every possible option to keep kids in school."
Teachers and school faculty recognize the disadvantages of dropping out of high school and are doing their best to prevent more kids from doing so. Some of the consequences include a decrease in financial safety and overall well-being.
One of the solutions offered to students is credit recovery, a class which allows them to make up courses they have not passed in previous years. This program has been ran at CMR by Velma Jordan for the past 25 years.
“When I was the head of summer school, I didn’t like to see young people [read] ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ three times,” Jordan said. “And so credit recovery was put in place [for] students who had been in the class 60 percent of the time and they were in between the 50 and 60 percent in the class.”
“If you come to credit recovery, you need to get that grade up to a 70 to get the credit. Only regular teachers can give the D-.
By taking credit recovery, a student can recover a certain credit and meet all the state mandates without retaking the entire class. The program is also free to all students.
Math teacher, Brad Packer, and science teacher, Christine Sundly, assist Jordan in the credit recovery program.
“They help because it’s pretty hard for me to do it all by myself,” she said.
Thanks to their hard work, every young person in their program two years ago graduated because of credit recovery.
According to Parsons, there are a variety of reasons students drop out.
For some kids, they are disengaged from a very young age, making it more difficult to get students involved in school. For others, it is a drug or alcohol abuse problem.
“Some students are convinced they will drop out before they get to high school,” Parsons said. “I’ve had some students come to me who are considering dropping out. Sometimes we are fortunate and convince them to stay, but sometimes we are not.”
Blair believes “they lack a sense of belonging.”
February was Graduation Matters month and a few of these days were used to spark conversation about the number of students who are dropping out. Blair and her students cut out lifesize outlines of kids in green and yellow paper and placed them along the walls of CMR’s commons.
“[The cutouts] represent individuals who dropped out and helps people try to conceptualize what that means,” Parsons said.
According to Blair, 32 cutouts were made to represent the number of students who had dropped out so far during the 2017-18 school year.
“[The goal was] to make an impact and start a conversation about staying in school and not dropping out,” Blair said.
Parsons produced a similar concept while he was the principal at East Middle School. Empty desks were placed in the front lawn of the school building to represent the number of students who dropped out.
The purpose of this representation was to provide a visual for people to observe and gain a better understanding of the issue.
Nine years ago, our dropout numbers were over double what they are today. With the persistence of school faculty and encouragement from others throughout the community, we can continue to decrease the number of students who choose to dropout.
Cherish family, not items this holiday
Early Black Friday sales caused 35 million people to go shopping on Thanksgiving Day which is 35 million people who weren’t spending time with their family. Thirty five million shoppers who cared more about an object than being with a living, breathing person.
Since 2013, Black Friday sales have started several days earlier. In fact, the biggest sales occur on one of the most important and oldest holidays, Thanksgiving Day. Black Friday has become a public holiday and it is taking over the joy of being thankful and giving.
The Friday after Thanksgiving has become complete madness. A day where we lose sight of what’s important. We should be at home with our family and friends, cherishing and being thankful for the few moments we have with those we love. Being grateful for everything we already have and not mourning the things we do not.
Instead, we are standing in line for days outside a store waiting for its doors to open. Running around a mall looking for objects we will grow to appreciate more than the human beings walking next to us. Trampling over the top of our neighbors to buy an item which will lose its value within the years to come.
What will not lose its value are the people we hold dear to our hearts. Someone who has been by our sides through every problem. Even someone who was polite enough to talk to us on the bus and ask how our day was. Black Friday has ruined this concept. We value objects we want, not the beautiful and kind people surrounding us.
In a desperate attempt to attract customers, retailers will lower their prices greatly, advertise constantly, and even release their sales several days before Black Friday truly begins. Unfortunately, many of us fall for this trap. Tricked into believing we need to buy these items because they do not cost nearly as much as they do on a regular day.
This public holiday has turned us into selfish and greedy people. This desire for meaningless objects has cost seven people their lives and injured 98 others.
Another story takes place in 2008 at a Wal-Mart on Long Island. When the store doors opened, everyone flooded in. After the initial chaos ended, a young man was lying dead, trampled, on the floor. At the same time four others were injured including an eight month pregnant woman.
In 2011, at a Target in West Virginia, an older gentlemen suffered from a prior heart condition. As he collapsed on the floor, blind and selfish shoppers stepped over his body and payed no attention to him. By the time he was finally taken care of and sent to a hospital, it was too late.
The thought of money and owning a meaningless object has become more important than the people of this world. Thanksgiving is a time to give back and be grateful for everything we have. And yet, here we are, worrying more about everything we don’t.
This Thanksgiving weekend, do not think of what deals your favorite store is having. Do not think about the long lines you will have to stand in for the next three days. Do not think about all these objects you desperately want to buy that will one day lack value. Be at home enjoying your Thanksgiving meal and be grateful for everything you have. Put down your phones and talk to those who will always be there for you. They are more important than something you pay for.
Since 2013, Black Friday sales have started several days earlier. In fact, the biggest sales occur on one of the most important and oldest holidays, Thanksgiving Day. Black Friday has become a public holiday and it is taking over the joy of being thankful and giving.
The Friday after Thanksgiving has become complete madness. A day where we lose sight of what’s important. We should be at home with our family and friends, cherishing and being thankful for the few moments we have with those we love. Being grateful for everything we already have and not mourning the things we do not.
Instead, we are standing in line for days outside a store waiting for its doors to open. Running around a mall looking for objects we will grow to appreciate more than the human beings walking next to us. Trampling over the top of our neighbors to buy an item which will lose its value within the years to come.
What will not lose its value are the people we hold dear to our hearts. Someone who has been by our sides through every problem. Even someone who was polite enough to talk to us on the bus and ask how our day was. Black Friday has ruined this concept. We value objects we want, not the beautiful and kind people surrounding us.
In a desperate attempt to attract customers, retailers will lower their prices greatly, advertise constantly, and even release their sales several days before Black Friday truly begins. Unfortunately, many of us fall for this trap. Tricked into believing we need to buy these items because they do not cost nearly as much as they do on a regular day.
This public holiday has turned us into selfish and greedy people. This desire for meaningless objects has cost seven people their lives and injured 98 others.
Another story takes place in 2008 at a Wal-Mart on Long Island. When the store doors opened, everyone flooded in. After the initial chaos ended, a young man was lying dead, trampled, on the floor. At the same time four others were injured including an eight month pregnant woman.
In 2011, at a Target in West Virginia, an older gentlemen suffered from a prior heart condition. As he collapsed on the floor, blind and selfish shoppers stepped over his body and payed no attention to him. By the time he was finally taken care of and sent to a hospital, it was too late.
The thought of money and owning a meaningless object has become more important than the people of this world. Thanksgiving is a time to give back and be grateful for everything we have. And yet, here we are, worrying more about everything we don’t.
This Thanksgiving weekend, do not think of what deals your favorite store is having. Do not think about the long lines you will have to stand in for the next three days. Do not think about all these objects you desperately want to buy that will one day lack value. Be at home enjoying your Thanksgiving meal and be grateful for everything you have. Put down your phones and talk to those who will always be there for you. They are more important than something you pay for.
When the levy breaks: Students weigh in on impact of lost funding
Last week, the community of Great Falls voted against the $1.35 million operational levy. It was the only district to have its levy fail in AA school districts throughout Montana.
If the levy would have passed, owners of an average home in Great Falls would have paid $1.66 per month. However, the school district has now planned $1.5 million in cuts to the budget.
After less than a week, the district is already suffering the impact of the failed bill.
Jamie Williams has been working as a librarian at Charles M. Russell High School for the past five years. She says her initial reaction to hearing about the failed levy was simply “disappointed.”
Her job will be affected, but not directly by the levy.
“They planned on reducing the library staff from two to one as a part of the $200,000 in cuts made whether the levy passed or failed,” said Williams. “The second librarian in each high school will not be replaced.
According to Williams, the high school will not be meeting the accreditation standards of the state for the number of librarians required in an AA school. The district now has to make a variation request.
Williams also believes the students will be negatively affected by the decrease in staff employment. The media center “won’t be available as much before and after school,” she said.
Lesli Evans is another teacher at C.M.R. who is being directly impacted by the failure of the levy. She has been a paraprofessional at the high school for six years and works in the drama department alongside her husband, Chris Evans.
She was informed her job was at risk in April.
“I was very upset because my job is one of the jobs that is on the line so I will not be here next year,” she said.
Evans will be forced to find a new job so her family can pay their rent.
When it comes to the drama department, her absence will be noticeable in many areas.
“I was big on the organization end of the drama department and also kind of in charge of the box office and the fundraising money,” she said. “So, it’s just more work that now goes back to Mr. Evans.”
In addition, Evans is important to many of the students at C.M.R. and has created a personal connection with numerous teens.
“I know some students felt more comfortable talking to a woman,” she said. “So, they would come to me instead of going to Mr. Evans. Then I would take their problem to him on their behalf.”
Nancy Beston is one of the individuals who will be missing Evans. She is a sophomore at C.M.R. and joined the drama department this school year.
“Without [Evans], I feel like the drama department is going to fall apart because she keeps everything organized and makes sure everyone is doing their part,” she said. “She’s just a really organized and calm and collected gal.”
The class drama classes were informed of Evans’ release the day after the levy failed.
“I was super upset about it because she has such a big impact on the department and I feel like it’s going to be a really dramatic change next year,” Beston said.
These are just a few examples of the many staff members and students who will be negatively impacted by the failed levy. More changes in other schools throughout the district are sure to come.
“I think the community needs to be more educated about the issues,” Evans said. It looked like they were making it all about administration salaries and not talking about people whose jobs were on the line.”
If the levy would have passed, owners of an average home in Great Falls would have paid $1.66 per month. However, the school district has now planned $1.5 million in cuts to the budget.
After less than a week, the district is already suffering the impact of the failed bill.
Jamie Williams has been working as a librarian at Charles M. Russell High School for the past five years. She says her initial reaction to hearing about the failed levy was simply “disappointed.”
Her job will be affected, but not directly by the levy.
“They planned on reducing the library staff from two to one as a part of the $200,000 in cuts made whether the levy passed or failed,” said Williams. “The second librarian in each high school will not be replaced.
According to Williams, the high school will not be meeting the accreditation standards of the state for the number of librarians required in an AA school. The district now has to make a variation request.
Williams also believes the students will be negatively affected by the decrease in staff employment. The media center “won’t be available as much before and after school,” she said.
Lesli Evans is another teacher at C.M.R. who is being directly impacted by the failure of the levy. She has been a paraprofessional at the high school for six years and works in the drama department alongside her husband, Chris Evans.
She was informed her job was at risk in April.
“I was very upset because my job is one of the jobs that is on the line so I will not be here next year,” she said.
Evans will be forced to find a new job so her family can pay their rent.
When it comes to the drama department, her absence will be noticeable in many areas.
“I was big on the organization end of the drama department and also kind of in charge of the box office and the fundraising money,” she said. “So, it’s just more work that now goes back to Mr. Evans.”
In addition, Evans is important to many of the students at C.M.R. and has created a personal connection with numerous teens.
“I know some students felt more comfortable talking to a woman,” she said. “So, they would come to me instead of going to Mr. Evans. Then I would take their problem to him on their behalf.”
Nancy Beston is one of the individuals who will be missing Evans. She is a sophomore at C.M.R. and joined the drama department this school year.
“Without [Evans], I feel like the drama department is going to fall apart because she keeps everything organized and makes sure everyone is doing their part,” she said. “She’s just a really organized and calm and collected gal.”
The class drama classes were informed of Evans’ release the day after the levy failed.
“I was super upset about it because she has such a big impact on the department and I feel like it’s going to be a really dramatic change next year,” Beston said.
These are just a few examples of the many staff members and students who will be negatively impacted by the failed levy. More changes in other schools throughout the district are sure to come.
“I think the community needs to be more educated about the issues,” Evans said. It looked like they were making it all about administration salaries and not talking about people whose jobs were on the line.”
Honoring Fla. victims without a walkout
The recent Florida shooting has brought up a lot of emotions among students, parents, and school faculty across the nation. Many are choosing to express their thoughts in the form of a walkout organized by the survivors in Florida.
However, it has caused a lot of controversy throughout the high schools.
On March 7, Charles M. Russell High School held a pep assembly to send our boys and girls basketball teams to state. However, the principal and student government leaders took advantage of the student body’s attention and talked about the nationwide walkout on March 14.
The group announced their plan to show support to the Florida shooting survivors and victims as an alternative to the walkout. In a letter sent home to parents and guardians addressing the issue, the Great Falls Public School District stated that usual attendance from CMR students is expected.
Starting on March 14, they will be honoring 1 of the 17 victims everyday for 17 days.
For example, the first day will be 35 year-old Scott Beigel. He was a geography teacher who was killed while ushering kids back into his classroom. The school wants everyone to open doors for each other to show their recognition to him.
In addition, they are encouraging every individual to do 17 random acts of kindness everyday.
This is a great way to bring more kindness to our school and honor the victims while also keeping the students safe and participating in school. However, I still think students should be allowed to participate in the walkout.
Teens in Great Falls, Montana are not given many opportunities to stand up for something they are passionate about. Especially something that is being discussed throughout the country.
We are a part of a small city in the tenth most unpopular state in the country, according to Business Insider. And, opposed to popular belief, we are a passionate and opinionated generation. A generation that makes up the end of Millenials and the beginning of Generation Z.
A generation accused of laziness, entitlement, and technological advantages. But if you were to walk down the hallway of my high school and ask the opinion of a student, they would be willing to either debate you or have a conversation over lunch.
I believe this walkout will give students the opportunity to express their beliefs, emotions, and sympathy in a peaceful manner. It will give them a chance to show Florida and the rest of the nation that they care and even “little old” Great Falls is listening to the news.
They can show everyone that they care by silently walking outside on school property for 17 minutes and honoring victims of a school shooting.
I will not be participating in the walkout this Wednesday. Not because I disagree with my previous statements, but simply because I have an alternative method of displaying my thoughts.
This article is my walkout and it is my choice to publicly announce my support to the survivors. It is my choice to think about the 17 victims under different circumstances. It is my choice to reflect on this horrific crime during my own time and in my own way.
Although I do not plan on participating in the walkout, I am encouraging all students and adults who feel this is the best way to express their emotions to do so.
I can offer no solution to the problem occurring throughout the nation. I can only hope that these shootings will diminish. Maybe increased gun control is the answer. Maybe it will make a miniscule impact and another solution is necessary.
I do not know and I have no strong opinion in any direction. However, I can only pray that maybe one day, the news of a school shooting will come as a shock and not a question of “where this time?”
However, it has caused a lot of controversy throughout the high schools.
On March 7, Charles M. Russell High School held a pep assembly to send our boys and girls basketball teams to state. However, the principal and student government leaders took advantage of the student body’s attention and talked about the nationwide walkout on March 14.
The group announced their plan to show support to the Florida shooting survivors and victims as an alternative to the walkout. In a letter sent home to parents and guardians addressing the issue, the Great Falls Public School District stated that usual attendance from CMR students is expected.
Starting on March 14, they will be honoring 1 of the 17 victims everyday for 17 days.
For example, the first day will be 35 year-old Scott Beigel. He was a geography teacher who was killed while ushering kids back into his classroom. The school wants everyone to open doors for each other to show their recognition to him.
In addition, they are encouraging every individual to do 17 random acts of kindness everyday.
This is a great way to bring more kindness to our school and honor the victims while also keeping the students safe and participating in school. However, I still think students should be allowed to participate in the walkout.
Teens in Great Falls, Montana are not given many opportunities to stand up for something they are passionate about. Especially something that is being discussed throughout the country.
We are a part of a small city in the tenth most unpopular state in the country, according to Business Insider. And, opposed to popular belief, we are a passionate and opinionated generation. A generation that makes up the end of Millenials and the beginning of Generation Z.
A generation accused of laziness, entitlement, and technological advantages. But if you were to walk down the hallway of my high school and ask the opinion of a student, they would be willing to either debate you or have a conversation over lunch.
I believe this walkout will give students the opportunity to express their beliefs, emotions, and sympathy in a peaceful manner. It will give them a chance to show Florida and the rest of the nation that they care and even “little old” Great Falls is listening to the news.
They can show everyone that they care by silently walking outside on school property for 17 minutes and honoring victims of a school shooting.
I will not be participating in the walkout this Wednesday. Not because I disagree with my previous statements, but simply because I have an alternative method of displaying my thoughts.
This article is my walkout and it is my choice to publicly announce my support to the survivors. It is my choice to think about the 17 victims under different circumstances. It is my choice to reflect on this horrific crime during my own time and in my own way.
Although I do not plan on participating in the walkout, I am encouraging all students and adults who feel this is the best way to express their emotions to do so.
I can offer no solution to the problem occurring throughout the nation. I can only hope that these shootings will diminish. Maybe increased gun control is the answer. Maybe it will make a miniscule impact and another solution is necessary.
I do not know and I have no strong opinion in any direction. However, I can only pray that maybe one day, the news of a school shooting will come as a shock and not a question of “where this time?”
Rethinking pink: New color unnecessary for hunting
Recently, the state lawmakers have taken a bill into consideration which will allow hunters in Montana to start wearing pink next season. The fluorescent pink is an option meant to be used in the same way as hunters orange.
However, as someone who has been experiencing hunting, fishing and the outdoors my whole life, the reasoning behind the bill concerns me.
The bill is currently being taken under consideration because legislators want a color option “more attractive to the female hunters or guys who like pink,” says Republican Senator Jennifer Fielder.
For about 56 years, it has been required of most hunters to wear orange. This means generations of hunters will now be searching for two colors across the terrain because they want to make an outdoor sport more appealing to women.
For many years, hunting has been viewed as a “man’s sport.” It is understood this assumption is incorrect and should change. However, a woman does not require the color pink as a reason to begin hunting.
Although it may be true some women would rather wear pink, most females care more about their safety when hunting. The color of their attire is not a factor determining whether or not we want to hunt. The color of our gear is not a priority, only a practical thought.
Most of my hunting clothes throughout the years were bought from the men’s department. This is because the gear is made of only green, brown, or white camouflage to hide you from the animal you are hunting and does not include the color pink. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find hunting attire for women that follows these standards.
Since I was young, I always loved the color pink, but never felt the need to have it in my hunting apparel. I would not wear clothing with pink camouflage nor would I buy a pink gun. It had made me feel separated from the men and I always wanted to match my dad and grandpa from a very young age.
Pink did not make me feel like an outdoorsman and strong dependent girl. The bill does make me feel as though women are not taken seriously or truly considered as hunters.
Talon Kristenson, a hunter and freshman at C. M. Russell High School, had his own perspective on the bill. “Orange is a color meant to save lives. Pink is a color meant to differentiate genders,” he said.
This bill has been passed in the state of Wisconsin. According to an article written by Tom Richmond from a Milwaukee news station, Senator Mark Miller also had his concerns about the bill. He believed it was condescending towards women.
In the end, pink is a color that has proven to be just as safe for hunters compared to orange. However, something as simple as a stereotypical color should not be used to encourage an entire gender to hunt.
However, as someone who has been experiencing hunting, fishing and the outdoors my whole life, the reasoning behind the bill concerns me.
The bill is currently being taken under consideration because legislators want a color option “more attractive to the female hunters or guys who like pink,” says Republican Senator Jennifer Fielder.
For about 56 years, it has been required of most hunters to wear orange. This means generations of hunters will now be searching for two colors across the terrain because they want to make an outdoor sport more appealing to women.
For many years, hunting has been viewed as a “man’s sport.” It is understood this assumption is incorrect and should change. However, a woman does not require the color pink as a reason to begin hunting.
Although it may be true some women would rather wear pink, most females care more about their safety when hunting. The color of their attire is not a factor determining whether or not we want to hunt. The color of our gear is not a priority, only a practical thought.
Most of my hunting clothes throughout the years were bought from the men’s department. This is because the gear is made of only green, brown, or white camouflage to hide you from the animal you are hunting and does not include the color pink. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find hunting attire for women that follows these standards.
Since I was young, I always loved the color pink, but never felt the need to have it in my hunting apparel. I would not wear clothing with pink camouflage nor would I buy a pink gun. It had made me feel separated from the men and I always wanted to match my dad and grandpa from a very young age.
Pink did not make me feel like an outdoorsman and strong dependent girl. The bill does make me feel as though women are not taken seriously or truly considered as hunters.
Talon Kristenson, a hunter and freshman at C. M. Russell High School, had his own perspective on the bill. “Orange is a color meant to save lives. Pink is a color meant to differentiate genders,” he said.
This bill has been passed in the state of Wisconsin. According to an article written by Tom Richmond from a Milwaukee news station, Senator Mark Miller also had his concerns about the bill. He believed it was condescending towards women.
In the end, pink is a color that has proven to be just as safe for hunters compared to orange. However, something as simple as a stereotypical color should not be used to encourage an entire gender to hunt.
Peer pressure often comes down to an internal battle for younger generation
At some point during your academic career, you were most likely informed about negative peer pressure and how to resist it. However, are the circumstances surrounding peer pressure different now than they used to be?
When my peers and I were in grade school, our class was given a lecture by our counselor a few times each year. She would describe what negative peer pressure is, how to say no and gave us a variety of scenarios to think about.
In general, the idea was that one day we will be pressured to do something inappropriate. This person or group of people will try to encourage us to partake in the bad activity. So, our counselor would teach us to “just say no.”
Today, more often we encounter a different range of problems.
The issue for the younger generations today seems to be an internal battle. More specifically, a constant attempt to fit in, be wanted and feel included.
For example, if everyone is participating in a wrongful action, the one person not participating feels obligated to join in.
No individual needs to directly influence a person to participate in actions that go against a student’s traditional values and morals. Simply being in the presence of those who are is enough to break someone.
In addition, the advancements in technology and social media have also affected how we define negative peer pressure.
According to a study conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, “75 percent of teens said seeing pictures of teens partying with alcohol or marijuana on social networking sites encouraged them to do the same.”
Once again, there is no direct negative pressure from a source to partake in these inappropriate activities — only the thought of wanting to relate to the students who are participating.
There is more to peer pressure than just denying negative encouragement. It is standing strong in your beliefs and choosing to do what you know is right.
Ensuring every young child and teen have an understanding of what their morals are and what is considered right or wrong is important. This can be done by teaching and informing students of all possibilities they may encounter.
Negative peer pressure has begun to change. Students should still be prepared, informed and have a clear understanding of what is safe to be around.
When my peers and I were in grade school, our class was given a lecture by our counselor a few times each year. She would describe what negative peer pressure is, how to say no and gave us a variety of scenarios to think about.
In general, the idea was that one day we will be pressured to do something inappropriate. This person or group of people will try to encourage us to partake in the bad activity. So, our counselor would teach us to “just say no.”
Today, more often we encounter a different range of problems.
The issue for the younger generations today seems to be an internal battle. More specifically, a constant attempt to fit in, be wanted and feel included.
For example, if everyone is participating in a wrongful action, the one person not participating feels obligated to join in.
No individual needs to directly influence a person to participate in actions that go against a student’s traditional values and morals. Simply being in the presence of those who are is enough to break someone.
In addition, the advancements in technology and social media have also affected how we define negative peer pressure.
According to a study conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, “75 percent of teens said seeing pictures of teens partying with alcohol or marijuana on social networking sites encouraged them to do the same.”
Once again, there is no direct negative pressure from a source to partake in these inappropriate activities — only the thought of wanting to relate to the students who are participating.
There is more to peer pressure than just denying negative encouragement. It is standing strong in your beliefs and choosing to do what you know is right.
Ensuring every young child and teen have an understanding of what their morals are and what is considered right or wrong is important. This can be done by teaching and informing students of all possibilities they may encounter.
Negative peer pressure has begun to change. Students should still be prepared, informed and have a clear understanding of what is safe to be around.
'Art of Holding On' teaches there is opportunity in unexpected change
When your life drastically changes unexpectedly it can be different, challenging, and uncomfortable.
However, it does not mean change is a bad thing. In fact, it can show you what more there is to life than what you already know.
This is explained in the novel “The Art of Holding on and Letting Go” written by Kristin Bartley Lenz.
“The Art of Holding on and Letting Go” is a meaningful and heart wrenching novel which follows a teen named Cara, short for carabiner, and her outdoor loving family.
When a climbing accident goes wrong, Cara and her family are faced with a tragedy very difficult to overcome. Now her family must deal with this reality, and everyone has a different way of doing so.
While Cara’s mother and father are climbing around the globe and searching for ways to cope, home-schooled Cara is thrown into a foreign world; high school.
She is sent to Detroit to live with her bland and stationary grandparents.
All she wishes for is to be back home, going through her uncle's things and climbing her favorite cliffs at her cabin in California. She refuses to believe her parents would leave her in such a monotonous place.
But throughout the novel, she learns the lesson of trying to experience new things. Not just places or new climbing adventures, but a new life. A life outside what she’s accustomed to.
A life without her uncle. A life more difficult than home-schooling. A life outside the safety of her cabin and the surrounding cliffs.
Adjusting to this new way of living is difficult for Cara, but she finds plenty of interesting friends to help her along the way.
Although Cara is the center of the story, all family members are dealing with or have experienced the challenges of extreme changes. Their stories are also included in the book.
The important part is remembering what we still have. No matter how hard things get, there will always be someone or something there to guide you.
In addition, the other lesson is to know sometimes bad things happen for a good reason. Cara realizes how to hold on to what is important while letting go of what's holding you back from living life to the fullest.
Personally, I greatly enjoyed this book because it had a variety of things to teach me. Ranging from how to handle boy drama and making new friends, to what the life of a sponsored and extreme climber is like.
Cara’s love and want to be outdoors is a similar feeling I experience nearly every day. I am enthusiastic about hiking and dream of having access to such activities in my backyard as Cara did.
I have not dealt with such drastic changes as Cara and her family did, but her story made me think about the different lives there are to live.
The experiences and ways of living we may never know or get the chance to understand.
This novel only fueled my desire to explore new possibilities and learn about what it would be like to live a different life.
There were many lessons in this novel to be taught. I wanted to write this review to encourage others to read this beautiful novel and possibly learn something new about themselves in the process just as I did.
However, it does not mean change is a bad thing. In fact, it can show you what more there is to life than what you already know.
This is explained in the novel “The Art of Holding on and Letting Go” written by Kristin Bartley Lenz.
“The Art of Holding on and Letting Go” is a meaningful and heart wrenching novel which follows a teen named Cara, short for carabiner, and her outdoor loving family.
When a climbing accident goes wrong, Cara and her family are faced with a tragedy very difficult to overcome. Now her family must deal with this reality, and everyone has a different way of doing so.
While Cara’s mother and father are climbing around the globe and searching for ways to cope, home-schooled Cara is thrown into a foreign world; high school.
She is sent to Detroit to live with her bland and stationary grandparents.
All she wishes for is to be back home, going through her uncle's things and climbing her favorite cliffs at her cabin in California. She refuses to believe her parents would leave her in such a monotonous place.
But throughout the novel, she learns the lesson of trying to experience new things. Not just places or new climbing adventures, but a new life. A life outside what she’s accustomed to.
A life without her uncle. A life more difficult than home-schooling. A life outside the safety of her cabin and the surrounding cliffs.
Adjusting to this new way of living is difficult for Cara, but she finds plenty of interesting friends to help her along the way.
Although Cara is the center of the story, all family members are dealing with or have experienced the challenges of extreme changes. Their stories are also included in the book.
The important part is remembering what we still have. No matter how hard things get, there will always be someone or something there to guide you.
In addition, the other lesson is to know sometimes bad things happen for a good reason. Cara realizes how to hold on to what is important while letting go of what's holding you back from living life to the fullest.
Personally, I greatly enjoyed this book because it had a variety of things to teach me. Ranging from how to handle boy drama and making new friends, to what the life of a sponsored and extreme climber is like.
Cara’s love and want to be outdoors is a similar feeling I experience nearly every day. I am enthusiastic about hiking and dream of having access to such activities in my backyard as Cara did.
I have not dealt with such drastic changes as Cara and her family did, but her story made me think about the different lives there are to live.
The experiences and ways of living we may never know or get the chance to understand.
This novel only fueled my desire to explore new possibilities and learn about what it would be like to live a different life.
There were many lessons in this novel to be taught. I wanted to write this review to encourage others to read this beautiful novel and possibly learn something new about themselves in the process just as I did.
Why is Trump's White House so white?
“The overwhelmingly white White House intern class photo, and why it matters” was the headline on July 26, 2017 in the Washington Post.
The Post released a similar headline on March 31, 2018 stating “The White House releases a photo of its interns, and the Internet asks: Why so few people of color?”
Same topic, same debate, over eight months apart.
For those of you following the news, or rapid Twitter debates, you may have seen the photo of Donald's Trump’s new spring interns. The first thing many viewers noticed was the large amount of male interns and the lack of racial diversity.
This raises two questions: Why are viewers upset about this photo and why is there a clear lack of diversity?
People throughout the country have expressed their disapproval of the photo because it does not show our changing demographics.
In 2017, women made up slightly more than half of the United States population. As of 2015, 44% of all people ages 18-34 are minorities, according to the Brookings Institution. However, the photo shows more than half the interns were men and very small percentage were visibly a part of the minority group.
Others have compared Trump’s interns to Obama's interns.
When Obama was president, he had the most diverse administration in history, according to the Huffington Post.
Women and minorities held a majority of the top policy positions, he nominated the first openly gay Army secretary in history (Eric Fanning), nominated more female judges than any other president, and left the White House with “record diversity on the federal bench.”
The Washington Post also stated, “Obama has presided over the most demographically diverse administration in history, according to a new analysis of his top appointments.”
After living under such a diverse White House administration, it is difficult for many to see Trump’s lack of racial diversity for his first two sets of interns.
So why does the intern photo look so white?
Trump must select his interns based on the applicant pool. Information about new interns and the applicant pool is not released to the public, which means we do not know how many of each gender applied and how many minorities applied.
Based on Trump’s past racial allegations, it is possible that fewer minorities wanted to apply to work in his White House. For example, many disapproved of Trump’s statement when he reportedly said the U.S. doesn't need more immigrants from “sh--thole” countries.
Another possible explanation for the photo comes from voters in the election.
Trump won the presidential election in 2016 without a large share of the minority vote. Whereas Obama won with 80% of the votes of all minority groups in 2012, according to the Washington Post.
This may explain Trump’s lack of diversity and Obama’s sudden increase.
There is no clear answer to any of these questions, but you can always count on Twitter for your daily Trump debate.
The Post released a similar headline on March 31, 2018 stating “The White House releases a photo of its interns, and the Internet asks: Why so few people of color?”
Same topic, same debate, over eight months apart.
For those of you following the news, or rapid Twitter debates, you may have seen the photo of Donald's Trump’s new spring interns. The first thing many viewers noticed was the large amount of male interns and the lack of racial diversity.
This raises two questions: Why are viewers upset about this photo and why is there a clear lack of diversity?
People throughout the country have expressed their disapproval of the photo because it does not show our changing demographics.
In 2017, women made up slightly more than half of the United States population. As of 2015, 44% of all people ages 18-34 are minorities, according to the Brookings Institution. However, the photo shows more than half the interns were men and very small percentage were visibly a part of the minority group.
Others have compared Trump’s interns to Obama's interns.
When Obama was president, he had the most diverse administration in history, according to the Huffington Post.
Women and minorities held a majority of the top policy positions, he nominated the first openly gay Army secretary in history (Eric Fanning), nominated more female judges than any other president, and left the White House with “record diversity on the federal bench.”
The Washington Post also stated, “Obama has presided over the most demographically diverse administration in history, according to a new analysis of his top appointments.”
After living under such a diverse White House administration, it is difficult for many to see Trump’s lack of racial diversity for his first two sets of interns.
So why does the intern photo look so white?
Trump must select his interns based on the applicant pool. Information about new interns and the applicant pool is not released to the public, which means we do not know how many of each gender applied and how many minorities applied.
Based on Trump’s past racial allegations, it is possible that fewer minorities wanted to apply to work in his White House. For example, many disapproved of Trump’s statement when he reportedly said the U.S. doesn't need more immigrants from “sh--thole” countries.
Another possible explanation for the photo comes from voters in the election.
Trump won the presidential election in 2016 without a large share of the minority vote. Whereas Obama won with 80% of the votes of all minority groups in 2012, according to the Washington Post.
This may explain Trump’s lack of diversity and Obama’s sudden increase.
There is no clear answer to any of these questions, but you can always count on Twitter for your daily Trump debate.
'Wonderful Life' shown in new style
Do you remember the classic black and white film from 1949, “It’s a Wonderful Life?” Where you witnessed the kindness of George Bailey or the cute and sweet angel named Cadence. Who could forget the beautiful words of George’s daughter Zuzu, “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.”
Well then you are in for a treat. Watch as C. M. Russell High School students bring to a life the classic story, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” This year, the CMR Drama Department will present the original radio play.
The play is about a man named George Bailey who has big dreams. He wants to travel the world, go to school, and live happily with a family. Instead, he is stuck in his small childhood town of Bedford Falls. He works for his deceased father’s business and other circumstances force him to stay home. One tragic night, when everything he has wanted to accomplish seems hopeless, he goes on the brink of giving away “God’s greatest gift.” In an attempt to save George’s life, an angel shows him how everyone’s life would be if he didn’t exist.
However, this play is not your traditional showing of scene and prop changes, costumes, or a large cast. “It’s a Wonderful Life” is presented as a radio play for a national audience. It based off the 1946 radio edition by Joe Landry. In the original production, six actors represented and spoke for about 40 to 50 characters.
This year, a select few actors take on the challenge of performing these different voices. “It’s a different style and a different way to do theater,” said play director and CMR teacher, Chris Evans.
CMR students must separate each voice and help the audience distinguish the difference between each character. Senior Loran Fairhurst, Senior Carrie Lycett, and Junior Josh Reeves are a few of the CMR actors and students who present the many voices.
While finding a seat before the play, listen for music or another broadcast playing in the background. Listen for announcements counting down the time till the live show begins. Watch behind the speakers on stage to see other actors create sound effects using everyday objects. In addition, be prepared for a laugh during commercial breaks. Get ready to watch how a live radio show is conducted.
There is a clever and beautiful reasoning behind this style of presenting the play. It forces not only the actors, but the audience to use their imagination. They must picture the scenes taking place and make the story their own. The cast wants everyone to walk out with a happy and special feeling in their heart going into the holiday season.
Based on rehearsals, this play will certainly be a night to remember. An amazing way to start off the holiday season and an excellent reminder to appreciate everything we have.
The play will be presented on Dec. 1-3 at 7:30 p.m. in CMR’s Bill Williamson Hall. Admission is $6 for students and $8 for general admission. On Dec. 1, opening night, Great Falls Public School employees may bring their school ID to get in for free.
Well then you are in for a treat. Watch as C. M. Russell High School students bring to a life the classic story, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” This year, the CMR Drama Department will present the original radio play.
The play is about a man named George Bailey who has big dreams. He wants to travel the world, go to school, and live happily with a family. Instead, he is stuck in his small childhood town of Bedford Falls. He works for his deceased father’s business and other circumstances force him to stay home. One tragic night, when everything he has wanted to accomplish seems hopeless, he goes on the brink of giving away “God’s greatest gift.” In an attempt to save George’s life, an angel shows him how everyone’s life would be if he didn’t exist.
However, this play is not your traditional showing of scene and prop changes, costumes, or a large cast. “It’s a Wonderful Life” is presented as a radio play for a national audience. It based off the 1946 radio edition by Joe Landry. In the original production, six actors represented and spoke for about 40 to 50 characters.
This year, a select few actors take on the challenge of performing these different voices. “It’s a different style and a different way to do theater,” said play director and CMR teacher, Chris Evans.
CMR students must separate each voice and help the audience distinguish the difference between each character. Senior Loran Fairhurst, Senior Carrie Lycett, and Junior Josh Reeves are a few of the CMR actors and students who present the many voices.
While finding a seat before the play, listen for music or another broadcast playing in the background. Listen for announcements counting down the time till the live show begins. Watch behind the speakers on stage to see other actors create sound effects using everyday objects. In addition, be prepared for a laugh during commercial breaks. Get ready to watch how a live radio show is conducted.
There is a clever and beautiful reasoning behind this style of presenting the play. It forces not only the actors, but the audience to use their imagination. They must picture the scenes taking place and make the story their own. The cast wants everyone to walk out with a happy and special feeling in their heart going into the holiday season.
Based on rehearsals, this play will certainly be a night to remember. An amazing way to start off the holiday season and an excellent reminder to appreciate everything we have.
The play will be presented on Dec. 1-3 at 7:30 p.m. in CMR’s Bill Williamson Hall. Admission is $6 for students and $8 for general admission. On Dec. 1, opening night, Great Falls Public School employees may bring their school ID to get in for free.
Weather worries: From Montana to Puerto Rico, 2017 was a year of disasters
On September 12th, 15.7 million people watched the hour-long special “Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Relief Telethon.” By the end of the telethon, celebrities and other individuals donated a total of $44 million.
The telethon was a success, but it was not enough to pay for the mass destruction – and it certainly was not enough to finance the other natural disasters soon to come.
In 2017, weather and climate disasters cost the nation a record $306 billion. The main contributions to this record-breaking fact include western wildfires and hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
The previous record was $215 billion in 2005. The year of hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Rita.
Not only was our financial situation record-breaking, but so was our temperature.
On Thursday, scientists at NASA declared 2017 was the second warmest year on record.
The warmest year was 2016, however the year did contain an El Niño whereas 2017 did not. El Niño is an event that may occur in the Pacific Ocean near the equator where the water is hotter than usual and affects the atmosphere and weather around the world.
In fact, 2017 was projected to be much cooler than 2016 due to the La Niña. La Niña does the opposite of El Niño. It occurs in the same area and has the same affects around the world, but it cools the area instead of making it hotter.
What else happened in 2017 to cost the nation such a large amount of money?
On August 25th Hurricane Harvey struck Texas, killing 82 people and dumping 27 trillion gallons of rain over Texas. It is considered to be one of the most powerful hurricanes to hit Texas in 50 years, costing the nation between $70 billion and $180 billion depending on the news source.
Category 5 storm, Hurricane Irma, devastated 50% of Florida’s annual orange crops and was considered to be one of the most powerful Atlantic storms in a decade. The cost is projected to be between $25 billion and $65 billion.
September 20th was the dawn of Hurricane Maria. After three months, a third of Puerto Rico is still left without power and the death toll has reached 64 individuals. It has been estimated to cost the nation between $94 billion and $102 billion.
California wildfires not only costed the nation at least $1 billion in repairs, but also the lives of 42 individuals.
These are just a few of the natural disasters to affect America in 2017.
On the far northwestern side of the nation is Montana – and we are certainly not immune to these types of crises.
By September 8th, Montana’s fire season cost was projected to reach $308 million. By October 3rd, over one million acres throughout the state had been burned. That’s larger than the state of Rhode Island.
53 out of 56 counties were declared either primary or contiguous disaster areas. Thousands were affected by evacuations and thousands more were battling the flames. Two firemen lost their lives.
Glacier National Park also suffered from fires during “one of the worst fire seasons,” said Governor Steve Bullock.
The western section of Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed due to wildfires. Glacier’s Sperry Chalet – a historical landmark built in 1913 - was lost in the Sprague Fire on August 10.
“The period from June to August was the hottest and driest on record in Montana, and our fire season started about a month earlier than it usually does,” said Angela Wells, fire information officer with the Department of Natural resources and Conservations.
High school athletes in central Montana were indirectly affected by the wildfires due to the amount of smoke that swept through the air.
Student athletes at Charles M. Russell High School shared their experiences during their sports seasons.
“[The smoke] made practicing really difficult, especially when we had Results. We almost got to the point where we had to wear masks and it got so bad we moved a lot of practices indoors,” said Emily Funseth, varsity soccer player.
Braden Younkin is a track and cross country runner at CMR. “It certainly made it hard to run. It affected our breathing quite a bit and made it difficult to run, but otherwise it was okay,” he said.
Other sports cut their practices short according to sophomore, JV, and varsity football player Wesley Tilleman.
Although climate change is not the direct cause of these wildfires, scientists have found that human-caused climate change is increasing the frequency and size of them. This is true mainly in the forested areas like Montana and Northern California.
It is difficult to determine what part climate change plays in these natural disasters, but there is no denying it has made a significant impact.
The telethon was a success, but it was not enough to pay for the mass destruction – and it certainly was not enough to finance the other natural disasters soon to come.
In 2017, weather and climate disasters cost the nation a record $306 billion. The main contributions to this record-breaking fact include western wildfires and hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
The previous record was $215 billion in 2005. The year of hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Rita.
Not only was our financial situation record-breaking, but so was our temperature.
On Thursday, scientists at NASA declared 2017 was the second warmest year on record.
The warmest year was 2016, however the year did contain an El Niño whereas 2017 did not. El Niño is an event that may occur in the Pacific Ocean near the equator where the water is hotter than usual and affects the atmosphere and weather around the world.
In fact, 2017 was projected to be much cooler than 2016 due to the La Niña. La Niña does the opposite of El Niño. It occurs in the same area and has the same affects around the world, but it cools the area instead of making it hotter.
What else happened in 2017 to cost the nation such a large amount of money?
On August 25th Hurricane Harvey struck Texas, killing 82 people and dumping 27 trillion gallons of rain over Texas. It is considered to be one of the most powerful hurricanes to hit Texas in 50 years, costing the nation between $70 billion and $180 billion depending on the news source.
Category 5 storm, Hurricane Irma, devastated 50% of Florida’s annual orange crops and was considered to be one of the most powerful Atlantic storms in a decade. The cost is projected to be between $25 billion and $65 billion.
September 20th was the dawn of Hurricane Maria. After three months, a third of Puerto Rico is still left without power and the death toll has reached 64 individuals. It has been estimated to cost the nation between $94 billion and $102 billion.
California wildfires not only costed the nation at least $1 billion in repairs, but also the lives of 42 individuals.
These are just a few of the natural disasters to affect America in 2017.
On the far northwestern side of the nation is Montana – and we are certainly not immune to these types of crises.
By September 8th, Montana’s fire season cost was projected to reach $308 million. By October 3rd, over one million acres throughout the state had been burned. That’s larger than the state of Rhode Island.
53 out of 56 counties were declared either primary or contiguous disaster areas. Thousands were affected by evacuations and thousands more were battling the flames. Two firemen lost their lives.
Glacier National Park also suffered from fires during “one of the worst fire seasons,” said Governor Steve Bullock.
The western section of Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed due to wildfires. Glacier’s Sperry Chalet – a historical landmark built in 1913 - was lost in the Sprague Fire on August 10.
“The period from June to August was the hottest and driest on record in Montana, and our fire season started about a month earlier than it usually does,” said Angela Wells, fire information officer with the Department of Natural resources and Conservations.
High school athletes in central Montana were indirectly affected by the wildfires due to the amount of smoke that swept through the air.
Student athletes at Charles M. Russell High School shared their experiences during their sports seasons.
“[The smoke] made practicing really difficult, especially when we had Results. We almost got to the point where we had to wear masks and it got so bad we moved a lot of practices indoors,” said Emily Funseth, varsity soccer player.
Braden Younkin is a track and cross country runner at CMR. “It certainly made it hard to run. It affected our breathing quite a bit and made it difficult to run, but otherwise it was okay,” he said.
Other sports cut their practices short according to sophomore, JV, and varsity football player Wesley Tilleman.
Although climate change is not the direct cause of these wildfires, scientists have found that human-caused climate change is increasing the frequency and size of them. This is true mainly in the forested areas like Montana and Northern California.
It is difficult to determine what part climate change plays in these natural disasters, but there is no denying it has made a significant impact.
Amazon Key opens door to range of problems
Let's say you order an item online. You get a message saying your package is set to arrive at a certain time on a specific day. Instead of waiting around the house, you decide to get some grocery shopping done.
While you are out and about, there is a notification on your phone. You open up an app and see a live video of your home and a man at the doorstep. He has knocked and rang the doorbell, but you are not home to answer it.
Suddenly, the man takes out his phone and starts typing. A few seconds later, your door has been unlocked. He opens your door, leaves a package inside your doorway and locks it before leaving.
He had five minutes to drop off this package inside your home.
However, there is no need to be worried. It was only the Amazon delivery driver dropping off your online package.
The future of online shopping and delivery may be full of drastic changes thanks to the American online business, Amazon. The company has recently released a new system which would allow delivery drivers to leave a package inside a buyer’s home.
Here’s how it works.
A customer would first buy a smart lock and the Cloud Cam camera with a beginning price of $249 (with free installation). The camera would live stream the delivery through the Amazon Key app on the customer's phone.
The homeowner may choose to have an “In-home delivery” and get a notification when the package is set to be delivered. They are then sent a note on the phone saying the delivery person is at the door.
The delivery driver must knock on the door or ring the doorbell before entering. If no one answers, they open their app which allows them to swipe a button unlocking the door.
The delivery person opens the door “just a crack,” puts the package inside the door and leaves after locking up behind him.
This program was designed to minimize the amount of packages stolen off front porches while the homeowner is not home.
On December of 2015, NBC News stated “an estimated 23 million Americans have had packages stolen from their homes.” Some supporters say this system will be an effective way to limit the number of front porch thefts, especially during the holiday season.
However, even with all the special features and safety precautions included, is this a completely secure program? As a person who values and appreciates their privacy, I find many issues with this new system.
One safety feature included is “Block Access”. This allows a homeowner to change their order to traditional delivery where the package is left outside the house.
Here’s the catch.
The buyer has until the moment the door is unlocked to do so. If the delivery driver has already opened the door, it is too late.
Not everyone has their phone on them at all times. Many individuals are working during the day and are not able to answer their phone. So, if a buyer were to change their mind and could not get to their phone fast enough, then he/she has lost their opportunity.
Another aspect of the program to be considered is drivers are given five minutes to drop off a package. What can a burglar do in five minutes?
On average, a burglar takes 8 to 12 minutes inside your house. If they have easy access to your home and are familiar with the number of materialistic items you own, there is a possibility your valuables could be taken.
Amazon says delivery drivers will be given thorough background checks, however these are not always efficient nor effective. The information could be false and some crimes people commit may not be on record.
Other factors to be considered are the safety of both the delivery drivers and those in the house.
For example, let's say there is a young child at home alone who is not allowed to answer the door. If a stranger came into the house and dropped off a box, it would most likely frighten the child and cause a range of possible issues.
Front porch theft is an issue and there should be more ways to prevent them. However, the new Amazon Key is not the answer. The loss of one package is not worth the destruction of your privacy.
While you are out and about, there is a notification on your phone. You open up an app and see a live video of your home and a man at the doorstep. He has knocked and rang the doorbell, but you are not home to answer it.
Suddenly, the man takes out his phone and starts typing. A few seconds later, your door has been unlocked. He opens your door, leaves a package inside your doorway and locks it before leaving.
He had five minutes to drop off this package inside your home.
However, there is no need to be worried. It was only the Amazon delivery driver dropping off your online package.
The future of online shopping and delivery may be full of drastic changes thanks to the American online business, Amazon. The company has recently released a new system which would allow delivery drivers to leave a package inside a buyer’s home.
Here’s how it works.
A customer would first buy a smart lock and the Cloud Cam camera with a beginning price of $249 (with free installation). The camera would live stream the delivery through the Amazon Key app on the customer's phone.
The homeowner may choose to have an “In-home delivery” and get a notification when the package is set to be delivered. They are then sent a note on the phone saying the delivery person is at the door.
The delivery driver must knock on the door or ring the doorbell before entering. If no one answers, they open their app which allows them to swipe a button unlocking the door.
The delivery person opens the door “just a crack,” puts the package inside the door and leaves after locking up behind him.
This program was designed to minimize the amount of packages stolen off front porches while the homeowner is not home.
On December of 2015, NBC News stated “an estimated 23 million Americans have had packages stolen from their homes.” Some supporters say this system will be an effective way to limit the number of front porch thefts, especially during the holiday season.
However, even with all the special features and safety precautions included, is this a completely secure program? As a person who values and appreciates their privacy, I find many issues with this new system.
One safety feature included is “Block Access”. This allows a homeowner to change their order to traditional delivery where the package is left outside the house.
Here’s the catch.
The buyer has until the moment the door is unlocked to do so. If the delivery driver has already opened the door, it is too late.
Not everyone has their phone on them at all times. Many individuals are working during the day and are not able to answer their phone. So, if a buyer were to change their mind and could not get to their phone fast enough, then he/she has lost their opportunity.
Another aspect of the program to be considered is drivers are given five minutes to drop off a package. What can a burglar do in five minutes?
On average, a burglar takes 8 to 12 minutes inside your house. If they have easy access to your home and are familiar with the number of materialistic items you own, there is a possibility your valuables could be taken.
Amazon says delivery drivers will be given thorough background checks, however these are not always efficient nor effective. The information could be false and some crimes people commit may not be on record.
Other factors to be considered are the safety of both the delivery drivers and those in the house.
For example, let's say there is a young child at home alone who is not allowed to answer the door. If a stranger came into the house and dropped off a box, it would most likely frighten the child and cause a range of possible issues.
Front porch theft is an issue and there should be more ways to prevent them. However, the new Amazon Key is not the answer. The loss of one package is not worth the destruction of your privacy.
Cross-country skiing in the Big Sky
Winter is a month away, but snowfall is upon us. And with snow comes excited cross country skiers.
“It’s a nice way to get out and enjoy winter. It’s not as scary as downhill skiing and it’s great exercise,” said Sara Buley, an eager cross country skier and Montana Wilderness Association board member. She also says it is “one of the cheapest winter activities.”
Cross country skiing was originally a method of traveling over terrain covered in snow and is the oldest form of skiing. By the end of the 19th century, it developed into a sport.
Cross country skiing is great for those who love the outdoors, want to get exercise, and prefer a more relaxed winter activity. It’s a balance between snowshoeing and downhill skiing.
“It’s easy to learn the basics,” Buley said. “And it was something to do with our daughter.”
Thankfully, there is no shortage of cross-country skiing in the area.
The Silver Crest Trails Association (SCTA) is commonly known among outdoor enthusiasts.
SCTA is a group of non-profit volunteers who maintain groomed trails in the Little Belt Mountains of Central Montana. Skiers are welcome at any time of day and there is no fee, but donations are encouraged.
“Silver Crest Trails Association is a group of about 10 people, all of whom are cross country skiers,” said Chuck Jennings, a four-year member of the SCTA.
Located only 6.5 miles south of Neihart, Silver Crest Trails consist of 12 miles of groomed Nordic ski trails and two miles of separate, ungroomed snowshoe trails.
“The area is ideal for cross country skiing because of the altitude,” Jennings said. “I believe it is among the best in Montana for conditions and terrain.”
Buley agrees.
“Silver Crest Trails is handy and close by,” she said.
Following hunting season, the trails will first be groomed on Dec. 1 by the Kings Hill Grooming Association. The trails are about 12 feet wide with one edge for classic skiers and eight to 10 feet for skate skiers.
Classic styled cross country skiing is designed to move in a forward kicking and gliding motion. The skier glides forward by pushing off of the planted ski.
Alternatively, skate skiing moves with the skis in a V-shape, and the skier pushes the skis off in a skating motion to move forward.
However, you do not have to travel far to find a cross country adventure. In fact, you could do it in your own neighborhood.
“[We can ski] anywhere with snow -- like Gibson Park or Meadowlark,” Buley said.
The Park and Recreation Department currently maintains 57 parks, all of which are available for cross country skiing use.
For those just beginning the sport, there are a few places in town for renting. Bighorn Outdoor Specialists offer rentals for $15 per week day and $25 for weekend. Skier’s Edge Pro Shop will now also be offering rentals for $25 a day.
“It’s fun to go out and get a little exercise,” said Ron Hall, Skier’s Edge Pro Shop founder. The sport, however, is not his first choice, he admits.
“My attitude is I want to downhill ski rather than cross country ski,” Hall said.
There are many differences between downhill and cross country skiing.
Cross country skis attach at the toe of the boot and skiers can travel up, down, and around a trail. Downhill skis attach to the entire boot and can simply go down the mountain at a much higher speed.
“It’s very good aerobic exercise as opposed to downhill skiing,” Jennings said.
Another major difference is the price. According to REI retail company, adult cross country skis range from $150 to $560. Downhill skis range from $240 to $1,300.
Overall, cross country skiing is a sport great for getting exercise, enjoying the Montana winter, and spending time with friends and family.
“It’s a nice way to get out and enjoy winter. It’s not as scary as downhill skiing and it’s great exercise,” said Sara Buley, an eager cross country skier and Montana Wilderness Association board member. She also says it is “one of the cheapest winter activities.”
Cross country skiing was originally a method of traveling over terrain covered in snow and is the oldest form of skiing. By the end of the 19th century, it developed into a sport.
Cross country skiing is great for those who love the outdoors, want to get exercise, and prefer a more relaxed winter activity. It’s a balance between snowshoeing and downhill skiing.
“It’s easy to learn the basics,” Buley said. “And it was something to do with our daughter.”
Thankfully, there is no shortage of cross-country skiing in the area.
The Silver Crest Trails Association (SCTA) is commonly known among outdoor enthusiasts.
SCTA is a group of non-profit volunteers who maintain groomed trails in the Little Belt Mountains of Central Montana. Skiers are welcome at any time of day and there is no fee, but donations are encouraged.
“Silver Crest Trails Association is a group of about 10 people, all of whom are cross country skiers,” said Chuck Jennings, a four-year member of the SCTA.
Located only 6.5 miles south of Neihart, Silver Crest Trails consist of 12 miles of groomed Nordic ski trails and two miles of separate, ungroomed snowshoe trails.
“The area is ideal for cross country skiing because of the altitude,” Jennings said. “I believe it is among the best in Montana for conditions and terrain.”
Buley agrees.
“Silver Crest Trails is handy and close by,” she said.
Following hunting season, the trails will first be groomed on Dec. 1 by the Kings Hill Grooming Association. The trails are about 12 feet wide with one edge for classic skiers and eight to 10 feet for skate skiers.
Classic styled cross country skiing is designed to move in a forward kicking and gliding motion. The skier glides forward by pushing off of the planted ski.
Alternatively, skate skiing moves with the skis in a V-shape, and the skier pushes the skis off in a skating motion to move forward.
However, you do not have to travel far to find a cross country adventure. In fact, you could do it in your own neighborhood.
“[We can ski] anywhere with snow -- like Gibson Park or Meadowlark,” Buley said.
The Park and Recreation Department currently maintains 57 parks, all of which are available for cross country skiing use.
For those just beginning the sport, there are a few places in town for renting. Bighorn Outdoor Specialists offer rentals for $15 per week day and $25 for weekend. Skier’s Edge Pro Shop will now also be offering rentals for $25 a day.
“It’s fun to go out and get a little exercise,” said Ron Hall, Skier’s Edge Pro Shop founder. The sport, however, is not his first choice, he admits.
“My attitude is I want to downhill ski rather than cross country ski,” Hall said.
There are many differences between downhill and cross country skiing.
Cross country skis attach at the toe of the boot and skiers can travel up, down, and around a trail. Downhill skis attach to the entire boot and can simply go down the mountain at a much higher speed.
“It’s very good aerobic exercise as opposed to downhill skiing,” Jennings said.
Another major difference is the price. According to REI retail company, adult cross country skis range from $150 to $560. Downhill skis range from $240 to $1,300.
Overall, cross country skiing is a sport great for getting exercise, enjoying the Montana winter, and spending time with friends and family.