Ram Write-Up - Maple Valley Community Schools
Ram Write-Up - Maple Valley Community Schools
Ram Write-Up - Maple Valley Community Schools
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April 2006<br />
<strong>Ram</strong> <strong>Write</strong>-up Staff:<br />
Editor-in-Chief:<br />
Lindsey Carothers<br />
Technical Editor:<br />
Sylvia Pedersen<br />
Layout Editor:<br />
Lindsey Carothers<br />
News Editor:<br />
Devon Hieber<br />
Display Editor:<br />
Courtney Hahn<br />
Transfer Editor:<br />
Sylvia Pedersen<br />
Historian:<br />
Steffany Treiber<br />
Class List Controller:<br />
Ashley Mullicane<br />
Photographer:<br />
Nick Buth<br />
Staff Reporters:<br />
Jeff Koithan, Shane<br />
Erlemeier, Kayla Dose,<br />
Austin Bettin, James<br />
Brouillette, Aaron Bechen,<br />
Courtney Venteicher, Sara<br />
Dose, Jesse Nielsen<br />
Adviser: Lois Moser<br />
<strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong>-Anthon Oto’s<br />
<strong>Ram</strong> <strong>Write</strong>-<strong>Up</strong><br />
501 South Seventh <strong>Maple</strong>ton, IA<br />
Issue # 7<br />
Calamity Jane proves to be a success<br />
Above, the entire cast of Calamity Jane is pictured.<br />
By Aaron Bechen<br />
On March 11th, Calamity Jane, the musical<br />
known for its action, comedy, and song, was<br />
put on by the MV-AO High School students<br />
for the community.<br />
The very unladylike Calamity Jane (Noelle<br />
Uhl) promises to bring famous actress,<br />
Adelaide Adams (Kelsey Clark), to the glamour-starved<br />
miners of Deadwood, but reappears<br />
with a phony, Adelaide’s maid Katie<br />
Brown (Lindsey Carothers).<br />
Both Wild Bill Hickock (Derek Dougherty)<br />
and local cavalry officer Lt. Danny Gilmartin<br />
(Alex Wimmer) take an immediate shine to<br />
Katie.<br />
Calamity is at first confused, and thanks<br />
to Katie’s help, gets herself in more appropriate<br />
shape to woo a gentleman or herself.<br />
But when Calamity gets jealous of Katie, even<br />
more trouble is on the way.<br />
There were twenty-nine high school students<br />
that participated in this year’s musical.<br />
“It was a good opportunity to get to<br />
know some underclassman and work with<br />
such a nice group of students,” stated Senior<br />
Chelsea Wolf.<br />
Picking out a musical to do every year<br />
could definitely be a daunting task.<br />
However, the process is quite simple for<br />
Mr. McKenny and Mr. Smeltzer. These two<br />
got together and decided which musical<br />
would be the easiest to do.<br />
Another thing that needed to be done in<br />
order for the show to be put on was collectin<br />
costumes and props.<br />
There are costumes and props that have<br />
been collected from past productions that<br />
were used for this year’s musical. Also, some<br />
of the costumes were borrowed from the<br />
Siouxland <strong>Community</strong> Theater.<br />
The other portion of the costumes that<br />
were used were rented from the Dowry in<br />
Sioux City.<br />
“I loved wearing the poofy praire dresses<br />
and the matching bonnets,” stated Wolf.<br />
“The best part of the musical was getting<br />
to pick out and wear different costumes,”<br />
agreed Senior Lisa Ortner.<br />
Some of the props that came into play were<br />
purchased from secondhand stores.<br />
Casting for the musical began directly af-<br />
ter Christmas break, and practice also started<br />
at the beginning of the second semester.<br />
Many may be wondering where the musical<br />
comes from or maybe a little background<br />
information.<br />
The Calamity Jane musical is based on the<br />
movie, Calamity Jane. The musical has never<br />
seen the stage of Broadway, but was very<br />
popular in England for quite some time.<br />
Mr. McKenny says that his favorite part of<br />
the musical was rehearsing to prepare for the<br />
final production.<br />
Noelle Uhl, who played the lead role as<br />
Calamity Jane, said “It was challenging yet fun<br />
learning all of the lines and songs.”<br />
Noelle also added, “All of our hard work<br />
paid off for a good performance in the end.”<br />
Chelsea also declared, “The musical was a<br />
lot of fun and given the chance, I would definitely<br />
do it again.”<br />
For some of the students, it was their frist<br />
time being part of a musical, but it was also<br />
Mr. Smeltzer’s first time being part of a musical<br />
at this school. He said his experience with<br />
the musical in a different school was a good<br />
one.<br />
“It was very good because the cast was fun<br />
and very easy to work with,” commented Mr.<br />
Smeltzer.<br />
Mr. Smeltzer’s favorite parts of the musical<br />
were the performances and dress rehearsal<br />
because he enjoyed watching everyone else<br />
have a good time.<br />
This was Mr. McKenny’s last performance<br />
as a director at <strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong>-Anthon Oto as<br />
he will be retiring after this year. He was honored<br />
at the end of Saturday night’s performance.
Adelaide Adams (Kelsey Clark) and chorus<br />
girls (front) Stephanie Malloy, Alli Jo Lloyd,<br />
(back) Molly Tullis, and Elizabeth Sturgeon<br />
sing one more chorus of Harry.<br />
In Calamity’s cabin, Lt. Danny (Alex<br />
Wimmer) attempts to tell Katie Brown<br />
(Lindsey Carothers) his true feelings for her.<br />
Susan (Jessica Bruning) sings A Woman’s<br />
Touch during the finale as Francis Fryer<br />
(Nate Sadler) looks on.<br />
Page 2, The <strong>Ram</strong> <strong>Write</strong>-<strong>Up</strong>, <strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> Anthon- Oto <strong>Schools</strong><br />
Calamity<br />
Jane<br />
Wild Bill Hickock (Derek Dougherty) teaches Calamity Jane (Noelle<br />
Uhl) a lesson by roping her to the chair.
Sticky Fingers<br />
By Sylvia Pedersen<br />
Perfect. Perfect grades, perfect relationship,<br />
perfect boyfriend, perfect life. That is<br />
how Jenna Kassarian, the main character in<br />
the book Sticky Fingers, feels her life needs to<br />
be.<br />
By the middle of her senior year of high<br />
school, Jenna has her entire life in order. She<br />
has the perfect boyfriend, early admittance<br />
to Harvard, a best friend who knows everything<br />
about her, and the life she has always<br />
seen for herself.<br />
She gets her early acceptance letter just<br />
before Christmas vacation, which, for most<br />
people, would make it easier to relax, but not<br />
for Jenna. She still has to make sure she still<br />
gets at least second or third in her class at<br />
graduation; she has to make sure she stays<br />
focused.<br />
This doesn’t seem easy when the “perfect”<br />
boyfriend is beginning to pressure her into<br />
being more loose about everything. She<br />
doesn’t realize just how far he would go to<br />
get her to loosen up. To her, he is the perfect<br />
boyfriend. He’s naturally smart (he doesn’t<br />
have to study for anything), he helps her with<br />
her homework when she needs it, he’s a study<br />
buddy, he is a popular jock, and on top of all<br />
By Jeff Koithan<br />
Imagine you and your family are driving<br />
across the country. Soon, you are in the desert<br />
and you get into a terrible crash, but everyone<br />
is OK. Then, all of the sudden, psychotic<br />
cannibals are attacking you and your family!<br />
The film The Hills Have Eeyes, directed by<br />
Alexandre Aja, is remake of the 1977 version.<br />
The movie begins with some footage of<br />
an old nuclear test sight where the government<br />
did many nuclear tests. The government<br />
was forcing people to leave the prop-<br />
Page 3, The <strong>Ram</strong> <strong>Write</strong>-<strong>Up</strong>, <strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> Anthon- Oto <strong>Schools</strong><br />
of that, he is really cute. What more could a<br />
girl ask for?<br />
Jenna’s best friend, Courtney, has always<br />
been there for her, but around Christmas, she<br />
begins to change. She gets more involved<br />
with her South American boyfriend, gets<br />
caught stealing nail polish by Jenna, and finds<br />
out her parents are splitting up. She pretends<br />
to be fine, but with everything that happens,<br />
especially her dad moving out, the pressure<br />
starts to get to her.<br />
Courtney overhears Jenna’s boyfriend,<br />
Scott, behind the store they both work at, talking<br />
to a guy that works the dock. Scott’s conversation<br />
involved a type of drug, so<br />
Courtney decided to talk to Scott about it, and<br />
in return, he ended up blackmailing her.<br />
In the end, Scott turn out to be nothing<br />
more than an insecure boy, and Courtney and<br />
Jenna’s friendship is tested, but remains<br />
strong. Jenna ends up in a loving relationship<br />
with someone who means a lot to her.<br />
Sticky Fingers discusses the relatively hidden<br />
world of a certain type of drug. It is very<br />
important to young people to be informed of<br />
this, and Sticky Fingers helps do this. Read<br />
the book to find out what drug was being<br />
abused.<br />
Horrifying thriller<br />
proves to be a “must see”<br />
erty, but some didn’t leave at all. The radiation<br />
from the tests caused a family to have<br />
deformed children. Now the children are<br />
grown up, alone in the desert, and in search<br />
for food. That food is people!<br />
This movie will surely have you screaming<br />
your head off, and then you’ll want to<br />
see it again. There are not many famous actors<br />
or actresses in this movie, but the people<br />
in the movie do a very fine job. This is a must<br />
see!<br />
I rate this horrifying thriller with four out<br />
four <strong>Ram</strong> heads.<br />
Speech students<br />
attend district and<br />
state competitions<br />
Back row: Stephen Phillips, Chris Sadler, Nate Sadler, Jeff<br />
Bruning, and Alex Wimmer. Front row: Alli Jo Lloyd, Elizabeth<br />
Sturgeon, Kendra Perkins, and Lindsey Carothers. Missing<br />
from the photo is Amy Bruning.<br />
By Jesse Nielsen<br />
March 4, Mrs. Conover and several students<br />
went to Storm Lake to attend district<br />
Speech Contest.<br />
Two or the students that went were Chris<br />
Sadler and Stephen Phillips. When asked<br />
about the contest Stephen said, “It was pretty<br />
fun. I liked the surprise or the Improvisation<br />
and met some cool people.” Chris said, ”It<br />
worked out good and Mrs. Conover was a<br />
good coach. It wasn’t to hard and didn’t take<br />
much practice.<br />
There were different categories in which<br />
the 10 students competed. Here is a list of<br />
the students and their categories.<br />
Chris Sadler-improvisation<br />
Nate Sadler-improvisation<br />
Stephen Phillips-improvisation<br />
Amy Bruning-Radio news, Literary Program<br />
Jeff Bruning-Story Telling<br />
Alex Wimmer-Expository Address<br />
Lindsey Carothers-Literary Program<br />
Elizabeth Sturgeon-Story telling<br />
Ally Jo Lloyd-Story telling<br />
Kendra Perkins-Poetry<br />
On the 18th the continuing students went<br />
to the State Level at Algona, Iowa. They<br />
needed a I to continue to this point. Here is a<br />
list of the students and their rankings (I being<br />
excellent II being good)<br />
Alex Wimmer I<br />
Stephen Phillips I<br />
Amy Bruning I<br />
Jeff Bruning II<br />
Lindsey Carothers II<br />
Mrs. Conover said, “ They were a great<br />
group and I enjoyed it.” Any one can compete<br />
in the competition because no special<br />
classes are required. If interested, see Mrs.<br />
Conover next year.<br />
“They were a great group and I enjoyed it.”<br />
-Mrs. Conover
Page 4, The <strong>Ram</strong> <strong>Write</strong>-<strong>Up</strong>, <strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> Anthon- Oto <strong>Schools</strong><br />
<strong>Ram</strong> Walking: Teacher’s desks<br />
A.<br />
C.<br />
B.<br />
D.<br />
E.<br />
Answer key on page 7<br />
By Ashley Mullicane<br />
The April topic for <strong>Ram</strong> Walking is teachers’<br />
desks. The contestants were asked to<br />
identify five teachers’ desks.<br />
The contestants were teacher Mrs. Dirksen,<br />
Senior David Koithan, Junior Samantha Douglas,<br />
Sophomore Kyle McBride, and Freshman<br />
Riley McDonald.<br />
When the first desk was shown, Mrs.<br />
Dirksen chuckled,”Is that Walsh’s?” David<br />
pondered,” Hmm..I don’t know? Mr. Brown?<br />
ha,ha.” Sami replied, “Hmm, I have no idea.<br />
It looks so familiar!” Kyle answered, “that’s<br />
uh..Walshs’ cause it’s messy and old.” Riley<br />
analyzed,” There’s a football book..Oh, Mr.<br />
Walsh.”<br />
The correct answer which Mrs. Dirksen,<br />
Kyle, and Riley got right was Mr. Walsh’s<br />
desk.<br />
The second desk was then shown and Mrs.<br />
Dirksen stated, “That’s Mrs. Hesse’s.” David<br />
sighed,” I don’t know this one. Uh it would<br />
be like..Mr. Brown.” Sam evaluated, “Um..it’s<br />
one of the special ed teachers. Um, I’m gonna<br />
guess Mrs. Bair?” Kyle wondered,” Um..it’s<br />
by the parking lot somewhere. It’s across<br />
from Mr. Conover’s room I think? I don’t<br />
know her name..um.. it’s not Mrs. Brown..it’s<br />
the one beside her..I don’t know.” Riley answered,”<br />
I don’t know who it is? Mrs.<br />
um...Mrs. Bair?”<br />
The correct answer, which only Mrs.<br />
Dirksen got right, was Mrs. Hesse’s desk.<br />
The third picture was then revealed and<br />
Mrs. Dirksen replied instantly, “Mr. Clark”.<br />
David got a little confused, “Are those the<br />
same ones?!..No..Shoot..Oh! I think that one<br />
might be Mrs. Lundt’s?..No that’s Mr.<br />
Clark’s!” Sam said,” Um Mr. Clark’s?” Kyle<br />
said,” Um, that’s Mr. Clark’s.” And Riley answered<br />
with, “ What’s that thing? Um..I don’t<br />
know who this one is, like maybe um Mr.<br />
McKenny’s?<br />
The correct answer, which Mrs. Dirksen,<br />
David, Sam, and Kyle got right, was Mr.<br />
Clark’s.<br />
The fourth picture was shown and Mrs.<br />
Dirksen replied,” That one is um Ms. Lundt.”<br />
David said, “ I don’t know like anybody’s<br />
desks..oh wait, Ms. Lundt’s.” Sam<br />
guessed,”Mrs. Moser?” Kyle answered,” It’s<br />
Mrs. Beck’s old room..um..give me some time.<br />
Mrs. Haveman or Ms. Lundt? Hm.. let’s go<br />
with Ms. Lundt.” And Riley said, “Ms.<br />
Lundt.”<br />
The correct answer, which Mrs. Dirksen,<br />
David, Kyle, and Riley got right, was Ms.<br />
Lundt’s.<br />
When the fifth desk was shown, Mrs.<br />
Dirksen knew right away, “Mrs. Moser.”<br />
David guessed, “That’s Mrs. Moser.” Sam<br />
answered, “ Um..I don’t know, Mr. Conover?”<br />
Kyle answered “Mrs. Moser” and Riley gave<br />
up,”I have no idea. I don’t know Mrs. Cortez.”<br />
The right answer, which Mrs. Dirksen,<br />
David, and Kyle got right, was Mrs. Moser’s.<br />
The winner from this month is Mrs Dirksen,<br />
getting all five questions right. Coming in<br />
second place was Kyle, getting four out of five<br />
right. In third place came David with three<br />
answers right. Then Riley and Sam both answered<br />
two questions correctly.<br />
Mrs. Dirksen<br />
David Koithan<br />
Riley McDonald Kyle McBride Sami Douglas
Pals bond at Skate Palace<br />
Jared Clausen and his pal, Jackson Krusen work on their<br />
skating skills together.<br />
By Jesse Nielsen<br />
On Wednesday, March 9th, students of the<br />
FFA pals program went to the Ida Grove Skating<br />
Palace. They were excused from all classes<br />
after first lunch. The students then rounded<br />
up their pals and headed for the bus. It was<br />
raining, so it was cold and the kindergartners<br />
ran to the buses. Luckily there were no falls<br />
involved. It took two buses to get all the students<br />
there, but the second had plenty of<br />
empty seats.<br />
At Ida Grove there was another dash to get<br />
into the palace and out of the rain. Inside they<br />
got the skates and went to it. Many of the<br />
little kids skates had to have the bolts tightened<br />
to slow them down but some were very<br />
good skaters. A few students fell and a couple<br />
Page 5, The <strong>Ram</strong> <strong>Write</strong>-<strong>Up</strong>, <strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> Anthon- Oto <strong>Schools</strong><br />
of kids cried, but overall there weren’t many<br />
bad spills.<br />
The high school students weren’t required<br />
to buy the kindergartners any treats, but most<br />
did to be nice.<br />
During the time they were there the students<br />
played the hokey pokey and stand and<br />
stoop. Some won free drinks from this.<br />
Before they left, a group picture was taken.<br />
Then everyone headed to the buses. On the<br />
way home, some of the little kids were still<br />
energetic but atleast one slept on the way<br />
home and others were tired.<br />
Overall the trip was well liked with no<br />
complaints. Even the bus drivers got in on<br />
the skating action.<br />
Two rock icons to<br />
perform in the area<br />
By Jeff Koithan<br />
Two of the biggest rock icons will be performing<br />
in two different locations nearby!<br />
They are Bob Dylan and James Taylor.<br />
Bob Dylan is known for being one of the<br />
greatest, or arguably the greatest, song writer<br />
of all time. Bob began writing when he was<br />
in high school and eventually moved to New<br />
York after he graduated to pursue a career in<br />
music. That’s exactly what he did. At first he<br />
began playing around clubs, bars, and anyplace<br />
he could play for someone. He was hungry<br />
for fame. In the early sixties he started<br />
becoming a major figurehead in the civil rights<br />
movement and was known for writing excellent<br />
protest songs.<br />
By 1964, Bob Dylan was everywhere. His<br />
words had become so influential that people<br />
couldn’t help but notice that this man was<br />
different. He was the first to write and sing<br />
those kind of songs. He went on to make more<br />
albums throughout the decades, and also<br />
toured a lot. Now, in his sixties, he is still touring.<br />
Bob Dylan will be performing in Des<br />
Heap of the Month<br />
By Courtney Venteicher<br />
April’s pick for heap of the month goes<br />
to Sophomore Cameron Tollufsen.<br />
Cameron drives a light blue 1976 Ford<br />
Granada.<br />
Cameron’s grandpa got his car for him<br />
about a year ago. He is one of the lucky few<br />
who didn’t have to purchase his very own<br />
first car for himself.<br />
Although Cameron likes his ride, there<br />
are a few minor things that do not work! The<br />
front right speaker and both back speakers<br />
Moines at the Val Air Ballroom on April 21st<br />
of this year. It will most definitely be a night<br />
to remember.<br />
The second legend is James Taylor.<br />
He is known for having one of the most soothing<br />
voices in music history and is also known<br />
for the beautiful sound he makes with his<br />
guitar. James Taylor started playing guitar<br />
when he was fairly young. In the early sixties,<br />
he started playing it constantly. Soon, in<br />
1968 he signed a record deal with Apple<br />
Records and made his first album.<br />
His first success finally came in the early<br />
seventies with his second album Sweet Baby<br />
James, which was an instant classic in rock n<br />
roll history. He began touring all over the<br />
world throughout the years and is still touring<br />
today.<br />
James Taylor will be coming to Sioux City<br />
to play at the Orpheum Theater on April 17<br />
of this year.<br />
Two of the greatest music legends of all<br />
time are coming to the surrounding areas!<br />
Don’t miss them.<br />
do not work. The dash lights don’t seem to<br />
want to work either. Also, in the morning,<br />
when Cameron is ready for school, he has to<br />
let his car warm up for awhile, otherwise it<br />
will die if he puts it into drive.<br />
Some experiences Cameron has had with<br />
his car include being stuck in a snow drift<br />
and “going in the ditch three times and having<br />
to be pulled out once,” stated Cameron.<br />
Cameron’s best memory with his car<br />
would have to be going through a muddy<br />
dirt road with it!
Sales and Marketing<br />
class participates in<br />
Briar Cliff Contest<br />
Back row: Lisa Ortner, Lindsey Carothers, Travis Brown, Royd<br />
Reid, and Josh Wimmer. Front row: Jennifer Chwirka, Andrea<br />
Kafton, Erin Vermeersch, Sara Dose, and Mrs. Lisa Haveman.<br />
By Sara Dose<br />
The Sales and Marketing class has been<br />
busy recently putting their heads together to<br />
develop a healthy snack, made with Blue<br />
Bunny products to enter in a Briar Cliff<br />
SnackWise Contest.<br />
Blue Bunny sponsored the contest and<br />
provided each school entering the contest<br />
with money to buy their products to develop<br />
a healthy snack. All of the contestants developed<br />
a snack, and sent in the instructions on<br />
how to make their snack along with the nutritional<br />
facts to Briar Cliff where students in<br />
the Sales and Marketing class made the products<br />
and selected their favorites. There were<br />
six schools who entered the contest and of<br />
the six, the top three were chosen to sell their<br />
product at the Southern Hills Mall.<br />
<strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> Anthon-Oto, along with<br />
Gehlen Catholic and North High School were<br />
chosen as the top three schools to sell their<br />
product. Of the three, the school that sold the<br />
most of their product won an ice cream party<br />
at the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor in LeMars<br />
along with a cash prize. Second and third<br />
place won a cash prize and either t-shirts or<br />
hats.<br />
Page 6, The <strong>Ram</strong> <strong>Write</strong>-<strong>Up</strong>, <strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> Anthon- Oto <strong>Schools</strong><br />
North High School won the contest with<br />
their smoothie product and along with help<br />
from their dancing, Cabana inspired dressed<br />
boy, complete with bright colored ruffles and<br />
a fruit hat. “I think we were at a big disadvantage<br />
when we saw the guy dressed in the<br />
Cabana suit dancing to the tropical music offering<br />
free samples to people walking by,”<br />
stated Jennifer Chwirka.<br />
Gehlen Catholic created a product made<br />
from Pop Rocks and strawberry ice cream.<br />
<strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> Anthon-Oto developed a product<br />
that included vanilla or chocolate ice<br />
cream, crushed up graham crackers, and<br />
strawberry or mixed berry yogurt. Gehlen<br />
Catholic received second place, whereas<br />
<strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> Anthon-Oto came in a close<br />
third place.<br />
The purpose of the contest was to help students<br />
gain experience in the marketing field<br />
and to give them an idea of what a job in that<br />
field would be like. “It really helped me realize<br />
what it would be like to have a job that<br />
was in this field. It was really fun and challenging!”<br />
commented Erin Vermeersch.<br />
“It really helped me realize what it would be<br />
like to have a job that was in this field...”<br />
-Erin Vermeersch<br />
Fourteen BPA students<br />
qualify for Nationals<br />
By Sara Dose<br />
On February 26th-28th, nineteen students<br />
involved in our Business Professionals of<br />
America chapter traveled to Des Moines to<br />
compete against other schools in the State<br />
Leadership Conference under the supervision<br />
of their advisors, Kayla Lundt and Lisa<br />
Haveman. During the three day conference,<br />
students participated in approximately 65<br />
contests and events.<br />
Students competing spent a great deal of<br />
time preparing for their contests in the months<br />
before. Students were required to participate<br />
in at least three contests and to attend at least<br />
two work nights before attending the State<br />
Leadership Conference.<br />
The first day of the conference there was<br />
an opening ceremony with all schools participating.<br />
The second day was filled with contests.<br />
Later that night, there was a dance, and<br />
for those who weren’t interested in getting<br />
their groove on, there was a pie eating contest,<br />
three legged races and wheelbarrow<br />
races.<br />
On the third and final day, the results from<br />
the contests were announced the top individu-<br />
By Jesse Nielsen<br />
After 2nd semester, Auto Tech Class was<br />
dropped and the size drop between the old<br />
shops and the new single shop, some students<br />
wondered is this the start of fading out the<br />
shop classes.<br />
At this point, at least, this is not a concern.<br />
Enrollment is high in both Mr. Miller’s and<br />
Mr. Benson’s classes. Mr. Benson’s classes<br />
doubled and doubled again with a definite<br />
increase in those that didn’t fully double.<br />
Mr. Miller said, “The classes I teach are always<br />
full. I have never had to recruit kids or<br />
anything, but we would always like to have<br />
more girls in the shop classes. There are plenty<br />
of opportunities for them in the industrial<br />
fields.”<br />
In regards to the cancelation of 2nd semester<br />
Auto Tech he said, “It’s a disappointment<br />
because it limits students’ choices because<br />
they might not have room for it first semester<br />
with required classes.” He also commented<br />
on how more kids have licenses 2nd semester.<br />
Therefore, AutoTech gives students an<br />
opportunity to get their cars ready for spring.<br />
Where for the budgets are concerned, Mr.<br />
Miller wasn’t sure whether his budget had<br />
been changed or not. “I don’t know. We have<br />
pretty much gotten everything we have asked<br />
als or teams in each contest were sent on to<br />
represent Iowa in the National Leadership<br />
Conference, in Orlando, Florida from May<br />
10th-14th.<br />
<strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> Anthon-Oto did a great job<br />
at the State Conference with fourteen individuals<br />
receiving medals and the chance to<br />
compete at Nationals.<br />
The students who received either 1st, 2nd,<br />
3rd, 4th or 5th in their contests and qualify<br />
for Nationals in May include: Lisa Ortner,<br />
Laci Huck, Amy Bruning, Jen Chwirka, Emily<br />
Hinrickson, Kristine Kueny, Alex Flanigan,<br />
Kayla Waterman, McKenzie Sauser, Alyssa<br />
Sulsberger, Erin Vermeersch, Sam<br />
Timmerman, Hallie Seuntjens and Jessica<br />
Bruning.<br />
Lindsey Carothers, Kelsey Clark and<br />
Noelle Uhl will also be attending the National<br />
Leadership Conference because they completed<br />
Torch Awards, a special level of BPA<br />
achievement.<br />
The students receiving Honorable Mention<br />
Honors (placed 6th-10th in their contests) at<br />
state were: Bryan Livermore and Courtney<br />
Seuntjens.<br />
Are shop classes disappearing?<br />
for but we don’t ask for much.”<br />
However, Mr. Benson’s budget has been<br />
tighter. He has to check to make sure he can<br />
buy equipment. Whereas before, he didn’t<br />
and he has been turned down more in recent<br />
years. This is not really the school’s fault because<br />
more federal funds are being moved<br />
from shop to computers and special education<br />
development.<br />
As for the new shop, the only major problem<br />
is space. It limits the number and size of<br />
projects (especially cars). This denies students<br />
the opportunities to fix or build cattle<br />
shutes or feed bunks and can lead to safety<br />
considerations. It also has little or no storage<br />
area. The storage rooms in the old shop are<br />
still usable, but there is a huge convenience<br />
factor.<br />
Mr. Benson had his own shop for 25 years<br />
until he had to share for the last two years.<br />
The differences are it is harder to find some<br />
things because people misplace them, but its<br />
easier for him and Mr. Miller to watch each<br />
others classes.<br />
In the end, the smaller shop has advantages<br />
and problems but like Mr. Miller said,<br />
“We’ll make do with what we have.”
By Ashley Mullicane<br />
As a follow-up on the same basis as my<br />
“Valentine” article from last month, this<br />
month I interviewed a couple of teachers on<br />
a sort of love/marriage theme.<br />
I surveyed four teachers, including Mrs.<br />
Moser, Mrs. Boerner, substitute, Mr. Clark,<br />
and Mrs. Chaffin. I asked them each four<br />
questions.<br />
First I gave them the phrase, “I get a lump<br />
in my throat when my spouse...” Mrs. Moser<br />
chuckled, “Plans a trip and I have to board a<br />
plane.” Mrs. Boerner said, “gets tears in his<br />
eyes over happy or sad situations and our<br />
kids and grandkids.” Mr. Clark got all googly<br />
eyed and replied, “makes me eat her<br />
meatloaf. (And gets awards for teaching.)”<br />
And Mrs. Chaffin responded with, “is having<br />
a conversation with our sons.”<br />
The next question that was asked got answers<br />
with strong opinions. I asked, “Do you<br />
believe that teenagers can’t experience true<br />
love?” Mrs. Moser answered, “I believe that,<br />
in rare cases, they can.” Mrs. Boerner responded<br />
with, “Thirteen and seventeen year<br />
Page 7, The <strong>Ram</strong> <strong>Write</strong>-<strong>Up</strong>, <strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> Anthon- Oto <strong>Schools</strong><br />
Teachers give input<br />
on love and marriage<br />
old kids are probably ‘infatuated’, which is<br />
an initial stage of love. True love grows from<br />
work and experiences.” On the other hand,<br />
Mr. Clark said no. But Mrs. Chaffin explained,<br />
“There are many stages of love and teenagers<br />
‘experience’ love for the opposite gender,<br />
which is love but not ‘mature’ love. Love for<br />
the opposite gender is about how love makes<br />
you feel. Mature love is about how your partner<br />
feels. It’s about making your partner<br />
happy, not yourself.”<br />
The third question was Do you believe that<br />
love never changes? Mr. Clark doesn’t but<br />
Mrs. Moser thinks that, “Love definitely<br />
changes. The more you are with someone,<br />
(36 years for us), the more you learn what’s<br />
really important in a relationship and you<br />
‘don’t sweat the small stuff’. It just turns into<br />
a stronger, more comfortable, trusting bond.”<br />
Mrs. Boerner smiled, “No, it gets better with<br />
age.” And on the same note, Mrs. Chaffin answered,<br />
“Love changes every minute, day,<br />
and year.”<br />
The last question asked was “Where did<br />
April Birthdays<br />
By Courtney Venteicher<br />
Freshmen<br />
Josh Boyer 4/13/91<br />
Alyssa Sulsberger 4/17/91<br />
Jeff Bruning 4/18/91<br />
Kelsey Rotnicke 4/26/91<br />
Korey Rotnicke 4/26/91<br />
Daniel Greiner 4/27/91<br />
Sophomores<br />
Abbi Bendixen 4/01/90<br />
Jessica Bruning 4/07/90<br />
Nicole Rhode 4/22/90<br />
Tyler Bollig 4/28/90<br />
Juniors<br />
Tyler Delance 4/02/88<br />
Shane Erlemeier 4/06/88<br />
Adam Petersen 4/11/89<br />
Nick Boggs 4/13/89<br />
Brad Petersen 4/15/89<br />
Garrett Jones 4/18/89<br />
Grant Jones 4/18/89<br />
Brittany Maas 4/24/89<br />
Seniors<br />
Emily Hinrickson 4/23/88<br />
Kayla Bleil 4/26/88<br />
you and your spouse meet?” Mrs. Moser and<br />
her husband Dwight met in high school when<br />
she was a freshman and he was a sophomore.<br />
Mrs. Boerner said, “I met him at a high school<br />
music contest. I thought he was nice but not<br />
much fun. He went to college the next year<br />
and changed to the guy that I really fell in<br />
love with.” Mr. Clark and his wife met in<br />
“Max’s Lounge in the mall after we were both<br />
through with Christmas shopping.” And Mrs.<br />
Chaffin and her husband John met in kindergarten.<br />
As a student in high school, students go<br />
through all kinds of drama day by day and<br />
one major thing that effects everyone’s daily<br />
lives are relationships. Some of us have had<br />
steady boyfriends or girlfriends for a couple<br />
years. At the same time, many may not have<br />
ever had a boyfriend or girlfriend yet.<br />
Mr. Clark said that he doesn’t believe<br />
teens can experience true love, but if as you<br />
can see, Mrs. Chaffin met the love of her life<br />
when she was in kindergarten. What do you<br />
believe in it?<br />
Faculty and<br />
students enjoy<br />
spring break<br />
By Austin Bettin<br />
This year is the first year that <strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong>-Anthon<br />
Oto faculty members and students<br />
have had a Spring Break. Spring Break<br />
lasted from March 10th to the 19th.<br />
Many of the <strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong>-Anthon Oto<br />
students and faculty members stayed in<br />
their hometowns during Spring Break, while<br />
some lucky students, as well as faculty members<br />
got to spend their Spring Break in much<br />
more exciting places.<br />
For instance Mrs. Boerner, a high school<br />
substitute teacher spent most of her Spring<br />
Break in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Cabo San<br />
Lucas is known for being a Spring Break getaway<br />
for many high school and college students,<br />
and Mrs. Boerner found herself in the<br />
mix of all it. Mrs. Boerner commented, “The<br />
young adults that were there for Spring<br />
Break were everywhere and they were really<br />
loud.” Besides trying to find her way<br />
through all the kids, Mrs. Boerner soaked<br />
in the sun, went shopping at the different<br />
jewelry stores, went para sailing and also<br />
had enough time to go whale watching.<br />
Travis Brown, an MVAO high school senior,<br />
spent his Spring Break in Scottsdale,<br />
Arizona with his family. His brother, Derek<br />
“Fish” Brown, a freshmen at MVAO, and his<br />
father Brian Brown, who teaches at MVAO,<br />
also went on the vacation. Travis spent most<br />
of his time golfing, playing cards, and just<br />
taking in the warm weather.<br />
<strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong>-Anthon Oto high school<br />
teachers Mr. and Mrs Ocker spent their<br />
Spring Break having their honeymoon. The<br />
couple had their honeymoon in Las Vegas,<br />
Nevada.<br />
Some students left the good ol’ Iowa<br />
weather to go to even colder areas. Senior<br />
James Brouillette and Junior Travis Cameron<br />
headed North for Spring Break to go skiing<br />
in the Afton Alps in Minnesota. The two<br />
students skied most of the time but found<br />
time to break from their skiing to get in a<br />
little bit of shopping done at the Mall of<br />
America in Minneapolis.<br />
Siblings Alex Flanigan (Senior), Angie<br />
Flanigan (Junior), and Joey Flanigan (Freshmen),<br />
and their family also traveled to a<br />
colder area--Keystone, Colorado. While the<br />
family was there, they spent much of their<br />
time skiing and also visiting the Coors Brewery<br />
Factory. Angie commented on her vacation,<br />
“I had a lot of fun skiing and I<br />
thought the Coors Brewery Factory was very<br />
neat and interesting.”<br />
If your Spring Break wasn’t as fun as you<br />
would have liked, or maybe just not warm<br />
enough, you could travel to one of these areas<br />
next year to make your Spring Break<br />
much more exciting.
Softball girls<br />
prepare for<br />
upcoming<br />
season<br />
Junior Laura Hoaglund practices<br />
catching at an early softball<br />
practice.<br />
By Steffany Treiber<br />
With spring approaching, and softball<br />
practice just around the corner, softball pitchers<br />
and catchers have been working hard to<br />
prepare for the new season, along with girls<br />
willing to attend hitting practice.<br />
With a new coach this year, the <strong>Ram</strong>s softball<br />
team should look like an entirely new<br />
team. Head Coach Tim Hupke is looking forward<br />
to turning around the program this year<br />
and has been spending much of his time<br />
working with the players as much as possible.<br />
Coach Hupke has been working with the<br />
pitchers and catchers. Assistant Coach Bob<br />
Hamers started hitting practice Tuesday,<br />
March 13th. It is being held in the track shed<br />
at the ballfield complex. Girls can attend<br />
three nights a week and work on their swing.<br />
At the hitting practice, the girls work on<br />
their hitting technique during the first half.<br />
Then towards the end, they hit off the pitching<br />
machine. A new pitching machine was<br />
desperately needed. It is rather nice and will<br />
contribute to the girls’ performance by throwing<br />
out different pitches and speeds. New<br />
bats and equipment to help the players’<br />
swing were also purchased.<br />
Hopefully the <strong>Ram</strong>s can improve their performance<br />
this season since they have been<br />
hard at work during the off-season.<br />
Page 8, The <strong>Ram</strong> <strong>Write</strong>-<strong>Up</strong>, <strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> Anthon- Oto <strong>Schools</strong><br />
Pictured above are the players that received all<br />
conference honors: James Brouillette (honorable<br />
mention), Austin Bettin (second team), Travis Brown<br />
(first team), Tabby Allen (second team), and Erin<br />
Vermeersch (honorable mention).<br />
Volleyball girls work<br />
out during offseason<br />
By Steffany Treiber<br />
Some people think that since volleyball<br />
ended the season is over, but that isn’t true<br />
for most of the volleyball players.<br />
AAU Volleyball is a non-school organization<br />
that lets athletes prepare for the next season.<br />
All of the varsity players are out for<br />
AAU, which is why MV-AO has always had<br />
such a strong team.<br />
Starting in February, 5th graders to 11th<br />
graders have been practicing and competing<br />
in tournaments all around Iowa. If a team<br />
places well enough in one of the tournaments,<br />
then they are able to compete in the State<br />
Tournament. All of the high school teams<br />
have qualified for the State Tournament.<br />
The junior team went to several tournaments<br />
and they are now preparing for state.<br />
They competed in the Onawa, Hull, Lake<br />
City, and Manning tournament. They placed<br />
first at Lake City, and received second place<br />
at Manning. The juniors will go to Forest City<br />
to the State Tournament on April 1st.<br />
The sophomore team has been competing<br />
in several tournaments, too. They played in<br />
<strong>Maple</strong>ton and received first, placed second<br />
at Galva Holstein, and also competed in the<br />
Lake City tournament. Their state will be<br />
April 1st in Dike.<br />
The freshmen girls have been busy also<br />
with tournaments in Hull, where they placed<br />
3rd, <strong>Maple</strong>ton, Lake City, and Schaller. They<br />
will play in Newton for state.<br />
MVAO<br />
baseball<br />
season looks<br />
promising<br />
By Austin Bettin<br />
The weather is getting nicer and that<br />
means that the boy’s baseball season is just<br />
around the corner.<br />
The pitchers and catchers started practice<br />
on March 6th. The rest of the team will begin<br />
their practice on the 1st of May.<br />
The 2006 <strong>Ram</strong>s baseball team will be head<br />
coached by Jared Ocker. This will be Jared’s<br />
first year as head coach for the <strong>Ram</strong>s team.<br />
Beau Jacobson will be the assistant coach this<br />
season.<br />
Jared Ocker was a former high school<br />
pitcher and also played college baseball at<br />
Midland Lutheran College in Fremont and<br />
Morningside College in Sioux City.<br />
The <strong>Ram</strong>s had an excellent season last year<br />
with a record of 18 wins and 9 losses. The<br />
<strong>Ram</strong>s advanced through district play last season<br />
and made it to sub-state. The <strong>Ram</strong>s fell<br />
short to making it to state by losing to Carroll<br />
Kuemper by a score of 7-1.<br />
James Brouillette received 2nd team all<br />
conference honors last season and will be contributing<br />
to the <strong>Ram</strong>s team as a left fielder<br />
and also as a pitcher. Travis Hazard also received<br />
Honorable Mention.<br />
The team is looking forward to a very<br />
promising season with a new coach and also<br />
with many starters returning back this season.<br />
James Brouillette commented on the<br />
upcoming season saying, “I’m really looking<br />
forward to the season. We have many returning<br />
players who played a lot last year and<br />
hopefully with our experience, we can make<br />
it to state.”<br />
With the team making it to sub-state last<br />
year, and many returning players, the team<br />
is looking very promising for this upcoming<br />
season.<br />
“...Hopefully with<br />
our experience, we<br />
can make it to<br />
state.”<br />
-James Brouillette
McKenzie Sauser<br />
By Sara Dose<br />
McKenzie Sauser wants to be remembered<br />
as a person who never was afraid to be herself<br />
and the #1 <strong>Ram</strong> Fan! “Well maybe #2 next<br />
to Chelsea Wolf,” decided McKenzie. This<br />
dedicated <strong>Ram</strong> Fan is the daughter of Mickey<br />
and Mag Sauser of Anthon.<br />
Throughout high school, McKenzie has<br />
been involved in numerous activities such as<br />
Business Professionals of America, track,<br />
cross country, 4-H, Gold Club, National<br />
Honor Society, PALS, FCA and FCCLA.<br />
Page 9, The <strong>Ram</strong> <strong>Write</strong>-<strong>Up</strong>, <strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> Anthon- Oto <strong>Schools</strong><br />
Senior Spotlights<br />
You can usually find McKenzie running,<br />
but if you catch her between one of her jogs,<br />
she is usually doing one of her favorite things.<br />
Some of her favorites include listening to<br />
country music, eating macaroni and cheese<br />
or at McDonald’s, and watching Grey’s<br />
Anatomy or ER. On a good day, you can find<br />
McKenzie quoting from her favorite movie<br />
ever, Tommy Boy. Her favorite holidays are<br />
Christmas and Thanksgiving for what other<br />
reason? “Because there’s A LOT of good<br />
food!”<br />
McKenzie’s favorite high school memories<br />
have been going to games and going sledding<br />
at Chelsea’s house.<br />
It’s hard to believe someone who was<br />
never afraid to be herself would have an<br />
embarrassing moment, but her time to<br />
“shine” came sophomore year. Phil was<br />
threatening to depants her because she had<br />
shorts on. She tied the strings really tight, and<br />
when she wasn’t looking, he came up behind<br />
her and pulled her shorts up, instead of<br />
down.<br />
McKenzie admits that her secret talent is<br />
blowing bubbles off her tongue.<br />
Her future plans are to possibly attend the<br />
University of Iowa and major in athletic training<br />
or physical therapy. Hopefully she’ll be<br />
able to fulfill her biggest ambition, which is<br />
to graduate from college, get married, be successful<br />
and most of all, “To have fun while<br />
doing all of that!”<br />
Before heading off to college this fall, she<br />
plans on babysitting, going to baseball games,<br />
swimming, and hanging out with all of her<br />
friends.<br />
<strong>Up</strong>coming April Events<br />
By Steffany Treiber<br />
Saturday 1st-State Solo and Small Ensemble<br />
Contest<br />
Monday 3rd-Girls Varsity and JV Golf. Boys<br />
Varsity and JV Golf Triangular at BCIG<br />
Tuesday 4th-Girls and Boys Varsity track<br />
MVAO Invitational<br />
Thursday 6th-Varsity Girls Track at Boyer<br />
<strong>Valley</strong><br />
Friday 7th- High School Dance Show<br />
Friday 7th-Saturday 8th-Science Bowl at ISU<br />
Saturday 8th-ACT test in <strong>Maple</strong>ton<br />
Sunday9th-11th-FFA State Convention in<br />
Ames.<br />
Monday 10th-Girls Golf at KP, Boys Golf at<br />
Odebolt<br />
Tuesday 11th-Girls golf at Carroll<br />
Thursday 13th-No School-Inservice<br />
Friday 14th and Monday 17th-No School<br />
Vacation<br />
Monday 17th-Girls Boys Track at Denison-<br />
Schleswig<br />
Saturday 22nd-Prom, Grand March 8:00 p.m.<br />
Tuesday 25th-6:30 p.m. -FFA Banquet in H.S.<br />
Commons<br />
Thursday 27th-Girls and Boys Varsity Track<br />
<strong>Ram</strong> Relays<br />
Friday 28th-JV Boys Golf at Kingsley<br />
Amy Bruning<br />
By Courtney Hahn<br />
Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese<br />
Witherspoon Walk the Line is one of the best<br />
movies of 2005.<br />
It is based on Johnny Cash’s autobiography.<br />
It tells stories about his time served in<br />
the U.S. Air Force. It also tells about his first<br />
marriage and the troubles he had raising a<br />
family and controlling his new career in music.<br />
It shows how peer pressure can get to you<br />
even as an adult.<br />
Johnny began taking drugs early in his<br />
career. He felt they would make him a better<br />
singer. This movie also shows how Johnny<br />
By Devon Hieber<br />
The senior who’s best memories of high<br />
school are traveling to Texas, Ohio, Tennessee,<br />
Colorado, and Calfornia for choir, BPA,<br />
and DI trips is Amy Lynn Bruning. She is<br />
the daughter of Sharyl and David Bruning<br />
of <strong>Maple</strong>ton, IA.<br />
Her most embarrassing moment was<br />
when she hit her head on her P.E. locker right<br />
before class officer voting and she had to have<br />
an ice pack on her head in front of the whole<br />
senior class.<br />
Amy plans to attend Briar Cliff University<br />
for nursing or ISU for food science. Amy enjoys<br />
any type of country music, watching<br />
Wedding Crashers, eating spaghetti, Christmas,<br />
and saying “right-e-o.” Her secret talent<br />
is raising just her left eyebrow. Amy<br />
wants her high school legend to be the one<br />
who would talk to anyone.<br />
The most influential people in her life up<br />
until now have been her parents because they<br />
have always been there for her and helped<br />
encourage her.<br />
Amy’s biggest ambition is to have a career<br />
as a nurse or food scientist and enjoy<br />
doing it. This summer, she plans to hang out<br />
with friends, work at Staley’s, and get ready<br />
for college.<br />
Walk the Line<br />
fell in love with June Carter while he was still<br />
married to his first wife. Johnny Cash created<br />
many different songs and many of them were<br />
performed in the movie such as Ring of Fire,<br />
Jackson, I Walk the Line, Folsom Prison Blues, I<br />
Got Stripes, and Get Rhythm.<br />
I felt Walk the Line did a great job telling<br />
how one man can battle through drugs and<br />
alcohol and at the end, still became a music<br />
legend. No one will remember the artists of<br />
today, but they will remember the man in<br />
black, Johnny Cash.<br />
I gave this movie four out of four <strong>Ram</strong><br />
heads.
Senior Adam Bernard practices<br />
putting for the upcoming golf<br />
meet.<br />
David Trimpe plays a trombone solo<br />
in the jazz band at Parade of Bands.<br />
Page 10, The <strong>Ram</strong> <strong>Write</strong>-<strong>Up</strong>, <strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> Anthon- Oto <strong>Schools</strong><br />
Alli Jo Lloyd and Shelby Wessling play their<br />
flutes during the Parade of Bands concert held<br />
in Anthon.<br />
Jaime Oberg, Tabby Allen, Jessica Bruning,<br />
and Alli Kirchgatter jog in the halls for 20<br />
minutes during track practice.<br />
The boys’ track team stretches out for their<br />
daily run around town.
Page 11, The <strong>Ram</strong> <strong>Write</strong>-<strong>Up</strong>, <strong>Maple</strong> <strong>Valley</strong> Anthon- Oto <strong>Schools</strong><br />
Around the ‘<strong>Valley</strong>’<br />
Senior Dustin Boyer is employed by the<br />
school and helps Mr. Stodola update and fix<br />
technology problems. Here Dustin is showed<br />
fixing a computer in the computer lab.<br />
Answers to <strong>Ram</strong> Walking<br />
from page 4:<br />
A. Mr. Walsh<br />
B. Mrs. Hesse<br />
C. Mr. Clark<br />
D. Ms. Lundt<br />
E. Mrs. Moser<br />
During her free period, Mrs. Conover grades papers<br />
at her desk.<br />
Amanda Lavender, Kelsey Rotnicke,<br />
Courtney Venteicher, and Heather Morgan<br />
read their clarinet music intently during the<br />
Parade of Bands Concert.