By: Nathaniel Sidwell Recently, gas prices have started to go up again. When COVID-19 hit, gas prices went down due to fewer people travelling. At one point, gas was down to almost $2.00/gallon. Now that restrictions have started to ease and more people are out, gas prices have begun to increase. While many are grateful for the decrease in COVID cases and the easing of restrictions, they are not excited about the increase in gas prices.
High school students have especially enjoyed the low prices, but are now having to adjust their slim budgets to the increased gas prices. Most teenagers are working minimum wage jobs ($7.25/hour). Some are a little more fortunate and make $8.00/hour, but the price increase can still take a hit on students’ budgets. Tayson Grover, a junior at Bear River, drives to school every day and he has to fill up every week which costs him at least $55.00. Grover works two jobs to be able to afford gas and his other expenses, so he especially feels the pain of the price increases. There are a lot of factors that can cause gas prices to increase: politics, oil prices, trade laws, etc., but students don’t often have control of these factors. What students can do is find ways to drive more efficiently so as to save on gas. One good tip is to not pound the gas when the light turns green. Slowly accelerating saves more gas. When you need to stop, give yourself time to do it slowly rather than slamming the brakes which is bad for your car otherwise. There are also a bunch of apps on your phone that can help you save gas. You can also become a rewards member at a gas station you go to regularly. As you accumulate points, you can get a discount on your gas. Gas prices fluctuate often, but if you can employ some of these tips for saving on gas, you can save your budget.
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By: Nathaniel Sidwell As you know, the talent show is coming up tomorrow, Friday, March 5 after first hour. Due to COVID restrictions, the audience will be limited to the student body (no parents). Student council organizes the talent show each year and deserves a big thanks for making it happen again this year despite all the hurdles.
The main restriction or requirement to make this all possible is MASKS. Masks have allowed us to have dances, plays, sports and even be in person for school. Student council really wanted to add the talent show to the list of things we are able to still do and worked with Principal Gilmore to make it happen. The administration has done a lot in conjunction with student council to ensure we can have the talent show this year. In January, student council received approval for the talent show and began planning. Now that they had the talent show approved, they needed people to participate and started sign-ups for auditions. Students were eager to participate and, by the end of the week, the sign-up sheet was packed. There are a lot of participants that have really good talents: singing, instruments, dancing. Even the participants have had to practice social distancing and wear masks. Kambree Adams, student body president, stated, “In all honesty I’m super excited. I think we have some incredibly talented students at Bear River and I can’t wait to show them off.” The term also ends tomorrow and what a great way to finish things off. Hopefully you’re all caught up with your work and can enjoy the show. By: Maddie Trush Photo Credit: The Boston Calendar An eleven-year-old girl who steps into a whole different world will have to decide if she wants to go back to her old world or stay in the new one she found. Welcome to Tuck Everlasting, the next play to be seen in the Bear River Valley by Bear River High School. Come and watch online or in person February 25, 26, 27, and March 1.
Damon Furhiman (Jesse Tuck) explains the beginning of the story as a girl who “yearns for a life of adventure beyond her white picket fence.” The story is about eleven-year-old Winnie Foster (Olivia Rose) who lives her life at home following strict rules from her mother, Betsy Foster (Sami Pehrson) and Winne’s grandmother, Nana (Nancy Smith)...until she meets the Tuck family. The Tuck family is different from any other family; their secret is something that they must protect and one that Winnie will have to protect from those who want their secret. In this unusual family is Mae Tuck (Shannon Epling), the mother, Angus Tuck (Dillion Stewart), the father, Miles Tuck (Beck Burrell), Jesse’s older brother, and Jesse Tuck (Damon Furhiman). Olivia Rose (Winnie Foster) explains “the whole story is full of learning life lessons.” Other characters you will see are Man in the Yellow Suit (Maverik Christensen), Constable Joe (Keelan Anderson), and Hugo (Parker Rowan). Some of us wonder, “How in the world is the high school able to have a live production of Tuck Everlasting?” The cast has done lots of precautions for rehearsals. For example, they must get their temperatures checked, wear masks off stage, and they have all been COVID tested. They strive to do whatever they need to in order for this to happen from themselves and for the community. For audience members, they will be socially distanced from other groups and must wear masks throughout the entire show. Out of all the plays to produce, Tuck Everlasting is such an interesting play to choose. Furhiman explains, “Tuck Everlasting is such a good musical to do because it has such a good meaning behind it. It shows that life is worth living. Tuck Everlasting is also a well known musical because so many people have read the book in school. Between the book and the amazing meaning, you can see why it is such a good musical to do!” Rose explains the meaning of Tuck Everlasting as “Live life to the fullest.” There are so many boundaries in life that make people not live it to the fullest. Tuck Everlasting also has a good range of emotions with humor one minute and then an intense turn another. Rose stated it as a “roller coaster”. Tuck Everlasting is going to be one for the books. Come and watch whether from the comfort of your own home or in person. This cast has put a lot of work in to make Tuck Everlasting happen, and it is definitely going to pay off. By: Maddie Trush Mark your calendars, February 13th is MORP/girls’ choice. This is something many people have been waiting and preparing for for weeks. Of course things are going to be different than in years past, but it will be something to remember. Many schools are not even having dances this year, but at Bear River High School, they have had the opportunity to have not just one, not two, but three dances counting this one. People wonder how they are having all of these dances, and this is how they are having them.
The head of the student council, Mrs. Dawn Richards, explained how they are having the dance. They are having two time slots with 200 students in each slot, wearing masks, and having students get their temperature checked before entering the dance. Mrs. Richards believes that each time slot will sell out. She also says that if they have more students that want to come than just the 400 in the original time slots, they can possibly make another time slot. The school is working very closely with the health department, and they have to get approval for how the dance is run. The idea of two time slots came from a committee at the district because the last idea for keeping students separated by having different sides/sections didn’t work as well. Mrs. Richards believes students deserve some normalcy in their lives and one of the best ways to have something normal is a dance: “Students need to have some normalcy in their lives, especially right now. Many schools aren’t even thinking about dances, but Mr. Gilmore and multiple people including myself, just want students to have some normalcy and just to be teenagers.” Mr. Gilmore, the principal, fights for students to be able to have dances because he loves his students and wants them to have some balance in their lives. Mr. Gilmore states, “We are excited and happy to do what we can, anything we can during the pandemic. The key to doing most things at school is the mask. If we wear it and wear it correctly all the time, we will have more opportunities to do all the things the students want and hope to do.” As Gilmore states, if students just wear their masks and follow the guidelines, students can have dances, sports, and extracurricular activities. All the fun things can happen if students just follow what the school and the health department asks. As for student council, the people in charge of the dance are Paige Petersen, Shaylee Belk, Olivia Chournos, and Tasian Garza. These students worked really hard to help make the dance a reality. Paige Petersen states, "I feel super fortunate and excited, especially because of the past year's restrictions due to COVID. Dances are an incredible way to bring students together and feel united. I'm so grateful that we have a student body who cares about each other." They are just excited to be able to do things because last year they couldn’t. Some of the most memorable things people remember from high school are the dances. Tasian Garza explains, “I'm excited to be able to have MORP this year! Our student council 1st Vices and admin worked very hard to be able to have this dance this year. I'm definitely excited to be able to have the opportunity to be able to help this year with MORP. We have had so many ideas for this dance and we hope it can be such a success” The student council has worked very hard to make this dance happen, so it will definitely be a MORP to remember and be grateful for! Dear BRHS Class of 2020, Many amazing efforts have been made to celebrate your great achievement of graduating and your teachers, coaches, and counselors at Bear River wanted to add their voices. We have spent three years being involved in your lives and are proud of you. Below are messages to congratulate you, thank you, and inspire you. Principal A.J. Gilmore
You can’t wait for life to come to you, you have to come to life. Ricky Anderson You can do hard things! Joelle Beard My heart reaches out to all you seniors at this time. I have so many memories from my senior year, and I am sad that you have missed out on many of these experiences and opportunities. Even though you are stuck (mostly) at home, don’t forget to make memories that you can cherish and remember. This is a unique time and I hope you can have something fond from this to look back on, even if it is not the traditional senior year. I hope that you know that your teachers miss you, care about you, worry for you, and hope that you achieve great things in your futures! I truly love you all and I miss you greatly. Braquel Brinkerhoff Remember: "Everyone can RISE above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do." -Nelson Mandela. Congrats class of 2020! You have been an amazing group of students to teach and I'm so excited to see what you accomplish! Heidi Coulson Congratulations Class of 2020! Thanks for the memories! We may have had a short year, but the memories will last forever. Make your mark upon the world! You got this! Johanna Fyffe I am honest when I say this: I was excited when you came to this school as sophomores. I saw the group that you were in how you supported each other, your skill and your hard work. I expected great things by the time you were seniors and that is what you did. I expect you will do great things as you move forward. Kristina Hanson The best thing you can do in life is to aim for the stars! Even if you don't ever reach them, you'll at least get to climb some pretty high mountains on the way. Pam Hawkes I just want to say Congratulations!!! You made it and good luck. A special shout out to Julia. Calculus and 1050 were a lot of work this tri, but you all did it. Thanks for working so hard. Kristen Hewlett It is with a heavy heart that I say farewell to our 2020 senior class. I am heartbroken that I missed the last few months with you, but I am so proud of your resilience and fighting spirit. You will be stronger because of this trial and I know you will accomplish amazing things! Good luck and know how proud we are of you! Heidi Jensen To my National Honor Society presidency, thank you for making this year amazing! You have done amazing things as student leaders, and you will go on to do amazing things as community leaders. Remember the power and positivity of the group. It takes just one to make the entire group strong. To my Sterling Scholars--all 14 of you. I watched you grow, struggle, build, and learn. I watched you make it to competition, and then stay home due to COVID-19. You are strong. You are amazing! You are enough. Go out there and show the world. I am so proud of all of you. To my Fantastic English class--thanks for the food, the fun, the memories. Thank you for the impossibly amazing designs and dreams you shared. Thank you for making English fun. Take your dreams, your imaginations, and your beautiful goals and fill our world with impossible beauty. Michael Jensen You can do hard things. You will overcome. I miss you already. Kassidy Lake This is one of my favorite quotes I received during an election at USU. I think it’s great advice for anyone, but especially for this special class of 2020. As you leave Bear River and enter a new stage of life that will be full of changes, my advice to you is to “Soften into the discomfort. Accept it. Know that it's gifting you growth, fuel, and grit. Whatever it may be that you're claiming this year as your desire and dream. I wish you the discomfort. The stillness within the unease. The softening within the stretch. And mostly, I wish you the match that lights and revives the fire to keep you going. Because you can. Keep going.” - Author Unknown Sandy MacSparran To my Physics with Technology seniors: You Rock! You keep working hard like you did in my class and you will own the World. Keep it up. Thanks for making my last time teaching PWT ever, my BEST time ever. Coach Van Park Dear Seniors, This virus may have stolen your senior year, but it cannot and will not steal your future. You will be the generation that doesn’t take anything for granted and therefore will make each day the best. You will appreciate and value what you have and therefore will be a GREAT SUCCESS! Best Wishes Class of 2020! ValaRee Rees "Inhale confidence. Exhale doubt." Thanks for your examples of being resilient while being adjustable and adaptable. You will do great things! I am grateful for the opportunity to work with many of you this year. Sarah Saunders Congratulations, class of 2020! We are so proud of you! You help me be proud to be a Bear River Bear. Clair Schenk Here's my wish to the graduating seniors of 2020. I think that Rascal Flatts said it best: "I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow, And each road leads you where you wanna go, And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose, I hope you choose the one that means the most to you. And if one door opens to another door closed, I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window, If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile. . . . . My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to, Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small, You never need to carry more than you can hold, And while you're out there getting where you're getting to, I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too," This wish for each of you! Derek Sorensen Dear Class of 2020, In theatre, when the audience is amazed by a performance and wishes to show their appreciation for the performer's outstanding work, they join together in a standing ovation. Rising together, the audience roars with cheers and applause for a job well done. Today, I give you my own standing ovation for your academic and extracurricular achievements, your ability to overcome adversity, and your incredible accomplishment of graduating! Take one final bow and go out and change the world. Love, Mr. Sorensen Eric Stamps "There is no such thing as Luck! There is Preparation, Perspiration, Inspiration, Dedication, and ... Probability... but, may the Force be with you anyway." Katie Stapley I feel honored and blessed to have been in contact with such remarkable individuals. YOU are why I love teaching. Covid-19 has robbed all of us, but you have felt your loss heavily. As much as you wanted to complete your high school journey, we wanted it for you too. One of the great joys of being a teacher is seeing students succeed and reach the end. Despite this pandemic, you HAVE succeeded. I am proud of your success. I care for you and I believe in you. Margo Tackett Seniors, look forward. What happened in the past does not have to control your future. You can take the next step with confidence that you are capable. With hard work, anything is possible. The future's so bright and you are going to rock it! Janette Tomkinson Success isn’t always measured by just past performance. Every student, no matter their recent performance, can choose to be successful in the future. Wade Walton I sure am proud of all of you. You have overcome some unique challenges. I love you all and wish you the best. Go Bears!! Pete Watkins I really like this quote by Bethany Hamilton (surfer who survived a shark attack and eventually returned to surfing). “Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you.” – Bethany Hamilton Coach Gene Wilcox “You be sorry on the bench”- Hoosiers Ben Wiley “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are." - John Wooden By: Reagan Christensen These past few months have felt like they’ve been something out of a dystopian novel. The “rules” that we have been advised to follow have gone from wearing gloves and masks when in public to being told whether or not your job is essential, and if it’s not, you then have to stay home.
One of the people in our small town that are deemed ‘essential’ is a student at our very own Bear River High School: junior, Kyra Ballard. Ballard has worked in the deli/bakery department of our local Kent’s Market for about nine months. During her time working, she has been taught the basic rules of food safety to keep food safe and ready to eat. Because of the current pandemic, she has had to redefine food safety. Ballard’s job as she knew it has changed and she has become an essential worker in society. How deli and bakery items are made available to customers has also had to change significantly. Instead of getting a drink cup at the fountain, customers have to come to the deli attendant and request a cup, lid, and straw. Another thing that was a big concern was the island of hot food just outside the deli. Usually the hot food was out, but covered for customers to serve themselves. Since the pandemic hit, this was a big problem because the food was open to everyone and it wasn’t as well covered as some would like. This has been fixed by making the food individually packaged in plastic containers. Kent’s has also made meal deals that come with a couple of individually contained things like four pieces of lasagna, salad, and bread sticks. Another thing that Ballard’s department has to do is get donuts for the customers. “The main point of action is to minimize the contact of people to food as much as possible,” said Ballard. But the real question is, is this method effective? Ballard believes the answer is yes and said, “With us grabbing everything for them it doesn’t allow as many germs to pass through since we are required to wear gloves and change them often”. Ballard and the others in her department have definitely seen the effects of pandemic rules and they are working hard to keep the customers safe. For someone so young, Ballard has an important job and is fighting on the front lines of this pandemic by providing food in a safe manner. By: Skyy Schuffenhauer The archetype of prom royalty and its stereotypes have been perpetuated for decades, helping shape American high school culture. We all know how a typical prom king or queen is often depicted: the snobby, popular cheerleader and the good looking but idotic football player. Jasmine Teeter, a prom queen nominee, does not fit this profile and commented saying, “I definitely don't fit the stereotypical prom queen: cheerleader, dancer, athletic anybody… I literally make videos!” Teeter, who planned to attend prom with fellow junior Logan Knudsen, had an exciting surprise when she saw her name for the top ten candidates for prom royalty for the upcoming dance. “[I was] confused. I got the paper...during second hour when they usually hand out lunch detention papers… I literally thought I was having lunch detention and I had no idea why! ...I have never been recognized for this kind of stuff, so it was kind of weird for me, like unexpected.” She continued, saying, “There wasn’t even a thought in my mind, like hey, you could be prom queen!” Teeter explained that it was heartwarming to see that people thought of her, and of her other friends on the ballot in that way. Teeter feels that everyone on this year’s ballot is very deserving of the honor and said, “Some people truly put who they believe should be prom queen...some people earn it.”
Teeter is the junior tech on student council and feels that this nomination is recognition for all the work she and fellow student council members have put into planning the perfect prom. For approximately the last six months, the junior class student council members have been getting ready for what is most high schooler’s dream, and Teeter is more than ready to see all of their work come together for this special night. “What I look forward to most about prom is walking into the building, because I’ve been there before… I feel like I'm just going to get chills when I walk in and I see everybody in their beautiful dresses.” With the current outbreak of COVID-19, BRHS’s junior prom has been postponed, but Teeter, and surely the rest of the junior class, are anxiously awaiting the coronation of 2020’s prom king and queen. And who knows, this Cinderella of the story might just be crowned queen of the ball. By: Reagan Christensen From Monday, March 9 through Wednesday, March 11, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) members at our school went to compete at state in Salt Lake City. Members make presentations and study for tests related to jobs in the business field. Mrs. Braquel Brinkerhoff and Mr.Clair Schenk are the advisors for BRHS’s FBLA club.
Over the years, Mr. Schenk has been pranked by the FBLA members at state, and even Mrs. Brinkerhoff takes part. Every year, the seniors come up with some random prank to do to their advisor. Shaelyn Stephens, one of this year's seniors, stated, “It has always been a thing to prank [Mr. Schenk] at state” and no one really knows when or how the tradition started. After all of these years Mr. Schenk must be used to being pranked, and according to Stephens, he doesn’t get upset by them. “Honestly, there [were] a few times he probably should have [gotten mad]. One year some kid put laxatives in his food and he just laughed about it. Schenk is a really easy going guy, he doesn’t like confrontation,” says Stephens. Thankfully for Mr. Schenk's sake, the prank they chose this year was a little less detrimental. This year's state competition just happened to land on Mr. Schenk's 70th birthday, so the members took full advantage of this. The students made fliers that consisted of a collage of pictures of Mr. Schenk. According to Stephens, "[We] then went around and handed [the fliers] out to half of the other members of the FBLA." Mr. Schenk has captured the hearts of many of his students over the years, and these pranks are just ways that the students and his fellow advisors show their love towards him. By: Patrick Rampton The week of February 18-21 was FFA week at our high school. This week consists of tractors, competitions, hypnotists, and even dancing! This week is a true redneck week to show off who has the biggest tractor, or the best crap kickers (muck boots).
Dustin Halat, a BRHS sophomore, shared his thoughts about FFA week and what being in FFA is to him. Halat likes being able to compete in something that he has grown up in. This is a community that has a lot of agriculture and Halat is one that has really embraced this part and enjoys all the different aspects of it. Halat participates in parliamentary procedure competitions which means evaluating the abilities of a student to conduct a meeting. Halat actively participated in FFA week; he followed the dress-ups and even drove his grandpa's tractor to school. His favorite day of the week was, of course, drive-your-tractor-to-school day. He may not have had the biggest tractor, but he still had fun participating in the day. Halat loves that this day really gives members of agriculture a chance to show off what they get to use every day to complete their hard work. Although agriculture is not something everyone likes, it is something that everyone needs. From building houses to aviation, agriculture is something that is very widespread and covers and creates a lot of different jobs.. FFA is something that may not be represented in every school, but Bear River fully uses this opportunity to dedicate a full week to what it brings to our great community. By: Kassidy Johnson We all know that every year the ACT comes around sooner or later (this year it is on Tuesday, March 3). This day is known as the worst day for juniors, and the best day for every other grade in high school. The ACT is a test that measures your previous eleven years of schooling. This test also helps colleges decide who should be accepted into their school. One very long day of sitting in a room with a bunch of other people taking a test that will determine the rest of their lives. This seems to be the most stressful day in high school. Yet, after the test is done and over with, it seems as if it really wasn’t as hard or as stressful as people thought.
Kate Wood, an experienced senior, shared her feelings and some tips about taking the ACT. She believes that one test can’t prove all of your knowledge and everything that you know. Wood also doesn’t think that any test in general should be three hours long. Even though she doesn’t agree with the test, she expressed that she was grateful for the option to retake the test, as long as you have $46. Wood has a few tips that she feels will help anyone preparing for this year’s ACT. First: “Just show up and guess your best or just answer C for everything.” Second: “Don’t get dressed up that day; just come in comfy clothes.” Third: “Retake the ACT as much as you personally feel that you need.” Fourth: “Just relax, take the ACT, and enjoy the rest of junior year.” One of the only bonuses that Wood feels the ACT provides is having a high score means that you get more money in academic scholarships. She is glad that she got a high score to help her pay for college. Remember that the ACT is just a test and the world won’t end if you don’t get a perfect score. Chances are that you will live through the test and be just fine. By: Patrick Rampton Bear River’s Hi-Steppers were awarded the 4A Sportsmanship award on January 31. Kelbie Jackson, the Hi-Stepper coach, is proud of her team and what they have done this season. The Hi-Steppers placed 3rd in the quarter finals, but did not place at the State competition; however, because of their respect and team spirit, they were given the Sportsmanship award. The Hi-Steppers also placed third for highest GPA showing they work hard off the dance floor as well. Coach Jackson spoke very highly of her athletes and their accomplishments saying, “It’s difficult to be a student athlete, so when they are nice and smart student athletes it’s especially notable.” Coach Jackson sees leadership ability in all of the girls in and is very proud to say this is her group.
Taya Jeppsen, a member of the Hi-Steppers, remarked that this is her favorite coaching staff. Jeppsen believes that the team has done very well for having no seniors on the team to take on a more experienced role. Even though there are no seniors on the team, Jeppsen feels that all of the juniors have really taken their skills and used them to help the younger dancers improve. Jeppsen didn't know the sportsmanship award existed, but was very happy when the team received it. There were 19 drill teams that competed at state, so having the third highest average GPA is an admirable achievement that the team worked hard for. Overall, both Coach Jackson and Jeppsen have a good outlook on the team and their overall abilities in competition and in school. This team has an excellent mindset for success and have really stepped above the competition this year. By: Tonya Newbold Bear River High School's Theatre Department is currently showing “Cinderella.” The show opened on February 20 and has one more showing tonight, Monday, February 24 at seven pm. The play’s run time is 2 hours and 15 minutes, including one intermission. Audio, video, and photography are strictly prohibited during the performance. The star of the show is Paige Petersen playing Cinderella. Petersen says, “I think that the first night was a big success! It’s our best performance yet for our school. I hope that we can get more people coming to the other performances.” This performance is said to be the best yet because it has spectacular transitions. The theater tech has been working after school as long as they can to get the best effects and the music is out of this world. This play follows the same story as the original Cinderella, but it has a new character that adds to the brilliance of the play. There’s a plot twist that will keep you reeled in. Characters that are in the Disney version didn’t have names but now they do. For example, the fairy godmother’s name is Marie. The play consists of about 50 people and they have all been practicing since the end of November. The cast has given their all to make the best performance ever! Costumes for the play are gorgeous. Cinderella’s gown at the ball is white with some added blue for the mesh. The gowns help take you into the world of fantasy. Each night the show has seen a great turn out. Seats are being filled fast! Come bring your family, friends, anyone to this last showing. Come get the experience of a lifetime from our very own Bear River High School Theatre Department. By: Kassidy Johnson Bear River High School’s annual blood drive was held on Monday, February 10, in the main gym. Every year, students of all grades participate in donating blood to help those in need. Most teens don’t know why donating blood is so important, but it is used for transfusions, surgeries, medicine, and blood loss. In a recent survey done by the American Red Cross, they found that only 3% of people donate blood and that there is a shortage for those who are in need. On average, 4.5 million Americans need a blood transfusion each year. The American Red Cross encourages everyone to donate as often as they possibly can.
Courtney Noorda, a sophomore, has seen first hand how giving blood can help someone. Noorda has a brother who has hemophilia: he is missing a blood clotting factor. This doesn’t seem alarming unless you know that without all your clotting factors a person is not able to stop bleeding. Hemophilia also causes spontaneous bleeding and causes a person to bleed and bruise easily. Noorda explained that the way her brother benefits from blood is through his medication. After blood is donated, it is taken to a lab where they extract the different factors needed. Noorda shared that it is such an important part of her life that people donate because this situation “is not just an off chance, it is everyday.” Her brother can not miss a day taking his medicine; it is vital for him to have it. Noorda is very excited to get to donate blood once she is 16 because she wants to be able to help others just like those who help her family. She is very passionate about giving blood and hopes that everyone else who has the chance, takes the chance. For those that made Monday a day to give back, you are saving lives. For those that didn’t donate this time, take the next chance you get and help someone in need. You never know who you might be helping. By: Tonya Newbold This year, National Wear Red Day was on February 7. National Wear Red Day is about raising awareness of women’s heart health. In today's world, heart disease is the number one killer of women. One way to prevent this heart disease is by being aware of it. Heart disease can attack anyone, but women are more prone to this.
Some activities that happened that day, and could be done next year, were people asking their parents to schedule a visit with their doctors. Asking your doctor how your heart is can help prevent heart disease in the future. Heart disease can attack anyone, even kids and teens. An early detection could make all the difference. Another thing that some did to celebrate National Wear Red Day was to get moving and exercise with their friends. Taking a break from daily life and relaxing was another thing people did to be aware of their heart health. Some ideas to help you relax can be getting in a bubble bath or listen to soothing music. Juliet Laing, a senior and a dedicated participant in National Wear Red Day, suggests curling up on a couch and reading your favorite book. One thing that people could do next year to help promote awareness of women’s heart health is talk to friends or people they know, be open about the facts, and spread the word. Laing said, “I hope that next year people will be more aware of the number one cause of women’s death[s].” This year, Macy’s department store will round up their in-store purchases to the nearest dollar (up to $.99) and donate to Go Red for Women. This will be going on all month and it will be used to support education, resources and tools for women to improve their health and well-being through physical activity. They will also be featuring a limited-edition Calvin Klein red dress for $119 in select stores. 10 percent of the purchase will benefit Go Red for Women throughout February. Even though the seventh has past, let us support National Wear Red Day throughout the rest of the month and again next year by spreading awareness such as Laing suggests and supporting the cause through local stores such as Macy’s. Hopefully next year even more people will be aware of women’s heart health. By: London Hillis In December 2019, the Utah Legislature passed a bill which re-shuffled the way Utahns were taxed. The bill changed many things including, but not limited to, Allocated funds to Utah state University and University of Utah, exempted menstrual products from taxation, and increased sales tax rate on groceries, gas, diesel and special fuel. The Utah population was in an uproar about this tax reform and how it was enacted without the consent of the public. This in turn caused the public to start a referendum (a general vote by the electorate on a single political question which has been referred to them for a direct decision) to repeal the law. In a short time, the referendum gained over 100,000 signers.
The House voted on bill HB185 and after little debate the vote was 70-1 in favor of the repeal, the Senate voted 27-0 also in favor of the repeal.The recently repealed bill proposed an amendment to the Utah Constitution to remove a designation of funds on income tax revenues for education to further increase budget flexibility, and ways to make it easier to replace that funding source, likely through local property tax increases. This bill in particular had been worked on for almost an entire year only to be reversed shortly after it was ratified. Skylee Pollock, a student at BRHS, remarked, “I felt like a lot of students and adults didn’t really understand what the referendum was; I accidentally told my dad to sign it because I had heard that the bill was ‘bad’ but I wish I hadn’t because I hadn’t researched anything and based my entire opinion off of what I heard.” Pollock’s mom works at USU and the reform heavily affected the funds allocated to the school which also heavily affected Pollock’s opinion on the referendum. Forming an opinion on a government issue like this is hard when you are a student because not only is every government document almost impossible to read unless you have a masters in English, but it's also hard because every adult around you has probably formed an opinion about the topic which leaves the student to just think what they are told. By: Kassidy Johnson Hope Week, February 3-8, is a week for suicide prevention that is recognized school wide. During this week, students reflect on why suicide is not the answer and are reminded to be here tomorrow. Every year, Hope Squad and the student council work together to make this week centered around students coming together and finding hope. Andre Archibald, the senior class president, stated, “Hope Week is important because it makes people aware of mental health and it is an avoided topic that needs to be talked about.” Archibald shared his insights on Hope Week and the events that will be held. Each day of the week will have a theme and a dress-up to get students involved. There will also be lunch time activities that will promote suicide prevention. There will be an assembly with guest speaker Dr. Schramm to conclude the week. Friday night, there will be a home basketball game with a white-out theme in honor of Hope Week. There will be a Stomp in the commons following the basketball game. Archibald expressed his excitement that all students should come to the Stomp because it is free, there will be a DJ, and even black lights. The presenter for Friday’s, Dr. Schramm aka Dr. Dave, is a motivational speaker who has a message of hope for everyone. Dr. Dave travels to high school to share his message.He has already visited Box Elder High School and has many positive reviews, including one from the Box Elder School District Superintendent. According to DrDaveSpeaks.com, Superintendent Steven Carlsen commented, “Dr. Dave is packed with powerful messages that all high school students (and their parents) need to hear. Dr. Dave has an ease about him that touches both teenagers and adults, so they want to hear and understand his message.” In Dr. Schramm’s presentation, he has a dear friend of his share the story of his failed suicide attempt in hopes to deter young teens from doing the same. So, this year remember Hope Week and have fun participating in the events to come. Suicide Prevention Resources:
-SafeUT app -National Suicide Preventzon Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-8255, Available 24/7 -Crisis Text Line: Text TALK to 741-741 to text with a trained crisis counselor from the Crisis Text Line for free, Available 24/7 By: Patrick Rampton Raigan Gee is the mastermind behind the decor and snacks and expects a good turn out for MORP this year. This will be the last girls’ choice dance of the school year and it’s supposed to have a lot of good snacks and tasty drinks. Refreshments will include a chocolate bar with strawberries and grapes, giving a healthier option, and a chocolate-covered, delightfully sugary option. The drinks are going to be like lime rickeys and should be a tasty complement to the sweet snacks and bless your taste buds. Other drink mixtures will be available as well.
The decorations of the party will be white, gold, and maroon which are three great colors for your pictures. There will be balloons and pom poms covering the walls to hopefully give the students a better setup for photos and memories. Raigan loves the decorations and hopes that everyone else loves them too. Masks are not required, but it is a masquerade ball so Raigan hopes some of the guests at this dance will attend wearing masks. If guests choose to wear masks, they need to be half masks as seen in many movies. Masquerade masks are very decorative and have a lot of pizzazz, if you would like to name its style, and can complement the dress or suit of the wearer. We all hope that the DJ is lit so we can keep the party poppin’. Hopefully we can all enjoy this dance, and be safe and respectable to the leaders of our school. By: Tonya Newbold BRHS’s jazz band will be going on Elementary Band Tours on the 27th and 28th of January. Every year, they go to North Park, Garland, Fielding, and Mckinley elementary schools. The band goes to one school in the morning, comes back for lunch, then goes to a second school. They will be going to North Park Elementary and McKinley Elementary on the 27th. Fielding Elementary and Garland Elementary will be on the 28th. They’re at each school for about two hours.
This year, one song being performed by the jazz band is very notable: The Incredibles Theme Song. The band will play three songs total as part of each performance. Following the performance, Mr. Walton introduces all the different instruments. In the past, Walton has had each section give solos to provide students with a sampling of their sounds. Julia Hawkes, a senior and a section leader, hopes to be able to play a solo this year. She has been doing the elementary band tours since she was a freshman. As they go from school to school, the jazz band hopes to spread their love for music to the younger generations. This elementary tour allows elementary students to get a feel for music at a young age and consider specific instruments. The tour also allows students to become acquainted with Mr. Walton, who might be their band teacher one day. Most kids at this age don’t know the difference between orchestra and band. Giving them this opportunity allows them to start thinking about what they want to do in the higher grades. Hawkes says, “The best part about the elementary band tours is seeing the kids’ faces light up when they hear the different types of instruments.” Hawkes also says, “If you play a band instrument you need to try out for jazz band. You won’t regret it.” If you’re already in band or otherwise interested in music, give jazz band a try. By: London Hillis Rachel Kropf, a sophomore at BRHS, started a club called “Students Against Slavery” at the beginning of the school year. In an interview with Kropf, she revealed why she decided to start a club with O.U.R. [Operation Underground Railroad]: “I want to help other students know about human trafficking and I want to spread awareness of this danger.” Human trafficking has been proven to be more lucrative and a bigger threat than the selling of drugs.
O.U.R. is a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading awareness of human trafficking and raising money to stop and prevent human trafficking. It is estimated that internationally there are between 20 million and 40 million people in modern slavery today. When asked, Kropf stated that the most important thing to know about human trafficking is “that it happens anywhere including here and that they go after who’s vulnerable.” Internationally, estimates suggest that only about .04% of survivors of human trafficking cases are identified, meaning that the vast majority of cases of human trafficking go undetected. Around half of all sex trafficking cases, that are reported, involve children, which means that there is no estimate of how many children are involved and go undetected. Kropf’s view on the subject is directly related to the overwhelming data that supports the fact that human trafficking is a serious danger in not just the United States but also internationally. The definition of human trafficking is the action or practice of illegally transporting people from one country or area to another, typically for the purposes of forced labor or sexual exploitation. Which means that human trafficking can happen to anyone and that there is no specific profile a human trafficker can fit into. Social media is also a very common medium human traffickers use to “groom” (prepare someone or lure them into getting abducted or trafficked) people, so be careful and make sure you know who you’re talking to on social media. All in all, human trafficking is a very real problem and Kropf, along with the members of Students Against Slavery, are trying to put a stop to it. If you would like to support or join Students Against Slavery their next meeting is on January 29th, 2020 and will be held in the library after school. By London Hillis This week at BRHS is fundraiser week and the student council, along with the administration, are collaborating with the non profit organization “Together We Rise,” which specializes in raising funds for children in foster care. Throughout the week, activities are planned by the school to raise money; one activity in particular is taking place during lunch today: the admin spin. When money is donated, the admin will have to spin a wheel which contains a "punishment." Abigail Fuhriman, the student council member in charge of organizing the fundraiser, said that some of the punishments for the administration will be to ”egg them, have them eat a scorpion, or to have [them] wear makeup the whole day.”
Monday through Thursday there is going to be a Christmas song playing over the intercom in between every class. Students are given the option to pay to stop or start the music; this is sure to raise plenty of funds to help the needy considering Christmas music is a big hit this time of year. Along with the constant festive spirit playing over the intercom, on Wednesday during lunch the student council will be selling waffles for a dollar a piece. This is Fuhriman’s favorite activity and she hopes it is the most successful in raising money this week. Fuhriman said they chose to collaborate with “Together We Rise” because “It goes along with the schools theme ‘rise’ and we get to assemble packages so it’s more like a service project along with a donation.” This fundraiser is also Fuhriman’s first time organizing an event and she said, “It’s been stressful, but fun.” The student council has worked really hard on the activities for fundraiser week and it would be amazing to raise plenty of money for foster children. Thanks to Fuhriman, fundraiser week will be as amazing as it always is, and, as Bears, we will help as many people as possible! |