Senior Spotlight: Lydia Kettner
Senior Spotlight: Cal McDonald
Trinity Mayhew
I have gone to school with Cal McDonald for two and a half years, and never spoke to him once until this past month. However, in that short month, he’s quickly become one of my favorite people. Cal is one of the most positive and inspiring people I know, and a conversation with him is never boring. He says the most insightful things, and I regret that I’ve missed so many of them over these last few years. God bless you as you go on your journey, Cal.
Trinity: What has been your favorite high school memory?
Cal: Scare House 2018
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T: What are your hobbies?
C: Well, I read a lot of books. I have a VR headset, too.
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T: Are you in robotics?
C: At this time, I’m in it in name only.
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T: Describe the perfect weather.
C: Snowing and sunny. It’s just beautiful. It’s very sparkly. Most people don’t like snow, and I’ve only seen it snow while sunny twice, because it’s usually cloudy and overcast, which is still nice, but it’s not nearly as sparkly.
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T: Favorite thing about PreCalc?
C: The simple cause and effect that’s always there, and no matter how many times you do it, it will always be the same (if you do it right) .
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T: What was your best year of high school?
C: Freshman year because it’s the year I did the most things: soccer, flag football, went to banquet, and joined robotics.
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T: Advice for freshmen?
C: When someone says something, listen. You never know when you’ll need it later.
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T: What do you want to do after you graduate?
C: I want to be a computer hardware engineer.
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T: Where do you want to go to college?
C: CVTC
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T: If you were a crayon, what would you be and why?
C: I’d want to be a deep purple or something, but I’m probably one of those weird mixed crayons that’s light blue with a yellow swirl in it that never turns out the way you want it to.
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T: Have any siblings?
C: I have two older sisters.
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T: Biggest regret?
C: I don’t really have any. If I really thought about it, I could probably think of something.
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Favorites
Prof: As a Freshman and Sophomore--Rodebaugh or Lau
As a Junior and Senior--J. Schierenbeck & PG
But overall--PG
Class: Pre Calc (But that has nothing to do with how his name is in it.)
Bible Verse: 1st John 4:19
Hymn: 63--O Come O Come Emmanuel
Season: Late fall and winter
Senior: Tyler Radichel
Junior: Noah or Kevin
Sophomore: Andy
Freshman: Isaiah
by Kitara Mielke
Chances are, you’ve seen this senior in some form or another (easily dropping into the splits in the middle of a game, or maybe just sitting in a casual backbend). I’m speaking of the one and only Lydia Kettner, of course. As she’s very involved in so many different things and a natural born leader, I don’t think too many people will need any more introduction. So, without further ado, here is her well-deserved and distractedly done Senior Spotlight:
Kitara: “When and where?”
Lydia: “Colorado Springs, on April 6, 2004.”
K: “Plans after?”
L: “College, and then police academy to be a canine officer.”
K: “What’s one thing that, looking back, defined your childhood?”
L: “I think spending every daylight hour with my neighbor.”
K: “Would you go back?”
L: “Yes. I didn’t have to worry about anything. Not about eating, sleeping, anything.”
K: “If you could pick another name for yourself, what would it be?”
L: “Esther.”
K: “Why?”
L: *pauses* “It’s a long story in my head.”
K: “What would be your go-to coloring page?”
L: (after establishing what the question actually means) “Probably a silhouette of a horse and a sunset.”
K: “Serious question now-- what sea animal do you best identify with?”
L: (we get distracted, and eventually this answer comes out of nowhere) “Jellyfish.”
K: “Favorite high school memory?”
L: “OH, this one always comes to mind . . . Kari and I were in church and it was during the last hymn. She sneezed and tried to hold it in and it was the weirdest sound I (or anyone) has ever heard-- started laughing and then she did and we kept laughing and trying not to laugh and snorting and couldn’t stop . . . Pastor Schaller even looked at us. Christian and Sherman just kept giving us weird looks.”
K: “Advice for freshmen? Or anyone, really…”
L: “Don’t be stuck up.”
K: “What’s one thing you hope to do someday?”
L: “Own my own horse.”
K: “Anything else?”
L: “I know this is cheesy, but make the most of high school… it goes by fast and it’s so much fun.”
Trinity Mayhew
A crushed grape gleams in the sunlight amidst millions of tiny paper scraps. “What?” someone asks from the back. “I can’t hear you.” The sound of chairs scraping against the tile floor echo in my ears as I jot down notes. This year, I have become much more familiar with the dining hall. The place where I eat, learn, and work have all become one. For some of my classmates, it’s also where they sleep and where they go to church, thanks to livestreamed church services. Even though it’s always freezing, it is better than having to have class sitting in a snowbank, which could be the alternative to this bizarre setup. While I don’t think any juniors are thrilled about this arrangement, especially the trek up and down the hill with arms and backpacks full in every kind of weather imaginable, we understand that it is necessary in order to comply with the school’s rules. Can COVID be over already?
Where do you see her in ten years?
Trinity: “In the mountains running a ranch with a lot of horses, dogs, and children running around.”
Marisa: “Living out in the middle of nowhere riding horses all the time and having me stay over every other week.”
Mason: “A vigilante keeping the streets of Colorado clean.”
Sarah F.: “She will be living in the mountains working as a cop with a drug dog and owning a horse farm.”
Britten: “On a wildlife reservation.”
Favorites:
Color: Blue or black
Prof: “I like them all for different reasons.”
Place on campus: Second couch in girls lounge
Poll you’ve taken: How people fold their hands
Sport to compete in: Volleyball
Haiku Blues
Rebecca Durst
Oh what of a thing
To do, to think, or to say
Here, this November?
Speaking of this month,
What season do you believe
It to be this month?
We started it off
With quite beautiful weather;
Choir was outside
But then, yes, it snow’d
But isn’t that normal here:
Snowing during fall?
After all, it did
In the month of October
Rather badly, too
When does the winter
Begin, on average, up here?
Now, or December?
If one divides them,
The months that is, equally,
November is Fall.
Winter ends at March,
Summer invades during June,
Fall in September.
Through this division,
December transitions them
Back into winter.
November 2020
Senior Spotlight: Tyler Radichel
It’s an amazing thing to see a person grow into themselves, and I’ve had the chance to see it with Tyler. Despite the fact that he literally only wears floorball jerseys, Tyler has a surprisingly varied personality. Here’s a closer look at the senior with the taxi.
When and where?
Jan. 11, 2003, Gwinnett, Georgia.
Caleb: You weren’t born in Texas?
Daniel: Nope, he moved when we were wee little lads.
Flower Mound or Eau Claire?
Flower Mound. Eau Claire has nothing in it and it’s smaller.
Most relaxing feeling?
Caleb: Oh, that’s easy. *scratches Tyler’s head*
Tyler: Head massages.
Things you’ll miss about high school?
The dorm.
Biggest pet peeve?
Styrofoam scratching the-- *Daniel walks out* OR LEAVING MY DOOR OPEN!
Things you most regret about your time here?
Tyler: I regret driving people around so much. That’s a lot of gas money.
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Plans after graduation?
Tyler: Whatever my parents tell me to do--no, college in Dallas for some kind of engineering.
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Where do you see Tyler in 10 years?
Caleb A: Living with his parents, but has a job. Plays floorball and Rainbow 6 Siege.
Daniel M: Probably an Uber driver in Texas. Owns 10 guns but doesn’t know how to use any of them.
Suraya W: In a small, dark room, surrounded by dozens of computer and TV screens and snacks while texting/snapping random people he met online.
Life in the Dining Hall
by Alex Radichel
A Musical to Remember
Joel Kuehne
For many years, countless boys and girls have waited for the day when the ILHS theater crew would put on a show of the masterpiece that is High School Musical. And now, I tell you, the day has come. It’s finally here, the musical to end all musicals, the one and only High School Musical Jr. Hopes are high for this stunning production featuring classic songs like “Stick to the Status Quo,” “We’re All in This Together,” and more. This remarkable show has it all, songs, shenanigans, and slang from the early two thousands. “But what about Covid?” you ask. Well, I’ll tell you. This year, the musical will be broadcast for the world to see *gasp*. You can watch it in your pajamas from the comfort of your own home *double gasp*. So now it’s time to get ready, get excited, and buy some microwave popcorn for this year’s production of High School Musical.
Favorites
Class: Definitely freshman and sophomore year P.E.
Prof: One of the SchierenBros.
Time of year: Just not the summer. Probably fall. Football season, it’s not cold, back to school after summer.
Time of day: Night.
Game: Either WoW, followed closely by Rainbow 6 Siege. For board games, Axis and Allies, followed closely by Settlers of Catan.
Floorball experience: Scoring my goal at Worlds. (The Picture was not used because Tyler's face wasn't clear, but if you Google his name it'll pop up)
Hymn: 552
Song: “Remember You Young”
Weird Things Heard Around Campus
Hey guys! I got a lot more for you this time. Thank you for the ones you supplied me with - keep it up, please! I’ll be sure to include them all. Enjoy!
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“It's as hot as a buttcheek out here!"
"I'd rather die than pay a hospital bill."
(Lays on the floor) "But it's so comfortable down here. It's like a second home."
"Stop being a depressed garden gnome."
“He pulled one ravioli out of his pocket."
"These hands are rated E for everyone."
"The class swan is looking down on you."
"Chickens are birds and nuggets."
"You talk big for someone who's being straddled."
"I won't be a grandma in the next 10 years unless I'm really . . . productive."
“I am not borrowing Joel Bernthal’s pants, sorry.”
“Ah yes . . . I love fluffy nuggets in the morning.”
"Ah yes, the 5th Amendment. The right to bed sheets."
Suraya Williams
"Ok, I walk up to an orphanage and I say, 'I’ll take your entire stock.' How much per child? About 3.50?"
"We were almost slavers, but we went to the orphanage instead."
"I love beating people with sticks. Especially children."
“That kinda sounded like Waluigi being tortured.”
“Sometimes we kill stuff; sometimes we make root beer.”
“ You three can bond through therapy, and we three will bond through bloodshed.”
“I'm like Lee Harvey Oswald, but good.”
"We know where you're keeping the children!”
“I need a chair so it looks like I’m standing up on campus.”
This chapel, set far in the woodland swamp
On the coast of South Carolina
Once a thriving chapel, with chorus and pomp
But would not last long
For in 1801, the chapel burned to the ground
And stood alone
Twenty years later the chapel was rebuilt, with more people abound
For eleven years the chapel stood
Attracting visitors from all around
However, all things must end
For in 1832, it was destroyed by fire for a final time
Now the chapel stands, alone
In those wooded swamps full of grime
All for company are the bodies of the dead,
Of the nearby cemetery, crumbling
No one is allowed here, within the walls which vines cling
Long forgotten,
The Pon-Pon Chapel of Ease.
Micah Fossum
Pon-Pon Chapel of Ease
Prof. Rodebaugh Out of Context
Sometimes class discussions can get very much out of control, and I compiled a few of the strange things that are said in class with Prof Rodebaugh with the help of some other people from other classes with him.
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“You broke me.”
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“I am a terrorist to everyone on the road if I am driving at night.”
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“Wow! Those are some thick students!”
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“You know, I have never really cared about most of the articles in the Flash…”
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“If I give you a clue, you should follow it.”
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“The magical class swan is looking down on you.”
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“If you throw a newborn baby into the water, it will swim!”
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“There are 8 notes in an octave and whatever those black things are.”
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“I don’t need to know anything I learned in first grade. The only thing I needed to know was where the playground equipment was.”
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“You wouldn’t need to work together. You could bully all of the children at the same time! Listen, all of you guys. Give me ALL of your lunch money.”
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“You could tell your parents, ‘Prof told us to blow up halogen lights in our garage.’ (He actually told us to try it at home.)
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“Did I say an 18 inch ladder?”
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“We’ll call him . . . orb.”
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“Tape your toes together.”
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“I don't have a better nature."
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"I thought I was funny until I started teaching."
Evan Kuehne
Advice from Profs #1:
How to ask someone to Formal
Prof Rodebaugh
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If you’re going to formal just ask, “Hey, you want to go to formal with me?”
Prof Kranz
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You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen. Will you go to formal with me?”
Prof Reim
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Sing “Will you go to formal with me?”
Prof Roehl
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I’d just say something like, “If you're not going to formal, will you go with me?”
John Sprengler
Potatoes
Alex Radichel
Potatoes.
Sometimes, with the incredible variety in food choices today, we forget about one of the simplest, yet most reliable, vegetables out there. In the immortal words of Samwise Gamgee, “Po-ta-toes? Boil em, mash em, stick em in a stew?”
In the Russian language, potatoes are used as a symbol of hardiness and strength. The incredicrop can survive in temperatures below freezing and when Russians say they’re going to their summer home, or “dacha,” they say на картошку: “to the potatoes.”
Furthermore, you can bake them, mash them, bake AND mash them, boil them, fry them, ball them, grill them, put em in a salad, put em in a cake, eat their skins, scallop them, roast them, or just eat them raw! Throw one in a hole and guess what? It makes more potatoes!
Also consider the amazing taste of a good potato. Oftentimes in our very own dining hall, potatoes are underappreciated, though they are usually the best part of a meal. Sure, French Dip is good, but the potatoes are better. One of my favorite meals is the barbecue meatballs - solely for the potatoes.
So the next time you look at a steaming pile of mashed potatoes with revulsion, remember that the largest country in the world once produced 500 pounds of these vegetables PER PERSON in a year and thank the good Lord that he blessed this world with potatoes.
What goes on behind the scenes of our Varsity girls’ volleyball team? I would like to state (see what I did there? ;) ) that this team consists of the most positive girls that I have ever played with. I have never heard anyone blame one of her teammates for anything. Sometimes, we have too much fun and get yelled at; especially in practice for talking excessively. Even though some of us don’t talk outside of practice, we have learned to work, improve, and have fun together. There are innumerable inside jokes, most of which I myself do not even know. To be honest, nothing exciting happens in the locker rooms before games (or so I will lead you to believe). We love our cheers, but are really bad at jumping in sync for “let’s get a little bit rowdy.” Our team also struggles with clapping at the correct time, with each other, for the announcement of the starting lineup for the opposing team. Otherwise, I’d say we are good at everything else; wouldn’t you? Shields High! - By a teammate of the Varsity Girls VB Team
For the random survey of this month I questioned if the students at ILHS have shot an actual gun before (a 22mm bullet or a higher caliber). Out of 62 people, 37 (60%) of them had shot an actual gun. 25 (40%) stated that they had only ever shot a pellet or BB gun at the most. I was surprised at how many people have never shot a real gun before. I am not saying that everyone has to love shooting guns, but I do believe that everyone should have an understanding of how they work. In order to have a safe respect for guns, we must first learn about them and understand how they work. According to some data that I found online, about 30% of adult Americans have never shot a gun in their entire life. I personally encourage all of you to find someone who is very responsible around guns and learn a few things from them. Get the experience, at least once, of what it is like to be around a lethal firearm.
Lydia Kettner
Behind the Scenes of the Musi… JK, VOLLEYBALL
A Question Shot out to the ILHS Students
I might be a little biased, but I personally feel that the Scare Trail was executed pretty well this year. From about 6:45 until 8:00, screams chorused through the woods, along with some “Ring- Around-the-Rosie'' music that really started to scare me, if I’m being honest. I can also attest that Prof. Kranz, a cloak, and a chainsaw do, in fact, tend to scare people, as much as creepy voices from deadly looking bodies that are chasing people around. I’m not sure whether the Scare House or Scare Trail tends to be more popular, and how this one compares to other years, but Sarah Fox definitely pulled through with a hauntingly good scare to end the spooky season.
Kitara Mielke
Scare Trail Review:
An Insider's POV
The 2020 Election
Trinity Mayhew
WARNING! THE WRITER OF THIS ARTICLE HAS STRONG POLITICAL VIEWS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.
America is two weeks out from the election and this is what we know. The media has proclaimed Joseph R. Biden, Jr. “President-Elect,” long before all legal votes were counted, before recounts, before audits, before lawsuits, and before any final count had been taken. Staggering amounts of voter fraud have been uncovered, including video evidence of votes being edited, torn up, thrown away, voice recordings of Michigan authorities discussing their plan to prevent lawful observers of vote counting and to dispose of votes, ‘glitches’ of vote counting programs including Dominion and Hammer (used in all major swing states), discoveries of thousands of dumped ballots, and proof that many ballots have been cast for people that died long before the election (including some of our own friends and family in the CLC), and records that people who voted in person requested and sent in a mail-in ballot (when they did not) .
A very good friend of mine, Paige Quam, created an extremely comprehensive document of eight pages detailing every event that has occurred so far in this election. They will not all be covered here, but here are some important details.
(This list is directly from Paige’s document. Numbers in parenthesis indicate electoral votes.)
Tuesday, November 03 2020 (Election Day)
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Trump takes big wins in Florida (29), Texas (38) and Ohio (18).
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Trump has big leads in Wisconsin (10), Michigan (16), Pennsylvania (20), North Carolina (15), Georgia (16) and Arizona (11).
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Trump even had an early lead in Virginia (13), but Fox News very prematurely called VA for Biden, even before CNN.
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Trump was ahead in the popular vote by 2.04% until 22:07 at the earliest.
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Trump lost the popular vote by 0.11% sometime before 22:51.
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Republicans projected to keep the Senate.
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In Biden’s remarks he was very confident about winning, even though Trump was leading BIG TIME in all major swing states.
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We all went to sleep with the President holding a strong lead. When we woke up, however, Wisconsin and Michigan suddenly found a total of 193,339 votes, 100% of which were in favor of Joseph Biden. This is statistically impossible, even with mail-in ballots. If you had the patience to flip a quarter 193,339 times, I can guarantee that it wouldn't fall on one side every time.
Our President has taken it to court in a pursuit to protect the valued right of the American vote, the root of our democracy, and desiring to count every legal vote. Without the process and respect of the American vote, what is left of this country? What is left of our freedom if our votes are not heard? When our vote is taken, so is our democracy. Even with this glaring amount of fraud, the media refuses to report it and even denies that evidence of voter fraud exists at all. If there was nothing to hide, why would they refuse to cover these facts and continue to oppose the investigations so much? Despite this, I am confident that our state and democracy will be recovered and preserved. God bless America.