April Stampede

Index

news....................................2

opinion.............................3-4

features...............................5

focus................................6-7

sports................................8-9

entertainment.............10-11

photo essay......................12Pg. 5 Pg. 9

Volume 14 Issue 7 April 2012

600 West 7th St. McCook, NE 69001(308) 344-4471

Front page design created by Lacy Carfieldusing www.toondoo.com

Be Safe This Summer! pg. 6&7

Feature Student: Daniel Peck Boys TrackPg. 2Homeless Awareness

2 News

April Stampede 2012

About the Stampede

The Stampede is produced monthly during the school year by the McCook High School Journalism Dept. and is printed by the McCook Daily Gazette.

The Stampede is an open public forum newspaper.

The Publication attempts to provide a fair and accurate source of news and a forum for student expression. Content is not neccesarily the opinion of the school board, administration, or adviser.

The views expressed in the column section of the Stampede are solely those of the columnists.

The staff encourages comments on relevant issues and encourages reader response. All letters must be signed in order to be accepted. The staff reserves the right to edit for content, length, or to reject any letter. Correspondences should be sent to:

The StampedeMcCook High School

600 West Seventh Street

Stampede Staff

Opinion Editor Lacy Carfield

Entertainment Editor

Karli Blank

Advertising Manager

Austin Hedke

Website Editor Drew Bredvick

Reporters Nathan CumminsAlex MorganKarie FunkAmelia CooperAriel KnospTrista Thames

Editor Tricia Mitnik

Adviser Mrs. Kristen Harris

McCook isn’t a very big town, but you would be surprised about just how many people live in McCook that you’ve never seen before. There are people that you rarely see around town that you wouldn’t expect to be there, homeless people. Homeless means to be without a home, not someone that makes a living off of sitting on the side of the road all day collecting money and then going home to a mansion later that night. Homeless people really do exist and the amount of homeless people in our society is a problem. The National Honor Society had a campout in front of the school on April 10th for “Homeless Awareness”. A few members from the NHS slept in boxes all night to raise money and food for those in need. The purpose of the campout was not only to raise money, food and awareness for the issue, but to show students just how fortunate they are to have homes to go to every night with a bed and blankets. The National Honor Society will be donating all of the food and money to organizations in McCook to go towards people in need.

Picture found at http://www.nationalserviceresources.org.

Homeless AwarenessNHS Camps Out to Raise Funds for Homeless

Tricia [email protected]

3 Opinion

Stampede 2012 April

Never fall

One big fallyou never know

Senior year...hmm not too hard and not too easy, but the one thing I can’t wait for is to get out of this town. This is the most backstabbing place I have ever lived in. Everyone knows your business, and you can’t have a boyfriend without one of your so-called best friends telling you that they like them.

You can’t get a job because people think that they have to have two jobs, and the sad thing is that people with college degrees can’t get a job here. Every time you go to a public place there are certain people that look down on the way you look and how you don’t have money-not everyone is perfect.

In McCook you don’t do anything, some of the things you can do here is drive around and waste your gas, party, go to the park, school, and go to the bowling ally, and I’m sure that gets boring after awhile.

You never have one true-friend without them backstabbing you. The one friend that never did that to me is gone. The one thing I liked was just school, except the drama. That’s why I am glad this is my last year of high school. No more drama; no more living here is this judgemental town. People are just rude and despiteful, and I’m glad I’m not staying.

It’s my time to shine, not do what everybody else wants me to do. Yeah, I’m going to miss my family. but nothing else because everyone that I thought I had was just one big joke.

Ariel [email protected]

Frozen with Fear

Still Undecided the most important decision you may ever make and how to make it

We’ve all been asked it…“What do you want to be when you grow up?” In kindergarten it was simple, you didn’t have to know what kind of field you wanted to go into or what classes you needed to take. If you wanted to be a fireman or a police officer, it was because you wanted to help people. If you wanted to be something like a veterinarian ,you loved and wanted to help animals.

We didn’t know a lot about life back then, but we knew making the world a better place would make us happy. We had no real concept of money and what it really meant to have or not have it.

Things got more complicated as we grew up and money was on the brain. Money-that’s what will make a grown-up happy. Really cool cars and a giant house to live in! I’ll find the job that pays the most money, and that’s what I’ll do for the rest of my life.

Then came high school; time to get serious. Got to think about the school I’m going to go to, the classes I want to take, and the scholarships I need to fill out, but I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. How on earth am I going to prepare for the rest of my life if I don’t know what I want to be?

I’m sure we’ve all given different answers to that question, changed our minds, or just said I don’t know. Well, now I’m pretty much grown up and still not sure what I want to do with my life. I’ve always thought, “oh, I will have it all figured out by the time I’m in high school; oh, I’ll get it figured out next year.”

That year turned into next year and so on and so on, until I’m in this position I’m in right now-a high school senior with less than ten days left to graduation and still no clue what I want to do with my life.

I know I’m not the only one, and this is something most students are faced with, whether it’s changing your mind about what you want to do, or just not knowing how you should go about choosing what you want to do with your life.

John Lennon once said this: “When I was five years old, my mom told me happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up; I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment. I told them they didn’t understand life.”

You have one life to live; spending it hating your job is a terrifying idea.

Austin HedkeAdvertising [email protected]

4 Opinion

April Stampede 2012

Looking back on my school experience, I think it’s safe to say it started out bad. All through grade school I was treated badly... Maybe a couple times I fit in. Most of the time I didn’t.

I’m not writing this article to complain; I’m writing it to express how proud I am of myself. I never thought that I could get it all done this year. I think I proved myself wrong. Graduation is less than a month away, and I’ve almost completed everything necessary to graduate.

My family was scared that I wouldn’t make it either, but now that school is nearing an end, they are all happy for me. The thought of everyone being at graduation for me is overwhelming. Just picturing the crowd of people is overwhelming.

Truth is that I’m scared that I’m going to walk across the stage and fall flat on my face...I really am not that bright under pressure, so I will probably end up shaking hands with the wrong person. Then when I get to the end of the stage, I’m going to trip over my own feet. I guess that’s why they tell you to wear flat, tight shoes and don’t look at your feet.

I’m hoping this works because I dont want to be known as the girl that fell up the stairs on graduation day or shook hands with the wrong person. I would at least like to be remembered as a shy individual that was quiet in high school.

I’m scared, but I know that it’s going to be ok and that I won’t make an idiot of myself. If I do make an idiot of myself everyone will have something to laugh about ten years down the road.

The thought of turning into the class clown on graduation day doesn’t make it any better. It just makes me more nervous.

Going into this year I was scared that I wasn’t going to make it. I was thinking that ir would get to semester and I would give up. Nope, not this year. This year, I buckled down when I knew I was in risk of failing. I’ve worked so hard to finish this year, so I’m not going to give up.

The year has gone by so fast, and I can’t believe that it’s the end of my high school career. I have less than 3 weeks left.

I’ve been dreaming of graduation since fourth grade, and now it’s not too far away...Is it real? I know it is; I just can’t believe it. The thought of me graduating is kind of weird.

I don’t think of graduating as an ending; I think of it as a beginning. I realize that I wanted to graduate early, but it’s just so unreal that it’s finally here.

Our past is behind us, Our future ahead of us, but our memories are forever with us.

- Anonymous

One Life, One Story

Time to say goodbye

Already?

Lacy CarfieldOpinion [email protected]

Four years of high school? Seems like forever...but here I am with nine days of school left. Only regret is that I messed around and didn’t actually try my hardest throughout my first three years. I failed all my core classes the first three years and had to make up all those credits from going through summer school and retaking the classes the following years. Making up credits from the previous year is a lot harder when you also have that year’s classes to concentrate on. I’ve figured out that doing your homework and studying for tests is a lot easier than going to summer school or retaking those classes.

I’ve learned a lot during my four years of high school. Some useful information, and some not so useful information, but the most important thing I learned is to always be yourself. What I mean by that is don’t be someone fake just because you want to fit in with a certain group or because you like a certain girl or boy. If you act fake, you’re going to have fake friends. If you just be yourself, you’re going to have friends that actually know the real you.

I learned a lot in these four years, but I’m so glad that it’s all over! After high school, it’s the real life now. I’m not going to have it easy anymore. I will be having a job and be having to pay rent, phone bills, and all that lame stuff that grown-ups do. I will have a lot of growing up to do in the next couple years, but I think I’m ready for the change!

Me Gusta La Fiesta

My Two Cents

Dueces!!

Nathan [email protected]

5 Features

Stampede 2012 April

OUT

Wh

at

are

yo

u m

ost

loo

kin

g

forw

ard

to

th

is s

um

me

r?

“getting my ‘52 Dodge pickup for my graduation gift”- Jon Scott (Senior)

“spending every day with Alex Morgan”- Austin Lambing (Junior)

“all of my football games”- Kolton Stone (Sophomore)

“going outside”- Taylor Geisler (Freshman)

“spending time with my mother and traveling with family”- Mrs. Desautels (Spanish teacher)

Feature Student: Daniel Peck

1. What is your favorite class in

school?

~Math

2. What is your favorite color?

~Red

3. What do you want to do after

you graduate high school?

~Go to College

4. What is your favorite candy and

drink?

~Reese’s and Pepsi

5. What is your favorite thing to

do in your free time?

~Hunt

6 Focus 7 Focus

April Stampede 2012 Stampede 2012 April

The end of the school year is approaching fast and with only a few weeks of school left everyone is looking forward to the summer! With tons of stuff to do during the summer, such as camping, the lake, bon fires, sleepovers, vacations, tanning, concerts, etc. Teenagers, and yes some adults, forget that it’s one of the most dangerous times of the year, and that we all need to be safe and prepared for some of the hazardous things that could occur during this busy season. Although being safe and following precautions might not be the most enjoyable thing to do during summer, it’s better to be safe than sorry! Here are some important ideas to keep safe this summer:

Wear Sunscreen!

One of the most important safety tips is to wear sunscreen. Yes we all long for that beautiful tan skin, but is it all really worth it? UVA rays, which come from the sun, are far more worse then UVB rays, which are found in tanning beds. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, to protect one from these harmful rays an SPF of 15 or higher is required for adequate protection. (skincancer.org)

Camping/Bonfires!

Camping and bonfires can also have some unsafe factors. If you’re camping, make sure you never hike alone and never approach a wild animal. Also, make sure when doing either of these activities to pay attention to the weather. It could change in an instant. Be sure to not use flammable fluids to start fires and to never leave a fire unattended or walk away from it. Also, keep water close by when camping or having a bonfire, it could come in handy. And remember to bring several supplies for various uses.

Cliff Diving, Death Defying

Oh yes, the lake. It’s where some of the best memories are made. It’s where most people spend their summers. It’s that nice cool place to be on a 100 degree day! As much as it has to offer, it also has some dangerous side effects. Cliff diving is one of the many activities to do at a lake. If one is familiar with facebook, they would recall a video put on a few years back of a guy splitting his head open from a terrible cliff diving incident. Several drownings have been

reported at the lake, with alcohol being the leading factor. Not all lakes prohibit the use of alcohol, but several do.

On The Road Again! Summer is one of the

busiest times to travel during the year. With thousands and thousands of people traveling all over the U.S., it accounts for a lot of accidents. Plus, some of the traffic accidents comes from teens not being in school, pedestrians and cyclists out and about, alcohol, and road construction. According to livescience.com, one in three traffic fatalities happens during the three months of summer. The Fourth of July is the most dangerous day of summer to be on the road, according to National

Summer SafetyKarie [email protected]

Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Remember to keep these factors in mind when traveling this summer!

8 Sports

AlcoAmeriprise

AmFirst BankArby’sBDCS

Bison DentalBody ConnectionCommon Scents

CT Jewell Co.Culligan Water

Debra J. Wilcox, CPA, LLCEdward Jones

Gateway Realty

Golden Plains RealtyHillcrest Nursing HomeJohn’s Service and RepairJ&C Plumbing & Heating

Janssen-Kool MotorsK-C Motor & Electric

Knowlen & YatesLa Cocina

L&L Plumbing & HeatingMcCook Lettering

Oz-TexPlains Equipment GroupRita’s Framing Creations

Rye Printing

Splash DesignzState Farm-Kristie WintersStockman’s Feed & Supply

Tequila’sTLC Bookkeeping

Top O� ce ProductsUSave Pharmacy

Wendy’sWeskamp Floral & Gi� s

Wilcox Well DrillingWilliam L. Graves, DDS, PC

Denim & DudsAcme Touch Printing

MHS Yearbook thanks our Bronze Sponsors!

Thank you for your patronage!

April Stampede 2012

Every year around the end of March or early April, choirs and bands all over Nebraska practice selections composed by various artists. Once these groups have perfected each piece, they travel to the school hosting the competition. Each school in the district meets at the hosting school for the district music competition. There are different kinds of people performing from whole choirs and bands, or small groups, to solos (vocal or instrumental).

The judges score on a one to five scale; one being superior. With every competitor at this year’s competition, McCook seemed to rank pretty well.

The McCook Concert Band got a superior score of one, Jazz band did an outstanding job and got a two. Philip Clay got a one on his outstanding piano

solo, trumpet duet got a two, clarinet/sax duet got a two, Amber Hilker got a one on her trombone solo, Michele Tinglum got a one on her clarinet solo, Rebecca Sehnert got a one on her violin solo, Joshua Stevens got a one on his percussion solo.

Choir did an outstanding job, but got a two. Select choir did amazing as well, but got a two. The girls vocal quartet got a one, a mixed quartet got a one, also, Lacey Brittain got a one on her vocal solo, Whitney Loos, Mikayla Packard, and Kelsey Siebrandt did as well.

With all of the outstanding performances our students practiced so hard to make their best, we really showed off our great musical talents.

District Music 2012MHS Musical Talent Displayed at Imperial

Trista ThamesReporter

Taste of Texas BBQWagner Ford

Schmick’s MarketCarpets Plus Colortile

Beauty ZoneTaco John’s

Red Willow County SheriffAll Seasons Counseling

D & T Electric

MHS Yearbook thanks our Gold Sponsors!

Thank you for your patronage!

9 Sports

311 NorrisMcCook, NE308-345-2936

El PuertoStampede 2012 April

Bison Boys TrackBreaking Records and Taking Gold

It’s been a great year for the Bison track team and hopefully it only continues to get better. The Bison boys have competed well in every meet so far and have a good chance at state. Although track seems to be a individual sport there is also a very important team aspect. If one member on the team is placing and earning gold medals every meet the team will not succeed as a whole but if everyone works hard and multiple people place the team has a much, much better shot at taking home a trophy. That is the primary reason McCook’s track team has been doing such a great job this year; the team has been placing in relays, field events, and open races consistently. Right now the pole vaulters are first, second, and third in the state which is quite an accomplishment. Austin Cherry recently ran a 49 second split in the 4x4 and finished the open 800 meter run with more than nine seconds to spare in front of second place. These results come from dedication and hard work during practice. Practices are a difficult part of practice according to Cherry, “Before practice you might be thinking ‘This is going to suck, it’s going to be a tough day’ but after the workout you realize that it pays off when you break a personal record. Practices can be fun though too, well sometimes that is. We like to have fun at times but we also know when to work hard.” There are days that track practice isn’t so tough, and days when an ice bath is needed after words. “Coach Gumb’s ‘cone workout’ is tough. It’s the only practice I’ve ever thrown up at.” But the Bison boys aren’t just hurting at practice, there are a few injuries that are hurting the participants and the team. Kyle Gaston is just coming off an injury that slowed him down in the beginning of the season while Jake Schlager participated in his first meet about a week and a half ago. Zayne Gillen and Austin Lambing both have foot injuries and Tyson Karr is suffering from an injury as well. Austin Cherry is hurting from severe shin splints which is an overuse injury very common in sports with a lot of running. Even with the injuries the Bison track team is still pushing forward improving week after week. The Bison were scheduled for a meet at Holdredge the got canceled due to weather but has an upcoming meet the 4th for GNAC.

Above Trevor Pate strides across the finish line to take first in the 4 x 8 relay during the Broken Bow track meet earlier this month.

Below Kyle Gaston jumps the bar successfully after recovering from an injury during basketball season.

Drew BredvickWebsite [email protected]

10 Entertainment

April Stampede 2012

Summer Fun Word Search

11 Entertainment

Memorial United Methodist Church

105 East E. - McCook, NE

[email protected]

(308) 345-2445

Join us for Sunday worship at 8:15 or 10:30 am

Sunday School at 9:30 am Youth Fellowship-Sunday evenings at 7:00 pm

Musically talented and want to praise God?Join the Signifi cant Light Praise Band! It really rocks!

Bill’s ServiceBierker’s Quality

CarquestCommunity Hospital

Th e CoppermillCowboy Up Tack

Deveny Motor

Economy 8 HotelEl Puerto

Farrell’s HallmarkHair Inn

Hershberger Music Co.John W. Haugen, DDS

Kohl Auto PartsMcCook Glass and Mirror

McCorkle MotorsQuality Urgent CareSecurities America

Studio 205Tinker Tom’s

Valmont IrrigationYMCA

Stampede 2012 April

Yays & Nays

MONTHLY OUTRAGE Top Ten... Things to do over Summer

10. Get a summer job

9. Take college classes

8. Hang out with friends

7. Go to Concerts 6. Go fishing 5. Cruise 4. Sleep in

3. Road trip with the bros!2. Tube down the river

1. Go to the lake!

Summer is almost here!

Graduation is in 13 days!

The weather has been nice lately!

Summer jobs for some people.

The last day for everyone else is May 18th.

It’s going to be really hot this summer.

I don’t know about anyone else, but with less than a week left of school, the seniors have more to do than ever before. Cardboard boats, mock election, and English essays, plus whatever assignments or projects we’re doing in other classes are fine and dandy, but all at the same time it becomes extremely stressful on students! i’m not sure how much free time we’re expected to have. Many kids have jobs after school and responsibilities to take care of at home. Not to mention if we want it done well at all, we need time to plan things out and must get together outside of school and work around each other’s schedules. Come on, can’t teachers plan out their large projects around each other to alleviate some stress on us students?

12 Photo Essay

April Stampede 2012

Fire and Ice Prom 2012Karli BlankEntertainment [email protected]

April Stampede

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