February 12, 2011Vol. 24, No. 4

CENTRAL COMMUNITY SCHOOLSof DeWitt, Grand Mound, Low Moor and Welton, Iowa

Two students headed for military service

—Page 8

Valentine’s Daycoverage

—Pages 4-5

Box 110 425 East 11th Street • DeWitt, IA 52742563-659-0715 • www.central-clinton.k12.ia.us

THE PURPLEnionLauren Weirup

Assistant Editor

Let it snow, let it snow. Juniors Tommy Peterson, Dustin Petersen, Connor Murphy, and Joseph Carber built a snow fort during the three days off school. Photo contrib-uted by Connor Murphy. Right, Makenzie Keeney shovels the snow to help out her parents. Photo contributed by Makenzie Keeney.

Cinco de Mayo a great occasion to propose

Will you marry me? A delighted Ms. Sue Nordstrom says “Yes” to Earl Sawvel’s proposal of marriage at Mrs. Pam Burke’s Cinco de Mayo party last May 5. “Oh, my gosh, I can’t believe this is happening,” she said. Photo contributed by Sue Sawvel.

Teachers come in the classroom each morning full of knowledge and wisdom and plenty of great stories of how their weekend went or of past students. But are they sharing all their stories? What about the stories of how they fell in love, or even how they were proposed to?

Art teacher Mrs. Sue Sawvel found that it is never too late for love. Divorced in 1999, Sue was living her life as an independent woman who loved her job and her friends.

One night she went to visit her daughter and found out that she had made an account on match.com for her mother. “Oh, honey,” Sue said, “this will never work.”

But she decided to give it a try. She searched around and talked to a few guys. She was surprised at what she found. “Guys my age wanted younger ladies,” Sue said, “between 25 and 45.” She was about to give up.

After a month she started deleting names on her account but “I could not delete Earl,” she said. Earl Sawvel was a widower and “just not like the rest.” She thought about it for a while. “I said, ‘All right, I’ll email him,’” Sue said. “He emailed me right back and said ‘I want to meet you.’”

Her kids told her not to go, that email can be fake, and meeting him could turn out really bad. Nonetheless, “There was something about him,” Sue said. So they met at Village Inn July 25, 2009, and hit it off immediately. After dating for only four months they both knew they were right for each other.

Every year Spanish teacher Pam Burke holds a Cinco De Mayo (May 5) Party at her home for the faculty and staff (usually just the ladies) to come and hang out and

relax. Last May 5, Earl called Sue and asked to come over. Secretly, he was planning to propose that night but was not sure how. Sue told Pam after school that she had to leave early because Earl was coming over, and Pam was glad to invite Earl to the festivities.

Sue called him back and told him he was invited, thinking he would never want to come and hang out with all the ladies.

“There was a silence over the phone,” Sue said, “then he said that he would like to come.” Slightly shocked that he agreed,

they made plans to attend the party. Later that evening, “We were having a

good time and I noticed he went into the house,” Sue said. “He was in there for a while and when he came out he stood right next to me and Pam came running out of the house with a camera.”

He was standing there quite awkwardly so Sue asked, “Are you ready to go?”

“In a minute,” he said. Right after that, Earl announced, “Could I have your attention?” He got down on one knee and proposed to Sue in front of her co-

workers.“What was really cool about it,” Sue said,

“was that he shared this really wonderful experience with all of those people that I am so close to.”

“Later I found out,” Sue said, “that when he was in the house he had asked Pam’s permission to propose.” Sue also learned that his alternate plan was to propose either over the intercom at the school or in the classroom, but thought it would be too disruptive. They were married July 10, 2010, in Bellevue.

Making the best of snow days

The Purple Onion

February 12, 2011

Vol. 24, No. 42 ON CAMPUS

Andy Risinger

Photo Editor

Creighton Fox

Sports Editor

Flower Power. Alli Cavanaugh shows off her hibiscus flower tattoo on her right

ankle and her shamrock tattoo on her

hip, right. Photos by Andy Risinger.

Auburn Templeton

Staff Writer

Mottos to Live By Perdieu, Mumm lead bowlers

You only live once. –Krista Duffy

Do not end the book, just start a new chapter. –Katie Irwin

Work now, play later.–Courtney Rickard

Live like you’re dying. –Fletcher Paulsen

Turning 18, exercising freedomTurning 18 is known as a time in life

where you finally become known as an adult. Students either look forward to it or see it as one more year in their lifeline. For some there is another idea that comes to mind…..getting a tattoo. Courtni Poell, who has two tattoos, which she got at Scorpions Den in Davenport, one is a peace sign on the inside of her bottom lip and the other is on her lower back in the shape of a heart saying, “love the life you live, live the life you love.”

Alli Cavanaugh also has two tattoos but hers are on her right ankle and on her right hip. The tattoo that is on her right ankle is a hibiscus. The other tattoo that is on her right hip is a four-leaf clover. Alli got her hibiscus done in Colorado, but got the four-leaf clover done in Davenport at Epic.

Live the life you love, love the life you live. Courtni Poell flaunts a heart tattoo on her back and a peace sign tattoo on

her inner lip. Photo by Andy Risinger.

When wrestlers hit the mats and b-ballers hustle up and down the court we know Winter sports are underway.

But, some of us tend to forget a fairly new sport in Saber athletics that is rapidly rising to new heights.

Fitting their fingers in a solid 12 lb. ball and rolling it down the lane with all their might are the Central Saber bowling team members.

Leading the Central bowlers is head coach Bill Perdieu. Coach Perdieu has been the coach of the bowling program since it started last year. This year the De Witt bowling team has posted an excellent 19-3 dual record and they are currently

ranked 11th in winning percentage out of both 1A and 2A.

Already over halfway through the season the Saber bowling team has made some significant strides between the 2010-2011 team, then last year’s first-ever Central bowling squad.

Statistically leading Central are sophomore standout bowlers Lucas Perdieu and Allen Mumm. After 20 games they both are positioned in the top twenty in total pins and share a high game of 278. What has helped the two tremendously is bowling outside of the season.

“During the offseason I improve my game by bowling in several tournaments and joining different leagues,” Perdieu said.

The next big stop for Saber bowlers is the substate bowling tournament in Cedar Rapids.

Do your best at everything you do or it’s not worth having done it. –Logan Brundage

You can’t stop the bullet if you pull the trigger. –Cory Hansen

No regrets. –Heidi Andresen

TurnaboutDancerescheduled for

Saturday, Feb. 26, 8-11 p.m. $5 a ticket, held in the gym

Get your dress and be ready to dance all night

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Bree DunkelEditor In Chief

OPINIONThe Purple Onion

February 12, 2011

Vol. 24, No. 4 3

Editor in Chief: Bree DunkelAssistant Editor: Lauren Weirup

Features Editor: Alexandria NeckerSports Editor: Creighton Fox

Design Editor: Alexandria NeckerPhotography Editor: Andrew RisingerOn Campus Editor: Deanna Hansen

Opinion Editor: Haley RuskReview Editor: Chloe Myers

Adviser: Mrs. Christine Gilroy

THE PURPLE ONION WELCOMES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. LETTERS MUST BE SIGNED.

Central Community High SchoolBox 110 • Old Highway 30 East • DeWitt, IA 52742

563-659-0715 • www.central-clinton.k12.ia.us

nionTHE PURPLE

Haley RuskOpinion Editor

Chloe MyersReview Editor

Out of all the wastes of fi lm I’ve ever witnessed, Little Fockers is in the top 10 for some of the most pointless movies created. I think Ben Stiller can be funny, but sometimes I feel like he tries too hard and this movie is a great example of just that. I’ll admit, some of the parts in this movie made me smile, but if I was forced to go see it again, I may just bring a sudoku or a book to keep myself entertained. The Saturday Night Live skit making fun of this movie made me laugh more in the 10 minutes than I laughed in the entire movie.

The whole movie is about Greg Focker (Stiller) trying to follow in this father-in-law’s (Robert De Niro) footsteps of leading the family. With Focker going out of his way to impress his father-in-law, he just makes himself look worse. In the end, everything works out and the whole

world is happy. Even the happy, feel good moments didn’t make me fell all warm and fuzzy because of the annoyance I was still feeling for the rest of the movie. I just wanted to leave. The only reason I stayed until the end is because I had to write a review on it.

If you liked the movie and if you’re insulted by my review, I apologize but I’m more of a fan of the stupid comedy where they take stereotypes and over exaggerate or have lots of word play, like Monty Python. This movie is just awkward humor that has been used so many times before that it’s not even funny anymore.

Valentine’s Day is a holiday that has evolved into a day for couples to celebrate their love for each other. But what if you’re alone on Valentine’s Day? Are you supposedd to sit at home and eat a tub of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream while men and women in love go out to a nice restaurant and stare deep into each others’ eyes? Are you supposed to watch old romantic movies and cry yourself to sleep? If you’re single, Feb. 14 doesn’t have to be your most dreaded day of the year.

Being date-less isn’t the worst thing that could happen to you on Valentine’s Day. You could get hit by a car or fall down a fl ight of stairs, for instance. Or maybe your cat dies. But if you do happen to despise the 14th because you’re single, here are some tips for you.

Don’t be a Negative NancyLook on the bright side. You don’t have

to buy a signifi cant other an expensive gift or send fl owers to anyone or worry about impressing somebody. You can stay in your sweatpants all night if you want to

and look like you haven’t left your couch in years. There’s one upside to being single.

Don’t blame yourself for being aloneSure, you may not have found “the one”

yet but it’s not your fault. Or at least let’s hope it’s not. You’ll have many Valentine’s Days to come with your one and only. Enjoy the few you have left being by yourself and let’s cross our fi ngers that your soul mate will fi nd you soon.

Plan something funIf a few of your friends are in the same

boat you are then throw an Anti-Valentine’s Day party. You can make broken-heart sugar cookies, watch scary movies and make fun of all those couples who are out spending way too much money on dinner and gifts for each other.

Embrace your independenceYou hopefully won’t have the luxury of

being alone forever so enjoy the time you have to yourself. Treat yourself to a trip to a foreign country with a few of your closest friends or just buy yourself something you’ve had your eye on for awhile.

Besides, you’re probably a lot happier than those over-happy couples in an over-crowded restaurant spending loads of money on over-priced meals. Be happy your last overrated relationship is over.

Every February there is a 14th. This 14th day of February is one of the best days of the year to some people and one of the worst to others. February can bring both happiness and sorrow. This day that is known for the emotions it brings to the surface is Valen-tine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day hearts, smiles, choco-lates, fl owers and happy couples are usually what come to mind when people think of Valentine’s Day.

This general idea of the day makes some people excited for its arrival. People get to publicly show their affection to another without as much criticism as a normal day. Gifts are given and the day is fi lled with love. To some people, this may be appeal-ing, and to others, it may be somewhat lu-dicrous.

What makes February 14th any different from the 13th? Or the 15th? Nothing except for a name. A simple word changes how everyone looks at a single day every year. And why did this random day get a special title over all the others? Because thousands of years ago the Christian Church picked this day to celebrate love and affection and named it after one or more Christian mar-tyrs.

In some places February 14 is a religious celebration, in others, such as the United States, it’s really is only a day to show love for one another.

Honestly, I get it; people love each other and want to show it off, it’s understand-able.

But personally, I think there is a line

somewhere that we have forgotten about. People have come to dread Valentine’s Day because not everyone has that special loved one to cherish for the day.

Valentine’s Day may be a day to recog-nize love for some but for others it brings sadness and loneliness. Whether or not people are actually lonely is somewhat doubtful — people live with being single all the time — but on this day it is high-lighted in the brightest-color highlighter known to mankind.

It’s almost as if to some people Febru-ary 14 is a day to show off the fact that you have a boyfriend or girlfriend. On a serious note, there is no need to show off this publicly known fact.

Couples remind people that they are “to-gether” every day; we probably couldn’t forget if we tried. Yes, we see you holding hands, hugging at every chance possible, and waiting for one another at each other’s lockers. If you guys think you’re hiding it, you’re not doing a very good job.

Being single really isn’t a bad thing. You get to do what you want and not wor-ry about your “signifi cant other” and his or her thoughts in the back of your mind.

Couples will say it’s easy and always fun and there’s never much to worry about, but that’s not true, two people in a relationship, whether it be a romantic one or not, will be tough. If it were easy, ev-eryone would do it.

Valentine’s Day celebrates two people in a relationship and is almost like con-gratulations, a day to be happy about what you’ve accomplished. But there are two sides to every story.

Valentine’s Day reminds single people of what they couldn’t do, what they have lost, and everything that has changed.

Those people don’t get the cute love poem, the fl owers, or the box of choco-lates. If you’re a lucky single you may get a candy gram delivered to your lunch table by a student council member because a friend was nice enough to give up a dollar or two to remind you that you are loved, just maybe not in the way you had hoped or wanted.

In the end, personally, I’m not a big fan of Valentine’s Day. Maybe someday I will be, but as for right now, I’m not. Don’t blame my disliking of the day on jealousy or any of that, either, because that’s not it. To be honest, and somewhat corny, I don’t like Valentine’s Day because why can we only have one day a year to celebrate love? Why is that love is really only appreciated and recognized one day out of 365? I know that some people make a point to make sure their loved ones know who they are, but others don’t. Instead people think they can make up for it all in 24 hours. To some people this may be okay but it’s not always enough.

If you are truly in love, it should be shown every day, not just highlighted one day of the year. You should be reminded of love with little things here and there, not with one giant teddy bear you bought at Wal-Mart because it says “I love you” when you press its ear.

By now I know I probably sound like a complete cynic, and I might be. Or maybe I expect too much. Who knows, maybe I just don’t grasp the idea of Valentine’s Day. Whichever it is, love is an everyday occur-rence, not a once-a-year celebration. I understand if you want to make your loved ones obvious on Valentine’s Day but please, for the sanity of others, keep it civi-lized.

Valentine’s Day guide for singlesLittle Fockers thumbs down

February 14 can be an emotional day for many

Letter to the Editor:Coverage shows students value our countryDear Purple Onion staff:I always enjoy and gain informa-

tion reading THE PURPLE ONION. How thoughtful to give front page to a student with a brother in Afghani-stan (November issue). About the same time the paper arrived my great nephew was leaving for Afghani-stan, so it really touched me. Thanks greatly. This demonstrates our Cen-tral students value our country. A thought for improvement — that art work is wonderful, but remember the elderly are your readers, too, and sometimes if the art work is on the print it can be diffi cult to read. Keep up the good work of the school newspaper! —Marian Connell

The Purple Onion

February 12, 2011

Vol. 24, No. 44

Deanna HansenOn Campus Editor

VALENTINE’S DAY

Bree DunkelEditor In Chief

Couple still enjoy each other after 63 years

Auburn TempletonStaff Writer

How well

do you

know your

spouse?

We asked Tom and

Jeannie Dean

Kassandra PrierStaff Writer

In high school, it seems two or three years is an eternity to be together. But can you imagine being together for 63 years? Kenneth “Kenny” and Madeline Mickey have been married since 1944. Kenny was born in Wapello and Madeline in Welton. They met each other in grade school in the late 1920s and were off and on all through school. Kenny played basketball and baseball and Madeline played basketball.

When they were done with school Madeline worked around the house and Kenny was with the Navy for three-and-a-half years. They got married when he came back from the Navy on Nov. 16. It was a small wedding with just family. Kenny and Madeline had seven children after they were married. Five are still living and two are now deceased. But losing two children isn’t the only hardship they’ve had to face during their marriage. Kenny had heart bypass surgery in the 90s and they had to move into West Wing Place about a year ago.

“It’s kind of hard to stay here all the time

but the grandkids show up every once in a while,” Kenny said. Other than that, the Mickeys say they haven’t had too many rough patches.

“We were church-going people but really nothing real serious,” Kenny said. “No more than anybody else.”

The Mickeys have also had a lot of great times. “We take a vacation once a year. We go out to Nebraska and went down to Florida to Disneyland. That was nice,” Kenny said.

Kenny and Madeline took their marriage in stride. “We never did nothin’ special,” Kenny said. “We took it day by day and everything worked out all right.”

“We never got into many arguments,” Madeline said.

“We never got into drinking you know,” Kenny said. “We watched TV a lot and went out to eat once in a while.”

The Mickeys gave some advice on how to have a successful marriage. “Work together and help take care of the kids and raise the kids,” Madeline said.

“It works both ways,” Kenny said. “When you raise a family there’s not much you can do. We play it by ear a lot.”

They also have a good way of thinking to live by.

“Sometimes she thinks she’s right, which she is,” Kenny said.

“Sometimes he thinks he’s right,” Madeline said. “Which he isn’t.”

Whether it’s a celebrity or somebody within the school, everybody has their own version of their ideal spouse. From Robert Pattinson to Megan Fox, students and teachers give us the low down on what they look for in their significant other.

“Nice smile and sparkling eyes,” are just a few of the things Stefan Garton looks for in his ideal spouse. His idea of a perfect date would be going to a nice restaurant.

“Average weight, female, blonde or brunette, has supper ready when I get home, and likes to have fun at night,” is Hunter Wagener’s version of his perfect spouse. She has to be good at cooking, attractive, have a good personality, and a

Mr. Cody LaKose:

Uma Thurman

Jenny Kruger:

Matthew McConaughey

Morgan Crosthwaite:

Leonardo DeCaprio

A perfect date leading to the perfect spouse

Who was your first crush?

Jesse Brackey: Sam StaffordMollie McCulloh: Kyle BauerAaron Tarchinski: Maggie DolanMaddison Fuller: Cameron O’Neil Caleb Beer: Bryce GassmannAbby Schneckloth: Chris Lubben until she found out they were cousins so then it was Colby AzingerLevi Wagener: Hillary DruryPaige McCulloh: Joe Feldpausch

Mrs. Jeannie Dean:What’s your favorite color?

Blue.What’s his favorite color?

It better be blue.What do you consider a perfect day?

A day I can spend reading a book or watching a movie.What does he consider his perfect day?

A day that starts with time to read a newspaper. What’s your greatest fear?

Something bad might happen to my kids or husband.What’s his greatest fear?

He goes home for lunch and doesn’t make it back to school in time for class.What do you think is your song?

“Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off.”How/When did you meet?

We met in 1977 in New York City at the Riverside Church on the Hudson River.Who was your first kiss?

Ricky Buckley in second grade.Who was his first kiss?

Jane-well, there were many before her.What’s your favorite hobby?

Singing or reading a fiction book.What’s his favorite hobby?

Dancing or reading the newspaper.What’s your life goal?

To continue to be happy.What’s his life goal?

To make ME happy!

Mr. Tom DeanWhat is your favorite color?

BlueWhat is her favorite color?

BlueWhat do you consider a perfect day?

Watching HGTV all dayWhat would her perfect day be?

Read all dayWhat’s your greatest fear?

Something happening to my children.What’s her greatest fear?

Something happening to our children.What do you think your song is?

“You’ve Got A Friend In Me”How/When did you meet?

In NYC at a Dance Theater. Who was your first kiss?

I don’t remember….. it’s been a long time.Who was her first kiss?

?What’s your favorite hobby?

Watching movies.What’s her favorite hobby?

ReadingWhat’s your life goal?

Live Happily Ever AfterWhat’s her life goal?

To add to the music of the World.

Hunter Wagener: Carrie Underwood

Courtni Poell:

Nathan Scott

Stefan Garton: Blake Lively

good listener. “First we would go out to eat at Texas

Road House with my best friend Steven and his date,” Wagener said. “Then we would go the rodeo and get kinda rowdy. Then with the night still young we would have a bonfire, and sing some country tunes.

Mr. Cody LaKose’s ideal spouse would be someone humorous, genuine, accountable, and honest. “A nice balance between easygoing and care free to professional and serious depending on the situation,” LaKose said.

“A chance to relax is nice, maybe a movie and then dinner or possibly seeing some live music,” Lakose said would be his perfect date.

“Someone who makes me laugh and loves me with all their heart,” are some of the personality qualities Morgan Crosthwaite looks for in her ideal spouse.

If I could marry any celebrity it would be...

Long-lasting love. Kenneth and Mad-eline Mickey have their photo taken for Christmas at West Wing Place. Photo contributed by the Mickeys.

5ON CAMPUSThe Purple Onion

February 12, 2011

Vol. 24, No. 4

Leighana Franks

Guest Feature Writer

Tonya Powers might empathize with the young woman in The Lost Valentine, whose husband, stationed at Pearl Harbor during World War II, is listed as missing in action. Every Valentine’s Day she waits at the train station for him. She waits 65 years for him to come home.

Tonya experienced a similar separa-tion, although not nearly as long, while her husband, Steven, was overseas in the U.S. Marines and U.S. Army.

“There were four or fi ve occasions that my husband wasn’t home for Valentine’s Day,” Tonya said. “I would mostly spend them at home or work. But he always sent me a card.”

“I would try send cards with cute little sayings and a little Sweetheart candy,” said Steven, who was drafted into the Ma-rines, then switched over to the Army for 22 years.

But when he was home, the story had a little twist. “I would go out and get her fl owers,” he said.

Being away from someone you love can be hard, but it makes for some of the funniest stories, such as how Steven pro-posed to Tonya.

“I had called her from the bahnhof (train station) and spent my last 4-and-a-half marks ($1.25) to call her,” Steven said. “I said to her, ‘I’m on my way home from Germany — do you want to get mar-ried?’”

“I of course said yes,” Tonya said. “When I told my mother she just nodded, but later she told me she was in shock for two years.”

Written communication was the key, Tonya said.

“I wrote him every day,” Tonya ex-plained. “I constantly worried he wouldn’t come home. I dealt with that by work and

writing to him.” Tonya admitted she still has his letters to her, in a box.

Steven kept his part of the communica-tions bargain.

“I tried to write as much as I possibly could,” he said. “But it was hard sometimes because I couldn’t say where I was. I have a couple letters that she wrote me.”

Steven said he was never worried he wouldn’t come home, for good reason.

“We were trained to think about our job at hand,” Steven said. “Otherwise, any other thought put your friends at risk and made you a weak link to the group.”

When Steven was on leave, one of his favorite things to do was to catch up with Tonya. “It was hard,” he said, looking at Tonya, “because many people would want to see and talk to you.

“Sometimes I would call her ahead of time so she could pick me up and we could take off and be alone.”

Tonya said her favorite things to do with Steven were to go for a walk and just sit and talk with him.

“We’d talk about what I had done,” she said, “or on the rare occasion, the diseases he contracted, like malaria and amoebas in the lower intestine from training – which he

Rebecca, wishing you all the pretty little ponies on Valen-tine’s Day! Love, Mom and Dad

Happy Valentine’s Day, Marissa

and Cody! Love, Mom and Dad

Love lasts through military

separation into the decades

Steven Powers in uniform

Tonya and Steven Powers today

LoveLove is like a super power,Getting stronger every hour.To some it will never break,And to others it will always ache.

Some say it happens lightning fast,It’s a moment that will always last.People never want to forget,The things they’ll never regret.

Fools believe their love is strong,But they all are wrong.Strength in love is what you earn,Too bad they’ll never learn.

Like every super hero,There’s something that turns him into a zero.Love’s Achilles’ heel is its heartBut that’s what makes love an art.

The fact we know its weakness,Makes us act like a mess.Love is strongest no doubt,When you let your weakness come out.

—Adam Henningsen

Love poems penned

by Ms. Rachel Niles’

creative writing

class bards:

Three Little Words

Three simple words with such a huge meaningWhen you say them mean them with your being“I” is for impossible, what I thought love wasBut then I met you and felt that magical buzz“L” is for the laughter that happens every dayAnd for the feelings that you get that are really hard to convey“O” is for the word ours to show the things you shareFor the feeling that you have wings, something that’s hard to compare“V” is for the very quiet nights where there’s not a lot of talkWhen you’re watching the sun go down, sitting out on the dock“E” is for every moment, touch, and smile that happens when I’m with you.You make my day so much brighter when I’m feeling blue“Y” is to show that it’s from you, from the bottom of your heartAnd when I think of you I can’t bear to be apart“O” is for the openness that comes from our trustFaith, hope, and integrity, all that is a must“U” is for unstoppable, that’s how love should beFor nothing can get between what is going on between you and meThree little words that you should mean when you sayAnd when you mean them make sure to say them every day

—Madeline Wright

didn’t know about until he came back to the States.”

The constant worry of a loved one in another country contracting weird diseases can be worrisome, but it didn’t keep them apart, even though it took two weeks to get to and from where Steven was stationed.

No matter the distance, a love can stay strong.

(Steven and Tonya Powers are the grand-parents of Leighana Franks, a sophomore.)

Valentine’s Day Salute Ads from our

readers to that Special Someone

ON CAMPUS6The Purple Onion

February 12, 2011

Vol. 24, No. 4

Valentine’s day is one of the most heartwarming holidays of the year, as well as one of the biggest shopping holidays for couples and even friends.

The most popular items bought are chocolates, fl owers, and jewelry, but what did students at Central High School want for Valentine’s Day?

“I want candy. Candy is awesome,” Chris Tabor said.

“A date is just too much effort and I

don’t care enough,” said Tabor. Ian Thomas knew exactly what he

wanted for the holiday. “Red fl owers, because they’re pretty,” Thomas said.

As for Morgan Oldsen, she had a few options in mind. “I want roses or chocolates,” Oldsen said. “Everybody likes chocolates.”

Bridget Fausnaught is also a chocolate lover. “Normally my parents get me a small, expensive box of chocolates,” Fausnaught said, “and that’s fi ne with me, because I’m kind of a hopeless romantic.”

She also shared her thoughts on Valentine’s Day saying, “I love watching romantic movies, but I don’t really want to be in a committed relationship.”

It truly is amazing the endless possibilities we have with the internet and the cell phone in this era of media. Unfortunately, not all the possibilities they bring lead down a positive path. The more hyper-connected a girl becomes to her peers, the more distant she becomes from herself, according to Leonard Sax, author of Girls On the Edge.

Of course, all teens love Facebook. It’s the quickest way to keep in touch with family and friends, show and tell what endeavors you’ve been accomplishing in your life and invite people to events you’re attending or planning. The use of Facebook, however, has turned into more than a means of communication between

family and friends. It seems now that the posting of photos and stories online is more to gain attention, please others, or entertain people, according to Sax.

The danger of an online blog or social network site is that teen girls may not be expressing what they really feel or believe. They may just be writing what they think will entertain or please their peers, or writing what they think the ideal girl would be saying. After a while she may become the girl she is pretending to be, losing who she truly is and what makes her unique.

“Spending too much time on social networking sites is like eating cotton candy,” according to neuroscientist Craig Kinsley. “When you come right down to it, there is not much substance.” Like cotton candy, too much can make you sick.

Before 1995, before girls had the luxury of 24/7-connectivity to the outside world, they had a private life and private time. Spending time with friends is always on

the “to-do list,” but they also had alone time to think and be themselves, whether they liked it or not.

Today, texting, instant messaging and cell phone calls make connectivity possible every moment of the day. As much as we all love and cherish our technology, it can put teen girls at risk. It deprives girls of any breather, any alternative perspective. According to a recent report, American teenagers send about 2,272 text messages a month. That’s just the “average.”

As these girls become hyper-connected to their peers, they are disconnected from themselves. Professor Sherry Turkle at MIT believes texting is likely to disrupt adolescent development. ’Tweens and teenagers need time to “just chill,” whether it’s praying, meditating, or time to just think. But if something is vibrating next to you every couple of minutes, it makes it very diffi cult to be in that state of mind,” Professor Turkle observes.

Alexandria NeckerDesign Editor

Alexandria NeckerDesign Editor

This One’s For

YouYou are like sunshine

Warming everything in sight

When the clouds roll in,

I’m missing your light.

In a way, you’re like winter

Comfortable inside, they

advise

And like a blanket of snow,

You bring comfort to my

eyes.

You’re much like music,

And original melody

Beautiful and bold

One to cherish extremely.

I think I would love it

Just to hold you forever.

It is in my hopes,

That for no reason we sever.

—Logan Miskowiec

Love poems penned by Ms. Rachel Niles’

creative writingclass bards:

Baby, all I want for Valentine’s day is... chocolate

Texting and Facebook: good or bad for the average teenager?

Photo illustration by Alexandria Necker.

A perfect gift. A large purple stuffed gorilla would be a perfect gift to surprise someone on Valentine’s Day. Photo by Alexandria Necker.

SECOND IN A SERIES: GIRLS ON THE EDGE

ON CAMPUSThe Purple Onion

February 12, 2011

Vol. 24, No. 4 7

Andrew RisingerPhoto Editor

New buildings make new future for Central

This year the school is undergoing some major reconstruction. The school is receiving a new performing arts and athletics wing, new career and technical education wing and a new middle school wing. The school has successfully completed a new woods room, foods

room, welding room and agriculture room. The construction has also completed new soccer fields and a new baseball field.

The new soccer fields are coming along great, the grass is almost done growing and what seems to be the only thing left to do on the fields is to put up the goalie nets.

The new baseball field looks almost completely done. The infield is laid, the fences for the outfield are up, and the dugouts look great. The construction is still going on here at school and is expected to last for the rest of the year.

What amazing acoustics. The new auditorium is going up fast and is looking great. Ev-ery day the construction work continues to get more and more done on the school. In the auditorium there will be chorus concerts, band concerts, plays, musicals, variety shows, and much more. Every teacher, student and every person who attends the concerts, plays, and shows is excited for the new auditorium. The seats will be much more comfortable than the bleachers, and the high ceilings will make the sound of the chorus and band sound even better than ever. Photo by Andrew Risinger.

The long walk to victory. The constructions workers have got a lot done in what may seem like a long time for anxious students, but they are actually making great time. This is just one of the new hallways Central students, parents, staff and guests will be walking shortly as they enter the new athletic and performing arts center where many great events will be held. Photo by Andrew Risinger.

Don’t judge a book by its cover. This may look a mess now, but this will soon be turned into a part of Central’s new school everyone will enjoy. Photo by Andrew Risinger.

The Purple Onion

February 12, 2011

Vol. 24, No. 48 ON CAMPUS

Deanna Hansen

Chloe MyersReview Editor

You’re an upper classmen now and you have to worry about so many things; keeping your grades up, colleges, scholarships, how to get enough money for college, and so much more. Junior and senior year are already stressful, but having to worry about figuring out what you want to do, what college you want to go, if you’re accepted, ACT’s, and everything else adds to it. But college isn’t meant for some people. Caulin Klaas and Tom McDonnell chose what may seem like a less stressful route, but is really a more dangerous and honorable choice.

Tom and Caulin have decided to join the Army. Their reasons may be different, but their hearts are in the right place. Tom wanted to join the Army because he could

never see himself sitting at a desk. “I never really thought college was

something that I wanted to do,” Tom said. “The military allows me to see the world, train me for a job, and fight for my country.”

Caulin wants to do something he has to work for, not something he’s just handed. “I want to do something different with my life,” Caulin said. “So, I might as well do the Army, because someone has to.”

Both Tom and Caulin leave for basic over the summer. Tom leaves June 12

for ten weeks of basic followed by seven more weeks of A.I.T. at Fort Sill, Okla. Caulin leaves May 24 until August 3. Caulin will have basic training in Fort Leonardwood, Mo. At basic training and A.I.T. it’s not just a summer camp, but training for a job, which most people do not understand. The men and women who go to basic get broken down and built back up into a true soldier. “They don’t brain-

wash you,” Caulin said. “They have to break you down so you become the best soldier you can be.”

Tom and Caulin signed up for a four-year commitment to start with and both plan to see how they like the Army then decide if they would like to make it into a career. Caulin would like to attend University of Northern Iowa and become a psychologist if the route of military does not turn out to be what he wants to do for the rest of his life. “If I find this is something I would like to continue then yes, I would make it my career,” Tom said. “If not, I will use the money to go to a trade school and become an electrician.”

Neither teen knew exactly what he wanted to do. Caulin knew he always wanted to do something different from everyone else, and Tom knew he wanted to go into the military he just wasn’t sure what branch. Both of them met up with recruiters and figured out what branch they

wanted to go into and what fit them best. Both Tom’s and Caulin’s families are

upset about their choice but supportive. “My mom seems upset about it, but still supports me along the way,” Tom said. “The rest of my family is also very supportive, which means a lot to me.”

Tom decided to go into fire support specialist, which is one of the most dangerous jobs in the field.

“With my best scores I qualified for a lot of satellite communication jobs but that’s not really what I wanted,” Tom said. “I wanted something a little more active.” Tom was offered three jobs and after doing a lot of research he decided fire support specialist was the right one for him. Caulin plans to work his way up to fire support specialist someday.

Tom has an 80 percent chance that he will get deployed. “I’m not totally looking forward to that,” Tom said, “but hey, it’s part of the job and I’m willing to do it.

On Campus Editor

Two teens already signed up for Army

Coming back from the warm of Florida and heading straight back for the cold of Iowa, the Marching Sabers Pride returned from the Orange Bowl with random souvenirs, new friends, and a whole lot of memories.

The band kids have been hearing about this trip for years. They’ve worked hard on sucking up to family members so they would buy food for fundraising and spent hours spreading mulch so they could go on this trip.

“It was definitely worth all the fundraising,” sophomore Maggie Gehlsen said. “Not many high schoolers get to say they performed at the Orange Bowl in front of 60,000 people, or say they watched the Goo Goo Dolls perform from the end zone at Sun Life Stadium. It was awesome!”

When the band rehearsed for pre-game and the halftime show, the high school

“stadium” with chaperones watching in no way prepared the kids for the massive size of Sun Life Stadium, which fits 75,540 people. The size of the crowd was the biggest anyone had performed in front of. “The biggest crowd I’ve ever performed in front of, other than the 60,000 fans at the Orange Bowl, was a crowd of 17,000 at UNI’s sold-out Homecoming game in 2008,” Gehlsen said. ”Next to that was probably around 13,000-14,000 at a UNI game in 2009. “

Not only did Gehlsen have to deal with the idea of being in front of so many people, but she also had to cope with the pressure of being the only twirler out of the two bands.

Everyone else had people who played the same instrument or had a flag in their hands so everyone’s focus wasn’t drawn to them for as long, but as the only twirler, Gehlsen stuck out.

“Being the only twirler was definitely an amazing experience,” Gehlsen said, “but also very nerve-wracking. I don’t think I’ve ever been more nervous trying to keep the baton in my hand!”

Music, friends, fun and Florida

Molly KeeganStaff Writer

I would like this article to be an official thank you to all the adults and students who work so hard for the success of our athletic programs.

Let’s be honest, without their commitment to our school, the games and meets we spend dedicated to standing and cheering for hours at, would not be the same.

I’m not just talking about the coaches either. I’m talking about all the volunteers who tend to be overlooked as “sports” people.

Yes, they are volunteers, and yes, they willingly give up their evenings to help our sports programs operate as smoothly as possible.

You see them taking admission, running the concession stand, and so many more behind-the-scene jobs that don’t seem to get recognized as they should.

Band director Josh Greubel, one of the many teachers who can be found at the games, puts together and directs pep and marching band during the different sport seasons.

“We don’t HAVE to work at the games. The administration has suggested this but this time is not in the contract so as of now this is volunteer effort,” Greubel said.

Many of these volunteers feel that donating their time is an important way to show support for the student body and to the community.

Choir director Mrs. Jeannie Dean spends many evenings putting together a group to sing the National Anthem at the sporting events.

“I think it takes all of us working together

Besides the nerve-wracking pre-game and halftime show the band kids got to experience there was also Universal Studios, Blue Man Group, a Jungle Queen Cruise, and, of course, going to the beach in the middle of winter.

With all the amazing adventures the band got to have, it’s difficult to decide which was the best.

“I looked forward to Pompano Beach the most,” said Gehlsen. “I had never been to a REAL beach or seen the ocean before, and it was so cool being there with everyone. Blue Man Group came in close second to that. They were so entertaining and absolutely hilarious!”

As the trip came to a close, everyone had their cameras out, taking pictures of the places they’ve been and the people they met.

“I made friends with a few New Yorkers,” Gehlsen said.

“When we returned from the trip, I became friends with a lot of them on Facebook; some who I didn’t even meet! I talked to a few of them right after we got back, but not very much anymore.”

for the benefit of the students. Working at sporting events is a way to show support for extracurricular programs and show the kids we have an interest in them outside our own classroom situations,” Mrs. Dean said.

“It’s not a big deal for me since I am usually at games to make sure the National Anthem is prepared, but it does involve a commitment of time.

“I think volunteering is important, and different people have different ways of getting involved. Adults need to volunteer to set an example for students,” Mrs. Dean said.

And volunteering isn’t all hard work and time commitment; some even find that it can be a little fun.

Speech teacher and coach Mr. Dean commented on the time he spends helping.

“Well, I like working the games. I get to see the last game and I get to meet people

from the community that I don’t usually get to see. I get to interact with parents that come to watch the game. I volunteer when I can.”

There you have it, these volunteers and so many more are the people who keep our sporting events up and running.

They include countless teacher and parents who want to show their support for our students and our school.

So next time your enjoying a Friday night at the gym or the field, watching a game with your friends, make sure to take a second to stop and thank these hard working people who donate their time for our benefit

These are the people who make our sports program a winning one.

Teachers volunteer at school events

Livin’ the life. The Central band performed at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Fla. It was one of the many sights the band got to see while on the trip. Photo contributed by Maggie Gehlsen.

CHRISTMASThe Purple Onion

January 1, 2011

Vol. 24, No. 3 9

Chloe MyersOpinions

He’s a round-bellied man with rosy cheeks and a snow-white beard.

He brings joy to all the little girls and boys by sliding down chimneys in the depths of the night without making a sound and eats all your freshly baked cookies and drinks the milk.

He’s the fellow who brings Christmas together for many. Of course, this is none other than Santa Claus, but who is this man behind the beard and red hat?

Santa Claus evolved from a man named Nicholas who was born in the third century in a village called Patara which is located in modern-day Turkey.

He was born into a very wealthy family but his parents died of the plague at a young age. They told him to “sell what you own and give money to the poor” so that’s exactly what he did.

He took his inheritance that he received

What is the real story behind Santa Claus?

Bree DunkelEditor in Chief

People in this world have their own favorite holiday. Now, thanks to all sorts of commercialism, it seems that Christmas is taking over, especially considering the fact that stores advertise and decorate two months early for it, almost knocking Halloween and Thanksgiving completely off the grid. It seems a bit much for just one day. Those who believe in Christ might argue that it should be a big deal because it’s the night of the Savior’s birth. I respect that argument but when you look at what it is that is taking over, it’s the commercial part of Christmas; the Santa Claus and buying presents for loved ones part of Christmas. Sure, people might just want to get their Christmas shopping out of the way and you can do that. Those toys are there all year so you can do your Christmas shopping for next year right after the 25th, but the decorations for it are completely unnecessary. It’s not like someone needs encouragement while they’re shopping for someone. The tinsel and holly might put someone in the Christmas spirit while shopping but come on, why would you want to look at the same type of festive decor for three months? Besides, if you do go Christmas shopping in October, doesn’t that just give kids more time to find the presents hidden in your closet?

Don’t get me wrong, I do love Christmas, but it seems to be a bit much. With all the hype starting so early, it starts to get annoying and I don’t want to have anything to do with it by the time it comes a long. My mom loves to listen to Christmas carols, and when I was younger she used to start listening to them the day

Christmas overkill?after Halloween. I remember one year almost crying every time we got into the car because it was the same song I heard three times the last time we were in the car. I was very grateful when she realized how annoyed my sisters and I were getting of them by Christmas time and now doesn’t start until after Thanksgiving. How do some people not realize that hearing the same songs over and over doesn’t get annoying? Some days I do want to listen to Christmas carols on the radio but I would like to be able to listen to my regular music too. There are only so many carols, just because there are different arrangements of one song, it doesn’t make it a different song. It’s still the same words, close to the same rhythms, and almost the same length. Just because a different person is singing the song, it doesn’t mean that it’s not going to get annoying if it’s played seven times. I counted once how many times “The Little Drummer Boy” was played on the radio within an hour. The song came on eight times with two different versions. I never wanted to hear that song again.

While all of the Christmas overkill does get annoying, another part of the problem is that it puts the holidays of the fall in the dark. It’s kind of pathetic when you walk into Wal-Mart three weeks before Halloween and the costume/Halloween candy section is a forth of the size of the Christmas section. When people are trying to find things in browns, yellows, and oranges for Thanksgiving, they can only find a limited number, but if they wonder on over to the Christmas section, they can find hundreds of different plates and cups in greens and reds. This is a slight exaggeration, but the idea is in proportion. It saddens me sometimes to walk into a store and see a bunch of Christmas decorations when I don’t even know what I want to

dress up as for Halloween yet. Talk about taking it one day at a time. If you have to think about two different holiday’s at once, one of which isn’t even for a few months, your head might explode. It isn’t just people that bring Christmas too early, sometimes it’s Mother Nature. Snow should come in December, and only December. After New Years it could just go away. Unfortunately the only way one could control that is to move to the tropics in January.

I’ve used this article to go on and on about what annoys me about the holidays, one thing that I absolutely love about Christmas is the lights. When I was little, we would always drive down a certain street where every house was decked out in Christmas lights and we’d be in awe, even if the lights were the exact same as the year before. In my opinion, if you’re going to go all out, go all out in lights. It’s always fun walking down the street and seeing how creative people get with their house decorations. Another good thing about the Christmas holiday are the cookies. I think if people baked like they do around Christmas time all year round, America

would be a lot fatter than what people are claiming it is now. That and hot chocolate are two things that are sad to see leave after the Christmas season. I think it’s humorous when I get a weird look from people when I drink hot chocolate in the summer but there are people who drink coffee every day without judgment.

Everyone knows the Dr. Seuss story of the Grinch. Sometimes I think he didn’t steal the presents because his shoes were too tight or his heart was too small, it was probably because he got sick of all the Christmas hoopla that started way too early. I don’t want to condemn getting into the Christmas spirit, but maybe get into the Christmas spirit when it’s actually the Christmas season. I admit, this year, all the excess Christmas joy hasn’t really gotten on my nerves. There were some moments when I thought that it was crazy to have Christmas paraphernalia up, but nothing to the point where I wanted Christmas to be over already. I’m glad that either people are starting to tone it down or that I have developed the ability to ignore all of the ridiculousness.

from his parents and used it to help the needy, the sick and the poor.

So even though many children believe that a jolly old man creeps into their house to put presents under their brightly lit Christmas tree, the story behind Santa Claus goes much deeper then that.

The word of Nicholas’ generosity traveled quickly and he soon became known as a saint.

Santa Claus was first introduced to the United States by Dutch settlers who knew him as Sinter Klaas.

The image of Santa Claus that we know today of the big white beard and round belly with the bright red suit, was first created by Thomas Nast who drew him for Harper’s Magazine back in the late 1800s.

Santa Claus may be the center of most of the Christmas spirit during the holiday season but remember where he came from. He’s more than just an old man who knows how to make a few good toys, he evolved from a regular man with a huge heart.

In fact, there’s a little bit of Santa Claus in all of us.

Checking out the flashing lights. Erin Weirup and Caitlyn Griem gaze upon the lovely effort that was put into the tree in the high school lobby. The tree was set up by the student counsil to help give the student body a feel for the holidays. Photo by Deanna Hansen.

Holly jolly jingles. Chamber Singers make their annual holiday per-formance in the lobby of the high school on the last day before Winter Break. Photos by Haley Rusk.

10 NEW YEAR’S The Purple Onion

January 1, 2011

Vol. 24, No. 3

New Year’s traditions are varied Molly KeeganStaff Writer

get it done.” So has the faith in New Year’s

resolutions died? Is an annual occasion over? Although many don’t believe in the power of resolutions anymore, many still do. Take Megan Salyars for example.

“Getting in the weight room and watching what I eat” was Salyars’ resolution; and she stuck to it. How did she do it? “I beat myself up a lot mentally. For some reason it’s the only way it works. But if it gets the job done then I have to do it,” Salyars said.

Salyars has already lost a total of 10 pounds because of her promise to herself.

After the nonbelievers and the believers come the ones that are still on the fence about how they feel about resolution time.

Henningsen and Stephanie Schrader both think resolutions can be important,

Five, four, three, two, one, Happy New Year!

Yes, it’s that time of year when we can’t seem to wait for a new year to set goals for the person we want to become, but also a time to reflect on the person this past year has made us.

Whatever New Year means to you, everyone has a unique way of celebrating.

Some people like to make resolutions, and see the new year has a chance to start

clean, to break bad habits or to commit to good ones.

Others feel some resolutions can become unrealistic.

“Resolutions are not for me,” Fletcher Paulsen said. “Plus, a lot of them don’t get accomplished so I don’t set any unrealistic resolutions.”

Erin Dorpinghaus said, “I don’t believe in them. I mean think about it, has anyone actually followed through with them? I don’t even try to make them.”

No matter what the coming year holds, we all like to have fun getting there. It’s the one night when the whole country stays up late to that midnight hour just to yell those

three simple words, Happy New Year! Traditions are a must on New Year’s

Eve, Paulsen said. “Watching the ball in Times Square drop is always a given, and also I try to call my mom and grandma at midnight to wish them a happy new year.”

There are also many different ways to celebrate that last second of the countdown. Becker says, “We drink sparkling grape juice and put shredded paper on our fan so when we turn it on at New Years it goes everywhere.”

Darcie Farrell has a much quieter way of leading up to the new year. “Me and my brother always do a puzzle,” she said, “while we wait for midnight.”

Haley RuskOpinion Editor

Your New Year’s Resolutions:are they a boon or bah-humbug?

As the holidays come, stress piles up with visiting relatives, preparing huge meals, getting presents, wondering what the winter weather will bring your way, and holiday gatherings.

Just when you think it’s all over and you’re watching the New Year’s Ball drop at midnight in New York City, you remember it: your New Year’s resolution.

New Year’s resolutions are unnecessary to some, a life change to others, and just a thing you do every year for a few people. People all over the country make resolutions, you hear ads on the radio and see them on the T.V., they seem to be a big deal, but it doesn’t seem too often that they are actually followed through on.

Due to a lack of commitment, fewer and fewer people believe in making resolutions.

Skylar Henningsen is unsure of her feelings toward resolutions. “Most of the people that make them end up breaking them,” Henningsen said.

Neither Anthony Green nor Joseph Carber believes in making resolutions.

“I never make resolutions because I don’t believe in them,” Carber said. “If you have a habit you obviously like it and you can’t just stop because of a certain day.”

Green’s opinions are similar to Carber’s. “I’ve never made any resolutions. I guess because I’ve never thought I needed to change any of my habits,” Green said. He added that resolutions are good “if you can commit yourself to it. But I think the best way to do anything is not put it off and just

What do you expect to happen in 2011? “Maybe, just maybe, “I try to just take each “I don’t think the world “We get the economyI’ll pass calculus.” day as it comes.” will end in 2012.” turned around.” –Emily Ketelsen –Mr. Matt Ohnemus –Ms. Dee Dau –Mr. Karl Burmester

Illustration by Alexandria Necker

but neither has been able to stick to their set goals.

“Every year I say I’m going to go on a diet but I only do that for like a day because that’s all the longer I can go without chocolate,” Henningsen said, “That’s the only one I’ve ever really made but I’ve done it the last couple of years but it never works out too well.”

Although Henningsen hasn’t been able to follow up on her resolution, she still believes that they can have a great significance in one’s life. “It gets people thinking about what they want to do or what they want to change and it gets them motivated to do it,” Henningsen said.

Schrader has also forgotten the tradition of New Year’s Resolutions because “I’m not good at following them all year,” Schrader said. Still, Schrader too knows they can help someone out “if you intend to follow what you set.”

The Purple Onion

January 1, 2011

Vol. 24, No. 3 11SPORTS

Creighton FoxSports Editor

Students take to slopes

QUACK, QUACK, QUACK! Andy Risinger, AJ McNeil and Callen Stone are three of the nine players that currently play indoor soccer. Photo by Creighton Fox. Not pictured are Daniel Barnes, Tom Dorhmann, Christian Han-sen and Stefan Garton.

Just chillin’. Callen Stone and Tanner Connor ride the ski lift to their next destination while at Chestnut. Stone and Connor have season passes to Chestnut this year. Photo contributed by Callen Stone.

Andrew RisingerPhoto Editor

SHOT SHOT SHOT SHOT. These Saber basketball players bring their best when game time rolls around. All photos by Andrew Risinger.

Kickin’ it indoor

There’s no such thing as the offseason. These wise words strongly represent a

group of die-hard soccer players who will take any opportunity thrown their way to improve on upon their futbol skills.

One of those opportunities includes playing indoor soccer at The Bubble in Davenport.

The one responsible for registering a team and finding the guys williing to play was senior and soccer standout Cal-len Stone. Not only did indoor soccer give Stone a reason to hang out with his closest friends it also gave him a chance to im-prove his game.

“What pushed me to play indoor soccer was the chance for me to compete and get better year round,” Stone said.

Coming off an 11-4 season and just short of the State Tournament the indoor soccer partcipants look forward to games at The Bubble knowing it will be a good time and by the time the spring season rolls around a lack of team chemistry won’t be a problem.

“Before, after and sometimes even dur-ing the game we’re really laid back. We jus like to have fun and be physical,” senior A.J. McNeil said who somehow finds the endurance to run up and down the soccer field even after an excruciating wrestling practice.

Defender Andy Risinger also participates in indoor soccer knowing it will help him compete come springtime.

“It’s just really good offseason training and it’s a great way to get some touches in before the season starts,” said Risinger.

Other members of the indoor soccer team include Christian Hansen (Cal-Wheat), Tom Dohrmann, Stefan Garton, Colby Azinger, Ryan Hamby, and Daniel Barnes.

For the past few years there has been a controversy with skiers and snowboard-ers. Skiers believe they are free and all around good kids. Snowboarders believe that skiers hate all snowboarders. Shawn Paarmann is a snowboarder that loves to be out there just doing his thing. “Snowboarding is better then skiing be-cause it’s harder to learn, fewer people do it and its definitely growing in popularity” Paarmann said. Snowboarding is a sport that sometimes gets overlooked. Snow-boarders consider snowboarding harder then skiing and skiers consider skiing harder then snowboarding.

Saber basketball has always been some-thing students look forward to. Whether it’s dressing up for the games or just com-ing to support when our rivals come to our house to play versus us.

Jen Keitel and Lindsay Smith are two of the girls’ basketball team captains this year.

Keitel has been playing since fourth grade and has officially signed with The University of Northern Iowa to play bas-ketball. Smith has also been playing bas-ketball since fourth grade and with Keitel.

Smith has officially signed with The University of Wisconsin and is expected to

Seniors look to carry on teams, careersAndrew Risinger

Photo Editor

start as a freshman at one point in college. Anthony Burke is a captain for the boys’

basketball team along with Patrick Bur-mester and Brandon Jasper. Burke likes basketball because it’s all around com-petitive and he enjoys playing. He idolizes Alex Engelman because he isn’t a starter or the best guy on the team but works super hard in practices.

Burmester leaves it all on the court when it comes to game time. His playing time on varsity for the past three years has defi-nitely helped him with experience. He was somewhat injured for his sophomore and junior year but now can play with complete health for his senior year.

Not a single boys basketball team mem-ber has committed to a college to play yet but there is still a high change someone will.

Callen Stone is a skier who skis not only to be unique, but also for “freedom”. Chris Lubben is also a skier who skis not only to be unique but also skis because when he skis he feels “free on the skis”. Stone and Lubben Both said they ski be-cause there is no conformity like there is with snowboarders. But Paarmann insists that there is no conforming when it comes to snowboarding but instead everyone brings their own style and the younger kids and even skiers envy the snowboarders. When asked who they like to watch, Stone, Lubben and Paarmann each had different choices. Paarmann likes J.P. Walker because Paarmann rides some of the same styles. Stone likes Tom Wallicsh because he skis amazingly. And as for Lubben, he en-joys watching Bobby Brown.

Pin’ em. Sophomore Steven Adams (pictured right) forces his Wilton opponent out of bounds. Despite starting several underclassmen, the Saber wrestling team have put up a solid 4-1 dual record and recently finished 2nd at their own Saber Invitational. Photo by Andy Risinger

Patrick Burmester Anthony BurkeJennifer KeitelLindsay Smith

Tangled up in life

The Purple Onion

January 1, 2011

Vol. 24, No. 312 OPINION

Chloe MyersReview Editor

wanted for her birthday was to go see the lights. Her so-called mother (Gothel) refuses to let her go and Repunzel doesn’t want to leave because it would hurt her “mother’s” feelings. When all hope seems lost, along comes Flynn Ryder, a local thief trying to get away from the guard. The two make a deal to have Flynn take Repunzel to go see the lights and when they return, she will give him back his bag (which had something valuable in it) and so their adventure begins.

Tangled has to be one of my favorite Disney princess movies. I do get skeptical about Disney movies nowadays that have an unoriginal story but this movie blew all of my negative thoughts out of the water. Some of my favorite characters don’t even have lines, it’s just how they respond to what’s going on that makes my laugh. It doesn’t have very many good lines that you could just pull out of nowhere to quote, but I laughed during the whole movie because of some of the situations that came about. This movie may not be a Disney classic, but it sure has the potential to be one. I don’t care what gender you are or even your age, if you are a Disney fan, you must go see this movie.

Kyle MillerOn Campus Editor

Everyone is familiar with the story of Repunzel, or at least the gist of it. In the 2010 movie, Tangled, Disney takes the story and puts it’s usual charm in it. The movie starts out, like every Disney princess movie; with the story of how the princess ended up the way she is now. In this case, the queen is pregnant and close to death. A flower that has powers to heal saves her. When Repunzel is born, she’s given the same powers as the flower, but it comes from her hair. The evil witch, Gothel, kidnaps Repunzel and locks her in a far away tower so only she can use her hair’s power to stay young. In hope that the “lost princess” will return, every year on Repunzel’s birthday the king and queen release hundreds of floating lanterns into the night sky.

Where the story picks up is a few days before Repunzel’s 18th birthday. She had seen the floating lanterns, but didn’t know what they were for. The only thing she

Easy

Sad life of Christmas treesHaley RuskOpinion Editor

This was your teacher’s last incoming text 12/20/10:

Ms. Liz Dague “It’s Monday ugh :) How was your weekend?”Mrs. Lynn Kuehl “Yeah it’s probably for the best. They will be keeping her over night.”Mrs. Cathy Paar “I’m hungry.”Mrs. Kathie Goetsch “Donna called about 8 last night to say she is working both jobs Saturday.”Mr. Cody LaKose “Should I come over now to make supper or should I just come at 7?”

One of the most well known symbols of Christmas is the Christmas tree. It seems to have a great life; it gets brought into nice homes, decorated, and is the center point of the celebration on Christmas Day. But, have you ever really thought about the life of a Christmas tree? And I’m not talking about the fakers that are made of plastic; I mean the real, sweet smelling, sticky with sap Christmas trees.

Christmas trees, during the winter months they are a big deal to families. Children love to go out and find the perfect Christmas tree to put in their homes, decorate them, and see it glow with lights every night. These trees are the shelter to the presents everyone receives on Christmas day and the provider of the sweet scent that comes with the Christmas season.

Christmas trees start out in the woods or on a tree farm. They live quiet lives, minding their own business, just growing away. When they reach a certain height, the trees start to disappear from their birthplace. Slowly, they leave the field, one by one, people come and go with axes and chainsaws, cutting the trees at the stump to take them away. The freshly cut trees are then taken to a place where they can be sold: grocery stores, home improvements depots, and different parts of the tree farm.

After being escorted to their selling places, the Christmas trees are well, sold. Being sold can become a difficult process, trees are inspected for height, fullness, how the stump looks, and how the top looks. You must also factor in how much of the stump should be cut off and if any limbs should be trimmed. Thus far, it seems as if some trees could be looking at a make over in the near future.

Next comes the ride home. Trees are mercilessly tied to the top of cars and driven at high speeds to the buyers home all the while being stuffed in netting to keep

the limbs together. Finally the tree reaches it’s destination and is set standing to let all the limbs fall out and produce a nice, full Christmas tree. It’s best to leave the tree to fall for a short while, giving the tree its last moments of peace before the big holiday happiness push.

At last, the tree is ready to be officially set up in true Christmas tradition. Trees are set in their tree stands for maximum hold, lights are spun around it and ornaments are put in every open spot available. After it has been lit up and decorated, the topper comes, whether it’s a star or angel, it’s a big deal.

After all of your hard work, the Christmas tree is ready to be gazed about by the eyes of mystified children and looked at with memories that parents have of their Christmases as children. Christmas day comes and everyone races to the tree to see what it holds, and presents are opened with the tree in the middle of it all. Christmas trees stay bright all day on Christmas and everyone adores it.

Then there’s the day after, December 26 rolls around and Christmas is over. It’s take down time. Children usually never participate in this painful action and the parents take over. Ornaments are put back in boxes, lights are unplugged and put up until next year and all you are left with is a bare, lonely tree.

With this tree that now just sets in your home, you have a decisions; what to do with it? You have a few options, you could just throw it out to become a landfill item, you could supply a bon fire with it, or you could let it naturally decompose by finding a random area to leave it in. Tough decision, I know.

In the end, I don’t know if the Christmas tree really does have such a great life. Sure it’s celebrated and loved, but only for about month. After that it become bothersome and a nuisance. Still, I know I’m for sure not stopping the Christmas tree tradition, I’m just pointing at that one icon of the most anticipated holidays of the year, kind of gets the short end of the stick.

Oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree. The Christmas tree in the high school lobby was decorated by the National Honor Society members to encourage Christmas spirit. Photo by Deanna Hansen.