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January 26, 2006 - Volume 35, Issue 7

Board discusses safety
By Katie Hauser, sr.
Editor-in-Chief

On Jan. 22, the Board of Education held a special meeting to discuss construction pricing. The Board approved the pricing to enclose the link between the middle school and high school. The cost of completely renovating room 303 in the high school was also approved.

Board of Education members listened to several parents’ and guardians’ concerns about school safety at the Jan. 8 meeting. Board members said they were looking into ways to increase safety, such as locking most entrances and possibly installing a camera so that secretaries would have to recognize anyone entering the buildings.

After the time for comments had expired, the Board moved on to pass the consent agenda and then were given an update about bond issue projects.
Ed Carlson from Hollis-Miller said that workers have been making progress on construction.

Mike Van Dyke from Prosser/Wilbert said that masonry work was continuing on the field house. Block partition walls are being put up inside locker rooms as well as restrooms on both the east and west ends of the field house. Acoustical ceiling liner panels are being installed and parking lot paving is ongoing.

The BOE approved out-of-state travel for two trips. The fifth grade choir was approved to travel to Worlds of Fun for the music festival. Fifth grade classes were also approved to travel to the Coterie Theater to see “The Giver”. Kay Bolt, elementary school principal, said that the trip would connect to classroom work because fifth grade classes read The Giver every year. Bob Heigele, superintendent, pointed out that parents riding the bus on these trips must be assigned as sponsors this year and any other parents wishing to attend must drive separately.

K.B. Criss, middle and high school principal, told the Board that the high school office has completely moved downstairs and is working well.

Construction making progress
By Melissa Splechter, jr.
Photographer/ Reporter

While construction is ongoing throughout the district, some projects have been completed, such as the new high school office.

“Our office will be more accessible to the public who needs to do business with the school,” said Sandy Mintz, secretary.


Photo By Katie Hauser
Braving the cold.
A lone construction worker checks the scaffolding on the
east end of the new gymnasium. Construction is scheduled
to be completed by March 15.

With the new office, the secretaries, the counselor, and the principal are all located in the same place.

“Now that both the counselor and principal are in the same area, the needs of our students can be better served,” said Mintz.


Photo By Katie Hauser
Busy Working.
Paula Kovacic, secretary, types on her computer in the
new high school office. The office is now located where
the old weightroom used to be.

Construction of the community field house is continuing. Interior finish work will begin soon, according to Bob Heigele, superintendent. Completion is scheduled for March 15, and equipment should be in place on May 1 so the community can use the walking track and cardio room.

“As the project comes to a close, I believe everyone will agree that this facility is a great addition to the school district and community,” said Heigele.

District scores earn awards
By Michelle Sollars, jr.
Business Manager

Showing high academic skill, students from several grades at USD 258 were awarded the Standard of Excellence for their performance on the math and reading state assessments.

The high school received the Standard of Excellence in both math and reading, and the middle school received the award in reading.

“We take great pride in our student’s academic accomplishments for the 2006 school year,” said Craig Smith, assistant principal.

The elementary school was also recognized by earning the Standard of Excellence for 5th grade math and reading.

In addition to this award, both the middle school and the high school received a certificate of merit as part of the 5th Annual Challenge Awards. The middle school was honored for its performance on the 8th grade reading and math assessments, while the high school was recognized for its performance on the 11th grade reading assessment.

Students and staff will be honored for their performance on the state assessments during halftime of the basketball games tonight.

“I am proud of the teachers and support staff we have in the middle and high school; they do a tremendous job. I would put them up against any staff in the state,” said K.B. Criss, high school principal.

Dresses will be sold, purchased
By Yuliya Mosley, so.
Photographer/Reporter

For girls who are preparing for prom, the annual prom dress sale is back. GALS FCE is sponsoring the sale again this year. It will be held on Feb. 2 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Feb. 3 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Humboldt Public Library Community Room.

Purchases must be made with cash as checks will not be accepted.

The purpose of this event is not only to give girls a place to sell their formals, but also to give them an opportunity to buy a gown for their upcoming prom at a reasonable price.

Girls wanting to sell their dresses should bring them to the Humboldt Public Library on Feb. 1 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Accessories and shoes can also be sold. All items should be clean and in good condition. Unsold items must be picked up on Feb. 3 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

A one dollar handling fee will be collected per dress when the dresses are delivered to the Library to help cover the expenses. A 10% commission will be retained on all items sold and will be given to the buyer’s after prom party.

Scholars’ Bowl third at league
By Laura Watts, so.
Reporter

Daniel Weilert, jr., led the varsity Scholars’ Bowl team to take third place with a 4-2 record in the league meet held at Eureka on Jan. 22. He answered 16 questions during the teams’ six games.

Katie Hauser, sr., and Emily Hauser, jr., followed Weilert with 10 questions apiece. Tanner Korf, sr., and Chelsy Wright, sr., answered one question each. Josh Poovey, sr., also attended the meet.

“One thing the team needs to concentrate on is to stop hesitating in answering questions,” said Weilert. “If we can master that, then we can propel ourselves ahead.”


Photo by Chelsy Wright
Is it 10 or 20?
Katie Hauser, sr., and Emily Hauser, jr., debate an answer to a
question at the league Scholars' Bowl meet at Eureka. The team
took third place at the tournament.

JV players also competed the at the league tournament. The team ended with a record of 2-4. Alexis Hosack, fr., led the team with 10 questions. Bret Hauser, fr., followed with seven. Todd Hauser, so., had five, and Malachi Melton, so., added to the scoring with one question.League was the last meet of the season for the JV.

“I felt it was a good experience,” said B. Hauser. “I can’t wait until next year because it was a lot of fun.”

The varsity team will compete at Regionals on Feb. 1 at Uniontown. They can qualify to compete at State if they place first, second or third at the Regionals meet.
“Getting third at league made us want Regionals even more,” said Wright.

Seniors preparing for trip
By Michelle Sollars, jr.
Business Manager

Preparing for their senior trip to Dallas, Texas, the seniors are doing many different fundraisers to pay for their trip.

As one of their fundraisers they are hosting a raffle on Feb. 24. Tickets can be purchased from seniors.

They are collecting money for the “Pie a Teacher” at every home basketball game. The teacher with the most money in his or her can on the day of the last home game will get hit in the face with a pie at that game.

The seniors are also planning to have a chili supper in February and will accept freewill donations.

According to Josh Poovey, senior class president, the plan, if approved, is to leave early in the morning on March 7 and to return home late on March 10. A final schedule has yet to be set.

“I feel that the trip will be successful, not only in the planning, but also in bringing our class together one last time before we graduate,” said Poovey.

Chili cook-off begins sesquicentennial celebration
By Bethany Wolverton, jr.
Reporter/Photographer

Despite rain, sleet, and snow, the Jan. 20 Chili Cook Off-event was a big success. About 100 people came to enjoy a wide variety of chili and desserts. This was the first event of the 2007 Sesquicentennial.

Fifteen contestants each brought a pot of chili.

The judging began at 5:00. Judges Bob Heigele, Otis Crawford, Walter Wulf Jr., Dick Works, and Tom Rutledge did not have any complaints about the chili.

As the judging took place, event leader Ron Thompson quizzed the audience on Humboldt historical trivia questions, and gave out Sesquicentennial souvenir buttons. The Sesquicentennial committee also held a drawing to win a painting by Fred Bruenger, donated by his family.

At 6:00, the meal began, everyone was welcome to eat their choice of chili. Desserts were provided by members of the Humboldt Historical Museum. As everyone sat down to eat or visit, Thompson got ready to announce the judges’ decision for the winner of the Chili Cook Off. First place went to Jolene Keidel, Mike and Jerry Wimsett took second place, and third place went to Cheryl Miller.

Two sesquicentennial events will be held in February. open to anyone and everyone. The first is the Cozy Theater on Feb. 10 at 2:00 p.m. Everyone can see a movie for 10 cents in the auditorium. The second event is Feb. 18 at 2:30 p.m. in the auditorium. “Who Was That Guy?” is a presentation by the Free Staters Band and then KU’s Bill Keel and Frank Baron will feature the life of Baron von Humboldt.


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