December 20, 2007 - Vol. 36 Issue 7
By Michelle Sollars, sr.
Opinion Editor
With yet another holiday season rolling around, the time for
giving comes along with it. Two clubs, FFA and LEOs club, helped raise the
spirits of four children by participating in the Adopt-a-Child program for
the fifth year in a row.
For the FFA club, several people stepped in and filled the role as leaders.
Matt Kerr, FFA club sponsor, picked the children that the club adopted. Staci
Collins, sr., bought the gifts for the children, and seniors Katie Manbeck
and Adrienne Gutierrez wrapped the gifts. The club adopted two girls for the
season and spent 50 dollars on each one.
“It’s just really nice to know that I am able to help out someone
less fortunate than myself,” said Kerr.
Photo by Emily Hauser, sr.
Fold here.
Senior Adrienne Gutierrez shows off her gift-wrapping
skills for
FFA's contribution to the Adopt-a-Child program.
Also taking part in the spirit of giving was the LEOs club. Senior Tessa Coronado
picked the children that the club sponsored and also bought the gifts for
one of the children.
The club adopted two children, one boy and one girl, and spent 50 dollars
on each child. Michelle Sollars, sr., bought gifts for the other child and
both Coronado and Sollars wrapped the gifts that they bought.
“Knowing that the person I am helping out will be grateful and satisfied
makes me feel good about myself because I know that I am putting a smile on
their face,” said Coronado.
Outside these walls
Local
Photo
by Alexis Hosack, so.
Giving tree.
A Student looks at the Elementary school's annual Giving
Tree. Instead of
traditional ornaments, this tree is adorned with book covers for sale. The
money received is
used to buy new books for the library. Today will be the last day to buy one.
State/National
Small fire burns government office building
Fire was spotted in a building next to the White House, the Eisenhower Executive
Office Building on Wednesday. The Office Building houses the vice-president’s
ceremonial offices and is often used for news conferences and photo opportunities
as well.
The blaze appears to have been contained on the third floor, and no injuries
have been reported.
Working offices for Dick Cheney are in the West Wing of the White House, and
he was not in the building at the time.
World
Pakistan train accident kills several passengers
Early Wednesday morning a passenger train in Pakistan was derailed and most
train cars were overturned. Fifty-six of the 1000 people traveling on the
train have been reported killed. At least 150 others have been injured, although
that number is expected to rise.
Another train arrived at the crash site to carry the injured to a nearby town
to receive medical attention.
The cause of the crash is unknown, and terrorism is not ruled out as a motive.
Information compiled by Emily Hauser, sr., from cnn.com
News Briefs
Santa Claus raises money for kids
By Bethany Wolverton, sr.
Feature Editor
Community Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, Ellery Robertson, and
Eileen Robertson bring Christmas joy to many in Humboldt.
Ellery claims to have many of the traits of the real Santa Claus such as old
age, a real white beard and the talent of wiggling his left ear, but most
of all he is a very charitable gift giver.
The Robertsons have been bringing joy to the children since 1997 when they
first took over Santa on the Square.
“I started being Santa Claus after Benny Hoke retired, I had the beard,
the build and the labor of love for the kids and the community,” said
Ellery Robertson.
The Robertsons also go to nursing homes and family reunions, but their most
favorite charity projects are the Adopt-a-Kid foundation and taking pictures
with beloved pets at the Iola animal shelter.
All of the money made at Santa on the Square will go toward the Adopt-a-Kid
foundation for toys and treats that the Robertsons will deliver themselves.
“I find it very satisfying to work alongside Ellery because I know his
heart is truly into what he does,” said Eileen Robertson.
Santa on the Square will be open on Dec. 22 from 3-4 p.m. for the last time
this season.
If the weather is bad they can be found at Community National Bank.
Automated phone calls now in effect
By Alexis Hosack, so.
News Editor
At the beginning of last week, many parents and students were
informed of a school closing by phone via a recorded message for the first
time.
The school used a program called School Reach, which had previously been used
over the past year to inform parents of various things such as reminders about
upcoming school functions or students being low on lunch money.
However, last week the system was used to inform parents of a school cancellation
due to the weather.
Despite the convenience of the automatic phone calls, the machine still has
minor defects that have yet to be worked out. The machine calls each parent
once for every child who attends school in the district.
These automatic phone calls will most likely be used throughout the rest of
the rest of the school year in the case of snow days.
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