What’s Inside?• Get the scoop on your new teachers!• Find the best local haunts!• What exactly is a Blue Ribbon Award?• Student body survey results!• What fuels you? Student-athletes talk about their nutritional intake.

EXPRESStheIssue 1 | Basehor-Linwood High School | October 23, 2012Haunted Edition

Photo by Maddy Mikinski, taken at 3rd Street Asylum

You’ve probably passed him in the hallways, but maybe you weren’t too sure who this new face was. Well, his name is Mr. Tatkenhorst and he’s new to both BLHS and the social studies department. If that isn’t enough, he is now the varsity girls basketball coach. Many are aware that he teaches US History and World

History, freshmen and sophomore classes; however, there is much more to him.Tatkenhorst attended Natoma High School and went on to Pratt Community College before he transferred to Bethany College. He is very happy with the choice he made to go into social studies. “It’s all about life, our government and people. I feel like I’m

teaching something new each day,” he said.Sophomore Lindsey Schubert is in his World History class. “I like how straightforward he is. We take notes and he shows us videos. I like the visualness,” Schubert said. “If anything stands out to me about him, it’s that he’s a great speaker.” Additionally, they

never have too much homework.Despite his interest in social studies, Tatkenhorst actually has a degree in physical education. “I’m not very talented in art or music. P.E. would be nice to teach, however,” he said. Tatkenhorst seems to have a great love for sports, which is probably one of the reasons he is the new coach for girls varsity basketball.His wife, Stacy, works here at Basehor-Linwood as well. “We’ve done it before at Great Bend. Everything is great about it. Although I can’t get away with anything,” he said as he laughed. When it comes to children, he has three boys; twins in eighth grade and a third-grader. “They like it here just as much as I do,” Tatkenhorst said.BLHS seems to be treating him well so far. “The faculty and

students have been great. The staff has done a good job at answering any questions I’ve had. The students have been very motivated to learn.” However, every school has its faults. Regarding 7:40 start time, he said, “I highly doubt there’s any schools who start their day before us.”The new teacher also seems to enjoy Opaa!, the new lunch system. Compared to the lunches he had at his old school, these seem to be more satisfying. “The food actually tastes real. It’s not bland at all.”It seems that Mr. Tatkenhorst is having a great start here at Basehor-Linwood High School. We hope that he has a great experience in the next few years as both a teacher and coach.

By: Allison Crist

New Teacher Makes Home at BLHS

The Express StaffEditor in Chief: Maddy Mikinski

Layout Editor: Shelli Brannan

Reporters: Tori Powell, Olivia Simmons, Ali Patterson, Brittni Wilhelm, Liz Morris, Sarah Ford, Allison Crist, Abi Batesel, Susette Garcia, Lindsey Schubert, Rachael Bell, Alexis Nichols, Elissa Freemire

Adviser: Kristen Loney

With the new school year comes a new school lunch. Opaa!, a family-owned company, has taken over BLHS school lunches. Opaa! is currently partnered with over 85 public schools and has been serving since 1978. Kenneth Short, founder of Opaa!, founded the company in Missouri. His vision was only to work at a few schools at a time so each would have its own unique flare. Now it serves over 524 school districts.Their multi-choice menus are made from scratch with locally grown fruits and vegetables going into the healthy lunchesSenior Matt Case said,“The new lunch is fine. The best part is probably that it’s healthy.” Along with Case, senior Heather Francis, agreed, “I think it is nice to have

the salad option. I really like the things they have for salads, but I don’t want to eat a salad every single day, so usually I end up bringing my lunch.”Oppa! creates its food on students’ contributions and opinions, because the company uses the their input and believes no two schools are the same.Although the lunches create unique menus for each school, student miss a few of the options of the old lunches.“I started bringing my lunch because what I used to get at lunch, a turkey sandwich, is no longer offered,” senior Emma England said.As well as creating a healthier lunch, Opaa! is also environmentally friendly. The company serves schools that have moved from disposable utensils to silverware. Buying from locals also helps lessen their footprint.

BLHS Wins Blue Ribbon Award

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Opaa! By: Shelli Brannan

You may have heard the term “National Blue Ribbon Award” floating around. Don’t worry, it’s not another name for food reform. The National Blue Ribbon Award (granted by the Department of Education) recognizes schools that are “high performing” and those that show growth in academic areas. BLHS falls in the academic growth category which means that in the past five years, BLHS has continued to improve on the reading and math state assessments.

BLHS Principal Sherry Reeves said, “[This is a] recognition that our students and staff should take great pride in. It speaks highly of the entire school district as well as our parents and community for being supportive of our schools.”

Only five high schools in the state of Kansas were chosen. These schools include St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park), Goddard High School, Garden City High School, Blue Valley High School (Stilwell), and, of course, Basehor-Linwood High School.

Just another reason to be proud to be a Bobcat!

Happy Halloween!

The guys at 3rd Street Asylum have haunted houses down to a science. After running one for three years, why shouldn’t they?Originally starting out as a family Halloween party, the 3rd Street Asylum has morphed into Bonner Springs’ only haunted house. It has also become a very popular one.Owner Steve Hoffine credits the location with this. “We wanted a place that was accessible to kids.” With its suburban surroundings, 3rd Street is a great place to leave your car and bring your kids.Also, what’s a better place for a haunted house than Bonner’s “1918 building”? This former high school rests on a graveyard. After most of the graves were moved,

a school house was built on the site. In 1918 the final school was built before the high school we know and love was put into use.The creepy past of the grounds also adds to the Asylum. Actors report being touched and hearing footsteps. Others are skeptics.The ghosts–real or imagined–aren’t the thing that people visit the Asylum for, though.The haunted house’s theme is (who would’ve guessed?) an insane asylum. The doctors at the hospital choose to treat their patients through fear immersion therapy. Therefore, every room is dedicated to a different “primal fear”: spiders, snakes, and, yes, even clowns.Each room has

Get Your Spook On

By: Maddy Mikinski

been painstakingly decorated to portray a different fear. The jungle room even has a ginormous animatronic snake that attacks passersby.One of the most intricate sections of the house is a warp tunnel that runs on a cement mixer engine.The 3rd Street Asylum does an excellent job supporting the billion dollar per year haunted house industry.

The 3rd Street Asylum is open now!

Admission is $18.00 but coupons are available on their website ( www.3rdstreetasylum.com ).

Where to Spend Your Halloween

1) Hildebrandt Farm (Leavenworth): Pumpkin patch where you can choose your own pumpkin.

2) Kirby Farm (Bonner Springs): Pumpkin patch with maze, animals, crafts, and ‘spookhouse’.

3) Schwinn Produce Farm (Leavenworth): Pumpkin Patch with festival, mazes, and hay rack rides.

4) The Eldridge Hotel (Lawrence): The fifth floor of this historic hotel is said to be a portal to the spirit world.

5) The Beast (KC, MO): Ranked one of the best haunted houses in the US.

Happy Halloween!

Spooky Halloween Superstitions

A burning a candle inside a jack-o-lantern on Halloween keeps evil spirits and demons at bay.

Gazing into the flame of a candle on Halloween night will enable you to peer into the future.

A person born on Halloween can both see and talk to spirits.

Girls who carry a lamp to a spring of water on Halloween night can see their future husbands in the reflection.

If you see a spider on Halloween, it could be the spirit of dead loved one who is watching you.

You should walk around your home three times backwards and counterclockwise before sunset on Halloween to ward off evil spirits.

Eerie Word Scramble

Word Scramble Answers: Goblin, Witch, Halloween, Candy, Costume, Autumn, Pumpkin, Lantern, Spooky, Ghost, Trick, Treat

You may have noticed that BLHS has some new teachers this year. One of those teachers is Ms. Libby Steele, who is new to the science wing. She received her teaching degree at Baker University and started off teaching in Wellington, Kan. Although at her former school she taught physical science, she really enjoys teaching chemistry.There were several differences between the two schools. “Wellington was a lot smaller, I felt like the students were more

Ms. Fe³CBy Sarah Ford

Fall is a busy time for athletes at BLHS, but it’s also a busy time for fans. Most days of the week, students have at least one option of a sporting event to attend. We polled the entire student body and asked them which sporting events they attended during the year. We also asked students if they were involved in fall sports. Tweet us @btownexpress and let us know which events you love to attend!

engaged about what they were learning there.”From the first three weeks of school, she has already made an impression. Sophomore Paige Pruitt said, “I love how she’s so positive and fun! Even when things don’t work out the way she planned, she does it a different way with a good attitude. She is stern, but super friendly, and is open to help anyone.”Sophomore Alexis Nichols said, “She’s really hip and has a good personality during class.”Ms. Steele seems

to really be liking Basehor as well. “I like the area and living in the city.” Her favorite place here is Kelley’s Restaurant located on State Avenue.It seems as if Ms. Steele feels at home here, but don’t get used to calling her Ms. Steele. She’s getting married in April and soon will be known as Mrs. Martin. Hopefully we will see more of her in the years to come.

Freshmen: 38

Sophomores: 15

Seniors: 11

Juniors: 13

Freshmen: 41

Sophomores: 33

Juniors: 26

Seniors: 27

Girls vs. BoysWhat seasons do you play sports?

51%

43%

51%

59%

24%

18%

29%

41%

= 2Do you participate in a fall sport?GIRLS vs. BOYS

Graphics designed by Sarah Ford & Alexis Nichols

Tanner SlavensCalories: 3,050

Ally LaneyCalories: 1,949

Courtney June

Calories: 1,863

Tanner GarverCalories: 2,733

Nathan KentonCalories: 4,821

FootballCheerleading

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oss

Co

un

try

Megan SixtaCalories: 2,321

Zach FergusonCalories: 3,429

boys soccer

Bevin CoonCalories: 1,624

Each sport requires a different amount of fuel to keep athletes performing at a high level. Reporters Liz Morris and Ali Patterson conducted a survey with several of our school’s athletes, asking them to track their calorie intake over a period of a few days and average out the results. Here are eight BLHS athletes and their average calorie intake on a daily basis. Want to know more about the survey? Go to blhsnews.com to read the full report compiled by Ali and Liz!

what keeps you going? BLHS Athletes count calories for newspaper survey

Graphic & Story by Ali Patterson & Liz Morris

BLHS PhotosBest of...

Taylor Sherley

Sydney Weible

Ali Patterson

Elissa Freemire

Liz Morris

Allison Crist

Rachael Bell

Want to CONTRIBUTE PHOTOS to the BLHS yearbook and newspaper? Our publications are more accessible now than ever before! Go to www.replayit.com and register for an account with BLHS. The password is bobcats1. You can upload your photos directly onto this site.