16 Miner FlashbacksFeatures

December 12, 2008

Mario, Madden make middle years funBy: Jacey Pulver and Ben Maliske Not only have we gone from kindergarten to the third grade, but now we are on to reminiscing to the fourth and fifth grade. Back in the fourth grade girls, don’t you remember how Claire’s was the coolest store ever? And how about how we always collected Smackers lip gloss of every flavor? How fun was recess time back in the fourth grade when all the girls did was play football and soccer with the boys. Or in the fifth grade when we would run into the girls’ bathroom and the teachers would come kick us out, oh the good old days. Let’s go back and reminisce the movies, music, games, and celebrities we loved back in 2000 and 2001.

Movies:Charlie’s Angels• Austin Powers• Coyote Ugly• Toy Story 2• The Grinch• The Wizard of Oz• The Blair Witch Project• Remember the Titans• Bring it On• Legally Blonde• Spy Kids• Shrek• Harry Potter and the Sor-• cerer’s StoneThe Fast and the Furious• The Princess Diaries• The Rookie• Lord of the Rings- Fellow-• ship of the Ring

Music:“If your Gone”- Matchbox • Twenty“U Remind me”- Usher• “Survivor”- Destiny’s • Child“Come On Over”- Shania • Twain

Celebrities:Josh Harnett• Eminem• Beyonce• Lindsay Lohan• Justin Timberlake• Avril Lavigne• Tiger Woods• Ben Stiller•

Games:Madden NFL 2001• Apples to Apples• Spin Top• The Sims• Grand Theft Auto 3• Metal Gear Solid • 2-Sons of libertyPS2 was released• GameCube was re-• leasedXbox was released• Paper Mario• Super Smash Bros • Melee Halo• Project Gotham Rac-• ingTwisted Metal Black•

Photos from: www.mtv.com, www.exclaim.com,www.iamfan.com and www.moviepublicity.com on 12/02/08.

www.mtind.com

A Part of the Beulah Business Community

Since June 2001

Corporate Headquarters Midwest TeleServices Intl.

112 Main St. • Mohall, ND

Beulah 300 Hwy 49 S

701-873-4213 1-800-356-7762

Beulah, Bottineau,

Devils Lake, Fessenden, Grafton, Kenmare, Langdon,

Rugby & Stanley

Beulah High School 204 5th Street NW

Beulah, North Dakota 58523 www.beulah.k12.nd.us

(701) 873-2261

Inside The Miner Incidents:News................1 Editorials..........2Opinions...........3 News................4Features...........5 Clubs................6Entertainment...7 People..............8People..............9 Faces..............10Humor.............11 Outdoors.........12Features.........13 Sports.............14Sports.............15 Features.........16

MinerIncidentsThe

Inside:

Issue 3 Volume 57December 12 , 2008

Features...7: Karsen Little Soldier speaks about jamming out to Rock Band.

Sports...14-15: Wrestlers fall to Minot Ryan and Harvey in Minot on Nov. 25.

Clubs...6: FFA prepares for upcoming Greenhand Event in January.

Moments...8-9: Christmas spirit and activites sprinkle into BHS.

Miner Incidents: What was your actual reason for going to Japan?Rob Lech: I was selected as a participant in the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund program. This was a selective application process, in which there were around 900 applicants. The purpose of the program is to study the educational system of Japan and bring back as much information as possible about the school system, culture, and other aspects of the country as possible to share with parents, students, colleagues and community members.MI: What was the traveling aspect like from here to Japan?RL: Traveling was diffi cult because of the length of time it takes to get there. We fl ew fi rst to San Francisco and met for a day for a program briefi ng and a meeting with a Japanese Consul General. The direct fl ight from San Francisco to Tokyo was 11 hours. My fl ight home went from Tokyo to Seattle with a connecting fl ight in Denver before landing in Bismarck. The total amount of airtime was 19 hours.

By: Jayme Lorenz

North Dakota state representatives plan to introduce a bill in next year’s legislative session to raise the legal driving age from 14 to 16 for the purpose of lowering the accident and fatality rates among teenage drivers (www.bismarktribune.com, 11/20/08). Each year over 5,000 teens ages 16 to 20 die due to fatal injuries caused in car accidents (www.car-accedints.com 12/1/08). A Driver’s Education teacher, Doug Olson, is not in favor of this bill, but does say, “According to stats, younger and inexperienced driving has proven to have a high rate of accidents.” The risk of being in a car accident is the highest for drivers age 16 to19 -- more than any other age group (www.car-acidents.com, 11/1/08). Supporters of this bill also feel that the age should not be limited to 16, but there should be certain restrictions placed on younger drivers. “Teenagers this young are too young and not mature enough to handle all types of driving situations,” Olson said. In some states, the law imposes special requirements on teen drivers, like prohibiting them from driving at night or not allowing passengers in the car (www.albertiertribume.com,11/20/08). “Inexperience and distractions play a role in crashes. Younger people are dealing with a lot of those multiple distractions, whether it is a CD player, text messaging, cell phones or other people in a vehicle,” a patrol supervisor in Fargo said. Insurance for teenagers can be a lot different in costs than for adults. “I applied various discounts such as good student discount ,mutli- line, multi- car, good student, -age 16 would be approx. 263 dollars more per year then an 18 old,” Farm Bureau Insurance agent Dee Stroh said. Stroh feels this would be a great hardship in rural North Dakota. “I don’t feel the driving age should be raised. We are a rural state with almost no public transportation--increasing the driving age would place a hardship on parents of teenagers. Also, many teenagers work at least part- time, and since there are days in ND when one can’t walk to work because of the extreme weather, this would

By: Ben Maliske

Beulah High School’s parking lot can be a crowded place. If students and faculty don’t park with care or legally, it can be a diffi cult place to navigate. Recent complaints have resulted in possible tickets in the parking lot. The parking lot is private property and the police can only issue tickets if the school presses charges. The school wants

By: Jared Seibel

Japan uses a different type of school system than that of the United States, but both schools do require that a student goes to school until the age of 16. Japanese high school prepares the students for college. Parents of the students that attend high school must pay for books and fees that are required to go to high school. If a student does not wish to enter college then he or she will go to a training school, which will teach that person a trade that is not required to go to college. In Japan, classes are teacher based instead of student focused. Teachers lecture, while the students are not engaged in the lesson. The teachers do not include a student’s point of view in a lecture. Japanese schooling is based on a get-it or don’t get-it mentality. No help is offered to students who struggle in class. BHS Superintendent Rob Lech just returned from Japan, where he saw how much different Japan’s teaching styles were than those in the United States.

Superintendent Lech speaks about Japan

Driving age may go up

this to be a last resort. Drivers should park legally and leave room for others to get out of the parking lot. While some people need to stay after school, others want to go home. Bad parking can result in people not getting where they need to be. “It’s a matter of respect towards others,” Principal Todd Kaylor said. Just about everyone with a license passed driver’s education. Everyone knows how to park. One just needs to use respect when parking.

Parking frustrates students

See Lech page 4

See Driving Age page 12

Students must park correctly within the line to avoid receiving a ticket. Many problems have resulted from inappropriate parking. Photo by: Shawn Neuberger

Miner girls wait to rebound a free throw from the Garrison Toopers. See sports on pages 14-15.

Photo by: Coltyn Anderson

2 Miner PhilosophyEditorials

December 12, 2008

The Miner Incidents is published six times a year by the Journalism Department. It is published by and for the students of Beulah High School amd does not necessarily represent the views of the administration. The Miner Incidents accepts signed letters to the editor, reserving the right to edit them for grammar and profanity. The Miner Incidents also accepts student work (writing and artwork) for publication. Students need not be on the staff of the newspaper to submit their work. Submissions may be given to Mrs. Heller.

MinerIncidentsThe

Staff

Letter to Editor of The Miner IncidentsGabe Goetz - Features Editor

Jared Seibel - Sports Editor

Kassi Eide - Features Editor

Olivia O’Quinn - Opinions and Features Editor

Shawn Neuberger - Humor Editor

Steph Scheurer - Clubs and FeaturesEditor

Karsen LittleSoldier -Outdoors Editor

Nathan Brehmer - Double-Page Spread Editor

Jordan Halter - Front Page Editor

Jacey Pulver - Features Editor

Brandi Richter - Editorial Page Editor

Ben Maliske - Sports Editor

Blaze Unruh - News Editor

Contributors: Jenna Yeager, Kasey Schmidt, Tyler Schmidt, Whitney Charging, Coltyn Anderson, Heather Baker, Alaina Ballensky, Zach Pederson, Mickal Sayler, Nikkita Starr, Christian Heller, Esther Drebelbis, Samantha Johnson, Jaydin Mann, and Jayme Lorenz.

Editorial Cartoon by: Blaze Unruh

Beulah High School emphasizes the Character Counts Pillar of Fairness. Teachers have drilled students with these six pillars since elementary school and are expected to behave accordingly. If fairness is defi ned as “free from bias, dishonesty, or injustice,” then this year BHS lacks fairness (www.dictionary.com, 11/26/08). The BHS Student Handbook spells out the dress code that the administration expects students to follow, no exceptions. Yet, certain students receive consequences for dressing inappropriately, while others go unpunished for disobeying these guidelines. For example, the restaurant Hooters sells T-shirts, and some students wear them to school. It is understandable for school authorities to tell students that the shirt is inappropriate. However, the disapproval should be consistent and known to all students. If one person is allowed to wear the shirt, everyone else has the same right. Revealing clothing seems to be another confusing and inconsistently enforced issue among high school girls. On page 23 in the student handbook it states that shirts must have “full sleeves” and a “full front”; covering midriffs and backs. Yet, girls continue to wear spaghetti-strapped tank-

tops and halter-tops without consequence. These items clearly do not follow the dress code because they lack sleeves and a full front. We’ve asked a few students if they’ve gotten in trouble for their dress. Some say “yes” and just as many say “no.” Is this unfair treatment a result of higher social status favoritism or just a lack of enforcing school policy? It is impossible for all teachers and administrators to miss those students with obscene clothes. Even if a couple students go unnoticed, it should not happen more than once or twice. Every staff member should be aware of the handbook rules and follow them with consistency. Gym class students have experienced controversy with their dress, too. Guys, as well as girls, enjoy wearing T-shirts with cut off sleeves that are cut half-way down the side. At the beginning of the year, it was strictly stated that those types of clothes were not going to be allowed when lifting weights or in gym classes. Now, it was recently restated at a senior class offi cer meeting that cut-off shirts are acceptable, but only with the approval of gym teacher, Joe Bren. That is putting a teacher in a hard position because staff is supposed to follow the handbook. Then, a single instructor is told to make up his own set of rules. How is that consistent?

As previously stated, tank-tops are not allowed to be worn at school. In the handbook on page 23, it also states that the dress code should be followed at school sponsored activities. This would include basketball, track, and volleyball practice because they are school-related activities. It would only be fair to assume coaches follow these dress code expectations. However, it is often not followed in basketball. During a girls’ or boys’ basketball practice, players can be seen wearing a reversible jersey, which just so happens to be a tank-top. Players don’t choose to wear them, coaches usually require them. It is understandable for players to wear something of such a fashion to keep them cool, but it contradicts the dress code. The dress code needs to clearly state in which circumstances tank-tops are to be worn or not to be worn. If they are allowed to be worn at sports’ practices, the handbook needs to list that exception. No matter what the activity or the classroom, the school’s dress code should be upheld by all students and staff. Teachers should be required to enforce the regulations and make students who don’t obey aware that they have crossed the line.

Written by Jordan Halter on behalf of the Miner Incidents staff.

BHS struggles with dress code inconsistency

Dear Editor, Do you remember in elementary school when we were told to color inside the lines? Obviously there are numerous people who never learned to stay inside the lines. The yellow lines in the parking lot are there for a reason, you park between them. It’s extremely frustrating when we come back to school after lunch or off-hour and can’t fi nd a place to park because multiple people are taking up more than one space. Another problem is the huge snowbank that also takes up multiple spaces. That really needs to be taken care of. I suppose there’s only one thing left to say: Get out your coloring books and learn to stay inside the lines!Sarah F. and Paige S.

15Miner AmpSports

October 31, 2008

By:Kassi Eide The BHS wrestling team is low in numbers of athletes which will make it hard to compete as a team.Four heavier weight classes are not fi lled. The heaviest person thus far stands sophomore Isaiah Krebs at 160 pounds. “I think this year we will be good even though we are short of people, because we have a good work ethic and we have a lot of talent,” sophomore Isiaha Krebs said. The next competition will be at home against New Town on Dec. 16 at the Hazen High School at 6:00 pm. “Since we have two Hazen students on the team we should make it fair and have a home dual in Hazen,” head coach Shawn Voigt said. A tournament will be held on Dec. 19 and 20 in Linton. The Miners hope to

compete effectively with the other teams at this tournament. “Hopefully we can pull through as a team and get into the top fi ve at the tournament,” Voigt said. Voigt believes the two seniors on the team will be a great strength. At 112 pounds senior Ben Maliske has qualifi ed and placed at state every year on varsity. ”I’m confi dent Ben will do very well this year,” Voigt said. At 130 pounds, the other senior, John Eisenbeis wrestles for the Miners for his third year. Eisenbeis has qualifi ed at state all three years. A knee injury from his football season may hold him back a little bit as he is riding a bike in practice other than running and wrestling with his teammates. “I don’t think John’s leg is going to affect him one bit once he is back,” Maliske said.

Miners prepare for fi rst home dual

Senior wrestler Ben Maliske rides his opponent to victory in a dual against Harvey. Photo by: Jaydin Mann

Lady Miners enter season with new head coach Petrik

By: Nathan Brehmer

The Lady Miners hit the court Dec. 19 against the Richardton-Taylor Raiders. Coming into the season

ranked third in the district, and sixth in the region, the Lady Miners have nothing to lose and everything to

gain. New head coach Jim Petrik brings enthusiasm to his fi rst year of coaching. Straight out of college, Petrik could be just what this team needs. “He is really good,” junior Keely Hatzenbueler said. “I think it will be a great year with him.” The team brings a lot of experience at the varsity level into this season. They also have great team chemistry that has developed through years of playing together, but they still aren’t a perfect team. “We need to rebound better and our defense is not the best,” senior point guard Jacey Pulver said. “We need to get into shape, and our shooting needs to improve.” The team’s hard work in practice will hopefully pay off. They have been working on shot selection, shot form, passing and conditioning a lot. After four hard weeks of practice, the girls are getting all of the fundamentals down. If everything falls into place, the Lady Miners will be a dominant force in Region 7.

Girls made big improvement in their shooting game with the use of the Bullet, the shooting machine purchased by the school to help the team make every shot. The Bullet has a huge net and shoots the ball to a different spot on the court after every shot, forcing players to become comfortable all over the court. The new shooting skills should launch the Lady Miners to the top of District 14, where some of the toughest opponents in the state reside. Two of the hardest teams they face this season are Dickinson Trinity and the Hazen Bison. “These teams are always fi erce competitors,” senior post Karsen Little Soldier said. After losing to Bowman County in the fi rst round of regionals last year, the girls hope for a little better fi nish this season. The team only lost three seniors and returns three varsity starters: Little Soldier, Pulver, and Jessie Battest. Other key players this year are Kelsey Kraft and Jordan Halter. “We have a strong chance at making it to state, if we work hard,” Little Soldier said. With new coach Petrick leading the team, the Lady Miners are ready to leave their mark on class B basketball.

Jacey Pulver inbounds a pass against the Garrison Troopers on Tuesday Dec. 2. Photo by: Coltyn Anderson

14Sports

Miner AmpBy: Jacey Pulver

The Miners face their fi rst opponents today, Dec. 12, at the Bismarck Civic Center in the Hoopster Shootout. The Miners go into this tournament playing the returning Class B champions, the Grafton Spoilers. Focusing on conditioning and shot improvement, coach Jeremy Brandt prepares the boys for the Hoopster Shootout. “I think that the Hoopster Shootout is a great way for us to start out the season. Getting to play in the civic center will be a lot of fun for the kids and playing two

quality teams will help us for the upcoming season,” Brandt said. “I think it will be fun also to play with a shot clock.” The Hoopster Shootout is a two-day tournament; last year the Miners had their holiday tournament late in December at Mandan. “I think the Hoopster Shootout will be good for early in the season because it will help us gain experience,” senior Gabe Goetz said. Point guard Goetz returns to the court for the Miners along with senior Josh Schank. Goetz gives the team experience with ball handling and scoring. Schank adds confi dence and is also a big scorer for the team. “Our biggest asset to the team and for the

Hoopster Shootout is that we have been playing together since we were in seventh grade,” Schank said. The Miners lost fi ve seniors last year, but return four senior starters: Nate Wiedrich, Josh Schank, Gabe Goetz, and Andrew Just. “Hopefully it will be our experience, returning players, and senior leadership that will be a big asset,” Brandt said. The Miners go into this tournament as a team to strengthen their weaknesses. “I will be looking for things that we need to improve on and things to work on in practice from this Shootout. It is also going to be a way for me to fi nd some of our strengths and weaknesses as a team, and good competition to prepare us for our

Miners compete at Hoopster Shootout on Dec. 12upcoming district games later in the year,” Brandt said. Brandt was recently coaching in Bottineau and has been coaching boys basketball for fi fteen years. “Coach Brandt is the man. He knows what he is talking about. I think it will take us a while to mesh as a team with a new coach and new offense, but I think it will go fi ne as the year goes,” Goetz said. As a team the boys are excited for a new season and a new coach. “He defi nitely knows what he is talking about and he expects us to get in shape. We should do well this year,” Schank said. The Miners play the Carrington Cardinals today at 12 p.m. (Central Time) and the Grafton Spoilers tomorrow around same time.

By: Ben Maliske Every year the Downtown Athletic Club of New York City presents the Heisman Trophy to the top college football player in the country. It is one of the most prestigious awards in all of sports. A few players have separated themselves as top candidates for the award. Historically, the winner of the trophy plays quarterback, but running backs and wide receivers also sometimes win it.Graham Harrell The senior Texas Tech quarterback has put up the most impressive stats this year. So far, he has completed 406 passes out of 568 attempts for 4,747 yards in eleven games. He also has thrown 41 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. He threw for 400 yards or more in six games this season and for at least four touchdowns in six games. The Red Raiders are 11-1 with their only loss being to Oklahoma, thanks in large part to Harrell. Many people say that Harrell only puts up good numbers because of the system he is in and hold that against him when it comes to the Heisman trophy.Michael Crabtree Michael Crabtree also plays for the Red Raiders. Crabtree is Harrell’s top target, hauling in 93 passes for 1,135 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has one of the most impressive plays of the season, pulling in

a game winning touchdown reception in the fi nal seconds against then No. 1 ranked Texas. As a redshirted sophomore he is able to enter the NFL draft. If he does, he will be considered the top wide receiver prospect by NFL scouts. Last year, as a freshman, he won the Biletnikoff award for college football’s best wide receiver. Colt McCoy Colt McCoy performs for Texas at quarterback and has led them to an 11-1 record and a share of the Big 12 South, but will get to play in the Big 12 championship game. He has rebounded well from a poor sophomore year and has a chance at becoming a Heisman trophy winner McCoy has put up Heisman type numbers. He has completed 77.6 percent of his passes for 3,445 yards and 32 touchdowns. He has thrown only seven interceptions. Along with his impressive passing stats, McCoy has run for over 500 yards and eight touchdowns. McCoy is one of only three college quarterbacks this year to throw for 3,000 and run for 500 yards. Sam Bradford Sam Bradford is the quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners. He has put up amazing stats in his sophomore year. He has gone 268-393 passing, 4,080 yards, 46 touchdowns, and six interceptions. The

Sooner quarterback has led his team to an 11-1 record and a shot at winning the Big 12 and national championship. His only loss of the season came against Texas. He played well throwing for 387 yards and fi ve touchdowns. Bradford played well against Texas Tech and led his team to a 65-21 victory.

Tim Tebow The quarterback from Florida and returning Heisman trophy winner, has not put up as impressive stats as last year. However, he has led the Gators to an 11-1 record as of December 1. He is the emotional leader of the most dangerous offense in college football. The Gators offense has been nearly unstoppable, scoring

nearly 50 points per game since their only loss. If Florida wins out and plays in the national championship, he may win another Heisman. Tebow’s stats are less impressive than the Big 12 quarterbacks, but his numbers come against better defenses and he has more weapons to rely on. He has thrown 25 touchdowns and has run for 12 more. He has thrown two interceptions, which is the least out of all the Heisman hopefuls. Tebow has over 2,000 yards passing and 500 yards running.Percy Harvin Harvin plays wide receiver/running back for the Florida Gators. Every time he touches the ball, he is a threat to score.

He has 61 rush attempts for 538 yards and 35 catches for 595 yards. He averages over ten yards per touch. He has 16 total touchdowns and fi ve of those touchdowns are over 30 yards. Harvin is the biggest big play threat on the best big play offense. Every time he touches the ball the opposing coaching staff needs to worry about him breaking a big play for a touchdown.Knowshon Moreno Georgia’s running back leads his team on offense. He was another preseason favorite. Unlike Wells, he has stayed healthy all season and has put up good, but not great, numbers. Moreno has run for 1,338 yards and 16 touchdowns. He underachieved in Georgia’s biggest games this season; really hurting his chances of winning. McShay considers Moreno a top NFL prospect as well. Moreno ranks as the No. 2 running back.My Pick I believe that Bradford has put up the best quarterback stats, followed closely by Graham Harrell. Bradford also beat Harrell head-to-head giving him a clear advantage in my opinion. Crabtree is by far the best wide receiver in college football. He has put up amazing numbers and a great moment with his touchdown against Texas. I don’t think McCoy has had that great of a season and I would not rank him in my top fi ve. Tebow returns with a Heisman trophy and I believe he has a great chance to win another. My vote for top fi ve would be Bradford, Tebow, Crabtree, Moreno, Harrell

Heisman candidates hope to make college history

Photo courtesy of shoe-pink-football.com

3Miner ThoughtsOpinions

December 12, 2008

Karsen’s Connection:

Brandi’s Beliefs:Diamonds, not worth a lifetime

Election unveils racismOlivia’s Opinions:Roe denies babies right to life

Steph Speaks:Bambi: living proof of stupidity

See Election on page 5 See Roe on page 12

See Bambi on page 13See Diamonds on page 12

By: Olivia O’Quinn In 1973, the Supreme Court handed down a verdict for the landmark court case known as Roe vs. Wade. The decision overturned all state and federal laws outlawing or restricting an abortion. Roe vs. Wade is one of the most controversial and politically signifi cant cases in Supreme Court history. When the election was only breaths away, members from our Journalism II class launched into an interesting debate about who would be the best president of our nation. The majority of us decided that it would be John McCain because of his pro-life stance. After the dust settled, a guy looked at me and said, “Abortion is the least of our problems.” I would like to respectfully disagree. Abortion is one of the biggest and most monumental problems our country faces today. Abortion, by defi nition, is the removal of an embryo or fetus from the uterus in order to end a pregnancy. What supporters of abortion don’t tell you, however, is that from even the fi rst trimester of pregnancy, a baby has a heartbeat, according to www.pregnancy.org (11-25-08). That ’s right, when a baby is aborted, he or she has a heartbeat and even the formation of limbs. Society, in an effort to make abortion acceptable, tries to ignore the painful consequences of having an abortion. In reality, the long-term consequences prove to be not only physical but also psychological. According to www.leaderu.com (11-12-

08), Post-Abortion Syndrome is a term to describe the emotional and psychological consequences of an abortion. The Syndrome occurs when a woman develops a set of defensive mechanisms to justify her decision to terminate her pregnancy. What I fi nd most interesting about PAS is that teenagers are especially susceptible to it because, at the time of the abortion, teenage girls are at a critical developmental period in their lives. Another interesting study took place in 1997. This government funded study by the Finland National Research and Development Center for Welfare and Health found that women who had abortions were 3.5 times more likely to die the following year than women who had given birth. According to the survey, women who have an abortion face a 248 percent greater risk of suicide, accidental death, or homicide in the following year (www.worldnetdaily.com, 11-13-08). On the positive side, according to www.abortionfacts.com (11-12-08), psychiatrists suggest that carrying a baby to term serves a psychologically protective role. The presence of another person to “live for” appears to reduce the suicidal impulses of mentally disturbed or deeply repressed women. This, however, does not mean that having a child will cure these types of women. One of the most common arguments in favor of abortion is the termination of babies with Down syndrome or other debilitating illnesses. What I wonder is whether or not that would qualify as

By: Stephanie Scheurer A pile of rocks, a bag of hammers, a post. Could anything on earth possibly be dumber? Why yes – deer! With deer hunting season in full-swing, these handsome, yet stupid creatures are on the move now more than ever. Deer seem smart enough to hide from hunters, but then totally cancel out any ounce of intelligence they may have by standing on a busy road. More than 1.5 million automobile crashes involving deer occur each year (www.car-accidents.com, 11-12-08), and I can see why. Let’s take, for example, the night my mom and I were driving home from Bismarck in the dark. We were having a lovely drive on I-94 until we straddled a good mile of red blood right down the driving lane, followed by a dead deer on the shoulder. Whoever hit that Bambi must have dragged it underneath their car before it fi nally let loose! This set the mood for the rest of our night because the moment we turned onto Highway 49, it was like driving through a zoo. We saw various “night creatures” scurrying across the road. We even spotted a varmint that we could not identify, but it looked like an earless wiener dog. Glowing eyes dotted the side of the road like luminaries bordering the road at Relay for Life. It actually was a “relay for life” for these animals. It was as if they were playing “chicken,” trying to see which ones could outrun the front tires on our van. Then…they appeared. A group of three deer standing right on the shoulder of the road. I spotted them before my mom did

and began to scream, “DEER! DEER!” My mom hit the brakes, screaming, “WHERE? WHERE?” As the van came to a slow crawl we saw the young does and their “kids” standing still. At fi rst I thought they were chewing grain that had fallen on the road, but they were actually mouthing “nanny-nanny-boo-boo.” My mom honked the horn. They stared at us. We stared back. I stuck my tongue out at them. They did the same. Finally they turned around, ran back into the ditch, and leaped across the fence. Now extremely paranoid, we lowered our speed to 40 mph and began breaking for tumbleweeds, hay bales, and mailboxes. Suddenly a large buck crossed the road, as if he was trying to catch up to his wife and kids at the last mile marker. Again we resumed our cautious speed and continued our game of “What animal do those glowing eyes belong to?” Within minutes I saw a deer with the hugest, and I mean the HUGEST rack I have ever seen. It looked like a moose on steroids – its face staring right at me through the passenger window. I believe I screamed. Then my mom screamed and we squealed out. Clearly this was grandpa buck, trying to fi nd his family. All we needed was to see the grandma deer and the family should be accounted for. My mom began to rant about how stupid deer are and said, “It’s like they think, ‘Hmm-- I’ll just wait for bright lights to come and then prance across the road and watch my guts fl y!’” My mom and grandma were driving home on this same road at night last year when they came upon a suicide squad

By: Brandi Richter People often say “Diamonds are forever.” But lives are not. Every day rings and other pieces of jewelry are purchased nationwide. Whether it is for engagement, weddings, or chastity rings, most of them contain diamonds. Last year alone Americans spent over $12 billion dollars on diamonds (www.sprol.com, 12-1-08). The word “diamond” comes from the Greek word “adamas,” which means “unconquerable and indestructible” (www.un.org, 11-12-08). But for many children in Africa, diamonds hold a much different meaning Much of the diamonds that come to the U.S. are from Africa. The way the diamonds are acquired is something most people don’t know. Just like in the movie Blood Diamond, diamond dealers in America, as well as many other countries, purchases diamonds, or smuggle them from places in Africa. These diamonds that we buy help to fund rebel groups. Traders within Sierra Leone fi nd it more profi table to smuggle and mine diamonds, than to put them on the market legally. Smuggling of diamonds has led to the increase of money for the rebels (www.stanford.edu, 11-12-08). The civil war between 1991 and 1999 claimed over 75,000 lives, caused 500,000 Sierra Leoneans to become refugees, and displaced half of the country’s 4.5 million people, Sierra Leone: Diamonds and the Struggle for Democracy. In many cases the abducted were gang raped, beaten, starved, tortured, forced to walk long distances carrying heavy loads,

and told they would be killed if they tried to escape- all for the diamonds that people dream about. According to John Hirsch’s book Sierra Leone: Diamonds and the struggle for Democracy, the rebels have used those “tools” of war to terrorize the people and break-apart families and communities. In addition to the thousands of women who were raped, thousands more women and girls were abducted and taken to travel with the rebels and to act as domestic sex slaves to the fi ghters. The rebels have had a huge impact on the diamond industry as well as the people. They have committed heinous crimes in the form of murder, rape, mutilation, and much more. Today, over two thirds of the world’s diamonds come from one company, De Beers. The London based company was one of the fi rst companies involved in the mining for diamonds in Africa immediately following their discovery (www.amnesty.org, 11-13-08). These precious jewels get cut and polished then sold in jewelry stores around the nation. The money in turn is taken by the rebels for fi nancing arms and other illicit activities (www.un.org, 11-6-08). If more people become aware of confl ict diamonds, the less they will purchase them. There is an alternative though. Consumers who want to purchase diamonds that are confl ict free need to just simply ask for “confl ict free” diamonds, by purchasing those kinds of diamonds people will cut off sources of funding for rebels, help shorten wars, and

By:Karsen Little Soldier One of the most common misconceptions in American culture is that racism, like the Bubonic plague or dinosaurs, is extinct. However, in this election, is has proven to be alive and well. In the 2003 movie ‘Head of State,’ Rock plays a man named Mays Gilliam who is elected president. As with all family comedies, the movie ends happily, with the country’s new African American president walking down the aisle at his inauguration, surrounded by the cheers and celebration of the country. I enjoyed the movie when I originally saw it, but thought it was far-fetched for an African American person to be elected president. So, when I watched Senator Barack Obama become the new president-elect fi ve years later, I saw what I had thought was impossible come true. Unlike the movie, though, not everybody is happy with the idea of a black president. While many Americans, especially young ones, would like to believe the country has moved past the wiles of racism, Obama’s campaign exposed the many prejudices Americans still hold concerning race. “I’m not going to have to worry about him, because somebody else down south is going to take him out,” said Railton Loy, Grand Wizard of the National Knights of the Ku Klux Klan International in an interview on Fox News. (11/20/08) “If that man is elected president, he’ll be shot sure as hell. The hate would be so deep down south,” he added. It’s not just the Neo Nazi’s or the white supremacists who have been spitting out

racial slurs, it’s also the average American that’s been spitting out racial jokes against Barack Obama. It’s the next door neighbor type who I hear say things like “I don’t care, if he does get elected he’ll get shot anyway.” Or when my fellow classmates say things like “let’s go assassinate the new president.” Wow, I could of swore this was 2008 not the 1920s. People who say these types of things say them so nonchalantly, without even a twinge of guilt. These people sicken me to the core. These words are more than offensive. They are racially motivated death threats. The fact that racism still exists is horrifi c in itself. However, when Obama’s ethnicity became a dominant factor in the election instead of his political credibility, it was just sad. With the majority of Americans claiming they want change, it seems hypocritical to send texts or use racial slurs that add to the ignorance and discrimination this country has continuously had problems with. What makes it okay for us to joke about serious matters such as these, especially when the president we elected is desperately trying to diminish them? “It requires all Americans to realize that your dreams do not have to come at the expense of my dreams; that investing in the health, welfare, and education of black and brown and white children will ultimately help all of America prosper” said Barack Obama at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (12/03/08). Incidents around the country referring

4 Miner InsightNews

December 12, 2008

Lech continued from page 1

MI: What was your fi rst thought when you arrived in Japan?RL: I was excited, but very tired. I have a diffi cult time sleeping on airplanes, so I didn’t get any sleep at all. After going through customs and immigration, we loaded on a 2-hour bus drive to our hotel. Upon our arrival, we had 45 minutes before our fi rst session.MI: What kind of things did you learn while on this trip?

RL: That is a tough question to answer because there is so much. I will say that I came away with an even greater appreciation for the system of education here in the United States. I don’t mean to imply that the Japanese system isn’t effective, because I believe that they do many things extremely well. However, things that we consider to be good teaching practice, like differentiated instruction, is non-existent. There is also a “sink or swim” mentality that is contradictory to the teaching practice here.

MI: What kind of clothing did the students wear while in school?RL: The majority of students in school wear uniforms. At any time, students will be wearing either their school uniform or gym uniform. Typically, after a student left gym, they stayed in their gym uniform for the rest of the school day before changing back into the school uniform before they left.

MI: What was a typical school day like in Japan?RL: Students are expected to get to school on their own. There is no school busing system in place. Many students ride the train to get to school. This process can take as long as 90 minutes (one way). Students that ride the train typically have bikes locked up at the train station that they ride to school. On a side note, the high school parking lot had no cars from students, only bikes. The school day runs similarly to ours with dismissal shortly after 3:00, depending on the school. Club activities follow until around 5:30. Almost every student is a member of a club activity, although they are not school-sponsored. Many students, particularly middle school students, attend “cram” school for around two hours after club activities. More middle school students attend “cram schools” because of the exit exam that determines which high school you are going to be allowed to attend. After cram school, students will either go home, or hop on the train for another 90 minutes, and then do the regular 1.5 to 2 hours of homework before going to bed. Public school runs Monday through Friday, although it recently changed

from Monday through Saturday. Many education offi cials and teachers are fi ghting to get it changed back to 6 days per week. Almost all private schools go at least six days per week with some going seven days per week.

MI: How much farther along are the Japanese in math than the U.S.A?RL: I think the success the Japanese have in mathematics is a combination of two things in comparison to the United States. First, there is more interest and focus, culturally speaking, on mathematics. The biggest item, however, is the number of school days. Compared to the North Dakota, Japanese students attend school thirty more days per year. Based on a standard 173 student contact day school calendar, this means that Japanese juniors have gone to two more years of school compared to our Beulah High School juniors. Who do you think is going to score higher?

MI: What kind of food did you eat while you were over in Japan?RL: I made a conscious decision when I was selected that I was going to immerse myself in Japanese food. That is not to say I didn’t experience McDonald’s a time or two, but I made a concerted effort to try as much as I could. I ate sashimi multiple times. Sashimi is very fresh raw fi sh that is sliced into pieces around 1 inch thick. It is served with Wasabi and a radish-type vegetable called a daikon. Deep-fried lotus root was a delicious appetizer that I had numerous times. It tasted like an extra crunchy and seasoned potato chip. We had tempura, which is basically battered and fried seafood and vegetables. I even tried Sakura, which is raw horsemeat. I have to admit that it was pretty good, although a little chewy!

MI: Is sumo wrestling big over in Japan?RL: Actually it isn’t. The Japanese are at an interesting place culturally right now. They are, in my opinion, distancing themselves from the most traditional of Japanese customs and activities. I would guess that has to do with the longstanding focus on tradition and a natural rebellion against that. We were not able to attend a practice of a Sumo training facility (translated to us as a Sumo Stable) because we were always in a session when they practiced.

MI: Who is probably the most famous person over in Japan?RL: I think that is hard to say as it depends on who you talk to. However, with the World Series (both MLB and Japanese League) being played while I was there, there was a lot of talk and media attention given to Japanese baseball players playing in the United States. Players like Hideki Matsui, Ichiro, and Daisuke Matsuzake were well known.

Beulah Superintendent Rob Lech spent time with an elementary class in Minamisoma while in Japan. Photo donated by Rob Lech.

13Miner ConcernsFeatures

December 12, 2008

People help people through W.A.R.C’s Angel TreeBy: Samantha Johnson

Katie Klindworth, a Direct Service Advocate, and the coordinator for the Angel Tree Project this year said, “In 2007, 159 Angels were given out along with nine families that were requested.” The Angel Tree Project works to help those that receive aid from Social Services, are victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault have fi nancial needs, or use Women’s Action & Resource Center’s Food Pantry. Many sponsors bring holiday cheer to disadvantaged individuals. Some of these gifts include clothing items, kitchen items, wished-for toys, and special needs gifts. Beulah’s WARC does not set a minimum amount of money for participants to receive. The amount of gifts given to the participant varies greatly. The sponsoring individual or business decides how much he or she wants to give to their underprivileged individual. The children and families involved in the Angel Tree along

with W.A.R.C. greatly appreciate each contribution to the project. “As an agency we try our best to make everyone’s Christmas better,” Klindworth said. “If a family chooses to participate, they fi ll out an application giving W.A.R.C information such as gender, age, clothing sizes, and needs/wants.” The Angel Tree project accepts assistance from anyone who wants to help

somebody else have a better time during the holidays. Many local organizations and clubs volunteer to help with this project, including the local banks which put out Angel Tree tags. The community may select tags at these banks: US Bank, Union State Bank, Union Bank, and Knife River Credit Union. The Beulah High School Student Council

will partake in this volunteer project this year. According to Jan Oihus, the BHS Student Council adviser, the student

council has been involved with the Angel Tree Project for the past eight to ten years. They shop for the gifts during their State Student Council Convention held in Bismarck North Dakota. “This year we’ve decided on four individuals with a $100 limit per person,” Oihus said.

“It is important for high school students to get involved with their community,” BHS Student Council President Chelsey Hatzenbuhler said. According to Hatzenbuhler she has been involved in the Angel Tree Project for the past six years. “It is an important cause because not every family can afford to buy

presents during the Christmas Season,” Hatzenbuhler said. Many families run on a tight budget and sometimes Christmas presents are not considered a necessity. Others have obstacles in life that get in the way of the little things like Christmas gifts. This happens not just within the Beulah area but across the United States of America also. According to Angeltree.org (11-21-08), right now an estimated 1.5 million children have a mom or dad in prison. The Angel Tree Project Nationwide uses this as an opportunity to reach out to

the children of inmates and their families with the love of Christ. In Matthew 18:5 Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.” The Angel Tree Project also

gives churches an opportunity to share Christ’s love by helping to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the families of prisoners. With this local church organizations purchase and deliver gifts and the gospel to children in the name of their prisoner-parent. With this these children feel a parent’s love, despite their absence.

www.clipartguide.com

the road. At least ten deer were lined up across the highway, just standing there. Avoiding this furry fence across the road was impossible. BOOM! She hit one. The other nine sauntered off. No one was hurt (except deer number 7) but the passenger window glass had shattered all over my grandma’s lap and the front grill was broken and fi lled with dangling fur. We could not fi gure out how the side window broke. It was probably from the impact of the hood against the door frame, but it seemed more logical to think that one of the angry hoodlum deer kicked out the window before running away. The deer they hit lay dead in the ditch. (Served it right.) In lieu of the blizzard we recently had, my dad commented on how smart animals are. “I think a lot of them know bad weather is coming and are holding up in town,” he said. Where? At the AmericInn? I don’t think they are that smart. In fact, I think they were standing along Highway 49, as always, nostrils steaming, eyes glowing, just waiting to leap out in front of a car. A bag of hammers would never do that.

Bambi continued from page 3

“In 2007, 159 Angels were given out along with nine families that were requested.” ~ Katie Klindworth, a Direct Service Advocate, and the coordinator for the Angel Tree Project

not include the bass guitar which is an additional $60. So for those willing to dish out the $160 plus for a the full rock band, not only can you become a guitar hero you can also become a vocal god, a drum master, or a bass slayer. Rock Band 2 is the best band rhythm game out there to date and is currently only rivaled by its predecessor. This game was made by people who know what it’s like to go through the real deal here, where over two thirds of the loading screens are information of the band whose song you’re about to play. Overall, it’s about as close as anyone is going to get to playing a sold out show in Madison Square Garden. You will fi nd yourself having endless hours of fun despite how awful your friend can sing “Hello There” by Cheap Trick. And with the No Fail mode, it’s fun for everyone. You’re defi nitely getting your money’s worth for this game, even if you’re buying all the hardware as well.

Unknown to most, the books do hold some exciting action/suspense scenes, especially the third and fourth books in the series. Many times Edward’s family, the good human-loving vampires, fi nd themselves face to face with evil, human-eating vampires that want to kill Bella. The action becomes more complicated when Bella’s best friend Jacob, who happens to be madly in love with Bella, enters the storyline. Bella fi nds herself calming feuds between her vampire and best friend, questioning who to love. On Friday, Nov. 21, the big-screen version of Twilight released across the nation, sending fans into a mad hysteria to be the fi rst to see it. By fans, I mean myself. My friends and I headed to Bismarck to see the adventures of Edward and Bella unfold before our eyes over the course of two hours. The theatre was a little too packed with estrogen to be comfortable but still worth the danger involved. The movie was thrilling, even for a guy. The movie easily kept my interest through the story, corny jokes, and a very good fi ght scene which included a head being ripped

off and a burning pyre. I left the theater craving to watch the next showing but not willing to hand over my life savings for another movie ticket. The Twilight series is a captivating story of love, treachery, feuding, and murder. Its love story title is defi nitely deserved, but much lies beneath the surface that many -- even males -- can enjoy. If you’re a closet romantic like myself (Yes, I’ll admit it) then even the affection scenes won’t be quite so unbearable. Don’t make fun of us -- guys included -- who read the books. Don’t laugh at the discussions we have and how we dream about having our own Bella. Guys, we shouldn’t look at the Twilight universe and Edward Cullen as enemies, but rather as examples that we can learn many lessons from. First, girls like it when you sneak into their rooms each night and watch them sleep. Second, it’s not creepy to follow a girl out of town and follow her all night to “protect” her. Finally, it’s fi ne to lock your girlfriend in your house so she doesn’t get in trouble when you’re gone for the weekend. If only more of us could be like Edward Cullen.

Rock Band II continued from page 7 Twilight continued from page 7

12 Miner FrolicsOutdoors

December 12, 2008

discrimination, and if so, wouldn’t aborting those babies because of their illness fall under the category of a hate crime? When it comes to types of abortion, the most malicious type is known as Partial Birth abortion. The fi rst two words of that phrase should be enough to indicate to you what the process is. It is murdering a baby who is partially born. A living child is naturally delivered and then killed, according to www.lifeissues.org (12-02-08). Currently, there is a nationwide Partial-Birth abortion ban.

However, America is not only challenged with legalized abortion, but also a current bill called the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). Unfortunately, our president-elect Barack Obama has stated that his fi rst act as president will be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act if it is passed by Congress, according to www.barackobama.com (12-02-08). If enacted, the FOCA would abolish all restrictions and limitations on the right of women to have an abortion. The restrictions it would lift are: parental notifi cation laws, waiting periods, and requirements of full disclosure of the physical and emotional risks of having an abortion. Perhaps the worst part of the FOCA is that it would also lift the current Partial Birth abortion ban. The FOCA would make the right to kill a child as acceptable and natural as the right to free speech or freedom of press. Sometimes I wonder why no one takes notice of one of the biggest massacres to date in the United States of America. The harsh reality of abortion is that it takes lives prematurely every day and yet our generation and culture never blink an eye.

Some even go as far as to consider the systematic slaughter of babies as a step forward in American society and advancement in women’s’ rights. Bottom line-- abortion is murder-- there is no other name for something that stops a beating heart. In addition, abortion is a permanent solution that throws many so-called “mothers” into emotional and psychological turmoil. It does not, in any way, better the lives of women who terminate their pregnancies. In fact, it often leads to lifelong regret and intense depression. According to www.movementforabetteramerica.org, (11-13-08) over 4,000 babies are aborted in America each day. 1,400 of those babies are African American. The problem doesn’t only exist in America, however. Globally, one in fi ve pregnancies ends in abortion. The most extreme example would be Romania, where more babies are aborted than born. At the end of the day, whatever religious or political beliefs you hold, everyone with any soul should agree that it would be better for a mother to have her baby in her arms rather than on her conscience.

prevent their recurrence. Because of the rough work conditions the people work in and the ongoing illegal activity, the international diamond industry is already taking steps to respond to this problem by creating the World Diamond Congress, Antwerp, as of July 19, 2000. It is a resolution which, if fully implemented, wants to increase the diamond industry’s ability to block confl ict diamonds from reaching market (www.un.org, 11-6-08). Life to me is much too precious, and the value of someone’s life it to important. Innocent people are losing their lives over in Africa because of diamonds that the American people are continuously purchasing. After learning about this I have changed my mind about diamonds, granted they are beautiful, the lives taken because of them just isn’t worth it to me. I know of a few people who refuse to accept diamonds now unless they are “confl ict free”.

Roe continued from page 3

Diamonds continued from page 3

By: Jordan Halter The motor whines, the track treads snow, and the skis bounce on top of the fl uffy layer as the snowmobiler enjoys the thrill of an exciting ride. In order have an enjoyable and safe experience, snowmobilers must take some precautions beforehand. Danger may arise if the activity is done incorrectly or without proper knowledge. Student teacher and avid snowmobiler Casey Smith suggests a couple safety tips to follow to ensure a safe ride: dress appropriately (wear layers of water proof clothing to stay warm and dry) and wear a helmet because it’s not only the law, it’s a huge safety measure. Map out a plan and let others know what it is before leaving. When planning an outing, collect a fi rst aid kit, a fl ashlight, a knife, a compass, a map, and matches; all of these could be real life savers in the dead of winter. Do not include the consumption of alcohol or drugs in a trip. It will create unnecessary danger and create a higher risk for accidents. Never ride alone because if a snowmobiler becomes lost, a group is easier to fi nd and able to get on the right road more easily. When cruising on a snowmobile, avoid bodies of water and

stay on the groomed trails unless the terrain is familiar. To operate a snowmobile one must have a valid driver’s license or be at least 12 years old with a completed snowmobile safety course. However, there is no age limit if the snowmobiler is riding on private land owned by a parent or guardian (www.snowmobilend.org, 11/20/08). After one learns the safety of snowmobiling, it’s time to fi nd a snowmobile. The four major manufactures include Yamaha, Polaris, Arctic Cat, and Ski Doo (www.snowmobile.org, 11/21/08). “I like the Polaris brand because I feel they are the most reliable and I haven’t had a lot of problems with them,” senior snowmobiler Sara Silverthorn said. Owning a snowmobile requires registration similar to that of a car. The cost to license a snowmobile in North Dakota is $40 and the form can be printed off the DOT Web site. The owner will receive a certifi cate and two stickers that are to be placed on either side of the snowmobile (www.dmv.org, 11/20/08). Choosing the best snowmobiling terrain can be just as hard as choosing a sled. North Dakota has 14 groomed trails but only one snowmobile resort, which is located near Bottineau. The trail is known

as the Peace Garden State Snowmobile Trail and runs through Lake Metigoshe State Park (www.ndparks.com, 11/14/08). Montana and South Dakota attract many snowmobilers who want a more adventurous ride. South Dakota has about 350 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. The trails weave through the Black Hills and into the Black Hills Forest. Trails usually open in December. Cooke City, Montana sits in a valley within the Beartooth Mountains and lies only four-and-a-half miles from Yellowstone National Park. Approximately 60 miles of trail winds through the mountains and is a great place for beginners through experts because there are different trails depending on the degree of diffi culty (www.cookecitychamber.org, 11/24/08). “Cooke City is a good place to go because it has trails you can go on, but also has places where you can go to just drive around,” senior snowmobiler Tausha Pfenning said. Snowmobile resorts aren’t always an option, but riding around Beulah may spark just as much fun. However, snowmobilers can’t just ride wherever they want. According to Pfenning, there are signs in town that specify “no snowmobiling.” “There are many restrictions on where

snowmobilers can and can’t ride. Ditches are a good spot for snowmobilers, but can be very dangerous because of traffi c, culverts, and other debris that can end up in the ditch,” Smith said. Smith also suggests that checking “city ordinances” and looking at “park restrictions” will help snowmobilers ride safely and legally. Snowmobiling is not restricted to ditches and groomed trails. In larger states such as Minnesota and Colorado, snowmobile racing is considered a sport. Fierce competitors soup-up their snowmobiles and challenge others for world titles (www.highbeam.com, 12/01/08). Freestyle is another common form of snowmobiling. During freestyle, snowmobilers cruise around in fi elds and create a trails of their own (www.expn.com, 12/01/08). “Trail-riding is fun when a group goes out. I also enjoy freestyle because it is more adventurous and gets my adrenaline pumping,” Silverthorn said. When snowmobiling, always keep in mind the dangers that come with fun. Watch out for ice, double check weather conditions, don’t consume alcohol or drugs, and make sure to keep speed under control said Smith.

Two skis with a track dominate the snow

clearly be a disadvantage to increasing the age to drive,” Stroh said. North Dakota is a farming community with a lot of needs for young drivers to help on the farm. “North Dakota should not raise the driving age because it is such a rural area with lots of open spaces,” Driver’s Education teacher Joe Brea said. He feels changing the age in North Dakota will not become a reality.

Driving Age continued from page 1

5Miner PerceptionFeatures

December 12, 2008

Registration provides opportunities for growthBy: Blaze Unruh Class registration allows students to take classes that challenge and improve their knowledge. Beulah High School provides a variety of core education classes and elective choices to give students plenty of options. Registering for classes brings thoughts of requirements for future graduation and college or work preparation. BHS requires current sophomores through seniors to earn 22 credits in order to graduate: 4 English, 3 social studies and ½ of government, 2 science, 3 mathematics, 1 physical education, 1 technology, and 8 electives. Freshmen who intend to graduate in 2012 will need 24 credits to graduate (BHS Student Handbook 08-09, p.29). According to Bruce Wold, a BHS counselor, all classes offered are listed with descriptions on the registration guide, under student connection, on the BHS Web site. Class registration is fi nalized on computers through PowerSchool. All classes are represented by codes that students enter in sections on a PowerSchool registration form. These classes must total 7 classes or 14 semesters for one year. Core classes fi ll a big part of a student’s schedule, but elective classes help to balance a student’s year to design a schedule that interests him or her.

“I personally love choir, it is a fun class and a bonus is no homework,” Paige Scherer, a BHS senior said. Meats class benefi ts hunters. This class allows students to bring in deer or other hunted animals to be processed into anything desired. “Meats class rocks; you get to cut up deer, lamb, beef, hogs, and eat a ton of jerky,” Jayden Bohn, a BHS senior said. One of the most popular classes on every student’s schedule is gym or Lifetime Sports. Gym requires health class every Friday, while Lifetime does not. Here students play games such as: mat ball, dodge ball, full court volley ball and get physically active for a part of their day. “Gym has always been a lot of fun. What can get much better than a good game of dodge ball,” Andrew Just, a BHS senior said. Advanced/dual credit classes are offered to students who want to get a head start and prepare themselves for college. “I learned a lot in Advanced English. It helps with writing and grammar, which will help seniors when writing college essays,” Erica Duewel, a BHS senior said. Dual credit classes are offered through Dickinson State University. Classes are worth three college credits per semester and priced cheaper than college rates. “Advanced Welding is an awesome class. I learned many welding skills from Mr.

Aichele and also got 3 college credits,” Michael Kost, a BHS junior said. According to Principal Todd Kaylor, the class registration date is undecided, but it

Incidents around the country referring to President-elect Barack Obama are dampening the postelection glow of racial progress and harmony, highlighting the stubborn racism that remains in America. Our generation is learning nothing more than the archaic ignorance that has been past down from our ancestors. By making these actions okay, we are further engraving a history of prejudice into our country. It appears to have begun spreading across the nation when Sen. Obama became the fi rst African American to ever be nominated for president by a major political party. Instances have been reported of racist graffi ti and hate mail, some threatening, have been noted by major newspapers and by bloggers who monitor hate groups… and it hasn’t stopped since. While John McCain has gotten hate mail as well, his critiscm is not based on his race. In the case of Barack Obama, he is being unfairly judged simply because of the

color of his skin. It is inevitable when in the spot light for people to criticize or even despise you. But just from the little that I have seen here in Beulah High, it was a one sided bashing. This is not about Obama’s political opinions, or about where he stands on certain issues. This is about the racism that still exists in America. It is one thing to dislike a person because of his views, but it’s another thing to hate him or her because of his or her skin color. It is easy to think that we live in a society without race, where hands the colors of the rainbow join to sing, dance, and play. But this is not the case. America still has a dirty little secret – an enduring culture of racism that looms at large in every aspect of national policy, like mandatory minimums in drug cases. The only way we are going to move past this is by breaking the silence and talking about race openly and honestly, something that is often suggested but rarely done. As Martin Luther King said many years ago, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Election continued from page 3

will take place sometime in February. Students must realize the importance of class registration. Education is the basis of life and students who apply themselves will succeed at it!

BHS junior Keanon Serna examines his choices on the Class Registration page in PowerSchool as he plans his future. Class descriptions and prerequisites are available for viewing through the Student Connection on the BHS Web site. Photo by: Gabe Goetz

Alison Just DDS

We are open Mon-Thurs 6:00 am - 8:00 pm,

Fri. 6 am - 6 pm, Sat. 8:00 am - 4 pm,

and Sun. 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

6 Miner ConnectionsClubs

December 12, 2008

By Mickal Sayler The Beulah High School Choir will perform their annual Christmas concert at Zion Lutheran Church at 7 pm on Dec. 15. Beulah residents enjoy this popular concert that is performed each year and pack Zion Lutheran church with people who love Christmas music and support the choir. “All I expect is that we do the absolute best we can,” said Voeller about his fi rst BHS Christmas concert. “ The choir has been working very hard and I’m proud of them. The work we have done is what we will present at the concert.” The choir will present “Silent Night,” which this year they plan on singing in German and adding sign language to it. Other songs that they will sing are “Sing Gloria,” “Jing-ga-lye-ya,” “Shut De Do,” and “In This Very Room.” The choir will try a new style of music with “Jing-ga-lye-ya.” “‘Jing-ga-lye-ya’ was an instant success when it was debuted by the Chor Leoni Men’s Choir of Vancouver, B.C. Using nonsense words, it is rhythmic and upbeat, and uses cyclical repetition in the parts creating an incredibly catchy groove!” (www.seattlechoralcompany.org, 11-20-08).The choir is excited about this new kind of style of music that they get to try. “‘Jing-ga-lye-ya’ is extremely rhythmic, and requires 100 percent concentration from each individual in the ensemble,”

By: Zach Pederson The state FFA Association will hold the FFA Green Hand event in Bismarck on Jan. 10. The Green Hand event includes three separate wings: the Green Hand event, the MFE (Made for Excellence) and the ALD (Advance Leadership Development). “The purpose of the FFA Green Hand event is to get fi rst year FFA members involved in the state FFA organization,”FFA adviser Tim Aichele said. The actual Green Hand event is held at the Ramkota Hotel for 7th and 8th grade students, to develop their leadership skills. The MFE event, held at the Ramkota, will focus mainly on high school freshmen and sophomores. MFE teaches goal setting skills, confl ict resolving skills, and how to build self esteem. The ALD event takes place at the Radison Hotel, and focuses mainly on high school juniors and seniors who have previously attended MFE. Attendees will learn ways to prepare themselves to enter the working

Voeller said. “This by no means is an easy piece to perform and is defi nitely the most challenging piece in our program. This is the piece that I programmed just because it’s defi nitely out there, from a different world, yet sure to please the audience.” “In This Very Room” is a special song to the BHS choir as they have been singing it for many years. “Many people have wondered which room the song is about. In truth, the song will always be about whatever room it is sung in at any given moment,” (www.ronharrismusic.com, 11-20-08). “I always love the last song, ‘In This Very Room,’ when alumni come and sing with the entire choir,” senior Chelsey Hatzenbuhler said. Choir members have different favorite memories of this event ranging from the Christmas spirit to seeing all of the people attend the concert. Senior Sarah Funkhouser said her favorite memory was “of course ‘In This Very Room’ because all of the choir alumni sing with us.” Because it is their last Christmas concert, seniors know what to expect from the audience and the emotional night. “It makes me kind of sad because choir has been a huge part of me in high school,” Funkhouser said. Many senior choir members have been in choir since they were in middle school and some even in elementary school. Both seniors Hatzenbuhler and Funkhouser have been in choir since they were in elementary school.

Choir to hold concert at Zion

Green Hand set for Jan. 10world (www.ffa.neaged.org, 11-21-2008).The events start at 1:00 pm (CDT) on Saturday. “A formal banquet setting, usually serving roast beef or chicken breast with a potato dish, vegetables, salad, dinner roll and desert will be served at the Ramkota Hotel,” FFA adviser Keith Bohn said. “There will be leadership activities, sessions, games, a banquet and a dance.” Senior Jayden Bohn will be attending for his second year and said that his favorite part of the event is the dance afterward. Other objectives of the MFE are for students to make new friends and to help students appreciate a world that is changing around them. Other objectives for the ALD include helping attendee’s communication skills and helping students come up with career goals (www.ffa.neaged.org, 11-21-2008). FFA presents opportunities for students to learn good leadership skills. “Yeah! It is worth the time to attend,”Jayden Bohn said. Senior Kelsey Flemmer addresses the FFA group as they prepare for the Green Hand event. Photo by: Zach Pederson

By: Nikkita Starr On the weekend of Jan. 23, the University of North Dakota will host the UND Honor Band, Choir, and Orchestra festival in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The festival is strictly an audition festival. Students from North Dakota and Minnesota traveled to audition sites during the week of Oct. 27 to audition for the festival. Each student auditioned for one of three conductors: Dr. James Popejoy, Professor Joshua Bronfman, or Dr. Alejandro Drago, depending on which section he or she was auditioning for. “The requirements students must meet in order to be in UND Honor Band, Choir, or Orchestra includes the following: They must be enrolled in choir or band. They must complete an audition consisting of singing or playing a prepared solo, and sight-reading,” said Philip Voeller, Beulah High School’s choir director. If any students qualify, Voeller will also be attending the festival. Flutist Mickal Sayler was among the two band students auditioning. “The audition process was very nerve wracking because you only have one chance at it!” Sayler said. Along with fi ve other BHS choir students, Sarah Funkhouser, a two-year UND Choir veteran auditioned.

According to Funkhouser, UND HBCO is “super happy fun time.” “A day at the festival usually consists of oodles of rehearsals and tons of fun,” Funkhouser said. ‘Oodles’ of rehearsal is certainly one way to put it; the longest rehearsal period is four and a half hours (www2.und.edu, 12-1-08). “To prepare for the festival, I practice my music a lot! I go through it three or four times a day. I have to put a lot of work into it,” Sayler said. Even though a lot of work and preparation goes into the three-day festival, students do get some relaxation time of their choice, including an optional mixer, where students can meet other students and play Guitar Hero or sing karaoke. The memories made at the UND HBCO festival are ones never to be forgotten. “My most memorable experience was during my fi rst year. We sang this song called ‘The Creation’ and in the middle of the song, the lights were supposed to dim because we were singing about darkness. The lights went completely out and we couldn’t see our music or the director so we had to stop the song and restart,” Funkhouser said. Voeller said auditioning could be valuable to a student. “It makes you a better musician, especially if you make it and get to attend. [You should try out] to represent our school!” Voeller said.

Students audition for UND festival

11Miner RandomnessHumor

December 12, 2008

BHS students ‘ask a funeral director’

Neuberger’s Nonsense:‘Tis the season for Christmas music

BES students ask: Seniors, are you smarter than a fourth grader?

By: Jared Seibel

Being a funeral director isn’t one of the careers a person will ever see on Dirty Jobs. However, it does produce a lot of questions from BHS students. Dying is a fact of life and funeral directors help the families deal with grief in a caring and compassionate way. Becoming a funeral director involves a lot of schooling. A person going into this profession must earn a degree in Mortuary Science. This degree consists heavily on science classes, as well as some English and math classes. Only one funeral director serves the surrounding area of Beulah. Jay Seibel serves the community by doing this job and this issue’s interview focuses on him and his job.

Junior Jesse Grad wants to know: “What made you choose this job?”Jay Seibel: It chose me. Being a funeral director is more of a calling than a job. You have to want to help people to be a good funeral director.

Senior Jacob Bailiff wants to know: “Besides funerals, when do you take out

By: Shawn Neuberger

Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg, the Bat mobile lost a wheel and Joker ran away! Remember that version of “Jingle Bells”? Even though the remix versions are fun and creative, they are not traditional.

Rave!“Grandma got run over by a reindeer:” This song is hilarious, whoever wrote this song should defi nitely get a Grammy or two. For real, who thinks of a grandma getting ran over… by a reindeer? There genius! It’s not practical that a little old grandma will get ran over by a reindeer. Pretty sure reindeer are scared of humans. This song never gets old!

Rant“Twelve days of Christmas:” A song all about birds for Christmas is pretty lame,

I cannot tell a lie. But what the symbols actually stand for is pretty rad. According to www.brownielocks.com, 11-13-08, the true love in the song refers to God. The turtle dove refers to the New and Old Testament. French hens stand for Faith, Hope, and Charity. The calling birds are the Four Gospels. The golden rings stand for the fi ve books of the Old Testament. The six geese a- laying, stand for the six days in which God created the world. Swans a- swimming, are representing the seven sacraments. Eight maids a-milking, the 8 beatitudes. The ladies dancing stand for the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. The ten lords a-leaping, stands for the Ten Commandments. The pipers piping, represents the faithful apostles. On the last day of Christmas the twelve drummers drumming stands for the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed. Even though the symbols represent really great things, many people don’t understand why they are caroling about a maid a-milking.

By: Shawn Neuberger Do students really remember the information they learned way back in fourth grade? Sherry Zacher’s fourth grade class submitted the following questions to see if they could stump a senior. Who was the fi rst African American to join the Major Baseball League? Sammy Sosa- Hannah Zimmerman

What do you call the word part that is added to the beginning of the base word and changes its meaning? Root word- Zach Baranick

What is the U.S. Mint redesigning?Design of Junior Mints’ box- Jessie Battest.

What is the property which states that the way in which addends are grouped does not change the sum?The Mrs. Schmidt is always right property- Hannah Zimmerman

What is an expression that means something different than what the words actually say? Pun- Erica Duewel

the hearse?”Jay Seibel: Never, except to wash it for the next funeral, and the occasional Friday night.

Senior Jacob Bailiff also wants to know: “What is the average number of funerals per week?”Jay Seibel: We average between one and two per week. We only have funerals after someone dies. We can’t control nor predict when this will happen.

Junior Shelby Schields wants to know: “Does it ever get diffi cult to do your job?”Jay Seibel: Our job is very diffi cult when a young person or child dies. That is out of the ordinary and very hard on the family.

Junior Shelby Schields also wants to know: “Why did you choose this occupation?”Jay Seibel: I was majoring in pre-law at Jamestown College, and the only job I could fi nd for the summer was at a funeral home. It hit me that I would not make a very good lawyer since I hate offi ce work. By then, I liked the way I was able to help people at the funeral home, so I changed my major to funeral service.

Answers 1. Jackie Robinson, 2. Prefi x, 3. Penny, 4. Associative Property of Addition, 5. Idiom

$10 off haircuts and

color service

Offer good through the end of

January 2009

10 Miner IconsFaces

December 12, 2008

By: Stephanie Scheurer They’re called SHINE -- a worship band made up of teens from the surrounding area. They love to make music and they all have one thing in common. They do it for the Lord. SHINE stands for Serving Him IN Everything. Its members are from Beulah, Hazen, and Stanton. Every Sunday they meet at Zion Lutheran Church in Beulah to practice. Throughout the year, SHINE performs at various churches in the community and also for local events and activities. “Our passion is music and it’s fun that we all get to do it together,” junior Chelsie Babcock said. SHINE was originally formed in 2000 by Dustin Huber and Travis Johnson. SHINE has continued to grow by sparking the interest of other musical teens. “I like being in SHINE because it’s a good way to share something that’s so important to me with everybody else – just sharing what God’s given me and giving it back,” senior Sarah Funkhouser said. This year, SHINE has received many new younger members who have hearts for worship and are eager to learn and make music. Six of the members are seniors this year and defi nitely want to see SHINE continue after they leave. “Even though it’s going to be diffi cult, I’m looking forward to teaching the younger kids. I think that it’ll give me satisfaction to see them continue being in it after I graduate,” Funkhouser said. SHINE is open to anyone from 7th grade through 12th grade. Singers and musicians do not need to audition; SHINE welcomes all participants. “It’s a fun group and it’s good fellowship with people that enjoy the same thing you do,” senior Esther Drebelbis said. The 2008-2009 SHINE members consist of 7th graders Rachel Funkhouser, Daniel Harildstead, Phillip Wolff, John Yale, and Courtney Kemmit; freshmen Sam Larson, Lacie Wenning, and Heidi Zimmerman; juniors Chelsie Babcock, Marshall Becker, and Sean Roberts; and seniors Esther Drebelbis, Sarah Funkhouser, Brittnee Geiger, Brandon Johnson, Stephanie Scheurer, and Mindi Seifert. Janet Funkhouser and Sam Scheurer also help with the group. “I like SHINE because there’s a bunch

of people there for one reason so it makes it [SHINE] so much better,” Heidi Zimmerman said. “I’m looking forward to getting close to everybody this year.” A folk/rock style worship band from California called “The Fragrance” focused on ushering God’s children into his presence. “We want to be a sweet aroma in worship to Christ and a fragrance of the knowledge of Him, spreading the hope and life of Christ throughout our community and the world in His name,” (www.youth.biola.edu/ministry/bands, 12-1-08). There are many worship bands like this across the U.S., but the Beulah area is fortunate to have talented small-town kids with a similar positive mission based on Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” When SHINE performs at a church, a free-will offering is collected. Normally ten percent of the offering is given back to the church in which they performed. The rest goes into an account and SHINE, as a group, decides on a use for the money. In the past, donations from the account have helped the tornado victims in Northwood, ND, Kennedy Bruce’s family with medical bills, and purchased music and equipment for SHINE. In the past, SHINE has played for Relay for Life and Riverside Rock held at Riverside Park. Last year, SHINE was invited to perform at Cooperstown Bible Camp for a weekend retreat. SHINE is willing to travel outside of the surrounding area if it works for the majority of the group date-wise. SHINE has quite a repertoire of music ranging from fun, simple camp songs, to some of today’s contemporary Christian hits. Their theme song “This Little Light of Mine” usually closes their concerts. Recently, the newly grouped SHINE members played at English Lutheran Church in Hazen. Their next even is planned for December 14 at 7:00pm in the Zion Lutheran Church fellowship hall. Refreshments will be served during the concert. Details will be posted on the cable access channel (channel 10) and on fl yers around town. “I’m looking forward to our next concert because it’ll be more laid back than usual,” Marshall Becker said. For more information, contact Janet Funkhouser at 873-5567 or talk to any of the SHINE members.

Teens enjoy worship, music in SHINE

Heidi Zimmerman, Lacie Wenning, and Sam Larson are among the other SHINE members leading the worship service at Enlish Lutheran Church in Hazen. Photo by: Esther Drebelbis

7Miner EntertainmentEntertainment

December 12, 2008

For those about to rock, we salute youBy: Karsen Little Soldier

To all those who think they play a mean air guitar or to those who constantly drum their fi ngers on everything and anything, it’s time to test your skills. Rock Band 2 is the ultimate way to test your rock star capabilities without actually having to be a rock star. The best music game in the business just got a whole lot better. Hamonix has done it again. The sequel to Rock Band has given Guitar Hero a bad name. Rock Band takes the formula of one instrument and multiplies it into a whole band, making it not only fun for the single player but also a great party game. If nothing else Rock Band 2 is still Rock Band. It’s still an addictive, easy to pick-up-and-play rhythm game with surprising depth. And this time Harmonix has made it even easier for the musically challenged to get their groove on with “No Fail Mode” and expanded training modes. (gamepro.com 12/12/08) Also new this year is the ability to play your world tour online. This is great

news for people who simply could not fi nd enough friends to come over and form the band of their dreams. Now people can take their rocker online and jam out in theirs or anyone else’s band. Better yet, your rocker is no longer tied to an instrument, and is instead an equal opportunity rocker. Rock band 2 features a whopping 84 tracks that run the gamut from classic rock (Bad Company’s “Shooting Star”; The Guess Who’s “American Woman”) to 80’s pop (Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like The Wolf”; Billy Idol’s “White Wedding” ) to, astoundingly enough, meditative folk (Bob Dylan’s “Tangled Up In Blue”).

They’ve even managed to score a track from the forthcoming Guns n’ Roses album Chinese Democracy, the unfortunately boring “Shackler’s Revenge.” Plus, any tracks players of the original Rock Band downloaded from the game’s massive store are automatically added free of charge, and for fi ve more bucks, the 55 tracks from the fi rst game can be imported into this one. There’s no lack of content to this game and that’s what makes it an

ultimate party game. One of the most interesting things about Rock Band 2 is the fans. The community that has been created around the title is ever growing. Harmonix created a Web site where people can sign up to share thoughts about the game, high scores, favorite or most challenging songs or even pictures of their band. Players can also create fi gurines made of band members

they have created, very detailed fi gures, for $69. They can also have merchandise made with characters or the band. (Zcorp.com 12/15/08) It is this dedication and fostering of competition that will keep the game fresh in everyone’s mind for months to come. Well, that and the huge displays set up nationwide at Wal-Mart, GameStop and Hot Topic stores, all with supporting merchandise and some with playable demos. On the offi cial site, there are plenty of accessories to add realism to play: rubber tipped drumsticks, skins and shoulder straps for guitars, stands, a microphone with integrated controller and even a “premium” drum set. The revisions from the original Rock Band to Rock Band 2 are slim to none. But why would you need to change something that is already so perfect? Changes that have been incorporated to Rock Band to include minor tweaks to the instruments and more online playing challenges. The only downside to Rock Band is the price. At $190 the game is anything but cheap. Although it does include a drum set, a guitar, and a microphone it, does

Edward and Bella create epic love storyBy: Christian Heller

Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love. Boy wants to eat girl. No, this isn’t the summary of my relationships but rather the short version of the now famous Twilight saga by Stephanie Myers. To sum it up for anyone who was blind over the past two years, every girl in school has been reading, dreaming, and screaming about a certain tall, mysterious, handsome, quiet, god-like high schooler. Once again, not me. Edward Cullen holds the title of Most Amazing Man/Vampire ever after being made into the object of many a female’s dreams and aspirations. I hate to break it to you ladies, but Edward Cullen is as real to your lives as Princess Leia is to mine. Unfortunately for those of us belonging to the male species, Edward Cullen has set

the bar so high that we can, literally, never reach those expectations. Even though Cullen has betrayed his fellow men, is their any enjoyment fo