Goodbye Principal Hansen
Written by Ashley Leavitt, Staff Writer
As she announced on January 19, 2010, Logan High Principal Patricia Hansen has decided to retire. Mrs. Hansen has a variety of memories from working at LHS, but some of her fondest have been those involving students, the diversity, the participation and the friendly aspect of the school.
Mrs. Hansen received her bachelor’s degree in history and elementary education from Utah State University and a master’s degree in education from Idaho State University.
Hansen started her career as a teacher at River Heights Elementary and worked there for five years, spending half the day teaching and the other half as the principal. She went on to work as an administrator in the Cache County School District, where she spent time at River Heights Elementary, South Cache 8-9 Center, Spring Creek Middle School and Mountain Crest. Following that, she went on to work as the assistant superintendent and the director of schools in the Cache district, and then the principal at Logan High School, where she worked for six years.
During her 38-year experience working in public education in Cache Valley, Hansen has had a major impact on teachers as well as students.
“[Patt Hansen] has had a big impact on LHS,” senior Kanneisha Lucherini said. “She had the school change from five periods to seven. She also helped some of the sport programs do better.”
Hansen shared her views on how public education has changed in Cache valley. She noted that expectations are higher, the kids have never been better, there is more rigorous work, the classes are harder and the expectations of parents are much higher.
As Hansen looks forward to retirement, she plans on traveling and visiting her grandkids, as well as spending time with her husband who is also retiring in their cabin in Bear Lake.
Cameron Reeve, a senior at LHS, said, “I feel [like] students don’t realize how much work being a principal is. I think she did pretty well considering what she has to uphold in her position.”
He went on to say, “I also think students don’t realize how much she honestly does for the school. She is going to be missed by me, the students, and the faculty. “
The students, faculty, parents, and altogether the people in Logan are what Hansen said she will miss the most. Even though she will be leaving, she commented about coming back and visiting.
“It gets in your blood,” she said.
Words of advice she wishes to give the next principal of Logan High is to enjoy everyday, get involved, participate and observe in the classrooms.
There is no doubt that Principal Patricia Hansen has made many changes in just the few years that she was at LHS, but it’s safe to say that she will be missed and remembered.
Diversity Week
Written byChris Garret, Staff Writer
During Logan High’s Diversity Week, the student body gathers to share their cultures with one another and to provide information about the lifestyles of
other people around the world.
One specific group that stood out during the assembly was the Hip-Hop Club. They performed to a group of songs by artists such as Missy Elliot, Atmosphere, and the Notorious B.I.G. These b-boys and b-girls lyrically spoke to the crowd through their steps to show that they aren’t playin.
Kaile Akina, the master mind of the whole club, really brings out the essence of Hip-Hop by Choreographing everyone’s moves and selecting the music herself. It was inspired by the dance crew “Beat Freaks”, but approved by club advisor Gordon Geddes.
“Eazy-E probably turned over in his grave,” Photo teacher Roger Rigby said of the performance.
“Hip-Hop isn’t about the Bling Bling, money and drugs. It is about the lifestyle and expressing yourself through music,” stated Kaile. The Hip-Hop club presents itself as a club that is not just a bunch of thugs, but people who enjoy all the forms of Hip-Hop.
What do we Know About Iran?
Written by Seth Humiston, Staff Writer
What do we really know about the 2009 election in Iran? What do we know about the 1979 overthrow of the America-friendly Shah by the radical Islamic Ayatollah? What information can truly penetrate the police state borders of Persia? In Logan High’s Multicultural Assembly, sophomore Satin Tashnizi attempted to raise these questions and address the subject of international understanding and assistance.
Iran is a fortress of a nation in the Middle East. All information and goods, both imports and exports, are carefully monitored. Often, people are led away by their government to that place that no one comes back from for accepting or sending any negative press for the country. Goods that are internationally thought provoking or potentially harmful to the Ayatollah, who maintains absolute control, also have a habit of getting people led away.
It is because of this terror and policing that we know so little about Iran and, as Tashnizi said, “They will have to fix this by themselves.”
Western powers are unlikely to take military forces into a nation they know so little about, especially given the current situation in Afghanistan.
The recent elections in Iran were decidedly a coup. A Western thinking public voted popularly for the reformist to start the process of ousting the Ayatollah, yet the Ayatollah-approved president won. Was it a coincidence? Much of the rest of the world wonders. When asked what they knew about this apparently fraudulent election or Iran in general, many Logan High students mumbled “I dunno.”
Those who paid attention in geography class asked “That’s the country by Afghanistan isn’t it?” These students were somewhat more familiar with the post-election riots that are continually publicized in the mass media.
The Western World knows little about Iran. What actually happened in the 2009 election? Is the Ayatollah keeping his country in a police state, or do they really just not like the West? Will we ever know the answers to these questions? Maybe, but for now we can just ponder them, and hope that someday we will have answers.
A Bagger’s Take on Grocery Store Etiquette
Written by A.J. Anderson, Staff Writer
Food is one of the things we can’t live without, and the best place to get this necessity is at a local grocery store. Unfortunately, many people don’t know how to behave when they are inside a grocery store. When one works at a grocery store, it’s easy to see the lack of common sense some people have. So here are a few tips on what not to do at a grocery store. That way you don’t have to worry about an ill-tempered bagger crushing your eggs.
Tip #1: If you aren’t going to buy something, don’t pick it up. Every single day people come through a check stand and promptly say to the checker, “I don’t want this.” Well that’s just wonderful, but how about next time you don’t grab that cereal in the first place? Sometime between putting those Cheerios in the cart and making your way to the register, you changed your mind about buying the item. It truly isn’t that hard to go back to the aisle. Most people could use the extra exercise anyways, and you’ll keep the friendly workers happy.
Tip #2: Pay attention to your surroundings. At almost every grocery store there is a light above the check stand that determines if that lane is open or not. Logically, if the light is off then the check stand is closed, and if the light is on, it is open. When a check stand is closed, you DON’T go through it even if a checker is still there. They are probably going on break or getting off of work, which means they don’t want to help another customer. Also, some grocery stores have 15 items or less signs in front of the register. For all those people who failed 1st grade math, 100 items is MORE than 15. Yet still customers ignore common sense and go into that lane anyways, resulting in disgruntled employees. Also, when there is a ‘THIS BATHROOM IS CLOSED FOR CLEANING’ sign on the door, that probably means a worker is in the bathroom and doesn’t want someone to stroll in and start going. It’s awkward.
Tip #3: Put your cart in the cart coral. One of the least enjoyable tasks that baggers have to endure is going out in the heat, rain, cold, or snow to wheel old rusty carts back in the store. This task is made slightly more bearable by putting designated areas for carts to be returned to. Unfortunately, laziness usually triumphs and carts are kept right next to cars. This is a huge outrage for baggers, especially when they are in the line of sight of a customer who, despite seeing the bagger struggle to push ten carts in the snow, doesn’t return the cart. It is not that hard to push a cart back. It really isn’t. They even made wheels so that it moves easier.
Tip #4: Listen and talk clearly. When a customer goes through a check stand and tries to make somewhat awkward talk to the checker, it is the bagger’s responsibility to find out if they want paper or plastic. Quite frequently the bagger will ask repeatedly, sometimes to the point of yelling, and the question falls on deaf ears. Then, the cashier will ask quietly if plastic works for them, and the customer says yes like they hadn’t heard the question before. Yet again, baggers won’t be very thrilled. Talking is also important for communication. When customers have questions about where things are, they need to speak clearly. Saying “Where is the…” will not get your question answered. It actually makes it hard to answer because workers cannot understand what you are saying. This just makes things awkward, and yet again, workers don’t want to smile.
Tip #5: Be bag conscientious. Most of the time, you don’t need your groceries double bagged. It just wastes bags. Are you really concerned that your dozen eggs and loaf of bread is too much weight for one bag to hold. No, the bag is more than strong enough to hold this weight, but people feel the need to get two bags when they only need one. Also, if you have a $300 order, don’t get paper bags. It takes so much longer to bag things in paper, and this makes baggers unhappy. When baggers aren’t happy, the quality of bagging is likely to go down. But the best thing to do is just get some reusable bags. You won’t have to worry about them ripping, and it helps the environment, and that is a very good thing.
So those are a few tips for next time you’re at the grocery store. Just be nice and use common sense and the friendly employees won’t be faking that smile and “have a nice day.” They might actually mean it. You’ll have a much better time at the grocery store.
Health Care: The Low Down
By Katie Luecke, Staff Writer
As the first year of President Obama’s term wrapped up, one issue was still the most controversial and unclear: Healthcare. Many bills were passed and numerous speeches given on this matter, but without much progress. Even though most people think that all Americans deserve affordable healthcare, the deadlock in Congress continues to deny opportunities to affect substantial change in our nation’s healthcare programs.
Looking at the many healthcare options being considered, it’s important to understand the history of healthcare in our country. From the beginning, healthcare was not considered a natural right. Nowhere in the Constitution is healthcare mentioned, even though it’s a staple all people should be privileged to.
The beginnings of organized healthcare began in the 1930s with private insurance companies who realized that many people could not afford the costs of large medical procedures. Two of these companies became the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies of today. The need for health insurance greatly increased during the economic turmoil of the Great Depression, much like the recession of today. In the 1960s, Medicare and Medicaid were established, giving healthcare to the elderly and impoverished. Both of these programs provide a safety net for certain demographics, but now more and more people are in need of quality, affordable healthcare.
President Obama’s plan has two basic goals in mind. The first is to provide healthcare for the $47 million people with no coverage, some of which choose to have none, though a vast majority are considered non-insurable due to pre-existing conditions or other unjust factors.
The second is to develop a system to diminish spiraling increases in healthcare cost, and to reduce some of the power of the big insurance companies. These companies contribute substantially to election campaigns for congressmen, making it difficult for them to support the bill. The connection between members of congress and lobbyists for companies who make a living from the healthcare industry call into question the ethics of our current situation. The result is a healthcare program that is unfair to the millions without help. In Obama’s State of the Union, he addressed this issue and asked congressmen to vote based off of what is right and not just campaign contributions.
A major turning point in the fight for affordable healthcare was the race for Ted Kennedy’s Massachusetts’ senate seat. The traditionally blue state voted for Scott Brown, a republican. The loss of a democratic senator may make it more difficult to pass any meaningful healthcare legislation.
The Massachusetts’ senate race shows the discontent of Americans, and the need for some sort of change. Affordable healthcare is a basic right for anyone who wants it. If both parties would just work together to find a reasonable solution, millions of people wouldn’t be left to fight for themselves.
Military Academies
By Ethan Muhs, Staff Writer
As a high school senior, I have recently applied to many colleges across the nation. During my endeavors to secure a better future for myself through an excellent college, I came across the possibility of attending one of the United States Armed Service academies. When several of my friends found out, they were confused about what these colleges were and why I was interested in joining “the war.” Here is my analysis…
The American military has been crucial in the security that America has historically experienced. To maintain the quality of this security, it attracts skilled individuals by offering each cadet/midshipmen that attends a service academy an estimated $500,000 education through their 4 years of education with an additional year of service training, which all military students receive. These individuals then serve for 5 years as officers in their respective branch of military to repay the military for its educational efforts. Therefore, the quality of education alone will, in some cases, make the necessity for a service assignment appear less demanding.
Graduates from the respective academies are given such prestige that, following their service period of 5 years, they easily procure the job of their choice. This then highlights the concept that individuals are sometimes willing to dedicate their own lives in pursuit of the greater good of the entity they believe to be most correct. Patriotism aside, the individuals that attend service academies understand that their lives belong not only to themselves, but to the country that has contributed the most to their culture, heritage and uniqueness.
Members of the American military are often criticized for the presumed “belligerence” that the U.S. expresses in dealing with the current War on Terror. This side of the argument would say that, rather than joining a war machine, one is much better served to improve the world’s perception of America through bolstering “soft power” concepts. These include political diplomacy, economic investment, and international ideology acceptance. Obviously the goal then is to create an international field of action that displays the American nation as one of “good” or “acceptance.”
While these ideas are well served and ensued with good intentions, the reality is that humans are a violent species, and that some type of physical force is required to ensure the security of our soft power belief systems, since soft power is hard placed to exist in a singular state. Therefore, through the security of “hard power,” U.S. “soft power” concepts are given the greatest chance of success. Our nation then spends time, effort, and funding in the quest to define the American version of international security, and much of this is applied to the service academies. I agree with a proactive American government, and believe that international balance and harmony can be attained through cooperation and prudence.
Being accepted to a service academy is one of the highest honors that a young adult can achieve, and is something in which I hope to participate. However, if I am not accepted, this application process has allowed me to realize that I, a lone citizen, make up just a small portion of our great country, and that I will respect the decisions of this country as long as I live, even if I decide my skills are better served outside of an enlisted career. Members of the military have sacrificed a greater part of their own lives and safety throughout history to protect our American system, and we as individuals and as a nation must never forget what they have done.
Grizzly Wrestlers Prepare for State
By Brett Salisbury, Staff Writer
On Saturday, January 23, 2010, the Logan High Wrestling team placed sixth out of 14 other schools in the South Summit Tournament. The tournament, a statewide competition, was held at South Summit High School, where some of the most competitive teams attended to prove their power on the mats.
Jason Fairbourn, one of Logan’s junior wrestlers, said that his personal focus for this tournament was “going all 6 minutes.”
Fairbourn and other top wrestlers from Logan High’s team including Kyle Pyfer, Spencer Mckay, Kyle Larsen and Justys Keckler displayed that practice paid off at the tournament. Fairbourn, one of the captains, was able to pin his opponent in less than 30 seconds and had the only win for Logan.
Justys Keckler, junior, had to wrestle one of his own teammates, Hunter Ballam, in the deciding match on placement in the 130-pound weight bracket. “It was weird to wrestle one of your own teammates,” said Keckler, “especially when it was a match to decide who would place and who wouldn’t.”
Despite hours of hard work and practice, the wrestling team placed a disheartening sixth place in this tournament. However, this loss has only motivated them more. They have already started to prepare for the region tournament. The team has high hopes for improvement and bringing some glory to the Grizzlies.
Fairbourn stated, “We are hoping that several guys will place very high in region.”
Keckler believes that the keys to success are to “focus and work hard in practice” with hopes that the team can place. Region was held here, at Logan, on January 29 and 30. The team placed 4th overall.
Sherlock Holmes Movie Review
By Trever Truex, Staff Writer
Sherlock Holmes was an interesting movie which I highly recommend. Sherlock Holmes had the adventure and mystery that I think is essential in a good movie; however you were kept out of the loop until the end, and it lacked the ability to keep the audience hooked. All of the twists and turns left some people dissatisfied. However, I did enjoy the movie’s humor and action scenes. Most of the comedy came from the experiments that Holmes did in his room, like testing different types of anesthesia on a dog, controlling flies with his violin’s sound waves, and so much more. Sherlock also had an extreme ability to anticipate the enemies’ movements, which led to his success in fights. He showed this ability in the beginning of the show where he had to knock one of the guards out. It was as if he saw the fight first in his head and then, BAM!!! All the moves were executed perfectly.
How well did the motion picture of the analytical super sleuth Sherlock Holmes compare to another super detective block busters? Well, let us dig deeper and explore that question. Let’s Compare Sherlock Holmes to one of the greatest detective movies of all time Batman: The Dark Knight.
- Similarities
Both face a foe which, at first, twists their minds to the limit of their abilities.
Both are trained intellectually and physically to be ready for anything that comes their way.
Both believe that without breaking some rules, justice can not prevail.
Both face a huge climax where their loved ones are endangered.
Both heroes are also amazingly unethical in their fight to save the day.
- Differences
Sherlock Holmes needs his partner Watson at his side where Batman is more like a one-man marching band.
Sherlock definitely has more humor than Batman.
Both movies are completely different on how they present their title character.
There are tons of sex references in Sherlock Holmes that are not in Batman.
Sherlock Holmes was a great movie and, all in all, the comparison between the films shows that if you are into deep mystery flicks Sherlock Holmes is a must see. The movie showed a more vulnerable side of Holmes where he would try to foil Watson’s attempts to get married so that he wouldn’t lose his greatest and only friend. You don’t read about that in the books. Watson was the string that held Holmes to his sanity in the film. Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Homes) and Jude Law (Dr. John Watson) had excellent performances bringing both characters to life to defeat the satanic and mythical Lord Blackwood with tons of humor, martial arts, and a great ending to boot. I give it 4 stars out of 5.