Got Milt?

by Ashley Anderson

                  Students from Garner-Hayfield and the surrounding area gathered at the Garner-Hayfield auditorium on Monday, March 1, to listen to inspirational speaker Milton Creagh. Students taking part in Monday’s events included middle school students from Garner-Hayfield and high school students from CWL, Belmond-Klemme, WCLT, Forest City, Ventura, West Hancock and Garner-Hayfield.

 Creagh spoke to students about work ethic, telling numerous stories as examples in his teachings. He spoke about how we all need practice and discipline. Milton says that nothing is handed to us, so we need to practice what we need in order to get where we want to be. Creagh also says without self-discipline we would not get much accomplished. Milton used the example of how his father guided him to speak instead of sing. His father had a stereo system Milton messed with as a boy, and in turn he ended up in trouble. Milton’s father realized Milton would not be able to make it as a singer so instead of punishing him, Milton’s dad gave him records of Martin Luther King, Jr., President Kennedy and a famous pastor to listen to. Though he had no idea he’d become a public speaker someday, the teachings of these three men helped Milton become the speaker he is today.

 After listening to Milton speak, the area high school students attended a career fair in Garner’s gymnasium. Many businesses took part in helping students become aware of the career opportunities available to them here in North Iowa. Businesses with representatives who visited with students during Monday’s event include 3M, Clear Lake Bank & Trust, Concord Care Center, Cardinal Grove Independent and Assisted Living, CR Holland Crane Service/Holland Moving & Rigging, Inc., Eastern Iowa Therapeutics, Farm Bureau Financial Services, Garner Police Department, Hancock County Memorial Hospital, Hancock County Public Health Services, IDOT, IMT, Kanawha Equipment, Kaplan University, Liberty Bank, Madsen Photography and Final Frame, Manufacturers Bank & Trust, MaxYield Cooperative, NIACC Career Link/ Work Based Learning, NIACC JPEC, NIACC Industrial Technology, North Central Cooperative, Prairie Energy, ProAdvantage Insurance/Verne Brunsen Insurance, Salon Embellish, Schoneman Realtors, Stellar Industries, Tesene, Mauer & Mauer, US Census Bureau and Westview Care Center.

                  Milton Creagh grew up in suburban Chicago. He says most people compare him to Bill Cosby as he has the same comedic and motivational style as Bill. Milton begs to differ as he says he seems more like Richard Pryor. Creah says his favorite part about speaking to teens is picking out the “outcasts.” Creagh says, “Walking into a room filled with teens that aren’t paying attention and seeing them just stop and stare and even sit up in awe” brings joy to his heart and reminds him of why he does what he does.  Milton strives to challenge students to do what they want to do and be who they want to be, not be or do something just because somebody says they should.

Senior Spotlight--Chelsey Formanek

by Lauren Hammitt

Chelserz, Chelserz  Boo and Chach are some names you may hear  Chelsey Kay Formanek called. Chelsey was born on Aug. 28, 1991, to Randy and Chris Formanek. Completing the family are older sister Ashley and cat Taylor. Chelsey thinks her smile is her best personality trait because she brightens Libby’s day with it. One thing Chelsey couldn’t live without is her cell phone because she claims it’s her lifeline to people.

                  Chelsey’s dad Randy is her role model because he does so much for her family and friends, he is liked by so many people and he can make people laugh. It’s another member of the family, though, whom she’d choose to walk in her shoes for a day; she’d let big sister Ashley experience why Chels loves sports so much. On the other hand, Chelsey would like to step in Ashley’s shoe for the day so she could have a sense of fashion and be a great big sister like Ashley is. Chels would also like to be Mr. V because then she could always win debates with the students.

                  Some favorites of Chelserz Boo’s are listening to Kesha, eating mac and cheese, shopping at her favorite store Hollister and the color blue. You can find Chels either reading the magazine Cosmo or the Twilight Saga, which explains why her favorite movies are Twilight and New Moon, two of the four books. If she’s not watching those movies, she’s watching Desperate Housewives.  “I’m not afraid of tomorrow, for I’ve seen yesterday and I love today” is the favorite quote of this senior. Other favorites include eating at Applebee’s and the fictional character Pocahontas.

                  A fleece, t-shirt, jeans and her Ugg boots make up the outfit Chelsey would pick to wear forever because it’s comfy and she wears it a lot. If Chels could have any superpower, she would pick the ability to fly so then she could get from one place to another and not have to buy gas for her car.

                  Outgoing is how she describes herself because “I’m up for everything!” If she could change one thing about herself, however, she would choose to be taller because she’s short and doesn’t like it. She would also like to change the way some people chomp their gum because it’s her biggest pet peeve and gets really annoying.

                  When the volleyball team spent the night in the gym and she won the grape spitting contest by spitting a grape all the way across the gym and when she grabbed one volleyball shoe and one basketball shoe for her last senior basketball career are her most memorable moments in high school.  Chels has been involved in volleyball, basketball, golf, softball, FCCLA, band, choir, color guard, speech and solo and ensemble contest for band and choir.

                  Her advice to underclassmen is to get involved in high school activities because you learn teamwork and leadership skills and make a lot of new friends. Chels, who knows she’s a senior when she gets to budge in line at lunch, plans on attending NIACC to become a physical therapist.

District Speech Contest

by Courtney Lange

                  A number of Garner-Hayfield students will be going on to state speech after earning Division I ratings at district speech competition in Clear Lake on Saturday, Feb. 27.                  

Students who received I (excellent) ratings include Samantha Lange, literary program, Jacey Wood, acting; Susan Pistek, storytelling; Kendra Kadrlik, acting; Caleb Prohaska, acting; Courtney Lange, acting; Ethan Nannenga, acting; Jordan Blank, poetry; Amanda Winters, prose; Bethany Nannenga, storytelling; Kassidy Hanson, poetry, and Laura Formanek, prose.

Students who received a II (good) rating were Kate Mohr, expository address; Ashley Smeby, storytelling; Jared Clay, acting; Lauren Opp, literary program; Aaron Boehnke, acting, and Kristin Stromer, acting.

Ms. Elizabeth May, one of the speech coaches, said, “I am very proud of all the Garner-Hayfield students that I was able to see. Each performance that I saw was a personal best from all the students. I felt we represented the school well.” Students are also coached by Mrs. Joyce Hagen and Mrs. Heather Baumgard.

                  Each category at speech contest has its own specific criteria for judges to examine.  Vocal delivery, physical delivery, introductory/transitional material and interpretation are some of the things on which the students were judged.

                  State speech competition will be Saturday, March 13, in Starmont, Iowa.

An Iowa Hero

by Ethan Nannenga

                  In the history of the United States there have been 21 recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize. The first was Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, and a more recent recipient is our current President, Barrack Obama. One recipient, however, is practically unknown to the United States public and is from our very own state. Norman Borlaug, an Iowa native, was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his work in agronomy.

                  Norman Borlaug was born March 25, 1914, in Saude, Iowa. He spent his early years working on the family farm, learning the basics of agriculture and attending the local one-room school until he was old enough to attend the high school in nearby Cresco, Iowa. During his time at high school Norman was an outstanding athlete, playing football and wrestling.

                  When the stock market crashed in 1929, Norman’s grandfather encouraged him to leave the rural scene and pursue a higher education. The National Youth Administration, a program created in 1935 by President Roosevelt to combat the rise in unemployed youth by waiving entrance requirements, allowed this nurtured dream to become a reality even though his test scores did not meet the requirements of the admissions office. During his college career at the University of Minnesota, Norman worked a number of jobs including bus boy at the local coffee shop where he met Margaret Gibson, his future wife.

                  Norman married Margaret and settled in Minneapolis where he continued his education at University of Minnesota. He finished his doctorate in plant pathology and genetics in 1942. After he attempted to enlist in the Army, the United States government employed him to help to create better forms of camouflage. Despite a tempting offer to continue that work, in 1944 Norman headed to Mexico to aid his Minneapolis mentor, Dr. Stakman, in leading the International Wheat Improvement Program in Texcoco, Mexico.

                  In the 1950’s Borlaug moved his family to Mexico, making a long-term commitment to Mexican agriculture. By 1963, 95% of Mexico’s wheat production was grown from hybrid seeds created by Borlaug. The country was now producing enough grain to meet its needs and began to export it to the rest of the world.

By this time India and Pakistan were on the brink of war, and there were widespread famines throughout the region. Both nations, familiar with Borlaug’s work, urged him to visit the region. His first attempt in regions of both Pakistan and India to aid the countries failed because of the uncooperative local farmers. By 1965, however, the situation was so desperate the countries pleaded he return and apply his work. In a few short years after his return Pakistan was self-sufficient in wheat production, and by 1974 India was self-sufficient in all cereal crops and continues to be one of the largest exporters of grain in the world.

                  In 1970, Norman was working the field an hour away from his home in Mexico when his wife brought him word he had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was the only agronomist to ever have been so honored. Shortly after he received his prize, he established the World Food Prize, which is for those who have made large contributions to increase the world’s food supply. Norman died Sept. 12, 2009, at his home in Dallas, Texas.

                  While Norman Borlaug is practically unheard of in his home state, his contributions to the world are unprecedented. He was a native born Iowan who spent his life trying to improve the world’s food supply, won the Nobel Peace Prize for his works in India and Pakistan, and founded the World Food Prize for his fellow agronomists.

Senior Spotlight--Jordan Paulsen

by Kami Jass

“There is time for everything; if you want to do it, do” is Jordan Paulsen’s favorite quote. Jordan was born on April 4, 1991, to parents Kevin Paulsen and Darcy Flynn. He was welcomed into the family by twin brother Levi, older brother Cody and Snickers and Bud, the family dogs. Jordan’s role model happens to be his father because he has taught Jordan that “you just gotta do what you gottta do.” Jordan also added that his dad is the person he wants to be.

                  Jordan could not live without his car; if he didn’t have one, he wouldn’t be able to go anywhere and life would stink. If Jordan could wear one outfit forever, it would be a pair of jeans, a t-shirt and a sweatshirt (yes, Anna, t-shirt tucked in).

                  Watching Cops, reading Cosmo, listening to country (98.7), the color orange, eating lasagna, Chinese food, eating at Fazoli’s and shopping at Kohl’s are a few of Jordan’s favorites. If Jordan could have any superpower, he would choose being able to fly just because it would be much faster than driving. Jordan also wouldn’t mind being able to read people’s minds because it would make the world a better place.

                  Patience, according to Jordan, is his best personality trait because he believes everything happens for a reason. Outgoing is a word that he uses to describe himself because he is up for anything, is not afraid to try new things and thinks a person’s possibilities are unlimited. If Jordan could change one thing about himself, he would make himself more able to save money.

                  “The Hammer,” J Paul and Paulsen are a few nicknames that people enjoy calling Jordan. While in high school Jordan has been involved in wrestling, football, golf, cross country, NHS and Student Council. State wrestling and beating Britt in football are a couple of Jordan’s memorable moments here at GHHS. 

                  Jordan’s advice to underclassmen is make sure you get involved. After high school Jordan plans to attend NIACC for two years and then transfer to South Dakota State University and major in environmental studies.
 

Spring Cleaning

by Kendra Kadrlik

                   Spring is almost upon us this year, and as a tradition of spring, people usually set aside time to spring clean their houses. This year, though, add a new twist by cleaning other aspects of your life.  Instead of sweeping the floor, try sweeping out the dust bunnies of your life to live stress-free.

                  Stress can cause many problems other than just making you miserable; stress has been known to lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, anxiety attacks and other illnesses. Stress has been a problem for many people over the years, stemming from them being overworked, not organized or just worried about something. Simplify your life and reduce stress with a few easy tips such as getting active, making to-do lists and getting rid of bad habits.

                  By staying active, you are doing many things to help yourself both mentally and physically. When you exercise, you burn off built up energy that could turn into stress. By exercising, you also become more physically healthy, which not only helps your body in the long run but also helps your mind as well. Whether it's a morning run, yoga or weights, staying physically active is a habit that will help you reduce stress and stay happy and healthy.

                  To-do lists are an effective way to reduce stress. By making a list of things to remember, you are letting yourself forget about them temporarily, which helps you to relax because you know that you have a reminder. Another good idea is to write something fun or nice to do on your list to give you something positive to look forward to during the day. Lists also take care of a side effect of stress, lack of concentration, which will eventually cause you more stress if you forget things.

                  Spring cleaning is also a time for you to get rid of things you don't need; this spring get rid of your bad habits. Habits that are unhealthy cause people more stress than all the other factors combined. Drinking and smoking and lack of sleep are not the only bad habits, though; eating poorly is also. When you treat your body right, you no longer need to worry about disease and other health-related problems.

                  Try a new way to spring clean this year by cleaning your life. Living healthy and stress-free will make this spring more enjoyable for you and those around you.