By Emily Krupicka
As schools reopen their doors, many districts, including Northwest Public Schools, are requiring students to wear face coverings at all times. Despite this, many students are still confused about the science surrounding the effectiveness of face masks.
In a press release, Dr. Robert Redfield, director of The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stressed the importance of face masks in a community setting.
“The novel coronavirus is spread person-to- person through respiratory droplets that emerge from coughing, sneezing and talking,” Redfield explained. “Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus.”
The CDC has recommended that all people wear a mask in public areas and especially in areas where social distancing is not possible. This is a sentiment that local doctors can attest to as well.
“Face coverings are intended to keep the virus in, not keep it out,” explained Dr. Erich Fruehling, an
interventional cardiologist in Grand Island. “If we knew who was sick, those kids would be the only ones who would need to wear a mask; however, since many kids are asymptomatic, it’s more effective for everyone to wear a mask.”
So far, the Central District Health Departments has reported 2,131 lab-confirmed cases in Hall County since the first reported case in mid-March. Experts have pleaded with schools, encouraging them to follow guidance from local health departments, as many medical professionals fear that number will spike even more with the reopening of schools.
“When we open schools, we’re going to need to do it safely. We’re going to need to do it sensibly,” Redfield stated.
This advice has triggered skepticism among the public. In fact, many Americans have objected to taking precautions against the coronavirus, citing the idea that masks do more harm than good. The science, however, contradicts this statement.
“Thin paper or cloth masks will not lead to hypoxia (an oxygen deficiency),” said Professor Keith Neal, an infectious disease expert. “Surgeons operate for hours wearing them, and they don’t have these problems. When worn properly, a mask will not pose any respiratory-related health risks.”
Neal stated that the confusion surrounding masks has derived from falsified social media posts that “look legitimate.” These posts are heavily reliant on evidence that has been taken out of context or evidence that is completely inaccurate.
Based on the misinformation circulating throughout the internet, the CDC has noted that masks aren’t guaranteed to completely protect people from the novel coronavirus. Masks do, however, strongly mitigate the chances of becoming infected, something that’s vital to keeping schools open.
Although masks may pose a minor inconvenience throughout the day, they’re effective in slowing the spread of coronavirus. With the case of masks, it is clear that the science has spoken for itself.
Folkers makes national ensemble
By Meghan Pennell
Sophomore Ben Folkers surprised not only the Northwest community by making a National Association for Music Education, NAfME, nation-wide honor ensemble, but surprised himself too. Folkers worked hard to prepare and record his audition and has been esteemed to play trombone in the ensemble. Originally planned to take place November 8-11in Orlando, Florida, the ensemble is planning on developing a virtual way of playing together even through the pandemic.
Last year, as a freshman, Folkers made first chair trombone in All-State Orchestra, allowing him to audition for the ensemble. Although Folkers is self-motivated when it comes to practicing, Band Director Shawn Pfanstiel played a large role in encouraging him to “throw his name into the hat.”
“I made sure to keep my expectations low,” Folkers said. “I didn’t want to get my hopes up.”
Folkers said he was shocked to see he made such a prestigious band.
For auditions, players had to send in a timed
recording as well as a written application. Folkers spent around three months preparing his submission with help from Pfanstiel.
“I was very happy to see Ben had made it,” Pfanstiel said. “A freshman from Grand Island, Nebraska, getting to play with a national group is pretty exciting.”
Although Folkers isn’t sure about his future in music, auditioning for bands like All-State and NAfME have really grown his confidence as a player. Now that the work of learning notes and rhythms is complete, Folkers can focus on more advanced playing skills.
“The sky is really the limit for him,” Pfanstiel said. “He has a high level of musicianship and a higher awareness of the nuances that separate a good player from a great player already.”
*Photo Courtesy of Sydney Milsap
Getting to know: Michael Lambert
By Madeline Stratman
What is your position at Northwest?
“I teach ninth-grade World History and eleventh-grade American History. I am an assistant wrestling coach and assistant middle school football coach.”
Have you taught before?
“This is my first teaching job, but I did my student teaching at Lincoln Southeast High School last fall. I taught Psychology and American History.”
What brought you to Northwest?
“I graduated from UNK, and I love the Tri-City area, so Grand Island was a great fit. I knew that I wanted to be at a smaller school district that felt more like a family. Northwest is everything that I was looking for in a school.”
Is there anything you want your students to know about you?
“Always feel free to talk to me about anything. Odds are, I’ve been in your position before and can help you out!”
Are you involved in anything outside of school?
“I am not involved in anything besides what I coach. However, I like to play disc golf, cornhole and hacky sack.”
What is an interesting fact about you?
“I can make 1-minute oatmeal in 55 seconds. Also, I have a four-year-old cat named Crystal.”
*Photo Courtesy by Michael Lambert
Getting to Know: Matthew Fritsche
By Meghan Pennell
What is your position at Northwest?
“I am the athletic director and assistant principal.”
Have you taught before?
“I taught in Bellevue for a while and coached college basketball for eight years at schools like Midland, Creighton and Hillsdale College.”
What brought you to Northwest?
“Honestly, I had a strong desire to get back to Nebraska and focus on being a better dad. Now my kids can see their grandparents more often and we don’t have to travel as much.”
Are you involved in anything outside of school?
“Not really. This job has me pretty busy, but I love hanging out with my family when I have the time.”
What is an interesting fact about you?
“I have a nine-year-old and six-year-old who are just getting started in sports. They are super social and excited about school.”
*Photo Courtesy by Matthew Fritsche
Getting to know: Robby Collins
By Meghan Pennell
What is your position at Northwest?
“I teach Sophomore English, American Literature and Drama II. I am also co-directing the one-act play and am an assistant speech coach.”
Have you taught before?
“I substituted for a while and was an elementary paraeducator.”
What brought you to Northwest?
“When I graduated college with my master’s, I knew I wanted to stay close to home in Hastings. I had run into Ms. Gilliland, who told me about the position, and knew it was exactly what I was looking for.”
Is there anything you want your students to know about you?
“I am interested in more than just books. I enjoy watching some sports, especially the high school games here at Northwest. I love movies, video games and do a lot more than just sit and read.”
Are you involved in anything outside of school?
“I am a member of the Knights of Pythias, a group in Hastings focused on serving the community. We help out a lot with the Special Olympics and hosting different dances and events.”
What is an interesting fact about you?
“I would say I’m a jack of all trades, master of none. I know a little about a lot of things but not really a lot about one thing, except maybe English or theater.”
*Photo by Gabriel Lorenzo
More than diversity points or a liberal agenda: Kamala Harris
By Emelia Richling
The date was January 8, 2004, and a young Kamala Harris had just pledged to tackle domestic violence, sex trafficking and a slew of other human rights issues that had been largely ignored by her predecessors. At her inauguration for the San Francisco district attorney, Harris accepted a large role that carried many responsibilities, a well-suited task for an ambitious woman whose determination to change the criminal justice system was unparalleled.
Sixteen years into the future, Harris has not only climbed the ranks of success but has also accomplished many of the goals she set out to achieve. The second Black and first South Asian woman to serve in the U.S. Senate, the former district attorney of San Francisco, the former attorney general (AG) of California and current Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate, Harris is no stranger to the political world, breaking boundaries and dissolving stereotypes in politics. She has garnered the support and respect of nearly everyone that has worked with her because she is different from other politicians.
In a National Public Radio article published from an episode of the Morning Edition on September 1, Jim Stearns, a top consultant for Harris since 2003, described how she has won over voters and made a name for herself. By becoming a memorable politician who maintains difficult promises and sticks to them even under intense pressure, Harris has been able to galvanize the support of the people.
Politicians often make empty commitments, telling people what they want to hear without following through on their promises. Harris is one of the few who makes impactful change for the people, such as maintaining her anti-death penalty stance, despite intense pressure from people who oppose her view.
As she transitioned away from her career in law enforcement to law-making, she was granted opportunities to learn and keep her promises.
Over the years, the number of gold stars Harris has earned far outweighs the mass of any demerits.
For instance, in a Los Angeles Times article published by Phil Willon, he concluded that Harris kept her promise of never seeking the death penalty, won $1.1 billion for students after learning they had been duped by their colleges and launched a program to reduce recidivism, which led to a 40 percent decline in reoffenders. These successes were monumental, far exceeding the job outline generally carried out by attorney generals.
In addition, Harris helped broker mortgage relief settlements, amassing over $18 billion in aid and assisting more than 84,000 families in need, according to a 2013 report by the AG’s California Monitor Program. The list seems to never end because Harris kept her promises to advocate for human rights, end unequal treatment based on sexual orientation and fight for the Equal Rights Amendment for women.
Harris is more than one political issue you may disagree with; she is more than just the accumulation of dry media reports. She stands for human rights, an issue that should be nonpartisan. She stands for criminal justice reform, a system that can greatly be improved. Harris is not a person to be discounted as just the potential vice president; she is a powerhouse of her own, an individual with the ability to knit together a country over the common issues that could always be refined.
When in quarantine, make a mask
By: Mackenzie Vogt
The year 2020 has forced our hands into what is to be this year’s new fashion fad: masks. With the continuing of the coronavirus, people around the world are trying to do their part by preventing the spread.
Mask wearing has become more common and almost a social obligation. Some of our local stores, such as Walmarts, are displaying signs encouraging customers to wear masks. Menards took it a step further and won’t allow anyone inside who isn’t wearing a mask. So with this new essential clothing item, the next question becomes what type to wear.
N95 respirators and surgical masks are best left for healthcare providers, whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the general public use cloth masks. Masks can be found online, in stores and perhaps most commonly from everyday items at home.
My family and I have made masks that are from the latter. My grandma, Evelyn Alvarado, first started making masks when schools and businesses shut down. She then made videos and sent them to my mom, Carmen Vogt, on how to make them. Vogt then Googled, Pinterested and YouTubed different ideas and strategies.
“The ones that I’ve made are pleated with the elastic,” Vogt said. “It’s hard to find the elastic right now so you can also use fabric as a tie. Sometimes the elastic bothers people anyways.”
Other tips and tricks that Vogt and Alvarado have found are that you can add a wire or a pipe cleaner around the nose so that the mask will stay in place. If you can’t find elastic, the ties can be made from ribbon or hair ties. Vogt also commented that the best material, as far as protection goes, is 100 percent cotton. This is due to the way the fabric is made. Its strands are tight together, a fact that the CDC confirms.
Senior Emma Smidt, an employee at Country House, an assisted living facility, talks about the possibility of mask-wearing becoming a fad.
“I‘ve already seen it happen at work and at the store with different materials. There are also different patterns. People have solid colors or stripes or flowers and also different styles of masks.”
If interested in making your own mask, the CDC has three different options to choose from on their website. They each depend on skill level as well as the materials you already have.
So as the end of quarantine approaches, and you begin re-entering society, will it be with or without your personalized mask?
*Photo by Mackenzie Vogt
Once a Viking, always a Viking: A sad departure
By: Gabriel Lorenzo
As the school year winds to a close, four Northwest teachers prepare to depart: Jessica Brondel, Trevor Menke, Sara Olsen and Pamela Moritz. Here are their stories.
Jessica Brondel
What are your plans after leaving Northwest?
“I will be teaching Agricultural Education/FFA at Central City High School.”
How long have you been at Northwest?
“I have been at Northwest for 11 years.”
What kinds of activities were you involved in?
“I was the FFA Advisor, so we did a lot of community service (Adopt a Road, state fair, Ag Day, Husker Harvest Days, connecting chapters). The chapter also went to state and national conventions, district competition, fundraisers, career fair.”
What are some of the memories that impacted you?
“Definitely the students in the classroom and FFA. Most memories involve students. I will always cherish the thank-you notes I have received over the years. I liked to make up songs and sing them to students (they thought I was crazy, but I’ve been told some students used them in college to pass tests). Of course the staff relationships I will cherish.”
What are you going to miss most about Northwest?
“I will miss daily chats with my hallway teachers. I will miss the students and staff. I liked the staff homecoming king and queen (even though they did away with it and I was never queen).”
What advice would you give to students?
“Get involved in something and try something new (FFA … It’s fun). Laugh each day! Never complain, rather find solutions. Be kind. Everyone has something.”
Trevor Menke
What are your plans after leaving Northwest?
“I will be moving to Seward and joining Seward High School as a social studies teacher and head boys basketball coach.”
How long have you been at Northwest?
“I was at Northwest for four years.”
What kinds of activities were you involved in?
“During my time at Northwest, I served as assistant freshman football coach, assistant boys basketball coach (head JV) and assistant boys golf coach.”
What are some of the memories that impacted you?
“Truly just all the people I’ve met and relationships I’ve been fortunate to build here will last a lifetime.”
What are you going to miss most about Northwest?
“I am going to miss the students and staff. I was welcomed with open arms for my first year, and the students here at NW have been a blast to get to know. I’m very lucky to have had the opportunity to teach and coach here.”
What advice would you give to students?
“I would tell students to stick together and stay active. There is great culture here at Northwest because of how active kids are.”
Sara Olsen
What are your plans after leaving Northwest?
“My plans for next year is that I will be teaching at St. Libory and 1R. I won’t be at the high school anymore, but at least I still get to teach in the Northwest district.”
How long have you been at Northwest?
“This is my second year at NW.”
What kinds of activities were you involved in?
“I was involved with softball and track. I will still be helping out with both sports.”
What are some of the memories that impacted you?
“Being a young teacher I have had a lot of new experiences that will help me grow as a teacher.”
What are you going to miss most about Northwest?
“I will miss working with all the students and teachers.”
What advice would you give to students?
“Get involved in as many activities as possible.”
*Photos Courtesy of Jessica Brondel, Trevor Menke, and Sara Olsen.
The soundtrack of social distancing
By: Hailie Melton
From family-made bands in North Carolina to virtual reality and live-streamed concerts, we are still dancing to the beat of the music as this quarantine marches on. According to NPR, in their article “From The Urgent To The Absurd, Musicians Take On The Coronavirus Through Song,” there are many more tunes about quarantine than you might originally think.
NPR explains how on March 15, around the same time many cities ordered their citizens to stay at home, Detroit Rapper Gmac Cash released a song called “Coronavirus.” Cash raps on how if you cough or sneeze, he doesn’t want to be around you. His sweetest line may be “Make sure you wash your hands with lots of love.” Cash also released other coronavirus songs, such as “At Home,” “15 Days of Quarantine” and “Stimulus Check.”
While Cash’s songs are centered around fun, not every musical artist writing quarantine tracks is like that. Ben Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie released a batch of gloomy tracks called “Life in Quarantine.” Even though Gibbard released some not-so-happy tracks, he has been live-streaming and raising money to donate to health and relief organizations to help stop the coronavirus. All of the money that is raised, plus the proceeds from “Life in Quarantine,” is given to non-profit organizations in Seattle, like Aurora Commons, an area relief group.
The inspiration that fuels musicians is different depending on the artist. According to The New Yorker, artists like A$AP Ferg have been listening to Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem, while Gibbard has been listening to a lot of “Stars of The Lid” and says he is “head over heels in love with Eluvium’s new record ‘Virga I.’”
Overall, the music industry is still glowing bright, even in this lonely and dark time of quarantine. Like Gmac Cash says, “Make sure you wash your hands with lots of love,” and stay safe.
*Photo Obtained from MEL Magazine
Man’s best friend, COVID-19’s newest target
By: Haili Luevano
With the ongoing pandemic affecting people all across the globe, news of how COVID-19 is affecting pets and their owners has gone widely unnoticed.
“You hear conflicting stories,” said Kaci Schacht, a local farmer. “One moment they say dogs can contract and be affected by the virus and the next they’re saying that they’re safe from it. But I have also heard that dogs can carry the virus on their fur, but that’s only if they are exposed to someone who has the virus.”
While it’s true that animal cases are few and far between, especially in regards to their human counterparts, there are still ways that the coronavirus can make life difficult for pet owners and their companions.
In the past two decades, coronaviruses have caused two major pandemics: SARS and Middle East respiratory syndrome. Scientists of the World Health Organization (WHO) previously thought that another outbreak could only be caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARSr-CoV), which is mainly found in bats.
It’s also speculated that COVID-19 originated from Chinese horseshoe bats in one of Wuhan’s many food markets. The closest confirmation of this data was given by WHO Spokeswoman Fadela Chaib on April 21, stating, “It is probable, likely, that the virus is of animal origin.”
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is able to affect animals by binding to a cell surface protein known as ACE2, thus injecting itself into the cells. This protein is found in many animal species. As of April 22, it was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that SARS-CoV-2 had found its way into two pet cats. This marked the first pets to test positive for the coronavirus in the United States.
The pandemic could also pose problems for more exotic species, especially those who are flagged as endangered or threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Already, a 4-year-old tiger at the Bronx Zoo tested positive for COVID-19 as of April 5.
“I think [COVID-19] might actually help [endangered species] right now,” Schacht said. “Due to the fact that travel is restricted and people aren’t allowed into different areas, [this] helps restrict access to them.”
While opinions on the matter may differ, the fact still stands that the current pandemic isn’t just affecting pet owners, but their pets and other animals as well. The first confirmed pet cases in the U.S. might have been two cats, but Hong Kong’s first pet case was a dog.
The Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department reported that a pet dog who had previously been in contact with a person infected with the coronavirus tested “weakly positive” on February 28, through samples taken from the nose and mouth.
“People don’t think about it, but animals are a big part of life and the economy,” said Bibiana Luevano, a local pet owner. “Police dogs. Service dogs. Military dogs. If service dogs are affected, then how will people be affected? The dog food business is a huge market.”
While COVID-19 has seemingly expanded its sphere of influence, the next logical step is to find a vaccine for both humans and animals.
“I know that even though this virus is new to humans, it’s not new to certain animals,” Schacht said. “For instance, cattle actually have some strand [of coronavirus] and they have a vaccine … but it is not safe for human injection.”
A statement released by Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institution of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that developing, testing and approving a vaccine for humans could take 12-18 months, though most new vaccines usually take years to approve and release to the public. In the meantime, pet owners must use their own methods to protect their animals.
Much of the same safety measures that people use for themselves can also be applied to pets. With the recent closing of parks, there’s less places to socialize or walk your animals, encouraging people to keep them at home. Make sure to carefully monitor their behavior and take them to the vet if they get sick.
“Wash your hands,” Luevano instructed, sharing the precautions she takes with her own pets. “Clean their bowls, and avoid sneezing or coughing near them. Keep an eye out on their behavior. Sometimes it’s easy to spot when animals are feeling under the weather.”
Kaylee Cellar, an English teacher at GISH, offered the same advice, stating that she has taken to isolating her own animals at home and keeping them six feet away from other animals.
Ensuring that your pet is happy and healthy is simply one more weight off of your shoulders. Animals are still susceptible to disease, so it’s better to make sure that they truly have nothing to fear from COVID-19.
“Animals are important,” said Pamela Robledo, a local pet owner. “They are family as well.”
Toss your dog their favorite toy, feed your bird some fruit, redecorate your fish tank or simply cuddle with your cat. Quarantine may be boring at times, but with a safe and healthy animal at your side, at least it won’t be lonely.
*Photo by Haili Luevano
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