Nebraskan takes boneless chicken wings to city council

By Danyka Galvan

Boneless chicken wings can be classified as one of the top finger foods in the United States. The BBC reports that Americans eat 1.35 billion chicken wings during the Super Bowl, but the question arises: are boneless chicken wings actually chicken wings?

On September 2, a local from Lincoln, Nebraska, Ander Christensen, took this question to the city council, stating that, “Nothing about boneless chicken wings actually comes from the wing of a chicken.”

Christensen argued that the counciil needs to change the name of boneless chicken wings, so that Americans are no longer misusing the name, especially for the sake of children learning to be “scared of having bones in their meat.”

Instead of them being called boneless chicken wings, Christensen proposed the name be changed to: “buffalo style chicken tenders” or “saucy nugs”

According to a poll on the Viking Media Instagram page, 35 percent of respondents support changing the name of boneless chicken wings, while the other 65 percent do not.

While many people are debating about whether or not Christensen’s point is correct. What was revealed after the proposal was given is that Christensen is the son of one of the council members. Many subjects of COVID-19 were brought to the council within the past month. Christensen decided to bring enlightenment and laughs to his audience.

Boneless chicken wings are very popular throughout the US because of their simplicity. They are simple, small and easy to eat with less of a mess than eating them off of the bone. Christensen did prove a good point when stating that nothing about boneless chicken wings comes from the actual wing of a chicken. According to a Meat Poultry article, the meat actually comes from the breast of a chicken. But is this a good enough reason for America to change the name of the most popular finger food?

Student Business: Fab Front Door

By Danyka Galvan

The Northwest Music Boosters Craft Show will be November 21 of 2020. Along with many small business owners, junior Rachel Ostdiek will be representing her company “Fab Front Door.”

Every day after school, Rachel is hard at work on her decorative door signs, painting and creating many different designs for different seasons and events.

“I’m not in any sports, so, when I get home I am painting signs,” Rachel said. “It’s less stressful than most jobs because I get to sit in my kitchen and watch Netflix.”

Rachel began her business at just the age of 13. With a boost from her parents Rachel was able to create her business, which continues to grow.

“My parents bought the saw, and the first five signs I made were to go to pay off the saw.” Her parents are still by her side to this day helping her with little details to ensure that her business is successful.

“My dad cuts out the signs, I paint them, my mom does the
hanger,” Rachel said.

“For any signs I need with greenery, she’s like my florist, and she does the finishing touches.”

On a normal basis Rachel sells around 10-15 signs a month, painting five per week. Now that the holiday season is around the corner, Rachel is busy selling on average 100 signs, between November and December with the help of her dad Pat Ostdiek.

“It depends on the season, but I can spend 15 hours a month,[cutting signts]” Pat said. “I usually cut out signs every weekend, so it depends on how many orders Rachel has. Right now, we are preparing for the craft show, so we are trying to cut out about 60 signs this month!”

Rachel states that her bestsellers are usually holiday signs made during November-December, as they are often bought as gifts for others.

Rachel’s signs sell anywhere from $25-$35 each. Her signs can be found on Facebook and Instagram @fabfrontdoor. You can also catch Rachel on November 21st at the 2020 Northwest Music Booster Craft Show.

*Photo Courtesy of Rachel Ostdiek

Northwest’s 18-21 student program

By Danyka Galvan

Not many people know about the 18-21 program at Northwest or what they do. Even though they are often overlooked, they are still hard at work helping around our school with things like emptying recycling bins and keeping our school clean, making it a place that students want to be.

“The 18-21 program provides services for a student in special education who needs support in independent living skills before the age of 21,” said Kenzie Mollring.

Mollring is the special services teacher for Northwest. Working alongside her is Paraeducator Jon Linden.

“To me, this is a life skill program where we teach life skills (How to cook, stay organized, use transporation and social media) for kids who need a little extra help and reinforcement,” Linden said.

The program gives these students an extra stepping stone into their indepent futures. In order to achieve this independence, their schedule is a little different than our everyday eight-period day.

“Throughout the day, we try to help them look for certain things that they didn’t even know were out there in the world to help them out,” Linden said.

Students also work on “budgeting, cooking, safety around the home, general safety pieces with technology and all the pieces that you need to learn along the way,” Mollring said. “These skills are taught to help them learn how to maintain a job. We give them feedback on their job performance so that they can improve and become more independent.”

In his journey to gain independence, Josh DeMuth is learning many skills not only in but also outside of the high school.
“I go to 1R school to help with the cafeteria, serving kids and cleaning up. I then help in the cafeteria at Northwest when I get back,” DeMuth said.

These students do a lot more for our school than what one might expect. This year they are starting to help out in the agricultural classes in the greenhouse.

In the greenhouse, another 18-21 student, Jared Fredericks helps water the plants.

Students in the 18-21 program will then get to take these skills that they learn and implement them in their future jobs. DeMuth said he wants to work at a motel.

“I really like to keep things neat,” DeMuth said. “I think that it would be really cool to clean rooms.”

This year, with COVID-19 affecting everyone’s day-to-day routine, these students have a busy schedule helping out the school by filling sanitizer bottles, filling water jugs and making sure to frequently sanitize around the school, especially the major touchpoints, such as doors, faucets and tables.

By learning and being prepared for their futures these students are really looking forward to becoming independent and getting into the world, increasing their excitement for the future.

“I am a friendly, dedicated person,” DeMuth said. “I can’t wait until I get a real job. I know that I would be a great employee because I don’t argue and I do my job.”
Each of these students puts in hard work to help in around the school and to prepare for their futures. We thank these students for all that they do.

*Photo Courtesy of Kenzie Mollring

Virus prompts exchange students to leave early

 

By: Emily Krupicka

Amidst the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, students are being asked to limit travel and stay away from others; however, the foreign exchange students attending Northwest High School have been asked to return to their home countries, cutting their stay in Grand Island short.

Gera Baltasar, a junior, arrived in the United States at the beginning of August. While stepping foot into a new country, she was hopeful about her stay in Nebraska, and, after returning home, she relished in her memories of her time in the Midwest.

“I truly enjoyed my time in America. My favorite memory was going to watch the show choir in Omaha at one of their competitions.”

Baltasar, as well as the other exchange students, made many lifelong memories here, but she was hoping to make even more in the coming months.

The students were scheduled to return back to their home countries a week after the school year ended. However, due to the coronavirus outbreak, the exchange agency requested them to return home earlier than expected. Even though the ubiquity of the outbreak has been proven perilous, the abrupt ending to their American studies was still unexpected.

“More than disappointed, I was sad and frustrated about not getting to spend more time with my friends in Grand Island, but I understood what a difficult decision the exchange agency had to make,” Baltasar said,

When she was sent back to her home country of Spain, which, at the time, was a global hotspot for the outbreak, many were saddened by her leave. Many were also worried for her overall well-being.

“I wish that I could explain to her how much her being my best friend changed my life. I hope she’s doing okay there,” said Sophomore Danyka Galvan.

In a video commemorating their time spent together, Galvan recalled the fond memories she and her friend had made during her stay.

Baltasar’s impact made a profound impact on the lives of many in Nebraska. As she battles with the abnormality of transitioning to life back in Spain, she leaves behind a promise of return.

“I will visit the U.S. again, and I can’t wait to go back and see everyone.”

*Photo Courtesy of Gera Baltasar