Featured Stories

Reality Party deemed a success

0 Comments 26 April 2012

By Riley Riepma

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo By Michelle Pliska

West Central’s SADD group hosted their Reality Party April 13. This mock presentation allowed parents to see a few of the things that go on in a high school party setting. A total of 44 parents showed up, along with several community leaders and professionals. After witnessing the reality of teen parties, these adults took a pledge to better communicate with their children and to ask questions.

In regards to the students’ performance, SADD leader Michelle Pliska says, “It was phenomenal! They were realistic in their betrayals. We got a lot of compliments on the student involvement.” The parents seemed to enjoy the performance as well. When asked to rate the event on a scale of one to five (one poor and five excellent), 36 of the 42 people who completed the survey rated the Reality Party as excellent.

The SADD group hopes to do a similar mock party again next year. Pliska is already planning new ways to advertise the 2013 Reality Party, hoping to get even more parents to attend. “The reality is that the consequences of underage drinking and drug use are very real. Good decisions are not made while under the influence–especially with teens. There are legal consequences, classes get failed, inhibitions are loosened leading to risky sexual behavior, and sometimes lives are lost,” says Pliska. The goal of the Reality Party was to encourage parents to stop condoning teen parties.

News

Student strives to become an American Ideal

0 Comments 25 April 2012

By Dustin Ortman

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo courtesy of One Thousand Photography

The halls and classrooms of West Central are filled with students who have all sorts of unique and impressive talents. Seniors Alex Qualm and Joe Schartz are no exception. They have taken their talents outside the walls of the school, for the whole world to see–or at least an audience of about 100 at the Falls Church in Sioux Falls. Continue Reading

News

West Central Loses West Farm

0 Comments 24 April 2012

By Alanna Schmeichel, Paige Fromm and Taylor Bergeson

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo Courtesy of SD Emblem and Patch Sales

In the past, West Central has provided a secondary school for the students that attend West Farm. Due to low numbers of young adults that inhabit West Farm, the facility is being shut down. The West Farm establishment has been beneficial for many students with hard lives and troubled backgrounds.

West Central has been the West Farm students’ source of education for several years now. Many people are now wondering what will happen to the kids and the teachers who have been there for the past few years. The kids that live at West Farm will be sent home and the teachers will have to find new jobs. Unfortunately, West Farm closing affects West Central in more ways than one.

West Central will lose around seven students and extra funding from the South Dakota Department Of Corrections. There is also a possibility that we will lose the service of Marlina Renken, who has been the head of the drama department for the previous two years. Renken was going to teach a drama class for the students at West Central, but unfortunately, it is debatable if she will be able to teach at our school. Janel Oltmanns also travels to West farm and teaches a math class to the West Farm students. Another teacher that we have had that has come from West Farm is Levi Tvedt. He teaches there and was the boys basketball coach for the 2011-2012 season.

Losing the extra funding from the South Dakota Department of Corrections will also make West Central’s budget a little tighter in the upcoming years. Unfortunately, that means that some things will have be cut from our school’s extra circular activities and elective classes. West Farm has played a large part in the West Central School District, and in the community. The facility will be missed by the students who benefited from the services that the generous staff members of West Farm provided.

News

Shooting of Trayvon Martin causes controversy

0 Comments 24 April 2012

By Nicole Christensen and Krista Jacobsen

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo courtesy of hintv.com

February 26, 2012, marked a day in future history. Trayvon Martin, an African American 17-year-old, was shot by George Zimmerman, an Hispanic 28-year-old, while filling his role as a community watch coordinator in Sanford, Florida. That night, Martin was walking to his father’s girlfriend’s house in a gated community, armed with only an Arizona Tea and Skittles. While following Martin, Zimmerman reported to the Sanford Police Department what he said to be suspicious behavior.

Eventually, there was a confrontation, which resulted in Zimmerman shooting Martin in the chest at close range. When police arrived, Zimmerman told them he shot Martin in self-defense because Martin had attacked him. Zimmerman was bleeding from the nose and had a wound on the back of his head, according to the police. He turned himself in and was taken into custody for second degree murder. West Central senior Melinda Knuth states, “This isn’t a race issue. It’s blown way out of proportion.”

“I don’t know what to think. There is so much to this case,” senior Katie Stahl said. Although there are some things that happened for a fact, there are many controversial  parts to this case. In some of the 911 calls, a voice could be heard yelling “help.” Martin’s mother said she recognized the voice as her son’s, but Zimmerman claims he was the one calling for help. There were a couple eyewitness accounts to the incident, but all of them different from one another. One eyewitness, referred to as a female, said she heard an argument between a younger and an older voice. She watched the fight happen on the grass and said the larger man, who was on top, walked away after the gunshot. Another witness, however, stated that Martin was on top and Zimmerman was yelling for help. The guy, John, said the guy on bottom had on a red sweatshirt and was yelling for help. Mary Cutcher and her roommate, Selma Mora Lamilla, said they heard a young voice whining with no sounds of a fight. Cutcher and Lamilla said they later heard a gunshot and saw Zimmerman on his knees straddling Martin on the ground. Police disputed their account because Cutcher also said after the fatal shooting, the black man was standing over another man, even though Martin was already dead.

Several of Zimmerman’s neighbors have said Zimmerman had bandages on his head and nose the next day, even though police video showed paramedics checked out Zimmerman and he appeared unmarred. The shooting also prompted allegations that Zimmerman shot Martin out of racism. Zimmerman’s father defended his son saying he was raised in a multiracial family, and that his son “would be the last to discriminate for any reason whatsoever.”

Last Friday, the prosecution said Zimmerman should be denied bail entirely or that it should be set at $1 million, but Zimmerman was released on only $150,000. During the trial, Zimmerman stunned the Florida court by apologizing to Martin’s parents. “I am sorry for the loss of your son. I did not know how old he was. I thought he was a little bit younger than I am. I did not know if he was armed or not,” Zimmerman said, addressing Martin’s family directly.

Fine Arts

Students Wait on Results

0 Comments 24 April 2012

By Alanna Schmeichel

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo by Alanna Schmeichel

Five West Central students tried out for Honor Choir this year: juniors Isaac McMahon, Nick Shumaker and Donovan Minor; and sophomores Kristie Schmidt and Elsie West.

High school choir members in 10^th and 11^th grade were eligible to audition. All students that auditioned had to sing a memorized solo, do a sight sing, take a tonal memory test, take a written test, and sing a patriotic song A cappella. All students from West Central tried out at Washington High School on April 13 and 14. Before preparing all of that, they had to fill out an application. 

All of those who auditioned prepared in a different way. Kristie said, “I prepared by making note cards and practiced with Mrs.(Rebecca) Bialas.” Others practiced on their own or also with Bialas. They tried out to make themselves a better singer or for the experience. All of the students have performed or auditioned for many things beforehand, so they didn’t get nervous before auditioning. Isaac said, “I thought my audition went really well, and the judge complimented my solo.”

Those accepted into Honor Choir would be considered some of the best high school singers in South Dakota. Elsie said, “I believe that I tried my hardest, and if I do make it, it will be a great honor.”

Students will get their results in the beginning of May. If they make it, they will perform at the University of South Dakota. Honor Choir will run from July 29-Aug. 3.

Features, Sports

Senior Golfer Looks Back On Career

0 Comments 20 April 2012

By Cole Jorgensen

Trojan Tribune Staff

Photo by Cole Jorgensen

As we all know, spring is track season, but at West Central it is also the time for girls golf. This year’s team features one special golfer by the name of Angie Ewert. Angie is the lone senior on this year’s team.

Angie has been in golf since 7^th grade. She has also participated in band and dance. Angie’s favorite memory occurred about 2 years ago when fellow golfer Sadie Swier forgot about a chocolate bar she placed in her pocket. On the bus ride home the chocolate melted and covered her pants. Angie remembers this event because it was so funny.

Unfortunately, this season will be Angie’s last at West Central, but she will take the skills she learned throughout her career with her into the future. “Golf is a mental game. It has made me realize that how far you can push yourself is all in your mind. You can do anything if you set your mind to it,” Angie says. After high school, Angie will attend basic training for the National Guard. She says she will always play golf, but will miss her teammates and hopes she can stay in contact with them.