the signal december 2015

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Area high school students made aware of personal safety

Morgan BarthReporter

Tiana LarsenReporter

Murder’s Bad but Monday can Kill You!

Four high schools in Council Bluffs lack designated school zone signs, and, after a recent incident, students have become more aware about their safety.

The most recent accident, which injured a student, will serve as the catalyst to get such signage at Thomas Jefferson High School early next year, according to a state official.

A 15-year-old Thomas Jefferson student was hit Monday morning crossing West Broadway. She was walking from Walgreens to the school when she was hit by a turning vehicle. The student was taken to CHI

Health Mercy Hospital, where she was treated and released.

“We had a student hit within the crosswalk on 25th Street by a car,” said Chuck May, the school administration manager at T.J. “She left within an ambulance, and her mother was here to talk to her before she left. (She was) able to sit up and help workers get herself into the ambulance.”

First responders beat police to the scene of the accident because of the congestion caused in the intersection.

A school zone speed limit display “assembly consists of a speed limit sign beacon, school plaque, speed limit sign and “When Flashing” plaque to identify the time periods that the school speed

limit is in effect,” according to the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Those convicted of speeding in a school zone will be given a maximum fine of $250 for each traffic violation and a maximum fine of $500 for each subsequent offense.

“If there is no school zone sign designated, then it would just be a regular speeding ticket,” said Wilson Middle School Student Resource Officer Chris Hite.

Thomas Jefferson sits on West Broadway, one of the busiest streets in the city. Hite said that some may say the red light cameras on West Broadway are supposed to reduce speeding and accidents.

However, the red light

cameras are for catching traffic signal offenders. Tickets are issued after running red lights, and not for speeding.

“For it to be an official zone, it must be marked as such,” Hite said. “Unfortunately, no sign, no higher fine.”

Monday’s incident at T.J. was not the school’s first. On April 1, 2014, a car leaving Thomas Jefferson struck a student outside the school.

“I don’t feel safe when I walk across the street when there are speeding drivers,” said Thomas Jefferson junior Jordyn Poole. “There needs to be a sign.”

Fellow junior Nick Walters echoed Jordyn’s feelings, expressing his concerns about crossing West Broadway.

“It’s scary knowing I could get hit by a car; I just don’t like the feeling I get in my stomach when I walk across Broadway,” he said.

Thomas Jefferson isn’t alone in lacking a school zone sign: None of the city’s high schools have one.

Abraham Lincoln High School Principal Bridgette Bellows had noticed that some of her students walk to and from school, and there are a few busy intersections that they would have to cross.

However, she was unaware that there were no designated school zone signs near the campus.

“I believe that the school zone designations definitely help to slow traffic around the school area which helps to

Hunter Gibson and Brad Krug performing live. Photo by Adriana Ibarra.

Page 2:African Expansion at the ZooHunger Games Mockingjay Part 2 reviewGOODING’s Buffalo review

Editor’s Note: Although “Didn’t see the signs” was published in The Signal last month, the story was edited and published again by The Daily Nonpareil. This is the updated and re-edited version.

Page 3:Freshmen WrestlersDecember Sports ScheduleTalent Search

Page 4:Area High School Students... (cont.)Murder’s bad but Monday... (cont.)Krispy Christmas Recipe

Out of 425 school districts throughout the U.S and Canada, CBCSD is one of eight in Iowa, and one of three in the Metro Area being placed on the 6th Annual AP District Honor Roll.

The District Honor Roll credits schools with students who have good AP scores. This year TJ students did well enough on test to put us into this prestigious group.

“It feels very good to know that all the hard work that I put into my AP class is being recognized and the success of student is being celebrated,” said AP U.S History teacher Chris Brewer with a smile.

For the past two years, the 6th Annual AP District Honor Roll, looks across 34 AP Exams, this includes

world language and culture. The districts being recorded have to increase or maintain performance levels.

In the past three years the total number of student taking AP exams has increased from 113 to 144. The total number of exams taken has also increased from 179 to 199. The percentage of exams that are passed increased from 42% to 47%.

CBCSD, is the only district in Iowa and Nebraska to have greater than 30% of its students who qualify for free or reduced lunch, who are committed to expanding the availability of AP courses to prepared and motivated students off all backgrounds.

Brewer also stated,“It shows that our district is committed to academic excellence and preparing students for their college careers.”

CBCSD makes 6th annual AP district honor roll

production was a great one. The play was written by

Pat Cook about a detective named Harry Monday who goes and checks out a murder at a psychiatric hospital to find out all the witnesses have multiple personalities.

The drama department spent ten weeks practicing the play as well as making the

set and gathering costumes. Drama teacher, Ms. Abby Custer, was in charge of the performances and practices.

This show is Ms. Custer’s first time directing a show here at TJ, she feels it was a success with all the cast putting all their hard work and filling up almost 300 seats during the matinee.

“I thought that the performances on Friday and Saturday went flawlessly,” stated Custer. “I couldn’t have asked for a better cast

Through December 3rd-5th, TJ showcased “Murder’s Bad But Monday Can Kill You”, a comedic murder mystery. With a cast of over ten students and even more crew members, everyone had a part in making sure the

Adriana Ibarra Reporter

continued on pg. 4

Alex VieyraReporter

ENTERTAINMENT


Finally, it is here, the concluding movie of The Hunger Games book series, Mockingjay Part 2. The movie already broke the $100 million mark, although it was recorded as the lowest opening from all other three films. This segment of the movie chain is more intense and action packed than any have ever been before.

The film begins with Katniss the protagonist, back at District 13 shortly after the last film where she was attacked by Peeta who was discovered to be brainwashed or “hijacked.”

Katniss’ objective throughout the entire movie is to finally capture and kill Snow, Panam’s cruel president. Sacrifice and a strong will to thrive is what is needed to conquer their goal in mind.

I have to say, although I was highly anticipating the film, I was a little let down by how it all played out. Having been a fan of the book themselves and without spoiling anything too important, out of all the movies I would say this is the one that expressed the novels the least. I am not expecting an eight to ten hour movie to pack everything in, but I could

ask for more of a similarity if possible. The comparison made this movie more bad than good in my perspective and I was left unsatisfied and unimpressed..

Perusual, though, the actors did an amazing job playing their part. Jennifer Lawrence, being outstanding like she does in all her roles, again played Katniss with exact precision; the actress really represented her character well.

Josh Hutcherson, who actually appeared in a good part of the movie, did great playing a psychotic boy in his amnesiac state often attempting to kill Katniss more than trying to save her. There were not many new actors that played a significant role this time.

There was only the non-regulars (characters that are not in all three books/movies) once again that played any significant role like District 13’s leader President Coin, Katniss’ bodyguard Boggs and the rest of their rebel crew.

The movie was not extremely accurate (compared to the book) but as a moviegoer rather than a reader, it could be passable. I would give it overall two buzzes out of five for its attempt at a more action based plot but give no props to the compatibility with the novel by Suzanne Collins. Fellow bookworms, watch at your own risk.

Rock and rollers would be the last people you would expect to teach children about financial literacy. GOODING had made their way to TJ in October to perform some of their hit songs, as well as help students prepare for their financial future.

Raised in Wichita, Kansas, Jesse Rick (drums), Billy Driver (bass) and Gooding (guitar/singer) play a variety of rock and roll. They recently released their newest album “Buffalo” featuring 11 songs, which was funded by their fans’ contributions.

Driver’s bass is solid, and Gooding’s guitar combined together with Rick’s powerful drumming makes for a good sound. Although the album isn’t much different from the band’s other releases, “Buffalo” succeeds in making people feel good and free.

GOODING has gained popularity by doing shows for their album “Buffalo” throughout the United States. Plus, through touring and interactions with their fans, their music has had the chance to appear in shows like Criminal Minds, The Daily Show, Iron Man 2, and Walk On The Line.

Every track has an underlying country vibe to help push a “carefree” concept throughout the album.“Dark Horses” one of my favorite

tracks, has a softer approach to the band’s energetic sound, while much of the album, especially the single “Mountain”, gives the listeners a feeling of being on the open road. Since the band states on their website that they have been touring non-stop for the last eight years, it makes a lot of sense.

“Ironside” on the other hand is a energetic song, and represents a stream of feeling pumped as it goes angrily into breaking down the track into different pieces. On “Still Want You”, Gooding muses how he can still desire a woman who had hurt him, while Time To Say Goodbye has breakup lyrics set to an upbeat melody.

“Hey Hey” strikes similarities in the verses to a classic, “Queens Of The Stone Age”, the chorus is ready to be made for young hipsters to belt out and play in the field somewhere. Also, “Crash” does a good job of starting the album of with the chill vibes and snappy beats and “100 Miles from Nowhere” does a great job of concluding the album by showing the lighter side of rock GOODING is so good at.

GOODING has great songs with great energy and upbeat tempos. At just under 40 minutes, Buffalo is not a very long album, but it is solid which is why I give it three buzzes out of five.

The Hunger Games Mockingjay part 2Review

GOODING’s BuffaloReview

Zoo Expansion Adriana Ibarra

ReporterAfter waiting five long

years, the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium will be doing the largest project in Zoo history.

The $70 million expansion is 28 acres, and will be finished in the years of 2016 and 2017. Several projects will be going on during the year, but they will be doing it throughout different phases.

Phase one began this summer, but it has yet to be complete. It holds exhibits for major animals such as elephants, giraffes, white rhinos, cheetahs, and zebras and much more. The elephant exhibit will be the largest herd room in North America. The display will be known as the African Grasslands.

A new feature for both the zoo and its guests is the giraffe feeding center, where visitors themselves will be able to feed the giraffes. The African Lodge and the Giraffe Herd Rooms are now open and available for the public.

For the elephants there will be two enclosures to make it possible for the viewers to see the elephants year round. Even though the zoo already

has a petting facility, there will be an additional one for Pygmy goats.

For the African Grasslands, the zoo will have a ‘Tusker Grill’, another place where families can rest while eating. From the Tusker Grill windows, there will be viewing of the elephants and will have a look over the wading pool. The wading pool will be for the kids and

parents to splash around and interact with the employees.

Phase two will showcase the predators and their prey from Africa. For a more African experience, a lagoon is currently being added onto the fish feeding area. From the lagoon, people will be able to see the elephants as well as the meerkats and lions in their brand new environment.

Instead of the animals

being behind cages, people will now be able to see them behind glass enclosures this will give the visitors a whole different view. Not only this, but visitors will now be able to camp close to the lions, so it can give the ‘Living in Africa’ affect.

While there are bigger and better sights being added to the zoo, some animals have been moved or are not available as of right now. Such animals include, hoofstock animals, and cheetahs. Animals that were relocated include, Japanese Koi, seals, and cheetahs.

Phase one will be competed by the end of 2017, and phase two will begin when the first one is done. However, Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo is not sure when this second phase will be done. For more information go to http://www.omahazoo.com.

New entrance to Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo. Photo by Adriana Ibarra.

The Hunger Games Mockingjay part 2 movie poster.

SPORTS

Dylan HaroldReporter

Freshmen wrestlers create reputation in first varsity meet

Coming into their freshmen year, Cameron Baker and Brady Carroll both won their first matches of the season. Both wrestlers won via pin fall, including Carroll’s 36-second pin which was the fastest of the meet.

The freshmen may be just starting out, but their expectations for this upcoming wrestling season are the same as everyone else. Both are looking to have fun and be successful this season while Baker has his eyes set on competing at state.

Carroll wrestled twice at his first varsity meet, once against Sioux City West which resulted in a 36-second pin, and once against Sioux City North which also resulted in a pin in the 2nd period.

“Feels great, but don’t want to stop there, I wanna be the best I can be,” said Carroll.

Baker only wrestled once

but crushed his opponent with a 44 second pin in the 1st period. All three pins added six points each to lead TJ to victories over West (67-12) and North (39-33).

Normally it is hard to find freshmen who excel at a varsity level but these two already made their mark. Both have also made it their mission to continue getting better each day.

“It feels great knowing that I’ve put in the work to be on

the varsity squad,” said Baker. “I am looking forward to the big tournaments and getting my name known to other wrestlers that may have to wrestle me.”

It seems that they had both made one big step towards that accomplishment and had successful starts to their season. Make sure to support Brady and Cameron as well as the rest of the wrestling team throughout the rest of their season.

Ana AguilarReporter

Talent Search brings great opportunities for hardworking studentsNowadays, there are a lot

of obstacles keeping students from pursuing their dreams and going to college. However, with the help of Talent Search, otherwise known as TRIO, students who need help with school work or even college preparation tips have someone to go to.

It was created by the U.S. Department of Education to identify and assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. The program provides academic, career, and financial counseling to its members. It also encourages the members to graduate from high school and continue on to complete postsecondary

education. The sponsor of the program

here at TJ, Elody Kiser, has been doing this for years now. Her main job is helping students accomplish deadlines for college and getting them help for anything they need on. Students like senior Sydney Kinish have really been taking advantage of her expertise.

“It helps me because I have someone to go to to get answers for questions on college applications and scholarships,” said Kinish.

Members of Talent Search are allowed certain privileges and opportunities that other students are not for

December Sports SchedulesBoys Varsity BasketballDec 1st @ GlenwoodDec 4th @ Sioux City EastDec 7th @ EssexDec 8th vs. ALDec 15th vs. Sioux City WestDec 17-19 Mac Shootout

Girls Varsity BasketballDec 4th @ Sioux City EastDec 8th vs. ALDec 11th @ Omaha RoncalliDec 15th vs. Sioux City WestDec 17-19 Mac Shootout

Boys SwimmingDec 3rd @ Kirn Dec 5th @ MonroeDec 12th @ Des Moines HooverDec 19th @ Elkhorn

Varsity BowlingDec 1st @ ThunderbowlDec 10th @ Rush LanesDec 11th Tournament @ Thunderbowl

Varsity WrestlingDec 3rd Quad in TJACDec 5th Tournament @ NewtonDec 8th Tri @ Missouri ValleyDec 11-12 Tournament @ Mid-America CenterDec 17th Quad @ Sioux City EastDec 19th Tournament @ Waukee

NEWSEditor-in-ChiefDerrick Johnson

Copy EditorAna Aguilar

PaginatorAngela GardnerAdriana Ibarra

Web ContentMegan Carroll

Sports EditorMorgan Wooton

StaffMorgan BarthAbigail Edie

Morgan HanslipDylan HaroldCody KinneyTiana Larsen

Jordon McAlpineAlejandro Viera Cami Wagaman

AdviserRob Lindquist

Phone: 712-328-6493Facebook: CBJacketJournalism

Twitter:@TJHSJournalismWeb: cbjacketjournalism.com

THE SIGNAL

The Signal is a school-sponsored publication of Thomas Jefferson High School 2501 W. Broadway Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501. The Signal’s office is located in room C128. The Signal is printed by OH-K FASTPRINT in Omaha, NE. The Signal is a school-sponsored-publication and therefore recognizes its responsibility to stay within the boundaries that the school administrator sets. The Signal will therefore inform its readers using a high standard of morals and ethics. The Signal encourages readers to respond in the form of letters to the editor, which can be sent to room C128. The Signal’s editorial staff reserves the right to edit the letters for grammatical errors and to remove any profanity. The editors also reserve the right to exclude letters that are false in their statements or accusations. The Signal will not accept advertise-ments that promote activities illegal to minors. Advertising rates are available upon request.

NSPA Member Publication

those planning on going to college. For example; college visits, tutors for homework help, extensive ACT prep, scholarship lists, and helpful speakers. Students also get fee waivers for the ACT or college applications.

Another perk to the program is that seniors are given special plans to help them stay on track throughout the hectic year.

“Get your Ducks in a Row” is a checklist of things for seniors to be doing and getting done by a certain time. For every four things that the student checks off they receive a duck. At the end of their senior year, after completing

everything on the list they get a graduated duck, signifying the students making it to graduation.

“With the senior checklist, it’s easy to know what I’m missing and what I need to work on to graduate,” said Kinish.

To be eligible students have to have a 2.5 GPA or higher to be able to be in the group, as well as maintaining good grades. In addition to being in a low-income and potential first generation college students. So, for students interested in joining the club and for any questions, visit Mrs. Kiser in room C228.

The college wall in Mrs. Kiser’s talent search room. Most students in talent search apply to and attend these colleges.

Photo by Derrick Johnson.

Brady Carroll wrestling against Sioux City North. Photo by Ria Stanfield.


Krispy Christmas

Ingredients

-M & M’s-Rice Krispies-White icing-Star sprinkles-Peanut Butter Cups-Marshmallows-Stick ButterProcedure-

1. Put stove on medium.

2. Add a ½ stick of butter to pan

3. Dump half a bag of Rice Krispies into pan

4. Dump a whole bag of marshmallows into the pan

5. Mix the marshmallows and Rice Krispies, add food coloring into the mix

6. After Rice Krispies are coated, turn the pan off.

7. Begin to take

spoonfuls of Rice Krispies and mold them into cones

8. After being molded into cones, add icing swirls around the cone

9. Begin placing the M&M’s around the cone, add a star sprinkle on top of tree

10. Add the Christmas tree on top of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup

The yearbook is so close, you “CANE” almost taste it. Make sure to buy yours at www.jostensyearbook.com.


Tools and Untensils

-Green Food Coloring-Pan-Spoon

keep students safe,” Bellows said. “Anything that slows traffic around the school area is a good thing.”

Hite said that it would be a great idea to install school zone signs outside T.J, which he feels would help increase safety at the school.

“Mr. May and [Thomas Jefferson’s Student Resource Officer Ron] Zika have been working with the city to get school zone signs נand not only school zone signs but crosswalks,” said Thomas Jefferson High School principal Todd Barnett. “The fact is that there are not things out there, and we are going to work to get those things

done.”Thomas Jefferson only has

two buses provided, meaning many students who live in the neighborhoods surrounding the school elect to walk home. Three busy streets – West Broadway, South 25th Street and Second Avenue – border the campus.

The city already has some safety measures in place on West Broadway, such as traffic cameras designed to reduce the running of red lights and “sensitive touch” buttons at the crosswalks.

Now, the Iowa Department of Transportation hopes to add even more protection for pedestrians in early 2016.

“I had a chance to look at our signage at Thomas Jefferson High School,”

said Iowa DOT Traffic Engineering Technician Rex Allen. “We don’t have any school zone signage in place.”

Allen added that he “had put the report in, and T.J. will be seeing signs in the next couple of months.”

Mayor Matt Walsh, a Council Bluffs native who served two decades on the City Council, said residences and restaurants lined West Broadway in the 1970s. The street also included a crosswalk in front of T.J. that would safely allow pedestrians to walk across the street.

“I believe that the crosswalk was eliminated because students were walking across the street, at or near the crosswalk without waiting for a green ‘walk’

light,” Walsh said.After learning that the

yellow signs around schools are safety routes for students, Walsh went to the public works director to get more information on school zone designation.

Walsh has previously told The Nonpareil that Council Bluffs is negotiating with the DOT to take over local control of maintaining West Broadway. If that transfer occurs, the city would have the jurisdiction to install school zone signs. In the meantime, however, that responsibility belongs to the state.

“T.J. is a little unusual. They’re actually on a U.S. highway,” Walsh said. “There is a lot of traffic.”

A possible increase in traffic congestion outside the school attributed to the slower speeds is a possible concern with a reduced speed limit associated with a school zone sign.

The lack of signs has also caused problems for students, such as not being able to walk across the street safely because traffic doesn’t slow down unless the light is yellow or already red.

The mayor agrees with Allen that it’s in the best interest to get the designated signs installed.

“And I think that the city would be happy to put it up,” he said. “It’s always good to err on the side of caution.”

of students to put on my first directed performance at TJ.”

The crew and cast spent a lot of time outside of school trying to perfect the play. Seth Arthur played the lead role of Harry Monday.

“I liked the role because he was a goofy guy and I can pull that off pretty well,” said Arthur “I really liked working with everyone because you get to meet new people and you get to make inside jokes and other fun things.”

Junior Dezzarae LeVier played the role of Polly, a patient in the hospital who was helpful one second and crazy the next.

“Everyone in the cast has

came together and this is why everyone who acts in plays can come together and perform,” said LeVier. “It’s for the people and the experience that you share with them.”

Other cast members such as Erica Rickards (Diane D. Tyler) and Hunter Gibson (Maxwell) believed the rehearsals started off rocky but were finished well enough to have great performances.

The drama department is already preparing for their next play and are taking suggestions. If interested contact [email protected] and also make sure to see them perform live later in the year.

CONTINUED

TJ fall play succeeds in front of fans (cont.)

“Snow Season” a comic by Angela Gardner


CBCSD students worry about lack of road signs (cont.)

the signal december 2015

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