News - Boone TV

Spring play prepares for showing

3/31/2016

By: Inga Wegger

Boone High School theatre is preparing for setting up the new upcoming play “Touchtone M for Murder.” The director is Mary Neumayre, the assistant director is Caroline Sallen and the technical director is Daniel Wojcik. They have been working hard since the beginning of February. This is Neumayre’s 10th year of directing, and she is excited for the play, “This is an amazing group of young people that have done a good job of setting this up and figuring out the play.”

The play is a comedy mystery with a lot of action. The story is set at a motel called “The Clam Cove Inn”. Guests at the Inn are killed and the mystery is about how the detective has to find out who the murderer is. It is mostly set around the lead role, Colonel Clamsky, played by senior Troy Downey, who is one of the victims.

Neumayre states, “The piece is unique because the detective, Sam Slade, played by Braydon Biersner, interacts with the audience by asking them for help. I like the script because there is a lot of red herrings. It is hard to find out the murder is with all of the characters having a motive to kill Colonel Clamsky.”

The story is also set during the middle of a hurricane, which makes special effects like wind and water appear.

Neumayre says, “One of the things I really like about Toreador theater is that it’s student ran. When they enter the stage, we teachers step back and students run the whole thing. They are also busy kids, and it has been interesting to watch them shuffle their schedule to make this work.”

When being asked if there have been any challenges during setting this up, she answers, “I would say one of the bigger challenges has been how busy the auditorium is in february and march. We weren't able to build the set until tuesday before spring break.”

The play will be shown on April 1st and 2nd at 7 PM in the Boone High School Auditorium. The price will be $5 for adult and $3 for student, and students with an activity pass will get in for free.

BMS Fourth Annual Toreador Trot

3/29/2016

By: Erin Peterson @Erin_18_Kathryn

Saturday, April 2nd, marks the Fourth Annual Toreador Trot. With weather predicted to be cool with chances of light rain in the morning, this year’s 5k should be cool and refreshing.

For the last four years, this fundraiser’s proceeds have been used and will continue to be used to not only purchase but to maintain Boone Middle School’s fitness equipment. The race also teaches students how to choose and put forth a healthy lifestyle.

Also alike previous years, the race will be followed by a pancake breakfast and a Celebrate Families Health and Safety Fair. According to many runners, the free pancake breakfast is almost just as much fun as the run.

“I’ve actually run this race all four years, and every year to prepare for it, I run at the Y, in the mileage club at school, and around town. Like the last couple of years, my family and I are going to try and set personal bests and help each other improve in the process, and there’s always the pancake breakfast to look forward to. If you can’t find the motivation to finish the 5k, you really just have to remember the pancakes at the end.” Annual runner and student freshman Brett Patterson says.

By 8:00 am Saturday, it is highly anticipated that over 100 registered runners will show up and walk or run the 3.1 miles around the Cedar Pointe Golf Course. 5k race course can be found on the Toreador Trot 5K Run/Walk Facebook page.

National Honor Society raises bake sale funds for Humane Society

3/24/2016

By: Johnathan Herrick @jherrick35

With the third term coming to an end, parent/ teacher conferences are right around the corner. During conferences the National Honor Society (NHS) will be hosting a bake sale.

The bake sale has been an annual thing that has been going on for the past few years, and the proceeds will be going to the Boone Humane Society. The money that is raised is going toward the purchases of doggy beds and also toys for the animals at the shelter.

This bake sale will take place on Thursday, March 23rd, during two different time periods. The times are from two to four and six to eight located in Cafe Ole.

“I think that the bake sale will be a success like the previous years. I am looking forward to it and it will be fun.” Staff Adviser Caroline Sallen commented. With conferences going on the the bake sale should be a huge success for the NHS.

Honors students break out of their comfort zones

3/24/2016

By: Katelyn Williams @katelynann228

As teachers are preparing for conferences on Tuesday, March 22th and March 24th, the sophomore students enrolled in the Honors English second semester class are also preparing to share their hard work to the conference goers.

The honors option of English has over forty students and is mixed with the regular English students. The honors students have extra work every week and are expected to bring class discussions alive. All students had the option to apply for honors, the next two years they will be able to take Advanced Placement and DMACC English classes.

The English honors students have been doing a unit on the side of their regular English work. They have had to write a problem and solution paper, and now they have made a poster about their problem along with a one-minute speech that they will be presenting at conferences.

While students present during a two-hour time period, the public will be able to give feedback to help the students excel in their presentations.

Honors student sophomore Dresden Wilson said, “This will benefit me by making me look good for future classes and colleges. It will also benefit me with my public speaking and be able to think on the spot when they ask me questions on my topic.”

Sophomore Honors English students are giving conferences an extra high point and presenting problems they feel the world can fix.

This means business

3/11/2016

By: Madison Neely @madineely99

Erin Kinne, a senior here at Boone High, has been accepted into the University of Iowa. She, along with other senior students, are taking the next step into securing their college future.

When asked about why she chose the University of Iowa, she said, “I grew up as a Hawkeye fan and when I decided to go into business, I was researching schools and the Iowa Tippie College of Business was very highly critically acclaimed.”

Kinne was recently accepted into the Iowa Tippie College of Business. Most students get accepted into the college as juniors or seniors, but Kinne will be starting the program next year as a freshman through a direct admissions program.

Kinne will be double majoring in finance and management, and she says she hopes to graduate with an MBA (Masters in Business Administration).

She also received a scholarship through the University of Iowa. As a sophomore, Kinne entered an essay writing contest through the writing school at Iowa. Her performance ended up giving her the experience to read her essay in front of a crowd at the Iowa State Capitol and a scholarship.

Kinne has also recently finished out her drill team career at Boone High, and she reports that she will not be trying out for the Iowa dance team, bringing an end to her dance career after this year.

As a cheerleader, drill team member, and National Honor Society member, Kinne has Iowa in her sights and is leaving Boone High behind. Good luck, Erin Kinnie.

The burning and breaking of Boone’s history

3/10/2016

By: Erin Peterson @Erin_18_Kathryn

For 100 years, the large wagon truss bridge, or wagon wheel bridge, that stretches over the Des Moines River just west of Boone has held millions of visitors, and after all of this time, Boone County officials have decided to take it down.

In November of 1909, a board of directors decided to end a year long dispute with a county and citizen’s group from Incline and give in to their proposal of a wagon truss bridge stretching across the Des Moines river. Though they might not have realized it at the time, the bridge that they constructed in 1911 would stand for over a hundred years and be a second home as well as a place to get away for thousands of people in the coming years.

In the very beginning of the bridge’s life, the river was low and horses would trudge across to make way from Boone to Ogden or vise versa. In the 1950’s and 60’s, the place had become a popular area to go fishing, swimming, tubing, or to have bonfires during the summer.

As time went on, the river rose as nature took its course and made the bridge weak. In 2008, floods scattered Iowans while damaging the bridge, thus making county officials render it as unsafe for all vehicles. By the fall of 2008, all vehicular traffic going across the bridge had been denied, however pedestrian crossing was still an option.

Within the two years following, a large tree fell on the bridge damaging it once more. After this incident, the bridge had been downgraded once again, this time from allowing pedestrians only to a “No Trespassing” zone.

By this time, the Boone Wagon Wheel bridge had begun to show its age and to this day is continuing to weaken. On August 2, 2015, a part of the east side of the bridge became engulfed in flames, destroying the side of the bridge that had originally connected to Boone.

On Monday, Feb. 22, large chunks of ice shifted in the river, thus mangling the bridge and disfiguring it a final time. County officials decided after the fire in August that the bridge would have to be taken down in the fall of 2016, while the water level is the lowest. However, because of the newer destruction of the bridge, it is believed that a sooner date may be necessary for deconstruction.

“I've spent years there, when I was in high school we'd go fishing out there all the time, as I got older there were bonfires and parties. It's a beautiful place to go stargaze, especially during meteor showers. I've done that several times. It’s very peaceful. I'm going to miss that place.” Boone citizen, Jayme Schnaffer says.

Following the fire, support from Boone county citizens came from everywhere. From 80 year olds to high schoolers, nobody wants one of Boone’s most historic landmarks to be taken down. After a facebook page dedicated to saving the bridge was made, a quick thousand people liked the page. As of March 3rd, the page had 1,752 people following and supporting the bridge and its important history.

A star in the making

3/10/2016

By: Madison Neely @madineely99

Another senior at Boone High is taking her next step into her future career. Kassy Foltz has recently been accepted into Simpson College and has also been awarded a scholarship.

Foltz is planning on going to Simpson college to major in vocal performance. Her dream career is to participate and be casted in operatic shows and wants to make money doing what she loves.

In order to receive the scholarship, Foltz first had to audition at Simpson in front of two important people; one of which was the head of the theater department. She auditioned in a private room at a performing arts center, and afterwards she was interviewed. She was asked what fine arts activities she is involved in and her desired future in theater.

On Tuesday, March 1st, Foltz performed at the orchestra concert in front of a big crowd. She sang “I Dreamed A Dream” from Les Miserables with classic musical accompaniment from the orchestra, which earned her a big round of applause for her performance. When asked how she felt about her performance, Foltz said, “I think it was amazing! It was one of the best performances I’ve ever had, and ever done.” She also graciously praised the orchestra for their performance as well. “The orchestra was very professional. It was the orchestra who made the performance really great.” She also added, “It turned out well and I’m glad I had the song down to show how great the orchestra is.”

Foltz said that she wants to finish off her year here at Boone High with a great last play production and pass the torch onto the other thespians. She also says she hopes that her last concerts run smoothly as well. When Foltz leaves Boone High, she says that she wants to be remembered for her talent.

Starting next fall semester, Kassy Foltz will be walking around Simpson’s campus, shedding her vocal talent for everyone to hear. Good luck, Kassy Foltz.

Boone orchestra kicks off March with spring concert

3/1/2016

By: Erin Peterson @Erin_18_Kathryn

The Boone High Orchestra, along with a select group of band students, are preparing for one of their final concerts of the year this week. With three different groups of students that all practice separately, days that are close to the night of the concert always prove to be hectic, as this may be the only time available for these students to practice all together.

“I think this concert will go well, like the rest of them, I’ve been practicing all of our songs and am excited for tonight. I bet all of the songs will go well, but I believe the “Halo Theme” will be the best,” sophomore Kheyvn Elsberry says.

To begin the concert, orchestra director David Swenson has sixth hour strings begin with a piece called “Folk Tune and Fiddle Dance” which features mainly upperclassmen students. Afterwards, Swenson plans to bring in the rest of his orchestra students along with a single percussion instrument to add onto the “Halo Theme”, which is a suite collection from the popular Halo video games. Following this, the rest of the selected band students will come out and join the orchestra in “Romanian Overture”, which will feature a small solo from senior violinist Adam Kraft. From there on the concert will commence with “I Dreamed a Dream” from the play Les Miserables, to which senior Kassandra Foltz will be singing. Finally, the Boone High strings and band will finish will a short piece called “Night on Bald Mountain”.

The concert will begin at 7:30 in the Boone High School auditorium this Tuesday night.