The Bison Stampede – February 7, 1997

BHS Assistant Principal Mary Loberg has been selected to receive the Assistant Principal of the Year Award from the Central Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals.

"I was extremely happy when I found out [I was selected to receive the award]," said Loberg. "I am incredibly proud of the students and staff here at BHS because you can't win an award like this without great students and staff. The award is more a reflection of them than it is of me."

Loberg has been an assistant principal at BHS since 1993 and in that time she has helped the school and community go through tremendous changes. Setting up the new block schedule, moving into the new school, the new technology in the schools and setting up a Safe Schools Community Committee are just a few of the activities in which she has been involved since starting here at BHS.

"She is absolutely one of the hardest working people I know," said Principal Nick Miller.

Some of the main criteria for the award include: a willingness to take risks to improve student learning, anticipating emerging problems and taking action in an effective way to solve them. Moving actively to implement the goals and objectives of the school, working together with students and staff to improve educational programs, and being involved with the community in the life of the school are other qualities they look for when selecting the recipient.

"She is dedicated, responsible, professional, very smart and has many leadership qualities," said Miller. "She is a real change agent and has put a lot of time into the new technology, the new phone system and especially block scheduling."

While Assistant Principal of the Year, Loberg will attend numerous conventions and meetings. Loberg will formally receive the award at a workshop sometime this summer.

"I look at receiving the award like a stewardship where I can help others," said Loberg.

The BHS Performing Arts Center, the final stage in the construction of the new school, will open within the next few weeks. The center is not just being built for the use of the high school, but for the entire Buffalo community.

The Performing Arts Center, or PAC, seats 850 people. Six hundred seats are located on the main level and an additional 125 seats each in two sections are in the back separated by a state of the art lighting board, which will have 24 channels to run off.

"It is going to be one of the best auditoriums in the state," said senior Peter Walz. "It will have the qualities of a professional auditorium."

There are many additions to the PAC compared to the auditorium at the junior high. A garage door adds extra accessibility for set and stage crews to move things on and off the stage.

"The old auditorium has been around for a long time and it is time for a new one," said senior Henry VonBank.

The stage, which is almost the same width as the stage in the old auditorium, now has extra wing space on each side. A large fly space extends more than twenty-five feet into the air towers above the stage. The space will be used for lifting and lowering sets without the audience being able to see the set when hanging in the air. Directly in front of the stage there is a pit area that may also be covered to extend the front of the stage an extra twelve feet if necessary.

"The auditorium will be able to accommodate and produce almost any outside show that would come to town," said Walz.

In the rear stage area, there will be a larger make-up and costume area. The make-up area will be in the center and on either side will be separate men's and women's dressing rooms. A bathroom and showers are also in this area for the performers. There will also be a storage area for costumes and make-up.

"We're absolutely chomping at the bit to get in there! The music department started making plans for the PAC before the bond issue was even passed. We're very excited," said choir director Mike Walsh.

The tentative date for completion was

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The BHS Performing Arts Center will soon be completed. The center seats 850 people and will be a huge plus for the music and theater departments.

Editorial/Opinion: America Online users frustrated by busy signals. page 4
Features: Past and present celebrities explored. page 6-7
Entertainment: One-act play captures first place at Sections. page 8

The number of deaths as a result of snowmobile accidents is on the rise. Last year there were a total of 26 deaths due to snowmobiling in Minnesota. As of January 27 this year, there have been 24 deaths and the winter is only half over. The majority of these deaths are caused by careless driving. Snowmobiling is a popular activity among students at BHS. Out of 20 first block classes, 164 students have at least one snowmobile in their household. "Most of the friends I hang out with have snowmobiles. It would be easier to say how many don't," said freshman Nick Hules.

Some activities snowmobilers do are very dangerous. Some like to speed, or think it's fun to roll or get into accidents and fly off. Others like to go "water skipping" which is skipping across open water with a sled. This may be fun, but if something goes wrong, there's a chance of getting hurt or even killed. "It's a rush when you crash, as long as you don't hurt the sled," said Hules.

The early snowfall may be one reason for more snowmobiling accidents. According to the Star Tribune, over 325 nonfatal accidents have been reported this season. "It's a shame all this is happening. The snowmobiler can never forget that they are on a machine that is not only fun, but can be dangerous," said social studies teacher Tracy Hulley.

Snowmobiling is allowed just about anywhere but it may be difficult to reach certain safe destinations. Some sled riders feel they could be safer riders if there were more trails nearby. "[There needs to be] more places where I could ride," said Hules.

Inexperience can also cause accidents. Snowmobile safety classes are offered to teach snowmobilers how to ride safely. The Department of Natural Resources, city halls and courthouses have information on where these classes are located. "Fear and snowmobiling do not mix. Hesitation kills you," said Hules.

In order to be safe, snowmobilers should not speed, drink or override the headlights at night. Snowmobilers should yield to other vehicles, stay to the right of snowmobiling trails, and maintain proper spacing when snowmobiling with others. "You shouldn't be able to drink and ride snowmobile just like you can't drink and drive. Nobody does much about it," said sophomore Heath Nelson.

When riding, warm clothing should be worn. If the snowmobiler isn't warm enough, it could cause difficulty in the operation of the snowmobile. Loose clothing can get caught on the snowmobile or on tree branches. A protective helmet should be worn at all times. When riding, always ride with friends in case of an emergency.

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An addition to the parking lot this winter is the snowmobile parking area, located in the lot in front of the school.

Settling into the cafeteria at the new high school is a change for the students because of the new lunch programs being implemented, such as the ala carte items and cash lines. The prices of the ala carte items are determined by the amount of labor used to make the product, their purchase price and the average of what they are being sold for here at the school. Many people think it is too expensive. "It's supposed to be a school lunch, not a money making business," said junior Erika Laho.

Kids have the opportunity to use the cash line if they have forgotten their PIN or don't have money in their account. The disadvantage of this is that it takes longer than the PIN system because the cooks have to deal with giving back change. However, there are also two express lines for people who know their PIN and have money in their account. "I stood in line for a very long time just to get a little thing of nachos," said junior Karen Kumpula. Sometimes one of the choices for lunch will be from Taco Bell. "If they [the tacos or burritos] sell well, we'll make an arrangement to offer them more often," said Director of Food Service, Marilyn Splinter.

Another problem that has risen in the cafeteria is that the lines are so long that some students are not getting enough time to eat. "A lunch and D lunch both have longer to eat because of the passing times and people arrive in smaller groups," said math teacher Pete Johnson. "Then B and C lunches have really long lines."

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Ala Carte Examples
fresh fruit
vegetables
granola bars
ice cream treats
muffins & donuts
cookies
cereal
flavored water

The Minnesota Legislative session is underway. Among the topics of debate are possible state aid for the building of a new ballpark for the Twins as well as a 20 cent gas increase.

The Minnesota Twins argue that the Metrodome is "economically obsolete." An escape clause allowing the team to leave the Dome after the 1998 season gives the Twins leverage. "The state should help finance a new stadium, to keep [the Twins] in town," said sophomore Dan Keefe. In today's era the possibility of the Minnesota Twins leaving definitely exists. Gov. Arne Carlson has created a proposal to raise the tobacco tax 10 cents more. This plan is receiving higher praise than past plans to save the team. "Smoking is an elastic market. In other words no matter how much you charge them, they'll pay for it," said social studies teacher Gerard Rohl.

To raise money for highways, and appropriate more money for mass transit, a plan to increase the 20 cent per-gallon gas tax is being pondered. This is an issue that affects adults, as well as students that drive. "The gas tax is high enough," said junior Josh Brittan. The gas tax has not been raised since 1988, but this may be about to change. The Minnesota Legislature is divided on this issue, and many others. The 1997 session could create much interest among Minnesota citizens.

The Buffalo mock trial team was awarded the first North Suburban Mock Trial Championship title on Tuesday, January 28. Receiving a 10 in the third round was Andy Uttke for his opening statement. Being named to the All-Conference team were seniors Alicia Hesiel, Nancy Wryk and Mindy Reynolds. All-Conference honorable mention awards were given to senior Matt Moselle, junior Abby Klassen, sophomore Andy Uttke and freshman Laurie Burling. They also won matches against Orono and Totino Grace on Saturday, February 1.

The BHS Concert Band participated at St. Cloud State University in the Fiesta '97 Band Festival on Saturday, February 1.

A college information meeting will be held on February 10 for juniors, seniors and their parents. The meeting will be held in the BHS library at 7 p.m. and will answer any questions that may have arisen about college.

Conferences for third-quarter will be held February 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Conferences will be held in the gym and parents should use the north parking lot. Coffee and cookies will be served.

For the second year in a row, Buffalo has had a Music Listening team advance to the state competition. Buffalo, which received a score of 77 out of a possible 100, was one of 16 teams across the state competing to be the State Champion.

"Our team didn't have much time to get together to practice," said senior Pete Jacobson. "We were kind of disappointed [with our performance]."

To advance to the State Competition, a team must place first or second in their region. Out of 35 teams who competed in the West Region AA Music Listening Contest, Buffalo team two, which included Jacobson, senior Paul Shamla and junior Andy Way, placed first. Team one, which included senior Matt Olson, junior Nathan Eby and sophomore Katie Heino, placed second. Team three which consisted of freshmen Paul Wright and Becky Rude also placed in the top half. Although team one placed second, earning the opportunity to advance, rules state that only one team per school is allowed to advance to the State Competition. Because of this, Elk River advanced to State.

"It's a way of encouraging other schools to participate," said band director Lee Kjsebo.

Members of the team were required to take a music listening class that was offered second term. "We studied various periods of classical music," said Jacobson.

Before the competition, students receive a study guide from Minnesota Public Radio, listen to various CDs, and get information from as many sources as possible. "It's a competitive way of studying composers, genre or style, and different periods of music," said Kjsebo.

There are five rounds of competition: Listening, where members have to identify the composer and title of the song; oral examples, where they have to answer questions about the music; written multiple choice; mystery; and the lightning round, where they listen to an example, and have five seconds to write down the composer and title of the piece.

"I like the lightning round because it's the most challenging test of our identification abilities," said Eby.

Senior Flower: Purple tipped white
Senior Colors: Purple, black and rose
Class Motto: I knew that looking back on my tears would make me laugh But I never knew that looking back on my laughter would make me cry

Some people have known since school what they want to do for a living. For others, the quest for the "perfect" career continues throughout their lives. The importance of finding the right career can never be overstated, and this is why exploring various interests and exploring the different activities available in high school can help you find the appropriate career. Clubs, sports, and volunteer activities can be helpful in that quest.

As you approach working with people, you may encounter different personality types. Consider the environment on which you are most comfortable. Will you be working with people or alone? Whatever your comfort level with new people might be, you should be open to it.

As you approach adult life and employment, you can also ask advice from friends and family. They can offer a different perspective on your interests and what might be a good fit for you.

Interest in many activities can help you assess your interests and the career that you find most satisfying. Many opportunities are available through the school. There are practical training opportunities, such as business, health, and even math experiences in the classroom. High school is a great place to find out what you have the capabilities to do. Once you're ready to enter the job market, finding colleges, career paths, and even specific jobs can be daunting. By assessing yourself and exploring the options that fill your personality, you can make better decisions for your future. It's up to you to take advantage of them.

Editor's Note: Kathy Sullivan is a communications student at St. Cloud State University.

The Bison Stampede would like to extend a congratulations to BHS students, staff and the community for their success with the move. The new high school is a more comfortable, warm and spacious facility. The people who gave so much time and energy to be sure it was ready should be commended. Both the library and computer lab were ready to go on the first day. This is an amazing feat. It took approximately three hours to set up each computer. Approximately 18,000 library books were moved. In addition, magazines, audio and visual equipment and other media were transferred. Committees worked to decorate the school in purple and white. The first assembly on opening day went smoothly. The multi-media presentation used new technology to illustrate the transition from old to new. Staff were present to help with the new lunch lines, finding various classrooms and just answering general questions. Students also played a role in helping with technology and others. It's true that there were a few glitches, like missing clocks and trouble with the televisions. The auditorium still isn't finished. Also there are complaints about the no food or drink rule. However, overall everything is going smoothly. Students and staff lent out their helping hands. They adjusted to the changes, even if they weren't happy. They coped, one of the harder lessons to learn in life. Congratulations!

Beep... beep... beep... Anyone who subscribes to AOL (America Online) recognizes this sound all too well. Ever since December when AOL changed their pricing plan to unlimited usage, a busy signal has become the norm, and becoming connected to the net has been increasingly difficult. The old pricing plan, which was $9.95 a month for five hours plus $2.95 for each additional hour, became virtually obsolete when unlimited access became available on December 1, 1996.

When I first heard that AOL was getting unlimited access, I was excited; the idea that I could stay online as long as I wanted was very appealing. The thought of busy signals never entered my mind. In the beginning it was great. I spent time exploring new sights on the World Wide Web, met new people in the chat areas and sent people e-mail, even if I had nothing to say. Then, around the middle of December I began getting busy signals more often. This kept increasing to the point where, at times, I literally spent 30 minutes redialing to become connected.

AOL spokespeople have said that they expected there to be an overabundance of users when they announced the new pricing plan, but underestimated the actual amount of increased activity. They have asked us to be patient while they try to solve this problem. I do believe they are trying to resolve this problem as quickly as possible, but it has been occurring for nearly two months now, and I am running out of patience. Not only is it not getting better, it is getting worse. My question is this: if AOL knew they weren't ready to handle unlimited access, why did they do it? It is like selling 2,000 tickets to a concert, but only having enough parking spaces for 1,000 people. The city has promised to have the other 1,000 parking spaces ready sometime, but they don't know when. That doesn't help those people who are missing the concert while they are driving around looking for a place to park.

Last week AOL announced that they are giving refunds to customers who qualify based on how many hours they have been able to get online. This is nice, but it still doesn't help me get connected. Not to mention that the refund lines have become just as clogged as AOL itself.

As for me, I have had enough. As much as I love America Online, it is of no use to me if I cannot get connected. I am beginning my search for a new online carrier. I may return to AOL if they ever get their problem with access fixed. Until then, I just have one thing to say to AOL: Beep... beep... beep...

What do you think about these issues? Let us know by writing a letter to the editor and placing it in the folder outside A-102

1) How are you liking the new school?
2) How do you feel about the number of snowmobile accidents and thefts this year?
3) Are Little Miss America Pageants good for children or could they lead to more incidents like the murder of JonBenet Ramesy?

The recent brouhaha over the Goosebumps series of books has really sent many people in over their heads. It was started by a woman named Margaret Byron who has demanded that nine of the books be removed from the Anoka-Hennepin school libraries. Her reasoning was that the books have an overall evil theme and make young readers victims of horror. Her theories have been backed by some psychologists who believe that children who read the books can't tell fact from fiction and suffer long-lasting damage.

Many people have risen to support Byron, saying that school libraries should promote ideas that are uplifting, with inspiring role models. Pardon me for sounding sarcastic, but how should we go around defining role models? Should we promote the Berenstain Bears as role models?

Why don't we imagine that all books have role models, just for the sake of argument? Since television has a rating system, libraries should, also. Horror books, like Goosebumps, have role models. The children in them escape from monsters. What better role model could there be? Since horror books are not suited for children, as these people say, they would have to be rated FEAR (For Exclamations And Revoltment), for example. Now that we have a rating system, someone has to implement and maintain it. The librarians are too busy, the government is too busy arguing over who gets the most airtime on C-SPAN. The teachers are too busy trying to teach children how to read. That leaves the parents to sift through entire libraries of elementary, middle and high schools. Something tells me that there would be fewer volunteers to do that then there are voices in favor of banning books now.

Another view that doesn't make much sense to me is the belief that children are helpless victims. I know that they can be very gullible, even to the extent of believing that monsters in those books exist, but I have a tough time believing that they can suffer permanent damage from reading a book.

Humans have what can be described as common sense. If you touch something that is 3,000 degrees, you probably should take your hand away. If you have no jacket and it is 20 below, you should probably put one on. If you are scared by a book that you are reading, you should probably put it down, huh? Yes people, children know how to set down a book.

Schools have the opportunity to take any books that they want out of the libraries, just as they are able to search lockers and students. If Anoka-Hennepin wishes to remove Goosebumps, what will follow? Maybe they should take out dictionaries because reading them leads to complete boredom, which could lead to poor attention at school and bad grades. How about removing newspapers since they are a fire hazard? This case is an example of people wanting society to raise their children. Banning those nine books will only open the doors to school boards determining what people should read, instead of people choosing for themselves.

If parents wish that their children not read the Goosebumps series, then they should have a talk with them or simply not allow them to read those materials. Books are not on the shelf because you have to read them; they are there to be read. If anybody is uncomfortable with a particular book, they should simply avoid it.

In the past few years, President Clinton's term in office has been marked by many public humiliations and acts that have been questionable in the eyes of the press, and therefore, the public. He has been accused of crimes from money laundering to sexual harassment and assault.

Most recently, he has been accused of sexually assaulting Paula Jones on May 8, 1991. He also has been accused of having the state patrol in Arkansas escort girls to him for personal pleasure. During this whole time, Whitewater has been looming over the presidency with hearings and grand juries looking into the dealings of the Clintons when they were in the governor's office in Arkansas.

Even though none of these allegations have yet been proven, we still should think about some important questions that would have to be answered in the event that Clinton is found guilty. Should President Clinton be held immediately accountable for his actions? Or, should he be asked to answer these allegations after he is out of office? The Supreme Court is deciding now whether or not the allegations can be deferred until he is out of office. If he must answer to these charges now, should he be punishable by impeachment? That decision would have to be made by the Senate, the only body that has the power to impeach the president.

If any of these allegations are found to be true, a decision must be made as to what can be done about them. If the Senate feels that the allegations are serious enough, then they will have to vote on whether or not to impeach the president.

The last presidential administration that had so much trouble as Clinton's was Nixon's. The only difference between them was that Nixon was impeached. Since then, this is the first administration that has had this much trouble with accusations. Other administrations have had trouble, but is it becoming the norm that a president can't get to power without having done something illegal in their past? The major parties in our country seem to no longer be able to find honest and ethical people to run for the presidency. Many offices are having trouble finding moral people to run for them. As voters, it should not be acceptable for elected officials to have a record of illegal or questionable actions in their background.

With all of these allegations, we must ask ourselves whether we should allow people with this kind of a background to hold an office. Don't we want someone that has morals? It is our responsibility to choose who is elected to office. We should not allow people to be elected to the top office in the country when they committed illegal and unethical actions. We should not allow it and should not put up with it.

I never thought I would almost be killed by a drunk driver. After going to a movie with some friends, I started the 10 mile trip home. At the same time, a driver with the blood alcohol level of .24 (almost two and a half times over the legal limit) was traveling east on State Highway 55 from Top Shots to the Sundown Saloon. He was in a van with no lights on, so I didn't even see it coming. He turned left in front of me. At 55 mph I hit his passenger's side head-on.

The next thing I knew I was lying in an ambulance not even knowing what day it was or where I was going. That was the scariest feeling I've ever had. The pain was so intense that it hurt to cry. All I could say was "What happened?" My hip was broken, I had cracked and chipped teeth, a concussion and dislocated discs in my jaw which still cause constant headaches and could require surgery. After they told me it was a drunk driver, I was so angry that someone's irresponsible decision made me suffer. I am alive today because I had my seat belt on that night.

The drunk driver walked away from the crash, but suffered other consequences. He was sentenced to three months in jail and about $1,000 in fines. His license was suspended, and he was given five years probation. As a more emotional part of the sentence, he had to talk to me. He apologized and I got a chance to tell him what I had to live with because of him.

I've learned a lot from this traumatic experience. No one should have to go through what I did or what he did to learn that drinking and driving is the stupidest mistake anyone could make. Even if you don't drink and drive, always wear a seat belt because you never know when someone else is going to be driving drunk. Some people aren't as lucky as I was and are never able to walk or talk again. Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of death in teenagers today. Every day six people between the ages 15 and 20 die because of drinking and driving. Please remember drinking and driving is not worth your life or someone else's. All you have to do is call your parents. They may be angry at first, but they will be happy to see you alive and not have to identify you in a morgue.

--- This is the damage done to Renée Peter's car after she was hit by the drunk driver.

Movie stars seem to be a hot topic to talk about in school, especially with all the new, young actors and actresses appearing on the big screen. But what is the shared secret that makes movie stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, who recently played Romeo in the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet, so famous?

"[Leonardo's] looks and his acting has made him famous and I believe he will continue that fame for the rest of his life because he's got a lot of talent," said freshman Krista Braith.

Many other people have the talent to succeed as well. Brad Pitt is one of those people. Pitt has appeared in many movies, such as Legends of the Fall and Interview with a Vampire, where he co-starred with Tom Cruise and really made a name for himself.

"I know he will succeed in movie biz because he has really good talent," said freshman Jo Frank.

Men are not the only ones on people's favorite movie star lists though.

Sandra Bullock hit home with many movie-goers. Bullock played major roles in such movies as While You Were Sleeping, A Time to Kill and Speed, where she co-starred with Keanu Reeves and began her big-time acting career.

"She is a good actress, and because of that I think she will continue her fame for a long time," said freshman Leesa Whittlef.

Comedians seem to be finding their way onto the big screen as well as those actors and actresses. Rosie O'Donnell is one of the more well-known acting comedians. She started on Star Search performing stand-up comedy, but has appeared in Sleepless in Seattle, Harriet the Spy. Recently she started a talk show, the Rosie O'Donnell Show, on ABC, which debuted in July 1996.

"She is so awesome and very, very, totally, majorly funny and seems like a normal person," said freshman Becky Rude. "I definitely think she'll succeed."

There are many talented actors and actresses coming into the scene and hitting success head on, but how long will it last? Only time will tell.

Professional sports athletes have been very popular with teenagers for many years. This is still true today. Listening to different conversations at BHS, students will hear the names of many famous athletes.

The Minnesota Timberwolves aren’t exactly known as the most experienced basketball team. Experienced or not, they’re off to their best start since they became an expansion team in the late 1980s. Much of their success is attributed to their young star forward, Tom Gugliotta. At 6’10”, Gugliotta is the seventh best scorer in the NBA as of January 31 and the Timberwolves first all-star ever.

“[Gugliotta’s] leadership is leading the Timberwolves to their best season yet and a realistic shot at the playoffs,” said freshman Matt Pallansch.

As the young Gugliotta pushes his way to fame, Patrick Roy, a goalie for the Colorado Avalanche hockey team, has been around for over a decade, and is still greatly admired by hockey fanatics.

“[Roy contributed to] the Avalanche by winning the Stanley Cup last year,” said freshman Mike Miller.

Another athlete who’s been around for awhile is Minnesota Twins’ second baseman Chuck Knoblauch. Knoblauch has been playing for the Twins for five years now. With his new $30 million contract deal, the Twins are promised five more years with the all-star.

“[Knoblauch’s so popular because] he was voted Rookie of the Year in 1991,” said freshman Derek Eiklenborg.

Of course the big names in professional sports will change. For now, though, there’s one thing for sure: Teens know who they like and they’re not afraid to talk about it.

Many people catch themselves whistling the theme songs to Green Acres or Gilligan's Island. Shows from the 1960s stick in people's minds with the help of old favorites aired on Nickelodeon or other networks.

After an exhausting start to the week, families in the 1960s could sit down together and unwind on Monday nights watching the Andy Griffith Show. In the peaceful town of Mayberry, Sheriff Andy Taylor's main responsibilities seemed to be keeping his bumbling deputy, Barney Fife, from arresting the innocent citizens of Mayberry, and going fishing with his son Opie. Quiet, small town shows like this are often criticized as sappy and unrealistic.

"That show was so fake and annoying, and that deputy was a pain," said sophomore Josh Smith.

Ron Howard (who played Little Opie) grew up to be a famous director of movies such as Apollo 13 and Far and Away. Don Knotts (Barney Fife) left the show to become a famous actor on the big screen. As times change, quiet little Mayberry will always be the same.

Television viewers' wishes for a classic show came true with I Dream of Jeannie. Barbara Eden played the part of a two thousand year old genie (named Jeannie) found on the beach by astronaut Major Tony Nelson (Larry Hagman of Dallas). Jeannie became infatuated with Major Nelson and granted her new master wishes with a blink and a nod. Tony could be "blinked and nodded" down from the moon any minute to be asked "what should be the color of the curtains!" This show and its actors were all extremely popular in the 1960s and are still recognized today.

"I watched the Rosie O'Donnell Show and Barbara Eden was a guest that day," said sophomore Holly VonEnde.

One may see stars from the 1960s on talk shows or on reruns, like the Beverly Hillbillies.

Come on, listen to my story about a man named Jed. Poor mountaineer barely kept his family fed. And then one day he was shootin' at some food and bubblin' crude. Oil that is. Black gold. Texas tea. Well, you get the idea. Jed (Buddy Ebsen), Granny (Irene Ryan), cousin Jethro (Maz Baer), and his beautiful tomboy daughter Elly Mae (Donna Douglas) --not to mention her "critters" -- all move to Beverly Hills and drive their uptight banker crazy. Some people may have found the Clampetts a bit annoying, but this show (and its actors) appealed to many.

"When I was a little kid, I had a crush on Jethro," said sophomore Belinda Eastlack.

Batman was another hero to many. Pow! Wham! Zap! Batman was a popular show that didn't take itself too seriously. Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) never failed to foil the evil plots of villains like the Joker, Penguin and Catwoman. Batman was a very unusual show. Many differences in opinion over it are bound to be found.

"I hated that show," said Smith, "there were those stupid sound effects flashing across the screen, and it was obvious who Robin was. He just wore a little mask."

The crimefighters had the Batmobile, Batphone, Batlight, Batarang and tons of other tools to catch the bad guy. Holy trademarks, Batman! Those crimefighting tools were just why others liked to watch the show.

"I loved those cool fighting scenes with the pow and whack," said Eastlack.

Batman was so popular that several movies have been made starring him. Now that some 1960s trends seem to be back in style, more people will become familiar with Batman and other classic television shows.

with teenagers for many stations at BHS, students the most experienced start since they became Ss is attributed to: their the seventh best scorer star ever. ; to their best season yet ansch. ck Roy, a goalie for the sr a decade, and is still Stanley Cup last year,= mnnesota Twins9 second for the Twins for five wins are promised five ie of the Year in 1991,= ange. For now, though, ley9re not afraid to talk

Alice in Wonderland is the one-act play being performed this year. The first competition was held on Saturday, January 18 at the North Suburban Conference where the play received all-conference, and senior Cami Strand and juniors Kiara Esterbrooks and Jeremy Lostetter received individual awards. The play as a whole won first place at sub-sections on January 27 and sections on February 1. The cast performed yesterday at the state festival.

This one-act play is a shortened version of the original one-and-one-half hour long play about a girl who falls through a mirror and enters a land full of magic and wonder. The actors and crew members perform competitively against other schools.

There are two directors this year: English teacher Tracy Hagstrom-Dahl and student teacher Jox Metcalf. Metcalf selected Alice in Wonderland for this year's performance.

"I chose the play Alice in Wonderland because I have always thought it seemed spooky, so I wanted to change it around to be something for kids. I wanted to make it something fun," said Metcalf.

The audience is made up of three judges, the general public and other performers. To the actors, directors and crew, the judges are the most important, because they rate the performance on several different criteria.

"Judges watch to see if the actors are getting the point across and if they are working together. The judges have to look for character development. Have they become the part? They do not get judged on the set," said Hagstrom-Dahl.

Timing is of great importance. Mistakes made while setting up, performing, or taking down the set could result in disqualification.

"We have 10 minutes to set up, 35 minutes to do the show and five minutes to get off the stage otherwise you'll be disqualified," said Metcalf.

The directors describe this year's play as being a lot different from last year's play, Gnadiges Fraulein, which was about a woman in the south who owned a hotel where unique individuals lived.

"Last year, I tried a wacky, crazy play. It didn't work at all. Last year we could only have nine characters and this year we can have 20. We'll try something more down to earth," said Hagstrom-Dahl.

Hagstrom-Dahl has directed about 90 plays in 16 years and she loves it. This year is the first year she has had a co-director. Metcalf is well prepared for his directorial debut, because both of his parents are accomplished actors and directors.

"[HD and I] are like two peas in a pod," said Metcalf.

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Alice in Wonderland Cast
White Rabbit/Caterpillar Body........ Spencer Pruitt
Duck/March Hare.............. Jeremy Lostetter
Dodo/Mad Hatter................. Jason Geoffrion
Gryphon/Duchess/Queen of Hearts. ....Cami Strand
Mock Turtle............... Ryan McCallum
Caterpillar Head/Card..... Anna Quady
Caterpillar Body/Card..... Alyssa Bakke
Caterpillar Body/Card..... Molly Fiedler
Caterpillar Body/Card..... Abby Harlan
Caterpillar Body/Card..... Nick Schaefer
Tweedle-Dum............. April Huston
Tweedle-Dee. ............. Betsy Whittlef
Cook/King of Hearts................. Jeremy Hance
Dormouse. ......... Rachel Kaster
Student Director/Artist............ Derek Settergren
Lights........................ Peter Walz
Spotlight...................... Mitch Mattson

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Protrayed by senior April Huston and junior Betsy Whittlef, Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee play a game of hide-and-seek in the BHS one-act play, Alice in Wonderland

Metro is an Eddie Murphy movie which doesn't focus on comedy. Full of action and suspense, the movie still provides entertainment throughout. The plot is similar to that of the Beverly Hills Cop movies, but this time Murphy's character is not so wacky. The film is presented in a sleek and modern style -- Murphy had a new hairdo and a hip new girlfriend with an accent. But gaps in the script prevented Metro from being the great action film it could've been.

As a hostage negotiator for the SFPD and self-proclaimed gambling addict, Scott Roper (Murphy) is a one of a kind cop. He rarely resorts to killing the bad guy, although in some situations he can't avoid it.

With his years of experience in law enforcement, he trains rookie Kevin McCall (Michael Rapaport) as his sidekick. Eventually, a situation arises where the two must work together to catch a jewelry thief after he cleverly escapes a trap with the loot. After a lengthy and exciting chase scene involving cars, a trolley and city traffic, Roper finally corners the thief and sends him to prison.

Things then start to return to normal again, with Roper reuniting with his ex-girlfriend, Ronnie Tate (Carmen Ejogo). But the thief is smart, and, after his accomplice failed to murder Tate, he somehow finds a way to escape from prison. Unfortunately, the movie then becomes painfully predictable, leading up to an inevitable showdown between Roper and the bad guy.

At many points in the movie, music provided great suspense when nothing out of the ordinary was happening. For example, when Tate was preparing for a dinner date with Roper, she closed the door to her medicine cabinet. As she was doing so, the music swelled to indicate that an attacker would appear in the mirror behind her. Of course, no one was there.

Realistic for the most part, the film taught you about being a negotiator, but failed to delve deep enough into the criminal's mind. At no point in the movie did Director Thomas Carter explain the jewel thief's motives -- he was just a bad guy after money. This flaw prevented Metro from being a truly great action film.

Eddie Murphy fans should probably see this film, because he puts on a pretty good show. The movie just happens to be rated R, so be careful if planning to bring younger children along. Metro won't be a waste of money, and is good if you're in dire need of an action flick.

Michael is a cute film that holds a certain irresistible, magical quality. Even the most serious people would find it impossible to watch this movie without smiling at least once.

Directed by Nora Ephron, this is definitely one of the most original angel plots, but it can be a bit predictable at times. The audience knows basically what will happen next, but holding that knowledge keeps the movie from becoming too heavy or complicated.

Frank Quinlan (William Hurt), Dorothy Winters (Andie MacDowell) and Huey Driscoll (Robert Pastorelli) are the three tabloid reporters looking for a story. They meet up with an unusual angel named Michael (John Travolta) in Smalltown, Iowa. Michael joins them on a road trip to Chicago and ends up teaching them more than they thought they could ever learn.

The humor is original and personalized: each character has their own type of jokes that they stick with throughout the film. It is this attention to detail and consideration of timing that make this movie a success.

Michael's PG rating is well-deserved, being simple, with a lesson to be learned. But the audiences targeted by the rating might not understand some of the humor. Michael is a must for anyone over the age of 10.

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The Bison Stampede Ratings:
Metro -- ***
Michael -- ****
(out of four stars)

Valentines Day is coming up fast. Do you know what you and your sweetheart are doing? Plans often depend on how much money is available. Well, here are some ideas that will fit any budget.

For those who don't have much money, but still want to have fun, why not just rent a movie, stay at home and cuddle on the couch with a warm blanket? Or for people who like to cook, make your date's favorite meal, serve it with some candles and some romantic music. Adding a rose, balloon or a box of chocolates, is always a nice touch. Even ice fishing can be romanticized by adding a couple of candles. Then bring the fish home and have him cook for her.

Got some extra money after paying the bills? Go to a restaurant like Perkins. Instead of one rose, get six of them, maybe with a balloon or a small teddy bear. Another possibility for singles or couples is always the movies or just going to the mall and walking around. Couples could look for nice gifts for each other; singles could go out looking for a nice single guy/girl. I mean, hey, if someone is at a mall alone or with a group of friends on Valentine's Day you pretty much know they are available.

The wealthier romantics could get a dozen roses, a big teddy bear, get dressed up and go to a fancy restaurant, like Buffalo Run. The superrich could rent a limo and go to a really fancy restaurant in the cities. Then come home and cuddle in front of the fireplace (just make sure there aren't any football games on television).

One last option is for those who love their sweethearts as much as they love sports. There is a basketball game at school on Valentine's Day. The game against the Irondale Knights starts at 7:30. Sweethearts don't like to be forgotten on Valentine's Day, so remember there is always something to do. Don't worry about how much money it costs, just be creative and make it special.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away ...

Twenty years after those words first scrolled across the screen, they still fill us with wonder and awe. Through novels, comics, games and the three movies themselves, George Lucas' Star Wars saga continues to mesmerize fans with the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader. And now, Lucas has announced what millions of fans have been waiting years to hear: More big-screen Star Wars adventures are in the works.

First, in the course of the next three months, the original Star Wars trilogy will be again released in the theaters. Star Wars: A New Hope was released on January 31, 1997. February 21, 1997 and Return of the Jedi, March 7, 1997. Lucas has dispatched his special effects artists at Industrial Light and Magic to play with and actually remake parts of the movie. Only four and a half minutes of new visuals are involved, but the filmmaking techniques used are so complex, they cost $10 million -- about the size of the original movie's budget.

In May of 1999, the first of the new trilogy of prequels, all of which have speculative titles, will be released. A prequel is the opposite of a sequel; it predates the film that it comes after. According to George Lucas, the first film takes place 40 years before Star Wars: A New Hope. Remember in that movie when R2-D2 showed Princess Leia in a holographic message saying, "General Kenobi, years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars ... help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope ..." The first prequel ties into this. In The Clone Wars, the Jedi Knights fight to prevent cloning technology from being used to create a terrible weapon or army that would be used against the Republic. It will focus on Obi-Wan Kenobi, the young Anakin Skywalker (who later becomes Darth Vader) and Lady Arkady (Luke and Leia's mother).

The second prequel is scheduled to be released in May of 2001. The Rise of Darth Vader, is the turning point in Anakin's life. He is seduced by the dark side of the force, becoming Darth Vader and leaving behind his wife, Lady Arkady (not knowing she is pregnant). The movie ends in a climactic struggle between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi over a molten pit, into which Anakin falls. To Obi-Wan and the others, his death appears certain. Anakin Skywalker may be dead, but Darth Vader lives.

The third and final prequel, The Fall of the Republic, is expected to be released in May of 2003. Anakin Skywalker, badly scarred and burned from the molten pit, is resurrected as Darth Vader. The once great Jedi is saved and transformed by a life-giving, mechanical black helmet, along with black robes, a flowing black cape and black armor. He leads the emperor's army in hunting down and destroying the Jedi Knights. Obi-Wan rescues Lady Arkady and her children, Luke and Leia, and hides them out of Vader's reach.

In a few years, the speculation will disappear as Lucas brings his new movies to the screen. Men and women raised on the adventures of Luke, Leia, Han and Darth Vader will now take their children to see the earlier adventures of Anakin and Obi-Wan. Until then, impatient fans of the saga will hope that the Force is with them.

There is a new 30 minute situation comedy on TV called Chicago Sons. It features three blue-collar brothers that are in their twenties. The brothers were born and raised in Illinois, and are trying to get along once again to live under the same roof. The brothers in the show consist of Harry (Jason Bateman), Mike (D.W. Moffett) and Billy (David Krumholtz) Kulchak.

Harry works as an architect. There is a brown-haired, gorgeous lady named Paula that works with him. Harry has a big crush on her. When Harry is around her he stares at her. When he talks to her he stumbles over his words. He just gets all flustered around her. Secretly Paula is in love with Harry too, but she has a boyfriend, so she is stuck in the middle.

In the first episode, Harry and Paula were both invited to a party the following weekend. When Harry showed up, he went over to talk to her and ended up kissing her. Paula's boyfriend hit him and knocked him out cold.

Mike, the oldest brother, just got thrown out of his house by his wife. They are going through marriage counseling right now, but so far it is not working out. In the second episode, he and Paula go shopping for a new suit. He needs it so he will look good at a job interview. Unfortunately for Harry, they end up going to dinner.

Billy is the youngest, and has recently dropped out of college. He set up headquarters in his living room as a modeling agent. Billy has one model. He seems to be doing pretty well. He did get the woman's picture on a billboard.

Chicago Sons is a comedy that caters to high school students or anyone interested in a funny show about relationships and real life. If this sounds like your kind of show it is on every Wednesday night at 7:30 on NBC. I recommend it for anyone who is looking for thirty minutes of laughter.

When my mom's birthday came around, she said she wanted her own copy of Walt Disney's Cinderella. I managed to find a copy in Wal-Mart as the clock was ticking. Lucky me. And when she unwrapped it, she immediately popped it in the VCR, forcing the whole family into a 72-minute stress-fest. Lucky me.

For those of you, like me, who just can't relive the magic, you can't judge this film by its cover. The story isn't the plain "Girl gets wish, girl goes to ball, girl lives happily ever after, blah, blah, blah ..." The little comedies and tragedies make it more than a mere cartoon, but a masterpiece that few will forget. (Watch it again if you do!)

Although the intro is long and not too "professionally animated," the rest of the flick is quite smoothly drawn with realistic color. However, Cinderella appears to be a living Barbie doll, based on the stereotypes of the 50s.

As the story unfurls, we feel Cinderella's personal tragedies. She battles a constant struggle for respect and the basic necessities of life. She is worked like a horse and treated like a flea. But, through it all, she has her dreams, which she believes will someday materialize and take her to a wonderful life.

In the first few minutes, you realize that its not just she who can think for herself. The local mice are quite talkative, too, and willing to help Cinderella out of any jam, no matter how sticky. But they have to watch out for Lucifer, her stepmother's tabby cat, who has a voracious appetite for rodents. However, they have Bruno the dog, who, after repeated attempts, has never gotten along with Lucifer.

In the end, I was glad I stuck around to watch it. Cinderella is one of the greatest Disney films of all time, and I encourage all coldhearted teenagers to watch it, for it shows that you should dream, but also be content with what you have.

The new Buffalo High School opened its doors to students on January 6, 1997. Opening day festivities included an assembly with featured guest speaker Sen. Paul Wellstone.

The new high school, which has more space, more light and new technology, was welcomed by students and staff alike.

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On the first day of school, students and staff walked into the new decorated with purple and white ballons and roses.

January 6,1997 was opening day. Staff Infection took the stage and performed while students and staff watched intently.

French teacher Jennifer Johnson takes control in her new classroom. She and many other teachers appreciate the windows in most of the classrooms.

Sen. Paul Wellstone spoke during the opening ceremonies to students and staff. Later Wellstone gave the school a flag that was flown over the White House.

Rather than students using the desks from the old school, classrooms were furnished with new tables and chairs.

New facilities and more space have been welcomed by athletes at BHS. The gym, weight room and wrestling room, to name a few, have changed dramatically from the old school. They are larger and have more options.

BHS has gone from having a medium size gym and a small gym to having one large gym. The new gym is the size of three basketball courts next to each other with space and a curtain between each. There are also two suspended batting cages over the far basketball court that will be used when the teams are stuck indoors.

"The batting cages will be a valuable asset to the baseball and fastpitch programs. We will be able to get more repetitions because of the two cages and they will be so accessible," said softball coach Dave Alto.

The basketball main court crosses the first two courts with bleachers on both sides to seat up to 2,000 people.

"The bleachers around the main court are really nice because they allow a lot of people in the gym. I especially like the new scorers table that was donated to the high school from the Girls Basketball Boosters. It adds a unique touch to the new gym," said sophomore Kari Jensen.

The weight room has also changed, providing more space and options. Much of the equipment was moved from the old school, but there is also new equipment. Everything will stay as it is for now, in the future plans include mirrors for the far wall.

"I absolutely love [the weight room]. Coach Rohl, Palmer, Gmach and Thompson did a great job putting it all together," said Alto.

The wrestling room is also more spacious which allows more room for practices. It is furnished with new mats, and the room itself is bigger with a higher ceiling.

"We have one of the best wrestling rooms in the state simply because our program is one of the best," said sophomore Rusty Kath.

There are also new baseball and softball fields on school grounds so the teams won't have to travel for practices and home games. The new fields are located behind the student parking lot, furnished with fences and scoreboards.

"When the grass takes, it will be great to play our games here at the high school. We have three new fields and all levels will be able to play here," said Alto.

The winter athletes were the first of many to take advantage of the new facilities. Hopefully these facilities will last for many years so future athletes can benefit from state-of-the-art equipment.

The Alpine boys ski team is looking good for State this year and hoping for Dana Greenwood, who placed third in state last year, to hold them together.

"Last year was a productive year for me in high school skiing," said Greenwood.

Many people start skiing at a young age, but for Dana, who began skiing at age two, it was a part of life.

"My parents worked at a ski area. My dad was the ski school director and my mom worked at the front desk in Bottineau, ND," said Greenwood.

Boys co-captains Brandon Tackaberry and Mike Pink spend time focusing on the turns during practices.

"They work drills with their groups at the beginning of each practice," said Greenwood.

With the amount of snow, one can find many reasons to blame the hills this year, but not Greenwood.

"The big snow amounts are nice, but they don't affect our skiing any. As long as they make enough snow with the machines we will be all right," said Greenwood.

The Bison hope to be a team to beat in State and with Greenwood they probably have a chance.

"The team this year looks really good; we have a lot of potential. It's just a matter of being consistent," said Greenwood.

The girls team is suffering from a lack of membership. There are supposed to be a minimum of 10 girls when competing, but right now there are only seven girls signed up for the team.

The co-captains of the girls team are Renee Peter and Kaje Dubbeldee. At the last meet Peter improved her best time by three seconds.

The B-squad boys basketball team still has a winning record, despite losing a majority of their starters to the varsity team. They are the only boys basketball team in Buffalo that has a winning record.

Last year the B-squad team, which was then the C-squad team, won their conference with a perfect 16-0 record. It is the best record a freshman basketball team in Buffalo has ever had.

"We achieved [the perfect record] by playing and practicing hard, and by working as a team," said sophomore Noah Correll.

The B-squad team has had to overcome losing four of their five starters, who were Dave Barse, Brent Swaggert, Ryan Watkins and Cole Bryan.

"[Since then] we had a couple of people step up to the challenge of starting," said sophomore David Sandberg.

This year the starters for the team are Ed Schult, Joe Harper, Joel Gilmer, Dusty Haskins and Ben Cade.

"Harper has really helped. He is the best ball handler and he can get the ball to the open guy. With freshmen Haskins we now have a true center that we lost when Swaggert moved up," said sophomore forward Adam Gauthier. "When Dusty plays well, other teams have a hard time with him. Ed is a great rebounder. Not many teams will have someone that can out box him."

The team's goals are to learn a little more about the game, to have fun, and to win the conference.

"One thing we would like to do is win, but our main goal is to improve our game so we can be on the varsity team," said Sandberg.

Right now the team feeling is pretty good. Everyone knows each other and they get along together, so they work well as a team. The teams' record has been above .500 for most of the season.

"We want to win because we'd like to keep what we had last year," said Correll.

When she was 2, Kristen Magandy began a lifelong hobby. It all started when she found that the neighbor girl liked it. She then began dancing at Barbara Lee's Studio of Dance. She started dancing with only tap and jazz. She liked jazz the best because it had fun steps and worked on flexibility. Now she also does ballet and lyrical dancing. Lyrical is moving slow to the song with continual movements.

"Lyrical is my favorite type of dance now because it's really serious dancing," said Magandy. Kristen started competing four years ago at Butterfields in Maple Grove. At first she was scared, but after she got her first competition out of the way she really enjoyed it and thought it was fun. Now she gets excited every time she gets the opportunity to compete.

"At the competitions I can't wait to look for others' mistakes. It's fun because after going to so many of them; you learn to notice others' mistakes," said Magandy. Since she began competing, she has gotten more into dance. It used to be something that she did in her spare time. Now, getting the dances perfected to compete takes 2-3 practices a week, from August to June. Competing is something for her to look forward to instead of just doing the dances once in a performance.

"I'm just more into it now," said Magandy. In the future, Kristen would like to become a teacher, professional dancer or a dance instructor. She also plans on auditioning for musicals, dances, movies and plays.

"I want to be a teacher but have always had the dream to be a professional dancer," said Magandy. Dance is a fun activity for Kristen to do outside of school. She loves being able to perform something she does well for people. Dancing is a way she can express her feelings with her whole body.

An outdoor stadium for the Minnesota Twins. It sounds like a great idea, until Minnesota taxpayers are flipped a bill for an estimated $157.5 million. Now people have to ask themselves one question: is it worth it?

Divided equally among all Minnesota residents, the proposed stadium will cost $33.81 per person. The amount may seem small for some families, but for many, the bill would be difficult to pay. Should these families be forced into paying more for the sake of a baseball team?

No, of course not -- unless they smoke cigarettes. Public money for the project will not be collected from a sales or income tax said Henry Savelkoul, Chairman of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission. Instead, the money will come from the sale of minority owners' investments, an interstate investment pool that provides a return and a discretionary tax where people would make a choice to keep major league sports in the state. In other words, citizens could buy shares of the state's 49% of the team or invest money in the team. Or they could buy cigarettes, giving 10 cents per pack to the cause.

If this plan works, it would mean that Minnesota smokers would provide most of the funds needed for the stadium. But amid all of the quit smoking campaigns, isn't this a step backward? Minnesota Gov Arne Carlson doesn't seem to think so. He agrees with Savelkoul's plan. Carlson suggests to raise the cigarette tax to 58 cents per pack. With this raise, the state could maybe raise as much as $170,000 per day, provided that about 1.7 million people smoke a pack a day. Still, raising the money for the stadium would take at least two and a half years.

Think about it-- if Minnesotans pay to build a stadium, what are they actually buying? A chance to be able to pay to go to a Twins game in a different building, and provide the opportunity for a few rich people to get even richer. Does that make any sense?