Bow Season: Open

September 13th, bow season, Council Bluffs, IA. Hunters ages 12 and up, sheathed in orange vests so they stick out like a sore thumb in the thick forestation for safety. Bows strapped to backs, arrowheads down. Knee-high brush scraping against your rough pants doesn’t bother you a bit. On the prowl like tigers, hunters move out in packs.
Spotted baby white-tail deer prance behind their delicate mothers, turning into a blur as they fly past the awaiting hunters. A bow raised, a child in the way, disaster.


Hunter safety, you must know it to hunt, your first thoughts must always be about safety. Sure, you want that buck with immense antlers, or that thick meaty doe, but your safety comes first, and the safety of those around you. Sometimes you’ve just got to know when to let the deer escape. There are many things you should be aware of when going on a hunt, alone, or with a group. You want to always take a flashlight, some sort of first-aid kit, a knife, and any other survival devices you might need, just in case. Try to carry a cell phone with you at all times, on silent of course, just in case of an emergency so you can call for help right away. All children hunting should have completed a Hunter’s Safety Course before ever entering the timber with a weapon of their own or with the intent of firing a gun. Always make sure you have something bright on, usually orange, so you are not mistaken as game to another hunter. More times than not, a tree stand will provide even more safety as you are off of the ground and less likely going to be mistaken for game. But, you must always make sure your tree stand is sturdy enough to climb up on to, and that all your equipment is strapped in securely.
Always inspect your arrows closely to make sure there is no serious damage. If they are bent or cracked they can fail when shot and end up in personal injury. If you have a successful deer hunt, always wait a while before you go up to the wounded or dead animal. Animals in distress can cause major damage as they try to get up when they are scared. Antlers on the male deer can cause serious injury and even death. Always approach the animal slowly to ensure that it is passed and that you are not putting yourself in any danger.
If you have children or new hunters with you, always talk to them and make sure they know what you’re doing, and where you’re shooting at all times. Always make sure any rambunctious kids are out of the way, quiet, and still before making any move to even raise your bow.




Hunter safety, even though I don’t hunt, is a big issue with teenagers and even some adults. You always have to be safe when hunting. Deer get aggressive and can cause damage, just as well as your bow or shotgun can. Be safe hunting this year, and always.

Well, About That Center.

Ba ba da da! Imaginary trumpets sounded as perhaps one of the greatest openings to ever take place in the history of Harlan (and dare I say it the world?) took place only a few short weeks ago. A fabulous place to get fit, kill boredom, make money, get out of those gosh darn cornfields... What could I be referring to? Why none other than the awesome Petersen Family Wellness Center and Lewis Family Aquatic Complex.

Construction started in December of 2008, and now the centers are in full boom. The facilities offer a variety of things to enjoy like a dry sauna, multiple playing courts, pool, and ridiculously nice workout equipment. The open houses they held were packed with people wanting to get a gander at all of the new stuff, and since then memberships have been incredibly popular. According to Sara Pape, "memberships have nearly doubled what was expected!"


Senior Dylan Greer was "totally" excited about the wellness center. "I haven't been fit in years!" But on a more serious note, he "really likes the opportunity to swim and exercise in more unique ways."

Around the school, conversations often center around the early morning workouts everyone has participated in and plans to join upcoming programs (such as yoga, starting on October 4th). American teenagers being excited about getting into better shape is definitely a refreshing change of pace. But another great chance the PFWC is offering is something American teenagers have been known to love... money.

That's right, there's plenty of high-schoolers working at the recently opened party central. Ellen Klitgaard, Joe Schmitz, Andrew Markham, Sara Pape, Dylan Greer, and Tannis Belisle are just a few. I know from personal conversations with teenage employee, Sara "Papey" Pape, that "the managers are trying to hire more lifeguards and daycare providers so that the center can accomodate more people." So, if you'd like a job where you can spend time with young children and maybe get in a sweat afterwards, you know where to go.

So, there you have it: the scoop on the brand spankin' new fitness/wellness/aquatic/super-awesome center. If you'd like more information about classes, hours of operation, or you just don't feel I've covered all the bases about Harlan's latest and greatest attraction, feel free to visit their website.

This has been Danielle Hernandez, reporting from my comfy couch at home, for School News. Let me know your feelings about the new wellness center, and feel free to pose questions about seeking employment or otherwise. Just click that nifty little comment button :)

Just a Hobby - Victoria Thomas

Photography. Life through the lens. Dorothea Lange, Jonathan Mehring,
Ben Hattenback. Some legends, some amateurs, some winners of a $200
prize in a magazine. Regardless of age, location, or career,
phenomenal pictures are (or were) being taken. Nikon, Canon, Pentax,
all great machines of vision. But no matter the machine, $50 or $1000,
a great picture comes from the photographer, not the camera.
Photography to me is not just a hobby, it’s a passion. It’s a way to
see the world in a whole new perspective. It’s a way to capture an
image, a moment, forever inside a little box. With a camera you can
bring out emotion, deep feelings from a person, a place, or even a
simple bug.
Nature photography helps you to experience new and rare things, and
feel like an important piece of the puzzle called life, that is why nature and animal photography is what I love to do. This article isn’t just about photography though, it’s about finding something you love to do, helping you find a new hobby to let stress out, and to find things that interest you that may benefit you in the future; near or far.
Everybody needs a release now and then, we all need that one thing that keeps us smiling and interested in life. Sometimes, I know from experience, our hobbies are just what we need to keep our heads above water.




In the first picture I have a photo of my eye, with some rainbow eyeliner on. A simple picture taken in a split second, and you can look at it and wonder what the girl is thinking. It almost looks like a sad girl. The simplest of pictures can bring out emotion.




Photography can be used in many ways to bring out different things from the object being photographed. The next picture is of a band member, on stage, belting his heart out, the simple muscles shown on his arm and the clenched fist show passion, and show that holding a microphone is what he loves to do. This photo was taken with a Canon, model S5 IS. I love this picture because it brings out passion, and I love how the musician falls into the ink black background. To me, it shows that he is part of the music, he is the center of attention.



The last photo is obviously, the butts of six cows. I think this picture shows that not all photography is ‘powerful,’ but sometimes humorous. Pictures like this one show up on silly cards in stores.
My hobbies are taking care of my animals, and taking pictures of them. No matter what your hobby is, always enjoy it. If you don’t feel like doing it, don’t, you shouldn’t have to force yourself to do something you love. Hobbies are something that comes natural whether it’s photography, sports, drawing, dance, music, whatever, don’t force it. Embrace your hobbies, and maybe someday they could become more than ‘just a hobby.’

Junior's Thoughts on Their Senior Year

Junior's Thoughts on Their Senior Year from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

What do you think is going through student's minds going into their senior year? Well watch our video and find out!

Computer Viruses

Computer viruses. Seems like everyone has had their far share of experiencing this annoying bug. Our school has been hit hard with viruses and has been trying to get it under control for more than a year now. How do we get rid of it? It takes a lot of work and patience. Mrs. Greer and Mrs. Swanson work day and night constantly trying to revive our laptops, stopping only for necessities and coffee. Lots of coffee. We could try a few things to help prevent these viruses and to save these poor women some time. According to Microsoft you should do these things:


1.) Use firewall
2.) Subscribe to antivirus software
3.) Never open emails that aren’t from people you know.
4.) Don’t click on links you are unsure about



First off, let me explain to you exactly what a virus is. It is a program on the computer that copies itself to mess with the way a computer works without the acknowledgement of the computer owner. What causes these viruses? Ruthless, manipulative, geniuses are to blame. Their only intentions are to cause people pain and agony. Usually what they do is put the virus in a link or email to trick people into opening it and for some reason we continue to fall for it.

Do these ladies a favor and give them a break. Just because these are not your laptops, you should still take care of them as if they were. If you follow the four safety pointers I mentioned earlier, you should be good to go. Don’t let those tricky little devils fool you. Be careful and pay attention to what you are doing and it will make the world a better place, or at least you will be making Mrs. Greer and Mrs. Swanson’s a little better.

Ellen's Mayor Video-HCHS Film Festival 2010

Ellen's Mayor Video-HCHS Film Festival 2010 from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

Cell phone usage

Cell phone usage from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

Does cell phone usage in the hall ways really matter

Qwest Game- Boys Basketball

Qwest Game- Boys Basketball from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

In this video you will find a bunch of excited HCHS fans and also an interview with Coach Osborn. Enjoy!

Seniors Futures After Highschool

Seniors Futures After Highschool from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

This video shows what some senior students are planning on doing after high school. There is also a teacher's point of view on plans after high school.

Attention: Intervention!

Attention: Intervention! from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

The Harlan Tribune recently wrote an article on the increasing drug problem in Harlan, but what do the students think about all of this? Kelsey and Danielle interview Mr. Wagner and the general student population on whether this article was sensationalized or completely true. What do you think?

The unknown student

This video contains the new foreign exchange student. It shows what others think of him and how he is doing in our school.

The Unknown Student at HCHS from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

H1N1: Your Guide To Survival.

H1N1: Your Guide To Survival. from Chad Bruns on Vimeo.

This video is a short cover on the H1N1 virus, that is going around. Not all information may be 100% accurate, but it is to the best of the knowledge available.

The Best Year of High School By Emily Bierl

-Hanna Bissen and Danielle Hansen enjoying being seniors.

If you are a freshman and think that high school is never going to get better, then you thought wrong. Once you hit your senior year you will have a blast! We get so much freedom and so many privileges. I asked Hanna Bissen what she thought about senior year and she said, “I love being the top dog in school.” I also asked Joe Arentson what his opinion was and he stated, “I like budging in front of underclassmen in the lunch line.” In my opinion, I love getting to go home for lunch or going out to eat with friends. You have to make sure that you keep your grades up though, so you can have open campus.
Another plus about being a senior, is that you get front row seats at the games! If there are any underclassmen in your spot, you can make them move back a row. It’s nice to know that you set the tone for the school. I remember being a freshman and being pushed around, so it’s a nice change.
One disadvantage about being a senior, is that you have to plan for your future. Everyone begins to ask you what you have planned for the next year after high school. It’s very tough to make those huge decisions in such a short amount of time. It is really sad to know that you will be leaving all of your friends too. I’m excited, but yet scared at the same time.
So, even if you aren’t sure what you want to do in the future, take your time thinking about it and eventually something will come to you. Meanwhile, you can enjoy your last year of high school and make many memories, like I plan to do!

By: Emily Bierl