Monticello Middle School Times
Monticello’s 8th graders report on local, state, and national news.
Players Enraged at SWBL
Internet: a Powerful Thing
Monticello,Wi(PG)---Have you ever noticed
how you have to sit all day during SWBL
basketball tournaments? From the first
whistle to the final buzzer, your mind is on
the game, but afterwards, you are upset. If
you have, then you will know that you
waste a lot of money.
SWBL stands for Southern
Wisconsin Basketball League. Playing
basketball is fun, but when players have to
sit up to 3 hours between games it drains
your energy. At almost all tournaments
there are concession stands, but many
think that “they just want to make more
money.” One said, “When we want to eat
we just leave to go and eat somewhere
else.”
The SWBL claims that they will fix
the problem of sitting around by only
running one tournament at a time. That
would mean tournaments would be done
by noon, or not start until noon. Many
times players have to sit around or watch
an completely different age group. They try
to run 2-4 different tournaments at a time.
One player said, “I probably just
won’t play if they don’t fix the amount of
time wasted sitting around.” This is just
one player but many others agree.
All in all the SWBL is a good league for
youth to play in, but it is far from
Disneyland.​.
From pencil to laptops, what the real
problem is.
Picture above: a basketball
Monticello, WI (BH)-This world today has
came down to technology. Most of this
technology runs on the internet it needs.
Almost all schools have internet and most
homes do too. It is a big luxury to have
home internet. The prices can range from
$65 to about $110 dollars a month.
Some parents can not afford
this.”These prices are outrageous.” said
one furious father (Steve Hummel). This
would not be a problem if schools did not
make you have internet. The school and
the teachers can not depend on us to
have internet to do our homework. For
example, last year this reporter had to
have internet for social studies. It is like
the government saying you need a fence
around your pool, so kids don’t jump in
when they're not supposed too. Well if the
government is not going to pay for the
fence, everyone should not have to pay
for it. That is what it is like.
Another example is when this
reporter’s sister had to go to a resturant to
get internet.One might agree that this is a
problem but others might. This is a big
problem. Unless the school is going to pay
for the internet the internet. I am talking
from experience. So you are getting the
point of view from a kid who is going
through this. I know how hard it is just to
go up to a teacher and tell them that you
parents don’t have enough money for
internet. “ I might have to sell my organs
just to get enough money for internet.” one
father has said many times.
Now there isn’t just one side of an
argument. So I can see people saying well
it's not a huge deal to have internet. Then
its an excuse not to do homework. Well
that is somewhat true but it isn’t. I still
have to do my homework even if it s late.
Then if kids say it's not a big deal. Well
there not balancing their parents
checkbooks or even doing anything with
the family money so they don’t know what
it takes.
October 2016
Kids Go Crazy Without Bus
Discipline
Kids on buses have gone nuts with
the lack of discipline.
Monticello,
​
WI (NR) - Screaming, shouting, jumping
up and down on the seats. It smells of bubblegum
and sweat. The bus driver yells, “Sit down, we are
gonna go!” yet no one listens. The discipline on the
bus is not what it should be. The kids are rude,
disrespectful to the bus driver, and very loud. For
example, two kids on the chicken bus at Monticello
Schools, fit the bill of those things. They lick the
windows. Throw things. Move from seat to seat
constantly. Most of all, scream. At first, it seemed
that they were just excited and ready to go home.
But then, after the constant naughty behavior, the
bus driver began to realize that this is a serious
problem. This is not how kids should act, at school,
or at home. Teachers and school staff should do
something about it.
To begin with, the kids are very naughty on
the bus. They act like they are the victims of 9/11!
McKenna Pfeuti states her thoughts about the lack of
discipline on the bus, “It’s dumb. They misbehave
way too much, and the bus driver can’t do anything
because he is focusing on the road. They need to
learn that they have to sit forward, and they have to
be quiet. That way people can sleep or do
homework, like me,” Pfeuti says when asked about
how she feels about the badly behaved kids on the
bus.
Also, Harley Disch, a rider of the chicken
bus, says, “The way they behave interrupts the bus
driver and distracts him from driving which could
cause him to crash and injure other kids,” when
asked how she felt about the kids behavior.
Plus, Rylee Disch, age 13, says, “He doesn't
like that, and I’m willing to bet that he would like seat
belts on the bus,” when asked for her opinion about
what she thinks the bus driver, Larry Klassy, feels
about the behavior.
This is a major issue that should be
addressed in order to to keep our buses safe.
Misbehaving kids could cause serious injury to
themselves, the bus driver, and other kids on the
bus. This is not safe for anyone, and the staff needs
to do something about it. Whether it be security
cameras, or adults riding the bus to keep the kids in
line. Something needs to happen.
Therefore, the discipline on the buses
should be much better than what it is now. The kids
are rude, naughty, and disrespectful. All their bad
behavior could lead to an accident, and they could
hurt themselves and others. Discipline should be a
top priority because lives are at stake. What if
someone was hurt just because someone else is
being loud?
Monticello Middle
School Times Page 2
School Lunches Slimming Down
Music on the Bus or Not?
Should lunches at school be
longer and more filling?
Monticello, C.L.-​ In the U.S.,one of the
many issues in school lunches is they’re
not filling and not long enough lunches.
Students of Monticello schools also say
they aren’t filling. For example, Channing
Wenger of Monticello says,” No! the
lunches are not filling.” Rudy Wicker, class
of 2021, also agrees with Wenger, “No.” If
there is one thing the school could fix, it
would be the lunches. You don’t think of
going hungry when you think of school
lunches, but in reality most kids go hungry.
First, the lunches are not long
enough because people are rushing to eat
and most times people get stomach aches.
When people rush to eat, they don’t digest
properly and sometimes can’t think
properly. If kids can’t think properly then
they won’t learn or understand.
Second, lunches are not filling
because kids leave the lunchroom not full.
When preteens/teens are growing a lot
they tend to eat a lot. Not having filling
lunches is like the 1972 Andes flight
disaster when the plane crashed and
people starved and suffered. If they don’t
get enough food they won’t get the proper
nutrition.
I know from experience every day
that the lunches are not filling. Like one
time I was eating nachos at lunch, and
when I finished, I had thought someone
had stolen some of my food (because the
portion was so small) but I had actually
eaten it all myself.
This concludes that the lunches at
school are not filling and not long enough.
The lunches clearly need to be fixed. It
could be fixed by giving more food and
more time. Do you want kids to ​starve(to
suffer severely...) all day long during
school?
Does your bus driver play music on the bus?
Above: Chart upon biased journalists
Biased Journalists
Your opinion may have changed.
AH--Journalists aren’t always right, and sometimes
they do it on purpose. Biased journalists can change
your opinion. Some could even say it drains the whole
story’s point. Sometimes it seems those biased
journalists are working for a Mr. Burns. This happens
especially in politics where the journalist can take a
few words and change them up to say something
else. The good journalists are usually the ones you
give the news straight to you instead of editing it first
to manipulate your opinion. But sometimes certain
things can make it worse.
For example ”They stacked the deck against
Trump with Lester Holt's one-sided questions and
interventions. The Holt-Clinton team was glib,
articulate, and self-congratulatory. However, they
lost. The Intellectual Yet Idiot class that dominates
our news media fell all over themselves critiquing
Trump and praising Holt and Clinton. In doing so,
they repeated the mistake they have made about
every debate since August 2015.” This is one
example of a biased journalists.
Sometimes they even get bribed. Some
people might even take sources to sound reliable but
are actually fake. When bribed, they might even make
someone seem completely wrong or a bad person.
Yet some people think it’s alright since they can find
other articles, but some people can’t find other
articles for the same topic. It needs to be fixed.
It can be fixed but it’s least likely as this
happens so often and we may not know what actually
happened. For online articles, there could be a
flagging system for saying that it is fake but may be
abused. But for the actual newspaper there's not
much you can do.
Biased journalists are a problem that needs
to be fixed. Some people aren’t getting the true news.
Many opinions are changed from them and it makes it
more complicated. It makes it even more complicated
when sourcing. Imagine if you had an argument with
someone who read something biased.
Monticello, WI (ER)--From the small town of
Monticello, WI, the kids are debating like Rosa
Parks. Music on the bus, or no music on the bus
at all? If your bus driver does play music, you are
one of the lucky ones. Some bus drivers believe
that is it a ‘federal law’ that music can not be
played on the bus. To some, this makes sense,
but to others, this makes no sense at all. If it is a
‘federal law’, why is there a radio?
If you come across a train tracks, you can cut the
music and tell the children to be quiet, listen,
drive across, then turn the music back on. Is that
so hard? To some, this may be a yes. But to
others, this is one of the most simple tasks to to.
So what is your opinion? Should music be
allowed on the bus or should it be banned?
According to 8th grader Dixie Wettach, “ If there
is a radio on the bus, why wouldn't you play it?”
Above: This girl has fallen asleep on the bus
because she doesn't have anything else to do.
Monticello Middle
School Times Page 3
Problems with Not Being Able to
Play Music Freely Without
Headphones
Monticello, Wisconsin-(DW)--Local bus riders-- many
of you have complained about riding a bus without
music. It has not given the bus or the bus driver a
very good reputation. Events in the past illustrate
how this rule she has made is not necessary.
When you are riding the bus at 6:48 in the morning,
with the sun barely showing, bumpy back roads, no
one to talk to for 20 to 30 minutes, you are going to
want something to lighten your mood. So you bring
your own device that can play music. Since you are
still probably waking up, you might want to lean
against the window, so you don't put earbuds in to
save your ears from pain. Little did you know that as
soon as you don't turn the music down at a stop, you
are pretty much fed to the sharks. The bus driver will
make you put it away. Then, maybe the next day, you
think it would be a good idea to ask if the radio could
possibly get turned on for some music, but oh no,
there will not be any of that on the bus either.
Every time this reporter tries to play my music out
loud on the bus when it's just her and (8th grader
Emma Riese) who is in her class, it's the same thing
over and over again. “Turn it off; the other
passengers won't like it; it’s federal law to have no
music; it's a distraction,” from one Monticello bus
driver. The reporter’s friend Riese and her have also
asked this bus driver many times to turn the radio on.
Riese has said on multiple occasions that since “We
are the only ones in the back” for a bit “We should be
able to listen to whatever we want as long as it's
appropriate”, and that “If she can not handle a little
noise, she should not be a bus driver.”
Even Riese has brought a speaker on the bus many
times, and even though the only times the bus driver
can hear the music playing in the back is when we
are at a stop and haven't turned it down yet, she will
still make us shut it off. One student, however, is not
really affected by this change, and I value her opinion
even though I do not agree with it because she is one
of the few that deal with it rationally. Eleventh grade
student, Holly Emberson, said, “I don't like it when
the music is played, but I also do not like it that the
driver is telling us we can't.” Emberson does not like
listening to others’ music, but she doesn't like the fact
that we are no longer at liberty to play the music as
we please.
The older kids in the back of the bus are like Rosa
Parks… we are not ok with this no music rule, we will
stand our ground and play the music quiet and if
Wennesheimer keeps telling us that we can not play
it, we will have to result in other things, maybe not a
boycott, but we will keep our music.
Bullying
Seventh Grade Volleyball Favored
Friends or Bullies: people can’t see the different
between the two.
Monticello Middle School (K.T.)--The 7th grade
volleyball team gets favored. They might be the
younger ones, but they get favored way too much. It
is an issue because 8th graders at Monticello get
pushed extremely hard in practice and are expected
to do more than what they really can. While the
Monticello 7th graders get off really easy. They can
have so many mistakes and not know what they are
doing and still not get punished.
Often times, when 8th graders scrimmage
against the 7th graders, it is unfair. If 8th graders let
the ball hit the ground, they are punished. But if the
7th graders let the ball hit the ground, nothing
happens. Serve...it’s over. 8th grade has no
communication. The ball then continues to hit the
ground. So when the ball hits the ground, it results in
more running and yelling.
Beyond that the, 8th grade gets punished by
having to run laps around the gym. Mackie Errthum
(13) said, “It’s not fair that we have to run and that
the 7th graders just sit there and watch us and
laugh.”
From the first serve that the, 8th grade has
to the last time they hit the ball…trouble, trouble,
trouble. If the 8th grade does something right or we
get a point, it's like the beginning of a Disney movie
with the big castle. Kaelyn Thoman (13) said, “I wish
that we are all treated fairly and that 7th grade had
to be punished just like us.” But if 8th grade doesn’t
do something right or get the point, it's like getting hit
in the face with a baseball from the movie Sandlot.
Therefore, the 8th grade and 7th grade have
two completely opposite practices. The coaches
need to work on fairness between grades. Everyone
needs to put in all their effort and try. The coaches
also need to put more effort in on making things
even. This should be changed as soon as possible.
Everyone from start to finish should be treated fairly.
United States (HD)--Friends are for picking you up
when you are down, not talking behind your back or
ditching you because they have “better things to do.”
True friends don’t do that. They stay with you though
everything in life.
Every time I look around. I see people laughing.
Talking together. Then I see kids with no friends
sitting by nobody at lunch. Because no one wants to
sit by them because they might be weird or they
stutter.
Davon, 16, from East High School, was bullied by
his best friend all the way through high school. They
were best friends in middle school, but when they
went to a high schooler they stopped hanging out
with each other. Davon became the “loner” of his
class, so everybody started to pick on him. Davon
had no social life because his ex-best friend made it
his job to torment Davon.
Above: Someone being bullied.
Jonathan, from Nicolet High School, like many other
kids, was bullied by his friends. He was a little
overweight. People started calling him names and
he thought his friends would help him, but they left
him. All of his friends joined in on the bullying.
Jonathan finally realized they were never his friends
in the first place.
Backstabbing friends is getting more common
because people don’t like hanging with their normal
friends. So they stop hanging with them, and they
pick a new friend group. Then they will start to bully
their old friends. They are like hunters picking their
target and going for it.
Picture this.What if the bullies are forced to act like
they do? People might not want to bully people, but
they are blackmailed into bullying people.
In reality, kids are getting bullied daily. Nobody
comes forward. Nobody helps them when they need
it. Help stop bullying. Make the world a better place.
We can make a change in our teams.
Police Misunderstood
A police officer is there to protect; that’s his/her job.
When they have to get interviewed because of the
incident, many people think it’s their fault, but there
are also some who believe they’re totally innocent.
Monticello Middle School Times
Page 4
United States (ME)- In today's world there is violence,
harassment, and much more. This influences more
bad habits throughout other people. Most of the time,
the people who have to deal with these circumstances
are the police officers. You may think that the cops
are always the bad guys, but why? If you think this,
there are some things you need to know. When a
news channel covers the story, chances are that they
don’t cover all of it. Therefore, it is a one-sided story,
and you don’t hear what the officers have to say.
When a white police officer pulls out a gun to a black
man, it is more than likely considered “racist”. Many
think that nobody should be getting shot no matter
what. However, police officers are in danger in many
cases too. For example, there was a homeless African
American man who was illegally camping. The man
had a knife in each hand and refused to drop them. He
started walking towards the officers saying,” Don’t
worry about safety I’m not a... murderer. Eh?” They
had told the man to stop walking but he didn’t, so they
shot the man with a beanbag. They told the man to get
down, however, he didn’t start going down or
anything.
They released a K9, but he hit the dog in the nose and
kept pushing it away. The fight was like an elephant
versus a chipmunk, you knew who would win. The K9
officer grabbed the dog so it wouldn’t get stabbed.
They continued telling the man to get down on the
ground, but the man still refused.
With knives in his hands, the K9 was useless, and the
African American man wasn’t listening to orders, the
officers decided they had no other choice besides to
shoot the man. On news channels that covered the
story, they’d said many things like, “this scenario was
blown completely out of proportion…” Although this
may be true in some scenarios, nothing has stated
that he had a knife in each hand.
Should bears be let in Green County? Bears
have been in Northern Wisconsin forever. They
have never been in Green County. The DNR have
now changed that by letting bears in Green
County.
Wisconsin (HLD) - From the first bear in Wisconsin,
to the first bear in Green County. The farmers in
Green County now has to worry about if their cows
are going to be attacked. For a couple of weeks now,
the DNR have been letting bears around southern
Wisconsin. Mind you, there have never been bears
down in Southern Wisconsin, but there have been
reports of a sighting before.
Above: Cockroft’s cow that got attacked
On the date of September 21, there was a report of a bear seen on EE in Albany,
Wisconsin. The next day on September 22, Mike Cockroft, of Monticello, had two cows
attacked by a bear. He told 15 news that one of the cows will live and the other will be a
long shot.
Dairy farmers don’t just have to worry about the terrible milk price and how much they're
going to make in the next month. They now have to worry about if their cows are going to
be attacked. Natalie Roe,13, says,”I think that it is not vary fair of the DNR to let bears in
Green County, because the milk prices are already low, and if farmers lose cattle that's
less money on their end.” Kaelyn Thoman, 13, says,”It’s nice that they have a controlled
population, but it’s not nice when the put it by farmland.”
The DNR are not only ruining farmers wonderful paychecks. They’re hurting one of their
only investments. Farmers spend a lifetime building and constructing a high quality farm,
and for the DNR to start letting Bears in Green County: a farm county, is not right.
Farmers can put insurance on cattle, but farmers don’t want to spend their money on
cattle insurance. They want to spend it on tractors or more importantly, feed. If the DNR
didn’t let the bears down in Green County, farmers wouldn’t have to worry about having
Even though their K9 was useless, the man had two
cow insurance. Although letting the bears in Green County is a bad thing for the
knives in his hands, and was refusing all orders, since
farmers,the DNR are just trying to spread the population throughout Wisconsin. The DNR
the man was shot it’s still the officer’s fault? It was
letting the bears in Green County is like the 3 Stooges trying to fix a bell on the church.
like September 11th, everyone was blaming others
and looking for answers.
Although, not all officer stories have to do with
racism. Such as, when a man was in his house. It’s
surround by officers. The man was holding a machete.
He was threatening the officers. The officers tried to
get into the house, but the suspect would run to the
door and make sure they wouldn’t get into the house.
The officer with the camera tells the man, “Put down
the weapons and come outside okay? You need to
come outside.”
The man
attempts
to
barricade
the door
with a
couple of
pillows.
While the
man was showing off his skills with a machete
through the windows, the officers broke the door
down and released a K9. The man pushed the K9 away
almost hit it with the machete. He started coming
towards the door with the machete in his hand, so the
officers shot the man. The officers had to get
interviewed for the incident, however,
was it really their fault? Or were they in
danger too?
From the moment they put their duty belt on and feel
the
weight of it, to the moment they take it off and drop it
on the floor, just remember that they want to go home
to their families at the end of the day too.
The DNR have now worried the farmers of Green County. Farmers are wondering, should
I be keeping my cattle inside?Should I build my fences higher? All things farmers
shouldn’t have to worry about. If a bear does attack another cow, farmers will really
consider paying the extra expense, to keep the bears away from their cattle.
Bus Drivers Will Not Play Music On The Buses
Two bus drivers at Monticello WI will not play any music on the buses.
Monticello Public Schools (RD) - There are two bus drivers that have been driving bus for a few years now,
and they will not play music on the bus. There were a few students that asked “can you turn on the radio”.
“No, it's a federal law,” says one driver. But the students looked up the federal laws on the bus and there is
no federal law that says no music. All bus drivers should play music on their bus, because it entertains the
students, and students can wake up in the morning and like having to ride the bus. Riding the bus with no
music is like being with no power. But some bus drivers will not play music and that is unfair to the students.
The first reason why is because students on the bus complain everyday that there is no music on the bus.
Harley Disch (13) says, “It’s great and it takes kids’ minds off school.” Disch rides a bus with music, and she
is glad she doesn’t have to ride a non-music bus. “Bus rides are meant for a quiet peaceful ride home while
listening to music and talking with your friends,” says Rylee Disch (13). “The best memories was when you
would sit on the bus and talk with your friends and jam out with some good music,” says Mackie Errthum
(14) Errthum rides a bus with no music, and she doesn’t like it. The students get irritated with no music on
the bus, and they just get loud and annoying. Then they get yelled at by their bus drivers.
In conclusion, these students just want to have a good childhood and grow up having those memories with
their friends. But all they can hear is “cricket cricket”. So then when their kids ask about what they did on the
bus the students could say I hung out with my friends, played roly poly, and jammed out with music. But they
will not be able to say that, because they can’t listen to music and won’t be able to make those memories
with their friends. This is why all the buses should have music on the bus.
Music on the Bus
Students can’t listen to music on 2 school
buses at Monticello Public Schools.
MONTICELLO (AH) -Students that ride two
of the buses at Monticello Public Schools
are in for a rude awakening.They have no
idea what they are in for. There will be no
music on the bus. Two bus drivers say that
it is a federal law that you can not play
music on the school bus. Meanwhile, other
bus drivers at Monticello are a different
story.
It was as quiet as Jerry from​ Tom and Jerry​.
“ Cricket Cricket” is what the students of
bus 2 and 4 hear. Bump.. Boom.. Shout..
Some students at Monticello Middle School
have to suffer with this tragedy. Alyssa
Holcomb, an 8th grader, walks out of school
after a long day. She is ready to get on the
bus and listen to her favorite songs. “Can
you turn the radio on?” Cassie Schenkel
says. “He doesn’t let us listen to music
anymore.” While Harley Disch, another 8th
grade student who rides a bus that allows
music says, “I’m glad I don’t ride their bus.”
Holcomb is glad she gets off within the first
10 minutes.
Every time Wettach gets off the bus she is
relieved that she had survived another trip.
Reporters have talked to Holcomb. She rode
Jill’s bus to a sport event. She gets on the
bus ready to have a good time, and there
was complete silence. She sat in a seat
alone with no music to sing to. She looked
out the window wondering if she should
have ever went on this game.
One driver thinks there is a law that says
you can not listen to music on the bus. He
had told this news to another driver, but it
was false information.
In conclusion, the need to say that
appropriate music is a federal law to play on
a bus is unneeded. If it was a federal law
wouldn’t the 2 other buses not play music?
Wouldn’t they be yelled at? Fired? They
would be breaking laws.
Picture: Students sit on bus bored
Monticello
Middle School
Times Page 5
Online Bullying Causes Kids to
Feel Worthless
How would people react to the internet if
they saw some of the comments that
teenagers post every day?
United States (AC)- A big issue in America,
and even the world, is bullying online. In
fact, “more than 1 in 3 young people have
experienced cyberthreats online”
(bullyingstatistics.org). The internet is a
scary place when teens and young adults
rule it. It’s like the Voegeli-Newcomer
Funeral Home; people dying in some way
and other people mourning them. Some
people turn into bullies online even if they
are not a bully in real life because they know
that the person they’re bullying does not
know it’s them.
In the first place, some think that
tyrannizing is ok since it can “toughen up
kids,” but it can also destroy a child’s self
esteem. Kids on the internet have been told
many bad things, such as they should
“commit” or “drink chemicals.” Some kids
already have a rough home life and if they
are told these things, they may actually do
it. This is a major problem especially if the
kid has a mental disease as they most likely
will listen to the comments. Kids have also
been told they’re worthless or they can’t do
anything which can easily ruin a kids’
self-esteem.
This same problem has happened to
Cassidee Siegenthaler, an 8th grader at
Monticello Middle School, says, while she
was bawling, “Two boys kept commenting
on my photo. One told me to stick a straw in
a clorox bottle and drink it and one told me
to commit.” Siegenthaler responded back to
these comments, defending herself and she
soon deleted the comments. Thankfully,
Siegenthaler ignored what the two boys said
and went on with her life.
Also, a girl, 14, tried committing
suicide with pills. She texted her best friend,
Anyka Swanson, 13, with this text, “Bye. I’m
killing myself. This is the second time on
this website someone has told me to kill
myself. So I just want to say bye.” Swanson,
shocked, texted her back, saying that she
was worth it and should stay. A few days
later, the girl texted her back and said she
was fine and got help. This happened on a
website called Wattpad, a place where
normal people can publish their books
online and even make them into real books.
The girl was told she should kill herself
because her writing apparently “wasn’t
good enough for this website.”
In conclusion, online bullying is one
of the biggest problems in the social world.
This is a problem that only the people on the
internet can solve. People should always
remember that their words are more
powerful than actions and some people will
take what they say and do it. Of course
bullying is real; we’re all dealing with this
ever-lasting problem that needs to stop. It
all depends on the next person who logs on
to the website.
Cops Being Misunderstood
Shooting at Tulsa, OK:
UNITED STATES (RW)- A black man was
fatally shot by a white Tulsa, Oklahoma,
cop. This is essential, because lots and
lots of people are starting to have
animosity for cops. Cops are here to do
their job and protect others. The man did
not follow orders, and he continued
walking back to his car. If you don’t want
to get shot, listen to the cops.
People think that cops are racist
and horrible, but cops are doing their
job, and if the people actually listened to
the cops, they would live. According to
the video of the four cops surrounding
the man at his vehicle, one of the cops
tasered him, then Betty Shelby(police
officer) shot the man dead. First off, why
did one of the cops tase him, and then
why did the other cop shoot him? Well,
apparently, the man was standing by his
car, and lowered his hands. The cops
had no idea why he lowered his hands,
he could have been reaching for a gun.
The cops then tasered him, and shot
him.
Meanwhile, people soon received
word. Riots broke out. Protests were
happening. It was like the New York Draft
riots on July 13, 1863. One of the
residents Mark Whited, who was one of
the protesters, said “More should be
done to “bridge the mistrusts” between
police and citizens.” According to Scott
Wood, “She’s afraid he could have a gun
in his pocket. He’s got very loose
clothing on. So she draws her gun on
him and says, ‘Sir I want you to get down
on your knees, get down on your knees’
He refuses that command.” People like
to jump to conclusions, if a white cop
shoots a black man dead, the cop must
be racist.
In reality, they are just trying to
protect others, and do their job. People
are saying,”Black lives matter.” but all
lives matter, and if you don’t listen to a
cop's A
​ bove: Terence Crutcher at his car
orders, or you pose a threat, they have
every right to shoot you. You hate them.
You disrespect them. You hurt them, but
they will be there when you need them.
DNR: Helpful or Not?
Monticello (TF)- To your first animal to your last,
should you even let your pets out at night
anymore like you used to or maybe still do? The
DNR has been bringing down animals that do not
belong in Southern Wisconsin from Northern
Wisconsin, animals such as bear, wolves, and
mountain lions.
On 9/20/16, on a very starry night, Mike
Cockroft’s two cows were attacked by a wild
animal. One ended up dead, and the other one is
in very bad condition having to be babied. This
cow probably won’t make it. It could be worse,; if
it happened to your little puppy maybe it
wouldn't even come back. What if it's your
child's pet? Evidence shows by the way the
attacks were done, they could not have been
coyotes or a dog, they had to be something like
a bear or a wolf.
Cockroft said, “It was either a bear or a
cougar in my book, but no dog is going to make
that happen”. The DNR have said in situations
before, “we do not have bears or cougars down
here so it had to be a dog or a coyote”.
Some think that the DNR makes good
decisions while others do not.
Social Media Problems
​What do you think about bullying?
United States (AS)-You have to be prepared about many
social media problems in today’s world. There are many
social media problems in the world today. An example is
people start fights and telling people to kill her/himself or eat
poisonous foods/drinks. They are telling them to kill
themselves in a more mean tone. This reporter has seen a
movie called ​Cyberbully​, (based on a true story) and it was
about a girl who got harassed by her friend and other people
who were sending mean things to her. Her friend took it to a
new level and made a fake account.
I have a friend who moved to a different school
because her family was getting harassed. She posted a
picture on instagram (social media website) and her friend
who she was really close with started assaulting by calling
her names and telling her to drink bleach and do other mean
things other. It was just like September 11. There was an
outrage on Instagram. Then his friends got in on it and it
made it worse for her. If you have a bestfriend who you think
is a best friend from a different school and you don't really
know them then think twice of they start being mean to you.
Another cyberbullying act is about a daughter and
parents. This girl’s parents didn’t like her. One day they
made up a fake Facebook account and started harassing
their daughter and called her names and then people started
to get into it and it became a bigger deal and she killed
herself. Her parents got into trouble and went to jail.
Monticello High School student, Cierra Kruger (14)
says, “I think that people who cyberbully are cowards
because they can’t say the rude statements to their victims
face. If they really think they are better than that person, they
should be able to come out and say whatever they want to
say and not hide it behind a computer or a phone screen.
Cyber bullies are weak and probably will go nowhere in life
because they are most likely afraid to say stuff out loud.”
Some seemed to think that boys will be boys and to
grow up and get over it, but others say like this reporter
personally thinks that cyberbullying is mean and obnoxious.
People feel like they are worthless and thinks nobody likes
them.
If you have a best friend who you think is a best
friend from a different school and you don't really know them
then think twice if they start being mean to you.
Cyberbullying can lead to bad thing and sometimes it isn’t
that bad but other times it is. You think you are the better
than anyone else until you start cyberbullying and then that
person dies. Then who is the bigger and
better person? Think twice before you do bad things.
Picture: It could
be her best
friend
behind the
screen.
Monticello
Middle
School
Times
Page 6
North Korea and Its Problems
We all know about this place, but here are some of the
problems it makes, to sum up.
North Korea, LV-​ North Korea has been a
problem and there has been tension and people being
upset, even war threats in the past time. It seems like
things will never be resolved, especially with what they
are trying to make.
This country has been trying to make nuclear
bombs. So far it hasn’t been successful. They are working
out problems each time they try, which isn’t good and
means that they will soon be able to get one right and
correct. When they do get them to work, they may try to
aim for us.
Above: A map of North Korea and its neighboring countries.
The United States of America also should be more
careful, though they have all that protection on the borders.
They keep stepping on boundaries and such, like children who
keep trespassing on others’ properties, and this could make
bad things happen. Though this seems like a bleak situation,
they have tried to become better friends with South Korea so
they can work together to stop them. ​“The United States and
[South Korea] are taking actions every day to strengthen our
alliance and respond to North Korea’s continued aggressive
behavior,” General Vincent Brooks said, he is a commander of
the US forces in Korea. They are trying to protect and improve
the situation.
Hopefully they may make up and things will get better,
because things are getting farther and farther into chaos.
Teachers Concealed Carry
Monticello, Wisconsin (MM)--The safety of schools is important.
Teachers should have a concealed carry to protect the kids of schools across
the United States and anyone that is in danger’s way. If there was a school
shooting, teachers that have conceal and carry permits would not have to wait
for police to respond to the shooting to help protect the innocent lives in the
schools, and the chances of the people getting out of the school uninjured are
greatly improved. Picture Injuries and deaths being reduced as well.
For instance, in the Sandy Hook shooting on December 12, 2014, a
gunman took 28 lives, 22 were kids ages 6 through 7 and six were adults. It
took two minutes and forty-one seconds from the first radio call until the first
police officer arrived at the Sandy Hook School for assistance. When the police
finally got there the gunman pulled a handgun on himself and took his own life.
In two minutes and forty-one seconds, if the teachers had guns ask yourself,
how many lives do you think they may have been able to save? One life would
have been worth it!
Understandably, not all parents will support the decision to have
teachers in schools with guns. There would need to be special training,and
only certain teachers would be selected. background checks would be
completed, and all guns would be securely locked in a lock boxes. These
solutions may still not be enough for parents who have had bad experiences
with guns such as injuries or deaths in their families and may not change their
minds. Safer schools for our students must be obtained through things like
locking all doors, visitor surveillance, security systems, video surveillance,
metal detectors, and even security officers.
Some people seemed to think guns
are bad in school, but overall
maintaining school safety is a
priority that we all must respect.
School should feel like home, not
feel like you’re in a stranger's home.
One can see how a teacher having a
gun can help to protect the people in
the school and get them out safely.
On the other side of this we can also
see that there may be difficulty
getting parents to buy into using
guns in schools for protection. We are then left with
maintaining protection of our schools with any means that we
can.
Bullying
Bullying affects lives every day
Monticello (C.S) -Bullying happens in schools
everyday, but it should be stopped. Students and
adults get bullied everyday in school. Bullying
hurts students and teachers feeling. The bullying
that is taking place is anything from hitting, or
kicking, to calling others names or making fun of
them. It gets so serious that people take their
own lives over it. As citizens of the community,
we need to help put a stop to bullying. Kids all
over the world are sharing their stories in hopes
to get bullying to stop. Kids shouldn’t have to
feel like they are walking on eggshells everyday.
Daven is a boy who shared his story about being
bullied in school. Daily he would get punched,
flicked, and even get called ugly and stupid. Like
Daven, many kids get picked on every day. Like
Daven, as a community, we need to stand up.
Stand up to the bullies out there that think it is
ok to hurt others.
Liz, a 39 year old teacher, said, “I was pushed
against the wall.” ​ ​ This isn’t just an issue that
has come up in the recent years. It has been
around for many years. Liz stated that it was an
issue when she was in school, but it wasn’t
brought to the public until recent years.
Imagine this, a 5th grade boy sitting in class and
having books thrown at him, his property being
ruined, or being called names other than his own
and the teacher not doing anything about it. If
this happens regularly and no one does anything
about it, this student will start to feel worthless.
No one should have to go through this and those
that never have won’t understand.
In the end, we as a community need to come
together to stop bullying. People like Liz and
Daven should not have to put up with bullies
every day. By making more people aware of the
harm bullying does, there will be more that is
done about it.
Monticello
Middle
School
Times
Page 7
Kids are Cruel
Monticello, LB- You may notice that at most schools
there are bullying issues. In the Monticello Middle School, there
is a big problem about bullying. The kids in the eighth grade
class are cruel to each other. Two eighth grade boys fight in
every class and some kids call others hurtful names. This is
important because bullying is a huge problem in the U.S and
name-calling is the beginning of bullying.
These two boys fight in every class. They call each
other names, hit each other, argue non-stop and blame each
other for not doing anything, they’re like the Hatfield’s and
McCoy’s. These two aren’t the only two that fight.
Picture two wolves fighting for territory in the forest.
That exactly how other eighth grade boys act during some
classes. They fight during gym class. They tackle each other.
They also get way too touchy with one another. This may seem
like only a few boys are the problem, but it's not always one
person’s fault.
The other way kids are cruel is they call each other
names. “You idiot,” said one eighth grade boy to another.
Although they joke around, not everyone is joking. “You're a
moron,” “You are stupid,” are other things that other students
say to each other daily and they mean it. Some kids might be
joking when they say that, but sometimes it can be taken
seriously.
In conclusion, kids right now are cruel at some schools.
It can easily be changed if we would just not say anything if all
we want to say is unkind. Picture this, if a substitute teacher is
supposed to write a letter to the original teacher on the class’
behavior, and two or three students being mean to one another,
the substitute will probably write that the class was bad. That
explains why being mean to someone could lead to possible
punishments. It could also make the whole class look mean.
Bullying: a Major Problem
​ ROUND THE WORLD (CS)-Bullying is a huge problem around the world. In every school,
A
someone gets bullied. Bullying is like The Voegeli-Newcomer Funeral Home. In some schools, bullying is
more common than in other schools. It affects everyone differently, especially if they have had something
big happen to them before and also if they have a hard life at home. There are different types of bullying. If it
happens over social media or through the internet it is considered cyberbullying. It can also happen in
person, for example in school or a public place. Some kids commit to what people tell them to do and that
needs to stop. Others think that bullying is ok and that it is not a problem. Some people see that there is no
harm in kids getting bullied and that it is ok to tell them to do things and for them to commit, but most people
think it is a problem and that it needs to be fixed.
An eighth grade girl, who goes to Monticello Public School, got bullied over social media which is
called cyberbullying. This was happening on the app called Instagram. People commented on the post
saying, “Put a straw in the clorox container.” They also told her, “To get into some chemical under the sink
bi***.” She told them, “I am honestly thinking about it.” There was only one guy who was saying everything,
and the other guy was telling him that she doesn’t need to hear the truth. Then the guy that was trying to get
the other guy to stop apologized to her multiple times and Siegenthaler said, “Thank you, but you didn’t say
it.” He kept apologizing to her.
Another eighth grade girl that goes to Monticello Schools also got bullied. A boy in her class started
to say things like, “You know you don’t do anything for any team, right?” That really hurt her feelings, and
she tried talking to a teacher. The teacher didn’t do anything for her, and she didn't feel so good. This has
been going on for a while by this point in time. She ended up going to the principal and he did something for
her. The other eighth grade girl has gone to the principal about bullying that was going on in school. The one
teacher did something but the principal didn’t do anything.
Monticello Middle
School Times
Page 8
Bullying in the U.S.
Monticello Locals Are Done with the Park Bathrooms
Local Monticello residents who visit the Monticello’s park are becoming frustrated with
the bathrooms there.
MONTICELLO WI (CF) You enter the bathroom, take a whiff of the air. You feel like you
are about to faint. The air reeks of human waste. The floor is broken up and there are
holes filled with gravel. Urinals are gross and the toilets are crusty. You don’t want to go
to the bathroom but you have to. You would've used another bathroom but there aren't
any more beside the port-o-potties, and the port-o-potties are just as bad as the park
bathroom. People do not want to deal with this any more and change needs to happen.
It's like going to the bathroom in the outhouse on Shrek's Swamp.
The problem is that there is not enough bathrooms and they are not very nice. Change
needs to happen, because the community members of Monticello are not saving money
by not fixing this problem. Its also a inconvenience for the people who do hang out at the
park. No matter what we do this is a problem that should be fixed in Monticello.
The first issue about Monticello’s park bathroom is there isn’t enough restrooms, and
they have to pay for port-o-potties every year for homecoming and other events. Also, no
Tulsa, Oklahoma​ (SS)--Should there be a law
one wants to use the main bathroom because it can be a long walk if you are at the rides,
protecting kids and teens from getting cyberbullied? In or watching mud volleyball, baseball/softball, and even when you are at the food court or
schools it is happening every day. Is there is
shelter. This is an issue that should be changed because in the matter of years we will
something we can do like create a law for bullying?
have spent the same amount on port-o-potties as what it will cost to fix or build new
Cyberbullying is a big thing because kids have access
bathrooms. A quote from a Monticello local, Lucas Heiser, said, ”I think that there should
to social media. Kids and teens have Facebook,
definitely be more bathrooms in the park for convenience.” Things they should do to fix
Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr, Linkedin,
the problem is build a bathroom near the shelter.
Google plus, Youtube and Pinterest . A lot of kids
Above: Isis Brown, a girl who was bullied.
get bullied every day face to face or online. From the
first word it gets worse. Bullying is like Billy the Bully,
a kids bag.
One 7th grade student was horribly bullied.
All because her. Name is Isis, which is the same as a
terrorist group, but the name actually means beautiful,
lovely, and kind.
In one of the articles, it talked about another
teenager who killed herself because of cyberbullying.
She took a photo and said “I love this place and I’m
never going to leave it” her sister thought that was
extremely weird. On Sunday, she killed herself there.
Her dad found her.
Unlike this teen Isis did not let the bullying get
the best of
her. Instead she found a passion DJing. She even
has her own website.She came out of bullying strong
and beautiful.
People often think bullying kids go through is
fine because they will get over it. No one knows for
sure why kids bullying? It is worse than when your
parents got bullying. This reporter with the side that
we should act when are getting bullied.
Drama on the Busses
The second problem is that the only bathroom we have plus the port-o-potties are small
and disgusting. That is a problem because even though we have a bathroom no one
wants to use it. For example, one time a minor, whose name we can’t say, urinated all
over the sinks, urinals, toilets, and floor in the boys restroom. After that, who would to go
to the bathroom there. It needs to be fixed or cleaned up and then people will use the
bathroom more. I asked another Monticello local by the name of Rudy Wicker, about the
park bathroom, and this was his response, “I would use the bathrooms more often but
they are gross and I only go if it is an emergency”.
One thing the Monticello community should do is to have a fundraiser to spruce up the
main bathroom. Because even though people use it they definitely don't like it. It wouldn’t
even cost that much. Maybe a fresh coat of paint, and new or cleaner floors. New or more
urinals and toilets.
Over all, it wouldn’t be to hard to do. Community members or volunteers could come and
help make it better. It's an issue that should be fixed in the oncoming years. Although
others may disagree and say that the bathrooms do not need to be fixed. They are
usable, but it's partially destroyed, gross, smelly, and small. The floors could also be
considered a safety hazard. It would make homecoming a more enjoyable experience and
make Monticello a nicer town. I personally think it would make the park look nicer and
bring in more visitors as well. It would also help us save money in the future. Don’t be
afraid to take action in your town. If there is a problem you want to be fixed, fix it.
Seaweed at the Lake
(Monticello)-MP---Students- many of us have
complained about the drama on the bus. The truth is that
screaming, crying, swearing, and talking about your latest
relationship heartbreak is not the solution to all your problems. It’s
like a battle, but all you hear is the drama.
The buses are meant to get the kids home and and pick
them up in the morning and get them safely to school, not to pass
along drama and kick and hit people, or talk about their personal
relationships.
Everytime I get on the bus to go home or to go to
school, there's always some kind of problem. Relationships/
heartbreak. Hitting. Kicking. Talking really loud. One time i
remember a girl was talking about her latest heartbreak . It was a
very long story and it took the whole 2 hour bus ride. A fellow bus
rider, Kaelyn Thoman, 13, also notices this theme on the buses.
“It’s annoying, and sometimes little kids don’t shut up. I would
rather have the bus quiet and the little kids up front where they're
supposed to be and not in back with all the middle and high
schoolers.”
Some will think that drama is an everyday part of life,
but others like, Thoman and many other bus riders, are annoyed
of the little kids, the drama, and the personal
relationship/heartbreak talk. Emma Riese, 13, another bus rider
says, “I don't like it.”
The bus needs to be drama free. Kids who ride the bus
hopefully will think about what they talk about. Their drama and
relationships should be kept to themselves.
There are too many weeds at the lake and bait fish:
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP(OA)-Lake Montesian in Monticello,Wisconsin, is a nice place to fish at the right
time, but in the summer, when local school boy Owen Ace has time to get to the lake, he sees too many weeds, and
it covers half of the lake. According to Lucas Heiser, 13, “There are a lot of weeds and it gets in the way of fishing for
fisherman.”A lot of people say that the weeds can be good cover for some fish, but sometimes it would be a superior
to fish with less weeds.
For example on Wednesday, September 28, 2016, Ace was fishing at the lake when he felt a tough on a lure and
yanked on it and the lure came of the weeds had got a hold of it and it snapped off. Some folks say it was a bad spot
in the line. Others say it was just a bad knot tied by Ace. According to Heiser, “Owen’s knot was poorly tied.”
During the summer of June 2016, there was a whole mat of thick weeds covering about half of the lake. You might
already know, but there are some spots that may not have weeds but sometimes things you can't see can mess you
up the most.
Therefore, people such as Cade Femrite, 13, say, “It depends on if you want to catch fish or big fish”. Femrite says
“There are a lot of bait fish in there but, if you fish it right you will catch them all the time”. From your first cast to your
last, don't give up at fishing at the lake. Just try to improve it every day. The first fish you catch can be like the first
time you visit the castle at Disney World-the best feeling you can ever have.