November 1, 2019
Focus Factor
ABMD vendors showcase talent, variety
By Abby Bray
Apple Butter Makin’ Days, which has just marked its fifty-third anniversary, marks the beginning of the fall season for Lawrence County. Festival-goers can count on several regular venders and attractions, but lately there have been some new things to see at ABMD, too.
The Glass Artisan
The glass artisan is one of the biggest attractions of Apple Butter Makin’ Days. Craig Doss has been creating glass art for 13 years and has been selling his creations at Apple Butter Makin’ Days for eight years. He doesn’t have to travel far to sell his art. He lives in Strafford, Missouri, a mere 45-minute drive east on I-44, and uses his ABMD earnings to invest in more glass to continue his incredible creations. His main goal is to retire.
Hayward's Beef Jerky
Hayward’s Beef Jerky is a father-son business from Stockton, Missouri. Carson Hayward, son of Randy Hayward, inherited the family business to continue the tradition of selling beef jerky. Randy has been making jerky for over 35 years and Carson has been doing it for 20 years. Their main goal is to sell a lot of beef jerky and have fun. They prepare the jerky by slicing the meat, marinating it, and then dehydrating it for three hours before packaging it.
Great Guns
Great Guns, in business for the past 30 years, was founded by Rick Oxford, who has been selling at ABMD for eight to ten years. Rick is from Central, Missouri about 130 miles from Mt.Vernon, so he travels a little ways to get here to sell the marvelous guns he creates.
Out of Our Element
US politics heat up as crises strike around the world
by Laurel Mishevski
Last month, the House of Representatives launched an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump in response to an anonymous whistleblower complaint regarding a phone call President Trump had with the newly elected President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.
The complaint detailed that the whistleblower had concerns that a quid pro quo was taking place between the US and Ukraine. What it boiled down to was that Trump allegedly wanted dirt on Hunter Biden, the son of one of the frontrunners in the Democratic Presidential primary, and that he would not give Ukraine roughly $40 million in military aid that Congress had already approved until he had that information. The intel Trump supposedly wanted had to do investigations by the Ukraine Government into a Ukrainian company Hunter Biden was on the board of.
There have been several developments and testimonies over the last month, including a release of the transcript of the call and testimonies from top Ukraine diplomats. One official, Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vindman, listened in on the Ukraine call, and said he was alarmed that key details were missing from the transcript that the White House released. He testified that he tried and failed several times to add those key details to the rough transcript. One of those was President’s Trump’s assertion that there were recordings of Joe Biden, Hunter Biden’s father, discussing Ukraine. Another detail left out was President Zelensky mentioning the company Hunter Biden was a part of by name.
There are several other major developments in the impeachment story, but due to time constraints the Green and White Review is unable to cover them all at this time.
#
House Representative Elijah Cummings, representative of Maryland’s 7th Congressional District, died on October 17, 2019, at the age of 68. He reportedly passed away at 2:45 a.m. from complications associated with long-term health issues.
#
Nevada is fighting to keep so-called “zombie deer” out of the state. The condition is caused by Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), and according to the Nevada Department of Wildlife’s website, “it is always fatal to animals in the deer family.” That includes all species of deer, elk, and moose. It is currently found in 25 states and 3 Canadian provinces. Nevada is not one of those states, and they plan to keep it that way.
Chronic Wasting Disease is caused by the type of infectious agent known as a prion. A prion is an abnormal form of cellular protein that specializes in neurological diseases. CWD in particular causes the infected animal’s brain to degenerate heavily. This causes emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions, and eventually death.
The symptoms of CWD can take anywhere from six months to four years to manifest as the disease often takes that long to incubate. That long incubation period makes it difficult to determine whether or not an animal has CWD until after they die.
According to cwd-info.org, “animals with CWD show no visible, outward symptoms of the disease for all but the last few months of the disease’s cycle.” This means the infected creature is virtually indistinguishable from a healthy one.
Because of the long incubation period, it is likely an infected animal will be killed by something else, like a car or a hunter, before they start showing symptoms. This makes CWD incredibly hard to detect, as there is often no reason to suspect a piece of roadkill is carrying the disease.
CWD is also extremely infectious, even before the animal starts showing symptoms. An infected animal can pass on the prions to other animals long before it dies.
On top of that, the only way to be sure that an animal contracted CWD is to examine their brain, tonsils, or lymph nodes post-mortem. This involves testing for spongy brain structure and prion proteins in the brain, among other tests.
In May, Nevada passed legislation as part of an effort to prevent CWD spreading from neighboring states Colorado and Utah, both of which are CWD positive. It is now unlawful for anyone to knowingly transport certain parts of deer, moose, elk, or related animal carcasses obtained from outside of Nevada.
During the 2019 deer hunting season, state wildlife officials urged hunters to bring their carcasses to mobile testing centers. The tests take about five minutes and do not affect the meat or the antlers.
There are no known cases of CWD infecting humans, but the prion is linked to Mad Cow Disease in cows and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. There are other human ailments caused by prions. On top of that, deer affected by CWD lose their fear of humans. That makes them more likely to cause car accidents.
#
A truck was found in Britain containing 39 dead bodies. The truck itself originated in Northern Ireland, while the container the bodies were found in originated in Belgium. The man who was driving the truck is being detained under suspicion of murder. One of the bodies found was a teenager. It is believed that all of the dead are Chinese citizens. The British police are working with the forces in Ireland, Belgium, and the Chinese Foriegn Ministry to identify the bodies. It is suspected that the dead are the victims of human smuggling.
As of October 29, two other people have been arrested in connection with the case, names withheld. The driver, Morris Robinison, has been arrested on suspicion of murder but hasn’t been charged with anything.
#
Mattel, the company that produces Barbie dolls as well as Ken dolls, has recently come out with a line of “gender neutral” dolls. The dolls have flat chests and are not muscular. No doll is particularly masculine or feminine. Each kit comes with two sets of hair and two sets of clothing. The child playing with the doll can swap between longer hair and shorter hair, while mixing and matching traditionally masculine and feminine clothing. This series, called the Creatable World series, costs $29.99 for a kit and comes in a variety of skin tones and hair colors.
Proponents say that this is a great step towards including every child. It has been reported trans and non-binary kids play-testing the doll got very excited when they realized the doll fell outside gender norms. A doll like this is also a step towards doing away with gender norms. Mattel feels like this is a step in the right direction for kids.
Critics say that this is unnecessarily politicizing children’s toys. They also do not think that children should not play with toys that deal with sensitive gender issues.
#
To address a priest shortage in South America and the Amazon, Pope Francis is considering lifting the celibacy requirement for priesthood. This would only apply to men ordained as deacons who were married and had children before ordination. Several Roman Catholic Bishops from across the Amazon also approve of this plan.
#
The Supreme Court has heard three cases deciding whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects LGBT+ rights in the workplace. Title VII’s language specifically outlaws workplace discrimination based on sex. Two of the defendants were gay men, one a very sucessful social service worker fired for joining a Gay Recreational Softball League, and the other fired because he told a client he was gay as a way to reassure her he wouldn’t try anything. The third, a historical first, is a trans woman who was fired for telling her boss she planned to transition from male to female and attend work wearing a uniform that complied with the female dress code. That was the first time in history a trans person has been seen by the Supreme Court.
#
In January, China became the first nation to land a spacecraft on the far side of the moon, That rover, called Chang’e 4, planted cotton seeds on the far side of the moon. This mission was also the first experiment in growing plants on the moon. Chang’e 4 also attempted to grow potato seeds, rapeseed, yeast, and a common weed. New data has come out indicating that cotton was the only plant to survive for very long, lasting two weeks. The data indicates it grew two leaves before dying of the cold. This is the first time in scientific history a plant has been grown on the moon.
#
There are three STDS at an all-time high in the U.S. Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Syphilis. This is the 5th consecutive year they’ve risen according to the CDC. Gonorrhea has become resistant to several of the anit-biotic prescribed to treat it. Also, some strains of Syphilis are now congenital, which can cause infant death. Both of those traits make fighting the STDs difficult. In Hawaii, studies suggest the rise in these STDs may be linked to the surge in online dating.
#
The CDC has announced that vaping related/caused illnesses are called EVALI. EVALI stands for “E-cigarettes or Vaping product use Associated Lung Injury.” There have been over 30 deaths logged in the United States as well as over 1,604 cases of non-lethal EVALI as of October 30.
#
Donald Trump has recently pulled the American military out of Syria. This is an abrupt change compared to previous policies. The military, in the confusion following the president’s orders, accidentally left behind imprisoned ISIS fighters they were previously guarding.
Shortly after the US left, fighting broke out between Turkish forces and the US allies the Kurds. The skirmishing last two weeks before a ceasefire was successfully brokered. The ceasefire lasted from noon on October 23 to 6 p.m. on October 29.
Russia said it has sent hundreds of troops to fill the void left by the US. The Russians will be patrolling the Syria-Turkey border with Turkish forces.
#
On October 18, 2019, astronauts Cristina Koch and Jessica Meir conducted the first all-female space walk in history. The four male crew members remained inside the International Space Station as the two ladies ventured outside to replace a broken battery charger. After doing that in about three hours, they completed various other maintenance tasks. After all was said and done, the spacewalk lasted roughly seven hours, two hour over the planned five and a half hours.
#
The first Chick-fil-a in UK is set to close in six months due to protests. It was opened in a mall called The Oracle in Reading England. Days after opening, The Oracle released a statement to the BBC saying that they would not extend Chick-fil-a’s trial period past the initial six months previously agreed upon. Chick-fil-a will have to find another location if they want to continue doing business in the U.K.
The Chick-fil-a’s opening was protested because both the current and the past CEOs have donated money to Anti-LGBT organizations, and have made homophobic remarks on the record.
Young people must vote
by Laurel Mishevski
As we head into November, the weather gets colder, the last hints of fall give way to winter, and another round of voting takes place.
Now, some of you are thinking, “But what does voting have to do with me?” That is a great question, and the answer might surprise you.
Young people can’t legally vote until age 18, but it is never too early to learn about voting issues and how to vote because the laws signed by our representatives will affect us for years to come.
It is imperative that young people vote whenever they can to elect government officials and enact laws that accurately reflect what young people want. Those who don’t vote have no right to complain if things do not turn out the way you want.
US Government teacher Paul Parrigon explains, “Voting is very important. It’s a civic responsibility we have, and people have fought all their lives for the right for the right to vote and we should always let our voice be heard.”
The Green & White Review conducted a survey of the student body. We went to every lunch asking people at random to answer eight yes or no questions on a Google Form. 52 responses, or 11.7% of the student body. That is partially due to time constraints and partially due to people who did not want to participate after hearing it had to do with politics and voting.
Out of the people surveyed, only 55.8% said they followed the news—a slim majority, especially considering 92.3% said they thought it was important to keep up with current events.
The survey also asked about three recent major events, and whether or not the respondent was aware that those had happened. 71.2% knew our President was facing an impeachment inquiry, whereas about 50% were aware of the two other events.
A slim majority said they did not have an opinion on our country’s actions on the world stage because they did not know what our country’s most recent actions are.
All of these results are kind of shocking considering that 50% of responders said they had made plans to register to vote. Because both upperclassmen and underclassmen were sampled, it was expected that a number would respond they had no plans, but a surprising 86.5% said they had considered voting in the near future. If so many are considering casting their vote soon, then why are so few paying attention to the issues they will be voting on?
Not only is it important to vote as often as possible, it is crucial that young people make an effort to educate themselves on the issues they will be voting on.
By taking the time to make an informed vote, and trying to understand both sides of an issue, they will be truly voting for people and policies they agree with and believe in as well as against those that violate their moral principles. Citizens who vote for what they wholeheartedly believe in are critical to the survival of any democracy.
Ideally, the government will inform its people of the issues on the ballot. At the same time, it is the people’s responsibility to know a bit about what’s happening before we go to the polls. The people have to try to try their best to have an informed vote. As Coach Parrigon said, “You’ve just got to try to read and try to learn and try to watch whatever it is, both sides of an issue and not just be stuck on just one thought.”
People who understand the basics of how our government works are also vital to the survival of democracy. Having an understanding of our government will also make understanding the things the news discusses.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to find information on our government election processes unless you are in a classroom setting. The level of difficulty is somewhat appalling. That’s why this article will include some basic information about when to vote, where to vote, and how to register to vote. All of this may be taught in Americna Government, but it’s helpful to know all of this as soon as possible.
In the United States, there are three main types of elections: general, primary, and special elections.
General elections generally take place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November and lead to decisions about who our elected officials are. An elected official running for reelection in a general election is often referred to as an incumbent.
Primary elections are held by political parties to select their candidate to run in the general election.
A special election is an election that happens when a person holding an office resigns or dies before their term is up. Generally, whoever wins the special election is the incumbent in the next general election.
There are other election types, but the three mentioned above are the types that draw the most interest and the most voters.
Every state in the U.S. save for North Dakota requires a person to register to vote before they’re allowed to vote in an election. But how does one register to vote in Lawrence County Missouri? And when?
Now, as of publishing, the deadline to register to vote for the November 5 general election has already passed. However, it’s still important to register to vote for the next upcoming election, which takes place on February 4, 2020. The deadline to register is on January 8, 2020. The deadline to register in Missouri is always 27 days before the election. There is also the election for our Representative in the United States House of Representatives on August 4, 2020. There are plenty of others.
If a person is at least seventeen and a half years old, will be eighteen by February 4, a U.S. citizen, and a Missouri resident, they can register to vote in our next election. To be entitled to vote, a person must have registered before the deadline, cannot be imprisoned, on parole or probation for a federal crime, cannot be convicted of a felony or misdemeanor connected to voting, and must not be declared mentally incapacitated.
Every time a person move from county to county or state to state, they must register to vote again. Actually, if they move to a different residence at all, they must re-register. If a person changes their name, it is also advisable that they re-register.
To register, they must fill out the application. In Missouri, it asks several questions, such as whether or not the person lives in the United States. It can be requested an application be sent to the applicant by mail, or it can be printed off online. The application may be delivered in person or sent by mail to the Lawrence County Clerk’s Office. Luckily for all Mt. Vernon Residents, the Lawrence County Clerk’s office is right here, as Mt. Vernon is the county seat.
Our current County Clerk is Tammy Riebe. A letter to her office can be sent to the address 1 Courthouse Square, Suite 101, Mt. Vernon, MO 65712. The letter needs to be addressed to County Clerk Tammy Riebe.
To register to vote, either mail in the application to the Clerk’s Office at least 27 days before the election or register online at https://s1.sos.mo.gov/votemissouri/request . This is also the website where an application can be printed off. Handing in an application in person at 1 Courthouse Square, Suite 101, Mt. Vernon, MO 65712 is also an option.
Okay, once you’ve registered, now what? Well, double-check to make sure you’ve registered. You can do that at The Missouri Secretary of State’s website or through various third party websites. It’s recommended you use the government sponsored website for hopefully obvious reasons. Then you go to the assigned polling location. The County Clerk’s office will send a reminder in the mail immediately before any election. That reminder includes the day and location of the election.
Once you arrive at the polling location, you will be required to a form of identification, as Missouri Law dictates. Your Missouri driver’s license or an out of state driver’s license will work as long as it’s not expired. A non-expired Military ID works. Any form of identification with your name and photo issued by the United States Government or the state of Missouri.
If you do not have either form of identification with you, you may still vote if two supervising election judges say they know you. Those two judges have to be from both major political parties. One of each.
After you verify your identity, you will be required to verify the address associated with your name is still valid, and then you must sign a paper verifying you did so. After all of that, then you will finally be able to fill out your paper ballot and cast your vote.
The best part is that once a person has registered for any election, they’re registered until they move or change their name. Registering isn’t even that hard. It’s complicated and messy, but almost anyone can register. It’s complicated to protect against voter fraud. That way the people get the officials and laws they want.
Mt. Vernon as well as all of Lawrence County are considered a part of voting District 157, the seventh district in the state. That means we elect our next district representative in the Missouri House of Representatives on November 3, 2020. If you’re old enough to register, you’re old enough to vote in that election.
To register to vote, either mail in the application to the Clerk’s Office at least 27 days before the election or register online at https://s1.sos.mo.gov/votemissouri/request . This is also the website where an application can be printed off. Handing in an application in person at 1 Courthouse Square, Suite 101, Mt. Vernon, MO 65712 is also an option.
November marks Lung Cancer Awareness Month
By Jasmine Gatewood
November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths. An estimated 228,000 people will be diagnosed this year, with a new diagnosis made every 2.3 minutes.
News that a family member has lung cancer would strike a family dramatically. A cancer diagnosis takes a lot of strength from the person diagnosed and the family would need to be more together as a family. It would take strength from that person and the family would need to be there supporting them the whole day.
If caught early enough, lung cancer could be treated with radiation or chemo, but it is possible for it to spread to other parts of the body. 1 in 15 men and 1 in 17 women are most likely to develop lung cancer. There are many ways to reduce your chances of developing lung cancer, such as avoiding smoking or stopping if you’ve already started, avoiding secondhand smoke, testing your home for radon or other toxic gases, and keeping your body as healthy as possible.
Save a life, adopt a shelter dog
by Laurel Mishevski
Last October was National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, a celebration developed by the American Humane Society in 1981 as a way to bring awareness to and combat the rising number of dogs in shelters. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) co-sponsors this effort.
According to the ASPCA, over 3.3 million dogs across the country end up in a shelter every year. They also estimate approximately 670,000 are euthanized, and only 1.6 million each year are adopted. That means there are still way too many dogs waiting for a home.
Unfortunately, not every dog will find that home. Not every shelter can afford to take in every dog that comes their way, and they can’t keep caring for every dog either. Sadly, some shelters must make the call that the more humane option for the dog would be to put them down.
Obviously, the best way to observe the month is to adopt a shelter dog in need. However, not every family can afford the time, money, and space it takes to give a dog a loving home. If someone looking for a dog does not currently have the necessary resources to take care of a pet, rest assured: There will be dogs in need every month hereafter.
In the meantime, donate time, food, money, bedding, or whatever else that can to a nearby shelter. The dogs in the shelter would love to go out on a walk or have someone to play with them and pet them. It will also help the shelter workers.
Sports Central
Team fundraiser assists cancer fighters
By Abby Bray
On October 15, as the Mountaineer volleyball team hosted a game against the Aurora Houn Dogs, they also led a fundraiser for Childhood Cancer in memory Ryan Casto. This fundraiser has been a six-year tradition. Coach Bridgett Schmutz explains, “This fundraiser was started because my cousin Ryan, when he was 13 he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Also in sports they recognize breast cancer all the time so there to should be a fundraiser for brain cancer.”
Proceeds have been donated to different families every year, though the first year was to Ryan and his family. This year’s game raised an estimated $2,500. This is a nonprofit fundraiser so all the money goes to the families she picks.
Ryan Casto passed away on Halloween of 2016 after fighting 18 months against brain cancer. Ryan was the son of Robbie and Angela Casto and also the cousin of Mrs. Schmutz. He was diagnosed in June 2015. This year, he would have been a senior in high school.
This year's game was dedicated to Colston Henderson. Colston is a first grader at Republic Elementary school. He was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in June 2018. He went through six violent rounds of chemotherapy and in August his cancer returned. He is now getting more chemotherapy at St. Jude Children's Hospital.
“This fundraiser is not something you look forward to, but with a supportive community like Mt.Vernon it’s so much easier,” states Mrs. Schmutz.
Football Mountaineers finish a perfect season
By Jasmine Gatewood
Mountaineers take win against Bluejays
Friday, September 13, the Mountaineers held a game against the Marshfield Bluejays.
In the first quarter, the Mountaineers scored two touchdowns. In the second quarter, the Bluejays scored a touchdown, bringing the score to 12-6. After halftime, the Mountaineers scored another touchdown. During the last quarter the Bluejays scored once more, making the final score 18-13.
Mt. Vernon claims Bell Bowl trophy (again)
The homecoming game was against the Aurora Houn Dawgs. In the first quarter, the Mountaineers scored three touchdowns. During the second quarter, they scored two more touchdowns, bringing the score to 34-0 at half time. They scored once in the third quarter, then again in the last quarter. The final score was 46-0.
Afterwards, the Mountaineers celebrated homecoming and named Kathryn Bushman queen.
Team takes road win against Rogersville
On October 5, Logan-Rogersville hosted the Mountaineers. In the first quarter, the Mountaineers scored three touchdowns. During the second quarter, the scores stayed the same. After halftime, the Mountaineers and the Wildcats each scored a touchdown. In the last quarter, the Mountaineers scored once more, bringing the final score to 32-7.
MVHS prevails against Fighting Irish
The Mountaineers’ Senior Night was on Friday, October 18. It was a home game against the Springfield Catholic Fighting Irish. In the first quarter, the Mountaineers scored one time. In the second quarter, they scored once more, bringing the score to 12-0 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Fighting Irish scored once. Finally in the last quarter, the Mountaineers scored a touchdown and then the Fighting Irish scored once. The ending score was 20-14.
Win against Hollister clinches perfect season
The Mountaineers’ final schedule conference game was battled in Hollister against the Tigers on Friday, October 25. During the first quarter, the Mountaineers scored two touchdowns. During the second quarter, each team scored a touchdown, leaving the score at 20-7 before halftime. In the third quarter, the Mountaineers got another touchdown. Finally in the last quarter, the Tigers managed to get another touchdown, while the Mountaineers scored yet again. For the final score, the Mountaineers racked up a total of 34 points while the Tigers settled with 14.
Cross Country speeds to the finish line
By Karrington Lutes
Cross country’s team theme is “getting along.” As school has reached a more hectic pace, cross country has already run at many meets, starting with their first at Strafford on September 5, according to team member Isaac Barker. Each team member keeps track of personal records and sets goals for exceeding them. “I actually reached my goal of getting a PR at Nixa, but my next goal is to get in the 18’s,” explains Barker.
Training starts before season for the athletes to prepare them for an excruciating season. In order to prepare, Barker says, “I go on distance runs, and run up to 40-50 miles. I also don’t do soda, because it’s the worst thing to consume during the season.”
Overall, Barker says, “the season is going very well. I’ve beat my personal record from last year and we are halfway through.”
Creative Corner
Reflection
By Abby Bray
Reflection
You look in the mirror and what do you see?
Do you see the beauty in you?
Or do you see the things you want to believe?
You ask, why God do I look this way?
Why don’t I look like those girls who just walked by?
Why don’t I look beautiful to the guys?
We ask Him every day, why do I look this way?
-Abby Bray
The broken can be beautiful
By Karrington Lutes
We all break a little at times, and we always think of ourselves as shattered. What if instead of shattered, we saw the beauty of being broken. It’s like a new start to this life that we all know tries to prevent us from becoming full. Yet, we can fix ourselves and shine even brighter than we think we can. We can be shattered but think of it like this: The most beautiful things can be made from the shattered pieces. Stained glass, for example, begins with broken pieces, but when the pieces are joined, they become a beautiful thing. There’s still beauty in the midst of brokenness, and it’s all about what your perspective is.
In one perspective, the broken pieces are not good, and so we choose to just let them dictate who we are. We don’t make an effort to fix what’s been broken. We don’t see how something so destroyed can become something that gives light and beauty to the world and the people in it. We think it’s a waste of time to try and change something that’s already happened.
In the other perspective, we know that we can be better than we were before. We can be glow sticks that must break before we shine. We know that through all the brokenness, there will be this amazing masterpiece. So don’t be scared to be broken because some of the most amazing things come from things that were broken.
Parents consider a scary new change to Halloween
By Karrington Lutes
Halloween has always been celebrated on October 31, no matter which day of the week it is on the calendar. The holiday, which originally came from immigrants from Scotland and Ireland, gained wider acceptance beginning in the 1900s. It has remained on the same date since then, so why change it now?
Parents have two reasons for wanting to change the date of this spooky holiday. Ms. Bridgett Schmutz explains, “it would allow the Halloween activities to last all day long, and also when children celebrate on a school night, it is hard for them to go to bed at their bedtime.”
Secondly, Ms. Schmutz adds, “Getting your kids ready after work takes a long time. You want to be able to trick or treat safely and longer, and there’s more time to do it on Saturday.”