My name is Bailey Schultz, and I am a sophomore this year. This is my second time taking a journalism class. The only difference is that I am in Journalism II this year. Here is a little get to know me for this school year.

Some of my hobbies include crochet, sewing, baking, and cooking. When I say cooking, I specifically mean meal prep. I like to make a lot of food at one time and use it throughout the week. Some of my favorite things to make include muffins, parfaits, rice, and various veggies.

Now that my hobbies are out of the way, here are some things you should know that I write about. My favorite news page to look at is AP News in their oddities section. I focus on wacky stories, mostly about animals, evil emus, and occasionally a serious topic. My column is usually under Bailey Knows Best, if you're interested.

I hope that you will read the paper when it comes out, and keep checking the Devil’s Advocate for more updates.

By Shane Lynch

Monday, August 31, 2026 

A background on Shane would include him doing Cross Country and Track & Field as sports, while also doing Student Council and SkillsUSA as clubs. In his free time, he often repairs or restores old model trains and other vehicles. When asked where he gets news from, he says that he gets it from random places, but will fact-check it before fully believing it. He believes that he knows everything about the Peotone Park and Will County Fair. He also says that he had to focus more on studies in high school, which was a major turning point in his life. 

When asked questions about what he thinks of certain topics, he stated, “I can’t focus when there’s a big problem. Instead, I take it in smaller steps or milestones. People think that I'm interested in sports, while in reality, I'm not. I work best when I'm busy and in a positive environment. If I could interview anyone, it’d be Abraham Lincoln, and I would ask what he was thinking as President. What was going through his head during his presidency?”

He was also asked about his reporting style, and he said, “I enjoy reporting about technology, the community, and campus politics. A story I want to tell is about the librarian, Mrs. Schubbe, and her mark on Peotone.” 

His go-to snack is Cheez-Its, and he likes drinking Sprite. He also likes Country Music. His motto is, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.”

By Bianca Martin

My name is Bianca Martin. I am a senior at Peotone High School. A little about me is that I learned to crochet over the summer. I am in student council and FFA this year, and my favorite YouTube channel is the Kevin Langue Show. Also, my favorite drink has to be lemonade or boba tea. I love boba tea!!

After high school, I am excited to continue my education at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais. I want to be a nurse. I'm just not sure what field yet, but we will cross that bridge when we get there. 

I joined Journalism because the description looked cool and better than English 4. Also, I do like to write about random things like sports in my high school. People always say I am shy ( which they’re right), but I hope Journalism takes me out of my shell to talk more. 

By Greyson Denny

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

High school student Greyson Denny begins his junior year now. After picking up astrophotography long ago, he captures a striking image of the recent lunar eclipse. Greyson decides to stay in the journalism course even though he initially did not want to take the class. After all, he now has the opportunity to talk about classic music artists like the legendary Beatles.

Greyson accommodates his high school career through a series of clubs such as Student Council, Math Club, Spanish Club, TADD, Book Club, Art Club, Scholastic Bowl, Best Buddies, and NHS, as well as the sports Cross Country and Track. His typical media consumption is mainly comedy podcasts on YouTube and the Instagram profiles of music artists. Greyson feels deeply connected and loyal to the town of Peotone, frequently running or biking through it. His life took a turn for the better when he joined the cross country team six years ago.

In response to a question about his work ethic on a large project, Greyson says, “...I do not take it that seriously.” Lots of people still believe that he is an “...uptight, rule-abiding person,” but that is not the case. Greyson values his integrity with people and makes it a goal to “...not break their trust.” His ideal creative environment is “...calm and quiet with some music.” In his dream interview with John Lennon, Greyson would say, “...describe your music-making process.”

Greyson’s preferred coverage would involve news regarding the local community as well as music-related topics. He believes there is a need to shed light on the untold stories of the Mr. Peotones of the past and their impacts on the school. His main goal this school year is to beat his personal record of the two-mile run in track, 11:32.

Greyson’s favorite snacks include Dr. Pepper and Gardetto's, while his favorite artist is the Beatles. He lives by his motto, “Don’t be a chud, be a bud.”

By Brayden Adams

Monday, August 31, 2026

Peotone high school’s first day of school, hello I’m Brayden Adams a sophomore at Peotone high school, on the first day of school there was a lot of commotion. There have been a lot of rule changes that people have not been very happy about, such as the phone ban. Some students are devastated by this new rule, but I really don’t mind that much; a lot of people are just happy to see their friends again after a while.

Some of the sports and clubs that I am a part of are wrestling, baseball and E-sports, I also have been helping some people in the community that have been affected by the storms. I like to watch Whitt on YouTube. I go to the county fair about twice a year. I will go with friends to go on rides and get some food. It happens every year in the first week of school. When I got to high school, I finally got the chance to try out for the baseball team, which I had made, which was a dream come true.

“If someone wants to truly understand how I tackle a tough project or challenge, I try to put a good mindset on it and just think about the good things; don’t think about the bad things that will make it harder.” If I could cover anything in the school I would do Athletics(Baseball), I already do 2 sports so I feel like I would qualify for the job. In my opinion, there is still a big vaping problem. I feel like the school is not doing enough to stop it; all they have to do is hide it in their backpack and go to the bathroom and use it. It feels like it's being overshadowed by the phone rule.

A milestone that I am setting for this year is to get my first wrestling win, get more than 5 hits during the baseball season, and pass all my classes. 

A snack that I would like to have is Cheez-Its, and a drink would be Dr. Pepper. A playlist I use for work is country music.

By Vanessa Lopez

I am Vanessa Lopez. I’m a junior, and my pronouns are she/her. In my free time, I like to embroider designs on napkins, read, and play video games. I signed up for journalism because I had an empty spot during class selection last year and did not get into the class I wanted.

In school, I am a member of the concert band, where I play clarinet. I have been in band since I was in fourth grade. When I moved from Joliet to Manhattan, my social goals changed, but I still wanted to be a part of a band or orchestra. Christmas in the Village is an event I feel connected to because I have performed there for many years.

The headline that will show my growth is “How Many Extracurriculars Should Students Have?” This year I am excited to be a member of the journalism staff and the band's concerts.

Addison Mueller

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

My name is Addison Mueller. Recently, I started a new chapter as a freshman at Peotone High School. I enjoy crafting and organizing. The origin of my inspiration to take Journalism was because I find fulfillment in writing, and also because of my aunt, who studied communications in college and currently works in public relations. I am a member of the PHS band, and represent the freshman class in Student Council. 

In my free time, I enjoy watching a YouTuber by the name of “Slushy Noobz” because they make me laugh and they match my humor. I feel a deep connection to the Joliet and Shorewood, Illinois area because my mom grew up there, and I was also raised going there quite frequently for various activities. I feel this connection because of how often I go there and the sentimental value behind it. A pivotal turning point in my life I experienced was when my childhood dog, Copper, passed away in 2024. This was a very challenging time, but ultimately, it taught me to appreciate and cherish the things in my life while I have them, because they can go away in an instant.

If I were asked about my work ethic and mindset, I  would say that it is not always easy, and you have to embrace the difficulty in order to succeed. A common misconception people have about me is that I don’t take my work seriously. If I were asked about my core principles, I would say that I will never give people false news or bias in my work. I do my absolute best in an environment that is quiet, free of distractions, and where I can listen to music. Finally, if I could sit down for a 30-minute interview with anyone in human history, I would pick Marilyn Monroe, and my opening question would be how did how did you have the courage to keep advocating for groups with less rights than you, and keep acting despite all of the discrimination you were receiving and being in a male dominated field.”

I prefer to cover my local community. I want to educate people on the events going on in the place they live in. I believe that the stars and players that stand out the most on a sports team should be reported more. I think this matters because we should recognize the talent that is held at PHS. A target milestone for the end of the year is to pass my AP Human Geography exam, get satisfactory grades, and grow overall as a student.

My essential deadline snack is Cheez-Itz. My go-to soundtrack while writing is Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo. A personal motto that I have is to keep going and never give up on my work.

By Kathleen Begley

My name is Kathleen Begley. I am a freshman at PHS who enjoys sewing, baking, and of course, writing. I was encouraged to join Journalism by my older sister and cousin, who both loved the class. I have always enjoyed sharing my thoughts, so I wanted to try something new and see how I could use those skills in Journalism.

In school, I am involved in volleyball, and hope to play soccer later in the school year. Outside of school, I enjoy watching “Slushy Noobz” on YouTube because of their funny personalities and sense of humor. A local spot that I’m drawn to is the park behind Peotone Junior High School. I grew up playing soccer there, where I met many of my current classmates and friends. A challenge that I have faced was my grandma passing away. I was very close to her, and it was a very emotional time, but it taught me to not take the things I love for granted and cherish every moment.

I don’t mind taking my time if it means getting my work done right. When it comes to my work and how I treat people, one value I will never compromise on is treating people with respect even when I disagree with them. The biggest misconception people at this school might have about me is that I don’t treat my classes and sports with importance. I do my best work when I am in an environment that is full of people that I am comfortable with. If I could interview anyone from history, I would choose Dolly Parton and ask, “How did growing up with so little, influence the way you gave back to others as an adult?”

As the school year unfolds, my goal is to cover local, community news, such as sports and clubs. I hope the coverage will encourage more students to participate in school activities. Ultimately, I wish for personal growth as well as getting more comfortable in school and succeeding in my classes.

By Brooklyn Oliver

My name is Brooklyn Oliver. I am a new freshman at Peotone High School. I love to read, write, and draw. The moment that sparked my writing journey came in fourth grade when I had writing prompts in class. I have been writing ever since.

Knowing a little more about me, let’s dive into my background. I have been a cheerleader since I was six years old, competing in numerous competitions. The media I consume daily includes videos about art, memes, and music. I can often be found at the park across the street from my house. Having been going there since I was very young, I have a deep connection with the park.

If you were to ask me about my work ethic and mindset, I’d tell you I don’t try to stress, and I make sure to go at a task in a smart, logical way. I think the biggest misconception people have about me is that I’m quiet and awkward, but I have to get to know people first; then I’ll be loud and funny. My core principle in writing is to rely on facts over opinions. Whenever I need to get work done, I say my environment needs to be isolated, cozy, and full of music so I can focus. If I could interview anyone in human history, I would pick Abraham Lincoln. I would ask him, “If he had the opportunity to come back to the present time, would he?”

In journalism, I want to cover the local community, Athletics, and Photojournalism. A subject I don’t think is reported on as much as it should be is band and choir. I think it doesn’t get nearly as much recognition as sports do, 

One of my predictions for the end of the year is that I will finish writing a book and end the school year with A’s, and I hope my lowest grades will be B’s. 

While writing, you can find me listening to a playlist full of upbeat pop. My favorite quote is, “I’d rather die of passion than boredom,” by Vincent Van Gogh.

I can’t wait to spend my time here writing, doing what I enjoy and what I have been wishing to do at school for a while now.