It's mushroom season!

By JULIA EARNST, Old Post Sentinel staff writer

If you see people in the woods scouring under leaves with walking sticks and holding bags of something this April month, don’t be alarmed. April is the most popular time for mushroom hunting enthusiast.

The popular morel mushroom grows in damp and slightly shaded areas.

While the year of 2018 was one of disappointment for many mushroom enthusiast, most likely caused by the lack of rainfall in the month of March, around four inches. This March there was more than five total inches of rainfall. While we only got an inch more this year, it can make quite the difference with how well a mushroom season will go.

A mushroom season typically runs from the end of March through April and into the beginning of May.

Unfortunately, it’s easy to get a morel confused with another kind of mushroom called Verpa bohemica, also known as the false morel, is poisonous.

According to the Midwest American Mycological Information website, chemical analysis shows that these mushrooms contain chemical gyromitrin, which our digestive systems covert into a toxin called monomethylhydrazine. The key difference between the two is the solid inside.

It’s common to carry around netted bags instead of putting them in plastic shopping bags that prevent the spores from spreading after being picked, much like seeds.

These two things have made a much better season for 2019.

There’s also a certain way to prepare morels. Many soak them overnight in salt water twice. This kills bacteria and any little critters that might still be remaining in the mushroom, making them safe to eat.

It’s also possible to make money hunting morels. Upon looking on Ebay, where many people seem to sell their mushrooms, they can run up to $54 a pound on the most popular page where 36 orders had already been placed.

Be sure to cut them in half so you don’t accidently eat Verpa Bohemica. Those are solid on the inside while morels are hollow.

After being rolled in egg and then flour, fry them until golden brown.

They should taste a lot like chicken with a nutty after flavor.

Taste isn’t the only thing many people enjoy about the mushroom hunting experience though. C.J Burton went when they were little in the woods that Burton’s grandmother owns.

“It was a nice experience to go out with my family. We all gathered together and It’s one of my fondest family memories.”

While Burton hasn’t gone in a long time, it has left a last effect and they still look back on it fondly.

Mushroom hunting is something that is thought of as something many hikers or outdoor enthusiast would enjoy, but it’s something anyone would enjoy.

Who knows, maybe you’ll be one of those people scouring under the leaves with a walking stick.

Filed April 29, 2019

'89 vs. 2019: Lincoln 30 years later

By JULIA EARNST, Old Post Sentinel staff writer

Life at Lincoln High School was very different just thirty years ago. The hallway was walked by parachute-pant-clad legs and big hair. The style wasn’t the only thing that was very different though.

In 1989, was the first school year of the “new” Lincoln High School students still attend, after many years of being downtown.

Early College dual credit classes are common, but back in ‘89 there was only one college credit course, HEW 101, which was an English class taught by Steve Toy.

Other classes such as drafting, electricity, wood shop, metal shop, and auto, were classes offered at Lincoln in 1989, not through Twin Rivers as is commonly done today. Twin Rivers allows students to study off campus as job sites.

Programs such as Jobs for America's Graduates, Alice Academy, or JROTC were also not available.

Sports such as both boys and girls soccer, softball, unified track and field, and a dance team have also been added to Lincoln since 1989.

Lincoln principal Steve Combs went to Lincoln as a junior in 1989, so he also experiences the old downtown building.

“The biggest differences between the old school and the new school were two things: 1. Air conditioning 2. No more open campus.”

Located just two blocks away from Main Street, the walking distance for an open campus school was in prime conditions, but with the move out to South Hart Street Road, it was no longer logical to continue to practice.

Prior to moving into the “new” school, all students took six classes and had an hour for lunch, compared to the seven classes and half hour lunch that students have now.

Students now have more classes and graduation expectations, and they’re navigating it with technology completely unlike what was available in 1989.

“Social media and its use has made it much more difficult to be a teenager today,” said Combs. “The academic requirements for graduation are much more stringent than they used to be in 1989.”

An odd difference in the dress code had to do with the new air conditioning. Students were not allowed to wear shorts.

The ‘old’ Lincoln didn’t have air conditioning, and with the move to a school that had it, the paranoia for students becoming too cold in the building must of been on high.

While there are many differences at LHS, Combs notes that, “There is still a great amount of school pride and spirit just like there was in 1989.”

That is surely something for Lincoln to be proud of.

Filed Feb. 11, 2019

More boys join choral program

By HANNAH KINDLEY, OPS staff writer

After years of struggling enrollment, the Lincoln Singers choir has more male singers than it has in 5 years. This year, 15 boys have joined the show choir, bringing the total performers to 27 in the advanced choir.

This is Denise Hendrix’s second year as director of choirs, and last year she only had 3 boys enrolled, with one graduating. She wasn’t going to let those numbers stand.

Hendrix and other students went on a recruiting spree.

“My son [science teacher, Chaz] Hendrix was a wonderful advocate, as well as [senior] Sam Thorne, said Hendrix.

Having more male voices in choir adds a lot to the choral experience.

“Having more boys in choir eliminates the conflict of a girl not having a partner,” explained Jaleigh LaBrec, junior. “More boys in choir also means the boy vocal part will be louder which has been a major problem in past years. My choir experience is much better. The guys are honestly so hilarious and they bring the energy that our choir has lacked for years.”

Hendrix agreed.

“They add an exciting element with their athleticism and vocal ranges. Their energy and enthusiasm is overwhelmingly contagious!” she said.

The Fall Concert was early October, and it went well, due to the fact that they could add more flips and twists and more risky moves and techniques. Also, the guys added more vocal blends.

Their next performance is a Christmas Extravaganza will be on Dec 16.

Advance tickets to enjoy Pea-fections desserts before the main concert go on sale the week of Thanksgiving break. The desert portion is from 1:30-2 p.m. Tickets are $8 which includes dessert and concert. Children under school age get a sugar cookie and show for $5. Drinks are included. The show begins at 2:30 and features Accents (the girls choir) and Lincoln Singers. Tickets for concert only are $3 for adults, students $1, and children not in school are free.

By adding the guys, they’re able to take more more challenges as they perform.

“We, as a choir, are able to up the difficulty of our dances by including flips and lifts that we’ve never been able to do before due to the lack of guys,” said LaBrec.

Junior Sara Lade agreed, after the choir finished their first concert of the year.

“Our performance has been better, and that the guys bring energy that was never there before,” she said.

Lincoln Singers will be performing the national anthem at the school’s Veterans Day program and they will be presenting a Veterans Day program for the local Rotary Club on Nov. 13.

Additionally, they will be singing the national anthem at the at our first home boys basketball game on Nov 20.

Tristan Foster is glad he has joined choir.

“It makes music more enjoyable in my life. Choir has improved my vocals because before, I never had courage or the ability to sing in front of people. Along with I’m able to hit notes that I’ve never hit before. Choir has only encouraged and influenced me to follow my dreams of what I love: Music!” he said. “If you are on the fence about doing choir, take a step out of your comfort zone and join! I’m glad I joined, it intensified my love for music even more.”

Hendrix is still willing to take more students in choir.

“Come see me! My door is ALWAYS open! Plus we have some amazing opportunities coming up in the future that they would love.

Something many students do not realize—men and women—that more and more colleges are looking at transcripts to see if the student has been in choir,” she explained. “Learning music uses both sides of the brain! Actually, students who are in music tend to score much higher in the SAT and ACT!”

Filed: Nov. 6, 2018

Annual Mr. Alice show in November

By SIERRA BAREKMAN, OPS staff writer

It’s about that time again for the annual Mr. Alice pageant. It will be hosted on Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. in Ader auditorium.

The faux-beauty pageant is open to Lincoln boys in all grade levels. They’re supervised to make sure everything is school appropriate, but there’s otherwise no restriction on creativity.

It’s hosted by the Interact Club, with student officers making most of the decisions. Every year the proceeds from the pageant go to a different charity. The officers choose the charity and this year the money goes to the Good Samaritan Education Foundation. Tickets are $5 and can be bought before the show or at the door.

The show starts out with a different opening number each year. All the contestants participate and each gets equal time to shine. There are individual judgements including: talent, outfit of choice and the question portion. Though only the top seven candidates chosen continue into the question portion.

Junior Brian Sievers won last year as a sophomore, proving that a boy from any grade can win as long as he performs an act that really defines himself.

“It’s important to be charismatic and be comfortable in your own skin!” said senior and Interact Club member Josie Hayes. To win, Mr. Alice is to show how proud and confident he is in himself.

Sievers is this year’s master of ceremonies, which should make things interesting. His win last year proves he’s charismatic and can work up the crowd. Sievers is known for being he lovable class clown.

“There is no better feeling in your entire life” than winning Mr. Alice according to Sievers.

Mr. Alice means something to everyone participating. Senior Isaac Lane wanted to participate in Mr. Alice because he likes making people laugh and smile.

Elijah Malone encourages everyone to come out to the show with a little mystery. When asked about his act, Malone said “everyone will just have to wait and see.”

Most details are concealed until the night of the pageant. The opening number changes annually and so do the participants and judges. Typically two past Interact club officers, two rotary club members and choir teacher Denise Hendrix judge.

Students get to dance and have fun during the competition and “it’s really a fun evening,” said student guidance counselor Amy Tolliver.

Filed: Nov. 6, 2018