The McLean Express Vol. II, No. IV
Not all Candy is the same By Gabe Busald Halloween is one of the greatest times of the year because kids get to dress up in costumes and get all the free candy they can carry just for asking. However, sometimes the candy that winds up in your sack is more of a disappointment than a treat. Here are some of the candies that nobody ever wants: The dreaded candy corn is one of the most commonly disliked candies in a Halloween sack. Sticky sweet, but not in a good way, this “treat” tends to get tossed out in favor of something with chocolate in it. Classic bubblegum seems like a safe bet, but there’s a reason that kids always wanted to spit seemingly delicious gum out almost before they finished reading the comic that came with it. Not known for its long-lasting flavor, cheap gum is quick turn into half-solid airplane glue with just about as much taste and flavor. Circus Peanuts are also a trick more than a treat. Though they look and feel like marshmallows, this candy also looks like it went stale the last time the circus came to town. A disappointment to most people brave enough to try them, this candy is one of the only ones that might get thrown out. Billed as the oldest candy brand in the United States, Good & Plenty is only a hit with those who already love licorice (which is a pretty specific slice of the trick or treater population). Significantly less popular than Mike & Ike, Good & Plenty even looks like medicine. It will still get eaten, but probably closer to the bottom of the candy bag. Next would be butterscotch. Commonly seen as old-people candy, butterscotch hard candies are seen as the most disappointing finds in the candy bag. Butterscotch is liked by a slim number of kids; this might call for eggs and toilet paper.
QUESTION: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE/LEAST FAVORITE HALLOWEEN CANDY?
November 1, 2016
Ms. Cache Ellis FAVORITE: Take 5 LEAST FAVORITE: Candy Corn
Austin Smith FAVORITE: Twix LEAST FAVORITE: Reese Cups Eithan Davis FAVORITE: Cow Tails LEAST FAVORITE: War Heads
Kaitlyn Dickens FAVORITE: Twizzlers LEAST FAVORITE: Chocolate Mrs. Ellis FAVORITE: Twizzlers LEAST FAVORITE: Gel Gummies
Mrs. Whittman FAVORITE: Reese Cups LEAST FAVORITE: Candy Corn
Pumpkins, Pies Photos night
&
Orville Redenbac her by Cordell Bluck
Students decorated pumpkins with an “Indiana” theme for the recent “Pumpkins, Pies and Photos” night which took place on Wednesday, October 19, 2016. Special thanks to Mrs. Deal and Mrs. Strohle for organizing a fun evening. Food was provided by Fazolio’s and Traverse Pie Company. Students did research, wrote a riddle and decorated their pumpkins based on a famous person from Indiana in order to help celebrate our state’s 200th birthday.
Actress Florence Henderson by L. Harbaugh
Comedian Red Skelton by Damion Tackett
Michael Jackson by Kylee Allen
Actress Carole Lombard by RaeAnn Jones
Col. Sanders by Kaylee Shank
ball Basket Legend Larry Bird by Ozzy Beasley
Garfie ld the Cat by Const an Beauc ce hman
NASCAR Driver Tony Stewart by Jordan Nalwood
Jackson 5 by Precious Limonta
ll Basketba Coach John Wooden by Curtis Bass
Singer Crystal Gayle by Carolyn Yates
PBIS REWARDS The following students had perfect attendance and no discipline issues for the weeks listed. As part of P.B.I.S. each student received a treat specially prepared by Mrs. Swaner (pictured). Week of 10/21 Kylee Allen Ozzy Beasley Darian Bell Cordell Bluck Gabriel Busald Dakota Custer Kaitlyn Dickens Maxine Douglas Matthew Edington Josie Farner Johnny Fulk Dylan Gamble Jordan Gee Jonathan Glasgow Satara Hanson Devin Hauser Austin Johnson Desavio Lusk Brandon Manier
Kasey Meyer Matthew Michaels Justice Montgomery Daniel Morris Dominic Morris Jordan Nalwood Marquice Pettis Daniel Petty Dusten Reel Ariel Richey Corbon Sams Kaylee Shank Damian Tackett Carter Tate Cortez Thompson Trenton Threlkeld Devin Tisdell Wade Walker Ian Wilson Peyton Wilson
Week of 10/13Kylee Allen Curtis Bass Cordell Bluck Tyler Brown Gabriel Busald Mason Carter Bryson Cornes Mekyel Crawl Dakota Custer Eithan Davis Kaitlyn Dickens Austin Donham Matthew Edington Jacquez Floyd Michael Garrett Jonathan Glasgow Nickolas Gosnell Satara Hanson Lexxie Harbaugh
Kyle Hoopingarner Austin Johnson Desavio Lusk Brandon Manier Matthew Michaels Daniel Morris Marquice Pettis Sean Pitts Ariel Richey Dominic Santos Kaylee Shank Samantha Strader Damian Tackett Trenton Threlkeld Devin Tisdell Robert Trump Wade Walker Ian Wilson Dominic Morrs Peyton Wilson
Thanksgiving is almost here! Senior Skyler Kane has been working on a large turkey display for a special Thanksgiving lunch that will take place here at McLean a week before Thanksgiving. Recently Mr. Jon Swaner, WTHI-TV, came and interviewed Skyler and Mrs. Ellis about the project. The story will air closer to Thanksgiving. The nearly-complete turkey (a.k.a “Tom”) is pictured on the right.
Short Story
Halloween Story
A biting winter breeze swept up the leaves scattered across the bare driveway, tossing them in the air in a wave, their crisp auburn hue a curt contrast against the dark, Gothic mansion that lay ahead. Snow was billowing through the air, not yet enough to coat the ground. It chilled Damon to the core, standing there in the open gateway to the estate. Thus far, though, he was
eyes traced across the entire building, first on the main floor, then the second story, then the third. There was no coloring on the glass panes, yet they retained a pitch black tint, confirming any attempts to see through them as futile. Damon was experienced in this level of guise. He would have to rely on improvising with his own wits. As the hunter grew near, the building
obliged to continue observing the place for the sake of caution. The mansion was ancient, centuries old and decrepit, its blackened wood both haunting and beautiful in the same breath. The structure reminded Damon vaguely of the Cologne Cathedral, one he had visited on his regular hunting trips to Germany. His piercing
seemed to swell in size and the shadows grew larger, more menacing than before; a visual illusion, surely, but one vapid to the experienced hunter. He climbed the stairs to the twin front doors and took a moment to compose himself. Damon slammed through the doors like a hurricane. Not taking a moment
The McLean Express Staff McLean High School
961 Lafayette Ave., Terre Haute, IN 47804 812-462-4330 office • www.vigoschools.org
Book Review By Jacob Kratzer
Reviewed By Desirae Rentschler
Half-Bad Author: Sally Green for granted, he instantly pitched into a combat roll and rose from it with fists clinched tightly, held up in a guard. The foyer was once a graceful and sophisticated chamber, but like the rest of the place, fell into helpless disrepair. The paintings draped across the walls were rotting, half-fallen if not completely so; the floor was creaking and moaning at the slightest hint of stress; abandoned animal nests cradled in every nook and cranny. Standing near the door was a figure. Its tall, sinewy build was draped in a velvet robe, wellkept and luxurious. Damon couldn’t make out the face, as the shadows of this place were as fluctuating and free-moving as the bitter wind outside. The figure held out its hands—its skin was as pale as snow, with fingernails the size of tiger claws, their hideous color a dark black that matched the wood of the mansion. “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” the figure said, its voice youthful and alarmed, “I think we all need to settle down.” Damon’s body didn’t shift, but he tilted his head in surprise. “Okay,” the figure muttered, “guess I’ll do the talking. I’m Vladimir Dracula, but you can call me Vlad, Dracula is my father.” He laughed uncomfortably. “Please don’t kill me.” Damon reached into his coat pocket, slowly pulling out a wicked wooden stake. “Not a chance.”
Do you like books about magic? Well, if you do, you should read Half-Bad by Sally Green. Half-Bad is the first book in a trilogy about a boy named Nathan, who is a Half-code. Half-code means he is mixed, his mother was white and his father is black. The “council” wants to use Nathan to get to his father. Nathan’s father is a full black witch and is the most powerful black witch ever he is even more powerful than any white witch, and he is evil. The council takes Nathan and gives him to a white witch named Celia and she keeps him in a cage. She teaches him to fight so one day he will be able to kill his father but he doesn’t want to kill his father. When he finally escapes he goes to find Mercury, a black witch who runs a kind of black market for witches. He needs to find her so she can give him 3 gifts on his seventieth birthday or he will die. For me the first chapter was a little slow and confusing but if you stick with it and keep reading you won’t be able to put it down! This is a very good and emotional read! The ending of Half-Bad will leave you begging for more. The second and third books in the series are HalfWild and Half-Lost.
1st Trimester 2016 Editor – Michael Garrett Reporter – Gabe Busald Reporter – Zoee Joy Reporter – Skyler Kane
Reporter – Precious Limonta Contributor – Jacob Kratzer Contributor – Desirae Rentschler
