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The Worthington ALC Insider
Volume 3, Issue 25 April 20, 2006
U.S. National Guard By Ryan White As of February 1^st, I am an American soldier. I joined the National Guard. I have participated in many activities for only being in for a short time. In the National Guard, we get the option to either go “active” or “non-active” after basic training. If I go active, it pretty much means I will go to war. If I choose non-active, I go home after basic training. I am non-active at this time, obviously, because I can’t go to war since I haven’t had my basic training yet. I’ve noticed that some of you have taken up an interest in the National Guard. There are certain requirements if you are looking to join the military. The main basic one is DON’T LIE ON THE ENLISTMENT FORM!!! If you lie and they find out after you get through all the tests, you will owe the government a lot of money – about $10,000 dollars! Another thing is if you do sign up, THINK IT THROUGH. It is easier to join than it is to get out and the minimum that you can serve is 8 years. I am signed up for an 8 year contract and when that is over with I will re-enlist. (Continued à)	One weekend a month is pretty much all that you have to do. My sign-on bonus is $50,000 dollars and an extra $20,000 dollars for becoming a cannon crew member for field artillery. This means that I get to blow stuff up from about thirteen miles away. The military is pretty much made up of anagrams. The ASVAB test is basically an I.Q. test to see what type of jobs you are cut out for in the military. If you scored a 50 or higher you get a “G.I. kicker” which means that you get an extra $200 dollars a month at BCT (Basic Combat Training). My score was 59. The MEPS test is the physical part of the testing. They test you for EVERYTHING. The Army even does an FBI background check to see if you have a criminal history! So remember, if you join the Army, tell them the truth!

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Minnesota West College Visit By Lety On April 12, 2006 some of my partners and I went over to Minnesota West Community College. We had so much fun. It was a day to try to choose a career and check out different college programs. We also ate all kinds of different foods like Mexican, Lao, African and Indian food. I personally got to experience some law enforcement training, like witnessing an arrest. It was really enjoyable. The students that went were Jookie, Amy, Teresa, Jairo, Raul, Chris, Sing, Javier, Lety, Desiree, Israel and John. It wasn’t all lectures and food – we were entertained too! A group of students from the Flandreau Indian School was there and they performed cultural dances for the crowd. We didn’t want to come back – especially Jookie. She wanted to stay because we were having such a good time. Jairo went dancing with one of the Native American girls even though he didn’t know how to dance. He gave it a try and was pretty good at it. I also found something really interesting. I asked one of the ladies if I could play the big drum. They told me that no female could play that drum, only men could. A woman must stand behind the man when he is playing the drum. Every culture is different. I really think when the community does another event like this, all the ALC students should go, because it helps students make decisions about possible careers. I am very happy that I decided to go on this trip.

Taste of Nations By Raul Avila Last week, a dozen of us from the ALC went to the college at Minnesota West in Worthington. We listened to lots of speakers around the campus to hear what they had to say. After a morning of speeches and presentations, we all headed to the gym to get some food. I was so glad that I didn’t have to eat school food. At the college we had a little bit of food from everywhere. They called it the Taste of Nations. We had some Asian food, Mexican food, Indian (Native American) food, African food, and, of course, pizza. The Asian people gave you an egg roll with some coconut jelly to dip your egg roll with. Next was the Mexican food. They gave you fajitas tamales and some meat. After that it was Indian food. They gave you pieces of meat prepared Native American-style with a tasty sauce on it. The African food was piece of bread made of this flour-type stuff (sort of a soggy tortilla) with some spicy sauce to go with it. Finally we were given two slices of pizza which I know is everyone’s favorite.

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Graduation By Chris Gardner Guess what, seniors, it is almost that time of year for you. You are going to graduate this year if you have the credits for it. I personally can’t wait, because it means no more school for me and for those who are graduating with me. What is your plan after high school? You need to think about what you are going to do and where you are going to go after high school. Actually, you should have thought about that last year when you were a junior in high school. I will be going to Ohio right after high school, but I don’t know when or where I will end up. Maybe I will see you all again some day on that road of life, or you will read about a big shot person that made it to the big time and that person will be me. I may read about another person who made it big, and I will say that I knew that person. ALC Graduation will be on May 25, 2006, and I hope to see you there. If I don’t, I hope that you and everyone have a nice life. School and classes will not be missed by me, but all my friends go to the ALC and I will miss them all. (Continued à)

Like I said that I hope to see you down this messed up road called life. Maybe we will get together in the future… who knows? School was the longest time for me and maybe for you. We will all be happy to graduate this year. All of you have a great time. Live life to the fullest and don’t let me see you go to jail or someplace like that for something stupid, okay? School was supposed to teach you about life, so all of you seniors, stay out of trouble and don’t let someone put you down. Learn to walk away. Life after graduation is a second chance so don’t mess it up. Have some fun with life and live it to its fullest.

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Mr. Strouth By Jimmy Dinh Everyone at the ALC knows that you cannot possibly get through this school without having Mr. Strouth for a teacher at one time or another. In fact, most of us have taken several of the different classes he teaches. So, just who is Mr. Strouth? Mr. Strouth is from out west. He was born in Boulder, Colorado. He later attended college in Boise State University in Boise, Idaho. He had several teaching jobs in Montana and South Dakota before coming to Minnesota. Mr. Strouth first started teaching at the ALC in 1995. He began as a night school and summer school teacher. His regular day-school teaching job was in Ellsworth, Minnesota, at that time. He began working at the ALC fulltime in 1997. That’s when his family moved to Worthington from Ellsworth. In addition to teaching at the ALC, Mr. Strouth stays busy coaching. He’s been the assistant boy’s basketball coach at Minnesota West for several years. He enjoys sports and has a Masters Degree in Sports Science as well as his teaching degree in Social Studies. Mr. Strouth had this to say about his teaching in Worthington: “I enjoy working with the staff and the students here at the ALC. There’s nowhere I would rather teach.”

Correction… The Insider inadvertently printed some false information in its December 5, 2005 edition. As part of a series on “dumb laws” in Minnesota and the surrounding states, The Insider stated: In Spearfish, South Dakota, if more than three Native Americans are seen together in public, they are considered a war party and may be fired upon. It turns out that this supposed law is nothing more than an urban legend circulating on the internet. Spearfish Mayor Jerry Krambeck became so annoyed at this legend that he issued a proclamation last month denouncing it. No one knows where the myth started, but more than a half-dozen web sites dedicated to “dumb laws” picked up the story and repeated it. The Insider got its information from these web sites. The Insider was not the only publication hoaxed by this supposed law. Reputable newspapers throughout the country also printed stories about the Spearfish “law”. The effort to correct this story was begun by John Glover, professor of American Indian Studies at Black Hills State University in Spearfish. Black Hills State was the first public university in South Dakota to offer a major in American Indian Studies. The University also has a very large percentage of Native American students. Glover recently told the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, “How do you correct something on a web site? I don’t know, but I’m going to pursue it.” The Insider regrets its part in perpetrating this myth and is happy to print this correction.

The Insider April 20, 2006 Page 5

New Cars for “06

By Jairo Banegas

One of the hottest cars coming out is the new Saturn Sky “roadster”. Priced at only about $25,000 it’s a good deal when you get comfort, styling, and power all in one package.

Next vehicle is a minivan Mazda5 made by Mazda. Yes Mazda makes minivans. It’s priced at around $18,000. It’s rated good in performance and style, but lacks in space, even though the whole back seats folds deep into the floor.

One my favorite is the new Pontiac Solstice – another roadster to the streets that has power, comfort, and styling. Priced at $20,500, it’s a hot one for this summer.

Another car coming with power, style, and comfort is the new GTO by Pontiac. With 400 horse power under the hood, you’re sure to have fun in the summer. It’s priced at $33,500.

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ARIES (MARCH 21- APRIL 19) Speak up and good things will come your way.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) Keep looking good and beautiful people will come talk to you.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) Teach someone something and it will bring you money.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) Be rude and people will respect you – no kidding!

LEO (JULY 23- AUG 22) If you’re happy today, you’ll be even happier tomorrow.

VIRGO (AUG 23-SEPT 22) Today you’re going to get her number, trust me…

LIBRA (SEPT 23-OCT 22) Be all that you can be.

SCORPIO (OCT 23-NOV 21) Be respectful of what others have to say. Do some listening. It will be good for you.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22-DEC 21)

Be careful with your family. Don’t mess up what you have that is good. Money will soon be coming your way!

CAPRICORN (DEC 22- JAN 19) If you’re Cuban you’re not to be messed with.

AQUARIUS (JAN 20- FEB 18) Slap your lover and her love for you evaporate real fast.

PISCES (FEB 19- MARCH 20) You have many things going through your head. Just don’t forget the people who love you. Expect something pretty exciting.

This week’s Separated at Birth

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