Throwback Thursday: Tarzan Edition

The cast performs in PHS's December production of Tarzan. (Photo Credit: Amanda Cooper)

PHS Scholarship Fundraiser

by Anna Greenhalgh

The PHS Scholarship Fund is hosting an Auction Bash! There will be auctions, both silent and aloud, on the 28th of February after the New Year. This fundraiser is being held for future scholarships and all parents, not just high-school parents, are invited. The theme this year is Hillmen, so grab the gear and let’s get moving!

“Parents can contact me with any questions, and if anyone would like to reserve a table in advance for themselves and their guests, I can help with that too,” says director Sheila Kelly. “The more the merrier!”

Contact Ms. Kelly at (608) 348-2615 for more information.

Four Guys and A Rumor

by Saafia Masoom

No, PHS, Cole Haas (‘16) is not moving to Delaware. His father isn’t having spine problems. And, nobody in the Haas family is dying.

Four boys among our student body recently learned a lot about the power of social media and rumors in very little time. It all started out as good fun, and to be honest, it ended in good fun when everyone realized what had happened.

The idea to start a rumor about Haas came to his buddies Cody Schambow (‘16), Josh Reuter (‘16), and Mitch Knockel (‘16) one day during their Algebra II class. “We were just going to start a rumor about Cole because we were mad about something,” says Schambow. That night each of them posted a picture of Haas on Instagram with a caption saying that they would miss their friend dearly when he moved to Delaware. While it was completely false and meant to last for only one night, none of them could have predicted the madness that followed.

The snapchats, tweets, and posts on social media started flooding in just minutes. “It was crazy,” says Reuter of the way everyone seemed to hear about the rumor almost instantaneously. The Haas family began receiving calls from other parents in the community, some of whom had heard that Haas’s dad was going to Delaware for medical reasons. Others thought Haas was on his deathbed. Amidst all the commotion, the boys received a call from Haas’s mother within half an hour of the original post.

Meanwhile, Haas himself was completely unaware. Says Knockel, “Cole was out hunting, and he didn’t know any of it was happening.” When he did find out, Haas took it in stride and went a step further: he decided to go along with it. “I pretty much thought it was funny. I wanted to see how it would turn out,”  he shares.

And, that’s when things began to get out of hand. With the help of a heartfelt post by a friend of theirs and Haas’s compliance, the charade went on for a solid week. By about Day 4 or 5, the school called the Haas family, having gotten the word. At that point, the boys decided it was probably best to kill the story. They spent the next days dispelling the rumor while Haas posted a disclaimer on Instagram about it. 

“I didn’t think it would escalate that quickly,” mentions Reuter. But, even with a harmless intent, the story got around to a large population of the school. 

All four boys are equipped with their social media outlets like Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and Twitter, and they can attest to the fact that PHS’s rumor mill is in business. “People do talk trash on Twitter all the time,” states Schambow. 

It’s a lesson well-learned that surprisingly did not end in serious consequences unlike so many other instances of social media and rumors-gone-wrong. “If it’s in good humor like ours, it’s not bad,” points out Knockel. “It was meant in good humor, and Cole thought it was funny.” 

In any case, the student body might just be thinking twice before hitting that all-powerful “post” button.

The Curse is Broken

by Eramis Momchilovich

Cold Fusion seems to have broken the curse! Every previous establishment that has tried to succeed on the corner of 2nd St. and Main St. has failed to make it past the one year mark. Cold Fusion has spent far over a year in that jinxed location and is still going strong thanks to the “fun, hardworking staff” and the “great customers and the community’s support,” according to district manager Cassandra Blatz.

Cold Fusion opened in August of 2013 and has since been eager to serve and become involved in the community. Blatz accounts some of the restaurants success to having “established a business that caters to the city’s diverse demographics of both family and residential customer and the college students.” Cold Fusion also offers a unique and diverse menu with weekly specials that have become a community favorite. 

Their success has been so great that Cold Fusion has opened a new restaurant in Middleton this December. This new restaurant holds the same hours as the Platteville location (Monday-Sunday 11 a.m.- 2 a.m.) and offers the same menu, as well. . Here are some of their Weekly Specials:

Monday (4pm-10pm) 75 cent Jumbo Wings

Tuesday (4pm-9pm) Sushi

Wednesday (4pm-10pm) Burger Night

Thursday (All Day) Kids Eat Free

Friday (4pm-10pm) Fish Fry

Saturday (4pm-9pm) Prime Rib Dinner

Sunday (All Day) Prime Rib Sandwiches

Being a “fusion restaurant,” Cold Fusion has become popular through the many styles of cooking it uses and its many ethnic influences. Blatz says that some of the house specialties “are items from our award winning BBQ pit menu, fresh salmon dishes, and our chicken alfredo nachos.” And, vegetarians and vegans, never fear; Cold Fusion also offers meal options that will work with your diet specifications. Whatever your food preference, Cold Fusion is sure to satisfy!

Driftless Market Expands

by Adam Roberts

Over the summer, a second floor with overflow seating, bathrooms and additional space that allows for more retail opportunities was  added to Platteville’s Driftless Market.

The expansion was mostly due to timing. “When we opened the store, we bought the whole building,” says owner Heidi Dyas-McBeth. “We had always rented the second story as a four bedroom apartment.” However, when the tenants did not renew their lease this summer, it seemed the best time to expand the store. “We were at a place where we could really use the additional space,” says Dyas-McBeth, and the expired leases gave them the opportunity to expand.  “Had that apartment not become available, I don’t know that we would have expanded."  

The change took some work. Renovations were needed, including painting and removing drywall for a door to the staircase. The opening of the new floor was also slowed by the tornado that hit Platteville in June. “We were going to open in July, but then the tornado hit,” says staff member Cena Sharp, a key employee to the renovation. “That set us back like crazy.”  The new floor was finally ready for a soft opening in September, and the grand opening was just last month.

Platteville's Driftless Market added a new floor. 

The extra seating was overdue, according to the staff.  “We’re getting busier now,” says Sharp. “We needed more space to grow as the store has become more successful.” The extra space can be reserved for meetings, as well as just for eating lunch.  

The extra space also allows for community events. “In the past we’ve offered cooking classes and other kinds of workshops, but we were very limited with the space we had,” says Dyas-McBeth. “[The new space] gives us room to do more educational things related to the products we have at the store.” Plans for more events are still in the air. “I want to get an open mic night up there,” says Sharp.  

The space is also available to rent for other causes. “Gifts That Give,” a gift shop full of items obtained through the Fair Trade movement, will be renting some of the space upstairs for the holiday season.  The gifts come directly from workers in Laos and Guatamala--not through any large distributors-- in order to ensure workers are given fair wages for their work. It will be open every Saturday from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

So, what is to be gained from all the hard work put into the expansion of the store? “We hope people will see the Driftless Market as a place to come and have lunch.” The extra seating is a nice place to enjoy food in an intimate setting. Their menu includes wraps, salads, sandwiches and more, with numerous vegan and vegetarian options. “We have meat, too,” Sharp assures, “but we are very conscious of the people that don’t eat meat or people that have allergies.” The store also has wi-fi, which makes it a great spot to do homework.  

So, don’t hesitate to stop in at the Driftless Market for a healthy, inexpensive meal or for anything else in the store’s wide variety of products. Says PHS student Emma Bryla (‘16), “It is very important to buy local, and the Driftless Market is definitely the number one place to do that.”

The Interview Screens At Millennium Cinema

  By Eramis Momchilovich  

     Despite the attacks on Sony by North Korea in late 2014 and all the controversy surrounding the movie, Millennium Cinema began showing the film The Interview on Christmas Day.

    The Interview was due to be released to theaters October 10, 2014, but was pushed back to December 25, 2014 and then completely canceled due to unprecedented cyber attacks on Sony Pictures that resulted in the leaks of intellectual property, private emails, and sensitive and proprietary material. Despite threats on the places where The Interview would be shown, Sony made it slightly less offensive and released the film online as well as in a select few smaller theaters across the nation.

    In the movie the main characters of the film, Dave Skylark and Aaron Rapoport, manage a celebrity tabloid show called Skylark Tonight. The two are recruited by the CIA to assassinate their latest interviewee and avid fan, Kim Jong-un, on their trip to Pyongyang. Seth Rogen and James Franco star in the comedy, which has brought in more profit than Sony might have hoped for after the threats, leaks, and cancelations. Whether it’s considered a success might just be up to those who see it, something people in the Platteville-area can boast with their local display.

    Millennium Cinema was one of these courageous theaters to show The Interview. “The Millennium Cinema was due to show this movie before the release was cancelled,” says general manager Jeremy Patnaude. “We were just following through on what was planned.” Showing a film that already had such a reputation would be a leg up for a small town theater like Millennium Cinema. Patnaude also stresses that Millennium's priority was to get the customers what they wanted by showing the anticipated film.

    On the opening night there was “a wide audience with people ranging from seniors all the way down to college and high school students,” remarked Patnaude. The hype from the controversy surrounding the film peaked many people’s interests and they were not disappointed. “People seemed to like it; it was funny,” added Patnaude. As to the possible danger, Patnaude isn’t worried. “Platteville is in the middle of nowhere, how could a terrorist even find us?” he says. So head over to Millennium Cinema for some stress free laughs.

Trivia Facts Cracked

by Max Frommelt

While many applications tend to take the public by storm, Trivia Crack lit the mobile market once again. Although, many are just discovering it today, the app created by the Argentinian company Etermax has been here for over two months. 

Trivia Crack is one of the few applications that crosses multiple devices and platforms. It covers iOS, Android, and Windows for the mobile world. The other bonus? The application can run through Facebook. 

The app only recently reached the typical US consumer, though it’s been in Latin America for over two months. Hispanic communities in the US served as the bridge to the rest of the general public in America, a reason for the slow spread. So, what’s up with the game becoming so popular now? Try social media. 

Through popular outlets, Trivia Crack trickled into the radar and caught our attention. It was only a matter of time before it fairly exploded all over PHS. McKenzie Scanlan (‘15) says, “Everyone else plays it, that’s the only reason I do. If no one else played, I wouldn't either.” And, that’s another thing: it uses other people to play.

So, if ten kids in study hall each play two different games, 20 kids get a notification that it is their turn. With the total time for one round being around a minute, it seems like a simple thing to pick up your phone and play for a bit. This is obviously against school policy, which is why the office has reported getting “more cell phones than usual.”

Trivia Crack has lead to daily disruptions around PHS, evidenced by the many times one hears “Quick, I need this answer!” during class. Senior English teacher Mrs. Keleher says, “The game is creating a major distraction for my students.”

Pinning the Victory: Wrestling

by Anna Skubal

Slap! That's the sound every wrestler hopes to hear, signaling the pin that gives them victory. The co-oped Platteville-Belmont Wrestling team's season has started with a bang. Their first tournament at the Black Hawk Invite earning 4 placing wins. With more kids on the team this season  than in past years, they have a great chance of doing well as a team and as individuals. The current team consists of 11 students from Platteville and 7 students from Belmont.
   Wrestling is a combat sport between two competitors trying to establish superior position, score more points, and ultimately pin their opponent.

    As Coach Crase puts it, "Wrestling is a great sport to teach you the value of individual preparation and dedication because while it's a team sport, it comes down to individual victories. There's no excuses. [You] can't blame officials; it's just you and the other guy deciding who's better.”
The team always appreciates fan support from the students to cheer them on to victory. With home meets on the 9th, 13th and 30th of January, make sure to stop by the old gym in Belmont High School to support the team.

Too Cool for This: Winter Fashion Tips

by Pauline Justal

Just because the temperature dropped doesn't mean you have to let your fashion game drop, too. There are so many wearable and warm winter fashion trends that you can be comfy and look great in, from knee-high boots to statement coats—to settle for an un-cute outfit this season.

    How can you look hot when it’s cold outside?  A comfy, cozy sweater with jeans or leggings looks great while colorful scarves and hats give your outfit a trendy and classy look.

    Scarf capes are the new arrivals this winter. Apart from them, high heels have made a significant stay this season. Shapes took an altogether more top-heavy feel with oversize coats, capes, and furs. To contrast the too-heavy feel leggings, tights and delicate footwear complete many looks.

    “The colour palette is divided in two very contrasting camps: autumnal hues and pastels, which in a way represent the mood of the collections: on the one side experimental and unusual, and on the other coherent, safe and ever so commercial. The colour of the season is once again red, red like the flame that burns with the passion of those involved in the fashion industry, those who love it and loathe it in equal measure,” says Valentina Zannoni, editor-in-chief of the style magazine Swide. So, don’t think you don’t have to try because it is winter and it’s too cold for fashion to matter. We are in high school. Everything matters.

Tumbling Stardom: Gymnastics

by Claire McMannes

The Platteville/Lancaster/Belmont gymnastics team is ready to compete in this new season. Last year the team overcame obstacles, such as losing two all-state gymnasts who graduated. Nonetheless Grace Hammermeister (‘17) qualified for the individual competition in floor. But, this year seems hopeful. Out of last seasons state qualifiers; there was only one senior. 

Quite a few girls are trying the sport for the first time ever this year. With new girls comes talent that has been untapped until now. The potential of this team is growing as the practices continue.

Coach Jessica Hill is entering her 15th year as the head coach. Coach Hill was nominated to be Coach of the Year in Division 2 for the 2010-2011 season. Leading the team are captains Jenna Phillips (‘16) and Marissa Marino (‘16). 

The team competed at their first invitational on December 6th and came out with good showing. “We got 119 as a team score, which is pretty good for our first meet!” says Marino. 

The team has qualified for the state meet the last three years in a row. This year, they’re hoping to make it four. So, come out to support our gymnastics team!

Black Friday Overload: What is This Madness?

by Kyle McWilliams

Since the mid 1960’s, people have declared the Friday after Thanksgiving to be the start to the Christmas shopping season. It was not until around 1980 that stores started to mark down prices on merchandise. In the early 2000’s stores started to open up earlier than usual, typically around 6:00am. In some instances stores opened up as early as 4:00am Friday. “Black Friday” has been the busiest shopping day every year since 2005. Starting in 2011, bigger corporations (Walmart,Target, Best Buy, etc.) have been opening up at 8:00pm Thursday night, turning Thanksgiving day into “Grey Thursday.”

This year I had the chance to head out to the local Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and Cabelas on Thursday night around 4:00pm. Driving up to the parking lot at Wal-Mart, I could tell there were no spots left open. Because of this, I had to park along a curb at the side of the parking lot. As I went in, there were no carts left and a few baskets. I headed over to the most popular Black Friday deals at the Wal-Mart in Platteville: the movies and video games. I asked an employee from the Platteville Walmart if he could describe Black Friday for me, he responded with few words. “I can’t really describe it other than hectic or chaotic.”

Even though I was almost two hours early, people were camped in front of the boxes full of movies and video games priced from $2 to $10. As drew closer to 6:00 when the boxes would be opened, there were people standing shoulder to shoulder, ready to dive in and grab the movie or game they wished to have. The time came to open the boxes, the people dove right in and starting throwing movies up, down, left, right, and behind them. Luckily no one was hurt at the Platteville Wal-Mart, no fights broke out, and it looked as if people had just won the Hunger Games when they departed the store. I also had the experience to do a little online shopping too. The item I wanted was 50% off, but only for 12 hours. Luckily I was able to get what I wanted within an hour, because after I ordered it wasn’t long before the item was sold out from the company. 

Some were not as fortunate to get home safely from Black Friday shopping. One instance in Tustin, CA caused three individuals to start brawling in the middle of a Kohl’s. Another shopper was hit by a car departing a Wal-Mart in Pennsylvania. The man who hit the walking shopper was 72 years of age and he told the police,”The accelerator had stuck.” The shopper was taken to the hospital with broken bones and internal injuries, though the police reported that the injuries were not life threatening. 

Although we give thanks for a very American reason the day before, America isn't the only country that has Black Friday deals.  A women in the UK was injured when fights broke out and a falling TV hit her, making her fall down. She suffered from only a broken wrist and minor cuts and bruises. 

Even though I didn’t see any stunning action while Black Friday shopping, I’ll leave you with this: first, if you have never been a part of the insanity that is Black Friday shopping, try it next year. And second, if you do go shopping for a “hot” item, may the odds ever be in your favor.

Waves of Triumph: Boys' Swimming

by Melanie Schaefer

Right off the bat the boys’ swim team will be facing a challenge that they have little control over: their small numbers. Only nineteen boys will be participating on the Platteville/Lancaster boys’ swim program this year. Seventeen are returning swimmers while Zach Brunette (‘18) and Ben Gaylord (‘15) are both new to the team.

The struggle will come in trying to fill a lineup. With so few resources, most of the varsity reserve swimmers will be moved up to swim varsity events. With this added pressure, the boys will have to be on their “A game” at every single meet.

The team is coached by Matt Wunderlin, a Platteville native who is entering his second season as the boys’ head coach. Coach Wunderlin has also been the the assistant coach for the girls’ swim team. Last year he coached five boys onto the state championships in five events.

Last year the team finished as the conference runner-up behind Badger, a Division One team. A few of this season’s returning swimmers finished their last season at the State Championship meet. Those Platteville swimmers included Sam Iselin (‘15) in two relays and the 100 butterfly and his brother Dan Iselin (‘17) as an alternate.

Leading the team as captains this year are Sam Iselin and Ben Smith (Lancaster). Smith also qualified for the state meet, which means the captains are both veterans in pursuit of the highest level of competition. In addition, this will be the fourth and final season for four swimmers.

The boys competed at the Conference Relay meet on December 4th in Whitewater. Only eleven were able to compete due to an overlap with the musical performance that night. Although disappointed that they were not able to have the full team, Coach Wunderlin expressed excitement that they would be going into the dual conference meet season as the underdog. The team’s next home meet will be on January 15th against Dubuque Hempstead.

Royalty on the Court

Boys' Basketball

by Allie Serres

    The girls’ basketball season officially tipped off on November 10th. The Lady Hillmen played their first game on November 21st against Boscobel with a win of 60 to 54. The girls’ next game put them at a 2-2 record for both Varsity and JV with a double-header yet to come on the following Monday night.

    This year brings many new changes for the team. Last year, Coach Wayne Jentz stepped down from the head coaching position for the girls’ team, so this year, Coach Jim Lawinger has taken his place as head coach. Coach Mark Ludlum and Coach Mark Hamer are also returning.

    The change in staffing has meant more to the ladies than a new face. They hope to “learn a new system since we have a new Head Coach,” according to Coach Ludlum while also having a good time.

    Captains Ashley Budden (‘15) and Cassie Hamer (‘15) lead the diligent team, which has a fair showing from every grade with 4 seniors, 7 juniors, 6 sophomores, 10 freshmen.

    In the meantime, all the girls are being put to the test with a different strategy from their coaches this season. “We are running a different offense and defense this year,” says Coach Ludlum, adding, “We are pressing and changing defenses. Offensively, we are pushing the ball and attacking the rim.”

    No matter how the season turns out for the Lady Hillmen, it’s up to the students to cheer them on. In the words of their devoted coach, “The girls are working extremely hard and they are a great deal of fun to watch. I love all of them and enjoy coaching these quality young ladies.”

Girls' Basketball

by Will Philipps

    The girls’ basketball season officially tipped off on November 10th. The Lady Hillmen played their first game on November 21st against Boscobel with a win of 60 to 54. The girls’ next game put them at a 2-2 record for both Varsity and JV with a double-header yet to come on the following Monday night.

    This year brings many new changes for the team. Last year, Coach Wayne Jentz stepped down from the head coaching position for the girls’ team, so this year, Coach Jim Lawinger has taken his place as head coach. Coach Mark Ludlum and Coach Mark Hamer are also returning.

    The change in staffing has meant more to the ladies than a new face. They hope to “learn a new system since we have a new Head Coach,” according to Coach Ludlum while also having a good time.

    Captains Ashley Budden (‘15) and Cassie Hamer (‘15) lead the diligent team, which has a fair showing from every grade with 4 seniors, 7 juniors, 6 sophomores, 10 freshmen.

    In the meantime, all the girls are being put to the test with a different strategy from their coaches this season. “We are running a different offense and defense this year,” says Coach Ludlum, adding, “We are pressing and changing defenses. Offensively, we are pushing the ball and attacking the rim.”

    No matter how the season turns out for the Lady Hillmen, it’s up to the students to cheer them on. In the words of their devoted coach, “The girls are working extremely hard and they are a great deal of fun to watch. I love all of them and enjoy coaching these quality young ladies.”

Saafia Masoom contributed to this article.

The Critic's Corner: Big Hero 6 is A Hit

by Matt Schaefer

Ever since the advent of feature length computer animation, it seems like each year there is a new film released specifically to push the boundaries of the medium. Some fail while others succeed. And, Big Hero 6 is an example that really succeeds.

Inspired by the series of Marvel comics by the same name, the story is that of Hiro Hamada (voiced by Ryan Potter), a 14-year-old super genius who is offered a chance to attend the same robotics school as his older brother Tadashi (voiced by Daniel Henney). However, when tragedy strikes, Hiro enlists the help of fellow inventors at the school and utilizes the lovable medical robot Tadashi created, called Baymax, to find answers. This is a very bare bones synopsis of the story, but to say any more would spoil a large portion of the movie. Believe me when I say it is best going into Big Hero 6 knowing as little as possible.

The voice work in the film is phenomenal and truly elevates the characters from animated actors to living, breathing, feeling characters. Potter is truly believable in his role as Hiro, giving him a range of emotions you would expect from an adolescent. TJ Miller is hillarious as Fred, one of the laid-back inventors at the school, and Scott Adsit’s voice work for Baymax is delivered with such a lighthearted drone it becomes entrancing to listen to.

The story to Big Hero 6 is well developed and well paced. There are times in the film that will have you laughing at loud, and later, you’ll be tearing up due to the drama on screen. The script is framed beautifully by the universe of San Fransokyo (exactly what it sounds like), which is a cool environment to begin with, but is backed up by amazing animation and stunning action segments.

To put it bluntly, Big Hero 6 deserves all the praise (if not more) that Frozen received this time last year. It’s an animated film that’s full of heart, lovable characters, and wonderful visuals. And, at the center of it all is a goofy marshmallow-like robot that steals the show and earns my love of the film.

Gift Giving with Purpose: A Different December

by Beth Gardiner

“What if December looked different this year? What if we all just give this Christmas away? If there is love in your heart, don’t let it stay there,” proclaims Matthew West in his Christmas song, “Give This Christmas Away.” 

Whatever holiday you may celebrating during this festive month, what if December really did look different this year? It’s easy to get lost in the stress of last-minute shopping, frigid weather, family gatherings, and meeting end of year deadlines. Where did we lose the purpose of this month of festivities, celebrating, gift-gifting, and spreading the love we have received all year? By giving this holiday season away, we can make a difference in the world and spread love to those around us. How? I’m glad you asked.

The long anticipated act of opening presents early Christmas morning or late Christmas Eve has many fond memories for people. Maybe it was the number one gift on your list, or the thoughtful gift from your little sibling that filled your heart with love. Receiving gifts shows us that we are appreciated and loved. Giving gifts allows us to give that same message to the people dear to us. 

Recently I learned about so many organizations that allows people to give awesome gifts, and also help people on the other side of the world. These organizations offer beautiful products to be purchased that gives opportunities to people that otherwise wouldn’t be able to provide for their families and make an income.

Amazima and the Apparent Project are two of these incredible organizations. Amazima sells beautifully handcrafted jewelry. Each purchase from Amazima employs a hardworking woman in Uganda. Each piece of jewelry is unique and prevents these women from becoming victims of the circumstances around them. It allows them to care for their families and not have to abandon their children as orphans. It gives them an income to allow their children to receive an education.   The Apparent Project also sells one-of-a-kind jewelry and ornaments that empower the poor in Haiti. Their mission is to keep families together. On top of taking care of street kids and giving them an education, they are giving parents the tools they need, so they can raise their children. They are giving jobs to these hardworking parents with incredible talents.

When you buy gifts for your loved ones from Amazima, the Apparent Project, or other organizations you give a gift of meaning. Each present has a story and is used to make a difference. So, don’t wait. Find an organization close to your heart and order their projects online today. December can look different this year.

New Administration at Platteville Public Library

by Matt Schaefer

The clichéd vision of the humble librarian is one that actually suits the Platteville Public Library’s new administrator. She is kind with a warm smile, speaks meekly (it is a library after all), and is in fact bespectacled. Her name is Jessie Lee-Jones, and she is very proud of her head librarian position.

Lee-Jones, who is in fact the wife of  PHS social studies teacher Mr. Garrett Jones, began her job as library director at the Platteville Public Library on October 15th and is already quite enveloped in her work. In fact, I caught her for an interview shortly before she had another meeting to go to. 

When asked what plans are in store for the library under her administration, she was excited. “Hopefully, we’ll be rebuilding the library,” she says, as she recounts the city’s plans to redesign the entire block and potentially create new facilities for the library, along with other businesses.

She is very happy with the position she is in, having already been a part of the Southwest Wisconsin Library System for four years through working at the Lancaster Public Library for two years prior to her job in Platteville. “I’ve always strived to be further ahead,” she beams, as she tells of how she was a director of the Cobb Library, a smaller library, for some time. She enjoys the directorial position, which allows her to “make important decisions and meet interesting people.”

On a more personal level, she is happy to be working in the town in which her husband is a member of the school system and where her daughter will be attending. “It’s a good opportunity to grow roots,” she says, stating that it was a job opportunity she could not pass up and that it will be “nice for the family.”

So, if you run into Jessie Lee-Jones at the public library, say “Hello” to her and maybe mention you’re a student of her husband. She is very excited about her work and eager to get to know the community.

The Voice Decorates for the Holidays...Season's Greetings!

Boys' Soccer Season Flies to a Finish

by Anna Skubal

Sadly the Platteville/Lancaster Boys’ Soccer season of 2014 has drawn to an end. As you can probably tell from the abundance of green shirts walking the halls, the boys were conference champions with an 11-1-0 (win-tie-loss) record this season. When you add in the out-of-conference games and tournaments, they were 14-2-6. All of their losses came from games against Division 1 schools, while they the Hillmen are in Division 3. This season has been great and next year looks just as promising. 

We will be saying farewell to 11 seniors this year who will be dearly missed by the whole team. They could use some players to replace the 11 that will be gone for next year. "If you're even thinking about it, you should just go out! We need more players and Brandon is the best coach you could ask for!" exclaims Nick Mewhirter (‘17). 

"This year was a great learning experience; everybody was very helpful in my transition from football to soccer, and I can't wait for next year. State 2k15!" As mentioned enthusiastically by Logan Weaver (‘17), the ultimate goal of the team each season is to win the state game. But, before State comes conference, separate tournaments, and multiple games against Mount Horeb, their long standing rival. 

The boys practice all summer for the 90 minutes that they get to show all the hard work that they put in. "A student section would be great. I'd love to look up at the stands and see my classmates cheering," says Mikey Musarra ('18).

Football Season Ends in Second Round of Playoffs

by Will Philipps

An unfortunate end came to the 2014 Hillmen football season this fall. The final game against Lodi was a heartbreaker to many fans who braved the cold to see their favorite high school football team battle in the second round of the WIAA Division 4 Playoffs. The Hillmen started their season off with a bang, with their first game resulting in a win against Darlington with a score of 39 - 19. But the victory was short lived, as next week the team suffered a hard loss to Holmen 27-0. The loss to Black River Falls really seemed to change the Hillmen’s attitude and focus around, enabling a 4 game win streak for the Hillmen against Prairie du Chien, Richland Center, River Valley and Dodgeville. The goal of beating Lancaster remains the same. Unfortunately, the season came to an end  When Lodi knocked out Platteville in the second round of the WIAA Division 4 Playoffs. Despite the early end to the season, the goal for state stays alive for next season.

The Work Behind Tarzan

by Eramis Momchilovich

Disney’s Tarzan has been a heartwarming part of many a high schooler’s childhood, but how many have seen the musical adaptation? Well, Platteville High School students are going to get their chance at the school performance on December 3rd thanks to all the dedicated, hardworking staff and students involved.

Assistant director Ms. Schober has been helping with musical for fifteen years and was a component in choosing this year’s show. She says that a major factor that contributed to choosing Tarzan was it is a children’s show with a contemporary feel. Some other Platteville Schools staff members that are heavily involved in the production are director Mrs. Armstrong, technical director Mr. Beaulieu, and set designers Mr. Swailes and Mr. Urness, a former PHS physics teacher. 

After the initial decision, much more brainstorming has to take place. Visualization of how the stage will be built and decorated, as well as costume details, makeup, and hair all needs to be considered. According to Ms. Schober, a lot of “hard work, sweat, and long hours” are needed to translate the ideas into reality. Many teachers and students end up spending over 10 hours at the school four days a week to work on choreography, lights and sound, memorizing lines and lyrics, and critiquing their acting. So much time spent away from home and family is a sacrifice cast, crew, and pit members have to make. 

The fact that “it (the musical) involves two things I love, drama and music” is what keeps Ms. Schober coming back each year to the hectic life of musical. “And, sharing that love with students is what it’s all about,” she adds. In the end, many participants will say that being involved with the musical is an experience of a lifetime.