Livingston County Daily Press and Argus from Howell, Michigan • 30

fili'l ifciliaawifri I Open Forum for Student Expression Attention, students parents: PARKING PERMITS will be sold at registration. Be sure to bring your $30 check or cash with you when you register for classes: Seniors, Aug. 21, 9-11 a.m., 1-3 p.m.; Juniors, Aug. 23; Sophomores, Aug. 25; Freshmen, Aug.

26. (same times all 4 days of registration) 4C ftlK-UUd 6UHHCtff By Jini Daa Mar ria Editor Ftatar Ldmr Optaioa tduar Spiral Mint Director Maaagff, bdilur Easter Heather State Carv naiad. Dan Ma Man Re -Staff Mvaar NMac.AaarOaii.l'aiai HoweU High School 1200 W. Gnuid River, Howell, Ml 48843 Volume 23, Number 39 Wednesday, June 21, 2000 3 dan mfimM As I See It Teachers On Move Keelean hangs up lab coat after 27 years Jessica Kincaid deserves Red Cross Award the fire and there was nothing left of the house. Everyone had to evacuate the neighborhood because the fire had been caused by a gas leak.

The Log Cabin Inn on Grand Sophomore Jessica Kincaid, who was recently awarded the Everyday Hero award for the 2000 Youth Good Samaritan category by the Red Cross, is a role model for teens everywhere Kincaid' quick thinking saved her two cousins and her younger brother last summer. Kincaid was walking through herhouse when she smelled gas. She checked to make sure that the stove and other gas appliances were turned off. When she turned around "the house began picking up," she explained, "the floor got hot, and I could hear the house ripping and breaking." She grabbed Everyday the cordless phone and got her brother out of the house. Dialing 911, she went to her aunt's house next door and called stepfather Rick Donald.

Kincaid grabbed her cousins, their dog, and took them to her grandfather's house which was nearby. She said it took a long time for the fire department to put out Jen Hamlett'01 ftstun (Mat It is going to be a difficult task for HHS to find another teacher as dedicated as Virginia Keelean to fill her shoes when she retires in June. Keelean, who has been teaching for just about 27 years, has many responsibilities. On top of teaching Health Occupations, Medical Careers, and Health Education during the school day, she also has participated in many professional and service organizations. One organization she remembers most fondly was called PIP-Fest (Partners in Prevention Festival).

In 1984-85, she participated in at least six activities for this program. About 100 students from all over Michigan were involved and taught basic skills such as relationships and "It was an intense and wonderful experience," Keelean said about the "PIP-Fest" weekends she was a part of at HHS. In the late 1970's, Keelean participated in a local nurse's club. She was president of this club, Livingston County Nurses Club, from 1983-1986. She has also been an active member of Michigan Health Occupations Educators, Michigan Occupations Education Association, and American Vocational Association since 1973.

Keelean has also worked with groups of parents and students Spring Sports Wrap After 28 yrs.Gafl Carter next Virginia Keelean realizes she will miss working with students. through "Developing Capable People." Last semester Keelean set up a smoking cessation group for HHS students, which she views as very successful. There were 30 people signed up. Keelean's schedule now is much different from what it used to be in her early years of teaching. In 1977, she earned her bachelor of science degree from the University of Michigan.

During her first years teaching, she moved around very often. Keelean first taught Health Occupations in Fowlerville, whereas now she teaches it here in Howell. She also taught for the School of Nursing at McPherson Hospital for two years. Throughout her career, Keelean has also taught for community ed as well. When she Gail Carter is all smiles.

most. "What I loved best about my job was working with students and trying to help them find their way and at times fighting for them," she said. One of her favorite memories was of how she acquired our now-beloved Spirit Rock, which gives students a chance to express themselves. That year Carter was the SADD sponsor when she was approached by a father VI st earned her masters of science degree in Health Education from the University of Michigan in 1 986. As it gets closer and closer to her retirement, Keelean admits to feeling a little "retirementitis." What motivates her is her workalholism.

She is devoted to her work and to her students, who she says are her stimulation. She feels that the students are the best part of teaching. "I love their energy," she said. "I love seeing them make decisions for the rest of their life. The exploration stage." Keelean won't miss having to give grades though.

"It's an awkward process," she added "It's hard to make a grade represent what is really happening with the students progress." For 1 2 years, Keelean was involved in the HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) program which developed in the late 70's. HOSA conferences were held at HHS for three different years during this time, 1982-84. At one time, one of her students was a national officer for HOSA. To Keelean, this is one of her greatest achievements. Keelean plans on remaining active during her retirement years.

She is excited to finally have time to be able to sew, make quilts, and write. She plans on facilitating a writing group where a group of people write on a topic and share without criticism. Keelean also plans on putting together a book of all of her writing for her six whose son died in a drunk driving accident. He donated the rock to promote school spirit and unity. She's pleased that it has continued to serve that purpose and remembered how upset students were when it was rumored a few months ago that it might be removed.

"I also helped the students get our infamous Highlander mascot," she recalled. She was senior class sponsor and the Class of 1996 purchased the mascot costume as a gift to the school. "Helping the students acquire the rock and the mascot are two achievements that I am very proud of," explained Carter. She plans to spend her retirement fishing and conoeing whenever she can in the Boundary Waters in Minnesota, tending to her flower garden, spending time relaxing with her husband and working on her art. In the past she has made her own jewelry and done painting.

She plans to try various new types of art. Her next challenge is metal sculptures and welding; she plans to make sculptures for her lawn and flower beds. "I always wanted to grow up and become an artist and now that's what tricks of the trade," and was elected department head in 1996. For the last three years, Simeck has also been principal of HHS summer school where, as he explained, "we never had to call the cops, no kids were expelled, and no Driver's Ed cars were flipped." "Everyone always told me, 'Someday you're going to be an administrator," said Simeck. The prophecy has now become a reality, with Simeck set to take the reigns in the fall of this year.

Simeck chose Dansville because it is a small school and is more similar to Howell's summer school, of which he has administrative experience. "With a smaller school," Simeck explained, "it takes less time to make changes, like the implementation of an attendance policy or a curriculum realignment." Without the beauracratic gridlock that occurs in a large school, changes can take effect relatively quickly. Simeck hopes to use his administrative experience to take a position at an American school in France or Germany where diplomats and overseas 'ready for grandchildren, whose ages range from 6 to 1 5 years old. Now she' working with two writing groups, a co-ed and a women's group, and this satisfies her "creative needs," she said. Keelean has always loved creating and learning.

She received a diploma in Nursing from Mercy Central School of Nursing in 1958. Then in earned a Michigan Nursing Registration license, and she is planning on continuing to maintain this certification during her retirement. She plans on doing health-related volunteering throughout her retirement as well. Keelean hopes to have more time for walking and bicycling as well. She jokes that her biggest decision is going to be, "Where will I walk Her four children, Stephen, 40, Mary Joe, 37, Kathleen, 36, and John, 34, have always been an important factor in her life and she plans on spending more time with them.

Retirement isn't the only big change in Keeleans life. She is selling her house in Howell, a home which she has lived in since 1976, and moving into a condominium in the historic district of Grand Rapids. This transition is exciting for her because she grew up in that area and is looking forward to being near it. "I will definitely miss the stimulation of working with students," Keelean I'll miss it a lot more than I realize right now." HHS will also miss Virginia Keelean. chapter' I'm going to do," she said.

At this year's scholarship dinner on May 11 Carter read the following poem by Kent Keith as her advice to the departing seniors: People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered: love them anyway. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives: do good anyway. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies: succeed anyway The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow: do good anyway. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable: be honest and frank anyway. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest minds: think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs: fight for a few under-dogs anyways. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight: build anyway. Give the world the best you have and you '11 get kicked in the teeth: give the world the best you have anyway. principal workers from American companies send their children. He explained that experience as a principal in the U.S.

will allow him to enter in to a higher-paying administrative position Mari Simeck will continue to teach at Howell on a reduced schedule of three hours daily which allows her to spend more time with their two and Gabrielle, 4. Simeck explained his hope that "by the time they're seven or eight, they will speak at least one foreign language." "Right now is a very good time to become an administrator," he explained, "because few people with administrative qualifications are applying for positions. There is a dearth of candidates for a surplus of posi-tions." Simeck will soon be able to become better acquainted with the 300 students in his new school. Hopefully, his career at Dansville and abroad will closely resemble that of Howell: peaceful, productive, and with no flipped cars. leave her teaching job here in Howell, she found a new job right away in her new community.

"It's not as rural as River near Lake Chemung was also destroyed by the gas explosion. At the moment Kincaid and her family are living in Pinckney. They are currently living in her grandmother's cottage and have been the amount of possessions they had. They are beginning to look for another house. Hero Kincaid A rather reluctant hero, Kincaid was not comfortable talking about herself and thinks what she did was not unusual.

In her spare timehe enjoys water sports, especially wakeboarding and just hanging out with friends. We think she deserves recognition and are proud HHS has this everyday hero. Sarah Kluesner '02 everyone else." The girls wrapped up their season at the league tournament in sixth place out of seven teams. At Regionals they placed tenth out of fourteen. Despite all of their losses, Billups said the team has several very good players.

Sophomores Holly Showers and Kate Schonfeld have shown terrific skill throughout their two years on the team, according to Billups. They have improved their score this year by about five strokes. Showers made the All County's first team and Schonfeld mad second team. He also said the team has a promising freshman-; Whitney Gravelle. Despite a losing season this year, Billups as well as the rest of the team hope to do better next year.

Showers thins "we have what it takes to do better next year." -Heather Steibe '02 Frosh girls softball ends 12-11 "The season has been really good, we have improved a lot in hitting, batting and fielding," said freshman Daina Wines. Coach Paul Bushdng, now in his second year, agreed that team' season went well, with an overall record of 12-11. "I'm happy with our record," said catcher Jessica Buttermore, "We have come a long On April 19, the team played a double header at Novi, their best games of the season. By the end of the first inning, the Highlanders were already winning by an amazing 15-2. They mercied them both games.

did really well because we all played at our peaks, so we totally crushed them!" said Buttermore. However, the team as a whole has had some problems strengthening their team need more encouragement as a team, and we need to be better friends," said Danielle Rozek. The team explained that their strategies as a whole were never really stated out loud, but they kind of fell into place. "We kind of slack off in the begining of the game, then kick their butts in the end. Sometimes we get discouraged and can't catch up," said Rozek, "We paint our faces to make us look tough!" -Megan Risdon '03 Boys track honors seniors This year's Howell Boys' Track team honored seniors at their end-of-season part There were no tears, but the feeling in the air said it all: seniors who ran their hearts out this year, are going to be missed next year.

"The season may not have ended where we wanted it, but we still came out and turned some heads," said senior Brad Morgan. Morgan along with senior Christopher Strok both had bad starts to the season this year. Both Morgan and Strok had broken legs as the season started. As for next year's team. Coach Tom Bruce said, I have never coached a better group of kids.

And I feel that even though we may be losing a few key players. also have many up-and-coming stars on the team." Two will be juniors Matt French and Jon Rose, he predicts. -Dan Morrison '00 Editor's note: We apologize to players whose spring sports wrapupt did not get published. Unfortunately, some sports reporters missed deadlines. Nicole Prang '00 fetaffiantrr "After a total of 28 years in education I am just ready for the next chapter of this incredible said counselor Gail Carter as she beamed with excitement about the future.

Carter will join her husband Cam Carter (former science department head) who retired two years ago after 34 years in the Howell Public Schools. Her decision to retire came in April. "It's-just time," she explained energetically. "You can tell I've already cleared out my office, and my name is no longer outside my door." Gail Carter first began her career as a middle school art teacher in the Wayne-Westland school district. In the early 70's she began teaching first at Howell's Michigan Avenue Middle School and then at McPherson Middle School.

There she taught art, history, and gym. In 1988 she was honored as Howell's Teacher of the Year. She then became a Howell High School counselor in 1990; William Craine was her mentor. She says that after all of her time spent in education she is going to miss her students the M. Simeck John Voorhess '00 opinion Cbitor English Department Head Mike Simeck, English and German teacher here since 1995, has realized his calling.

He is set to become principal of Dansville High School beginning in the '00-'01 school year. Simeck came to Howell High School in 1989 when he began student teaching with German teacher Doug Parrish. While student teaching he met his future wife, Mari, a French teacher at Howell. He spent a year studying in Germany on a Fulbright Scholarship where he and Man conversed regularly racking up tremendous phone bills. While in Germany he was able to witness the fall of the Berlin Wall, From Germany he went to Grosse Pointe where he replaced a German language teacher who was on a sabbatical.

Next he went to Mason, MI, where he taught German. After Mason, he headed to France for a year with his wife, where she was using a Fulbright Scholarship and participated to become Dansville JVB-bali first tovin20 in 20yrs TV boy baseball ended their great season with a final record was 21-5 overall and in the KVC 15-3. The most exciting fact is that they are the only team in the last 20 years to win over 20 games in their overall record. They took second place in the KVC only because of one loss to Novi. Top hitters this season were Ryan Decker, Scott Crichton, and Nick Drazic.

"All this guys hit over a 400 which is an exellent, they were the best hitters on the team this year," said Coach Rick Humphries. Top pitchers this season were Bob Bode (5-0), Kyle Keppen (4-1), and Scott Crichton who was 4-1. The most improved this season is Noah Dorsey, he has taken a step up since the begining of the year. He is an exellent player who works hard," said Humphries. The MVP is Ryan Decker his ability to save the game is extrodinary He is an all around great player, he is a great fielder and hitter," stated Humphries.

"The boys this year achieved most of their goals, they did exellent in pitching and their hitting carried out all year long. They also were great at coming back from behind the boys never gave up. I hope that they will keep improving so they will improve the Varsity team next year." -Ashley Urban '03 Varsity boys baseball Team unity and cooperation has jnade this year' varsity baseball team exceed in their goals to strengthen their team. Their final record: 6-18. Varsity members worked had to make their season a successful one.

Although the team struggled offensively, their defense was their strength. Head coach Tom Murray said that the team had a strong defense but would like to see the offense improve next season. Junior Brandt Patterson said "Our defense was good and we got better as the season went on. Our goal at the beginning of the year was to win the KVCbut we didn't. We had fun though." Leadership was key in this year's varsity team.

Seniors this year have pulled through to lead the team many times during the season, making their team even more cohesive. Patterson (hanked seniors "for making this season fun." This year's varsity team has pulled through many tough times from heartbreaking losses to coming out with tough wins. -Lauren Searle '00 Frosh baseball finishes 11-5 "We are a really good team. We did all right, but the thing is we should have been winning more games," said freshman Sean Mesaeh. Their end of the season record was 11-5.

"One of our strengths is that we always have a good recovery during games, we usually were down in the first couple innings, but by the end of the game we would come back vrjth; a great win," said Scott Clay. -Ashley Urban '03 Girls golf finishes 6tb of 7 It has been a disappointing season for the girls golf team, wrappingwith a record of 0-6, but Coach BobBillups said his team "made many improve-1 menu this year, but so have the other (earns. We're just keeping up with Bathke fulfills wish to influence lives at HHS Simeck displays his poster-filled room for one last time. in a teacher exchange program. In 1995 they returned, and he began teaching German here at HHS.

He soon started teaching English, for which he had to learn the "different MIC adivision of General Motors. It absolutely broke her heart when she found out they had to move again. I love this place," says Bathke, "I love this classroom. I hated the fact that I have to leave. I think I'm going to miss this classroom and the English department most of all.

The staff is so kind and generous. They're welcoming professionalsthey're smart and funny. We have a great time together. They've really taught me a lot. It kills me that I don't get to see the freshmen I taught graduate, but I know I'm leaving them in good hands." Being bounced around isn't all bad for Bathke.

She does meet many in teresting people. She has friends in Texas, New York, North Dakota, and now Michigan mos't are former stu dents. E-mail is wonderful," says Bathke, "One of the good things about moving around is I have a lot to other educational systems to compare to. A part of me wants to be remembered as the old dragon lady that everyone talked about, the old crabby witch Two years ago Julia Bathke came to Howell High School wanting to have an influence on the lives of students and everyone she met. She has done just that.

By teaching her students (he things that are necessary for everyday life, making them laugh, and brightening the room up with her smile, Through the years she has never liked being bounced around from school to different school, but thanks to her husband's frequent transfers with his career it's happening again. Her husband Mike Bathke has been transferred to New Jersey through his job with Motors lnsurance Company Howell is. much more built up. There's a lot more students so there'll be more diversity. I just want to move into my new home, unpack, and make new friends.

I just want everything to go back to normal," says Bathke. "I just want everyone to remember how wonderful Howell is. I want to thank everyone who has made my two years here at Howell High School absolutely wonderful." Glenn Gillespie '03 Althoughshehasto.