ns-times

Terrel’s says goodbye to Sanpete County

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:14:23 GMT

Terrel’s has been an icon and community loved landmark for many years. Now that Terrel’s is being sold to Ridley’s Family Markets, the

community is searching for answers on what comes next. Although some might not like the idea of Terrel’s being sold, the old management thought that it was time to sell while Terrel Seely was still here.

“The owner is getting older and you know, it was just time, to make sure that, that transition happened while he was still alive,” Blake Rosenlof

said.

The arrangements for the sale were finished before the original owner passed away. Seely passed away last week.

While some are worried about changes, the purchase of Terrel’s and the five other stores previously owned by Seely will bring opportunities for

many involved in the store.

“What Ridley’s actually wants us to do is help incorporate what we're doing here,” Jared Mecham said, “cause now Ridley’s has 30 stores …

They're a bigger company now. And so they actually want our help from the bakery standpoint of getting some of our products into their bakeries and in all 30 stores. So they don't want to change what we're doing, because we're one of the best bakeries in the state of Utah.”

Many Terrel's employees are optimistic about this new opportunity. Ridley’s wants to keep the family friendly and supportive environment that

Seely has built. The employees believe that it is going to be good for the business and just a good thing overall.

“I think it will be a good change for most of the employees. And hopefully for the community as well," Rosenlof said.

Terrel’s is going to begin the change and transfer over starting in the beginning of April, and it is planned to be a slow change. Terrel’s is planned

to stay open throughout the entire process. Small changes will begin to start one by one, starting with things like the bags and milk.

“I think it's gonna take some time to adjust to,” senior Quincy Benson said, “especially because Terrel's means a lot to the community. It's a place

where a lot of people shop and it's been such a staple, but especially because Terrel Seely, everyone knows him, we love him.”

They are not certain when the name will officially change. And though the name is going to be changed, Ridley’s still wants to keep the

atmosphere and family supported environment. They plan to keep all the same staff and traditions and carry on what Seely has built.

“One thing that Terrel has always let me do is, they let me bring my little kids in here to work, just to teach them how to work…,” Mecham said.

“They've all worked here, and Terrel's allowed that. Most companies would never let you bring your kids to work. So I talked to the Ridley’s owners, they say the same thing, that we don't want that to change, we value teaching kids how to work.”

Ai kort

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:01:29 GMT

A group chat filled with teenagers from all across the globe bonding over common interests. These people, who in any other circumstance would have never met, become best friends because they decided to play the same online games.

With growing worldwide access to the internet, it has become common for teenagers and young adults to have online friendships. These connections can mean a lot to a person.

“The relationships I have online are closer to my heart than those in real life,” junior Brittlyn Church said.

With a generation who has been online their entire lives, online friendships are less taboo than ever. The results from a NS Times survey showed that 47 percent of students have had an online relationship, whether that be platonic or romantic. These relationships can have similar benefits to in-person friendships.

“I feel like I am a lot more confident around people that aren’t seeing me face to face constantly. It's just easy to talk to them about something,” Church said.

While there are some benefits, the biggest concern around online and AI relations is the increased number of social issues and lawsuits. ABC News and BBC News have both covered issues involving AI users replacing human contact with AI.

“My concern is that, much like how pornography is pyrite of intimacy, I worry that these AI relationships will be pyrite for actual human connection,” behavioral health teacher Sterling Whipple said. “And people chase them because it feels good in the short term, but it leaves them unfulfilled in the long term.”

According to the Britannica, the first AI chatbot was created in 1966 as a test to see if a computer could gain sentience. The responses given were often jumbled but it gave a baseline to work off of.

With AI advancements, chatbots can now respond in real time to any conversation or prompt that the user puts in. These bots can have pre-set personalities or even mimic celebrities or fictional characters when given the right directions.

“At some points it did kind of feel like they were more of a real person when I was talking to them, like a real funny person,” junior Nolun Neilsen said. “Then I realized, ‘Oh yeah, this is just a computer. This is just a bunch of other things compiled together to create this.’”

Even with how realistic AI has gotten, there are still bugs that make it feel like exactly what it is, a computer trying to be a human.

“I feel like just a real human experience will always be better,” Nielsen said. “I don't think it's ever gonna get quite as perfect because it's always better to just talk to someone in person and that feels more real.”

The essential need for human connection is why these new developments with AI and online relationships should be taken seriously.

“AI needs to be taken seriously,” Whipple said. “The effects on the human mind need to be taken seriously. I just hope that doesn't push us too far into a knee-jerk fear response, a panic response, because I think there's a lot of potential for good as well. But on young minds, we have to be really careful because they are so easily shaped.”

Speech and debate places 2 at region

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:01:24 GMT

On Feb. 21 the NS speech and debate team placed 2nd at region with 88 points.

“I was very proud of our team,” advisor Alex Bailey said. “This was the first year where we've had enough people or a large enough team to be

more competitive.”

Juniors Andrew Madsen and Hannah Holbrook placed 1st in public forum, senior Katie

Jones placed 1st in Informative Speaking, senior Ethan Mendicino placed 1st in Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking, Holbrook placed 2nd in National Extemporaneous Speaking, Wyatt Bills placed 2nd in Student Congress, Jazmin Solis and Sage Ivory tied for 2nd in Interpretive Performance, and Bills placed 3rd in Original Oratory.

Preparing for region took a lot of practice, preparation, and effort from the team. In the weeks leading up to the competition, students dedicated

time after school on Thursdays working on their speeches, practicing their performances, and making improvements. The advisors gave feedback to ensure that students could be ready to compete at region.

The regional competition was a great experience for the team, as it allowed students to challenge themselves, learn from other competitors, and

reflect on how hard they had come during the season. Competing against other schools gave the team the opportunity to see new performances and see what they can change so that they could do better moving forward.

“Speech and debate provides a lot of positive opportunities, and I have learned a lot about myself through speech and debate,” Madsen said. “I

think anyone who does speech and debate discovers something new about themselves.”

The regional competition involved four schools from across the area, and because of this students knew they would face experienced

competitors that required them to step up and practice harder. The team felt both nervous and excited to see how the region would turn out.

“For me, [competing] is pretty easy just because I've been doing it for four years,” Jones said. “But when I started out, it was terrifying.”

The team felt confident in their performance, even if they didn’t take first.

“I feel good, but it's always a tough competition every year,” Ivory said. “Sometimes you can do really good at region and then there's just a

school that'll just wipe you out.”

Despite challenges that come with the events, most members tend to look on the positive side and see this as an opportunity to learn.

Preparation helped these competitors feel more confident when it came to competing. Many students found that placing in region gave them a great sense of joy and showed the effort that they put in throughout the season.

“I'm just so proud of everything they've all individually accomplished, and then what they've accomplished as a team as well,” Bailey said. “No

matter how we do at state, I feel like we've already won to some extent.”

As the season begins to come to an end, the speech and debate team is now preparing to move on to the state competition, bringing with

them months of practice, dedication and the hope that all of their hard work will help them perform well.

“My hopes for state is that myself and my teammates will have a successful weekend,” Bills said. "I hope that all the hard work we have put in this year pays off and hope that we can take home a lot of medals this year.”

Senior shortstop leads team to 1st in state

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:00:12 GMT

The ball hits off the bat, and before anyone else even reacts, the shortstop is already diving, glove outstretched. In that heartbeat between dirt and leather, the whole field holds its breath, waiting to see if she’ll make the impossible look easy.

Senior Mylee Cook has been playing softball for 12 years and has been on the NS Softball team for her entire high school career as the team's shortstop.

A good player needs to have determination with the sport they are playing, and in Cook’s case, her family helped introduce her to her passion.

“My mom kinda made me at first but I just kinda started to like it more and my sister played and I just looked up to her playing and it was just fun to watch,” Cook said.

When playing a sport, the game isn’t the only good part. A huge benefit is just the friends that get made along the way.

“Mylee and I have been playing softball together the whole time in high school but we didn't play together much before that,” senior Afton Cook said. “I am an older senior and she is a younger one so we usually played on different teams.”

Playing softball hasn’t come without challenges for Cook, but her and her team try to turn the negatives around as much as they can.

“She's had some injuries, one, she hurt her hip and so I started calling her grandma cause that's an old person injury, and it stuck,” Coach Landon Bailey said. “But I called her grandma, everybody called her grandma for 2 years.”

Cook’s drive to be better has made for exciting practices and an uplifting environment.

“Mylee brings a very fun competitive nature to the team,” Afton said. “She is always wanting to win, and will do anything to win, and will do what it takes to help her team get there. She also doesn't let her wanting to win get in the way of her teammates. She makes practice fun and helps everyone remember why they love the game.”

The NS softball team wants to work on little things to improve together. With the practice they have done, on March 4 the NS softball team was able to pull out a win against Gunnison 13-2.

“I think our pitching's good, our hitting is pretty good. I think we're just going to keep working on defence …,” Bailey said. “Any games we don't usually have errors, we usually have a pretty good chance of winning.”

Phillseagar

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:58:50 GMT

Few acts of generosity can have as wide or as much of an impact than Philip Seager’s recent donation to the fine arts, counseling, and

technology programs, gifts aimed at helping the next generation. But Seager’s donation to these programs are more than just a gift towards graduates, it is a way to honor his late wife.

When his wife passed away in Oct. 2025, he decided to sell a piece of property behind their home with the intention to pay off the remainder

of the bills and put something away for savings, but he got an impression to do something different.

“It felt like she was reaching down to me saying ‘You need to do something better,’” Seager said. “So I’ll start a memorial scholarship in her name,

and that’s what I ended up doing.”

The scholarship is split in three parts: fine arts, counseling, and the technology programs. He did these things because these areas were

important to his wife and his love for technology.

For the last 14 years, his wife was an artist and produced a lot of paintings after she had retired. Prior to that, she was a school counselor. And

for Seagar he has a love for technology.

“I don’t like artwork, I don’t like counseling, but I love technology,” Seagar said.

Before his wife's passing, they ran a 501C3 business, which is a non-profit organization approved by the IRS that's free from taxes because it is a

charitable organization, for eight years. The business was called Rural Senior Adult Services which was a place for senior citizens to go when they got to the age where they couldn’t take care of themselves.

“We were focused on senior adults who were either at risk, or vulnerable,” Seagar said

Seagar and his wife dedicated years to helping senior citizens with their nonprofit, now he is making a donation of $10,000 to try to make a

difference in the younger generations lives, but there are some guidelines to follow.

“This is the single largest donation anyone has given as a scholarship at NS,” counselor Ben Cox said. “Phil’s desire to help students build their

future is an inspiration to me, and I am grateful for his kindness and willingness to give back to help others.”

The deadline for the scholarship is Friday, March 20. They apply online at https://dmsscholarship.org/

Scholarship winners will need to show proof of enrollment in a college or a university, even an online school counts, in order to receive the

award. As long as the school offers a degree in one of the three programs. Secondly, they can’t also apply for one of the other two programs. Lastly, they need to follow a path for that degree.

Salt Lake Tribune patners with NS Times

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:56:45 GMT

For this edition, the NS Times partnered with the Salt Lake Tribune to tackle the effects of screens on teens. Many of the stories written for this issue will be published in the Tribune’s newspaper as well.

The collaboration is part of an effort by the Tribune to encourage young writers. Heather May, the Director of Collaboratives, reached out to NS Times advisor Ben Cox in the fall. The class met with May and Lauren Gustus, Executive Director for the Tribune, in October to begin the planning process. NS Times staff also had an online meeting with Trevor Christensen, the Audience and Video Manager, to discuss what goes into creating and editing content.

The Tribune also provided students with a day at the capitol to learn about how reporters work with politicians by editor Jeff Parrott, photographer Chris Samuels and other Tribune employees.

The NS Times staff would like to thank Heather, Lauren, Trevor, Jeff, Chris, and others for the wonderful experiences and instruction they provided us.

AI paints an unclear future for artists' creative careers

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:54:14 GMT

His head throbs as he slowly packs up for the day. Hours of working as a graphic designer on the layout for a new website, mixed with sketching

designs and brainstorming stunning visuals, have taken their toll. Suddenly, his boss appears, calling him into her office. The serious expression on her face makes his stomach clench as he hears the last thing he ever thought he would, “This company is letting you go.”

This is the experience of a graphic designer who was recently fired because of the rise of artificial intelligence in the workplace. This scenario is

one that may become increasingly common in upcoming years. Research conducted by Goldman Sachs shows that generative AI has the ability to automate 26 percent of functions done by individuals in creative industries.

“If AI is going to do it faster and cheaper, why would they not use it?” senior Nila Peterson said. “Which, as someone who wants to [major in

graphic design], it’s really upsetting, honestly, because I think that there’s such a difference with AI, like it doesn’t create the same emotion that a person can.”

According to a recent NS Times survey, 79 percent of students believe that the future of creative careers will be negatively affected by AI. Many

students feel frustrated that their desired career is now not as feasible as it once was. Others worry that even if their future career remains available, it will not use the same roles.

“Before AI was a big thing, I always thought that being [an art teacher] meant connecting with students through that medium,” senior Sage Ivory

said. “ I’m worried that, after a while, it’s going to be something that you can’t really do, and it’s going to be more computer-based. It’s going to be more maximizing that space instead of emotions and connecting through my students that way.”

Others may share the concern that AI will change future innovation. However, even with constantly evolving AI, 61 percent of students at NS still do not believe that AI will replace human creativity.

“For some reason, as people we still like things that are touched by men more than we do by computer,” art teacher Paul Allred said. “That is the

important part. It’s like a painting. We still have more of a connection when it’s made by man versus a computer. There’s something in us that has to create.”

Some students believe AI is shifting art into more of a profit-based area instead of a form of self-expression and attachment.

“Art has always been a way for people to express themselves and for people to find almost that connection,” Ivory said. “It identifies so much

culture and so much of the human experience around the world. To not have that is just turning us into clones of each other to not have that sense of relatability, that sense of emotion, that sense of culture through art.”

While many believe AI negatively affects all aspects of the creative industry, it is a valuable tool that can be used to create.

“For better or worse…it does give you a tool to create,” Allred said, “but the AI should not be the brain behind it. It’s a tool. That’s all it should be is a tool, not a finished product.”

North Sanpete starts its first youth court program

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:53:05 GMT

Imagine having to show up to juvenile court for one of the following offenses: Speeding, vaping, drugs, or even too many truancies. Not only is

juvenile court extremely expensive and financially troubling for a family, but it can also possibly be on your record for the rest of your life. However, at NS, students will soon be able to be tried by some of their peers and an advisor in youth court.

“It is not permanently on your record, and all you have to do is pay a small fee, and you are tried by a group of students and an advisor,” senior

Miley Clawson said, president of the new youth court.

Along with Clawson, the group is led by senior Ellie Finlinson, the vice president, and senior Quincy Benson, the secretary. The advisor is Officer

Jeff McQuivey, a resource officer at NS. He is one of the main founders of the youth court at NS.

In youth court, minors attend a hearing where other students decide what would be effective in community hours, or any other resolutions.

“The judges, and all the other positions, they’re all students that go to North Sanpete High School,” Finlinson said.

Youth court takes students at NS, or even just in the area who have found themselves in trouble, and gives them an opportunity for

rehabilitation on a much smaller local scale. They would normally be sent to juvenile detention, but instead get to be in a more comfortable environment, typically with peers. They can only take people who have committed a Class A crime.

The youth court also has a minimum and maximum number of hours someone can and cannot do. It will also depend on what crime has been

committed. For example, if a student has a problem showing up to class, the community service or retribution could be less time than if they were caught with drugs or alcohol.

“There’s a minimum and maximum of how many work hours,” McQuivey said.

However, the presidency doesn’t like to use the word punishment. They find that minors shouldn’t be punished, but more should just take

accountability. They believe that it will be a more effective way to see improvement.

“We don’t want it to be a punishment. Because it's never a punishment,” Benson said.

Seeing students improve is something extremely important when it comes to youth court. In order for the juvenile to attend youth court, the

parents need to be in agreement. Officer McQuivey explained that, for the most part, the parents are compliant and just want their child to take accountability for their mistake.

In the past, a lot of parents had to send their children to Juvenile court with no choice. This created problems because juvenile court can get

very expensive. It can even be up to $250 just to be seen. So, youth court has become a much more affordable alternative.

“The parents have to agree to it. And a lot of times they don’t want to send their kid to juvenile court,” Finlinson said.

Not only is youth court cheaper, but it could also be a lot safer for your child, especially if they only committed a small crime. If they go into the

juvenile system, it could introduce them to other stuff.

“If someone is sent to juvenile detention, it’s kind of a gateway to worse and worse things,” Benson said.

Overall, Youth court is cheap and could be a safer alternative for a student who has committed a crime while they are still a minor.

“I work really closely with kids who get in trouble. I generally really like them, and I don't want them to have that really harsh consequence,” McQuivey said.

Living in the moment

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:51:27 GMT

Prom just might be the biggest event of the year at NS. Thousands of students and community members show up to see students promenade. Junior boys and girls get partnered up by height, perform a choreographed dance, and get announced to those in attendance.

The Promenade is a time for students to connect to each other and get away from our screens, but we didn’t. During the practices for the Promenade, many juniors had been looking at their phones instead of talking to their Promenade partners, consequentially missing out on meaningful connections. I’m guilty of this as well; I should have been talking to my partner a lot more than I did.

As a society, and especially as a generation, we have developed an immense dependency on our devices, such that we cannot face new environments without our noses pressed up against a screen.

Also, there’s been an increase of people that do things solely for the sake of posting about it on social media. So many people will go to concerts and just record the entire time, or go to a nice restaurant and take pictures of their food before thinking about eating it.

There’s a few things that I think are at fault for this: phone-induced social anxiety (feeling dependent on our screens to get us through new interactions and situations), and a longing for perfection and to live the most “aesthetic” life.

A study done by the CDC in 2025 showed that children and adolescents with more than 2 hours of daily screen time have an increased risk of poor peer relationships, conduct problems, and emotional symptoms. That is to say, difficulty regulating themselves and a higher likelihood of developing mental health issues.

A dependency on our phones doesn’t help our social skills at all, it just perpetuates the cycle and slowly makes them worse and worse. Screen dependency is something that I’ve experienced, and something that occurs regularly in my life. I find myself feeling anxious if I ever don’t have my phone in my back pocket. I sometimes feel the need to check it just to make sure it’s still there, even though the weight in my back pocket hasn’t gotten any lighter. If anything, over time it’s gotten heavier.

Growing up, a close relative of mine was a firm believer in not having phones or any other distractions at the dinner table. As he put it, “no toys at the table”. Dinner at this relative’s house used to be filled with deep conversations and discussions, ranging from how the world works to the inner workings of a TV, and taking apart that TV.

My relative has since forgotten his own rule. Now, at dinner, he stays on his phone for most of it. Whether he is looking at the news or scrolling through Instagram, the dinner conversations have dwindled into something much rarer than they should be. The time that used to be one of the best parts of the day has become a 30 minute period of being in the same vicinity yet far apart from each other.

The rise of influencers on Instagram, TikTok, and the like have caused regular, normal people to have the desire to become influencers. The ultra-filtered content we come across from major influencers has given many a distorted view of how real life is and how life should look like. The influencers that constantly record their daily lives have spurred many to do the same, even if they don’t post the videos they record.

Sixteen years ago, you could go to a concert and expect to find new friendships among people that have the same music taste. You could make connections with new people, the kind of connections that could last a lifetime. Everyone in attendance would create lasting memories, and the concert would end up being something that “you just had to be there” for.

Nowadays, if you go to a concert expecting the experience you had in 2010, you will be sorely disappointed. It’s become nothing like how it once was. Those that aren’t there can be there, and those that are there aren’t. Those that are there record the entire concert, and focus more on making sure the band is in frame than focusing on the band itself. Those that aren’t there can look up the concert on social media for free, so what’s the point of paying hundreds of dollars to go see Benson Boone live if you can just look it up?

Put down your devices, talk to those around you. Make new connections, even though it’ll be hard at first. It gets easier with time. I, for one, plan to start putting in an active effort when it comes to putting down my devices at home so that I may interact with my parents.

There’s plenty of time to spend scrolling on our devices and recording our lives, but we only have so many opportunities to truly experience the world we live in. In 40 years, we won’t remember the TikTok we scrolled past, but we might remember the people we laughed with at prom practice despite all the awkwardness. So many things only happen once, and I pray that we aren’t too distracted to let those precious moments pass us by.

NS Works to Balance Online Safety With Learning Needs

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:45:25 GMT

The room hums with activity as students begin their work on their computer. Only the sound isn’t the sound of typing up their work, but rather

clicking of the mouse as they finish up the round of their game. Their homework sits untouched.

NS has given devices to students to help with their education. But with great power comes great responsibilities. The administration included

restrictions on the devices that block not only websites but pictures too to protect all students in the district. Students at NS aren’t happy that websites they used to use for school work don’t work anymore, even at college levels.

“I don’t see a benefit of having restrictions,” junior Oakley Sederquist said. “I feel

like I’m getting restricted all the time even if I’m looking stuff up for homework. Kids find a way to get around them anyways.”

Many students play games to pass time in their classes. The restrictions are there to help with the education of students.

“We provide technology for the sake of educating students,” Brown said. “We want to get the best education we possibly can…we give you the

device to enable education but we just need to be safe while we do so.”

While education is the main reason for devices, safety is the first priority with the devices.

“We don't give students admin level things unless you had a class that required it,”

systems administrator Enoch Brown said. “We wouldn't give you access to the terminal because we don't want you to go in and change things that could fundamentally harm themselves.”

With so many school devices and websites to filter through, NS began in 2022 using an application to help them sort through devices and keep websites restricted even if they’re away from the school.

“We use a product called Content,” Brown said. “You have an app on your computer so that when you go home filtering happens on your computer. We also have a network device that sits on our network that blocks if you're on our network… because our devices have to be filtered in.”

While we see how the school’s filtering system works behind the scenes, the effect of those restrictions becomes clear whether it’s positive or negative.

“Sometimes I feel like we have to stop relying on technology,” freshman Kayla Dyches

said. “Usually most of the restricted websites are games and stuff like that.”

One big change that riled up NS was the fact that the devices for the teachers and for the students didn’t allow YouTube. While the issue was resolved quickly by the administrators, the trouble is keeping up with companies that NS has contracts with that change their policies day to day.

“YouTube restrictions came to be because Google changed their terms of service and said, we don’t provide YouTube to students anymore,”

Brown said. “That was a Google level change. Our contract with Google says we can provide embedded videos but we can’t have it on unless the parents of every student signed off on it.”

Filtering restrictions are a federal legal requirement mandated by the Federal Government

in the Children’s Internet Protection Act or CIPA in 2000. NS has had a filter in place ever since internet access was made available to students in the district. Originally the filters were much stricter, working more like a list of sites that were considered okay for students. Since then they have adapted with the times to try to be more flexible for educators in the district.

Even though websites are blocked that doesn’t mean you’re all out of luck and can’t ever use that website. With the schools product Content

some websites are blocked out of misunderstanding.

“I personally think we have a pretty sweet spot where students can get to most of what they need and not have it be dangerous,” Brown said.

“On occasion there will be sights that somebody tries to use and they’ll be what’s called uncategorized which means our filtering company has never come across that item and they don’t know what it is. That’s the thing I get the most and I just throw it into a category.”

Not only can students no longer search up videos for class but they can’t look things up for their education and future careers.

“To an extent I feel like the restrictions are holding me back from my hobbies and what I would want to go into,” Dyches said. “ I would look up law things and news articles and it would be restricted.”

While some websites are blocked because of being uncategorized, the option of asking

to allow a website is there but not always taken. That being said, there are many reasons students don’t ask.

“I’ve never asked them to take something down, but I have thought about it,” Dyches said. “I thought through it and was like, “Okay they blocked it for a reason. What is this reason?” and realized there might not be content that’s appropriate for some ages, so that's why they blocked it.”

New counselor starts journey at NS

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:41:34 GMT

Bright shoes and a colorful keyboard are some of the things you notice when entering the office of new counselor Gracie Hess. The bright

colors are one way Hess expresses her quirky, fun personality.

“My family tells me that my style and my personality looks like Anthropologie threw up on it,” Hess said.

Hess is originally from Las Vegas but came to Utah with her family. She’s been working on her bachelors in psychology and her masters in school

counseling. She describes school back in Las Vegas as contentious and much different than the life here.

“The people here are more peaceful, more relaxed versus there,” Hess said. “We would go, people watch for fun because just the people there are a little bit different.”

After living in Utah for nine years, she has started to prefer it here. She worked at a dentist office and helped college students which pathways

they should take and how to look for what they need. But she had always wanted to be a counselor and when her stepdad told her about the job opening she decided to apply.

“My stepdad actually works for the district,” Hess said. “He told me about the job and I applied because this is what I've always wanted to do and I figured I'd get started early if I could, instead of waiting until my degree was finished.”

Not only is she a counselor for NS in the mornings but also for Pleasant Creek High School in the afternoons. While at NS, Hess works with

students in the alphabet category A-C, her job is to help students stay on track and get enough credits to graduate.

“It's a very student oriented-position where it's part of the students' needs,” Hess said. “If I can figure out how to offer and figure out how to make it work for them.”

For someone just starting out, she is doing really well. Especially for someone hired half way through the school year.

“She's only been here for three weeks,” Vice Principal Bryan Holder said. “She's still learning, but like anyone in those positions when they come in mid-year it's like drinking from a firehose. So you do the best that you absolutely can with the understanding you have until you figure out more.”

Being a new counselor has its ups and downs. It’s been easier than expected but it still has its difficulties. One of the biggest challenges for Hess

was starting.

“The hardest part is just trying to figure out what's necessary to start with because there's so much coming in the middle of the year, middle of the quarter,” Hess said. “There's so much to do in such a short amount of time.”

When she first started she was expecting a lot of independent learning and having to learn a lot on her own. But even when she gets lost or

needs help she’s been able to get the help she needs.

“Everyone I've met has been so nice and so just welcoming,” Hess said. “This is a very welcoming school, a very welcoming area with friendly people.”

She has a lot to look forward to, but the one thing she really wants to do is get to know more of the students.

“I am mostly excited to just meet more of the students and just to make those connections and to just see what I can do to help,” Hess said.

Tricked by Ai

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:31:37 GMT

In the world today, it can be hard to tell what is real and what is fake.

According to a survey taken by 219 NS students, 62.1 percent of them have been tricked by artificial intelligence.

Many people get tricked by AI no matter their age. Even so, young people are usually better at telling the difference between real or fake

content. They are exposed to it more, so they have more experience deciphering AI content.

However, there are multiple tips and tricks to look for to help identify if something is AI generated or not

Quality

A good indicator that points to something being generated by AI is when the content does not seem realistic. Look out for misplaced objects or

body parts, especially hands. When AI creates a photo with text in it, the letters can be distorted and hard to read.

The BBC says that one of the most important things to look out for is blurry or pixelated images or videos that seem to have too poor of quality to be filmed on a phone.

“Every single one of these videos [made by AI] looked like it was shot on a potato” (bbc.com).

In videos, pay close attention to the people. Do they walk and move normally? Are they blinking? Do they morph into other things within the

video?

A lot of the time, people in AI videos have a yellowish tint to them, and look plastic.

While quality is a good indicator, AI models are becoming more and more advanced. So other ways may be more helpful.

Length

Another giveaway is the length of the video. Most AI generated videos are shorter because of the cost to make a video. Many TikToks and

Instagram reels are thirty to sixty seconds long, and AI generated videos will be even shorter. The longer the video is, the more likely mess ups can occur.

“You can stitch multiple AI videos together, but you'll notice a cut every eight seconds or so” (bbc.com).

Writing

Not only can AI videos and photos be hard to tell apart from genuine real life, but so can writing. Students today go by the “work smarter, not

harder” shortcut by using artificial intelligence to do their assignments. Many teachers at NS have to know how to tell AI from their students' writing.

Negotiation Structure

Just like photos, there are multiple ways to tell the difference between authentic and fake writing. One of these ways is the “It’s Not About X, It’s

About Y” formula (medium.com). This website exposes the “negotiation structure” that AI commonly uses in its writing. An example of this structure would be “It’s not about working harder - it’s about working smarter.”

Wikipedia Voice

An additional indicator of AI generated writing is the “Wikipedia voice.” Humans get distracted and go off the subject quite easily. Artificial

intelligence, on the other hand, sticks to the same topic.

Artificial intelligence can create beliefs, but most of the time the writing doesn’t include opinions (getcybersafe.ga). AI lacks emotion, personal

experiences, and beliefs. AI generated writing will often be “dry” and have the absence of emotions.

Personal Touch

Another giveaway is the absence of perspective and personal touch that is found in genuine human artistry.

Within this world, there are many forms of media that have been infested with artificial intelligence. It can be hard to tell the difference between genuine and fake media. However, with the strategies we have to determine the difference, we as people will be able to decipher what is real and what is AI.

Internet desensitization numbs feelings around violence

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:22:35 GMT

Swipe, a video of a car crash. Swipe, a video of a life-altering accident. Swipe, a video of an assasination. Swipe, Swipe. With the internet at the

tip of your fingers, you can view anything you want to see and learn about everything you want to know; including gruesome or traumatic events. With viewing these events, it brings along an unwanted guest: desensitization. Desensitiation is defined as reduced emotional or physical reactions to something traumatic, and with the internet, the problem only grows.

On Sept. 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was assasinated at Utah Valley University. Videos of the assasination circled the internet and social media. Many

people viewed the assasination through the internet, including 53 percent of NS’s student body. Even if students didn’t look for the video, many still saw him shot dead.

“When I saw the assasination it was shocking because I wasn’t even looking for it,” senior Logan Martin said. “It just appeared on my for you

page.”

The reactions students felt towards the video of Charlie Kirk’s assasination varies.

“When I first saw Charlie Kirk’s assasination, I thought that there was no way it was real,” junior Olivia Lung said. “But I didn’t feel sick to my

stomach when I saw it.”

Science teacher Tylee Guizar was at the UVU event where it took place.

“The first thing I felt was terror because the gun just went off, and even though it was a target, no one knew it was a target,” Guizar said. “All

anybody knew was that somebody was shooting into a crowd.”

A study by PubMedCentral showed that when you experience a disturbing event first-hand, it engages a higher sense of presence and triggers strong physiological responses.

These include a faster heart rate and becoming hyperaware of any presumed danger. The brain’s social neural circuits are more effectively

engaged and so the experience is often more impactful. However, when you view it online, the brain recognizes that you’re not viewing the event in person, you’re viewing it through a screen, so it allows reduced emotional reactivity.

“When you view an accident or death online, it’s less of a real death and more like you’re watching a movie,” Guizar said. “It strips away empathy

and emotions of this horrifying thing. When you view something online, you’re not going to feel the fear that you’re being shot at.”

Some students even search out for these kinds of videos due to curiosity.

“I find myself looking for gory videos online because I think they’re interesting and cool to look at,” Lung said.

Whether students are looking for traumatizing videos, or if students stumble upon them, it still desensitizes their perspective.

“I think the boundaries of what I think are disturbing has changed since I’ve been on the internet more,” Lung said. “Especially because those videos are becoming more common in our day and age so you get more used to seeing them. And it’s a sick thing to say, but when these awful things are happening, I’m just kind of like, that’s the normal nowadays.”

What might be considered normal in today’s standards might not be considered normal in some people’s morals.

“I think desensitization has a pretty profound effect on my peers,” Martin said. “I don’t think a lot of people realize just how messed up some of the jokes they say are.”

On the internet, a lot of the jokes people are making revolve around Charlie Kirk’s death.

“When people make fun of [Charlie Kirk’s] death and the way that he fell makes me angry,” Guizar said. “Because if they were standing there and watching it, their feelings would be very different.”

For many students, when they see a traumatizing video, they use humor as a coping mechanism for the underlying discomfort they feel.

“When I see those kinds of jokes on my for you page part of me says, that’s not cool,” Martin said. “But also, at the same time, there’s kind of a cognitive distance where I’m like that’s funny.”

When an individual is regularly exposed to violent, gory, or traumatizing content, they become emotionally desensitized over time. What initially caused an emotional reaction gradually loses its impact. Violence is becoming normalized in modern society and entertainment and people are slowly but surely losing the capacity to feel when something violent happens..

Utah Sues Social Media

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:21:13 GMT

In June 2025, Utah began the lengthy process of suing various social media companies, particularly Snapchat.

“We are suing these social media companies because they are harming the kids,” Utah State senator Michael Mckell said. “They know they are hurting kids, and I think it’s great we are suing them.”

Utah is suing Snapchat on the basis of exploiting children's physiological vulnerabilities in order to make profit, deceiving users and parents about the safety of the app and violating the Utah Consumer Privacy Act by not allowing users to opt out of collecting and sharing personal data.

“The State alleges Snapchat is designed to steal time and attention away from teens at the expense of their development, health, and welfare,” wrote the Utah Department of Commerce. “The lawsuit seeks a court-ordered penalty and other relief, compelling Snap to prioritize the well-being of children over profit.”

According to the Pew Research Center around 95 percent of teens use social media. More than one-third of those youth reported that they use social media “almost constantly.”

“...I do think that lots of people can be addicted to it and have problems with it where they’re constantly wanting to be on it,” junior Reagan Anderson said, “but I don't feel like I personally am.”

Even if teens aren’t addicted, Snapchat is an unsafe platform.. During the trials Snapchat has been accused of “facilitating a platform used by sexual predators and drug dealers.”

“...Snapchat just adds random people and they would ask for nudes and stuff, but then I'd just block them,” senior Addy Allred said.

Many students at NS agree that a lot of the safety and restrictions comes down to the parents.

“I think it should be more of a parental control, but it’s hard because there’s still those parents that are gonna let them get it when they’re eight years old, and how does that help?” senior Emma Evans said.

In general most social media regulations come down to the parents, so the state provides resources so that everyone is able to make informed decisions.

“I think ultimately having parents involved makes the most sense,” Mckell said, “but bringing attention to the issues I think is also helpful.”

Utah has various methods to try and inform the public about the harms of social media, particularly on youth. One specific example is the website socialharms.utah.gov.

“It’s a public awareness campaign,” Mckell said. “We’ve done TV commercials, billboards, and we do everything we can to educate parents on problems created by social media.”

Overall the State is working towards making social media and electronics safer for youth and all users.

“Utah’s youth deserve a safe digital environment, free from exploitation and harmful influences. Our lawsuit against Snap serves as a critical reminder that companies must prioritize the welfare of our children over profit,” said Utah Department of Commerce Executive Director Margaret Wolley Bussey. “We are committed to enforcing the necessary protections and standing up against practices that endanger the mental and emotional well-being of young users.”

Throughout it all, those that are augmenting the lawsuit want the youth to know that there are real consequences of social media and that life extends far beyond social media.

“They’re targeting you. They’re targeting you, they’re targeting you with advertising, they're mining your data, anything you post or do online will live with you for a long, long period of time,” Mckell said. “It’s good for kids to get off social media… they need to find a way to interact, and social media’s not the place.”[1]

[1]Tori,

This is wonderful! You do a great job of mixing the data with the opinions of NS students.

Just one request: Can you give us someone who doesn't think the companies should be sued? Do we have a counter to this story?

Seven days without social media

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:15:18 GMT

While standing there with a blank stare waiting for my screen to do anything, something in me snapped. I realized I have a real addiction, an addiction I didn't believe existed. Now, I had to come to the realization that it is a very real addiction and I had to face it. I decided to take a week off from social media.

I averaged a total of six hours everyday, I couldn't get away from it. The rushing feeling of dopamine was something I didn't want to leave. Dopamine is a drug released through your body giving you that “feel good” sensation inside. Drugs, such as cocaine or ecstasy, fill your brain with dopamine, and social media has similar effects.

Now, I had to go seven days without it, that's all, no time to scroll on my phone anymore. It couldn't be too hard, right? Wrong. I genuinely didn't know what to do with myself. Relapse was constantly on my mind. Would it hurt if I went on TikTok for a few videos, checked Instagram to see if any of my friends are up to, look on Snapchat to see what videos might have been sent my way? All I wanted to do was go on my phone and waste my hours away.

Just like any other addiction, the first three days were the worst. I would go on my phone and just stare at it, having images of media going through my head, missing the countless videos I would watch. It was all gone, cold turkey had never been so hard.

I had to find new ways to distract myself. I mailed out two letters, learned four new songs on my guitar, and visited family. I was doing so much more because I never had had so much time. It was almost overwhelming with how much time I had.

At one point I was walking circles in my room for an hour, while aggressively squishing a stress ball with music playing in the background just to get my mind off my phone.

After the fourth day, the weight of my phone wasn't holding me down anymore. My mind wasn’t constantly on my phone. I was thinking about more important matters that were happening in my life rather than videos that I wouldn’t remember in an hour.

Six hours spent on a screen went to more productive and important parts of my life. I started to feel like my time wasn’t being wasted.

By day seven, I couldn’t deny that some excitement had boiled inside of me. I wanted to see what I missed, how the world continued to move on without me. When I logged on to my social media accounts, notifications were everywhere. I almost felt a little overwhelmed by the sight of them that I put my phone back down after ten minutes of just being on it.

Being off social media for seven days made me realize how many hours I was wasting on the internet. Not all those hours were bad, however almost all of them didn’t contribute anything important into my life. I came to realize that what I am here for is a bigger reason than the 6.1 inch screen that has permanently, physically caused my pinky finger to have a dent in it. After years of bearing the weight of my cell phone, I finally was able to let it go.

AI is making my peers lazy.

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:13:54 GMT

The screen remains unchanged. The assignment is due in half an hour, and I haven’t even started. Looking around at my classmates, I see the majority of the class is finished. Most of my finished peers have one attribute in common: on each of their screens, a generative AI website is open.

Generative AI is problematic in schools. Excessive use of AI can lead to less critical decision making skills and make it so people think for themselves less. Through AI, people become less creative and overall less personable.

Generative AI is being used excessively for school assignments. I have seen others use AI on different assignments on a multitude of occasions. In addition to my own observations, data from a NS Times survey unveils experiences with AI. 14.6 percent of students who answered the survey say they feel AI has made them lazier. Looking at this data, we can see that there are some students who recognize the negative effect AI has made on their lives. Additionally, 52.1 percent believe AI is making their peers lazier. I believe that these two pieces of data highlight an underlying issue involving the use of AI. That issue, specifically with the use of AI, is personal responsibility. The laziness that results from the lack of personal responsibility is quite dangerous to the education system.

What once was an environment that promoted learning is now filled with laziness and shortcuts. The value of figuring things out on your own is lost to time. I am worried for the future of my peers. I am worried that my classmates are not taking personal responsibility. I am worried because I know first hand how nice it is to use AI as an easy alternative to doing my work.

Everytime I used AI in the past, it was to complete hard assignments that I did not understand. Through my choices, I feel that I have missed out on multiple learning opportunities. I changed my mindset on AI, and in doing so, I feel that I became a better student.

Instead of relying on AI for my harder assignments, I would focus on figuring things out for myself. If I couldn’t, I would ask a friend or a teacher for advice. Sometimes, I would use AI as a resource and not to cheat.

However, I feel I am one of few who have shifted their view on AI. If students continue to use AI to do their work, I have severe worries for the future of my school. A student body that can’t think for themselves is a student body that won’t have success in the future.

I shifted my stance on the use of AI in school because I began to take personal responsibility. I want a bright future. I want to be able to contribute to society while also fulfilling any of my personal desires. I know that in order to accomplish my goals, I have to learn and become a better person. AI stunted my growth as a person and made me lazier, and I am worried that it is doing the same to my peers.

The only way to fight AI in schools is for the students to take accountability. I want students to be able to give up using AI on assignments. I have listed the multitude of benefits that I have found through giving up AI, and I hope that students see these listed benefits and begin the difficult process of giving up AI.

Through personal responsibility, I know that everyone at this school can set themselves up for a better future. I can recognize that AI robbed me of learning opportunities. I believe that AI is robbing my classmates of knowledge that they deserve to know as well. I hope that my peers will discover the value in learning rather than relying on AI for all their questions.

Students say goodbye for good to phones during school

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:10:10 GMT

The Utah Legislature recently passed a “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban last month. Senate bill 69 was passed unanimously in the Senate, and 46 to 21 in the House. If signed by Governor Cox, the law will take effect on July 1.

SB69 restricts cellphone use K-12 from the opening bell to the morning bell, completely eliminating cellphone use during school hours.

Sen. Lincoln Fillmore (Salt Lake) said that SB69 is not necessarily a ban, but will however be the established default to follow. School districts are still in control of setting their own policies, exceptions of phone usage in cases of emergency (to use the SafeUT Crisis Line, for example) or for medical necessities will be permissible. Parents of students can make a request for an accommodation that allows their child to use their cellphone briefly in a designated area of the school and during non-instructional time.

“Cell phones are addictive and dangerous, and just like with other addictive, dangerous things like alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, they don’t really belong in schools,” Fillmore said.

Sen. Fillmore now decided to expand the policy after successfully setting a statewide phone policy during schools in the previous year. The original policy banned phones during class time, but were allowed during hall pass and at lunch. Governor Cox believes that the previous policy was not helpful enough in helping students get away from their phones. Thus leading to the expansion of SB69 or the “bell-to-bell” law.

“The issue wasn’t necessarily being distracted in class because teachers can kind of manage that,” Fillmore said. “The issue really is about the social and mental health of students and if kids during their break time are all staring down at their phones instead of talking to each other, it really limits social development and mental health.”

While enforcing the previous policy at NS, other schools such as Granger High had already had a bell-to-bell ban put in place in 2024. Reporting that attendance rates and test scores went up, while bullying incidents went down, according to a recent Fox 13 news article.

The purpose of SB69 is to eliminate digital distractions by encouraging a focused and socially connected environment.

“No matter how engaging or entertaining a teacher may be or try to be,” instructional coach Dax Higgins said, “they will never be able to compete with the phone in a student's hand that acts as a genie in a bottle that can give them anything they want right there.”

SB69 never states any type of storage method for phones and due to the fact that there will be no funding with this bill, schools are required to develop their own system. The most effective ones found have been magnetic locking pouches. Other schools have resorted to phone lockers and cubbies or the cheapest option of “Off and Away,” where a phone stays turned off and held in the students backpack.

The leeway that the previous bill had on cell phones is clearly shown as students walk to class with their heads down, hoping for a notification.

“It’s not like everyone in our school is addicted,” sophomore Zoe Evans said, “just checking your phone, it’s like a habit and it’s hard to get rid of that habit.”

NS math teacher Karen Sorensen has noticed a divide between the decrease in connection and student interaction before the cellphone policy was in place.

“Every second they were having free time they were definitely on their phone,” Sorensen said. “I see a lot more connection before classes start and after.”

Time to Talk: breaking the taboo around pornography

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:54:04 GMT

For the sake of privacy and safety, the names of all students have been changed .

Her family was laughing about some irrelevant joke, and it was distracting in a way that annoyed her. Glancing in the rearview mirror they asked if she was excited to see the landmark they had been driving hours to get to. She smiled politely, putting her headphones in and angling her shameful secret away. It was just romance, entertainment, she thought. Justifying the content that was graphic and mature for her young age. But at some point it hit her. The realization that no canyon or sunset, no holiday, no hobby, no friends or family, ever gave her that same high anymore. She had become addicted to pornography.

“I wish I was able to live in the moment more as a kid because my parents were definitely trying to give me a great childhood experience,” student Rose said. “I just ruined it for myself being so wrapped up in porn.”

As the internet has advanced, pornography has become one of the most accessible vices for anyone at any time or place. Even when not intentionally sought out, the average age of exposure is in the preteens. For a curious kid, it often becomes like a rabbit hole. Once they peek over the edge, technology algorithms become a guiding hand to lead the way.

Although not every teen who gets exposed to pornography will have negative consequences in the same way or to the same levels, this doesn’t mean the harms don’t exist. It can be damaging to one's self, relationships, and for the culture around sexuality as a whole.

“[Porn addicts’] joy of life is lessened. They don’t find as much joy with their friends, or the experiences, or just simple things in life,” said Mindy Sederquist, a coach with Reclaim. Reclaim is an organization that helps people overcome sexual addiction. “Everything in life becomes sexual, instead of rose colored glasses, they end up having sexual glasses on, so everything they see is sexualized.”

When looking at all of the problems porn can cause, one of the most upsetting is the feeling of isolation and loneliness that often comes. It creates a sinister shadow that follows users long after they view it.

“I feel like it did cause so much guilt and shame because I wasn’t telling anyone this was happening,” student Lily said. “It was just like, it made me feel like such a gross person for looking, for seeking out and watching it, but at the same time I couldn’t stop.”

Pornography is a plague for teenagers, where many are stuck in the same cycles of shame and isolation. No doctor, parent, or friend can recommend a cure because the problem ceases to leave their bedroom. The side effects only grow internally, distorting life in ways that ruin moments and relationships that should feel special.

“I remember feeling guilty, one time my family was over for the holidays, and I remember watching porn in my room,” Rose said. “And someone knocked on my door and I had to hide it because my family’s in my house and I’m hiding in my room.”

When talking about something as sensitive as pornography, it is crucial to make sure victims know they are not alone. Pornography can be harmful, dangerous, and addicting. But it is not uncommon, a determination of self worth, or something that should remain taboo.

“One of the things that I teach the students that I work with is that this is just an experience,” Sederquist said. “You are not your experiences. So you are not the porn. You are using it, you're consuming it, but it’s not who you are.”

According to the source Culture Reframed, the way to get to a better place is to break the stigma and just talk about it. The word porn should open up a conversation. A conversation between parents and teens about bodies. A conversation about addictions, and overcoming them. For anyone reading who may be struggling with this, the most important thing to know is that help is out there.

“Shame is a fungus,” Sterling Whipple, Individual and Family Relationships teacher said. “It’s this gross nasty thing that grows in the shadows. But as soon as you expose it to direct sunlight, and start talking about it, and address it directly, it starts to go away”

If you want help talking through pornography addiction or other issues, there are resources available for you. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA helpline is 1-800-662-HELP-(4357).

Socail media

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:52:42 GMT

She looks up from her phone and as the glowing alarm clock flashes midnight, illuminating her tired face. As she stares back at her phone, she promises herself only one more reel. The next time she looks at the time, her vision blurs, and she can barely make out the glowing 3:00 a.m. She has four hours to sleep now, and she knows she’s going to be exhausted. She finally puts her phone away, but sleep still evades her. She tosses and turns, looking for relief. Finally, she slips into a fitful sleep, only to awaken three hours later.

This is something that many young people have experienced worldwide, as many suffer from addiction to social media. Social media addiction is a real thing, and people are just now starting to realize that it is becoming a major problem. It’s causing more kids to go into a spiraling depression and loss of motivation.

“I think kids are showing up in hospitals more than ever before, and there’s more depression,” Utah Senator Mike McKell said. “[Social media] is having a very negative, adverse mental health impact.”

McKell is one of many state senators who are looking to sue social media companies for their addictive algorithms and the damage that they cause to kids' health. They are looking to fight back against the mentally harmful effects of the products these companies have been profiting from.

“Social media companies are targeting our kids, our kids are having problems, they’re being harmed, and we need to hold social media companies accountable,” McKell said.

Some adults are starting to realize just how bad social media addiction can be and how much harm it causes. According to a study done by the National Institution of Health in 2024 called “Understanding Social Media: A Deep Dive”, excessive screen time can have a large impact on low self esteem, depression, anxiety, loss of sleep, and other mental health-related problems.

“If I’m stressed out about school, instead of doing my work and getting it done, I’ll just lose track of time and scroll on my phone, and then I’ll get even more stressed out because I’m wasting my time,” sophomore Jaelyn Brewer said.

However, it isn’t just adults who are starting to realize this problem. Kids are starting to notice just how much it affects them and their peers.

“I feel like I see more people struggling with their body image or getting insecure because they compare themselves to people on social media,” Brewer said.

With kids starting to realize that there is something wrong, it can be challenging for them to just stop, as any addiction can be.

“I wish that my parents didn’t let me get social media because I’ve had it for so long,” Brewer said. “I think it would be easier to not have it at all than to try and quit using it.”

Many students say it is that easy to get caught up and not even realize just how much time they’re actually spending on social media. It can be hard to stop once they pick up their phone and start scrolling.

“I normally start a mental thing of like, thirty more minutes, and then I look, and it’s one more minute, and then I have to force myself to put my phone away,” senior Sean Allred said.

As social media addiction worsens and becomes more of a reality, we need to continue to bring awareness to all, so everyone can learn just how harmful and addictive social media can really be.

like Hudson

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:43:48 GMT

As he threw the pitch he knew it was perfect. The ball started flying down towards the batter, who would swing, but never make contact. Again and again, he was throwing the baseball right where he wanted it. He was playing so well that Carbon had the umpire check to see if he was cheating, but the real culprit was straight talent. Junior Hudson Smith knew it was just his hard work paying off.

Smith has been playing baseball since he was four years old and knows everything about it. His favorite part is getting on the field with his friends to see how games play out. Baseball has taught Smith so much throughout his life, not only baseball lessons but life lessons as well.

One of these lessons has been overcoming challenges to get good at what he does. Smith works very hard in everything and doesn't give up easily.

“There are times where I've just gone into a slump and I haven't hit for 5 or 6 games and it's just taking a step back, taking a breath, and refocusing and knowing that it's not the end of the world,” Smith said.

Smith’s coach Austin Hadley is proud of him and has noticed his improvements.

“He's just gotten better every year and he's always been very good, but the thing with him is he's always looking for ways to get better,” Hadley said. “Now, if you don't look close, you don't see it because he's already been good, but when you get to that level, it's the little things that you do make a really big difference.”

Smith has participated in baseball clubs in many different states like Nebraska, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona, and California. In these clubs, Hudson plays baseball in tournaments against teams from all over the country and they go to college events and play in front of different colleges.

Hudson’s stats are very good with an ERA of 1.31. He also has had 10 strikeouts with 6 walks so far in the 2026 season.

The background of his success comes from throughout Smith’s life, as he and his family have always been involved in sports, creating a competitive nature.

“Really in everything I do, I think my least favorite thing in the world is losing,” Smith said.

One thing that sets Smith apart is his ability to handle stressful situations and emotions in a way that is mature.

“He is just a very calm, collective person, and so he is good in all sorts of different situations, no matter the situation,” senior Afton Cook said. “He is just very level headed and reacts not out of emotion, but out of logic.”

Baseball is Smith’s favorite sport, but he also plays basketball and golf. Sports aren’t his only hobby though. He also enjoys going outdoors and camping. Whatever he is doing, Smith just wants to be as active as possible.

Trying to balance everything he does is not the easiest and can be stressful for him.

“It's a whole lot, it's just time management. Sometimes I do [baseball] in the mornings before school or late in the evening, but I always try to get everything that I can in during the day,” Smith said.

In everything, he feels that his parents have been there to support him every step of the way. They have helped Smith improve and build good character.

“I mean, my dad's always been my baseball coach. He's helped me improve in so many ways. He always pushes me to be better, and my mom, she's always been that support for me. Seeing her in the stands, cheering me on, it's always helped me,” Smith said.

Some advice that Smith would give to kids is to just try to improve little by little and focus on the small things, because that has helped him so much in baseball and life.

Smith just wants to leave NS with people knowing that he is a good athlete and a good person. After high school he wants to go play baseball in college.

Utah Governor's journey from small town roots to success

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 16:39:16 GMT

Being an 8-year-old boy often means being subject to a constant stream of what you are supposed to like. Depending on the

trends, that could be trains or tractors, camouflage or the color blue. But even at such a young age, the scope of what was important seemed larger for Spencer Cox.

At that young, impressionable age he toured Washington D.C., seeing monuments of past presidents and learning of the history of

the United States. Somewhere between the purchase of an informational Thomas Jefferson book and adulthood, he learned the concepts America’s foundation was built upon. As he read about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, he realized these were ideas worth fighting for.

Cox has been the governor of Utah since 2021, and he is also an alumnus of NS. He has found success through a variety of

outlets, his career only being one of them. After his interest as a kid transitioned into studying political science, he made the sacrifices needed to take office, in an attempt to make Utah the best it could be. He is constantly making an effort to not only make the best choices for the state, but also for his own growth. His goals can be traced back to the founding fathers.

“What the pursuit of happiness meant was the pursuit of self-improvement, the pursuit of self-excellence,” Cox said. “It’s making

yourself better every single day as a human being. Serving the people around you. Giving back.”

Cox’s interest in mature topics such as history served as a fascination to his parents as he grew up, setting characteristics apart in

him that would later grow into the drive and motivation to become governor.

“He was very studious, very up on current events,” Eddie Cox, Cox’s father said. “We took the paper back then just so he could

read it, he wanted it. He would tell us, to keep us up on what was going on in the world. He was just a little kid.”

One event that impacted Cox was his parents divorcing when he was 9 years old. He stayed with his dad, while his two younger

siblings stayed with his mom. But even then he still remained close with his siblings in the ways he knew how.

“He just wanted to do what was right, and always tried to do what was right, and was always kind,” Kathy Cox, Cox’s mother said

“And set such a great example for his brother and sister, and they both just love him dearly.”

When looked at from an outside perspective, his accomplishments seem to be wrapped like a present that just came because of

the nature of public spotlight. But for those who know him, and in his own mind, the underlying fact is that it took so much more than just an alignment of stars. But throughout it all, he never really had himself in mind. His desire to be selfless resonated with the people of Utah. It’s why his campaign consisted of upwards of 70 service projects. He loves to work with others' needs as the priority.

While deciding if he should accept the job as lieutenant governor, some doubts arose because of the risks and the changes it would

undoubtedly bring. The job itself is time consuming, and with a family it can change multiple dynamics. But his wife Abby encouraged him to take the leap because she felt its challenges were why they needed to do it. It being something that required sacrifice was an important aspect, because it meant they could grow as a family unit and give back. Family plays a huge role in the way Cox chooses to live.

“It’s never ‘I got this thing’ or ‘I did this thing’. The best moments as you look back over your life involve the people you love most,”

Cox said. “Your family, your friends, and we need to make more of those moments and those memories.”

People remain at the core of Cox’s values, with one perspective he likes to look at being from the book ‘The Second Mountain’ by

David Brooks. The basis of the book explains that in life there are two mountains to climb. The first one is the things society defines as success, such as a fancy house or high status. The second mountain is a different kind of success. It is relationship-based, encouraging expressions of gratitude and helping others. Cox has adopted the mindset that the second mountain is the one that is deserving of time and attention.

“When you focus more on that second mountain, on taking care of people, on being selfless instead of selfish, those first mountain

things, you’ll find them,” Cox said. “Good things will happen. Your resume will look great. People will want you to succeed.”

His refreshing approach to life does not go unnoticed by his wife and four kids, his friends, his parents, or the residents of Utah.

There is a lesson to be learned for those at NS, and it is to follow personal passion with an undying determination.

“When he sets his mind to something he doesn’t stop until he makes it happen,” Lesa Cox, Cox’s mother said. “He follows through.”

Drill team brings new expectations to their team

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:31:01 GMT

Silence filled the air, hands clasped to one another. The NS drill team waited for a name they hadn’t heard in years. The announcement of first place

in pom was met with tears, hugs, and disbelief.

“Winning pom was a crazy feeling,” junior captain Kylee Farley said. “Hearing us get announced first place felt crazy. Knowing what we are capable

of as a team really was such an accomplishment."

Winning pom was a memorable moment for the team, showing a huge breakthrough.

“They didn’t expect it,” coach Justine Cook said. “That made it even more special. They finally saw their work pay off.”

The victory represented more than a win. It validated the girls work ethic and team effort.

“You see the success the girls had, and how proud they are of themselves,” Cook said. “It really shows how hard they worked, and how much heart

they have.”

Throughout the season, the NS drill team faced challenges and struggles, finishing the season second to last in RPI standings. Despite the results,

the team continued to show up, choosing effort and gratitude.

“It was hard when we saw other teams crying and getting mad over second place,” Farley said. “For us, we were grateful to be there. Even when we

weren’t placing well, we still found things to be happy about.”

That mindset became a defining characteristic of the team. The dancers focused on progress rather than comparison.

“The girls stayed positive and supported each other,” Cook said. “Even though the girls are at different skill levels they were genuinely excited for

each other, and that helped them work together.”

With a small roster and a range of experience levels, practices require adjustments and communication.

“Spending nine months with the same group of girls isn't easy," Farley said. “There were arguments and misunderstanding, but at the end of the day

we are still a team that loves and cares for each other.”

Despite challenges, the dancers built strong bonds through long practices.

“We practiced at 6 a.m., ran every routine multiple times, and kept fixing mistakes,” senior captain Bryclee Parady said. “It was exhausting, but we

didn’t stop trying.”

The season also brought unexpected achievements, including earning an academic award for maintaining a high team GPA. An honor the team

didn’t even realize they were eligible for.

While larger schools often rely on depth and numbers, NS competed with a smaller roster, allowing the team to form unbreakable bonds.

“On big teams I don’t think all the girls know each other on a personal level,” Farley said. “With our team, we know each other really well. That

closeness made the season easier, even when things were hard.”

For many of the girls, this season was more than what place they earned. It was about the connection and bonds they made.

“I’m proud of what the team did this year,” Farley said. “Winning comes in many different ways it doesn't always mean winning the competition. For

me, getting to know each other and loving one another is a win.”

Hadestown blows audiences away through western retelling

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:52:59 GMT

The crowd roared, months of work had finally paid off; jazz music reverberated throughout the auditorium. The cast

and crew had been working for months to fine-tune every scene, every song, every movement. It’s obvious how much effort everyone involved put in. Although the production took longer than the average high school play to produce, it's apparent that the extra time taken was not wasted.
“Hadestown” is a retelling of an old Greek classic: the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. A young couple falling in love, only for Eurydice (played by senior Lin Anderson) to be bitten by a snake and die early in their marriage. Through a brazen act of heroism, Orpheus (sophomore Aiden Lewis) travels to the underworld to attempt to rescue her and bring her back to life. After a difficult journey, he sings to Persephone (senior Emma Wallace) and she convinces Hades (senior Beau Johnson) to allow the couple to leave on one condition, that Orpheus walks in front and cannot turn around to look at her. Throughout the journey back to life Orpheus is afraid that he has been tricked and his wife is not behind him. As he enters the regular world he turns around to see Eurydice, only for her to vanish back to the underworld for the rest of time. The play is narrated by the messenger of the gods, Hermes (senior Ethan Mendicino).

I have always loved Greek mythology, and I will admit that I was skeptical about a modernized western-style retelling. Eurydice

starting off homeless? Hades as an evil business man? A rattlesnake duel between Eurydice and Hades? I was not convinced, but was thrilled to find that my doubts were unnecessary.

The western-ness wasn’t too overwhelming for the most part, although sometimes it seemed like the story would have been more

clear if the writer had stuck to the original. It was cool how the Fates (senior Jay Stuki, junior Misty Bailey and freshman Kathrine Stuki) were portrayed as evil crows, a good example of an attention grabbing shift from the original story.

I really enjoyed that during the play there was an added story between Persephone and Hades, which added a lot of value to the

production. I loved the flashbacks that happened between young, love-struck Hades and Persephone and then them as a cranky older couple. I also enjoyed that the show ended where it began, creating one big story loop. It takes a bit of the sting out of the tragedy.

If I wasn’t sold on the storyline, the special effects would have gotten me. The smoke really sold it, even if I was coughing a bit by

the end. It was cool how the smoke and lights were used together to create a dramatic and attention-grabbing setting. The set was so detailed, and the moving pieces were super fun! The attention to detail is really admirable.

Along with that, the live music was fantastic! It was so fun to have classmates playing during intermission and even occasionally

during the show. It fit the vibe so well and really topped off the experience.

A play’s successfulness is really determined by the cast and crew. It doesn’t matter how good the music is if the actors can’t sing,

but this cast did great in all areas. I feel that the characters were portrayed in a way that tied together the original story and the modern rendition.

Overall, the show was a great success. I have heard little to no negative comments, and I have no doubt that the drama

department will continue to amaze us. The talent and commitment it takes to be in such a large production is nothing less than inspiring.

Thanks to all those involved in such an exciting and breathtaking performance. Bravo and congratulations on a wonderful

production!

Stranger Things final season turns the world upside down

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:52:58 GMT

What started off as a missing person’s case turned into the discovery of alternate dimensions and

superpowers. Through trials and tribulations, a group of outcasts and misfits work together to defeat the evil from this other world that has cursed their small town of Hawkins, Indiana.

This is the premise of the popular Netflix show “Stranger Things.” The show released its grand finale episode of

the fifth and final season on Jan. 1, 2026. With almost 10 years of sporadic content, the finale left many fans with varying opinions. As a long time fan of the show, I was also left with conflicting opinions about the series’ closure.

The final season started off an amazing note with the first four episodes. One of my favorite sequences of the

entire season was at the end of episode 4, where some of the main cast is trying to escape the clutches of a corrupt government while also avoiding being terrorized by otherworldly demogorgons. This action sequence was both thrilling as well as beautifully crafted.

The pacing of the season was fast, as seen in the action sequences, but the rest of the time was well spent on

the development of the characters, both new and old. One of my favorite aspects of “Stranger Things” is the characters. They all have distinct, enjoyable personalities that work great with the overarching plot of the show.

However, there are far too many main characters in the final season. Even with the fast pacing, the show was

unable to give each of their interesting characters the screen time and plotlines they deserved. The newly found importance of characters, such as Holly Wheeler, were good additions, but they left the core characters of the show fighting for any sense of relevancy in the final season.

Because this season didn’t have time to focus on all the characters, there were plot holes and inconsistencies left in the final cut that took away from my overall enjoyment. One plot hole that continuously bothered me was the reintroduction of Jim Hopper into the town of Hawkins. After season 3, where the show made a point to show that the entire town thought their Chief Hopper was lost to a mall fire, I expected to see some characters surprised to find that Hopper is still alive.

However, there is no mention of Hopper’s reintroduction with the town’s side characters. Some may argue that

Hopper made his reintroduction during the time skip between season 4 and 5, but as a viewer, I would like to see Hopper make these connections with his fellow townspeople on my screen and not be left to make inferences on my own.

I do think that some things can be left to the audience’s imagination. For example, I thought the ending of the

show did a great job at letting the audience determine their own outcome to the season. Even so, I do think that the majority of the time, the show would’ve benefited from showing these situations rather than letting the audience decide for themselves what happened.

The final season of “Stranger Things” had many good qualities. The beginning of the season was filled with great

storytelling and immersive action packed sequences that left me at the edge of my seat. These parts of the show were a reminder how amazing this show can be. In the same vein, the overall story left me with more grievances than it did gratification.

However, I still found enjoyment at the end of a show that has kept me entertained for many years. In my

humble opinion, I would rate the final season a 7/10, despite the glaring issues.

Quadruple overtime; boys basketball shoots for success

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:47:52 GMT

As he dribbled the ball after the rest of his team left, all he could hear was the echo of it bouncing in the silent gym. Exhausted and tired from the

team's practice, the idea of taking his team to the state championship drove him to stay longer. For senior Bryce Swapp, his motivation is what drives him to stay long hours to practice by himself.

With a record of 7-12, the team is not where they want to be, but they are getting better every day and the players and coach are hoping to go all the

way to the state championship.

“I would really like to get the kids to the state tournament,” head coach Bill Pollock said. “Not the first round play-in game, but the Cedar, where

there's the last 8 teams.”

Still, they have to keep going because they need more practice to get their conditioning up if they want to take state.

“I feel like we get kind of lazy in the 4th quarter, and that's when it falls apart,” junior James Clayton said.

That conditioning was put to the test on Jan. 7th in the quadruple overtime game against Manti where the team fought longer than before.

Continually tying but eventually losing with an end score of 92-105.

Even though the team hasn't had the best season, they are still working hard. Students and fans showing up to support them makes a difference to

how the team plays. With their high energy, the crowd can give confidence to the team and keep them going.

“Well, you talk about confidence, morale, energy, right? A crowd can will you to a win sometimes,” Pollock said.

Being a team is also a big part of winning, and that has been one of their struggles this past season.

“If one guy isn't on the same page, it doesn't work, you gotta be strong as your weakest link,” Swapp said.

The team also has many experienced players, including two freshmen coming off the bench on varsity.

“It's encouraging to have such a strong underclass, right? So the future looks bright, but I can't let that distract from the present,” Pollock said.

Though they have a variety of ages on the team, they are close to each other.

“There's no beef in between people or no drama or anything, so I just think being friends outside of basketball really helps you inside of basketball because you trust everybody,” Clayton said.

They have done a lot of good things throughout the season, but it's the little things that the whole team needs to work on if they want to get better.

“We'll just have, like every, if you look at our games that we lose, we'll have like a 2 to 4 minute stretch where we just aren't very crisp. I know that

plagues us a little bit,” Pollock said.

This is a lot easier said than done but with their hard work and perseverance they believe they can make it to the state tournament.

The team plays Emery at home Feb. 4th, then Juab at home Feb. 6th, and then their first round of state is Feb. 13th and their state

tournament is at SUU on Feb. 19-21st, so if you are around come support the team.

Wrestling perseveres, 14 qualify for the state tournament

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:46:32 GMT

In some sports, victory means a shiny medal and good sportsmanship. For sophomore Easton Henrie, it meant a black eye. This

season for the boys NS wrestling team has been an intense experience, with highs and lows that have made it what it is.

The team competed at divisionals on Jan. 23. After a long day of matches, 14 wrestlers managed to qualify for state. Killian Olsen

and Jesse Nuttall both took 2nd, Chaletton Osborn and Graysen Boylan took 3rd.

Although qualifying for state was a big accomplishment, the road to get there was not easy. Throughout the season wrestlers faced

many challenges that tested their motivation and effort.

“Some of the challenges were just getting back to the wrestling room,” senior Killian Olsen said. “Just getting back to the team and

trying to improve on the mistakes I've made.”

Despite the challenges many of the wrestlers chose to adjust, and found ways to motivate themselves when returning to practices

sounded hard.

“We do it anyway. Just mentally, it's really hard to get the motivation to go,” Henrie said. “But we do it anyway because we need to

improve.”

One experience that Henrie had of getting hit during one of his matches changed his focus moving forward. He was at the TOC

(tournament of champions) in Orem UT, when his opponent hit him after growing frustrated with losing. The black eye being something that would make most players upset gave Henrie even more drive for his matches to come.

Going through the struggles of keeping a good mindset has helped wrestlers focus on why they started and what they would like to

achieve moving forward.

“I don't know, just like, pride. To know that you've been better and that you've worked harder,” Henrie said.

That feeling of pride has also helped the team notice how much they've grown since the beginning of the season. As practice went

on, improvement began to show especially with less experienced wrestlers. This progress gave the team more confidence moving forward.

“We've definitely done better than we thought we would have,” Henrie said. “We've had some new freshmen actually do really well,

and our sophomores have definitely picked it up.”

Not only have there been struggles for the wrestlers but also for the coaches. Much of their challenge was trying to find a way to

improve the students that already knew the basics. But the other half of the struggle was trying to teach beginner kids all the techniques and practices.

“I've had more first year wrestlers than I've ever had, and that's always harder trying to keep the ones that have wrestled

progressing, while trying to get these other guys caught up,” head coach Kris King said.

Even with progress being made the coaches had a feeling that their students had more potential that they could reach. The

coaches think that if they had more time and practiced on their own they could have improved and learned from some of their mistakes.

“I definitely think there's a few of the seniors that could have improved even more if they had extra time,” King said.

As the season goes on, the team is trying to focus on improving their technique and being more confident during matches. In

wrestling, even small mistakes can change the outcome, especially in close matches. Because of that, working on the basics has become really important.

“Learn to stay in good position, that'll help a lot of their matches,” King said. “And then I hope they can also start having more

confidence in themselves and trusting the moves.”

Besides technique, effort and mindset still matter a lot. Wrestlers are expected to give their best every day at practice even though

it's tough. The hard work they put in shows once they step onto the mat.

“I can tell them hey you've got to work hard, you've got to outwork your competitors, or we'll end up feeling like this again,” King

said.

At the end of the day accountability puts everything in place. Setting expectations helps create discipline and responsibility for the

team. These standards that the coaches have set encourage wrestlers to take ownership of their own effort and improvement.

“You gotta have a line somewhere and just hold them accountable for their actions and for the time that they put in,” King said.

Girls basketball wins region, 8-0 record, ranked 2nd in state

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:44:18 GMT

There is a buzz in the halls of NS that is hard to ignore. With girls volleyball and cheer already bringing home state championships,

the basketball team is currently chasing a triple crown for the girls’ athletic programs.

This multi-sport success has created a culture of winning that new head coach Alan Jacobson has seamlessly tapped into, turning \

hope into a reality.

Winning is a big deal, and the NS girls basketball team is making it a habit. With nine victories by 20 points or more this season,

they have proven that they don't just want the win, they want to control every second of the 32-minute clock.

That success along with the success of other sports have the team feeling optimistic.

“We could take state,” sophomore Mariah Schlappi said, “I want to always have that mindset.”

This year's success with Jacobson is impressive, especially given that last year, the team finished with a 7-17 record.

“We’ve been bad in the past; it doesn’t mean we can’t ever be good,” Schlappi said.

In Utah's Division 3A Rankings, NS is currently ranked second, behind Delta High School, with a record of 15-5 and zero region

losses.

The girls attribute much of that to coach Jacobson.

“He’s expected a lot out of us, and we’ve risen to it,” senior Elsie Bailey said.

This year's success should be given to the girls, but also to the coaches. Being a new coach isn’t always easy, but Jacobson is

helping the girls improve a lot.

“He works on everyone, everyone’s individual skills and needs,” Bailey said.

While Jacobson’s coaching style is sometimes more aggressive, with him often yelling at them, many of the girls think highly of him

because he pushes them to be better in every way.

“It looks like a rough way from an outside perspective, but he is also like, ‘I know you guys are better than this,’” Bailey said.

A major key to their record has been ball security. Under Jacobson, the team has significantly cut down on turnovers compared to

last season. By valuing every possession, they ensure that their opponents rarely get 'easy' buckets, forcing teams to play a perfect game just to keep pace.

“He has a lot higher intensity,” Schlappi said. "He focuses on the little things and all the little details.”

NS’s 15-5 overall record is impressive, but their 5-0 region record is perfect and places them firmly in first position in the 3A Region. This undefeated league run highlights not just their skill but their consistency and ability to perform when it matters most, creating a

significant gap between them and the rest of their regional rivals.

“They walk around with their heads up high,” Jacobson said, “not an arrogant look, but you can tell that they’re confident.”

Student burnout begins to consume students at NS

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:41:18 GMT

She wakes up and goes to her zero-hour class before school even starts. Then during the day, she attends higher level classes

through the college where she doesn’t even get to talk to her teacher face-to-face. After school, she has between two and three hours of practice depending on the season. Once she gets home, she doesn’t even have time to rest before she has to work on the farm taking care of animals and moving pipes. Most of the time she doesn’t even have time to work on any homework until she is dead-tired and wants nothing more than to go to bed.

This is the average day for junior Chesney Howard and many students at NS. This schedule has become more and more common.

In a recent NS Times survey, 55 percent of students said that they have felt that this school year has been harder emotionally and

academically, and 62 percent said that they feel that they or their classmates are more likely to be angry or distressed at school.

Some feel the reason for this difference is that the students themselves are losing joy for school and what it means to them or simply doing too much, which is leading to burnout.

“I feel like there's a group of students that are in everything,” senior Tyce Walker said. “They're involved in everything and the things that are involved in those groups expect a lot from them and then they are starting to lose the things they enjoy and they're just doing it for responsibility's sake.”

Beyond this, students have reported feeling less attached to school. In the 2025 NS Student Health And Risk Prevention (SHARP) survey, a survey done every two years to hear student opinion and assess risk factors, only 35 percent of students enjoyed coming to school and 66 percent of students felt that what they learned was not important for their lives.

While not every student may feel this way, the effect can affect those around them.

“Honestly, I feel pretty good,” Walker said. “I prioritize the things I love enough that I feel like I have a pretty good balance. My main thing is it’s just taking my friends; everyone is so busy.”

Not only have the students felt the change this year but staff as well.

“I guess just kind of off the top of my head, this year does feel different, but I couldn't pinpoint it,” social worker Cindy Lund said. “...It does feel different, that there's just maybe an extra layer of stress on students, for whatever reason.”

Most students face burnout in some form or another throughout high school. It can be caused by not taking breaks or becoming overwhelmed with work, school work or extracurricular activities.

“They are trying to do their best, but they kind of give up and so they get stuck in a rut or they don't want to do their work and it's

just overwhelming to have all of it come at once,” junior Shannon Jolley said. “And I think that has been hard.”

Burnout can be caused by lack of rest between activities and external stressors. Students who don’t sleep more than eight hours a

night are more likely to experience burnout.

“Something that is really a problem in our generation is that kids, they're going, going, going all day,” Jolley said. “They come home,

and now they have to go, go, go. … And then finally, like six, seven o'clock comes around. They finally get personal time. And so they use that. They stay up from six to midnight, finally having some personal time. And then now they get two hours of sleep. They have to wake up and go, go, go all day again.”

Screen time has a significant effect on sleep and specifically ruins quality sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation. In the

SHARP survey results, 80 percent of students used a device for two or more hours a day and 60 percent said that screen time gets in the way of their sleep.

Lack of sleep can also lead to higher rates of emotional distress and depression. From the SHARP survey, in the past 12 months

42 percent of students felt hopeless or suicidal but did not feel like they could talk to anyone.

NS currently has funding from Project AWARE, a financial grant for mental health resources, to help students who are struggling to

get help.

“There's lots of things that we've been able to do,” Lund said. “We've got counseling resources through our project AWARE grant.

We've been able to, you know, connect students with. And so this year, well, the needs seem greater. I feel like we've got more

concrete supports in place than we've ever had, at least since I've been here.”

While not every student receives direct one-on-one counseling, many find that connection with teachers, staff or coaches.

“I have a lot of good people around me,” Howard said. “Coaches and my parents and friends, we all support each other. And if I am

struggling with chores, my parents will always help me out, or if I'm having a bad day at practice, my coaches are very understanding.”

Burnout is common but preventable for teenagers. With the right resources and connections, anyone can prevent it.

“You can say no, that is okay. It is okay to not do everything,” Walker said. “And please find time to still do the things you enjoy. I

know life is good. … Don't overwork yourself. Nothing, nothing good comes from it. Nothing.”

Community New Year's celebration brings unity

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:36:59 GMT

The smell of lamb wafted through the air, mixed with the occasional kick up of dirt around the grill. The shop, still mostly filled with

farm equipment and semi trucks, was overflowing with people. Fresh sour dough biscuits and potluck were being tended to by the Mickel family and friends as some, including strangers, began to eat.

This tradition makes its rounds every New Years Day as the community gathers at the Mickel family ranch to start the year off the best way they know how, with fresh lamb slices barbecued from three full lambs, beef brisket, lamb burger, and 20 gallons of sourdough waiting to be turned into biscuits.

“My favorite thing, being a sheep rancher, I love to see people enjoying lamb,” Co-owner of Mickel Brothers Sheep Co. Matt Mickel said. “Some people just wolf it down - they just can’t get enough of it. Some that have never had it before have a good surprise at how good it is. That's probably the highlight for me is just watching people enjoy eating our lamb.”

Free of charge and open to the public, this special New Year’s Day lunch gives many a chance to try lamb, who haven’t had the opportunity to before. Feeding around 400 people this year.

“It’s so foreign to many people,” Co-owner of Mickel Brothers Sheep Co. Dan Mickel said. “And so, they can come out there and do that very thing, they can just come out. It’s not a sit down meal, it’s come out, visit with people, have fun, eat all you want, and it’s just the environment of agriculture that many people have never experienced.”

In order to give those that haven’t tried lamb a good experience, timing and coordination comes into play. Focusing on serving fresh food to the community the Mickels prep the lamb days before, never freezing it. The sour dough sets for 8-10 hours before hand and then the bulk of it is fired up.

“We just like to give people a little piece of our lifestyle, because that to us is normal,” Caleigh, Matt Mickel’s daughter said. “That food and that company is just normal for us, and I think we realize how lucky we are and I think we just kind of want to give a little piece of that to everybody.”

Like many great things, this tradition had a small beginning. Starting ten years previously the New Years celebration was meant to be a small get together for family after the holidays, the intent has always been to be a time for slowing down during this time of year. Only five years ago is when the celebration began to extend to what it is today.

The family makes it known that anyone is welcome, no matter if you’re friends, family, or strangers. Advertising this with a sign that greets you at the top of their road, they hope to continue this tradition and are excited to watch it grow.

NS counselor accepts the job as new Director for CUES

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:33:48 GMT

Andy Peterson, who has been in the counseling field for over 25 years, is now switching careers to go work as the Director for CUES (Central Utah Education Services), replacing Jason Strait. Peterson has already applied for this position twice before actually getting the job. Peterson has wanted this job for over 12 years.

“So it's something that I thought about for a long time just because I like the idea of what CUES does,” Peterson said.

CUES is what's called a Rural Education Service Agency (RESA) that was created in 1969 by the legislature as a way to help small rural schools and school districts to have some of the resources that the urban schools were able to have because they had more resources and more money. Andy really connected with this idea.

"I've always loved small towns, small communities,” Peterson said. “And when I had to live in the city for a few years, I was so eager to leave the city and get back to rural life that this job, like, helps me to kind of connect with some of those schools.”

Dax Higgins, an instructional coach and a friend of Peterson, talked about his personality and how it will affect CUES for the better. He believes that Peterson will be a good fit for the organization.

“He would always just be pitching something,” Higgins said. “And I think even if 90% of those ideas don't come about, the 10% would be beneficial, greatly beneficial. And so just his personality of always thinking of new innovations will be a big positive aspect of what he can bring for CUES.”

Peterson will be greatly missed by many students and colleagues at NS.

“Bittersweet. You know, we're happy for them,” Higgins said. “We're glad that they're moving on with something that they want to do, but we'll always miss them. We'll miss their influence and their joy that they bring. And, you know, sometimes I could just pull Andy in and he would pitch me something new and I would tell him what's going on with me and we'd have a good conversation and then we'd go on our day uplifted a little bit more.”

This just goes to show what kind of person Andy is and how he uplifts students in his vibrant, some might say goofy attitude, including his daughter Nila, a senior who looks up to her dad and appreciates him as a father and a counselor.

“I was hungry one day and I went to go see what food he had. And so I opened his drawer, and it's just like, the most random things you can possibly think of. He had a whole can of just soup,”Nila said. “And I think that kind of sums him up as a person who's just not normal. He just, he's just a goofy guy and it's, I think it's what makes it him, him. And it's what we love about him, and I think it'll carry that over to CUES.”

Energy drinks prevail as chemical pumped teen pacifier

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:31:03 GMT

Tiredness creeps in as students walk the halls. A single click sounds as a can is opened. After drinking a couple sips, they wait for

the caffeine to do its job.

Energy drinks are growing more prevalent among teenagers as a solution for exhaustion, but the negative side effects are not

being acknowledged to the extent they should be.Many companies tend to have vitamins and supplements on labels that are pleasing at first glance to people. For example, Red Bull, Monster, Alani, Rockstar and Ghost all say they have B vitamins in them that make people think they’re healthier than they are.

“Other additives, like amino acids, Turene, sugars and other vitamins are already in our daily diet. We get all that we need and we

don’t need extra,” district nurse Shauna Rawlinson said. “We’re getting up to 5,000 percent extra from those drinks. There is such a thing as too much and it isn’t a good thing.”

FDA warns to “Be aware of how much caffeine is in “energy drinks.” …Generally energy drinks have a wide range of 54 to 328

milligrams of caffeine per 16 fluid ounces.” Caffeine is an addictive substance that many teenagers have depended on to get through their day. Many drinks have around 200 milligrams, significantly more than the average cup of coffee.

“I say I kind of do [rely on them,]” freshman Huxley Peterson said. “I can go without them but it makes life easier for me to go with

them. …It’s something you don’t want to say, you know, but I would consider it an addiction.”

FDA does not have a regulation specific to “energy drinks” but they also estimate toxic effects, like seizures, can happen with rapid

consumption of around 1,200 milligrams of caffeine, or less than half a teaspoon of pure caffeine.

Common side effects of over consumption can cause increased heart rate, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, anxiety, sleep

problems, digestive problems and dehydration. Although many students don’t see the harm, there are real dangers with drinking so much caffeine.

“It takes 50 years to find out how bad or good something is for us and we’re in maybe year 25 of energy drinks,” Rawlinson said.

While energy drinks have only been around for 60 years, for over the past 100 years, the main cause of death has been due to

some form of heart problem.

“The number one killer is heart disease, and that’s before energy drinks,” Rawlinson said.

In a recent NS Times survey, the results showed 38 percent of students have at least one to two energy drinks a week with 62

percent of the school never having any at all. Though the majority of NS students don’t drink energy drinks, those who do usually drink a lot.

“I think it plays into addiction that people become reliant on it,” senior Braden Palmer said. “Once you have it for so long, your body becomes numb to it and then you just need more and more.”

Senior shares journey through depression and stressors

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:24:57 GMT

I want to preface this article by saying that I’ve gotten the help I needed and am doing much better now.

The words in front of me are running away. My friends are talking but all I can decipher is something about hanging out. I feel something at the back

of my throat and my eyes start to burn. Then the bell rings and everything stops. I look down and see that I once again didn’t complete an assignment. Now I have more to stress about.

I have always done well in school. Around February 2024, I lost interest in it all. I had so much going on that I felt like I wasn't doing enough. Then I

got my first ever grade below a B-. That's when I finally realized the problem was something bigger, and it was impacting me enough that I couldn’t do my favorite things.

The number one cause of depression in teens is stress. This can mean stress from anything, including school, family, and relationships. In fact, 75

percent of highschoolers consistently feel stressed because of school work. It can be good, but also bad. For example, in my case, it was bad stress.

My stressor was academics. The accomplishments I had started to feel too small and I felt as if I wasn’t making my parents proud. That made me

lose interest in doing anything. If my accomplishments weren't enough, then nothing was ever going to be.

I never told anyone about my feelings. Instead, I tried to figure it out by myself, but it proved to be harder than I thought. I started to feel irritated and

didn't want to be around people. This hurt my social life. I would feel guilty for not going out and then proceed to not go out because of my guilt.

In school, I would go to class, try to finish my assignment, fail to finish my assignment, go home and hate myself for not finishing it. When my family was around I lied and told them I was doing amazing in school while trying to hide the missing assignments under my bed.

I genuinely didn't know what to do and tried many things. I looked up videos on what to say and how to reach out. Those didn’t help and I always chickened out before I hit send or opened my mouth.

Truthfully, one of the things that helped while I was going through a depressive episode was a hotline. I didn't want to tell my parents because they would have just said, “You're being dramatic.” My friends were going through actual events in their life and I felt as if my problems were too silly to just go up to them and say, “Hey, I feel so stressed and not accomplished enough that I genuinely need help.”

Texting the hotline felt stupid. But I wanted to ask someone if I was just being an attention seeker or if I was valid. This felt easier than burdening a

friend and feeling guilty about it. While the hotline still needs some improvement, I found it was a good way to get some things off my chest.

The hotline doesn't compare to talking to a real person. Once I built up the courage to tell someone I trusted, things felt better. I had found the help I

needed, I understood that I had control over my feelings. If I thought it was embarrassing, it was going to be. If I acknowledged that what I was going through was valid, I was able to fight through it.

Now more than ever, it's easy to feel embarrassed about every little thing because it can literally be out in the world forever. About one third of teens

who go through depression are too embarrassed to seek help. According to the World Health Organization, one in seven adolescents will go through a mental health problem but won’t get the help they need. It's important for us to be open and accept people's problems without judgment and instead guide them to the help they deserve. There are a lot of things we can’t do alone. There is no shame in seeking someone who is willing to listen, even if your biggest problem seems small. I know it’s scary, but through my experience, talking to someone is one thousand times more relieving than fighting through it alone.

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health

Front office construction expected to end soon

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:20:19 GMT

NS’s front office has been under construction since the summer of 2025 and is nearing completion in the next couple weeks. The state legislature sent out a bill saying that all schools in Utah needed a safe, new entry way to help keep the building and students safe. They sent out a grant that gave the school $1.6 million for the construction.

“It’s going to be amazing,” Assistant Superintendent Rena Orton said. “It will be so beautiful and open and safe and secure.”

The staff are hoping that by mid February, the front office will be done and everyone will be able to move and settle into their new space. Many of the office staff will be moved into the new office, while the others will stay in the original. Secretaries Tarra Blackhurst and Tori Hansen will move into the new addition, while attendance secretaries Natalie Stephenson and Teri Anderson will stay in the old office.

“I’m excited to have a big window,” Blackhurst said. “I haven’t been able to see outside since I have worked at the high school. It will also be nice to have a bigger and nicer area for visitors.”

Even though it’s big and new with more space, there are some bittersweet feelings having to move to the newer area.

“It will be a bit of an adjustment not being in the same office with the attendance secretaries because we work together so closely,” Blackhurst said.

There are many opinions of how the new office is going to be. But regardless of the outcome, many students are annoyed with the construction happening during school.

“You can't get into what used to be the main doors,” senior Cade Willden said. “Now you have to go all the way around to the other main doors now and walk all the way down.”

But even with the construction happening, a lot of the students are relieved that it is almost over. Now that the parking lot is opening back up, many students are happy and excited to see what the office will be like.

“I’m excited to see how it turns out,” Willden said, “to see how it looks, and see if it's gonna be more efficient.”

The entrance will have new locks and rules for entering the school after the bells ring. As soon as the bell rings the front doors will lock and any student that comes in after that will have to go through the office and check in before entering the school.

“I hope students love it, take care of it, appreciate it and be respectful in a new space so that we can keep it nice for a long time,” Orton said.

Not very many people have seen the inside of the office, but the anticipation of the grand opening has been building. Many people are excited to finally get a look at what has been under construction for the past seven months.

Senior welds gap between gender stereotypes at job

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:40:09 GMT

Sparks fly as senior Teagan Harward welds together two 5,000 pound metal beams, as the only woman in an all-male work environment, and the

only one there under the age of 18.

“It was definitely weird at first,” Harward said, “Everyone kinda just treated me like an alien. They just kind of avoided me.”

However, as time has gone by, she and her coworkers have formed an unbreakable bond.

“It’s like having 50 older brothers,” Harward said.

Working as a welder, Harward often finds herself in very dangerous situations. Cranes are used to flip 2,000-5,000 pound beams and she has

regularly almost hurt herself and others.

“I’ve almost killed myself [and others] quite a few times,” Harward said. “On the first day, when [my boss] brought me in on the welding test, he’s like,

‘hey, yeah, everything’s trying to kill you here.”

While using a grinder to clean off some metal, the grinder hit the smallest bump and shot backwards, getting wound up in her shirt.

“I literally was like panicking and I thought there was going to be like blood or [something],” Harward said, “and there wasn’t, it was just caught up in

my shirt.”

Harward has been welding since her sophomore year, and began her journey at NS, in the welding classes offered.

Jens Andreasen, the welding teacher at NS, taught her before she got a job in an actual welding facility.

“I start them out with probably one of the more simpler processes, which is stick welding,” Andreasen said. “And then last year, she learned tig

welding, which is probably the most complicated form of welding.”

Andreasen has been able to watch her grow, and reflect on how proud he is of her and her work ethic.

“She’s a hard-working kid, you know? She says she’s gonna do something, she’ll get it done,” Andreasen said. “Yeah, I’m super proud of her. It’s

cool to see her learning what little bit I could teach her and apply it to real world skills.”

A friend in one of her welding classes told her about a place in Ephraim where she could begin working as a welder, CO Building Systems. Because

of school, she is currently working part time, but her hours are still long and grueling.

“I went from working four hours and at a really low pay to working 10 hours a day,” Harward said, “so I’d work from 6 am to 4:30 pm all week, so 50

hours a week plus overtime.”

She met many challenges while pursuing this, and her position took a toll on her health.

“It was super tiring and like, physically and mentally tiring on my body,” Harward said. “It’s so hard on your body, with the gas and stuff like that.

When I first started out, I was so sore.”

Additionally, the welds that she did at the high school were much easier than the welds that she does at work. While at the high school, they would

be welding together little pieces of metal, at her work, she welds together beams that weigh thousands of pounds.

“The type of welding that we do at our job is like way more different than what they do [here],” Harward said. “I had to relearn a lot of stuff.”

The opportunity to help people in the community and all around is what inspired Harward to pursue welding. Beams from CO Building Systems are

being sent as far as Oregon to build a school.

“I think what kind of made me fall in love is just the [satisfaction] of kind of just being able to build buildings,” Harward said. “I realized that it benefits

people.”

Harward loves being able to do something that not many people can do. She enjoys being able to tell people that she does something

unconventional and unexpected.

“I love that feeling of being in a field that not very many people get the opportunity to do,” Harward said. “It’s something that I’m really grateful for.”

Throughout all of the challenges that Harward has had to overcome, she has learned to keep a smile on her face and face everything with a positive

attitude. Her coworkers have regularly commented on her positive demeanor and have encouraged her to never lose it.

“I’ve learned that like, if I don’t really want to do something,” Harward said, “I still have to do it like, even with a smile on my face.”

CO Building Systems, where she works, hires a lot of ex-convicts, in an effort to reintroduce them back into society. While some might not give these

individuals a second chance, she’s learned that people can change when given the opportunity.

“I think I’ve definitely learned to not judge people a lot,” Harward said.

Stories that she’s heard from her co-workers about their lives have made her able to look at her life through a different, more appreciative lens. She has become more thankful for the opportunities she has and the things she has been given.

“I hear some of these guys’ stories, and it’s super sad,” Harward said. “This makes me super grateful that I have the things and opportunities I have.”

Freshman battles aggressive brain infection

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:57:40 GMT

On Dec. 4th, freshman Emmanuel Lemus Tinoco, affectionately known as Manny by many students, woke up one day with what he and his family thought was just a minor ear infection.

“I took him to the doctor's and they told me it was an ear infection,” Nicole Tinoco, Emmanuel’s mother, said.

Manny’s condition was getting worse, but his doctors insisted it was just an ear infection.

“The doctor didn't even reply to what I was telling him about the headaches, the fevers, him not eating, and if he ate

a little bit, he would throw it up,” Tinoco recalled.

The doctors finally realized the issue was an infection in his brain, and Manny had to be taken to Salt Lake City due

to the lack of local neurosurgeons.

When they reached Salt Lake City, they were unable to wake Manny up.

“Shaking him, putting bright lights in his eyes, he would not wake up at all,” Tinoco said.

After this scary encounter, the doctors realized how serious Manny’s condition was.

“[The doctor] saw how bad it was getting, and he said that it was life threatening,” Tinoco said.

Manny has been a prominent member of our community at NS and many were sad to hear about this.

“A lot of students miss having him here,” Latinos In Action (LIA) Director Rhett Bird said. “He's very friendly, and if

you ask people, he's one of their good friends that they just love having around.”

Bird’s sentiment is not uncommon and is shared among many students at NS.

“He's always talking to everyone, he was really nice,” LIA leadership member Viviana Rodriguez Cruz said.

After hearing the news, Bird brought it up in the quarterly meeting for LIA, wanting to help out Manny and the

community that cares for him.

In one of LIA’s meetings, they decided on selling concessions as a way to raise money for Manny and his family.

“We plan, usually a quarter, what we're gonna do every day, we just planned to do a fundraiser,” Cruz said.

This was all in an attempt to encourage inclusion and belonging in our community.

“Our mission, really, that we've set for North Sanpete High School and Latinos in Action, is to create an environment where everyone feels they belong,” Bird said.

The students in LIA were also eager to continue this goal.

“We just wanted to help already,” Cruz said.

LIA’s help has not gone unnoticed. It really shows just how important LIA’s goal has been in fostering a more welcoming and connected community.

“As a mother, I will always be so grateful for what they have done for my son,” Tinoco said.

The people who care about Manny can hopefully work through these hard times with help from their community.

Co-ed competitive cheer places first in state tournament

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:52:47 GMT

On Sat Jan. 24 the NS Cheer team took first place in State for the first time in NS history. Previously, cheer has not

had an official state competition, only becoming a sanctioned sport in state five years ago.

“I think this team went into the season hungry from the beginning. They have fought through very difficult

obstacles,” cheer coach Amber Kendall said, “including mentally and physically, and they fought it from the beginning.”

One obstacle the cheer team ran into was a serious injury to one of the cheerleaders earlier in the season.

“Our first competition was rough because I got a concussion, and it brought the team down because we had to

change our routines,” junior captain Jenna Christiansen said.

Another obstacle was the mentality the cheer team had after taking second to Juab in region. Juab had taken first

at state the last two years. During region the NS cheer team took first in cheer and dance, but lost to Juab in show, leading to Juab taking first overall.

“Show is weighted more because it includes stunts and tumbling. So even though we won Dance and Cheer, since

Juab won Show, they won overall,” Christiansen said.

Even though the team won two categories, it hurt their spirits leading up to State.

“When we took second to Juab, it was really disappointing because we worked so hard and it felt like it wasn’t good

enough,” junior captain Aubree Kendall said.

The cheer team put in their all, practicing at least three hours every other day and then sometimes practicing after

school.

Despite the region results, the cheer team let their setback push them further forward.

“Right after region we all kind of just changed, and we got in the mentality that we wanted to win,” Christiansen

said. “We all just clicked and became one team, and we all united as one, and that’s what helped us take state.”

The click wasn’t just felt by the cheer team, it was felt by the people who came there to support them as well.

“Before we stepped on the mat you could feel how much our crowd cared for us,” Aubree Kendall said. “And how

much everyone was into it and how much everyone wanted it. It just felt so good and so powerful.”

When the results were called, excitement flooded the cheer team as for the first time ever, they had won state.

“Just hearing them announce us as first at state was such a big deal for me because it felt like that second place

didn’t matter anymore,” Aubree Kendall said.

For coach Kendall, the trophy was just physical proof of what she had seen in her athletes all year long.

“They fought to the very last minute, win or lose, they always had a winning attitude,” coach Kendall said.

Teachers following policies raises questions at NS about consistency and unfairness

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:52:47 GMT

Students and teachers tend to see policies in a different light at NS. While many teachers want to be relaxed and

let the students have more freedom, there is also the fact that rules have been put in place. The things that actually happen in classrooms get a bit blurry, and data from the NS times surveys sent out make the situation even less clear.

From phone policies to being let out early, students say that teacher compliance can vary widely, raising questions

about fairness and consistency. According to the data from teachers, approximately 65 percent of teachers follow the schools policies, and 57 percent follow the phone policy. However, the students beg to differ. According to the students, only 31 percent of the teachers are compliant with the phone policy.

Despite some teachers not complying with the policy, the teachers that do follow the policy state that they can

see a difference in student behavior.

Last year the district implemented a new phone policy, but with the state policy published this year, it is becoming

even more of a strict rule. It states that students at NS may not use their devices during class time. This does not include passing periods, breaks, and lunch.

Teachers and students say that the main reason that there is such a low number of teachers being compliant is

because they choose to give warnings instead of having the student take the phone to the office.

“I feel like the reason behind some teachers giving warnings is… I know that if I take that kid to the office, mentally, they are going to be disengaged the rest of the period,” teacher Alex Bailey said, “Sometimes it's almost like, do I value compliance to the policy more than if I am going to lose this kid for the rest of the day?”

Some students like the phone policy while others contrast by saying that there are things that need to be changed. One of these things that students are using to debate is that phones can be used to assist and help during class time. It presents a complication between where the line should be drawn between phones being used for school and personal use.

“I think that all that needs to be done is if someone is on their phone doing what they shouldn't be doing, the

teacher should just take it and put it in one of those phone containers,” freshman Leighton Johanson said. “But then, if they are doing something that's for the activity or if it's just on the desk, like, that's not the end of the world, it should not be taken.”

Teachers reported that they feel that the phone policy has made it easier for teachers to keep students’ attention

because students are not using their devices during classes.

“I think it's good. I think it has definitely helped with students as far as they're paying attention in class,” said

teacher Landon Bailey. “I like the idea that, you know, you can’t have it during class time and then they can have it during breaks, lunch, different things like that, because they still need to have access to it.”

Teachers’ decisions about enforcing the phone policy can reflect how they manage and balance other school rules

and policies. This same act of balancing can be seen when students request to leave early, where flexibility and the consistency can differ between different teachers. Some teachers have problems with letting students out early because in some ways it can be viewed as unfair and inconsistent.

“If I tell one class, you can leave early and then I tell the other class no. And then they’re like, why? ... I don't want to

have to justify every single thing I do, if I just say, you can leave when the bell rings … that's simpler,” said Alex Bailey. “I always stress about, like, am I being fair to everyone?... And if I just say, you can leave when the bell rings, I feel like that is fair. Everyone is getting the same treatment.”

Teachers' compliance with school policies really just reveals a larger issue of inconsistency and unfairness in

enforcement. While some teachers strictly follow the policies, others rely on personal judgement creating different experiences for students.

Mission availability dates for young women changes to 18 years old

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:52:47 GMT

As she was sitting in her second-period class on what seemed like another normal, boring day of school, her phone

started buzzing. At first, she didn’t think anything of it, but as time passed, the buzzing didn’t stop, and she started to think that something was seriously wrong.

She asked to be excused for a couple of minutes, and she went outside just as her mom called to tell her the news.

When she heard, she couldn’t stop crying. What was the news that she heard? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had changed the availability age for young women to serve a mission, so instead of going at 19, they can now go at 18. The change was made on Nov. 21, 2025, when the Church announced it on their Facebook page and on their Church News app and website.

This was the recent experience of senior Emma Wallace, but girls all over the world were having similar ones, and a

lot of them had similar reactions. They were thrilled.

“My mom was freaking out and then her freaking out made me super excited,” senior Lucy Hiatt said, “and then I was

like, ‘Oh my gosh, I can leave right out of high school.’”

Both Wallace and Hiatt have already received their mission calls. Wallace is going to the North Carolina Charlotte

mission, and Hiatt is going to the Texas Dallas East mission.

“At first I was a little disappointed, but I am so excited now because there are so many miracles that I’ve seen from

[having my mission call],” Hiatt said.

For some girls who wanted to begin to get an education, it was hard to go to school for a year and then leave for a

year and a half, because when they would come back, it was difficult to remember what they had learned.

“I think it gives young women options,” seminary teacher Audrey Thompson said, “it’s difficult to think about starting

something like your education or a job and then hitting pause on that and then going on a mission and then trying to pick it back up.”

For others, it was a gap year that they didn’t quite know how to fill, but now they no longer have to worry about it.

“They love, and I love for them, that they don’t have to wait or maybe tread water while they wait to go on a mission,”

Thompson said.

Others may be excited about the mission changes, but are still choosing to serve at 19.

“I would just say don’t let other people and their excitement make you feel like you are expected to leave at 18. There

are so many different answers and so many different pathways you can take,” Wallace said.

Along with the availability of age for young women to serve missions, the Church also opened 55 new missions

throughout the world.

“I think that with the new 55 missions, I think the amount of missionaries that are going to be going out is going to

increase a lot,” Wallace said. “I think it just kind of goes to show that the church is actually expanding to the world.”

A year in review: Students determine the highs and lows of 2025

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 04:30:24 GMT

2025 was a very eventful year. The students at NS took a survey to show the most important events of the year to them.

1 Death of President Russell M. Nelson

According to the survey, the most important story of 2025 was the passing away of LDS Prophet, President Nelson. Nelson passed away on September 27, 2025. He was the seventeenth president of the church, and served from the year 2018 until his passing last year. He was a well renowned heart surgeon and was loved by many. His passing marked a turning point for the teenagers that followed his teachings and those who are active members of the LDS church. President Dallin H. Oaks was sustained as the prophet after Nelson’s passing.

2 Death of Charlie Kirk

The second most important story was the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed on September 10, 2025. Kirk’s death impacted the students at NS, many of whom looked up to him. Many students and people in the community listened to his inspirational political speeches. His assasination shifted the dynamic in politics, creating awareness around violence but also increased polarity.

3 Mass Shootings

Mass shootings were the third ranked story of 2025. According to WBAL-TV 11 News, there were 406 mass shootings in 2025. There were 360 deaths, and about 1,840 were injured because of the shootings. omnilert.com believes there were around 233 school shootings in K-12 schools. Like the Charlie Kirk assassination, these events have increased tension and safety concerns.

4 Girls Volleyball Undefeated Championship Season

NS students believe girls volleyball taking home the state championship is the fourth most important. The team had a perfect season with the score of 32-0. The last time they won state was 2009. The NS students are proud of their volleyball team and had the largest student section at the state tournament.

5 ICE Actions

In 2025, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) increased the detention numbers by about 75% according to the American Immigration Council. It was the deadliest year in two decades for detainees, which resulted in 32 deaths. Daily arrests reached over 500-700 in some areas around the spring and summer. Surges in ICE raids in major US cities created conflict and protests across the country.

6 Trumps Second Term

The sixth most important story of the year to the NS students was Donald Trump beginning his second term of presidency for the US. This event sparked conversations around NS because of the controversial opinions surrounding him. Some were thrilled, and others disappointed. Since he was re-elected, he has implemented various changes to the US.

7 AI

As the seventh ranked story of 2025, AI has become a big influence on our lives. One of the ways this has been seen is in our school systems. It changes the way students learn, and makes them more likely to cheat or have artificial intelligence do their homework. A lot of teachers at NS worry about students using AI to do their work for them. As AI develops, schools will need to develop a balance between the benefits and the challenges.

8 Holder Named Assistant Principal

At NS getting a new vice principal was a big deal for 2025. Jeff Ericksen, the middle school principal, retired in December. This caused a chain of events to run throughout the district. Ryan Syme, the former vice principal of NS, transferred to the middle school to become the principal there. Bryan Holder, a former science teacher at NS, decided to fill Syme’s position as the vice principal.

9 Unified Basketball Takes State

Another huge event of 2025, the ninth ranked story, was the NS unified basketball team winning the state tournament. “Unified” basketball, otherwise known as special olympics, is for individuals with disabilities and combines them with other students without disabilities, to form friendship and inclusive teams. The NS unified basketball team’s state victory was an unforgettable moment for the players and the peers around them.

10 School Cell Phone Ban in Utah

The final story of 2025 to be discussed was the Utah phone ban. KUTV wrote about how the Utah lawmakers introduced a new “bell-to-bell” cell phone ban. Many schools used to be less strict, and allow phones during passing times and during lunch. But it's not only having cell phones in class that people are worried about. Governor and NS alumnus Spencer Cox believes social learning is also important, and that needs to happen in and outside the classroom

Dedicated teacher becomes new vice principal

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:42:52 GMT

It was his first day on the job, and the NS boys basketball team went into quadruple overtime against Manti. He didn’t leave for home until 11:00 P.M.

When he did arrive home, everything was different. He didn’t greet his son or daughter, learn about their day or take them to any activities. He sat

down and thought, “What did I really do? What did I get myself into?”

On Dec. 23, 2025, NS announced the hire of Bryan Holder as the new vice principal. While at first overwhelmed, Holder has come to realize that this

is a position he can enjoy.

“Since then, I’ve had a lot of opportunities to see how amazing this can be and how my family supported me,” Holder said. “So those concerns that I had on day one during the game, at the end of the night, going, ‘What the heck is happening?’ have resolved themselves in the idea of, ‘I know that my family supports me,’ and I know that up to every game that I’m in, I want to be there.”

Holder formerly taught four biology classes, two genetics classes, and one period of anatomy and physiology and robotics, along with advising a

club. The connections he made with his classes were a key part of his teaching.

“Even in the middle of class, there were opportunities where I was able to, while [students] were working on things, I could sit down and talk to them and tend to get a feel for who they were as people,” Holder said. “You know, those connections matter a lot, especially while teaching a class, because once people realize that there’s a connection, learning is so much easier.”

From Jan. 6 until the hire of the new science teachers, Brian Smith worked as a long-term sub over Holder’s classes. Holder still prepped lessons

and controlled the curriculum, as well as completing his administrative duties.

“I felt like it was important for those classes to continue on learning as much as they could, even though I wasn’t in the classroom,” Holder said.

“Even though this was a long-term sub, I wanted to give them as much information and opportunity to learn as possible.”

Holder was also the advisor over the robotics class and Homeward Bound. Lane Cook, another CTE teacher, has agreed to take over his robotics

class for the remainder of the year, and a new advisor is currently being searched for to fill the Homeward Bound position.

Holder has been working to get his master’s degree for several years in preparation for other positions.

“When it first started, I didn’t want anything to do with administration,” Holder said. “But within our district, there were some certain positions that I did

want that did require a master’s degree. And so I chose the leadership degree through SUU. By the end of it, after I’ve had some pretty good mentors, they encouraged me to look for administration positions, and this one just happened to show up just as I finished my degree.”

His degree and experience in education are strong assets for the school.

“Mr. Holder brings a strong instructional background,” principal Christy Straatman said. “He’s been working with BYU in a program that looks at science curriculum. He’s represented science teachers at BYU with that program. So it’s been a lot of time in curriculum development. I think that’s going to be one of his strong [assets] for us.”

Holder not only brings experience in curriculum, but also the ability to build relationships with those at NS.

“I also think that he’s going to be really involved with all of the kids, which is something that we also need from an administrator,” senior Brogan Lucas said. “Holder knows a lot of people here and has developed really strong connections with a lot of students. So I think it’s going to be really easy for him to be fairly hands-on with the community of the school and just make sure that everyone is involved and considered.”

He feels that he can bring more school spirit to NS and wants to help improve the overall atmosphere.

“I’d like to see a lot more students come to [games] and I feel just kind of that school spirit. Trying to generate some of that, I feel, is something that I have,” Holder said.

Side-bar:

Tylie Henrie Guizar and has been hired to teach the biology classes and anatomy and physiology class. Guizar has completed the requirements for

a biology degree from UVU and is finishing her education courses.

Kira Puett has been hired to teach two sections of genetics this year and will also be available as a substitute teacher. NS hopes to have her teach additional math courses next year as well. Puett has completed her degree in mathematics and recently finished her student teaching at Manti.

Screen Time overtakes teens lives

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:36:19 GMT

The bright screen illuminates the sleepless student's face as he rubs the saggy bags under his eyes. His finger's constant scrolling slowly stops and

he slumps over in sleep. The alarm goes off, loud and obnoxious and in a moment his phone is in his hand, not to be put down until he falls asleep again the next night.

Some students at NS are constantly on their phones with over 12 hours of daily screen time, including sophomore Landen Peterson who uses his

phone to go to sleep, before he goes to school and at school. Peterson doesn't think he has a problem with his screen time but other kids could have one.

“Kids would like to be on their phone, and it could affect their mental health and distract them from what's going on in the world,” Peterson said.

One major contribution to these mental health challenges is the comparison culture on social media.

“You could be scrolling and see people who look better than you in the world,” Peterson said.

While Peterson represents the more extreme end of the spectrum of phone usage, other students don't have a problem and rarely use their phones

at all.

Freshman Branson Bailey has a daily screen time of under 30 minutes. However, he has many restrictions on his phone that don't allow for him to do

anything but have Messages, FaceTime or Phone. He doesn't even have Safari, resulting in mixed feelings about his mom and dad’s parenting style. Bailey wants to have games and Safari, but understands his restrictions.

“They are good because I think I will be tempted to do something,” Bailey said.

Overall, he believes time spent on the phone is a personal choice.

“Kids can spend however long they want on their phone; I've already made my decision,” Bailey said.

Computer Science teacher, Benjamin Johnson, believes screen time affects most kids in the rising generation.

“I would say like 75 percent of kids nowadays are what I would call an iPad kid,” Johnson said. “For lack of better terms, kids who cannot keep their

eyes off of a screen, they struggle to pay attention in class, even when I’m trying to teach a lesson using a screen.”

Part of the reason students struggle with phone use is the amount of material that is hard to turn off, including short-form content. Even people

against short-form content fall victim to watching it, even though they admit it offers no true worth.

“Yes, it was entertaining, but at the end of the day, time is very valuable and sinking even 15 minutes just looking at 52 second videos, there's just no

value in that,” Johnson said.

Scrolling doesn't add any value to human life, and AI doing someone else's work doesn't benefit students either.

“They'll let AI do the thinking,” Johnson said. “AI could be a wonderful tool for learning, but kids are going to use it as a tool to get out of learning.”

Whether it's 12 hours a day or 20 minutes, phones change the way we live life for better or for worse, but the challenge isn't the device itself, it's how

students choose to spend their time.

Student shoots his way into local skeet shooting competitions

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:32:42 GMT

He lifted the gun, setting it firmly into his shoulder. Even with shaking fingers, he was ready. He had been waiting for this moment and he wasn't

going to fail.

As the clay pigeon flew up, he raised his gun and fired. The excitement in his body spiked as he watched the clay pigeon blow into pieces.

Senior Karter Quarnberg had finally won his first belt buckle.

This moment at a skeet shooting club competition is one of Quarnberg’s favorite memories of being in the local club. The club, Trigger Therapy,

allows members to participate in events such as trap shooting and sporting plays.

Trap shooting is an event in which shooters stay in one spot and the clay pigeon (bird) flies in front of them and they shoot it. Sporting plays are like

golf, where shooters move around to different stations and shoot two clay pigeons at each. They get scored by their hits and misses, if they hit one then that's one point and if they miss one then they don't get any points.

This club got started around eight or nine years ago by the main coach and his friends. They started it just to have some fun, but then they expanded

the club by starting a youth program so the kids could get the same opportunity they had.

In this club there is one head coach, Richard Neilson, and parents or others can volunteer to be an assistant coach. This year they only have ten

shooters participating, but the members of this club still practice two days a week as a group.

Shooters can't be good overnight though, as this club takes lots of practice. Shooting this much can become costly, and members have to buy their

own bullets.

“I probably shoot an average of about 100, 200 rounds every week just for practice,” senior Carter Copple said. “It definitely is not a cheap sport,

unfortunately.”

Even though guns are the foundation of this club, nobody has ever got hurt being a part of the Trigger Therapy group. They practice gun safety and

enforce that you must treat your gun like it’s always loaded.

This sport, like any, can get mentally and even physically hard. These shooters can have a bunch of pressure that builds when they have been

successful at a competition.

“When I'm in a competition, I feel like I have to do really good or else there wasn't any point in me even coming out there,” Quarnberg said.

While it can be stressful, the club builds skills that could also help members with occupations and hobbies.

“Maybe you're interested in hunting or joining law enforcement or the military and this can definitely help with your marksmanship,” Copple said.

There are many ups and downs to skeet shooting but one thing is for sure. Everyone likes to hang out with their friends and make new friends

along the way.

“Everyone there was just a great person, great person to be around,” Copple said.

With a good environment, the club is hoping to expand its membership. Quarnberg believes that if you are interested in joining, give it a try to

boost club numbers.

“There's no harm in it, if you don't like it, you don't have to do it,” Quarnberg said.