Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel: An Opera for All Ages

Article Written by Derek L. Davis

                In 1857, The Brothers Grimm wrote a fairy tale that focuses on a boy and a girl who find themselves in danger from a witch who would rather consume little boys and girls instead of puff pastries and sugar cookies. Two centuries later, the Fargo-Moorhead Opera decides to put on Humperdinck’s version of Hansel in Gretel for their opera this beautiful fall season.  Humperdinck’s version of Hansel and Gretel brings something the brothers Grimm never thought of:  music and wonderful actors and actresses!

The whole opera was filled with diverse ages of talent.  The little children who played various animals were very cute to watch, and the actors and actresses who played the main characters all did a great job in bringing the story of Hansel and Gretel alive.  From the dancing of the little children to the older people who brought the characters to life, there is no doubt their great talents are developing into something that will be greater in a few more years of acting and singing experience.  The best part of the evening was the wicked witch who leaped on her broomstick bicycle and crashed.  It was humorous to watch the witch fly in the air on her broomstick bicycle and struggle her way back onto the main stage!

The opera was eloquent and was definitely a treat for not only the eyes, but for the ears as well.  The orchestra brought even more emotion into this opera and helped set the mood even before the opera began.  The smooth sounds of the violin’s melody was a foreshadowing of what was to come.  Not only did the violin bring a melodramatic tone to the opera, but the whole orchestra as a whole made the whole opera melodramatic, and brought more emotion to the words of the music than could ever be felt than if the actors simply said their lines instead of singing them.

The Hansel and Gretel House

If it wasn’t for the stage, watching the opera would have been dull.  The stage, which was switched around about three times, looked very good until the last stage design change.  When the opera started out, the Hansel and Gretel house was elegant, looking like a house that would be found in the prairie of North Dakota. In the middle of the performance, the stage went from the prairie house to a mysterious and depressing forest scene which included clouds rolling by the actors as Mom and Dad tried to find Hansel and Gretel. By the end of the opera, I was wondering where they put the real witch’s house.  The house, which looked like a ten year old slapped color and shapes together, did little to convince the audience there was a witch who lived inside the house.  The only thing that did the convincing was the witch who opened the “doors” to greet her new so-called victims. 

All in all, Hansel and Gretel was well acted and it was evident that the designers put a lot of thought and work into designing the set.  They really did make it look like it as though the fairy tale took place on a Dakota prairie. No matter how old you are, the opera will have something enjoyable, whether it is the design of the set or the singing and acting of the characters.  Don’t miss this event; the last performance of Hansel and Gretel will be at the Reineke Festival Hall on October 31^st at 2 p.m.

2nd Annual Women's Challenge by Audrey Fergel

Hard News Print: Drug Cartels Cross the border

Written by: Justin Blue

Mexican drug cartel violence may be coming over the border into the U.S.  A man was violently stabbed and beheaded in a suburban Phoenix apartment.  The victim Martin Alejandro Cota-Monroy’s body was found on October 10 in his apartment.  Only one man suspected in the killing has been arrested and a nationwide search is underway for three others.  Aguilar Morales, 22, Crisantos Moroyoqui, 36, and Jose David Castro Reyes, 25 are the three suspected in connection with the stabbing.

 Detectives are focusing on whether the man belonged to a Mexican drug cartel.  They suspect the killing was punishment for stealing drugs from the cartel.  They believe the brutal nature was intended to send a clear message to others within the cartel.

 “If it does turn out to be a drug cartel out of Mexico, typically that’s a message being sent,” said Chandler police Detective David Ramer.  “This person was chosen to be executed. It sends a message to other people: If you cross us, this is what happens.” 

In Mexican cartels territorial fights, decapitations are a regular part of the drug war.  Headless bodies hanging from bridges, severed heads sent to family members and government officials, and bags of up to 12 heads dropped off in high profile locations are some of the gruesome crimes associated with the drug cartels.  Over 28,000 people have been killed in Mexico in drug-related violence since December 2006, when President Felipe Calderon deployed soldiers to battle the cartels in their strongholds. 

“If the suspects in the Arizona case belong to a cartel, the crime could be the only known beheading in the U.S. carried out by a drug cartel”, said Tony Payan, a political science professor at the University of Texas at El Paso who has done a great deal of research about border violence.  The killing could also affect the immigration debate in Arizona.  Supporters of the state’s controversial immigration law often cite this type of violence as a big reason to buckle down on illegal immigrants.  The decapitation victim and the suspects were all illegal immigrants. 

The killing has really shaken up the residents in the neighborhood and apartment complex where Cota-Monroy was killed.  The small, run-down complex sits along a side street across from trailer homes in a neighborhood not far from brand-new strip malls with big-box stores in the suburb of Chandler.  No one is living inside the apartment that is the scene of the crime.  There’s beat up furniture, a bouquet of flowers and a candle on a dining room table, and the kitchen cabinets were left open, as if someone left in a big hurry.

“I’m terrified,” said Norma Alvarado, a 47-year-old housekeeper who lives two doors down from the apartment. “I’ve lived here for 20 years and I’ve never heard of that happening, and it was so close to us. … Maybe they’re copying what’s happening in Mexico.”

Alvarado, who lives alone with her three children, said she’s moving the family away from the complex out of fear that those responsible will return to the area looking for revenge.

2010 Deer Gun Season

Article by Brian Chepulis

When the first Friday in November rolls around you can count on two things: First, hearing “Da Turdy Point Buck” by Bananas at Large on the radio. Second, not being able to go anywhere without seeing blaze orange.

With the start of the 2010 deer gun season fast-approaching, hunters can only hope for a better season than last year.

It’s no secret that North Dakota saw a drop in deer hunting success rates during the 2009 season. Overall hunter success was 59 percent, down from 70 percent in 2008.

From the North Dakota Game and Fish website: Bill Jensen, big game biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said the deer population was down from previous years because of the severe winter of 2008-09. “We were issuing record to near-record licenses for a number of years because of the high deer populations,” Jensen said. “After the severe winter, the drop in the population was noticeable.”

Bismarck, North Dakota residents saw one of the worst winters in recent memory, as they received 100.3 inches of snow during the 2008-09 season. Snow accumulation in Bismarck was only 1.3 inches shy of the record set during the infamous winter of 1996-97.

Roughly 116,000 deer gun licenses were allocated for the 2010 season. Many hunters have taken notice of a major reduction in the amount of antlerless deer licenses given out this year over previous years. These reductions should promote deer population growth in the affected units, according to the NDGFD.

If this season goes well, license numbers are expected to increase to 124,800 for the 2011 season.

Deer gun regulations have gone unchanged since last season. Proclamations outlining the rules and regulations of the deer gun season can be picked up at any sporting goods store.

Hunters: best of luck to you all and above all, be safe.

The deer gun season opens Nov. 5 and runs through Nov. 21.

Hunting Ethics Vs. Property Rights

Mehus vs. Injuries

Article written by Dillan Ostrom.

Athletes take the risk of injury each time they suit up. One never knows if this will be their last game or whether they will be healthy the following week. For the love of the game many athletes forget about this part and play hard until the buzzer. However, sometimes injuries set back athletes. Kyle John Mehus, junior at Finley-Sharon and basketball fanatic, knows this story oh too well. 

In the September 2009 football season, Mehus, the starting sophomore quarterback, got tackled at the knees and didn’t get up the same way he went down. After many trips were made to the doctor, finally an MRI showed that he had a bucket handle tear on the meniscus in his right knee. Surgery was then undergone October 23, 2009. The 2009 basketball season transformed from dream into nightmare as it was literally nonexistent for Mehus. Some would fall apart after the injury, but not him. According to his mom, he worked even harder to be back for next season. 

 Lori Mehus, mother of Kyle, said, “We spent many trips back and forth to the doctors and did physical therapy.”  After a year of rehabilitation and strengthening, Mehus counted the days to when basketball season would arrive. Finally the 2010 school sports season began. He originally made the decision that football was too risky and would not partake in the fall sport. However, after the first game, he got the itch and decided to go out. After the required amount of practices, Mehus got to play. 

Mehus shooting Jumper. Used by permission

 from Kyle Mehus.

The season went well and the FSHP Spartans clinched a playoff berth. As they finished up the regular season playing Hankinson, Mehus unfortunately went down again. While blocking on a punt return his knee got tangled up and he was immediately taken off the field and rushed to Innovis Health in Fargo. Mehus said, “It felt like it did a year ago.” As those words left his lips, an MRI was in store. 

October 4^th brought the family to Dr. Ryan Kessel at Innovis for an MRI to determine the injury. A day later, Mehus found out that it was another meniscus tear in the opposite knee. Thirty-percent of his meniscus was removed on October 8^th and he was informed he could return back to full participation in about 3 weeks.  The initial tear made the family nervous, but they were relieved to hear that he could come back for the 2010 basketball season. 

The family and Kyle have been through so much to watch him succeed and it’s a blessing he could return for his junior season. Anyone around the area knows that the Finley athlete has loved basketball since he first set in the gym and has a real passion for the game. Many, including myself are excited to see Mehus on the court at the varsity level. He is an excellent ball handler and electrifying player. As the 2010 basketball season approaches, Mehus’s knees will be in our prayers. “Last year everyone kept saying, well at least he has two years left. We were not ready to hear everyone say; well at least he has one year left. It has been a nightmare/dream for Kyle.” added Mrs. Mehus. November 15^th marks the start of the Spartan’s season and they are excited over the fact that Mehus will be joining them on the court.  Friends and family wait to here of his success.

Hard News Print: Technology at VCSU

By Kayley Erlandson

Valley City State University supplies every student and faculty member with their own personal laptop, provides help with maintenance issues, and keeps current programs on the computer.  The fact that the campus offers laptops to students has been a selling point for many prospective high-school senior since the first year that laptops were brought to the campus in 1997.  But do the computers also have negative effects on the students? Does this seemingly endless research help students or hinder socialization and participation in class?

“I really think that they (the computers) are useful,” said Kendra Krueger, President of Student Senate, “but some students don’t use the technology available to the best use possible, leaving teachers upset and discouraged with the discussion in class.” 

Many other students will be the first to tell someone that social networking is a more common occurrence in class than notetaking. “People either IM (instant message) or Facebook when the teachers are trying to talk,” said Liana Hansen, a freshman at VCSU.

Along with the computers acting as a distraction in the classroom, the knowledge required to utilize a current computer can be daunting for incoming freshmen and transfer students

“At my other school, nobody had laptops,” said Loni Sallee, a transfer student, “when I came here, I didn’t realize how big of a role computers played.  The transition was hard for me. You go from not knowing anything at all, to being expected to be great at it. When I first met my roommate, she and her friends were sitting in the same room, sitting next to each other and chatting on MSN.  I thought it was weird at first, but now we (my friends and I) do it.”

“It’s kind of rude in a way,” said Amanda Metz, a freshman at VCSU, “you’re not giving attention to the people you’re with.”

Despite the distractions of the technology available on the Valley City campus, almost every student can give the computers some merit. “With the communication on campus, computers allow for timely communication and easy access to people’s opinions on discussion boards,” said Krueger, “I really think they (the computers) are useful.”

Getting in contact with faculty members, such as Erin Klingenberg, the Director of Counseling & Human Resources at Valley City State University, is easier for students. Klingenberg contributes almost all of her counseling appointments to the available technology.  “90% of my appointments are made over e-mail,” said Klingenberg, “When a student sends an e-mail, they just think “I’ll hit ‘send’ and it’ll be done.”

As for computers contributing to social and physical problems on campus; “I don’t think computers are the root of the problem,” said Klingenberg, “They might contribute, but they’re not the root cause.”

 “It depends on how you look at it,” said Christine Litt, a senior, “Socially, people depend on them (computers).  Academically, people use them.  But one thing that they (employers) like in VCSU graduates, is that we are very knowledgeable about technology.”

Hard News: Radio - VCSU technology

By Kayley Erlandson

For the Last Time this Tour, King and Queen of Country Music Take the Stage

 By Emma Nelson

The best known country music artist, George Strait was joined by singer, actress, author Reba McEntire and Lee Ann Womack, performed the last show of his 2010 tour at the Fargodome Stadium in Fargo, North Dakota on Friday, October 22. Lee Ann was the opening show, followed by Reba, then George. George and Reba may also be known as the King and Queen of country music.

                The stage was set up in the middle of the arena with stadium seating on three sides and seating on the floor all the way around. It was in a square or diamond shape, and the band was set up in the same shape, allowing the artist to sing in the middle of the band or all the way around which is what they did most of the performance. Outside of the seating area there were concession stands and places you could buy shirts with any or all of the artists on them ranging from $20 to $99. As much as I could tell, almost every seat was occupied by a fan.

Lee Ann Womack

                The opening performer, Lee Ann Womack, has loved country music since she was a little girl in Texas, helping her mother clean house according to the biography on her official website www.leeannwomack.com. Not only does she tour and duet with George Strait, but he has inspired her to travel new roads in the music business and stretch her comfort zone as well. It was his producer, Tony Brown that really saw her as an artist. The song that seems to have the greatest meaning to Lee Ann is the song “I Hope You Dance” which has an “inspirational meaning having background vocal performances by Lee Ann’s ex-husband, Jason Sellers, and their 17-year-old daughter, Aubrie”. She is an “artist who is reveling in what she was born to do” and it shows through her passion in sharing country music.

Reba

                Next performer, Reba McEntire, has had an amazing career. She is not only the leading female country music artist in history, but has also had success as a film, television, and Broadway actress. According to her website http://reba.com/ , Reba has sold over 55 million albums worldwide. You may know her as the loud, opinionated, red-head off of the TV show “Reba” or as Annie in the Broadway show “Annie Get Your Gun” or even as the voice of Dixie in the movie “Fox and the Hound 2”. Reba also plays in many other movies, the list of which can be found at http://www.starpulse.com/Music/McEntire,_Reba/. She is quite the performer, and it showed greatly at the Fargodome. It is very obvious she absolutely loves what she does and makes sure she thanks the fans for her successes.

George Strait and Ace in the Hole Band

                The last performer of the night was hit star, George Strait. George has had a breath taking career! He and his Ace in the Hole Band of over 30 years, sit at the top of most of country music records including those of 62 million albums sold in his career. He holds 33 Gold albums - more Gold albums than any other artist in Country Music, which ties him with no less than Frank Sinatra in eighth place for the most Gold albums of any artist in any musical genre. George has had at least one single in the Top 10 every year since his debut single “Unwound” in 1981. You can find more information and statistics similar to these on George’s website http://www.georgestrait.com/. George is also very involved in rodeo. In fact, he has his very own roping event, “George Strait Team Roping Classic”, with the 28^th annual being held in March of 2012 in San Antonio, Texas. George has also played main character Dusty in the movie “Pure Country”.  He is a very unique performer, letting his voice, rather than show, be the entertainment.

                The performances were great! George let his voice speak and be the entire show. Other than thanking the fans and introducing his band, Ace in the Hole Band, all he did was sing, slowly making his way from corner to corner of the stage. He showed a great deal of passion for what he does, at 58 years old, he is the old-fashioned sort of man. He was dressed in a plaid, long sleeve button-up shirt, his fairly tight Wranglers® (a very big hit), cowboy hat and boots. There was very little light action, not on stage at least and no smoke at all. “He just stands there and sings” says a fan, “which is just the way he is, if he did it any different it wouldn’t be him.”



Lee Ann & Reba performing "Does He Love You"



                Reba is quite the performer! She definitely loves the atmosphere of being on stage. She was dressed in a sleeveless, black tank top with sequins. Then for her encore, she was driven up in a yellow taxi in a red, flashy dress, to sing “Fancy”. That was very cool and got the crowd roaring. Reba is one to dance and get the crowd involved in her performance. Lee Ann came back on stage and sang “Does He Love You” with Reba also getting the crowd roaring. She was definitely the hit of the night.

                Lee Ann’s performance was good, but nothing compared to Reba and George. She struggled to get the microphone just right, and seemed to put the crowd to sleep as some were still searching for their seats. She played a lot of slower songs, but everyone did get excited when she played her hit “I Hope You Dance”.

                The audience appeared to like Reba the best, as she is quite the performer. George, though, lets his amazing voice do the performing as “he just stands there and sings” as a fan laughed. For Reba’s “Fancy”, I don’t believe anyone was sitting, they were all standing in excitement throughout the entire song. It is as though George Strait and Reba McEntire are King and Queen of country music; they definitely were that night at the Fargodome!!

Photos taken by Emma Nelson