Featured #1
Grubbs part of Caddo tribe
(Courtesy Photo) Grubbs and his wife Kay, dressed in native garb during a historical reenactment event. By Jarek Penney Darrel Grubbs, a full time EMS instructor at HCC, is part of a culture that is unknown to a great many. He is a Native American from the Caddo tribe. Although... [Read more...]
Featured #2
Molten metal poured at Stringer
Photos by Joe Lusk Molten metal is carefully poured into molds by the Ft. Hays crew on the west side of Stringer. Scott Brown, instructor and club sponsor, and students Kyle Robinson, Hutchinson, and Terrasel Yoder, Partridge, carve molds. [Read more...] Read More →
Featured #3
Tea party rallies vocal crowd of patriots
(Photo by Adam Sheets) Supporters hold signs during the “tea party” rally held by The Patriot Freedom Alliance in the Sports Arena on April 15. A small group of people stood outside the arena with signs protesting the rally. By Adam Sheets The Patriot Freedom Alliance held... [Read more...]
Featured #4
Equine skills taught during horsemanship class at HCC
(Photo by Joe Lusk) Jessica Cheek, Clyde, leads the pack for a moment during class exercises in an arena at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. By Andrea Radcliffe Galloping their way to the finish line, the Beginning and Advanced Horsemanship classes are making their way through... [Read more...]
Featured #5
Kear trains HCC pole vaulters, will compete
Photos by Joe Lusk After a miraculous recovery from a traumatic head injury sustained while practicing at Gowans Stadium a year and a half ago, Chase Kear now coaches HCC’s pole vaulting team. Kear will be competing once more as an independent athlete in the track meet planned... [Read more...]
Featured #6
Dragon baseball rips way to 11-7 mark
(Photo by Angela Holcomb) The Blue Dragons hammered Rose State, of Oklahoma, in both games of a double-header on March 17 at Hobart-Detter Field. In next photo, Seth Sturgeon gets ready to open fire on a Rose State batter. By Tyler Hall Early in its new spring season, the HCC... [Read more...]
News
Kansas bill to ban texting while driving
(Illustration by Ashley Bailey) Texting while driving can be a serious issue. This illustration shows how a person driving can be easily distracted by handheld devices and not be aware of a pedestrian in their path, causing injury or possibly death to a person.
By Samantha Ridder
Fingers may be only on the steering wheel and not on cell phones if Kansas House Bill 2439 passes. The bill would fine drivers if they send a text message through a wireless device.
“They should have passed it sooner,” said Radley Steffen, Hutchinson. “It causes way too many accidents.”
The bill moved to the House in Febuary 2010. The bill states, “it shall be unlawful for a person to use a handheld wireless communication device for text messaging or electronic mail communication while driving a moving motor vehicle on a highway in this state, except to activate or deactivate a feature or function of a voice-operated or hands-free device.”
If the bill passes in its current state, violators would face up to a $100 fine. [Read more...]
Students pig out
Photos by Angela Holcomb
Luau servers pull the roasted pork apart before serving it to those attending the annual Spring Fling Luau. [Read more...]
Oprah creates online pledge: ‘I will not text while I am driving’
By Samantha Ridder
A new movement rocks daytime T.V. as people start putting down their phones while driving. Thanks to talk show star Oprah Winfrey’s “No Phone Zone” viewers are putting the cell phones away due to the danger texting and driving causes.
In an article in USA Today April 30, GHSA spokesman Jonathan Adkins said, “there’s no better or more powerful ally than Oprah. She has the potential to be the MADD for texting and distracted driving.
When Oprah speaks, people listen. In this case, when Oprah speaks, we expect people to put down the phone while driving.”
However, many HCC students have not heard of the movement. [Read more...]
Cool scoopings
Photos by Adam Sheets
HCC Students enjoy frozen treats during the Spring Fling Ice Cream Social event that was held in the Parker Student Union on April 28.
Dragon Zone takes flight
By Ashley Bailey
Dragon Zone is launched and available for HCC students and faculty to utilize its advanced technologies.
However, currently, one of its features isn’t being fully used due to timing issues of the site’s launching.
One of the features of HCC’s Dragon Zone online portal is for students to be able to self-enroll. This self-enrollment is allowed on a student-by-student basis.
Students meet with their advisors to discuss possible classes and the advisor would have to go through the process of flagging that person’s account as “student enabled.” [Read more...]
Arizona immigration law: Is it really fair to people?
By Martin Mendez
To Arizonans, one of the current problems is illegal immigration. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed a law against the illegal immigrants. The bill says officers must stop Latins in Arizona to request proof of citizenship from them. If they don’t have any, they could go to jail until it is proven that they are a citizen of the United States.
The bill has brought out many reactions. “It’s inhumane, how they are treating Hispanics in Arizona,” said Randy Johnson, El Dorado. “I feel that the governor needs to be cool about it and not make it legal for racism.”
To others, the bill is so ridiculous that they can’t say enough.
“America has the highest incarceration rate in the world,” said Alex Rizzo, Hutchinson. “It’s just another reason to bring those who aren’t white down. I have the numbers highlighted somewhere, but its like 1,500 Africans and 1,200 Latinos in one jail, with the rest being like 971 whites.” [Read more...]
Pine tree gets a new look
(Staff Photo) Ravaged by nature, the pine has been reduced to a six-foot-tall stump beside Gowans Stadium.
By Marah Corwin
The fate of the limbless pine tree out near Gowans stadium has changed slightly.
The pine tree had suffered significant damage last school year in an ice storm.
So the school had decided to cut off its last few limbs and repurpose the towering trunk, making it into a totem pole. [Read more...]
Dragon Zone kicks off at Shears Tech
Photos by Joe Lusk
Dragon Zone, a new student information access system replacing Campus Connect, officially launched as a fullly operational service on April 23.
A launch party was held in the lobby of Shears Technology Center to spread awareness of the new service and provide tutorials and demonstrations of Dragon Zone’s numerous features.
“It feels good to get the product out to students,” said Loren Morris, director of tech services. [Read more...]
Skills USA students to advance to nationals
By Kat Saunders
A number of Hutchinson Community College students who participated in the recent Skills USA state contest will be going to nationals.
The contest was held at HCC on April 16 and showcased many different skills acquired by the computer drafting students.
“We had 36 students compete in the state contest, in quite a few different areas,” said Vince Puyear, instructor of computer drafting. Out of the 36 students who competed, 15 qualified for nationals.
Skills USA is a national program. “It’s a student chapter on campus and it promotes leadership, social networking and skills participation,” Puyear said. “It’s really an organization for all our technical students.” [Read more...]
HCC students say “Aloha”
Samantha Martin, Andale, gets down with her dance partner at the Spring Fling Luau Dance that was held at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center on April 27.
Carver to retire after decade with HCC
Larry Carver, standing outside of the Distance Education lab.
By Samantha Ridder
Come the end of June, Larry Carver will be retiring from his job as Director of Instructional Technology and Distance Education, but not from working.
“I don’t think anyone really retires from HCC,” he said.
“We just go from a full time job to part time. So I will still teach a couple classes in the fall and spring.”
Carver has overseen the online classes, ITV classes, multimedia classes and even the monitors in the hallways for the past 10 years. [Read more...]
Features
Grubbs part of Caddo tribe
(Courtesy Photo) Grubbs and his wife Kay, dressed in native garb during a historical reenactment event.
By Jarek Penney
Darrel Grubbs, a full time EMS instructor at HCC, is part of a culture that is unknown to a great many.
He is a Native American from the Caddo tribe.
Although Grubbs is involved in his culture now, it hasn’t always been that way.
“Growing up, only in Oklahoma was I really a native,” Grubbs said.
His mom’s side of the family originates from a place called Binger, Okla., near Anadarko, Okla., with the Caddo nation.
But the Caddo people did not always live in Anadarko. [Read more...]
Local author’s vampire book on Amazon.com
By Marah Corwin
Romance, drama, and bloodthirsty vampires have overtaken a lot of the shelf space in the fiction section of most bookstores nationwide, thanks to the “Twilight phenomenon,” and one of Hutchinson’s own has thrown her story into the fray.
P.J. Hawkinson, a graduate from HCC who had decided to take Bill Sheldon’s creative writing class this semester, has published a novel entitled “Half-Bitten” through online publisher, Trafford Publishing.
The book is about a teenager named Trudy Purdy, a plain girl who begins dating the son of a distinguished gentleman in her town.
The boy coerces Trudy into going with him to his parents’ beach house, where Trudy tragedy strikes and, just when she thinks she’s been left for dead, three bloodthirsty vampires stumble across her and change Trudy’s life forever. [Read more...]
New shop offers ‘green’ choices
(Photo by Kelly Shackelford) The Clothestime Shop is located at 8 East 3rd, near the Dairy Queen.
By Kelly Shackelford
Have you ever been shopping at a department store and you saw a bag, shoes, or even an outfit that was a name brand that you really liked but couldn’t afford to buy?
Well, your problems may be solved by the Clothestime Shop at 8 East 3rd, near the Dairy Queen.
The Clothestime Shop is run by Kathy Kipp and Jami Quick, a mother- and-daughter team from Hutchinson.
Kipp bought the store from her best friend eight years ago and has been running it ever since with her daughter and, even though it’s a for-profit business, it’s not without it’s “greater good” quality. [Read more...]
Molten metal poured at Stringer
Photos by Joe Lusk
Molten metal is carefully poured into molds by the Ft. Hays crew on the west side of Stringer.
Scott Brown, instructor and club sponsor, and students Kyle Robinson, Hutchinson, and Terrasel Yoder, Partridge, carve molds. [Read more...]
Spring colors come to campus with bright flowers
(Photos by Kat Saunders) Steven Howey, part of HCC’s grounds crew, lays a layer of mulch on a flower bed in the courtyard outside the student union.
By Kat Saunders
The main campus of Hutchinson Community College is starting to look more colorful as spring gets into full swing. Shades of blue, magenta, and pink are popping out from all over, in mulched beds to welcome students and visitors.
“A gentleman from Stutzman’s greenhouse came out and helped with decision making,” said RaeJean Bigger an HCC grounds keeping employee. Bigger is in charge of about 10 flowerbeds around the main campus.
“This will be my third summer,” Bigger said. “ I love it, not everyone can just come every day and love what they’re doing when it comes to their job.” [Read more...]
HCC students worked in two teams and created a how-to guide along the way
By Adam Sheets
The students of the A+ Certification class have built two computers submerged in mineral oil inside aquarium tanks at Shears Tech.
The class split up into two teams, and divided the labor among themselves. They documented how they did everything as they went and created a how-to guide as well.
The students did almost all of the work themselves, receiving help only when they were completely stuck.
“They had to use all of their skills they learned up to this point,” said Chris Sanders, computer support specialist instructor. [Read more...]
Food and more shared during Cultural Day
(Collegian Staff) Nursing students (from left) Shelly Christopher, Hutchinson, Amy Reidelberger, McPherson, and Joe Baber, Wichita, manned a Vietnamese culture booth.
By Jarek Penney
Cultural Appreciation Day filled the Student Union with plenty of good eats and lots of diversity on April 14.
Students packed the small area that was brimming with out-of-the-ordinary smells from almost 30 tables, each representing a different country or cultural group.
Cultural lessons were being given out and taste-testing was in progress at many of the booths, all manned by nursing students.
There was German chocolate fudge, Jamaican-style crumb cake, Irish whisky-flavored coffee, African spinach cakes and gooey, Amish cinnamon rolls. [Read more...]
NASA’s Apollo 13 Mission Control members visit HCC
Collegian Staff
The panel was made up of key Mission Control personnel from the Apollo 13 mission. [Read more...]
Rabas, noted poet, musician and author, booked for HCC
By Marah Corwin
Kevin Rabas, assistant professor of English at Emporia State and author of two books, was scheduled to read at HCC on April 22.
Rabas was to be reading his poetry to the rhythm of drum beats in Stringer Fine Arts Center room 107 at 1:15 p.m. [Read more...]
Collegian, Dragon’s Tale staffs compete at state
By The Staff
The Hutchinson Collegian newspaper staff and the staff of The Dragon’s Tale magazine won a number of awards on April 18 and 19 during the Kansas Associated Collegiate Press Spring Conference.
The Collegian staff received a Silver Medalist Award in the overall newspaper competition and a Bronze Medalist Award for the online Collegianweb.com.
The Dragon’s Tale received a Bronze Medalist Award in the overall magazine category.
Ashley Bailey, the Collegian’s front page editor, was named the 2010 KACP Journalist of the Year for two-year college newspapers. [Read more...]
Green Day
Tracy Cook, a student in Jerri Griffin’s 3-D Design class, adjusts her art piece, made entirely of recycled aluminum pop cans, during the class’ Green Art show April 21 and 22 at the Parker Student Union.
Equine skills taught during horsemanship class at HCC
(Photo by Joe Lusk) Jessica Cheek, Clyde, leads the pack for a moment during class exercises in an arena at the Kansas State Fairgrounds.
By Andrea Radcliffe
Galloping their way to the finish line, the Beginning and Advanced Horsemanship classes are making their way through the final stretches of the spring semester.
Originally started by instructor Karen Russell, the horsemanship program has been a part of Hutchinson Community College for years, beginning in 1979.
Now Karen Baehler and Jim Keever, age 86, instruct the class along with well-experienced volunteer Donna Capps, and student volunteers Taylor Albright, Hutchinson, John Hein, Durham, and Sean Robinson, El Cajon, Calif.
“Karen asked if I would be interested (in helping with the class) and since I love horses, I thought it would be a good chance to ride more,” said Taylor Albright, Hutchinson. [Read more...]
Student literary journal needs more submissions
By Joe Lusk
Hutchinson Community College’s official student literary journal, “Tulgey Wood,” should be published sometime in mid-April, but the editor of the work is having a hard time collecting enough material.
Kelsey Pond, Hutchinson, is the student editor of the publication.
“We have less than twenty submissions at the moment. Most are poetry. We have no short stories whatsoever. I would love to have some more of those, as well some artwork,” Pond said. [Read more...]
Sports
Dragons proceed to NJCAA Region VI
(Photo by Angela Holcomb) Paul Anderson gets ready to send the baseball sailing on April 28 against the Neosho County Panthers.
By Tyler Hall
The Blue Dragons baseball team finished their regular season over the weekend when they faced Butler Community College. The Dragons came out strong in the first game behind yet another impressive complete game from sophomore Shawn Lewick.
Lewick threw a complete game three hit shutout, which lowered his ERA to an astounding 1.81 for a starting pitcher.
The Dragons went on to win the first game by a score of 5-0 and looked to be on a roll as they had won six games in a row up to that point.
The next game looked to be another win for the Dragons as they were up in the eighth inning before they gave up two runs to go down by one. HCC dropped the second game 10-9 but fought throughout the entire game. [Read more...]
Lady Dragons move to District E final four
(Photo by Alex Keel) A Lady Dragons’ batter sends a ball soaring in the May 2 game against Pratt Community College. The Dragons won and will play in the District E final four tournament.
By Martin Mendez
The Hutchinson Community College softball team was facing an elimination day against Pratt Community College, it all came down in a huge game. It was Game three of the Region VI, District E Tournament Sunday, May 2 at Fun Valley.
In the first meeting HCC dropped the series opener to 2-1, but came back in game two to win it 4-2 against Pratt.
Freshman pitcher Elise Beguelin gave up five hits but allowed just one unearned run as the Lady Dragons rallied from a one-run deficit with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to defeat Pratt 3-1 to win the series 2-1. [Read more...]
Dragons battle with Cloud, Neosho
(Photo by Angela Holcomb) Shaun Hoover shows classic sliding style and balance as he makes it safely to base in the Neosho game. The Dragons took an early lead in the game. At press time, the game was still underway.
By Tyler Hall
The Dragons woke up on April 24 with the expectation that they were to face Cloud County Community College in a doubleheader, one seven inning game and one nine inning game. They ended up making it through a mere five total innings when the rain put an end to their day.
The Dragons were leading 3-1 when the game was stopped for the storms. Fortunately they were through enough innings to count the game as a win for HCC.
Shawn Lewick, sophomore, started game one and, as usual, he showed why he is the ace of the Dragons’ staff. He gave up only four hits and one run, which was more than enough for HCC’s offense to cover.
“Lewick pitched well again, as we expect him to do every time,” said head coach Kyle Crookes. “Our offense wasn’t the best this weekend but I feel like we are moving in the right direction heading into the postseason.” [Read more...]
Golfers win league
By Grant McCormick
After clinching the league championship on April 20, the Hutchinson Community College men’s golf team has extended its stellar regular season by qualifying for the NJCAA National Tournament.
The Dragons’ league title was the third one in a row.
The Blue Dragons were at the Ironhorse Golf Club in Gothenburg Neb., on April 26 and 27, competing for a chance to play in the National Tournament.
In a regional tournament that takes the top five teams, Hutchinson Community College shot a combined total of 599, good enough for fourth place, and even better, advance. [Read more...]
Ladies split with Swedes
By Martin Mendez
The Hutchinson Community College softball team had a doubleheader against Bethany College’s JV squad on April 23. The Lady Dragons split against Bethany JV team, the first game the lady dragons beat Bethany 15-3, as Hutch out-hit Bethany 17-7.
In the second game the softball team came up short as Bethany beat Hutch 9-5. The Lady Dragons were right behind Bethany in hits but weren’t able to capitalize on a bit hit, the Lady Dragons had ten hits to Bethany’s eleven.
The HCC softball team overall record is now 26-29. [Read more...]
Lady Dragons swept by Red Ravens
(Photo by Andrew Carpenter) Brooke Hollis connects with the ball during the April 17 doubleheader with the Coffeyville Red Ravens.
By Martin Mendez
In the first round of the Region VI playoff series, the Lady Dragons (21-26, 12-16) were swept by Coffeyville in the first round. Hutch fell to the Red Ravens 5-2 and 3-2. The Red Ravens’ record is 15-22, 12-14.
Elise Beguelin was the starting pitcher in game one, only allowing two earned runs in her start and pitched four 2/3 innings, giving up six hits, struck out four and walked two.
The Lady Dragons out-hit Coffeyville 12-10, led by Beguelin, Dasha Kidder, Tracie Kithcart and Kendra Crippen, who all had two hits, however the Lady Dragons couldn’t come up with a clutch hit. [Read more...]
Dragons rough up Colby Trojans
(Photo by Andrew Carpenter) A Colby player takes a second look at a Shawn Lewick fastball that blasted by him during the doubleheader with the Blue Dragons at Colby on April 17.
By Tyler Hall
Sophomore Shawn Lewick helped the Dragons jump on top of Colby with a 1-0 series lead after Lewick’s dazzling two-hitter.
Lewick had ten strikeouts while only issuing one walk and pitching a complete game for the third time this season.
“Lewick has been a strong starter for us all season,” said head coach Kyle Crookes. “He comes out every game and refuses to let himself get beat and that is what you have to have in a pitcher.”
Lewick also reached an HCC career milestone when he earned his tenth win as a Dragon’s pitcher, making him the 18th player to ever do that. [Read more...]
Lady Dragons softball smacks K.C.
(Photo by Joe Lusk) Lady Dragon batter Brooke Hollis fouls one off during the April 2 game with the Friends University junior varsity squad at Fun Valley.
By Martin Mendez
The HCC softball team boosted its season-high win streak record to six games, with a doubleheader win April 3 against Jayhawk conference opponent Kansas City, at Fun Valley.
The softball team (17-18, 8-8 Jayhawk conference) defeated the Blue Devils 7-2 in the opener and then came from behind in the second to win it, 6-4.
“Its been a good week for us,” head coach Jamie Rose said. “Obviously, the winning is fun. We finally put up the offensive numbers we are capable of this week.” [Read more...]
Baseball splits with Seminoles
(Photo by Angela Holcomb) Blue Dragon firstbaseman Shaun Hoover puts the lights out on a Seminole baserunner who doesn’t get back to first in time, despite eating some dirt.
By Tyler Hall
The Blue Dragons baseball team had a doubleheader on April 1, in which they split victories with Seminole State, of Seminole, Okla.
In the first game of the doubleheader, in which both were seven-inning games, the Dragons lost 8-5 in a battle that was hard-fought all the way to the end.
Ryan Mayfield, Andrew Dixon and Dan Klein all went 2 for 3 at the plate in the game and accounted for all five of the Dragons’ runs.
Seth Sturgeon started the game and pitched well despite getting the loss, as he went three full innings, giving up only two runs. [Read more...]
HCC track squads shine at Hutch Night Relays events
(Photo by Angela Holcomb) Abby Rowland soars, en route to a 12-foot record.
By Grant McCormick
The Hutchinson Community College track and field team hosted the Hutch Night Relays on April 3, the team’s only home meet until Nationals. Maybe it was the comfort of being at home, or Chase Kear’s inspiring performance that lifted the Blue Dragons to new heights. Whatever it was, the teams didn’t disappoint as the men placed first, and the women placed second, in an unofficially scored meet.
Martin Jenkins set a meet record in the triple jump, with a leap of 49 feet, 7.75 inches. He also placed third in the long jump (22-3.5) and third in the high jump (6-5).
However, Jenkins wasn’t the only one breaking records. Abby Rowland cleared 12 feet, setting HCC’s new women’s pole vault record, and her own personal record at 12 feet, .5 inches. [Read more...]
Lady Dragons sweep Independence
(Photo by Andrew Carpenter) Lady Dragon third baseman Jamie Tanno winds up to throw out a runner at first base during a March 26 game with Highland, at the Fun Valley softball complex.
By Martin Mendez
The Hutchinson Community College softball team has had started off with a couple good wins these last couple of weeks.
Their latest win against Independence Community College as they swept them in a double header, 9-1 and 9-0. The sweep makes the softball record 13-18 overall, 4-6 Jayhawk East, and 6-8 Region 6. The win against Indy was the teams first Jayhawk East and Region play, marking consecutive wins for the first time this month.
The offense came out to play with 26 hits. [Read more...]
Track team excels at McPherson
By Martin Mendez
The Hutchinson Community College men’s and women’s track teams did great at the Bulldog Invitational March 13 at McPherson. The Hutchinson Community College men’s and women’s track teams each took first place.
“We had an excellent performance; everyone did great, especially with the weather as great as it was. Everyone did really well,” said head coach Pat Becher.
The women took first as they won 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, and pole vault events; individual champions were Abby Rowland in the pole vault, Jodi Mundy in 200 meter dash and 100 meter dash. [Read more...]
Entertainment
‘True Blood’ is an enjoyable romp for TV
Photo courtesy of trueblood.tv
By Angela Holcomb
“True Blood” is one of the best TV shows that HBO has ever aired. Created by Alan Ball and premiering in 2008 True Blood starts out with a bang and never lets up.
The show starts with the information that Japan has developed a synthetic blood substitute “True Blood” after this major discovery, vampires make their existence known to the world.
The action is set in a small community in Louisiana where vampires have begun to slowly move in.
Things are not peaceful though. Many people are opposed to the “fangs” as they are referred to causing them to fight for equal rights. [Read more...]
‘Moving Pictures’ was one of Rush’s best
Photo courtesy of kotaku.com
By Vinny Tranello
Moving Pictures, released in 1981, is Canadian rock band Rush’s eighth studio album. Geddy Lee plays bass and vocals, with Alex Lifeson on guitar and Neil Peart on drums. The record starts fantastically with one of their most famous songs, “Tom Sawyer.” It features a futuristic keyboard intro and tells the story of an arrogant man who thinks only about himself. It would be almost impossible to find a better way to start this incredible album.
The next piece is “Red Barchetta,” about a Ferrari taken on a country drive. This ends up being one of the catchier songs on the album, but never sacrifices catchiness for greatness. After that is the astonishing instrumental called “YYZ.” Rush has written a handful of these in their career, but this one ranks among the best in all of rock instrumentals; it is truly amazing. [Read more...]
The Firehouse Cafe has great food and prices
Photo by Andrea Radcliffe
By Andrea Radcliffe
Good food and better people is the first thought that comes to mind when I think of the Firehouse Café.
The charming atmosphere, delicious home cooking, and down to earth servers sets the perfect stage for a wonderful dining out experience.
You can expect to pay no more than 10 dollars on any given meal and a smile as soon as you walk through the door.
Opened only a few months ago by Roberta Sauer the small restaurant is already beginning to prove itself. [Read more...]
‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ provides laughs
By Vinny Tranello
“Hot Tub Time Machine” is an funny flick.
After Lou (Rob Corddry) is taken to the hospital from accidentally gassing himself in his garage, old-but-disconnected friends Adam (John Cusack) and Nick (Craig Robinson) are reunited with him and decide that the best course of action is to relive the glory days of their youth at a ski retreat in the mountains. Adam’s nephew, Jacob (Clark Duke) tags along for the ride.
But when they arrive, they find the old ski resort to be severely rundown in the years since they last visited. After checking into their hotel room, they find the only thing still in useable condition is the hot tub. [Read more...]
‘Dexter’ is one of Showtime’s best shows
By Angela Holcomb
Since premiering in 2006, “Dexter” has become one of Showtime’s most popular T.V. shows that the network has ever aired. Based loosely on the books written by Jeff Lindsay, this is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Dexter (Michael C. Hall) is a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Police Department who moonlights as a serial killer in his spare time.
Serial killers are usually the last subject I find to be glamorous; but I have to admit, Dexter is quite intriguing and a show that I could not stop watching.
Hall does well at convincing the viewers that Dexter’s acts are justified and that he is one of the good guys. [Read more...]
Kevin Smith’s latest is a comedic ‘Cop Out’
By Joe Lusk
“Cop Out,” a “buddy cop” gag flick directed and edited by veteran filmmaker Kevin Smith, dropped onto the big screen on Feb. 26, and ended its run at Hutchinson’s Dickinson Theater on March 18.
“Cop Out” is Smith’s first directing effort he did not also write the screenplay for, though he did personally storyboard the film in pre-production.
Advertising for the film was plastered with “Directed by Kevin Smith” clips, no doubt to sneakily insinuate that Smith was also the writer, but the script was in fact written by C-list television writers Robb and Mark Cullen. [Read more...]
‘Sherlock Holmes’ soon to be distributed on DVD
By Alex Keel 
Guy Ritchie’s latest film “Sherlock Holmes” is coming to DVD on March 30.
Ritchie’s flick is the newest in a long line of Holmes film adaptations and manages to place itself near the top of these.
Robert Downey Jr. stars as the titular hero who’s deductive reasoning and superior intellect give him an advantage over his opponents. Downey Jr. does very well in his role givng a quirky performance.
Jude Law gives an excellent performance as Dr. Watson, the chronicler of Holm’s adventures, the two play off one another very well throughout the film. [Read more...]
Sharp ‘N Shiny is a cool new addition to the Hutchinson Mall
Photo by Kendra Bruce
By Kendra Bruce
You may have seen the flyers around campus advertising the new Martial Science Center called Sharp N Shiny in the Hutchinson mall right next to Deb in front of JC Penney’s. This store offers many different things.
There is a martial arts instructor named Daryl Adams who teaches classes in one of their available rooms. His program is called the Five Animal Kung Fu, Boxing, and Yoga. There are four different available monthly programs that work around people’s schedules. [Read more...]
‘Black Dynamite’ provides great, laugh-filled ride
By Alex Keel
As a loving homage of the black exploitation movies of the 70’s, “Black Dynamite” succeeds on many levels.
Shot on oversaturated film stock to give the film the visual look of similar films such as “Shaft” and “Cleopatra Jones,” the film starts with a snitch named Jimmy being murdered by the mob. Little did they realize that Jimmy’s older brother Black Dynamite is not only the CIA’s best operative but also a world-class womanizer and kung-fu master.
Dynamite takes to the streets to clean up the drug problem on the streets while searching for his brother’s killer. There are insidious kung-fu practitioners, drug dealers and corruption that lead all the way to white house. [Read more...]
‘My Sister’s Keeper’ a must read
By Marah Corwin
When picking up a book to read, most people want something that they can enjoy; something that will either make them laugh or cry…seldom do they look for one that’s going to make them stop and think.
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult is a book that happens to do all three of those things at once: it will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will definitely make you stop and think.
The story is told through multiple first person points of view, which is the way most of Picoult’s stories are told, and it’s about a girl named Anna who was born solely for the purpose of keeping her sister Kate alive. [Read more...]
‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’ a depressing flick
By Jarek Penney
“The Time Traveler’s Wife,” directed by Robert Schwentke, only left me feeling bad for the time traveler’s wife.
Clare Abshire (Rachel McAdams) plays the wife of a man, Henry DeTamble (Eric Bana), who has a condition that causes him to involuntarily time travel frequently.
The two meet when Henry (Bana) time travels to a meadow when Clare (McAdams) is a young girl and Henry is in his 40’s. The two develop a strong relationship and end up falling in love after many years of visits from Henry.
After Clare’s 18th birthday, Henry stops visiting and Clare goes away to college, only to meet up with a much younger Henry at the library where he works. [Read more...]
‘Julie & Julia’ wavers on the line of mediocrity
By Joe Lusk
This past weekend downtown’s Hutchinson’s Fox Theater opened its doors once more to display a feature film after a long cinematic lull since their summer film series.
“Julie and Julia,” a feature film out on DVD since early December ‘09, was played on the evenings of Feb. 5, 6, and 7.
The film, starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams, is an adaptation of two books: one chronicling the early life of Julia Child (played by Streep), and the other a memoir of a woman (played by Adams) who cooked all 524 recipes from Child’s seminal cookbook “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” in one year. [Read more...]
HCC’s ‘Loose Change” improv to wow audiences Feb. 11 - 13
By Marah Corwin
Cue scene lighting! Quiet everybody!
Action.
The Hutchinson Community College’s theater department often puts on shows that dazzle and entertain the crowd, and on Feb. 11, 12 and 13 the HCC Theater Performance Ensemble group, Loose Change, will be entertaining audiences of up to 100 people with their well-thought-out improv show.
But many people don’t know what goes into performing in an improv show; there are actual rules the actors have to follow. [Read more...]
Evil Empire was the greatest of Rage Against the Machine’s albums
By Vinny Tranello
Evil Empire by the rap-rock group Rage Against the Machine was released in 1996 and is the band’s second album. Zack de la Rocha sings the vocals with Tom Morello on guitar, Brad Wilk on drums and Tim Commerford on bass.
The album starts out strong with its first track, People of the Sun, which has a very catchy opening riff and an incredible bass line. Next up is one of their most popular songs, yet also great, Bulls on Parade, which is about structure the military. [Read more...]
