The Shield October Issue
Volume 31
Staff Members
Adviser I Matt Hallauer Editor-In-Chief I Madison McMilllen Managing Editor I Deepthi Kailash Copy Editor I Rachael Lawler Senior Reporter I Clare Hernandez Reporter I Anna Deschamp Reporter I Callie Ingram
Vo l u m e 3 1
The Shield Saint Thomas Aquinas high School
Freelancer I Izzy Gurera Freelancer I Megan Kuckelman Freelancer I Maggie Slaven
The Shield
Social Media stashield aquinasameday Saint Thomas Aquinas Shield stashield stashield
M IS S IO N S TA TEMEN T The Shield is the student’s’ voice of Saint Thomas Aquinas High School. Published by students for the good of the whole Aquinas community, The Shield serves as a source of information and as a spark for productive change. Student reporters learn about the world of journalism while practicing ethical, holistic reporting practices. The Shield staff is responsible for the content published, striving to share information accurately, objectively, and completely for all members of the Saint Thomas Aquinas High School community. ADVER TIS IN G The Shield sells advertisements to help with publication costs. All ads will be subject to the same scrutiny as stories. The Shield will not print any obscenities or any ads promoting products illegal to those under the age of 18. For advertising, please call (913) 319-2418, send an email to mhallauer@stasaints.net, or visit www.stasaints.net/shield SUB S CR IPTIO N S Subscriptions to The Shield are $3 per issue. Subscriptions can be sent to Saint Thomas Aquinas High School c/o Matt Hallauer. Digital subscriptions are free and sent via email monthly. Orders can be sent to mhallauer@stasaints.net L ETTER S PO LICY Letters may be accepted by The Shield, provided that they are signed and do not contain libelous statements. The Shield reserves the right to edit the letters for grammar, obscenity, or space consideration, and also reserves the right to not print a letter.
Volume 31 I September Issue
CONTENTS
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12
14
Why Don’t Teens Vote?
Paranormal Encounters
Last Minute Costumes
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20
22
Halloween’s Best
Survey Spread
The Benders: Serial Killer Family
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Alex Haskett
Social Spread
Last Look
Letter from the Editor
A
t the time of me writing this, there is not much longer till the semester is over, actually it is only nine weeks or 63 days or 1492 hours or 89,520 minutes until then. Not that anyone is counting already. Now that we have entered the second half of a semester that feels both eternally long and like it started yesterday at the same time, it has reached a point where we are all settling into the rythmn of our daily life, and the duties that come with it. Studying for College Biology tests are now becoming more natural to you, sitting at the same lunch table is routine, you now know if you prefer your odd days or your even days, it is only three months in but you’ve already set the basis for the rest of your year. And along with this all comes the things that are required of you day in and day out. In this issue, we played around with the duties we hope to uphold and the ways in which we can let go and forget about them for a little bit. Wth midterm elections just down the road, the Shield staff saw it fit that we talk about teenagers role in American politics, and what it is that keeps us from engaging in it. This year will be the first one that Generation Z can participate in, and it may either break us out of a half-century rut or cause us to fall back into the expections placed upon us. Voting is essential to our democracy, but the young persons voice is rarely heard within the arena of formal government. Halloween is also on the way and this issue has a lot of special stories and features that hope to get you in the mood for the holiday. Lists of the most highly rated scary movies, haunted houses, creepy places,
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etc. can be found in this edition along with a Survey Spread that polled the favorite and least favorite candies of the school. And no, it’s not candy corn! No matter how safe you feel in your JoCo bubble, scary things do happen in Kansas. The Benders are infamous for their murder spree, and are now nicknamed “The Serial Killer Family.” No matter if you are a true crime buff or someone who likes to stay out of the shadows, the story of this interesting and depraved family is sure to entertain. Along with the scary is also the fun side of Halloween. Underneath the costumes (see Last Minute Halloween Costumes) are the captivating and unique members of our community. Alex Haskett’s profile follows the story of a boy who loves to create balloon art, using his talent to donate to others. In Improv-ers at Work, the sudent body gets a peek at one of the many clubs of Aquinas where on the spot thinking and hilarious personalities come together to create something new. It may just seem like another day but inside of it is the many ways in which you uphold the duties required of you, keep them but don’t let it drive you crazy, and make sure to have a little fun along the way.
Madison McMillen Editor-in-Chief
Community News Canopoly! Food Drive
The Saint Thomas Aquinas Can Food Drive will be during the week of Monday, October 30th. The last record setting year was in 2015, with 177,801 cans. “This is the most important thing we do here at Aquinas. Catholic Charities relies on us to feed families all over Kansas City...It’s important that everyone helps out.” Junior Kelly Lane said.
Sister Act
Sister Act is coming to the Aquinas stage November 1st - 4th. Struggling lounge singer, Delores, played by Senior Maddie Charles, just wants to perform but in an exciting twist of events, the singer finds herself undercover at a convent. Sister Act is, “more than some singing nuns, it’s about finding true friendships. It’s really funny and the music is great!,” said Junior Amy Gassel.
Girls Golf
After winning Saint Thomas Aquinas’s 100th state title last year, the girls golf team has taken the pressure put onn them in stride. So far this season, the girls have placed either 1st or 2nd in tournaments, became EKL champs and won regionals. Junior girls golfer, Maggie King, says girls golf hopes to, “bring another state championship to [Aquinas] this year!”
National News Software Update for Voting
With the November 6th election coming up quickly, it is perfect timing for the county to update the voting software. The county thinks this new software will lead to a quicker delivery of results. This problem needed to be fixed after the dreadfully slow delivery of voting results in August. The county plans to have 2,100 voting machines and 195 locations
Hurricane Michael
Category 4 storm, Hurricane Michael, hit the Florida Panhandle.Travelling by 130 mph winds, it was the most powerful hurricane to hit our nation this year. Evacuations were advised for the Alabama-Florida coast and shelters were opened for the evacuees. As many as 2,500 National Guard members and many search-and-rescue teams were deployed in preparation for the storm.
New Restaurant on the Plaza
Renown chef and television personality, Guy Fieri, is starting a new restaurant in the Live Block of the Power and Light District. Inductee of the Barbeque Hall Of Fame and owner of the Food Network Show, “Diners, Drive Ins and Dives,” Fieri has made his mark in the food industry. And now he is ready to bring his skills to Kansas City.
World News Radio Signals from Space
Researchers are finding bursts of radio waves in space. They have found 20 in the last year, doubling the amount since 2007. However, researchers are still not sure what galaxy these waves are coming from. The waves— or “fast radio bursts”—have the equivalent energy released by the Sun in 80 years. Right now it is anyone’s guess where these signals are coming from.
A Royal Gatsby Wedding
Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank on Friday, October 14th, 2018. One part of the ceremony left the audience a bit confused. The bride’s sister, Princess Beatrice, read a passage from The Great Gatsby. Princess Eugenie explained that it had immediately reminded her of her husband to be, chosing this in place of the second reading at the ceremony.
Tiny Nanoparticles Cure Bites
In some parts of the world, snakebites are a major cause of death and disability. Chemists have been trying to find an answer to curing snake bite venom, and nanoparticles may be the answer. Chemist Dr. Kenneth J. Shea, has been combining nanoparticles with polymers small enough to attach to proteins. Research still needs to be done, but the chemists are hopeful.
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Why
Teens
The 2018 midterms are the first election that Gen Z can participate in, how will America’s history of low youth engagement affect their impact? 6
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F
or those old enough to remember them, presidential elections and the media frenzy that follow leave more than just an impression, their pomp and circumstance seemingly overshadows all else in the grand scheme of American politics, especially the more understated midterm elections. After an intense presidential race in 2016, tensions flared and political unrest soared, but was that enough to spark change within the youngest and most stubbornly resistant voting demographic? According to the United States Census Bureau, Americans from the ages of 18 to 24 years old have consistently turned out less voters than any other generation since the standardization of the voting age in 1972. In that initial year, voter turnout was 50% of the eligible population, a record high that has never been met in the 46 years since. Spikes to the lower 40s in percentage during the 1992 and 2008 presidential elections are the only anomalies within this trend of low voter engagement. The last midterm election had only half of that, 23% of youth voters turned out to the polls.
At first, this looks to be at odds with the images offered up in the media of fired up, passionate Gen Z activists starting movements that sweep the nation, but the history of youth voting is not necessarily telling of the future. The 2018 midterms will be the first election for Gen Z will be able to participate in, and it may show what can be expected of their turnout in future years. According to a Harvard Institute of Politics survey, 37% of the 18 to 29 year olds asked said they “definitely will be voting” in the 2018 midterm elections. Another survey conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute and The Atlantic found that 35% of that same age group would be certain to vote. These estimates alone are markedly higher than the average turnout for midterm elections, and are close to the same percentage of turnout for presidential elections. And while they may reflect the feelings of college age students and young professionals, how accurate are these numbers within the communities of those most recently eligible to vote? The oldest students at Saint Thomas Aquinas are
also part of the first round of Gen Z-ers that have the opportunity to participate in elections. According to a survey done by The Shield, of the 35 seniors who will be of age, roughly half of the 23 students that responded said they are registered and will vote come November 6th or earlier (11 students responded that they would not be voting in the midterms and 12 declined to answer). While it may be a small portion of the 2019 senior class and an even smaller sample of the overall age-group, the 23 students hint, at least on a local scale, what we can expect from this generation in the upcoming election. This Saints sample not only reveals the likelihood of youth turnout at the polls, it echos familiar concerns that have haunted even the most seasoned voters for years. Doubts about their knowledge on the issues and candidates featured on November’s ballot were the most common fear for these first time voters. “I have registered but I still need to do some research on the midterm election. I haven’t
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really been following it,” Senior Luke Goddard said. Senior Jacob Mertes will not be able to vote in the upcoming election, but his background as a volunteer and field intern for political campaigns have made him knowledgeable of the ways in which voters inform themselves and reach decisions. “I know that lot of people our age say they don’t care about politics, and I get where those people are coming from but I also recognize that in a while that’ll be us, we’ll be in charge of the government, we’ll be the generation that everyone is pandering to to get our vote. I realize I need to get educated about this now so I’m prepared to take over when the time comes,” Mertes said. He says that the hard work is already done for us, the information is out there, all we have to do is access it. In the eyes of someone who has spent hours and hours calling and talking to people about the issues that affect them, educating yourself is a must, but not enough people do it. “Number one thing is educate yourself. I’ve talked to a lot of uninformed voters on the phone, which is disheartening to say the least. The easiest way is to look at a candidate’s website and their event schedules. Try to meet them in person because that is the best thing to give you a feel for what they’re like,” Mertes said. Fear that of not qualifying as an educated and informed voter is a sentiment shared across demographics, and disproportionately so for the younger generation. With the emergence of social media and the subsequent emphasis of “fake news,” the public’s ability to access reliable, trustworthy information online has been called
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into question. Some Aquinas seniors see this as an obstacle that will prevent them from voting, period. “I am not educated and therefore do not want to contribute to something I do not know about,” Senior Ben Smith said. Smith is part of the majority that refuses their ability to vote whether that be because of missing the voter registration deadline, feelings of under-education, or disbelief in voters’ ability to actually affect change within the government, etc. No matter the reason, and even with rising numbers of engagement, young people who vote are still a stark minority and have been for almost half a century. There could be numerous explanations for the lukewarm attitude of the younger voting demographic. Teens could feel as if their voice won’t have a big impact. They might simply not know how, or when, and have the registration deadline pass them by without them ever knowing. Mertes says that his own friends are not interested because of something other than just doubt or lack of knowledge, he theorizes that our current political climate is too hot to the touch for many teens. “It is a nasty place and it is hard to be involved in [politics] for a really long time. If the people working behind the scenes can’t do it, I’m not surprised that voters are unwilling to participate either,” Mertes said. Low voter turnout is not a simple issue, especially when dealing a population that feels under educated, new to the scene, and intimidated by the state of politics our country. That being said, some still feel that this election might be the
I have
registered
but I still
need to
do some research
on the midterm election. I haven’t
really
been following it - Senior Luke Goddard
That being said, some still feel that this election might be the one to break the curse. Over 800,000 people registered to vote on National Voter Registration Day, according to NonProfit VOTE, the organization that put together the nationwide event. There is reason to believe that this is in direct correlation with the efforts put forth by popular celebrities who have major social media platforms and large Gen Z fanbases. Vote.org recorded that after pop star Taylor Swift encouraged her 112 million Instagram followers to go register to vote, 65,000 people registered within the next 24 hours. Music and culture icons Beyonce and Jay Z had voter registration booths present on the American leg of their On The Run II Tour. Efforts like these from
stars with large followings may be another reason that people are optimistic about prospective youth voter turnout this year. Candidates are even utilizing social media as a way of getting the word out and spreading thier message to the voters in their communties. Access to the information is there, interest in politics is somewhat growing, the younger generation is now becoming elegible to vote, so what is stopping them from becoming an impactful force in the upcoming midterms? Nothing besides the fact that the likelyhood of them showing up at the polls is slim. After all, closed voter registration means that no new voters are coming in, but nothing is stoppping those who are currently eligible from deciding to just not showing up on Nov. 6th.
At Aquinas, there is roughly 12 students and an entire staff that have the ability to participate in one of the most important asects of a democratic society. A half-century of data would suggest that not all of them will do so. Either way this election will make history, let us hope that America’s youth are part of it.
Madison McMillen Editor-in-Chief
Anna Deschamp Reporter
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who is on my
ballot?
Lack of knowledge was cited as one of the biggest reasons teens do not vote. Here are the facts...
House of Reps. District 3 Sharice Davids
Kevin Yoder
Pro-Choice Supports expanding Medicare to cover everyone Supports gun control legislation
• • •
Pro-Life Against tax increases on personal and corporate levels Supports a “harder” stance on illegal immigration
• • •
Governor • Pro-Choice • Plans to expand Medicaid • Plans to implement gun reform
• Pro-Life • Plans to reform welfare and cut back on assistance • Supports ending sanctuary cities/counties in Kansas
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Laura Kelly
Kris Kobach
Attorney General Supports greater inclusion in civil rights laws Supports the decriminalization of cannabis Plans to create a crytocurrency taskforce
• • •
Supports eligibility of children for healthcare Advocatees for tougher funishments for repeat felons Against Kansas ban on for-profit prisons
• • •
Sarah Swain
Derek Schmidt
Secretary of State • Prioritizes increased voter participation • Wishes to increase “technical competence” • Supports making registering buisnesses easier
Brian McClendon
• Supports protection against voter fraud • Promotes increased training for state employees • Supports Voter ID and Proof of Citizenship requirements
Scott Schwab
Treasurer Marci Francisco
Plans to ensure taxes are properly accounted, invested, and protected Advocates for increased financial literacy education
•
Jake LaTurner
Supports simplifying the processes and operations of the Treasurer office Supports increased transparency of state spending
•
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Paranormal Encounters Saint Thomas Aquinas students share their spooky stories.
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“My extended family lives in Hays, Kansas, a town known for the legend of the Blue Light Lady. Elizabeth Polly was a nurse in Fort Hays during the cholera outbreak who helped soldiers, but she too eventually died of cholera. Now she is said to haunt a hill that she loved to go to and is called the Blue Light Lady because she is said to be blue. “Once I went to this hill when visiting my family. We parked on a side road blocked off by a gate. On the other side of the gate, I saw a subtle, blue silhouette of a person in a dress and bonnet. I hopped the gate and ran towards it with my camera, but as soon as I did that, the silhouette began to run towards me. Out of fear, I ran away and threw myself over the gate, getting bruises and scrapes as I hit the ground. I got up and looked all around for the apparition, but it was gone.
-Allie Velasco senior
“My dad used to live in this house down in Mexico. When we went to stay there he told us not to go into the kitchen at night. We asked why but he wouldn’t tell us. “When we got up next morning there was some broken plates on the ground and he ended up telling us that at night the kitchen is basically destroyed by something. It opens all the drawers and cabinets then throws everything out. They have locks but one of us forgot to close one of the cabinets completely and the entire cabinet was empty. I’ll never stay a night at that house again.”
-Truan Leiker junior
Maggie Slaven Freelancer
“I was at my Mema’s house in Wichita. All the rooms were taken so, of course, I had to sleep in the creepy, antique doll room … “All lights were off except for the bedside table lamp. I was laying in the bed and talking to my friend on the phone. As I was speaking to her, the lamp next to me turned off and I was sitting in the dark ... Soon after the light shut off, my call started to cut out. All I could hear was a faint buzzing noise over the phone. “I ended the call and had my finger over the FaceTime button when I got a call from an unknown number. I answer the call, expecting a sales rep on the other side, but all I heard was heavy, deep breathing. I ended the call instantly and FaceTimed my friend as fast as I could. After about 5 minutes of us on FaceTime, her face lit up. It looked like someone was shining her face with a flashlight. I asked what was wrong but the only response I got back was a loud static sound. I decided that was enough and ended the call. I got under the covers and went to sleep only to be awoken with a loud BANG! “The loud sound had been an old doll that fell of the top shelf onto the floor. I looked around the room and realized that the doll wasn’t the only thing on the floor. All of my clothes had been thrown out of my suitcase and all the doors in the room were wide open. I ran out of the room and slept on the couch for the rest of the trip.”
-Trinity Watson sophomore
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Last Minute Halloween Costumes In a bind, these Halloween Costumes will make do and last all night long. Chip on Your Shoulder
In yet another simple costume, all that is required is a couple of chips. Balance them or tape them on your shoulder, and you are good to go.
Breadwinner
In this take on the classic term, wear any clothing. Just carry a loaf of bread and a medal, trophy, plaque, or ribbon. Brownie points if you also have a housewife and some children to accompany you.
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Blackmail
For this costume, the only clothing required is a black shirt and black pants. Then, simply write mail on an envelope, and pin it to your shirt, and there you have it: Black mail.
Fork in the Road
For this punny costume, all that is needed is a piece of paper with black or yellow lines. Pin it or tape it to the shirt. Lastly, add a fork in the middle.
Deepthi Kailash Managing Editor
Photos of junior Anna Deschamp by Deepthi Kailash.
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HALLOWEEN’S BEST OF... HORROR MOVIES ON NETFLIX
CREEPY ANIMATED FILMS
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NEARBY HAUNTED HOUSES
EDGE OF HELL
THE BEAST
1300 W 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64101
Xochimilco, Mexico
On the canals of Xochimilco, a small island filled with decrepit dolls scattered everywhere can be found. It is said that a young girl drowned here and her spirit possess the dolls.
1401 W 13th St, Kansas City, MO 64102
SPOOKY SPOTS AROUND THE WORLD
Leap Castle, Ireland
With a very long and gruesome past, the most well known tale about this castle is that of the Red Lady. Hundreds of years ago, she was imprisoned here and tortured by the clan that owned it. She now supposedly lurks the halls in seek of revenge.
MACABRE CINEMA 1222 W 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64101
Catacombs, Paris
The Catacombs are miles of tunnels that run right under Paris. Between the late 18th and mid 19th century, people were buried in this mass grave, fearing that leaving the bodies in the open would pose a threat to public health. Bones are still in the tunnels on display.
City of the Dead, Russia
When a plague swept Russia in the 18th century, quarantine zones were made. People of this city would bury their loved ones with their clothes and belongings in the nearby valley. If they were the last of their family left and had no one else to bury, they would often just wait in their house until they, too, died.
Catacombs, Paris City of the Dead, Russia
Leap Castle, Ireland
Nagoro, Japan
Poveglia, Italy
Xochimilco, Mexico
HangingCoffins, Philippines
Port Elizabeth Library, Africa Port Elizabeth, Africa
During the construction of the Port Elizabeth Library, a monument honoring late Police Constable Maxwell was removed from its original spot at the building next door and into the library gardens. He allegedly haunted the building, specifically Room 700, until the monument was moved back.
Clare Hernandez Senior Reporter
Poveglia, Italy
This small island off Italy was used as a containment zone for victims of the bubonic plague, where they were essentially left to die. It wasn’t long before another epidemic hit, and the island became a mass grave. A mental hospital was opened in the 1920s, but was used more as an excuse to torture people in the name of science, only adding to the number of angry spirits on the island.
Hanging Coffins, Philippines
The Igorot tribe of Mountain Province have nailed their coffins to the sides of cliffs for at least two millenea. The tribechose the cliff side to keep the bodies safe from rotting away into the ground, only to be forgotten. They also believe that being buried so high up gives them an easier and free path for their souls to go to heaven, as they don’t need to first travel through the ground.
Nagoro, Japan
This small village is populated mostly of life-sized dolls made of straw and old clothes. As people left the town, due to job searching or death, Tsukimi Ayano was sad at how empty it was. She first made a life-sized doll to represent her father, and soon began to make and place dolls all over the town. It’s rumored that some dolls show up overnight and move when no one is looking.
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Scholars Bowl
Sophomore Jack Stoerman is stumped thinking of the answer to one of the many questions asked in a Scholar’s Bowl meeting. The team brushes up their knowledge on subjects like English, art, history, math and science to prepare for tournaments. Photo by Madison McMillen, The Shield.
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Survey Spread What is your favorite fall fashion trend?
Plaid
Colored Lenses
Oversized Bags
Animal Print
Other
What are you looking forward to this fall?
Sweater Weather
Pumpkin Spice Lattes
Parent Teacher Conferences
Do you prefer sweet treats or salty snacks? What is your opinion on candy corn?
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Deepthi Kailash Managing Editor
Favorite Halloween Movies
Favorite Candy
Least Favorite Candy
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The Bloody Benders The rise and fall of an American serial killer family
I
n 1870, Cherryvale, Kansas, was little more than a windswept, Midwestern town. With a population numbering less than 1000, it seemed a prime example of the emergence of small town America. But roiling under the belly of this Mayberry façade was something far sinister: the lives of the Bender family. The Bender family was comprised of four individuals: John Bender, Sr., Mrs. Bender, Kate Bender, and John Bender, Jr. As time has passed, the folklore surrounding this collective group has become a zeitgeist for serial murders of the late nineteenth century. The accounts about this particular group are often contrary to each other. In some
Nailed in the Act
John Bender prepares to murder an unsuspecting victim. The Bender men waited behind a curtain before striking their victims with a hammer. Illustration via Rebel Circus
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eyewitness accounts, Kate and John Bender, Jr. were not siblings, but actually a married couple. Others claimed that only Kate and Mrs. Bender were related, and that Ma Bender was “born Almira Meik,” according to Mental Floss. It was claimed she was the widow of several husbands who all died from head injuries, which has great significance in the Bender crimes. She seems to have been construed as one of the first relatively well-known “black-widows.” Furthermore, “it was rumored that [Kate] and her mother {Mrs. Bender] practiced witchcraft,” according to Rebel Circus. And as time has gone on, there seems to be even more doubt as to the identities of the rest of clan; in fact, the name Bender was most likely an alias. John Bender may have been “born John Flickinger ... in either Germany or the Netherlands,” according to Mental Floss. This explains why there is so much folklore surrounding the personal life of the Benders. There really is no record of their life prior to the early 1870s or their life thereafter. Whatever their relation to each other, these four individuals came to live together on a homestead in southeastern Kansas. After acquiring the tract of land for their new home, the Benders began building their murder house. They eventually converted part of the oneroom home into an inn and rest stop for travelers with their personal living quarters in the back of the building. A curtain became the only thing separating the two worlds. The Bender homestead attracted a wide variety of people, particularly weary travelers (transversing the nearby
Santa Fe Trail) and customers who wished to talk with Kate Bender, a self-
“It was rumored that [Kate] and her mother practiced witchcraft” Laura Kelley professed Spiritualist and medium. Furthermore, Kate drew many customers to the murder house because she was claimed to be “pretty and voluptuous,” and quite a draw for male customers, along with being a purported “fortune teller and healer,” that often traveled to nearby Kansas towns to discuss spiritualism and perform séances, according to Rebel Circus. Visitors would often eat a meal with the family before leaving or staying the night. For some visitors, though, this would be their last meal. Sometimes, guests would be invited to sit with their backs to the curtain, which came to be an ominous invitation that determined life or death. As guests enjoyed a meal with the family (with their back to the curtain), one of the Bender men would approach the curtain, and swinging a hefty hammer, they would deliver a powerful blow. This would either incapacitate or kill the victim. Once this had been done, the body would be dropped down through a trapdoor into a cellar. It was here that the victim’s throat would be slashed and all their personal valuables removed from their body. After this was accomplished, the victim would be buried on the Bender property, usually in the garden or a nearby orchard.
The Bender Family Blends In
John Bender, Sr., Mrs. Bender, John Bender, Jr., and Kate Bender, from left to right. The Benders went on a two year murdering spree near Cherryvale, Kansas-- with a confirmed 11 victims.. Illustration from The Benders in Kansas (James, 1913).
seemingly vanished into thin air after traveling through Cherryvale. A town hall meeting was soon held in Cherryvale in which it was determined that the homesteads of every family would be searched. Unsurprisingly, both John Bender, Jr. and Sr. attended as members of the town. This afforded them the opportunity to disappear into the night. When volunteer searchers finally came to the Bender household and inn, the entire clan had disappeared, taking little more than basic necessities. While searching occurrence, which is why the Benders the home, the volunteers soon made were able to get away with murdering a horrifying discovery: a trap-door. as many victims as they did. Likewise, This was the same trapdoor that led criminal investigations were nowhere to the blood-soaked, subterranean near as advanced as they are in the present. Forensic science had existed for cellar where the Benders slashed their victims’ throats. A horrible, almost overless than 50 years, and it would be well powering, stench was emitted from the over a century before DNA forensics cellar upon the trap-door’s opening. was implemented in courts. All of this The horrified group moved to the contributed to the Bloody Benders’ outside of the building and noticed prolonged murder spree. that the garden had been plowed very This all changed when Dr. William York was murdered, according to Mental recently. A rather suspicious detail Floss. It is documented how Dr. York was considering the abrupt departure of the Benders. It was in this garden not only well-known in Independence, that the body of William York was Kansas, but he also had two powerful discovered. His head had been bashed brothers (one a Kansas senator and the in while his throat had been slashed. other a colonel, respectively) who were As the volunteers continued to search, desperate to find out what happened around a dozen bodies were eventually to their missing brother, who had At this point in time, people would often go missing from a variety of factors like disease on the road, Native American raids, outlaws, or even just losing communication with relatives, so it was not a particularly uncommon
“[The Benders] had vanished into the darkness”
uncovered in the garden. There is a strong possibility the Benders may have murdered many more victims during their short stint in Cherryvale. Some estimates go as high as the low to mid 20s. Whatever the exact victim count, the actions of the Benders established them as the first American serial killer family. The Benders were never found, nor heard of again, despite exhaustive efforts by both investigators and vigilantes. They had vanished into the darkness. Thousands of dollars were offered in reward for their capture, but it was never claimed. This is in spite of the many tales spread in the following years of vigilante justice and the spotting of the family, particularly Mrs. and Kate Bender. All of which proved unverifiable or as a blatant falsehood. And so, this mystery remains unsolved.
Rachael Lawler Copy Editor
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Man at Work
Haskett smiles for the camera while working at Jose Pepper’s. He has worked there for over a year. Photo courtesy of Alex Haskett’s Facebook.
Amazing Alex: Balloon Artist Junior Alex Haskett leads a double life: he seems like the average student, but he is a talented balloon artist.
T
he first time I saw junior Alex Haskett “ballooning” was at an event for Key Club- the annual BIGGSteps 5K and 10K for cancer research. He was outfitted in a colorful shirt with balloon animals all over it, and his equally as colorful visor was capped with
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a shock of bright blue hair. The “Amazing Alex” (Haskett’s stage name) does many charity events like these, but he will not tell you about them in person. Before we conducted our interview, I was talking to Saint Thomas Aquinas registrar Gina
Haskett, proud mother to Haskett. She told me how he does not share his volunteer work with the world. “He’s very humble about this, so he doesn’t say much. There’s a lot of people here who have no clue.”
Haskett has performed for the Make a Wish Foundation and Kids of Courage, both nonprofit organizations that work with children who have serious medical diagnoses. He has done Christmas events and many others. The wildly vibrant costume Haskett wears is at odds with his humble personality - he is a man of few words - but he makes it work. And work he does. Haskett can often be found on the weekends at Jose Pepper’s, where he is able to do what he loves while also making money. He also works birthday parties and other events, where he gets clients by word-of-mouth and with the City of Mission, who he works for. Ballooning has been a part of Haskett’s life for five years. He started with the Prince of Peace talent show, where he
and a friend decided to do magic tricks, which he loved and started taking lessons in. As for balloons specifically, Haskett said, “There was a trick I wanted to learn that involved balloons so I thought I would try it and I liked it more.” From there, Haskett says it took him about a year, maybe two, before he became really skilled. His first professional job was at age 11, and he has only continued to improve. Haskett sees himself doing this in the future, but “It’s probably more like a hobby ... it probably won’t be my main job.” His other hobbies include Scholar’s Bowl and Swim team, but he doesn’t often find it hard to balance all of his activities. Unlike most teenagers, Haskett gets to set his own work schedule. When I asked him what
his favorite thing about being a balloon artist is, Haskett said that, “There is just so much stuff you can make. It sparks creativity.” His favorite animals to create are turtles, but he is skilled at making hats, butterflies, flowers, and even festive holiday-themed turkeys. Some might not know Alex Haskett as more than onethird of the junior class’ set of triplets, along with Bailey and Corbin Haskett, but beneath his brown hair, there is creativity and imagination in abundance that comes out when that hair is spray-painted blue.
Anna Deschamp Reporter
Now
16 year-old Alex at the BIGGSteps event in August of this year (right).This has been just one of Alex’s many volunteer jobs. Photo courtesy of Alex Haskett’s Facebook.
Then
12 year-old Alex performing in 2014 (left). He was getting paid jobs just a year after starting. Photo courtesy of Alex Haskett’s Facebook.
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Improv-ers at Work The last STA period of the week is a time a lot of Aquinas students use to let go and let loose. That takes on another meaning in Improv Club. For an hour and a half, the kids in Room 131 are not chatting with their friends in the Commons or using up precious internet bandwidth, they are performing comedy in one of its most primal forms. Improv
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comedy has no preparation, people are thrown into a scene or a game and asked to think on the spot, spitting out whatever word or action that comes to them. Whether awkward or genius, hilarity ususally ensues. On Friday, Oct. 19th, Improv Club was able to spend a little more time on their craft, as a special guest came
to help them hone their skills. Saint Thomas Aquinas Alumni Ryan Mehary 03,’ stopped by during fourth hour to give advice and run through some long-form improv exercises. Mehary is a member of the Upright Citizens Brigade, a fomous improv troupe from Los Angeles, and was a former student of Performing Arts Department Chairwoman Kim Spillman.
Members of the improv club performing a variety of scenes, including, but not limited to: two teenage girls fighting over a cotton candy wig, blind eye doctors berating a confused patient, overly enthusiastic garderers, and many more.
Counter-clockwise from top-left: Joe Dotterwich and Greta Hauk, Joe Dotterwich and Ryan Mehary, Mary Kate Lickteig, Jayden Ragsdale and Joe Dotterwich, Jayden Ragsdale and Corbin Hasktt, Seth Fillipsen and Arden MeadEsvang. Bottom-right: Seth Fillipsen Story and Photos by Madison McMillen.
October Issue
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The Social Spread Callie Ingram Reporter
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Insights on Saints social media posts around and outside of Aquinas.
Want your posts, Snapchats, or tweets featured in The Shield? Contact cingram20@stasaints.net. October Issue
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Last Look
October 2018
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1. Juniors Greta Woolway and Gabe Kraft dressed up and had fun at the volleyball team’s Senior Night game on Oct. 16. 2. The school unites together as they celebrate adoration with Archbishop Joseph Naumann and Father Matthew Nagle on Oct. 16. 3. The girls golf team earns the school’s 105th state championship title on Oct. 16. It was the team’s second consecutive title, and Head Golf Coach Ryan Best has won five titles in his last six seasons. 4. Head Football Coach Randy Dreiling gives the Saints a pep talk after the Miege game on Oct. 12. The Saints won 41-21 to win the league title. 5. Technology Department Chairman David Shriver walks Communion down with his granddaughter at Grandparent’s Day Mass on Oct. 12. Photos courtesy of Michele Gress via the Saint Thomas Aquinas Shutterfly.
October Issue
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The Shield Volume 31
The Students’ Voice of Saint Thomas Aquinas High School 11411 Pflumm Road Overland Park, Kansas 66210 (913) 345-1411 stashield stashield stashield aquinasgameday Saint Thomas Aquinas Shield
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