Sports affected by shut down.

Is there anything good about

See page 3 this? See page 4.

Volume 71 Number 7 Proctor High School, Proctor, Minnesota 55810 March/April - 2020

Virus hits US, Shuts down schools, society

Mallet Special Edition

How COVID-19 Has Affected Economy Epidemics of World History

By Jake Amendola By Alex McPhee

When COVID-19, also known as the guidelines, several businesses are not open which As of April 12th, 2020 at 4:43PM, COVID- thought to be close to 25% of the population of
Coronavirus, hit the US in late February and puts millions of Americans out of work. 19 has infected 1,847,095, and killed 113,902 the entire empire.
early March, everything went into a panic The pandemic has severely hurt several people across 202 countries and territories. Even The capital city of Constantinople (now
including our economy. Our economy and several industries that are crucial to the American those who are not infected by the disease are Istanbul) lost nearly 40% of its population. The
key industries were hit extremely hard by this consumer and worker. still affected by it too. More than 16 million Byzantine Empire started to decline after the
pandemic. This sort of nationwide panic is Most restaurants are closed and do take out/ Americans are jobless as unemployment rates plague, and never recovered to its former power.
something that the US has not faced in a long delivery serving only. have reached their highest point since the Great
time. The airline Depression. Small Pox-
During industry is In an effort Although it
T r u m p ’ s another one to stop the had been
presidency, the that was hit spread of present in
stock market h a r d . COVID-19, Europe for
has gradually Companies schools have centuries, its
increased to like Delta, transitioned to largest impact
reach all time United, and online learning. happened in
highs, but this American Every business the “New
has changed Airlines have deemed, “non- World” in
because of the lost billions essential” has North and
pandemic. of dollars due been shut S o u t h
On February to traveler down, and America.
12th, 2020, the cancellations places like S p a n i s h
Dow-Jones and limited churches and explorers
closed at a s a f e parks have all brought the
record high passenger been closed disease with
29,551.42 capacity. down. them to the
points. Starting T h e Despite these Americas, and
late in February, manufacturing statistics, the since the
it began to i n d u s t r y, COVID-19 N a t i v e
Photo from MN Historical Society
plummet. From especially car outbreak will Americans
March 9th to manufacturing, likely have People wearing masks in public during the Flu had no
the 16th, the is another one massively fewer Epidemic of 1918. immunity to
Dow-Jones lost Highway Two going towards Duluth on a hit hard by deaths, and the disease
over 5,000 recent school day. No traffic. t h e much less of an impact than say Smallpox. they were nearly wiped out.
points. On pandemic. This is because today we know An estimated 90% of the Native population
March 23rd, it Limited trade astronomically more about medicine than we was wiped out. This immensely helped the
reached its lowest point of Trump’s presidency between the US and other countries has strained ever have before. Before modern medicine, Spanish to conquer the Aztec and Incan Empires,
so far, closing at 18,591.93 points. the resources available to manufacturers, halting outbreaks would happen much more frequently and to their colonization of the Americas.
Since the Dow-Jones sell off, the markets have a lot of factories’ production. than today. Here are some of the worst plagues
begun to rebound and are, at the time of this The US government has responded to the to ever hit the human race. Black Death-
writing, at about 23,300 points. This bear market people’s fears with a massive $2 trillion stimulus From 1346 to 1353, the bubonic plague killed
could last for several years. package. The package is meant to provide The Plague of Justinian- somewhere between 100-200 million people
This pandemic has also left millions of financial support to American workers, small The bubonic plague struck the Byzantine across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Anywhere form
Americans out of work. The New York Times businesses, and industries affected by COVID- Empire in the year 541, and is named after 30-50% of Europe’s population died because of
estimates that unemployment is around 13%, 19. Justinian, who was the Emperor at the time of the plague.
which marks its highest rate since The Great It is the biggest emergency aid package in all the outbreak. This is regarded by many as the It was believed to have started in Asia, and
Depression. of America’s history. The bill was a bipartisan first appearance (but certainly not the last) of was carried by fleas on rats. Merchant ships
In January of this year the unemployment effort that passed late in March. It includes the bubonic plague. were often filled with rats, so when they traveled
rate was at 3.6%. Over 11 million people have checks for people depending on their incomes. Before the plague was through, it killed across the Mediterranean, they helped to spread
claimed unemployment since the beginning of We still have a long way to go before our between 30 and 50 million people, which is the disease faster.
the pandemic and more will follow. economy is restored, and the effects of this
Because of stay at home orders and CDC pandemic will be seen for years to come. Spanish Flu-
(Center for Disease Control) group gathering While its’ actual origin is unknown, the
Spanish Flu is not from Spain. Spanish
Life on the Front Lines of COVID-19 newspapers reported it in great detail, so people
assumed it was the epicenter. Each of the Allied
and Central Powers censored their newspapers
By Jayden Shaw
extreme amounts of pressure and stress. to keep troop morale up during WWI.
However, now more than ever Respiratory Spain however was neutral, and had complete
It is a very scary time to be alive, not just in Therapists are being recognized for their vital freedom of the press, so its stories were
the United States, but in the whole world. role in the health care team. uncensored.
COVID-19 has been sweeping across country “As an RT during the COVID-19 pandemic, Even today, we are still not entirely sure where
to country, attacking thousands of people who it is a very strange, unknown time and quite it actually originated. In total, the Spanish flu
stand in its way. Health care workers are the scary,” explained Tiffany, “We are all learning would infect an estimated 500 million people,
brave heroes who are risking their lives fighting as we go, and the shortage of PPE is terrifying and killed between 30 and 50 million people.
this deadly disease. as well as the potential shortage of ventilators. I The Spanish Flu was helped greatly when World
Tiffany is a Respiratory Therapist (RT) at a am hopeful we can get ahead of this before it War One ended. Soldiers fighting in Europe who
local Duluth hospital. A Respiratory Therapist peaks in our area.” got infected by the virus then traveled back to
is a medical professional that specializes in the their home nation, and spread it there.
lungs. Since COVID-19 is a disease that attacks See Life on page 2 of Caboose Facilities Manager Randy Schmidt
the lungs, Respiratory Therapists are under
wearing his mask
* A special note from the Mallet staff: This is an extraordinary time. The Proctor School District has shut down and all learning is being done online or through
distance learning due to the COVID-19 virus. This edition was put together by the Mallet staff totally digitally. The Mallet has not missed a deadline in 47 years.
This edition keeps that streak alive. The staff of the Mallet hopes that you are safe and healthy during this time of stress. This is a special edition that focuses
on the COVID-19 virus and is being provided to you as a record of this viurs and this extraordinary spring.

This graphic explains the bias or lack of bias for a variety of news sources.
What is COVID-19?
By Aubrey Garner
With over 1 million cases and 80 thousand
deaths worldwide, COVID-19 has closed down
businesses, schools, and many events around
the world. COVID-19 has affected every single
one of us, but what is it exactly?
COVID-19, or the coronavirus as it is more
commonly called, is a respiratory illness that
can spread from person to person. The main
symptoms are a cough, fever, tiredness, and
difficulty breathing.
In severe cases pneumonia can be developed
in one or both of the lungs as well as organ
failure. If you have lung problems prior to the
virus, it can lead to more dangerous symptoms.
One big danger of this virus is that you can be
asymptomatic for up to 2 weeks.
To prevent spreading the virus you should
limit who you come in contact with. This means
Carlson’s Outdoor Corner: Fly Fishing while Social Distancing
By Ethan Carlson
Are you going insane during social distancing?
Fishing is the perfect activity to get out of the
house while still being safe (keeping in mind
maintaining social distancing of course).
With walleye and most other game fish out of
season, most dedicated anglers are fly fishing.
Fly fishing is a style of fishing unique from any
other. The angler will use a longer rod equipped
with a special reel.
The reel is most commonly filled with a thick,
floating line. On the end of the fly line is a tippet
which is a monofilament leader that slowly gets
thinner. From here, a fluorocarbon leader is tied
on.
The most commonly sought after fish while
fly fishing in the spring is the steelhead, but it’s
not uncommon to catch a brown trout or
salmon.
Common spots of fly fishing in the area
include most of the North Shore rivers. An angler
favorite is the Lester River. It is easily accessible
but also busy, which is a challenge while trying
to practice social distancing.
However, spots higher north such as the
Baptism River can relieve you of crowds and
often result in some of the most prosperous
fishing.
My personal favorite spot to fly fish is the
Brule River in Wisconsin. With the Brule River
being 52.4 miles long, it’s easy to find an isolated
location to catch plenty of fish.
staying at home and keeping your distance from
people if you have to go anywhere public.
Make sure to wash your hands often and
cover your cough just like you would with any
other sickness. If there is a chance you are sick,
call a doctor. About 80% of people who get this
virus recover without needing special
treatment.
A big question being asked by people all over
is, “Where did COVID-19 come from?” Most
think that it came from bats, however it may
have been passed through an intermediary animal
first.
Some have said that this animal could be the
pangolin. The pangolin is the most illegally
transported mammal in the world, so this would
make the quick spread of the coronavirus make
sense.
Most fly fisherman are addicted to fly tying.
Especially during social distancing when most
are stuck at home for long periods of time, fly
tying can be a great hobby.
The most popular flies to tie are the stonefly
nymph and the yarn fly. In order to tie these,
Junior Ethan Carlson practices Social Distancing while fly fishing the
Wisconsin Brule.
Media Mayhem
By Josie Maahs
Time has become meaningless. You eat
whatever you want, whenever you want. The
days fly by and your phone never leaves your
side. You’re checking it constantly, switching
between apps like a bumblebee goes from flower
to flower. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram,
Snapchat, anything to give you human
connection, or an update on closures, death tolls,
and the number of ventilators we still don’t have.
With misinformation spreading, Facebook
moms dueling, and our President running the
country through his Twitter page, it’s easy to
understand why some are leery of the social
media storm.
Different news outlets have questionable
credibility and a considerable lean towards one
side of the political spectrum. In this day and
age you need to get your information from a well
respected, bipartisan, news source.
Listen to the doctors and scientists, they know
what’s up. Stay informed, stay home, stay safe,
and ultimately, save lives. Doing anything else
would be disrespectful to the heroes on the front
lines working to keep everyone alive, and the
victims who have already lost their fight with
COVID-19.
While staying informed is important, it’s not
the only thing you should be doing. It’s also
important to take time for yourself. Traumatic
events are known to bring with them an increase
in mental health disorders.
After just 11 weeks, Wuhan, China, lifted their
lockdown, and they celebrated with a colorful
light show. Even though the country is back to a
somewhat normal life, they are taking some new
precautions to ensure the safety of their citizens.
One thing they are thinking of doing is tracking
residents using their smartphones. They are
doing this to make sure they are healthy and not
mixing with those who are infected. Hopefully
this will stop the spread, but still allow the people
to live their lives.
Although everything related to the coronavirus
seems negative, we can look at the 309,000 or so
people who have recovered from the virus. It
can be hard to find the positives during these
trying times, but they are there. All we have to
do is keep hope and stay safe.
it’s helpful to have a vice, hooks, thread, maribou,
stretch flex, rubber legs, SLF, yarn or McFly
Foam, and feathers.
If you’re a beginner, YouTube has an array of
demonstrations on how to tie different types of
Cases of Depression, PTSD, and substance
abuse have been known to surge after natural
disasters, epidemics, and terror attacks. A big
part in combating these diseases is making sure
that you stay connected with the people you
know and love.
Zoom with your friends, call your
grandparents, write letters and text the people
you miss. The internet allows us to keep in
touch, meet new people, and try new things all
with a few clicks. There are places you can call,
and groups you can join, getting virtual help is
better than no help at all.
These are difficult times. They will not last
forever. It’s important to stay informed and stay
connected, but put your phone down, open your
front door and take a deep breath of fresh air.
Get up every day and try your best. Don’t
compare yourself to other people, you are
exactly where you need to be.
Please don’t get all of your news from the
DailyMail page on Snapchat. Things are better
in moderation, and social media consumption is
no different. Sit in the sun and listen to the
birds, try to make something and fail
spectacularly.
Do your online school, just get it done and
over with. Smile, knowing that years from now
kids are going to be studying for their
“Coronavirus Chapter 7 Test”. Things will get
better.
Attention Seniors!
Senior Sam Larson is
coordinating and
organizing Google
Hangouts for Seniors. If
you want more
informaton, contact Sam
via his school e mail!!
flies. The stonefly nymph is a natural prey of
the steelhead, making it a great choice to mimic.
The yarn fly mimics a spawn egg making it
another excellent choice. There’s nothing more
satisfying than catching a fish on a fly you tied
yourself.
Fly fishing requires completely new gear
from any other form of fishing. You will need
waders, special wading boots, a fly rod, a reel,
and often a vest or pack.
My favorite waders and boots include any
line of Simms products. They have a reputation
and quality that blows away all competition.
My favorite fly rods are any of the St. Croix
or G Loomis rods. Lightweight, compactable,
and sensitive, these brands are high quality.
My favorite fly reels include Sage or
Reddington reels. Although less important than
the rod, these companies manufacture great
reels. My favorite place to pick up all my
equipment and fly tying supplies is the Superior
Fly Angler. The store is currently closed due to
the coronavirus, but employees are still working
for curbside pickup.
Overall, fly fishing takes new equipment and
technique. It takes a bit to get used to, but it is
a great way of fishing. It takes you to new
locations and causes a lifelong love of fly tying.
If you’re willing to learn and ready to invest,
fly fishing is the perfect way to avoid death by
boredom during coronavirus times (and all the
while practice social distancing!).
 COVID-19 Affecting Spring Sports
By Mason Kalnbach

The COVID-19 outbreak, also known as
“Coronavirus”, has become a pandemic in the
United States. This pandemic has impacted us
both globally, and more recently, locally. Our
schools have been shut down, and with a school
shutdown, comes the delay of school sponsored
activities, such as sports.
We have multiple spring sports here at Proctor
High School, including baseball, softball, boys
and girls lacrosse, boys and girls track, golf, and
a clay target trap team. The Minnesota State
High School League (MSHSL) extended the
current ban on all activities until May 4th.
But coaches found optimism that no decisions
have been made about canceling the spring sports
season. To get a better explanation about each
individual spring sport, all the head coaches were
asked to provide some information on how
COVID-19 has already impacted their season,
and what they think the final outcome will be.
The baseball field at Egerdahl sits empty as PHS waits for spring sports to resume. The boys lacrosse coach Michael Vuchetich
said, “So far all I know is we are delayed until
just the skill side of the sport though, much of
what high school sports are about are
development of players teamwork, leadership,
time management skills, and social relationships.
Those are much more important skills for a
young adult to work on than the athletics skills
it takes to be on the field.”
The Boys Head Track coach Nathan Johnson
said, “I have never seen a season like this in my
21 years of coaching. The pause of the season
by the State HS league was a good choice! It is
better to be safe then to put people at needless
risk. At a big track meet we could have 300-400
athletes at the meet, so putting a pause on the
season is a good safety measure. As far as what
we are doing right now, all of the coaches are
putting together optional workouts that the
athletes can do on their own. Hopefully we will
have a shortened season in May but that is
totally up in the air right now. The tough part is
for the seniors who this is their last season of
track and field. The track coaches in the Duluth

Why We Miss Sports May 4th. We’ve been moving games from April
to May but have been hampered by the limited
number of officials we have across the state.
By Sam Larson Coaches across the state have been putting in a
lot of effort to move games until after the
We all miss something. Seniors miss school, teachers miss their students, but if you were to ask Governor’s order expires; however, officials have
said they can only cover 20 games a day across
someone on the street they’d most likely say, “sports.”
the state. With as many programs trying to get
America is known for its’ sports and how die-hard people get over them. I know my littlest
in as many games as possible between May 4th
brother misses them, he stooped to watching marble racing on the Ocho. and May 26th, it is turning out to be a scheduling
Most of us would rather identify by our sports team than anything else, it gives us something nightmare. With three Stealth Coaches employed
to be part of. Sports give us something to look forward to and gives us an outlet for decompression. in the healthcare industry, and two of the three
I don’t know about you but I love seeing someone do something I could never do. involved in COVID-19 preparations, it allows
Sports bring people together, no matter who you are or where you’re from, there is a team in a us to see and understand the predictive modeling
sport for you. With so many sports you are bound to find something, but with all sports suspended that the state is utilizing. Unfortunately right
it is hard to be involved. now that model shows peak won’t occur until
Personally, I miss baseball. I know people who are itching for basketball to come back, and Mid-July. Other models predict peaks could
others who miss hockey. Luckily most sports are doing something to supplement the time lost. occur in late April or May. I don’t believe we
Most major sports are streaming historical games from the past. You’ll be able to watch the will return to sports until after the peak has
1991 World Series (Hint: Game 7 is the best), watch Kobe Bryant’s last game, and the NHL is occurred. It does worry me about what the future
will look like, I have no doubt that we will be
streaming archived games from this season.
back on the field next year in full force, but I do
Besides that most players are doing more to be involved. You can see MLB players playing
worry about the impacts this will have on player
MLB:The Show against each other, NBA players are on social media more, even NASCAR is development and retention. If players aren’t on
simulating races (they still only take left turns though). Though they are not the sports we all miss the field all year that will really set us back
it is something to get us by. development and skill wise. I would hope the
Sports are important to us, they unite us and divide us, giving everyone something to invest in. MSHSL considers allowing us to start practices
Whether you’re waiting for the Bucks to win it all, or the Twins to finally topple the Yankees, earlier next year, to try to bridge this gap. That’s
sports give us something to look forward to. Though it may be on pause right now, it’ll be there
when this is all done. I promise.
area have been talking with each other to come
up with some ideas if the season is cancelled.
One idea is to host a meet in Cloquet where
athletes would be able to compete at least once
possibly in June or July. However, it all depends
on what happens with the season and if the HS
League would allow this to happen.”
Boys baseball coach Anthony Bush said,
“The baseball team practiced for six days before
schools were closed with one ‘regular’ practice
on March 16th. There were several directives
coming from the state high school league early
on, so we were not sure exactly how things
would play out.”
Under that latest directive from the MSHSL
the MSHSL stated, “All participation in
MSHSL spring activities at all member schools
is suspended. Participation includes, but is not
limited to, competitions, training, practices,
scrimmages, and contests.”
Bush continued, “I miss being with the
players and coaches. Seeing everyone work so
hard, learning from each other, having a fun time
together while doing something so difficult yet
so rewarding as baseball. It’s tough to know
what we’re missing, but this situation fits in
with the first of our four team rules, which is,
‘Do what’s right’. Even though there’s great life
lessons available to be learned while participating
in sports, there is something more important
right now. We need to stay apart for the health

Athletes Keep Training While Social Distancing
With the COVID-19 affecting everyone,
students are trying to figure out
their new “normal”. For spring
athletes, this can be a challenge.
The Minnesota State High
School league has prohibited any
team practices or competition
until further notice because of the
Corona pandemic.
However, coaches are allowed
to contact athletes through email
or texting and provide optional
workouts for those interested.
This year’s track team is one
great example of how the virus is
affecting the spring sports season
for students at PHS.
The workouts for athletes in
different events vary in activities.
For example, middle distance and
distance runners have a six day
workout routine created and
developed by distance coach Mr.
Glen Gilderman.
For sprinters, the workout is
different between boys and girls.
Head girls track coach, Mr.
Savre, is missing his track team,
“First of all of course, being active
By Courtney Werner
and fit is essential for good health. Many people
By Tiffany Werner
2019 graduate Carter Fuchs and 2020 junior John Werner with
their medals from the Lake Superior Conference meet in the
800m run. The COVID-19 is threatening to cancel spring sports
and scenes like this may not occur this year.
join track to get in better shape, and having a set
program with goals and
benchmarks is the best way to
attain that goal. As a track coach
though I have the additional goal
of getting my athletes to their
peak physical condition by mid
May when the high stakes meets
begin.
If we are able to come back
and compete this season, the
people who have the most
success will be those who had
the opportunity to train and the
discipline to train competitively
and consistently,” Savre said.
With not being able to practice
or have meets, Mr. Savre said,
“Coaches build relationships
with their athletes. We help them
develop goals, and then those
goals become ours as well. I adore
my team, and when I’m with
them this is an energy, a sense of
belonging and a shared sense of
purpose that is wonderful to be
a part of. We laugh a lot, and
become a unit, and I miss that
sense of family.”
The corona virus is having an
impact on student athletes all
over. I think we can agree that
and safety of ourselves and others. I wish
everyone all the best during this frustrating and
uncertain time.”
Girls Softball coach Bud Joyce said, “I can
say I haven’t been informed on any new
developments as of today. I’m crossing my
fingers that we are able to play at some point. I
enjoy coaching all of the softball players and
miss being able to help them grow as people and
as players. We have a great set of captains in
Paige Lusti, Kenzie Gunderson and Makayla
McGregor who have done a great job providing
leadership to our team. We have kids that have
worked hard over the winter months to get
better, as well as three seniors that chose to
play because they are great teammates...so it
would be unfortunate to not have a season. That
said, being safe and adhering to the rules is the
most important thing for all of us.”
The Proctor trap team coaching staff said,
“At this time, the season will be shortened to
starting at the end of May and going into June
(if we’re able to have a season). The
Championship & State Tournament have
unfortunately been cancelled. Normally our
season runs 10 weeks and now it will be a
condensed season (as of right now) to five
weeks needing the athletes to shoot more scores
at each day of competition.” More information
can be found online at usaclaytarget.com
Not all coaches responded by the deadline,
but it is likely that they are in the same situations
based on the trends seen in the other responses.
Stay tuned to railstrong.org for
all updates regarding COVID-
19 and spring sports.
 Coronadenyrus??
Editorial / Opinion By John Werner
There is no doubt we are amidst an event for aren’t going to let a global Pandemic get in the
Look for the Good the history books these days. Renowned doctors way of going to crowded markets, parks, and
and officials are working around the clock to church services.
By Bria Kachelmyer figure out solutions for not only preventing the In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a church service
spread, but also curing the COVID-19 virus. is being conducted as normal, and no one is
One such measurement that these officials and wearing a mask or gloves. This service contains
It’s so easy to focus on the bad when the media seems to only cover the devastating effects of doctors have agreed upon is that everyone should up to 1800 people in a very crowded room,
COVID-19. However, around the globe there is hope, encouragement, and signs that things are stay home, extracting Stay-At-Home orders from with 26 buses picking up churchgoers to attend
going to turn out fine. many governors, including Minnesota’s own Tim the service.
Since everyone is home during this pandemic, loneliness isn’t an uncommon feeling. There’s no Walz. The lead pastor, Tony Spell, has remarked
better way to fill this gap than with a furry friend. Thousands of animals are finding a forever Around the country, however, not everyone that the church will continue to move forward
homes, and being shown love and affection. thinks that the virus is a big deal despite over with weekly services. The state has begged the
Many cities like Los Angeles and Beijing are seeing clearer skies than they’ve seen in a long time. 337,000 cases in the US alone, 9600 of those church to stop holding services for a short period
Smog and pollution levels have dropped drastically since the COVID-19 outbreak. Polluted air being fatal. of time, but the church refuses to listen.
contributes over a million premature deaths, but with cleaner air it looks like these lives could be Many people are doing their part during this One could say that these people have another
saved. time by staying home and only making essential disease, the Coronadenyrus. This is a term that
Healthcare workers are hard at their job, and while they take care of patients, people are finding trips to stores. There aren’t a whole lot of can mean people who either don’t believe in the
ways to take care of them. New innovations are being made to aid medics to make things easier and festivals or large-scale events taking place right severity of the virus or don’t think it’s a big deal
to show their gratitude. Whether it’s sewing masks or creating parts for ventilators, people are now. Still, some people are deciding that they can and will put themselves and others at risk
stepping up to take care of those that risk their lives. to contract the actual Coronavirus.
Although the majority of people are home and would rather be elsewhere, this gives people a
chance to let their creative juices flow. Pinterest and YouTube are packed with hands-on projects.
Even if being crafty isn’t something you typically enjoy, maybe it will be a newfound hobby and
What Will First Day Back Look Like??
pastime. By Megan Sellers
Staying home also gives people time to do some cleaning they’ve been putting off because, Although it seemed like forever, the day had finally come; “coronacation” is officially over and
“they don’t have the time.” Maybe that’s something you’re guilty of, but now would be the it’s your first day back at school. Months of being pent up inside with your family had made you
perfect time. go slightly insane, but it was finally ending.
When there’s negative news there’s also the same amount of positive news. Staying cooped
inside and enjoying the time with your family is a gift, even if it doesn’t seem like it. You never really knew how much freedom you had and how much you really enjoyed school,
** Normally the Editorial/Opinion piece does not have a byline. This editorial is the until it was taken away. You and your friends have been dreaming about this moment for months
and it’s all you guys could talk about for the weeks leading up to this day. Outfits had been planned,
voice of the Mallet. But due to the COVID-19 and the effort ALL reporters put in to get
school bags were packed, and alarms were set early all in anticipation for this morning.
this Mallet produced, a byline has been included this time for the Editorial/Opinion
piece. The drive to school was not exactly how it used to be. It used to be boring and annoying, but now
it was exciting and had the promise of friends, the lunchroom, and all of your favorite classes
waiting for you at the door.
What To Do While Quarantined
Once you finally get to school it all comes rushing back to you, it seems like you never left. It
By McKenzie Gunderson feels like the first day of school after summer vacation in a way, but it’s actually May 5th. The stay
at home order ended yesterday and Cinco de Mayo is no longer the only thing being celebrated
During this scary time of panic and chaos, knitting, finish a house project you started years today.
take time to enjoy some good in the world. While ago, and lastly, you could start drawing and/or
the majority of people are on stay at home painting. You find your friends and say “hi” to everybody you see. Who would’ve known you would have
orders, there is so much free time on people’s For younger people, girls start making so much to talk about after months of doing nothing exciting. It’s time for your first class and
hands. You may catch yourself asking friendship bracelets for the summertime. They surprisingly everybody is there on time. It appears that months of isolation can really entice people
frequently, “Now what do I do?” are a challenge and take very long to make, but to be punctual.
Well everyone, you are not alone. There are that helps soak up boring time.
numerous of things and activities to start while For the boys, video games are always a good The teachers go easy on everybody today because they’re just so happy that everyone is back,
quarantined. one and I am sure you are already at it, but and who would want to ruin that with tests, quizzes, and loads of work. You have a feeling that for
Obviously it depends on the resources maybe take some time to clean your rooms and the rest of the year the teachers are going to pick up the pace quite a bit. Because although online
available to what you want to do, but even if put away all your dirty underwear that have learning was good, it wasn’t anything compared to being in class and getting hands-on learning.
you are very limited you can find a way around probably been laying there for a year now. You’re fine with that though because you’ve missed it.
it. If you are getting sick of making meals all the
If you have easy, fast internet access at home, time, spice it up by making everyone in the The day goes on and everything is exciting. Normally boring classes are fun and lunch is way
start watching a Netflix show or series. Ozark, household be on dinner duty at least once during more than a meal today. The final bell rings and you remember that you’re not going home right after
All American, Blacklist, and many, many more the week. If dinner isn’t enough, assign lunches school, because you finally get to do your sport that you may or may not have been conditioning
are high hits right now. or breakfasts too. for.
If you have Hulu and/or Amazon Prime, start If you are someone that hates spending time
a series on there. inside, get out in nature and go on walks and You go to practice with your friends and have a blast. Normally you would have dreaded going
Now if you are in a situation where you have hikes (while social distancing of course!). Spots but this time it’s different. Seeing all of your coaches and teammates after such a long time feels
to limit your internet access time to only to hike in the area are Ely’s Peak, Jay Cooke, great, and practice is over before you know it.
schoolwork, let’s look at more hands-on Lester, Hartley, and Congdon Park.
activities. For more of a pleasant walk, areas like Canal After you get home you can’t help but tell everybody in your house about the day you had and
1000 (or any) piece puzzles are very Park, the Duluth Lakewalk, and Enger Park are everything you did. You get to work on your real homework, emphasis on the word home and get
challenging, but also a good way to make time good and they have beautiful sites and views. it done right away.
go by faster.
Get into the new book that has been sitting The rest of your night is spent chatting with your friends about the most exciting day you’ve all
See Stay on page 2 of Caboose
on your shelves for years, start sewing or had in awhile. Everybody including you, all go to bed relatively early because you just can’t wait for
tomorrow.
Proctor Mallet
Ways to Help the Elderly During Stay at Home Order Vol. 70, No. 7
By Kimmie Blevins Spring 2020
The Proctor Mallet is published monthly
by the journalism class at Proctor High
Of all the people that have been affected by There’s been a lot of people in the area that If there’s red in their window, that means that School, 131 Ninth Ave., Proctor, MN 55810.
this outbreak, perhaps the largest group that have taken part in this nationwide effort to they definitely need help, perhaps medical help. (218) 628-4926
have been impacted are the elderly people in combat loneliness until things go back to what
our communities. we see as normal, everyday lives. Helping the elderly could be something as
simple as shoveling their driveway when we get Mallet editors.......Paul Lindgren, Ally Jurek,
Whether they’re in nursing homes or still If you are someone who would like to help the April snow showers or sewing masks for August Brosart, Trevor Koski, Mia Himes
independently living, their freedom for an elderly person buy groceries or other them to go on walks when the temperatures get
something as simple as seeing their children, necessities that they may need, there’s a code warmer. Cartoonists..........Bria Kachelmyer
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren has been that some may use.
taken away. If you do decide to help an elderly person in Advisor................Nathan P. Johnson
If someone has a green card or piece of paper your neighborhood, remember to ask them if they E-mail. . njohnson@proctor.k12.mn.us
The loneliness for these people must be in their window, that means they’re okay and want your help, take the necessary precautions,
horrible, especially since they can’t see any of don’t come near them. and be sure to have a nice warm smile! They’ll
their friends that live in the nursing home with Type and design is set using anIBM com-
love that.
them. If there’s a yellow card or piece of paper, puter and Adobe Pagemaker and
that means that they do need something from Photoshop software. The Mallet is printed
This is why across the nation, people have the store. by the Proctor Journal, Proctor, MN 55810
been making and sending cards to nursing homes Subscriptions are $3 per year.
or their relatives. It’s just a little something to
brighten their day.
 The Caboose
5 minutes of fame

Due to PHS not being in session and school being done through
online/distance methods, there is no 5 Minutes of Fame this issue.

Homegrown Hope
By Nolan Mehle

The world has changed, at
least for the time being, as we
find ourselves adjusting to a new
normal of social distancing and
self quarantines.
COVID-19 has made a rapid
spread across the nation, and in
the midst of the fear and
heartbreak that it brings, it can
be hard to find hope for better
days to come. We’re living in
truly depressing times, but you
don’t have to go far to find
inspirational people creating
ways to spread happiness and
a helping hand at home in our
northland communities.
Right here in Proctor our
community has joined together
to provide a fun way for families
to get some exercise while
maintaining their social
distances. People started putting
teddy bears and other stuffed
animals in the windows of their
homes to give those passing by
an exciting time and a happy
face to search for. It’s called
“going on a bear hunt” and little
kids can be seen all over their
neighborhoods walking along the
sidewalks counting as many
bears as they can find.
Troy’s Amoco is also
sporting a few stuffed animals
in their window, but inside
they’re doing their part to bring
some comfort to those in need
of a different kind of support.
They’ve started their own food
shelf and encourage people to
make the trip down to donate.
Donations have also been
pouring into Cloquet the past
few weeks at the B&B Market
where owner, John Lind said,
“this food train has just been
unbelievable, and I can’t express
my thanks to the community
for supporting it.”
Other Duluth area
businesses have taken up the
call to support the brave men
and women of the medical field
who are fighting every day to
protect us from the virus.
Protective masks are vital to
our healthcare workers in these
difficult times and Christian
Benson, the owner of the
popular Frost River bag
company, recognizes this.
“If there’s any way that we
can start putting our efforts in
going to work every day
towards helping this cause,
we’d love to do it,” Benson
said. So now he’s working to
begin using their industrial
sewing machines to produce
medical masks.
Local fabric shops, like Jo
Ann’s and Hannah Johnson’s,
have also joined the mask
making movement, and are
offering kits to help community
members contribute to the cause.
They invite anyone who would
like to purchase a kit to visit
their websites where you can
find their shops’ phone numbers
and free patterns.
It’s important to remind the
medical community that we
appreciate everything they do
for us in these hard times so in
their honor the Duluth based
ZMC hotel chain has made a
generous offer to healthcare
workers.
Any medical workers who
may be in need of a place to rest
or want to self quarantine
without putting their families
and loved ones at risk are invited
to stay in specially prepared
quarantine rooms for 50% off
as a part of their new “Shelter in
Peace” program.

From the Mallet Staff: Hope everyone is safe and healthy! Remember your
teachers, guidance counselors and principals are ALWAYS here for you!
Stay #RailStrong!!!
Page 2
Life from front page
PPE is an acronym for Personal Protective Equipment. These
are needed for healthcare workers so they can safely help patients
without putting their lives at risk. However, there is a major
shortage of things like N95 face masks due to the high demand.
Other PPE that these healthcare workers are required to use on
COVID-19 patients are hair covers, face shield, gown, gloves, and
at times shoe covers.
Respiratory Therapists can have anywhere from 20-30 patients
(or more) on a normal day, so this adds up to a lot of PPE’s that are
needed if and when we have a peak in COVID patients.
These professionals have to go through a strict donning and
doffing procedure, which is the putting on and taking off of PPE.
Missing one little step in this process could be very dangerous.
Tiffany said, “I am hopeful that if we work together and
everyone stays home to allow healthcare workers to do their part,
we will get through this.”
Tiffany also provided some very important and useful tips to
help keep yourself and your family safe. Make sure to wash your
hands often.
Stay home unless you absolutely need to go out. If you do have
to go to the grocery store, make a list and a plan so you can be in
and out of there as fast as you can, and keep a distance from
others.
If you are feeling ill, try to avoid family members and going to
the hospital, unless you absolutely have to. If you are experiencing
Covid-19 symptoms, call ahead to a local COVID hotline to discuss
a plan. And finally, DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE.
Lastly, Tiffany said, “Please do your part and stay home so we
can be on the front lines caring for your loved ones during this
pandemic.”
How is COVID-19 Affecting Meals
for Kids
By Emma Terhaaar
COVID-19 is affecting families across the globe. Some families
are struggling with how their kids are going to get food during this
difficult time.
Normally children can get the provided breakfast and lunch
from school. With schools closing, this option is not available to
them anymore.
So, what can we do about it? Proctor Public Schools along with
other schools, are delivering food for the week at families doorsteps
without charging them a thing.
This is a big thing going on for schools and families. Not only
do families get food, but staff members can continue to work and
this way school staff can still make money to support their families.
Another way that families can get food is curb side pick-ups.
A lot of restaurants are offering discounts for meals and you can go
and pick up your meal.
Even though this is a difficult time, our community is coming
together and helping everyone in effective ways.
With the school delivering food right to us, we should thank
the school administration for setting this up, the bus drivers for
delivering the food right to your doorstep, and thank all the people
that are putting the food together.
Stay from page 4
Make sure to check the availability of these sites as the situation is
fluid and some may have been closed.
If transportation is a limit during this time or you just don’t feel
like going out, the city of Proctor has a teddy bear scavenger hunt
walk going on.
All throughout the City of Proctor houses or businesses have
teddy bears in their windows for people to find and count during
their walks to make it more fun. It encourages people to get out of
their houses and get some good healthy exercise for their bodies.
As everyone knows, sadly sports are on pause because of this
pandemic. It doesn’t mean they are fully over as of right now, but
some people are tending to forget about that.
So as for people in a spring sport, make sure you are still
training for your sport and doing things to better yourself every
day for it.
Motivation is very hard during this time but it is very essential
to how successful you will be after this is all over.
It may feel like this will never be over and we will never go back
to the way the world was, but someday it will get better. So I hope
some of these things have helped you brainstorm activities to do
while bored and quarantined at home.
Please remember to stay at home during this crazy time so it
gets over with faster and so we can get back to our normal lives. I
hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.
NCAA Eligibility Affected by
COVID-19
By Owen Brenna
College sports seasons are over. The NCAA has suspended and
ended all seasons. They also have recently announced that all
spring sport athletes will be allowed one more year of eligibility
due to their seasons being ended, but what about winter sport
athletes? They were entering their postseason and that’s the same
for high school athletes.
The NCAA spring cancellations include Track & Field, Lacrosse,
Baseball, Softball, Golf, and more. This means that seniors in all of
those spring sports lose their final seasons playing that sport.
Luckily for them, the National Collegiate Athletic Association,
or NCAA, has given all spring sport athletes one more year of
eligibility. This does depend on wherever or the the respective
universities honor the athletes scholarships.
This extension of eligibility is good but it only applies to spring
sport athletes. Unfortunately, winter athletes were in their playoffs.
High School and College basketball were entering their playoff
tournaments. Their season just ended and they have no more
games. These athletes do not get the extra year of eligibility.
This is a sad fact for seniors who were on title contending
teams. They no longer have a chance to make an everlasting memory
of playing in their tournament.
 Page 3

Local Small Businesses Affected by COVID-19

By Nathaniel Onken

The Coronavirus pandemic is taking a toll on everyone, but small businesses are being hit harder than most. While huge retail chains
and large corporations will have an easier time staying open after this is over, the owners of small, local businesses are less certain of
their future.
Many have been forced to lay off most or all of their staff, unable to generate enough income for payroll with fewer customers, or no
customers at all.
The owner of a local bowling alley, forced to shut down completely for the foreseeable future, will miss out on the income of not only
the bowling leagues, but most likely the entire summer volleyball season as well.
Even with this lack of income, these small business owners must still pay their loans and lease agreements every month, as well as
property taxes.
Restaurants, in particular, have been stepping up their delivery and takeout services to account for the lack of dine-in customers.
Many have featured expanded delivery range and special offers to bring in as many orders as they can. They have taken measures to
ensure the public’s safety, offering no-contact carryout, curbside pickup, and contactless delivery options.
Many small businesses have also taken this opportunity to improve their online options. As the weeks pass, it is easy to see the
strain that these essential businesses are facing. The employees at these businesses are taking a hit, as well. With no dine-in available at
restaurants, wait staff who rely on tips to pay their bills are left in the dark.
Millions of Americans are applying for jobless benefits, and unemployment has soared as companies are left no choice but to cut ties
with workers. Small businesses, with fewer resources to weather a time like this, are in danger of permanent closure due to the
Coronavirus shutdown.

How to Avoid Contracting COVID-19

By Caitlin DuMars

The new Covid-19 is a respiratory virus which spreads primarily
through droplets generated when an infected person coughs or
sneezes, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose.
“Simply being near an infected person who coughs, sneezes, or
talks can expose you to their infected respiratory droplets,” the
CDC (Center for Disease Control) says.
If those virus-containing particles land in your eyes, nose, or
mouth, or if they get on your hands and you rub any of those places
on your face, you could possibly get the infection.
The scariest part about this virus is that you could be spreading
COVID-19 without even knowing it. In fact, 97.5% of people who
develop symptoms will have them within 11 days from getting
exposed. If you are having symptoms then there are some things
you can do to prevent spreading the virus.
The easiest thing you can do is just simply stay home as much as
possible, and avoid close contact with other people.
If you are going to be around people you should practice social
distancing by staying six feet apart from others, also it helps to
wear a cloth face cover when you have to go out in public.
The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you
are infected. Make sure you do not use a facemask meant for a
healthcare worker, because frontline health-care workers have a
shortage of masks.
You still have to continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself
and others; the cloth face cover is not a substitute for social
distancing.
If you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face
covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a
tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
Throw used tissues in the trash, then immediately wash your
hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and
water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand
sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
When you cough and sneeze is not the only time you should be
washing your hands. You should be frequently washing your
hands, according to CDC, “especially after you have been in a
public place and touched an item or surface that may be frequently
touched by other people, such as door handles, tables, gas pumps,
shopping carts, or electronic cashier registers/screens, etc.”
So COVID-19 is scary but there are plenty of things you can
be doing yourself to help stop the spread of Covid-19.
Opinion from page 4 of Caboose
Another junior, Spencer Smith, feels like while doing distance
learning he isn’t learning as much as he usually does, it’s just
enough to get by.
Other responses from students were very similar. They thought
it was nice to have all the time to get the assignments done. They
also liked that you have the choice to complete the assignments at
any time of the day.
The things they didn’t like also were all very similar. For
example many students don’t like how they aren’t around people
in the school atmosphere.
Overall, it seems that most students enjoyed distance learning
in the beginning, but now they all wish to be back in school.
Have a cool story that the Mallet should
cover during this interesting time? Con-
tact any reporter of the Mallet or Mr. N.
Johnson at: njohnson@proctor.k12.mn.us

COVID-19 Impacts Seniors Spring Semester
By Ava Giswold
The class of 2019-2020 feels cheated out of their senior year.
This is a very important part of their lives that they might never
get to experience. COVID-19 has taken many things from us
including lives, opportunities, sports, and very important
milestones.
Liz Frase, a senior said, “It makes me sad because I won’t get to
experience everything like a normal senior would. I don’t know if
I’ll ever be able to walk across the stage, or go on my senior trip.”
The seniors at PHS had their normal spring ripped away from
them in a matter of 48 hours. This whole situation was sudden,
and unexpected which makes it hard to process.
They are missing out on their closest friends due to social
distancing, spring sports being put on pause, and Prom being
cancelled.
Why It’s Crucial to Stay Home
By Jess Haedrich
Our lives have been put on halt. Thousands of people are dying
everyday. Americans, as well as people all around the world, are
losing their jobs, leaving them with no source of income to support
their families.
Schools are shut down, sports are on hold, and the normal day
of an American has vanished, leaving many scared. All of this
because of one deadly, uncontrollable, and fast spreading virus we
call COVID-19.
This is why it is very crucial to stay home. We need to practice
social distancing in order to slow the spread of this virus. The
elderly and the sick are counting on the healthy younger generation
to stay home.
“Staying home saves lives”, is a popular, yet truthful, phrase
right now. Another benefit of staying home is that you are more
protected from the virus.
The coronavirus is a respiratory virus. It spreads primarily
through droplets generated when an infected person coughs or
sneezes, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose.
The best way to protect yourself is to clean your hands
frequently with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with
soap and water. You should avoid touching your face, avoid
handshakes, cough and sneeze into your elbow, and stay home if
you are sick.
As of this writing, Minnesota has 1,069 confirmed cases. Of
that number, 549 people recovered and 34 people died.
New York is leading the country with the most cases. They
have 140,386 cases and 5,489 deaths.
The World Health Organization has officially called this a
“pandemic” – a global spread of a new disease.
Social distancing is one of the things the CDC (Center for Disease
Control) is recommending we all do in the wake of the outbreak.
They also advise that you maintain a distance of six feet from
other people when you can, and to wear a “non-medical cloth”
mask in public in order to prevent asymptomatic people from
spreading the coronavirus.
PAGE 4
Senior Sam Parendo said, “It’s really tough because this was
supposed to be the best part of senior year. Even if we do have
graduation and the All Night Grad Party at a later date, it won’t be
the same. It’s not an ideal situation, nobody would want to go out
this way, but hopefully everyone will find something good out of
it.”
These are powerful words, and nobody besides the seniors can
fully understand how they feel during this hard time.
All we can do is hope that we get to go back to school as soon as
possible.
They discovered that 25% of infected people may not show
symptoms. In order to remain healthy, it’s best to stay home as
much as possible.
PHS Students React to Online/
Distance Learning
By Ella Boysen
The current global pandemic has brought many changes to our
lives. For us students we had to learn and adapt to a new way of
learning.
We recently started to perform all of our assignments
electronically. Teachers had three days to prepare assignments for
the online/distance learning that was about to take place.
Students are required to login and complete the assignments for
their classes daily.
Assignments can range from daily discussions to watching videos
and answering questions to a writing paper.
Online distance learning has pros and cons for both students
and their teachers.
Senior Dylan Hom said a pro was you have more time to do
your assignments. But he also said you aren’t able to be around
your friends which makes it hard.
Cole Johnson, another senior said, “I think it’s cool how schools
are doing this. As long as the teachers don’t give us too much work
it goes pretty well.” He also thinks it is a good test run for the
future situations that may come about.
Ava Giswold a junior said, “It’s harder to contact teachers and it
sometimes gets hard having the momentum to do all your work at
home.”
See Opinion on page 3 of Caboose
 PAGE 5

Hope in a Time of Chaos

By Ella Thill
Throughout the world, a sense of fear and confusion has rapidly settled in over the last few weeks. The speed the panic has spread
throughout the world is a mirror to the speed the virus that sparked it has spread. It’s easy to feel scared or sad at such a crazy time.
However, there’s still some light to be found in the midst of it all.
The coronavirus has severely impacted Italy. As the virus spread, Italy decided to go on a lockdown to slow it down. In Venice, one
of the country’s most popular cities for tourism, the canals the city is so well known for are looking a great deal cleaner. As people are
staying home, the number of boats that are usually seen on Venice’s waterways have greatly diminished. This means the ecosystems are
able to restore themselves.
In the wake of the coronavirus, plenty of people have been donating money towards relief and treatment. Bill Gates’s foundation has
donated $100 million towards finding treatments for the virus, and now he is building factories for vaccines to be produced. No vaccines
are proven to successfully treat COVID-19 yet, but there are 7 top contenders being tested. The hope is that within the next 18 months,
one or two vaccines will be approved; that is the quickest any vaccine has ever been developed.
In the state of Virginia, there is a sixteen year old boy named TJ Kim who decided to make the most of his free time at home and the
flying lessons he’s taking to deliver medical supplies to hospitals around the state. Once a week since March 27, TJ has been using his
flight lessons to bring things like masks and sanitizer to rural hospitals in Virginia.
In Italy, a 101 year old man beat the coronavirus after staying a few days in a hospital in Rimini. The elderly man was born in 1919;
this was in the midst of the Spanish Flu that infected 500 million people. COVID-19 has been known to severely affect older people,
and this 101 year old’s story is a reminder that no one should give up.

Are You Reacting Properly to COVID-19?

By Eli Stanley
As COVID-19 cases develop across the world, one question
that has been asked multiple times, “How do we prepare?” Which
is an important question to ask. To each individual person, the
answer will be different, but there is a basic guideline that we
should follow when we are in an at-home quarantine situation.
The guideline by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) says to
make sure everyone in your household has their needs met, which
includes food, toiletries, and any medications that are needed by a
family member.
A simple and effective guideline to follow, but there are people
who will take this farther then necessary. And people who will not
do enough to prepare put others at risk.
It seems like the majority seen through the media are the people
who may be overreacting. These people are stockpiling resources
to make sure they’re ready for the next year and far beyond.
COVID-19 Impact on Baseball, Softball
By Conner Pavlowich
Along with hoarding supplies, whenever supplies seem remotely
low, they’re back to the store again for an unnecessary trip. These
people are putting many others at risk, so don’t overreact, it will
make things worse.
The lesser of the two evils is the people who don’t react enough.
As the CDC says we need to limit contact with others, and stay at
home as much as possible, people who underreact, will continue
as if nothing has changed at all. They will visit businesses regularly,
host parties, and continue to put our population in danger.
It’s important to prepare, make sure you have enough supplies
to last your household a few weeks, work from home if possible,
and make your contact with others limited.
Don’t overreact, and don’t underreact. This is a serious situation,
and we must act as such. Taking proper precautions will ensure
that we stay healthy, and that we rebuild all that fell apart during
these times.
Hoping to see everyone
SOON!!

With the COVID-19 going around our community, school has
been canceled, and along with that all spring sports and activities
are postponed.
The Baseball and Softball teams were about to get right into the
swing of things until they heard that practices couldn’t happen
anymore, and that games were postponed until further notice. The
two teams cannot go back to playing until we get back into school.
For the Baseball team, it looked like they were going to be
having a really strong season due to having a lot of returners. But
with this virus, the season is looking to have a very slim chance of
happening.
Senior Cole Johnson said, “It’s very sad how the virus is taking
away the season from us. For us seniors it was our last sports
season to have fun and go all out, but it sadly got taken away.”
With the Softball team, they were also looking to have a strong
season.
Senior Taylor Bradley said, “Everybody is really sad about all
of this. Especially the seniors because this was supposed to be our
last season and now we can’t even finish it out together.”
This time is not fun for any of the players, but the Seniors are
impacted the most. For the Seniors this was their last season to
play with the friends they grew up with.
On a positive note, Proctor is a part of ‘BeTheLightMN’ event
where fields around the state are turning their lights on at 8:00pm
for 20 minutes and 20 seconds for the class of 2020.
For the seniors it is cool, it shows that everybody is there for
them.
 Time to Make a Change
By Miah Switzer

Some people get confused between a pandemic and an epidemic.

A pandemic, like COVID-19, is a global outbreak of a new disease. It becomes a global issue because there is little to no pre-existing
immunity to the new disease. It spreads quickly as we don’t know how it works and what precautions to take.
An epidemic is a rapid spread of disease in a short period of time in a select population, not around the globe.
A pandemic is hard to stop considering we have little to no knowledge of it and it is hard to gain knowledge when it affects people
differently. Even though we don’t know much about COVID-19, there are still ways we can make an impact.
The obvious and main way to prevent the spread of this virus is to STAY HOME! From what we do know about the virus, we can
predict what will happen if we do not stay home. We know the virus is spread by close contact with others, by touching the surfaces
corona could be living on for at least three hours before finding a host, and touching one’s eyes, mouth, and nose without following
proper procedures.
The best ways to prevent spreading COVID-19 is to stay home and wash your hands. But what’s another way to make an impact?
Donating blood. Not only will donating blood save COVID-19 patients, but patients with hundreds of other illnesses.
The virus is evolving and we can’t predict how far it will spread and affect the human body. It started as a respiratory illness, and is
believed it is evolving into a cardiac illness. Blood will always be needed for hospitals anywhere you go in the world.
The American Red-Cross is a great place to donate blood. They are professional and will make you feel comfortable. You can donate
if you’re sixteen with a parents consent. Each time there will be a questionnaire to fill out about any diseases or health problems one
might have. Snacks and drinks are always offered at the end of each donation.
Contact the nearest American Red-Cross and see if there are any local blood drives coming up, it’s time to make a change.

PHS Handling School Closure Well

By Austin Mercier

Around the nation, students of all ages have had their lives turned upside down. Here at Proctor High, we’re in a whole new area of
learning.
Our school has a bit of an advantage, as we have been using the website Canvas for a few years now. This website allows us to
continue doing the assignments we had planned for the rest of the year (in most cases) at home.
Teachers have been utilizing the discussions on Canvas, or Google Meets, doing everything that they can to help every student in the
best way possible.
When we are going back to school is under a lot of debate. Some say that we won’t go back at all this year, and will return to the
campus in September, while others believe that we will be back in class in early May.
All of this can change very quickly, but as of April 17th, we have been ordered to stay at home until May 13th. What does this mean
for schools? Well, since being at school isn’t a necessity because of our technology we have, we probably won’t be going back until the
end of the lockdown at the earliest.
Many students and teachers have prepared to use their online resources until the end of this school year. While this will be difficult,
so far our distance learning has been going smoothly.
We have our principal Tim Rohweder doing an excellent job at keeping things in order at the school, and our tech department is fixing
chrome books for any student who needs it at an impressive pace.
Our school is also delivering lunches and homework to students in need of these items, and fixed chrome books to those who cannot
go to the school to pick them up.
COVID-19 has had a massive impact on the world, and on our country, but because of the efforts of our staff, students, and parents,
Proctor Public Schools has been able to keep educating students effectively and efficiently.

We are Proctor and couldn’t be PROUDER!!!!

Always #RailStrong!!!