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December, 2008 Issue 3 ire Lewis Central High School 3504 Harry Langdon Blvd. Council Bluffs, IA 51503 the W Though it’s intentions were unmistakably good, the Safe Haven Law has not worked out the way legislators had intended. Now the law has been changed to allow only babies thirty days or younger to be dropped off at any hospital in the state of Nebraska. Photos by Maria Jones Nebraska’s Safe Haven Law age of 19 can be dropped off at may be too short, six may be has been a common fixture any hospital. Since it’s creation better, ” said senior Jared Juel. in the news of late. Originally in July, 30 children, ranging Senior Emily Wahle disagrees, set up for young, unprepared between the ages of one to “The reason why they made or overburdened parents with eighteen have been abandoned it three days is because it was newly born infants, many people, at a number of hospitals. There originally meant for women who both those in and out of state, was the Nebraska father who had their baby in secret, it was have been abusing the law. dropped off his children, all to prevent them from throwing This law, called “the baby nine of them. The youngest their baby in the dumpster.” moses law,” was originally created was one, the oldest, seventeen. Critics of the law agree with to prevent parents from aborting, A few months after that Lewis Central students, saying killing, or abandoning their infants, there was the mother who flew the age limit was too wide and allowing them to remain nameless in from Georgia to abandon that Nebraska needs to call an and protected by the law. Lately, her 15 year- old-son at a metro immediate session to revise however, Nebraska parents and hospital. Not long after that, the law. Legislators did, in fact, parents from numerous other another mother brought her child schedule said session, which states have begun dropping from Florida. Law makers say, was set to take place November off their unwanted children. “this was never our intention.” 13th. Since then, the age limit Unfortunately, because of “I believe the law was has been changed, only allowing how the law was written and poorly written from the start. parents to drop off their children because of the age of adulthood Parents are using the loopholes within 30 days of their birth. in Nebraska, anyone under the to their advantage. Three days Story by Athena Burns [december 2008] Questions, Answers, and Tips on Abuse Domestic violence is a special to keep them silent. However, it and contact the police. If noth- category of civil harassment. It oc- does not just affect the immedi- ing else find someone to tell. curs most often when the people ate family but those around them. “Talk to someone you trust, that are fighting have a special rela- “It makes people a little more go to a phone book there are tionship, which can lead to greater vigilant, makes them draw their own hotlines all over the place, just harm. It is an unfortunate event that don’t stay silent,” said McComas. can occur anytime or anywhere. “It makes peo- Victims should never try to at- The murder of Jennifer Hud- tempt this alone, get assistance, it son’s mother, brother, and neph- ple a little more could come from anywhere. For ew was an upsetting event that is vigilant, makes instance you can start by calling believed to be a case of a domestic 911 or the National Domestic Vio- dispute. However, this kind of thing them draw their lence Hotline at 1-800-787-3224. does not just happen to celebri- own family in.” But how do you know if ties or on “Cops” but to regular -Curt Mace someone you know is in this people in the most average cities. situation? “Watch for signs, Is domestic abuse common in like changes in their personal- Council Bluffs? “I don’t want to use family in,” said counselor Curt Mace. ity, or if they don’t hang around “I have seven children. We left home because of the LRA. They the word common, but it does hap- The first and most important their friends,” McComas. came three times to our home. They took my sons. When the pen,” said counselor Julie McComas. step when faced with this situ- It is important for these two boys were taken, we left home and came to stay in Kitgum.” In most cases the people are ation is to try and get away from people to contact some- Photo by Geoff Sayer taken from www.oxfam.org close to their attacker, which makes your aggressor. Go to a nearby one about their problems. It Is The Longest the fear stronger and is enough house, a neighbor or a friend, Story by Bridget Mulligan Signs of Domestic Abuse Do you: Running War in Africa •Avoid certain topics out of fear of angering your partner? •Wonder if you’re the one who is crazy? After Invisible Children came took over and formed the LRA. •Show guilt and fear over your living conditions? to our school, there were some Because the LRA lost support questions about what the organi- under Kony’s leadership, they re- •Feel isolated and untrusting of others? zation is about. It centers around sulted to abducting children to the war that has been taking place fight in their army. The children Does your partner: in northern Uganda for twenty- are brainwashed, tortured, and •Humiliate, criticize, or yell at you? three years. This war, taking the forced to return to their homes •Ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments? homes, futures, and lives of mil- to kill their own families and lions, is known as the most ne- friends. Most are never seen af- •Have a bad and unpredictable temper? glected humanitarian emergency ter abduction. According to www. •Threaten to commit suicide if you leave? in the world today. worldvision.com, 80 percent of •Destroy your belongings? The conflict is between two the LRA’s troops are made up of •Act excessively jealous and possessive? groups in Northern Uganda and children. Along with the trag- •Control where you go or what you do? parts of Sudan – the Lord’s Resis- edy of child soldiers, the LRA has tance Army (LRA) and the Govern- forced millions from their homes. •Keep you from seeing your friends or family? ment of Uganda (GoU). It began Most are still currently living in •Constantly check up on you? in the 1980s because of a woman crowded displacement camps. named Alice Lakwena, who be- The situation has been ig- Signs to look for: lieved the Holy Spirit spoke to nored by many countries for •Frequent injuries, with the excuse of “accidents” her and told her to rebel because years, but some efforts are be- the government was treating an ing made to bring awareness and •Frequent and sudden absences from work or school ethnic group called the Acholi aid to the war-torn area. Recent- •Personality changes unfairly. When Lakwena was ex- ly, there have been peace talks •Excessive fear of conflict iled, a man named Joseph Kony, and efforts to end the conflict. •Isolation from friends and family who claimed to be her nephew, Story by Kaiti Madsen It Is a Strange World AfterStory by Athena All Burns The Wire Staff OBAMA? NO CANDY FOR YOU! Editor-in-Chief Detroit, MI – A suburban De- said, “No handouts for Obama Kaitlin Carlson troit woman took candidate sup- supporters, liars, tricksters or Assistant Editor port to a new level when, come kids of supporters.” When asked Sarah Waldron Halloween, she refused to give about the children who were Copy Editor candy to children who supported turned away, empty handed and Athena Burns presidential candidate Barack crying, Shirley Nagel, the home Design Editor Obama. According to local news- owner, is quoted as having said, Lindsey Lawrence casters, the sign posted outside “Oh well. Everyone has a choice.” Photography Editor Maria Jones Business Editors Taylor Jensen A REAL FOX TROT CAT’S BEST FRIEND Chris Jensen Prescott, AZ – While jogging Mon- simply latched onto her arm. The Melbourne, Australia – As of Oc- Leo refused to leave the animals to Cartoonist day, November 3rd, a young wom- woman then ran one mile to her tober 26th, one Melbourne fam- their fate and it nearly cost him his Jerrod Scheffel an was attacked by a fox. According car, pulled the animal off, threw it ily has a new hero. Leo, a small life. The firefighters on scene claim Reporters to the victim she was on a trail near in her trunk, and drove to the near- terrier mix, was inside the family to have never seen anything like it. Taylor Basch Prescott when the animal attacked est hospital to have her attacker home when a fire broke out. The Not only did all of the kittens sur- Steven Elonich her, biting her foot. She grabbed it tested for rabies. The fox later bit dog stayed beside a newly born lit- vive, but, despite having to be re- Savannah Greening by the neck when it attempted to an animal control officer and both ter of four kittens, barking to alert vived with oxygen, this brave puppy Shelby Klepfer bite her leg, but the rabid creature victims have received rabies shots. firefighters to their whereabouts. is alive and doing well. Good dog! Kaiti Madsen Sara Marshall Bridget Mulligan Brandon Myers Kyla Spencer Deanna Williams [page two - news] [the wire] The Problem With Invisible A Nation of Light Pollution Children Sell-Outs Clinging on my right wrist students down when they found is my black and white Invisible out there was not going to be a club.

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