By Griffith Swidler
YUDA Bands are wristbands that will be sold by the East Student Council  that will help fund education in third world countries.  The company Yuda, derived from the Spanish word ayuda,  which means, help, sells wrist bands.  They will be sold for $7 in the commons during lunch, starting next week.  The money will go towards paying for schools and other educational tools for third-world countries in Central and South America, as well as in Africa.
 

By Claudia Seravalli
It’s that time of year again! Lincoln East guys will apply to partake in the annual Mr. East competition, a talent show synonymous with male beauty pageants. Mr. East is by far a must-see event, so make sure to mark your calendar! For potential candidates, applications are due this Wednesday, November 23rd. Think you’ve got what it takes?

Story: Hannah Wittwer, Photo: courtesy of Toalson family
On November 10th, East High student, Alex Toalson underwent a successful spinal fusion with instrumentation at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinic. Alex was released from the hospital on November 17th and returned to Lincoln where he will continue his recovery at home. More updates on Alex’s recovery can be found on his Care Page (http://bit.ly/sfZKae).

By Jennifer Matthes
On Nov. 17,  the Downtown Lincoln Association hosted its first annual Shop The Blocks, an event targeted at bringing in late-night shoppers to downtown. Over 150 stores participated, offering discounts and other bonuses to customers getting a head start on their holiday shopping. Restaurants and cafes also participated and served hors d’ oeuvres and hot beverages to customers. The event definitely accomplished its mission, bringing in hundreds of shoppers and increasing awareness of all the great shopping and dining opportunities downtown.

By: Melissa Bavitz
Shayle Bade, a race car driver and mechanic at Otto Bidy and Customs auto shop brought her race car in to Mr. Suing’s automotive engines class today. She allowed the students to examine the car and told them about her racing experience.
Bade has been racing since she was 8 years old. She started in go-carts and then moved to mini sprints after that. After 12 years of racing, Bade plans on racing at the NASCAR Series in 2012.
Bade is sponsored by by many groups, ranging for the Army …

By Shelbi Bretz
The winter sports season is under way! Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are tryout days for girls and boys basketball. Swim team tryouts were also on Monday. These three evenings, many girls and boys are working hard to make the cut. Practices for basketball are expected to start at the end of this week. All teams will soon be wrapped up in the winter season.

By Jessica Qiu
On Nov. 9, Republican presidential hopefuls gathered in Michigan for another public debate. The evening produced both comical and serious moments from the four main players: Mitt Romney, Herman Cain, Rick Perry, and Newt Gingrich. Here is an analysis of each candidate’s performance.
Mitt Romney
The former governor of Massachusetts seemed right in his element during the debate. Drawing upon his business background and management experience, he produced logical and coherent statements about the night’s topics, which included the economy, health care, housing, and Social Security. Romney was also able to …

By Conner Dwinell
Joe Paterno, head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions football team, was fired Wednesday in the wake of a massive sexual abuse scandal.  Paterno has only coached at Penn State, and has been there for over 40 years, transforming college football and becoming the winningest Division I coach in history.
In 2002, former Defensive Coordinator Jerry Sandusky was found sexually assaulting a boy in a shower in the Penn State locker room by graduate assistant coach Mike McQueary.  McQueary alerted Patern0 to this, and as he was legally …

By Shelbi Bretz
I asked each person these three random questions, just to learn random facts about students at East:
1. How much cash do you have on you right now?
2. What is your favorite word?
3. What is your current desktop picture?
Jake Anderson, Junior: 1. “I don’t bring my wallet into school.”  2. “Trabajabamos.”  3. “Me and some friends at a Husker game.”
Shea Owens, Junior: 1. “None.”  2. “Bubbles.”  3. “It’s a band logo.”
Ms. Bohlender: 1. “Probably too much!”  2. “Epiphany.”  3. “It’s a graphic; the quotation is ‘Remember who you are’.”
Zaran …

by Jackson Fisher

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, Dwight Arrington Myers, better known as the charismatic and rotund rapper Heavy D, died due to respiratory issues.  Many may not recognize the name of this once powerful player in the world of hip hop.  Heavy D is best known for his work in the group Heavy D & The Boyz, which gained popularity in the 1990s thanks to catchy tunes about love for the ladies on their successful albums Living Large and Big Tyme.
Their fame was bolstered by their recording of the theme …