Story 9

When looking at a passing person in the hallway, or glancing at the girl sitting next to you in class, have you ever thought about what their story is? Or how they got to where they’re at today? That’s how I fell upon Nicole Roddy; Nikki is what she goes by.

I met Nikki in my volleyball class this last semester; she seemed to be like any other student in the class, eager to be there and was having fun. We had gotten paired up to be on a team together, so when there was down time we would chat about what was going on for the day, week, or even weekend. The more that we got paired to be on teams together; the more we got to know about each other’s lives and families. Shocking enough, the stories she would tell me, I couldn’t believe it, it didn’t seem to me that Nikki would’ve had a life like she has.

Like most kids in this generation, her parents divorced after 12 years of marriage. She lived in Isanti until she was about eight and then moved to Cable Wisconsin with her mom and sister. Her mom quickly remarried after she had moved them to Wis. She would come to Minnesota on the weekends to visit her dad. Her dad Kevin later got remarried and then took on a new wife and two children Jeremy and Bridget. With the years to follow living with her mom, there were no rules or guidelines to follow. Nikki had gotten into mischief like any other teenager, but in between parties and having fun, she also found out that she was pregnant at the young age of 15.
Ethan James would be born to Nikki and Jordan on February 14, 2000. At this time Nikki was 16 when Ethan was born. She attended school regularly and even graduated with honors with her high school class in 2002. While Nikki raised Ethan throughout high school, Jordan was 19 and didn’t do much for help. He was in and out of jail and an all around bad influence to Nikki and Ethan. After graduating from high school in Wisconsin, Nikki then came to Minnesota to live with her dad, stepmom and younger step sister.

After arriving back to Isanti, she took a few general classes at Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC) while taking care of Ethan. She also did many other activities that involved hanging out with a few old friends in town and she also helped out family to pass sometime while looking for her next step in life.

On March 7, 2003, while working at a Ducks Unlimited banquet selling tickets, Nikki, 19, met Kyle and it was all downhill from there. Nikki and Kyle dated for awhile, she got to know his family and Kyle got to know Ethan and her family as well. It wasn’t more than a year later did he purpose on Easter Sunday right before church. Nikki was opening up an Easter basket and in the basket was wooden box that held the diamond engagement ring. She was so surprised she was literally speechless.

On May 21, 2005 Nikki got a husband and Ethan got a dad. Not long after being married, Kyle legally adopted Ethan. “It was a blessing to have Kyle as a dad for Ethan; it’s the right stability that we all needed in our lives at that time.” Nikki said. But not too long after Nikki and Kyle had settled down with Ethan did they get a surprise of their very own. Owen Patrick was born on September 15, 2006. He was Kyle’s first biological child and was an all around new experience with a newborn for Kyle.

As their family grew, their house needed to grow too. So they moved from their two bedroom rambler to a beautiful house that they built. But little did they know that when they built the house bigger, that they were building a bigger family as well. Kellen J was born on November 18, 2008. With juggling a bigger house and a bigger family, Nikki went from working part time at Target to being a stay at home mom, to a teacher’s assistant at the Oak Land Alternative Learning Center and is also the summer trap manager and book keeper at the Isanti County Sportsman Club.


Nikki is almost done now with her credits at ARCC and plans on attending St. Cloud State University where she will work towards a Bachelors of Science degree in social work. Although it has been tough to raise a family and go to school, Nikki had to put time apart to better herself. Nikki said “I needed to go to college, it was the only way I could better my family.” With determination and hard work she has achieved a part of her schooling goal and has great expectations for the future.

'Why God? Why?' 6 Killed near Cambridge

6 killed near Cambridge on Sunday morning around 2:40 a.m. Five young adults ranging in ages from 14-21 were in one car, that smelled of alcohol, headed west on Hwy 95. The sole survivor was the 16-year-old driver, Sebrina Schumacher. The other car, headed East on Hwy 95, involved two passengers who were so badly burned that it took awhile to identify their bodies.



Photo above: The 1998 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Schumacher
Photo courtesy: Minnesota State Patrol

http://www.startribune.com/local/north/92041709.html?page=1&c=y

Story 8

As the spring semester is starting to wrap up, a poll was given to 19 students who answered questions on how well they like Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC). Some of the questions involved whether they have ventured to the Coon Rapids campus, if they have taken any online classes; which do they prefer between in-class or online, if they have ever attended any campus events, and whether the staff was helpful in their college experience at ARCC. By unraveling the poll results, it was amazing to see how these students responded.

Going to ARCC isn’t all about just attending classes. There are steps you have to take before you can start your journey as a college student. The staff/faculty can help either make or break a decision on which college a student chooses to attend. If the staff isn’t helpful with guiding you, or answering questions you might have, you might think twice to attend that specific school. But out of the 19 students polled, 18 have had great experience with the staff. Whether it was a question that they needed answered or if they needed help in guiding them to which classes to attend. The students were all-around satisfied with the commitment that the staff and faculty has towards their students at ARCC. Michelle Husom, 25, stated, “They have helped me with figuring out my classes.” While on the other hand, Megan Thompson, 19, was not as pleased by saying “I am having a hard time with my FASFA going through.”

At ARCC, the college is dedicated to low tuition and great flexibility to having two campuses to choose from. While out of the 19 people surveyed, 12 have never been to the Coon Rapids campus to whereas 7 have. “It’s close to home.” Rebecca Strohkirch, 25, stated about picking the location of what college that she wanted to attend.

With more colleges, including ARCC, becoming more online-oriented, another question that was asked, was have you ever tried an online class, and if yes, do you prefer online or in-class learning better? Amazingly 8 out of the 19 have tried at least one online class, but 7 out of the 8 preferred an in-class learning environment instead of the online structure. That goes to question why don’t more people like the online courses compared to the in-class teachings? While a lot of the classes have became online or web-enhanced in the last few years.

While attending college, some of students are involved in extracurricular activities on campus. Whether it is the math league or a social committee, there is always an event to plan or to attend. If you take a look in the ARCC school calendar or even the schools newspaper, you will find many things to do or attend. But as the polls were added up, a shocking surprise was that no one had attended an ARCC event. “The only event I plan to attend is the graduation ceremony.” Glenda Rittenour, 27, said after reading the question given. So why haven’t any of the students polled not going to any type ARCC events? Do they not know about them? Or do they simply not care about things going on outside of their classes? Maybe if there were more of an incentive to join a group or maybe just something as simple as knowing when a specific event is going to happen would get these students to an ARCC event.

With the questions given, and the polls answered, it was a shock to see the results. The wide range of questions given gave a broader spectrum on what ARCC students do for their class types and how they feel about different things, like the staff. It is pretty amazing that no one has attended a school event, but hopefully the school can reach out to the different students to interest them into an event or program, or maybe venturing to the Coon Rapids campus or even to an online class that might help them.

Autopsy: Man killed by police in Woodbury

Following a domestic dispute at the home of Timothy S. Hanson, 55, of Woodbury, Sgt. Omar Maklad, 27, responded to the residence. As the two exchanged gunfire, Hanson had been fatally shot, while Maklad was shot but didn't have any non-life threatening injuries. As the autopsy stated, Hanson did not shoot himself, but that Maklad shot him twice in the chest.


http://www.startribune.com/local/east/91640569.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUI

Story 7

Who would’ve thought that with the country in a recession that more people would flock to school rather than search for a new job? While taking a poll on 22 students ranging from 21 to 50, the outcome was surprising on the reasoning why they are in school and how they have came to fund their education as well.

From research found on the Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC) website, it has been stated that it has the lowest-cost tuition of any college or university in the state. With that being said with the poll that was produced, it was surprising to see that 8 out of 22 students polled, paid all or some out of pocket to take college classes at ARCC. While 11 out of the 22 qualified to get some type of state or federal funded grants, most of these people have lost their jobs or have part-time jobs to support themselves and their families. While student loans were still needed with having 10 out of 22 students taking out personal loans to pay for all or part of their education at ARCC.

As times are hard and getting a job is even harder, school was the last straw for some of these students. The minimum qualifications for the easiest jobs are getting more and more competitive. So for a lot of people who want some type of career advancement or career change, ARCC was the best choice for them. It doesn’t hurt that you get half off of your tuition when you are out of a job.

Girl flees attempted abduction, Minneapolis police say

As Monday evening rolled around, an 11-year old girl was walking home from school when a man in a shiny black pickup truck stopped her. As the two got closer to eachother, the man had his door partialy opened and grabbed her arm. She screamed and punched him as she freed herself. She also reported seeing that same vehicle a few weeks past driving by as well.

http://www.startribune.com/local/90767464.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUF

Theory of a Deadman to be a ROCKLAHOMA!

Theory of a Deadman

ROCKLAHOMA 2010
Pryor, OK
May 28, 29, and 30
http://www.theoryofadeadman.com/board_posts/rocklahoma-2010

Contact:

http://www.theoryofadeadman.com
http://www.rocklahoma.com/tickets.html



Who would’ve thought that seven years in the making would bring the band Theory of a Deadman out of Vancouver and onto the stages across the world? While out promoting their latest CD Scars and Souvenirs, the band will be making it to Pryor, Oklahoma to perform at ROCKLAHOMA May 28, 29, and 30. Along with Theory, other bands in the lineup include: ZZ Top, Godsmack, Tesla, Buckcherry, Cinderella, Chevelle, Stone Sour, Theory of a Deadman, Saliva, Sevendust, Fuel ft. Brett Scallians, Saving Abel, Adelita’s Way, Janus Aranda, The Veer Union, Burn Halo, Richy Nix, Shaman’s Harvest, Lacuna, Coil Taddy Porter, Like A Storm, Taking Dawn, New Medicine, Year Long Disaster, Gypsy, Pistoleros, Nigel Dupree Band, Brookroyal, Within Reason, The Last Vegas, Wildstreet, Firstryke , Krank, The GlitterBoys O'Dette, Problem Child, Black Tora, Mad Max, Bad Things and a very special guest to be announced soon!

With much anticipation and with such a great lineup, Theory will be one of the main events of the weekend long event. They have a lot to stand up against with ZZ Top, Godsmack, and many more performing before them, but this band has a lot to offer and has never disappointed a crowd. To really experience the band is to see them live. Don’t miss out on the chance.
***

Como Zoo polar bears break in new digs

Polar bear brothers Neil and Buzz are back in St. Paul after a two year stay in Detroit. Their $15 million Polar Bear Odyssey exhibit has been recently finished and will open up to the public on June 3. The 14-year-old bears are taking some time to get used to their new digs before guests arrive.



http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/89962262.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUl

Enterprise Story

I have chosen to write about how students fund their college education. So far from talking to fellow Anoka-Ramsey students, it has been a mix bag on how people are coming up with the money. I find it interesting with all of the different scholarships, loans, parents, grandparents, G.I. bills and etc. that are available. So if anyone has any cool stories or interesting ways college that their college was funded, let me know! I would love to hear it!