The Bear Facts
January 21, 2016

Andrea: Good morning! I’m Andrea Pacheco!

Danielle: I’m Danielle Plathe!

Logan: And I’m Logan Capesius! You’re listening to the “Bear Facts”, the radio show where each week we bring you all the news from Bishop Garrigan High School.

Andrea: Today Garrigan senior Andrew Thilges is in Haiti. He flew out Thursday night and arrived in Port-au-Prince yesterday, and now he’s on his way to Ste. Jeanne de Chantal, the sister parish of St. Cecelia’s, which is located near the southwestern tip of Haiti. Chantal was badly damaged by Hurricane Matthew, and Andrew will be helping with the recovery. He’s part of a mission team coming from St. Cecelia’s to help out their twin parish. We had a special blessing ceremony last Thursday to wish Andrew well before he left.

Danielle: At Garrigan and Seton we had a big fundraiser before Christmas to help out those in Haiti. We raised around $5,000 which is helping buy goats that will provide milk and food for families in Chantal. The goats replace a gift of chickens we sent to Haiti a year ago, which unfortunately were lost in the hurricane. The families in Chantal also benefit from the Parish Families Against Hunger food packaging which takes place on Palm Sunday.

Logan: This morning about two dozen Garrigan students are down in Manson for the Iowa High School Speech Association district large group contest. While the ice storm earlier in the week meant the groups had far less rehearsal than they wanted, they’ll still be doing their best to have good performances at district. Coaches Jake Rosenmeyer and David Burrow have been working hard to get everything ready for contest.

Andrea: The Bears’ performances include a choral reading of Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. It features John Zeimet as the Grinch, John Meis as Max the dog, and Emma Thul as Cindy Lou Who. Other cast members are Alisa Altman, Kat Willie, Gigi Byrkeland, Megan Wadle, and Johanna Becker; as well as Jenna Boelter, Madison Illg, Bryce Capesius, Layah DeLange, and Emory Miller.

Danielle: Garrigan will also be presenting a readers’ theatre called “The Brothers Grimm: Out of Order”. It features Sam Vaske as Prince Charming, Jordan Hansen as Cinderella, Ashlyn Harrington as Rapunzel, Bryce Capesius and Laurel Degen as Hansel and Gretel, and Logan Heying and Tommy Kollasch as the Brothers Grimm. Other cast members are Sam Trainer, Gabe Trainer, Gigi Byrkeland, Lauren Kenyon, Caroline Bradley, Sam Harrington, John Zeimet, and Megan Bronk.

Logan: In Ensemble Acting Caitlin Thilges and Levi Capesius will be acting out “In the Principal’s Office”. The final Garrigan entry is in Musical Theatre, with a medley from “Beauty and the Beast”. That show features Isabelle Davis as Belle, Levi Capesius as the Beast, Caitlin Thilges as Mrs. Potts, Sam Vaske as Luminere, Gabe Trainer as Cogsworth, Sam Trainer as Maurice, and Aidan Koob as Gaston. Best wishes to the Bears at district speech. Break a leg, everyone!



Andrea: Tomorrow Garrigan’s band and choir will be participating in a joint concert with students from Algona High. The concert celebrates the grand opening of the new performing arts center at the public school. There are two shows. The 5:30 performance is a sell-out, but there’s an encore presentation at 7:30pm.

Danielle: Our Senior Spotlight this week shines on Andrew Thilges. You heard earlier in this week’s show that Andrew Thilges is in Haiti right now doing mission work at St. Jeanne de Chantal. Andrew also helps out the church and school as a Eucharistic minister. Andrew was very busy in the fall, when he ran cross-country and also was the kicker for the Golden Bear football team. He’s active in intramural basketball, plays golf, and also participates in quiz bowl and math team. You’ve probably also heard him announcing here on the “Bear Facts”. Andrew plans a science-related major in college, and we wish him all the best in the future.

Logan: On our Golden Bear calendar today there’s district large group speech at Manson. The Garrigan students who wrestle for Algona High will be participating in the North Central Conference meet at Algona High.

Andrea: Tomorrow night there’s the joint Garrigan/Algona concert to open the performing arts center. Monday night the girls basketball teams welcome Humboldt, while the JJV boys play at Garner.

Danielle: There’s a JV/varsity basketball quad on Tuesday, with the Bears hosting Garner Hayfield Ventura. We’ll have mass on Wednesday, and there’s an early dismissal for teacher inservice that day. Then on Thursday the JJV teams host North Union.

Logan: There’s wrestling on Thursday at North Butler. Friday there’s a basketball quad at North Union, and there’s more basketball next Saturday, with the Bears travelling to Mason City Newman.  That’s the “Bear Facts” for another week. Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to join us again next week for more news from Bishop Garrigan High School.