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Wednesday December 3, 2025 | Volume 150, Issue 49

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Paint party scores a strike for DHS bowling team

By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

It wasn’t paint by numbers. But instructor Dana Lynn confidently shouted out instructions, over the din of the North Dallas restaurant, to help her nearly 30 students reach the intended template canvas of a gnome atop a mushroom. But this wasn’t just any typical Sunday night class by Serendipities by Dena. The funds generated were going back this time to help the Dallas High School Bowling Teams. The FUNdraising painters were mostly family and friends of the bowlers, with some complete strangers. Lisa Cushway, fundraiser coordinator for the teams, said this is the second time they’ve incorporated Serendipities by Dena into their fundraising plans. She said the funds help send DHS bowlers to state and national tournaments. This year features two girl teams and three boys teams, with about 28 total bowlers. One of the girls teams went to nationals last year, with a boys team just missing out on joining them. Cushway said after three tournaments so far this season, all of the teams are doing well. “They’ve shown a lot of growth and improvement from last year,” she said. The season runs from October through February, with all stars in March and the ultimate goal of nationals in June. Cushway said getting there is not cheap. “Last year, for the one team, it was $10,000 - $12,000, and that includes airfare and Airbnb for everyone to stay in,” she said. “The

Samantha Woods Starkey and Leslie Brandt Olsen recently combined their areas of expertise to publish a book detailing their concerns’ “Growing Under a Poisoned Sky.”

PHOTO BY DAVID HAYES

Michelle Bryan traveled from Salem to join in on the FUNdraiser at North Dallas restaurant Nov. 30, helping the Dallas High School Bowling team generate the funds needed for a return to state and nationals this year. nationals are usually somewhere in the Midwest. So it’s kinda far.” In addition to the paint party, Cushway schedules other fundraisers to add to the travel coffers, including bingo every third Tuesday of the month at Galaxy Won (located at 780 Main St.) from 6-8 p.m. Their biggest fundraiser of the year is a raffle in February at Starlite Lanes. Junior Camille Stacey was on last year’s team that competed at nationals. She was touching up her own painting that deviated

somewhat from the target image of a gnome atop a mushroom, looking suspiciously a lot like Snoopy on top of his doghouse, napping. She really appreciates the paint party fundraisers. “I think it’s really cool. I think we’re starting to get the same amount of support the other sports get. I like that we do fundraisers that involve the community like the bingo nights and the paint nights,” Stacy said. “It’s not just us asking for money, it’s us participating with

the community and building a connection with them, giving them a reason to support us.” Stacey started bowling competitively when she picked up a bowling ball for the first time her freshman year. She’s improved her game so much, she is actually looking to go to compete at the next level in college. The team overall has improved over last year, she added. See PARTY PAGE A3

Dallas FFA gets in holiday spirit with Christmas tree sales three growers within three miles of town. Sometimes, when they don’t have the numFor many families, the day bers needed, Rowley said they after Thanksgiving is more go to others just East of Salem than Black Friday. It’s also to meet their needs. All of the the time to break out the orna300 trees are grown within 30 ments and set up the Christmas miles of their lot in downtown tree for the next holiday Dallas. season. They stock up on four speTo help the earlybirds, the cies of evergreens - nobles, Dallas High School FFA pronordmans, grants, and Douglas gram also sets up their annual firs, with nobles and nordmans Chrstmas tree lot the day after being the most purchased. Thanksgiving, a tradition that “They tend to be a little goes back decades as far as more expensive, but they current advisors Ryan Rowley are the ones with stronger and Danielle Bull can recall. branches and open frame for “I’ve had parents of students ornaments,” Rowley said. tell me when they were in high “And they smell better than school, they were doing this. some of the other varieties.” So easily, 45 years,” Rowley PHOTO BY DAVID HAYES The Christmas tree sales is said. “Back then, they would Adult volunteer Andrew Wavra saws off the bottom of a tree FFA’s main fundraiser for the grow and harvest and sell the after it was sold at the FFA Christmas tree lot on Sunday. year. Rowley said they try to trees as part of the educational keep the cost of participating process.” marketing. We try to have the go out and tag the trees in in events as low as possible, That was not happening any September and October, so kids involved in the sales.” including the state convention more when Rowley started 12 the kids know what they are The Dallas FFA program every year, which can run years ago. buying. We go out and harvest targets as many local grow“We tried to find local ers while keeping the trees as them, they pack them out of See FFA, page A2 growers where students could fresh cut as they can, including the field. They’re involved in By DAIVD HAYES I-O Editor

IN THIS ISSUE

Cross-country authors team to tackle the dangers of geoengineering By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

Samantha Woods Starkey and Leslie Brandt Olsen shared a concern for the side effects of the methods to create more rain are causing without oversight from the U.S. government. They recently combined their areas of expertise to publish a book detailing their concerns, “Growing Under a Poisoned Sky.” So far, they’ve had to promote their project remotely, as they live more than 1,000 miles apart and are yet to meet in person. Researcher Olson is a longtime Polk County resident who now resides outside Keizer. Starkey is a farmer from Greensburg, Louisiana with a dedicated following on YouTube. Their collaboration began when they crossed paths virtually when they were both researching the aftermath of the Maui, Hawaii, fires in 2023. “I was pursuing research on the Maui fires a couple years ago (August of 2023). Because I have been heavily investigating what’s going on with the geoengineering of our skies globally,” said Olsen in an interview both authors gave via Zoom from their perspective kitchens. “There have been suspicious fires that have been happening over the past 10-12 years that I’m aware of. There have been tell-tale symptoms and Maui fit those symptoms.” Olsen found a like minded concerned citizen in Starkey who was researching the Maui fires as well. Starkey had been delving into the topic on her YouTube channel and was asking the same questions Olsen was. Starkey had traveled to Maui three times to pursue her suspicions, from a potential cover up that pointed toward a land grab for a future development project by globalists looking to build “smart cities.” Maui appeared to See AUTHORS, page A3

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