Radiation in Tokyo

Radioactive iodine detected in the capital’s water supply spurred a warning for infants and the government issued a new estimate about the costs of rebuilding from the earthquake and tsunami that slammed into the northeast of Japan this month.  Ei Yoshida, head of water purification for the Tokyo water department, said that infants in Tokyo and surrounding areas should not drink tap water.  He said that iodine-131 had been detected in water samples at a level of 210 Becquerel’s per liter.  The recommended limit for infants is only 100 Becquerel’s per liter.

            High levels of iodine that can be absorbed through the milk can accumulate in the thyroid gland and cause thyroid cancer.  High levels of cesium can damage cells and put many people at higher risk of developing other kinds of cancer.  Japan has already placed restrictions on foods, including spinach and milk that were produced in two plants near the Fukushima Daiichi plant.  Food inspectors detected iodine and cesium in the food, two of which are more dangerous radioactive byproducts that are feared to have been released from the reactors in Fukushima.

            The announcement added to the growing anxiety about public safety posed by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.  The Health Ministry said in a statement that it was unlikely that there would be negative consequences to infants who did drink the water, but that it should be avoided if possible and not be used to make infant formula.  It was not clearly why the levels of iodine were so high and the prevailing breezes seem to be pushing radiation out to sea, said a senior western nuclear executive.

Friends of Rachel Club

The committee presidents (Taylor, Cliff, and Jeffrey) of the FOR Club at Chapmanville Regional High School presented Mrs. Karen Varney with $630.00 for the Robert L. Varney Memorial Education Fund.  The scholarship was set up at Southern West Virginia Community College in memory of Ms. Varney's son, Bobby, who recently passed away following an extended illness.  Bobby was a graduate of SWVCC and greatly enjoyed his time there.  The monetary donation was collected from the students and staff at CRHS. (CRHS website) They have also completed a toy drive at West Chapmanville Grade School, they rung bells for the Salvation Army while working at Christmas in the Park, raised money for other various scholarship funds and charities, and next year a mixer is planned between CRHS and MHS.

-Tyler

History of April Fools

Unlike most of the other nonfoolish holidays, the history of April Fool's Day, sometimes called All Fool's Day, is not totally clear. It is not like Halloween, where despite an interesting history, most people just put on Halloween costumes, get candy, and leave it at that. There really wasn't a "first April Fool's Day" that can be pinpointed on the calendar. Some believe it sort of evolved simultaneously in several cultures at the same time, from celebrations involving the first day of spring.
The closest point in time that can be identified as the beginning of this tradition was in 1582, in France. Prior to that year, the new year was celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25. The celebration culminated on April 1. With the reform of the calendar under Charles IX, the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved to January 1.
However, communications being what they were in the days when news traveled by foot, many people did not receive the news for several years. Others, the more obstinate crowd, refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the new year on April 1. These backward folk were labeled as "fools" by the general populace. They were subject to some ridicule, and were often sent on "fools errands" or were made the butt of other practical jokes.
This harassment evolved, over time, into a tradition of prank-playing on the first day of April. The tradition eventually spread to England and Scotland in the eighteenth century. It was later introduced to the American colonies of both the English and French. April Fool's Day thus developed into an international fun fest, so to speak, with different nationalities specializing in their own brand of humor at the expense of their friends and families.

The Byran Herald

School Lunches/Nutrition

The food currently provided through the National School Lunch Program has not kept pace with what we know today to be truly healthy and nutritious food. Rather, the foods provided in the program under the guise of good nutrition. Chili cheese dogs, pepperoni pizza, cheeseburgers, and pork chops are there to prop up farm incomes and are part of the problem that has created a generation of overweight children.

The Byran Herald

Chapmanville High School Tennis

The 2011 Chapmanville Tennis Team has finally started. The tennis team consists of one senior, eleven juniors, Five Sophomores, and two freshmen. The tennis team has already played 2 games. On the 18^th of March they traveled To Poca, to play the Poca Dots. On the 21^st they had a home game against the Man Hillbillies. On March 25, 2011 the Chapmanville Tigers will be traveling to Spring Valley to play the Timberwolves. So, hopefully the tigers will go up there and kick butt. Go Tigers!