2022-2023 Year In Review By: Shreenidhi Subramanian
Table of Contents 2 Letter From The Editor 3-4 Murder Mysteries 5 Counselling and it’s Challenges 6 Savor the Flavors of Italy 7-8 Sports 9-10 Photo Spread 11 Editorial Cartoon Page 1
Letter From the Editor This year in journalism has truly been an amazing experience for me. It has been so fun and exciting to be a part of this class and to have the chance to work on various projects. Two of my favorite projects were the broadcast project and the personality profiles. They were both challenging, but very fun. This class has given me many different opportunities to grow and learn new skills. I have also made lots of different friends through this class. Overall, I am so grateful for this class and all of the amazing experiences it has given me. Sincerely, Shreenidhi Subramanian Page 2
The Mystery of the Zodiac Killer The infamous and curious American serial killer also named The Zodiac Killer was known for his brutal murders in northern California between 1968 and 1969. In the late 1960s, San Francisco was struck by the infamous Zodiac Killer, who went on a brutal murder spree that shocked the entire city. The Zodiac Killer, who is known for at least five confirmed murders, insulted the public and the police with complex letters to the local newspaper, which increased the sense of anxiety and mystery related to his horrific acts. Despite attempts by the authorities to catch him, he was never caught, and he claimed to have murdered 37 people. Over time, the killer gained popularity, and true crime fans continued to find him of research interest. There are theories that the Zodiac Killer may have also been responsible for the 1966 death of an 18-year-old college student in Riverside, California, in addition to the murders for which he is known to have been responsible. Although no solid evidence connects the Riverside murder to the Zodiac Killer, some people think it's possible given the similarities between the two crimes. Despite the murders, the Zodiac Killer is also known for the hard codes that he gave to the police. These letters had hints about where his next murder could be and the reasons he liked to kill people. These codes are very hard to decipher and understand. “I like killing people because it’s so much fun,” the Zodiac killer said. This was in one of the codes that he had sent to the police. He also said that he likes to kill people more than animals. When an eyewitness was able to give a close description of the suspect, the police's investigation into the Zodiac killer made some Page 3
On June 7, 2021, Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh, 52, and her son, Paul Murdaugh, 22, were found dead on the 1,770-acre property, where the family has a hunting lodge. Online records show that in April of that year, Paul, then 20 years old, was arrested and later indicted on charges of one count of boating under the influence (BUI) causing death and two counts of causing significant bodily injury. In May 2019, Paul pleaded not guilty. He was released on a $50,000 bond. On September 4, 2021, Alex Murdaugh was shot but survived. He was immediately carried to a hospital. On September 15, authorities revealed that Alex Murdaugh arranged his own shooting. Alex’s addiction to opioids and his depression drove him to hire a hitman. Murdaugh was revealed to be a part of his wife and son’s murders around October 2021, but he wouldn’t have any motive to do so. He was also convicted of many other crimes, such as money laundering and other insurance embezzlements. On January 23, 2023, the trial of Alex Murdaugh began. Prosecutors showed a video of Alex Murdaugh wearing two different shirts on the night of the murders. Murdaugh admitted to taking up to 60 pills of oxycodone a day. PEOPLE also report that Murdaugh lured his wife onto the cabin the night she was killed. Murdaugh’s brother, John Marvin, claims that he cleaned up his nephew’s remains after the incident had occurred. “I saw blood; I saw brains,” John Marvin said. John claimed that he didn’t know who the killer was but vowed to find out. On March 2, 2023, Murdaugh was found guilty of murdering his wife Maggie, and his son Paul. He was sentenced to two life sentences without parole. The Murdaugh Mystery: Uncovered Page 4
Abigail Smith, a counselor at Olentangy Berlin High School, loves her job, but it has its challenges. Every day has something new and different. “Sometimes I refer to myself as being a firefighter,” Smith said. Counselors can never expecvt how their day will go. They could step out of the room and see a student start to cry and would have to put out the fire immediately. They need to be open to anything and have a very flexible schedule. They can help students create change for themselves. They’ll teach students things like what their interests are. They’ll help them understand their strengths and abilities. And they’ll help them develop as people so they can go out into the world and be successful in whatever field they want to go into. Smith always loved to work with students. It was her favorite thing to do as a counselor. She loved to see them grow and learn. Before she became a counselor, she was a business teacher. When she was a teacher, she would often just talk with students who would come to hang out with her. She wanted every student to be able to communicate with their counselor without the need to talk to them. “Our goal is to get you guys ready to advocate for yourself,” Smith said. She had a lot of experience with students, and she knew that sometimes they just needed someone to talk to. She was always there for her students, and she wanted them to know that. Smith has always wanted to be a counselor. Smith always tried to make her students feel comfortable. She wanted them to know that they could come to her with anything whenever they needed her. “It definitely is where you’re wearing many hats or juggling many balls,” Smith said. One of the hardest things about this job is to deal with the amount of work they get. There are times when it starts to overwhelm and tire her. Another challenge is to work with students who have difficult situations. Everyone is different and needs something different based on their situation. Many times, all these can get hard to handle all at once. Despite the challenges, Smith loves her job and wouldn’t trade it for anything. She feels like she Counselling and it’s Challenges Page 5
When it comes to Italian food, Olive Garden really is the best. Everyone who’s ever eaten there has had a really great time. The food is always fresh and delicious, and the service is always top-notch. When you’re there, you can enjoy a variety of delicious Italian dishes. You can choose something that’s light and healthy, or you can go for something that’s heavier and will give you more energy. They have a great selection of menu items, and they can accommodate any kind of dietary restriction or special dietary need. The breadsticks delicious, and the pasta dishes are always cooked to perfection. The atmosphere is really cozy and inviting, and the waiters are always friendly and helpful. Plus, their prices are really reasonable, especially when compared to some of the more high-end Italian restaurant chains. Olive Garden is a great place to go for a nice pasta dish. They have a variety of sizes and flavors to choose from, so you’re sure to find something that you’ll love. My favorite is the Alfredo pasta, it’s creamy and rich, and the flavor is amazing. You can choose between a small or large portion, so you can get your fill without having to worry about being too full. You can find this in the menu or the website. Overall, I would rate this a 9.5/10. If you’re looking for a great place to get breadsticks, Olive Garden is the place to go. The breadsticks are always fresh, and the staff is always polite, they always make sure that you are happy. I love ordering bredsticks with soup or pasta. This usually comes with other items like soup and salads but you can also order it separately. I would rate it a 10/10. The Olive Garden I’ve been to is located in, 1250 Polaris Pkwy, Columbus, OH 43240. If you want to call them their number is, (614) 885-0080. You can also order on their website which is, https://www.olivegarden.com/home. Page 6
The Berlin Bears lost a game against the Marysville high school monarchs on January 6, 2023. They lost the game 55-47 at Berlin high school. Many students and families went to the game. “I really enjoy watching our basketball games, the one on Friday was a pretty close score for the majority of the game, but it was interesting to watch,” Lillian Rittenberg said. The Bears were led by, Noah Gamble, with 17 points, and the Marysville monarchs were led by, Jason Moore, with 16 points. The Berlin bears ended the first quarter leading by 14-13 and the second quarter by 20-26. Then, in the third quarter, the game went to 31-30. Rittenberg was part of the band and was playing during the game. “It was fun to watch them play because it was such a close game,” Rittenberg said. The game ended with the bears losing 47-55. You can watch the next game on January 10 at the Upper Arlington high school gym at 7:30 pm. You can view upcoming games on the Olentangy Berlin athletics website. Marysville Monarchs win against the Berlin Bears Page 7
Page 8 Abbey Enders Takes the Win Abbey Enders, a student at Olentangy Berlin High School, has been state ranked for her wrestling. “It was so memorable because my teammates and coaches were always supporting me and cheering me on. If I were to describe this season, it would be caring, supportive, and reliable,” Enders said. She was able to end the season filled with accomplishment and happiness because of the support she got from her coaches and teammates. They always supported her, no matter what. “It felt amazing when I was able to finish the season by pinning a girl 32-2,” Enders said. At the beginning of the season, Enders faced a lot of tough competition, but she never gave up. Towards the end of the season, she got 1st in almost every tournament. “My shoulder tore during a match a while ago, and I was pulled out of the last tournament of the season. When I came back, I pinned the girl who tore my shoulder,” Enders said. Despite the injury, Enders refused to give up. Her shoulder’s still affecting her, so she is working on recovering, but she still wrestles.
This is one of the many signs around Berlin high school. This sign is located above the stairs near the English hallway The “Claws Up!” wall is in front of the stairs. Student see this veryday adn they This is the seal thats in front of the meda center. Studets were told to not, step on this seal. because of the Berlin spirit. Double Blue shown by the bears By: Shreenidhi Subramanian Page 9
This is the overlook, thats located above the media center. -- These are handprints of all the teachers from Berlin high school. This was done on the first professional development day. The family sign is in the cafeteria and is used to remind studens everyday that we’re one big family. Students at Berlin see this everyday when they eat. The famous Berlin bear is included in this clock from Berlin high school. These clocks are in placed every classroom, each one with a bear inside of it. Page 10
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