The Drama Department of Mount Ayr Community High School will present its spring production "Mystery at Shady Acres or ... Carats and Crumpets" Friday, March 10 and Satuday, March 11 at 7 p.m. both nights.

A pie auction will also be held both nights during intermission.

[Play description and cast in above article.]

Photograph courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2017

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, March 09, 2017, Page 16

  Members of the Mount Ayr Community High School Drama Club include: Seniors: Mitchell Jennett, Ashton Sheil, Tessa Shields, Blair Glendenning, Breanne Haley, Megan Reasoner, Cassie Brand, Cheyenne Haveman, Laura Campbell, Brylea Stark, Macy Larsen, Haylea England, Sadie Frost, Hope Fletchall and Molly Anderson.

Juniors: Alyssa Johnson, John Young, William Young, Mercadez Birkenholz, Abbey Schafer, Bailey Anderson, Hallie Still, MaiLynn Taylor, Katie Sickels, Bradley Wurster, Craven Martin, Kenisha Ross, Will Hunt, Logan Eaton, Cauy Bickel, Dylan McAlexander, Lucas Wurster, Brayden Swank, Zach Murphy, Jacob McCreary, Addy Flammang, Sara Winemiller, Eian Ada,s. Mitchell Lutrick, Tristan Holmes and Kirsten Young.

Sophomores: Nathan Hauge, Chase Henry, Elsie Schafer, Trenton Stull, Myles Greene, Drew Willis, Josh Cox, Samantha Schaefer, Lannie Sheil, Hannah Jackson, Tucker Darrah, Hunter Haveman, Jentri Ruby, Abbi Haley, MacKenzie Shields, Ryann Martin, Caroline McAlexander, Emma Mobley, Amber Davison, Kylee Smith, Paige Lynch, Andrew Belzer, John Shields, Jacob Hoveland, Hayley Whittington, Keirston Klommhaus and Sammy McGill.

Freshman: Josh Restaura, Jaycee Knight, Jacob Rushing, Isaac Grose, Samantha Stewart, Alexis Main, Gracie Mobley, Tyler Jones, Hanna Ackley, Austin Greenland, Cayden Lambert, Kaitlyn Dolecheck, Dalton Elwood, Dawson Frost, Rachel Gregg, Darrian Holmes, Addy Shaw, Reas Knapp, Jordan McAlexnder, Hadlie Sickels, Elizabeth Sobotka, Dalton Thomas, Bryce Hower, Mikayla Edwards, Keelan Klommhaus, Cole Clymer and Joan Trujillo.

DISTRICT SPEECH - LARGE GROUP: Saturday, February 25th the MACHS speech team took 30 events to district speech contest in Shenandoah.Those receiving II ratings who will not be heading to state contest included: Will Young - Spontaneous Speaking, John Young - After Dinner Speech, Jacob Rushing - Spontaneous Speaking, Dalton Elwood - Prose, Ashton Sheil - Original Oratory, Lanie Sheil - Poetry, Abigail Barnes - Poetry, Samantha Schaefer - Prose, Kaitlyn Dolecheck - Poetry, Trenton Stuff - Poetry and Radio Broadcast, Mercadez Birkenholz - Spontaneious Speaking and Radio Broadcast, Nathan Hauge - Prose, and Bryce Hower - Improv.

Those receiving I rating and heading onto state March 11th at Johnston High School included: Abbey Schafer - Acting, Mitchell Jennett - Acting, Will Hunt - Review, Adelyda Ebersole - Expository Address, Elsie Schafer - Storytelling and Solo Musical, Kaitlyn Dolecheck - Storytelling, Caroline McAlexander - Storytelling, Sammy McGill - Prose, Chase Henry - Improv, Hannah Jackson - Improv and Literary Program, Haylea England - Literary Program, Kennedy Brokaw-McAlexander - Literary Program, Abbey Schafer, Elsie Schafer, Brad Phelps, and Hallie Still (not pictured Lew Knapp).

CONFERENCE SPEECH - INDIVIDUAL: Held in Indianola IA Friday, February 10 - see above news article of February 16th.

STATE SPEECH RESULTS - LARGE GROUP: Held Saturday, February 4th at Valley High School, West Des Moines IA - see above news article of February 9th.

DISTRICT SPEECH COMPETITON - INDIVIDUAL: Held at Clarke High School, Osceola IA on Saturday, January 21 - see above news article of January 26th.

Photographs courtesey of Mount Ayr Record-News
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2017

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, March 16, 2017, Page 10

The MACHS speech team traveled early Saturday morning to Johnston for the state speech tournament. Twelve students performed in fourteen events.

Seniors Mitchell Jennett and Haylea England have been integral parts of the speech team for the past four years.

Haylea performed a Literary Program piece entitled, "The Pain of Abuse." She received a I (excellent) rating from all three judges for an overall I rating.

[It was later learned Haylea had been chosen to perform her literary program at the All-State Festival March 27 at UNI.]

Mitchell performed an acting piece entitled, "Driving Lessons." He received a I rating and two II ratings for an overall II (good) rating.

The junior members performing Saturday included Adelyda Ebersole, Abbey Schafer, Will Hunt, and Kennedy Brokaw-McAlexander.

Adelyda performed an expository speech which she wrote herself entitled, "Why Ag?" She received a I rating from one judge and two II ratings for an overall II rating.

Will Hunt performed a review of the book "Divergent," which he wrote himself. Will received a I rating from all three judges for an overall I rating.

Abbey performed an acting piece entitled, "88 Keys." She received a II rating from one judge and two I ratings for an overall I rating.

Kennedy performed a Literary Program piece entitled, "What do you do with an Idea?" She received a II rating from one judge and two I ratings for an overall I rating.

The sophomore members included Sammy McGill, Caroline McAlexander, Elsie Schafer, Hannah Jackson and Chase Henry.

Chase performed an individual improvisation. He drew the characters a mad scientist and a nuclear physicst with the situation playing tennis. Chase received a I rating from all three judges for an overall I rating.

Hannah Jackson performed an individual improvisation. She drew the characters a phantom and an organist with the situation brushing a hamster's hair. She received a I rating from one judge and a II rating from two of the judges for an overall II rating.

Hannah also performed a Literary Program piece entitled, What do you do with a Problem?" Hannah received a II rating from all three judges for an overall II rating.

Elsie Schafer performed the song, "Good Morning, Baltimore" in her solo musical piece. Elsis received a II rating from all three judges for an overall II rating.

Elsie also performed a storytelling piece entitled, " My Mama Says." She received a I rating from all three judges for an overall I rating.

Caroline McAlexander performed a storytelling piece entitled, "My Mouth Is A Volcano." Caroline receved a I rating from all three judges for a I rating.

The only freshman who made it to state this fall was Kaitlyn Dolecheck. Kaitlyn performed a storytelling piece entitled, "Honestly, Red Riding Hood was Rotten." Kaitlyn received a II rating from all three judges for an overall II rating.

"I was very proud of the kids and they were great ambassadors of our school," said Kniep.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2017