The Iowa caucuses are seen as the official kick-off to the primary election season. For the 2016 presidential election the Iowa caucus occurred on Feb. 1.

Unlike in primary elections, where people just go to their local polling locations and fill out a ballot, caucusing Iowans must attend public meetings in schools, community centers, places of worship, libraries and coffee houses during the evening. Citizens partake in this time-consuming process to choose their preferred candidate.

The caucuses begin at seven p.m. central time. Caucuses generally begin with speeches in support of candidates before the actual voting goes underway. Each party handles their caucuses differently. Republicans cast secret ballots while Democrats gather in candidate groups and then reshuffle if some voters stood for a candidate who does not have enough support.

The Iowa caucus does not have a poll closing time like regular elections, so the caucuses can take as long as needed. The bulk of the caucuses are usually reported to the media by nine p.m. central time.

Finally, the state results are used to determine how the parties’ convention delegates are divided up among the candidates. The official candidate for each party will not be determined until around July.

Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood, and on Nov. 6 the high school hosted their annual blood drive.

The high school holds a blood drive because the large number of students donating one pint of blood can save up to three lives.

“So think about the difference we can make in this world. Together we can change the world one life at a time,” committee leader of the blood drive senior Tori Price said.

Student council started setting the date with the American Red Cross over the summer but began planning this event about a month ago.

“The hardest part of a blood drive is to really just get people involved. Most people are too afraid to donate which is hard because it lessens the number of participants we have,” Price said.

Before signing up there are age, height and weight requirements along with being healthy. Students are asked to stay hydrated the morning before giving blood.

The whole process takes around an hour but one is only giving blood for eight to ten minutes.

This morning before the blood drive, student council spent it setting up tables and chairs in the lower gym.

After students give blood, student council provides bagels, fruit, crackers and water to show their appreciation towards their participation.

The blood drive had 101 participants this year and hopes that number keeps growing for future drives.

Junior Gabriella Kingston said, “I believe the blood drive is a great way for the students to volunteer and give back to the community.”

A 26 year old Cleveland man was arrested on Friday May 15, for threatening to blow up the high school.

Sprilin J. Edwards called the high school around 11 a.m. on Friday May 8, and told receptionist, Julie Archer, a bomb was in the building and it would “go boom.”

Students were asked to leave the school and calmly report to the stadium. After staying there for an hour student were dismissed from classes and could go home.

“It was really scary and nobody knew what was going on,” sophomore Megan Andrassy said.

The police K9 unit came in, but no explosives were found.

Nobody’s quite sure what Edward’s motive was as he has no ties to Stow Munroe-Falls High School.

His ex-girlfriend lives in the Stow area, but is not a student at the high school.

He faces additional charges of aggravated menacing and violation of a protection order and telecommunications harassment related to the ex-girlfriend.

Edwards is facing charges of inducing panic and telecommunications harassment.