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The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

The independent student media site of West Linn High School

wlhsNOW

Helena Erdahl

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor-in-Chief

Helena Erdahl, senior, is the Coverage Editor-in-Chief of wlhsNOW, and has been learning and writing about journalism since freshman year. She loves writing, and is always trying to learn more about journalism. She loves writing features, and when she’s not in journalism, she likes reading and playing softball.

All content by Helena Erdahl
The new gym will include both solitary gym equipment and group fitness classes. They offer weight training and cardio access.

‘We want to impact a million lives’

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor-in-Chief
May 3, 2023

Bringing the mission of health and fitness for all, Hampton Fitness expands into their newest location in West Linn. Hampton Fitness has a location in Tigard, Sherwood and recently, West Linn. Chris Hampton,...

City Hall is the base of West Linn politics. The City Council is housed here, as well as the mayor’s office. They house meetings focused on city issues and changes.

Rory Bialostosky, the superior choice

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor-in-Chief
April 18, 2023

As of May 16, West Linn will be ushering in a new mayor following a special election. The former mayor, Jules Walters, was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives District 37. There are two years...

Chloe Dehlin

Chloe Dehlin

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor-in-Chief
April 6, 2023

Chloe Dehlin, senior, is mainly an outfielder for the varsity softball team. She has been playing since she was seven years old.  “I would I've mostly kept playing to have something to do,” Dehlin...

Grace Leben-Wollen

Grace Leben-Wollen

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor-in-Chief
April 6, 2023

Grace Leben-Wollen, senior, has been playing softball for the majority of her life. She mainly plays first base and outfield and has preserved her love for the game over the years.  “I'm motivated...

Rylee Gaustad

Rylee Gaustad

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor-in-Chief
April 6, 2023

Rylee Gaustad, junior, is the starting outfielder. Gaustad is mainly in this position for high school softball, but for club, she plays other positions.  “I'm playing shortstop but for club, I play...

To give a complete preview of the season, wlhsNOW staff hosted a baseball media day, which included portraits in the studio and individual interviews with the players. Click below to see each player's profile, which explains each player's individual outlook for this season.

Getting to know the baseball team

After last year’s state championship, the baseball team is looking to win another. Continuity flows through their roster, as they feature eight returning members from last year’s championship-winning...

Ethan Simshauser

Ethan Simshauser

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor-in-Chief
April 6, 2023

Ethan Simshauser, junior, is a pitcher and outfielder. He has been playing for over ten years and appreciates the social aspect of the game.  “I love forming relationships with all these guys,”...

Blake Crawford

Blake Crawford

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor-in-Chief
April 6, 2023

Blake Crawford, junior, is an upcoming influence as a pitcher for the team. He has been playing for most of his life.  “I was young, like two years old,” Crawford said.  Crawford has continued...

To give a complete preview of the season, wlhsNOW staff hosted a softball media day, which included portraits in the studio and individual interviews with the players. Click below to see each player’s profile, which explains each player’s individual outlook for this season.

Getting to know the softball team

After falling out of the quarterfinal in last year’s playoffs as the No. 27 seed, the softball team looks to bounce back. Last year, the softball team had a 1—17 start. Midway through the season,...

Drew Ness

Drew Ness

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor-in-Chief
April 6, 2023

Drew Ness, senior, has been playing baseball for as long as he can remember. Now on the varsity stage, baseball is striving to get back to the state championship they won the previous year. Ness has a...

New listener

New listener

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor-in-Chief
March 3, 2023

Alternative rock band Paramore has been seen as an influence on the genre for the past two decades. This band has been together for twenty years, and their style has changed tremendously over time. As...

At the Toronto International Film Festival, the three leads, Styles, Dawson and Corrin were asked how they bonded to portray an authentic friendship.
“Early on, we promised each other we’d look after each other through the process,” Dawson said.

‘My Policeman’ a tragedy of love and cinema

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor-in-Chief
December 14, 2022

“My Policeman” is a beautiful mess. Its artistic and devastating but doesn’t reach its true potential. This film, directed by Micheal Grandage, follows three individuals throughout their lifetimes....

Grace Boyer (left), sophomore, and Brooke Thomsen (right), sophomore, take center stage with the rest of their dance team on September 8th’s football game.

The dance team prepares for the upcoming season

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor-in-Chief
October 6, 2022

As the dance team heads into the coming fall season, they have various goals to accomplish. The team wants to succeed with a majority of the team underclassmen, and new coaches, but they feel ready. Below...

Library staff adds an “Biography & Memoir” section to their featured shelves, adding books with interest relevant to high schoolers.

Library updates its book selection

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor-in-Chief
May 5, 2022

Within a high school English curriculum, the focus is primarily on older books that could be seen as “classics” or older texts about important topics.  While older publications might be seen as...

Sour album by Olivia Rodrigo

Sour – Olivia Rodrigo (Album of the Year)

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor-in-Chief
April 6, 2022

Olivia Rodrigo, a rising actor and singer, released her highly anticipated debut album, “Sour” in May of 2021. This album’s story is fascinating, as it gained popularity because it was successful...

Evermore album by Taylor Swift

Evermore – Taylor Swift (Album of the Year)

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor-in-Chief
April 6, 2022

Taylor Swift released “evermore” in December 2020, only six months after the release of its sister album “folklore”. Both of these albums share a nostalgia for a calmer existence, with mellow vocals...

AS mask mandate lifts, community members express their concerns.

Students and teachers express concerns as Ore. prepares to lift the mask mandate

Helena Erdahl, Co-Editor-in-Chief
March 2, 2022

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, masks have been a contentious issue. At the start of the pandemic, masks were in short supply and in high demand. Throughout the last two years, masks became...

NATO is a military alliance that started in 1949 created in order to protect these countries against the Soviet Union.

NATO: What is it and why does it matter?

Helena Erdahl, Co-Editor-in-Chief
February 28, 2022

Within the past months, tensions have escalated between Russia and Ukraine partially due to Ukraine's efforts to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and other issues among the countries....

Grover and Lin are analyzing their findings, zooming in on the diatoms related to the Willamette River algae blooms last year.

Discovering interests: ISEF project about the Willamette River

Helena Erdahl, Co-Editor-in-Chief
December 10, 2021

The International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is a way for students to discover new interests and a way to give curious people new opportunities and experiences. For some, ISEF is an inspiration...

After a year online, Trevor Menne is excited to make in-person connections with students and staff alike.

New year, new principal

Helena Erdahl, Co-Editor-in-Chief
September 20, 2021
“Just having the chance to lead it's really an honor,” -Trevor Menne
Tanner Springs Assisted Living makes changes to protect residents, through mask wearing and other precautions.

Working amidst a pandemic

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor
March 19, 2021

Recently, students have gotten the vaccine and for a variety of reasons. Some of these include health reasons, and, in some cases, being an essential worker. Lucy McCowen, senior, is an aide at Tanner...

"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"
 by Maya Angelou and "Stamped" by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds. Photo by Helena Erdahl

Seven must-reads this February to honor Black History Month

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor
February 26, 2021

During Black History Month, it is an especially important time to learn more about black history, stories, and accomplishments that are often overlooked. These books are great recommendations to learn...

Spooky book recommendations to get you into the Halloween spirit

Spooky book recommendations to get you into the Halloween spirit

Lillian Gottschling and Helena Erdahl
October 29, 2020

"Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley In a series of letters to his sister, Robert Walton, the captain of a ship going to the North Pole, he recounts his journey when traveling. He meets Victor Frankenstein,...

An average day of distant learning teaching from a primary school classroom.

How does distance learning look for younger students?

Helena Erdahl, Coverage Editor
September 26, 2020

In the age of online learning, there have been questions of whether or not the new system is a sufficient replacement for in-person school. While conversations typically center around high school or college...

Stacie Erdahl – Her experience with parenting

Helena Erdahl, Staff Reporter
December 19, 2019

Stacie Erdahl describes what it's like being a mom, and the childhood memories of her kids that come with it. StoryCorps is a non-profit challenging people to capture their families’ histories. If...

Climate activist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez protests during a march in New York City.

Unappreciated young climate activists

Helena Erdahl, Staff Reporter
December 18, 2019

Greta Thunberg has taken the national stage in the past few years, and was recently named the 2019 TIME Person of the Year. But there are numerous other young activists that are promoting the protection...

West Linn protesters gather while Nikki Rudnick, senior, talks about her fears on climate change.

Update on climate strike: How has it helped?

Helena Erdahl, Staff Reporter
December 13, 2019

 A protest on Sept. 20, 2019, was supposed to have a large impact, with thousands of protesters in Portland and millions around the world. So how has the climate strike helped? Globally, over 99 countries...

JSA club members debate about how much, if at all, the government should pay for citizens' medical bills.

JSA optimistic for new year

Helena Erdahl, Staff Reporter
September 26, 2019

For students interested in having a discussion about political aspects of the school, Junior State of America is an essential club to check out.  So far in the school year, JSA has 12 students...

Students lead the first United Club meeting of the school year on Sept. 18.

[Photo] By the students, for the students

Lillian Gottschling, Staff Reporter
September 27, 2019

Students lead the first United Club meeting of the school year on Sept. 18.

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Helena Erdahl