“The problem was with Westar,” Corey Schuetz, crewman for the Distribution Center said, “There was a opossum that got into a breaker and burnt it up.”

“The breaker at the power plant was burned up and kept kicking Westar off,” Schuetz said.

Power went off at about 5:40 AM, and it took about an hour for most of the city to regain power.

“The one bad circuit had to be bypassed and power was restored to the rest of the city around 7:00 AM,” Schuetz said.

Some students woke up,  found out that there was no power, and went back to bed. Others may just not have gotten up, simply because their alarm clock didn’t go off. Everyone else got ready in the dark.

“I had to get ready by candle light,” said Nicole Darveaux, 10, “It was hard but I managed.”

For many, power was needed to make breakfast but they found other things to eat. Others just simply went without. Even without power, community members got ready for work and school, just in the dark.

According to FFA Advisor Jason Larison, “ They all did an amazing job.”

Holton swept the top 9 gold medals in the information test and had another student tie for the tenth-place medal, out of 350 students tested.

The following competed and medaled in the event:  First – Derek Haverkamp 50 (PERFECT SCORE); second-place tie Dean Klahr and Emaleigh Clark 49 (even on tie breakers); fourth place Karl Wilhelm 49;  fifth place Braden Sides 49; sixth place Nicole Kathrens; seventh place Tori Bontrager 48; eighth place Nathan Shields 48; ninth place Taryn Weilert 48; tenth place tie Shannon Sides 47.

Holton had six or seven more students in the 40′s.  Last year the top score at district was a 46.

“This is the best we have EVER had a group of freshmen do at Greenhand Conference,” Larison said.  “I challenged them in class that they have the brain power and ability to sweep the top 10!  They rose to the challenge. I am not sure if this has ever been done before. I am very proud of these kids!”