Time Capsule: From the archives of local weeklies

Lake County Leader, May 17, 2001

Catapult flings students into Middle Ages

POLSON - Fourth grade students at Linderman School gained some first-hand knowledge in history several weeks ago from Rob Kohler as he demonstrated the lost art (and science) of heaving objects through the air.

Kohler's hobby is messing around with trevuchets, a form of catapult that was popular during the Middle Ages for attacking castles.

So, when his daughter told him that her class was studying medieval history, he volunteered to bring in his 12-foot catapult and provide a demonstration.

"Sieges on castles would go on for months and the attacking forces would set up trevuchets all around the castle and throw big stones, day and night," Kohler explained. "This one is just a baby catapult. The ones used to attack castles were up to 60 feet long."

Kohler launched jugs of water 50 yards down the football field with his 12-foot model, much to the enjoyment of the fourth-graders. His 12-foot model will launch eight to 10 pounds of a load in the sling, but larger models fling all sorts of objects. He noted a man in Germany launches burning Volkswagens in his huge catapult.

"They didn't just throw stones, either. They used to throw dead cows and horses in an attempt to spread disease," Kohler noted. Kohler also explained the physics involved with calculating the release of the object from the sling and how that effected trajectory and distance. He noted that the milk container was traveling about 70 miles per hour when it leaves the sling.

Kohler said he built the catapult to enter last year's "Punkin Chuckin" contest in Missoula.

When asked by a student in Mr. Kelley's fourth grade class what he did with the catapult when he wasn't giving demonstrations, Kohler replied "We play with it. It's fun."

"Hey, grown-ups have to play, too," Kelley added.

Polson finishes 1-2 at own ABC

POLSON - The Polson boys won their own invitational track meet Saturday with 105 points, 11 more than runner-up Whitefish with 94. The Polson girls finished second with 83 points, far behind Bigfork, which amassed 128 points for the title.

Brook Gunlock captured two titles in the high jump (6-2) and long jump (20-5), while Rodney DePoe took first in the triple jump (42-9) and Kevin O'Brien won the 800 (2:01.9).

The Polson girls team was led by Kasey Harwood who won both the 400 (59.1) and 100 hurdles (15.75).

Ronan's teams finished seventh in both boys and girls, but Meagan Bennett continued to dominate the sprints. The junior's victories in the 100(12.5) and 200 (25.4) are the second-fastest times in the state so far this year.

Also winning for Ronan was Zachary Pitts in the javelin with a throw of 186-0. The junior also finished sixth in the 300 hurdles at 46.68.

Both Polson and Ronan head to Kalispell on Saturday for the Western A divisional meet.

MISSOULA - University of Montana seniors

Kristin Rohfleisch of St. Ignatius, Jesse Yarbrough and John Fayle of Polson are putting academics to work in a spring semester internship offered through UM's Center of Work-Based Learning.

Rohfleisch, a communication studies major, helps coordinate classes at Families First, a nonprofit organization in Missoula that provides parenting education. She also has been working to bring the education of Families First to locations statewide.

She graduated from Mission High School in 1996. Her parents are Peter and Rosalyn Rohfleisch.

Yarbrough, whose major is organizational communications, is working with the UM's Center for Continuing Education to build an integrated marketing plan. He graduated from Polson High School in 1996. His parents are Bob and Arleen Long 

Fayle is a business finance major and is working with Montana Business Capital Corp., where he specializes in government enhanced lending.

He is a 2000 PHS graduate and is the son of Bill and Liz Stevens.

UM's Center for Work Based Learning internship program provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to integrate academic theories and principles with practical job experience related to their chosen fields. The program serves about 1,800 students a year, placing 400-500 of them as interns throughout Montana, the United States and overseas in more than 35 fields of employment.