The Mulch Pile Mystery

Is Drake in the Mulch Pile in front of Heritage? Was the Mulch Pile built by aliens? Nobody knows, but we decided to investigate and find out.

Natalyn McCormack, Staff Writer • May 17, 2024

Natalyn McCormack

The infamous Mulch Pile in the parking lot has been a school-wide conspiracy ever since it showed up in April. Since then, pinwheels and trucks have been appearing in the pile with no explanation. No one knows how that giant mulch pile showed up or why it’s there. There have been some theories as to why it suddenly appeared. Some think that controversial rapper, Drake, is buried under the mulch, while others believe it’s an alien offering to establish peace with Journalism teacher, Mr. Peace. However, the most outlandish theory I’ve heard (some would even call it plain prosperous) is that the pile is just to mulch the bushes. To figure out this mystery, we went directly to Heritage’s principal.

“It’s an enigma. It keeps growing and we can’t seem to get to the bottom of it,” Mr. Bradford explained. “First it was the pinwheels and the trucks, but I don’t know what could happen next. I would like to dispel the rumors that someone is buried in the Mulch Pile, but we can’t disprove anything yet.”

Since Bradford was obviously no help to our investigation, we went to conspiracy theorist and Journalism student Spencer Cordle.

“It’s obvious [that] Drake is in there. Do you really think it’s a coincidence that the Mulch Pile appears right before Kendrick Lamar’s diss to Drake, and VERY LARGE one at that? I’m not buying that. It’s very obvious to anyone with a brain that Aubrey Drake Graham is hiding and cowering in the shadows from Mr. Lamar and that this hideout has been placed on a high school campus to discreetly escape the allegations against him.”

Many questions still remain; why is the Mulch Pile there? Why does it keep growing? How will we ever get to the bottom of this enormous mound of mulch? We may never know for sure, but something strange is definitely going on. Pinwheels and trucks continue to appear and there isn’t an end to this preposterous pile in sight.

(Editor’s Note: No modifications were done to any of the interviews used. Sadly, the Mulch Pile was removed on May 16th, 2024, due to alleged landscaping purposes by the Agricultural students. Still, some of the trucks and pinwheels still remain scattered on campus for unknown purposes.)

About the Contributors

Natalyn McCormack, Staff Writer

Natalyn McCormack is a 10th grade student at HHS. This is her second semester in Journalism, and she is very eager to be a part of the staff. In her free time, Natalyn loves to listen to music, spend time with her best friends, and make crafts out of random stuff around her home. She has one older brother, two dogs, and one cat. Her phone is full of pictures and videos of her favorite dog, Jet. Natalyn has many interests and hobbies including drawing, growing plants, and decorating cakes. When she isn’t doing one of those things, she’s most likely on the phone with her friends. Natalyn is interested in having a job related to plants when she grows up, preferably gardening. So, she is taking an agriculture class this semester and plans to continue taking classes on that pathway. After high school, she plans to attend UTC. Right now, her grades are her top priority, and she always tries to put her best effort into all of her classes.

Natalie Ferry, Editor-in-Chief

Natalie Ferry is the Editor-in-Chief of The General Journal and a senior at Heritage High School. She is extremely grateful to be working on "The Legacy" and the General Journal website during her final year of high school. Natalie attends Dalton State College for the majority of the day but stops by Heritage in the morning to hang out with her favorite people: the Journalism Class. Other than Journalism, she enjoys being a member of the Tea Club, National English Honor Society, Beta Club, and National Honor Society. Outside of school, she enjoys browsing around her local comic book store, trying out new restaurants, and going to the occasional yoga class. This past summer she was able to attend the Georgia Governor's Honor Program as a major in Communicative Arts, and she is so thankful for all the opportunities and people she was able to meet at Georgia Southern. This experience has pushed her to new limits, and firmly cemented that she wants to continue working in publishing and media once she enters the workforce. Natalie hopes to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology for a degree in Literature, Media, and Communications.

Benae Pederson, Staff Writer

Benae Pederson is a 17-year-old junior at Heritage High School. This is Benae’s first time in Journalism, and she is excited about the rest of the year. Her favorite things include working out, drawing, singing, cheer, and hanging out with friends. Benae moved here from Ringgold this year, and before that she was from Nebraska. She would be on the cheer team if it was permitted after transferring, but she is looking forward to next year. Her goal for junior year is to focus on her grades, family, and friends. Benae is the youngest of five kids and the only one left at home. When Benae leaves home and goes to college, she plans on majoring in business. She has no preference on which college but wants it to be a big university. No matter what is to come in her future, Benae is excited for this upcoming year of carrying on "The Legacy."