TIGER
Prom recap
Inside Dodgeball
the blue valley high
P R I N T
Issue 8 Vol. 34 April 15, 2005
6001 W. 159th Stilwell, Kan. 66085 (913) 239-4946
Gas prices soar locally, nationally Andrew Robinson In-Depth Editor
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s the time of year when senioritis sets in and the sun sets later in the day begins, drivers are finding gas prices sitting high. With most prices soaring well over $2, students and teachers alike are finding themselves frustrated with the highdollar oil. The cause of this inflation can be blamed on the world’s oil producers, where during t h e spring they often do maintenance on machinery and refineries. The maintenance in turn limits the companies on the number of refineries that can operate, which then leads to high gas prices. According to MSNBC, barrel prices were at $56.90 on April 5. The United States has also been in competition with China as China has begun to rival the U.S. as the leading crude oil consumer in the world. The U.S. Department of Energy thought at one point that China’s demand would drop, but that hasn’t materialized which means gas prices will probably only go up. Both students and teachers are feeling the pinch on their wallets as some have hefty receipts put in front of them following a fill-up. Photography
teacher Michael Johnston makes the trek from Baldwin everyday. Johnston has two cars that average about sixteen miles to the gallon. Johnston has definitely felt the increase though. “It’s frustrating because it cost me $64 to fill my truck up last week,” Johnston said. On average Johnston spends $50 a week on gas. Blue Valley High School also has run into possible speed-bumps with gas prices. The school’s four vans are used for transportation, and while assistant principal Mark Dalton says that the administration may not have budgeted as much for gas at the beginning of the year as they may have needed to, the vans and buses have to be used. Junior Andrew Iliff has found the gas prices to be an obstacle when he drives his 1999 Dodge Ram that averages about 13 miles per gallon. “I think it’s ridiculous, my whole paycheck goes to it,” Iliff said. Iliff avoids driving the truck when he can. “I drive my mo-ped whenever I junior can,” Iliff added. Andrew Overall the rise has been felt across the board, and with summer right around the corner, all evidence points that there is no sign of a decrease as the seasons change.
“I think it’s ridiculous; my whole paycheck goes to [gas]” Illiff
Juniors, seniors leave BV behind today while serving community School left half empty while upperclassmen travel throughout metro Adil Shabbir Asst. Sports Editor
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lue Valley High School is once again participating in its annual “Community Service Day.” Students, as well as faculty, are dedicating themselves to their community. Today, both juniors and
seniors were excused from class to go out to various places throughout Kansas City to give something back. Volunteer opportunities range from the Olathe Police Department to the Kansas City Zoo. Nonetheless, the students are all excited to help. “Community Service Day is fun because you get to leave school and help out in the community,” senior Austen Lucansky said. Students will build a house with Habitat for Humanity, clean up some of the local highways and paint and
stain benches at Antioch Park. “My friends and I are all going to Antioch Park,” senior Connor Humphrey said. “Spending the day outside is always a plus.” Out and about with the students were some of BV’s teachers. “Community Service Day gives teachers the opportunity to see their students in a different environment than the classroom,” social studies teacher Diane O’Bryan said.” The day will end with a short assembly with a few prizes, some fro-
Chess club checks competition Chess players Austin Proll, Dereck Huston, Steven Wallace and CAm McCallie won 23rd place out of 65 teams in the under1200 division and the team of under-1500 players placed 33rd out of 67 teams at Supernationals which ended Monday. Nine BV players spent four days in Nashville competing against 1700 players
and over 60 other schools including Rockhurst High and St. Thomas Aquinas. The tournament included categories for players with different United States Chess Federation rankings. USCF sponsors national events each year in elementary, middle and high school categories, but this year’s event included teams from all age divisions.
Congratulations to junior Andrew Illiff For winning a $15,000 scholarship for a report on performance enhancing drugs
zen treats and a short Tiger TV movie of the day’s events. Although today is about dedication and contribution some seniors see it as the beginning of the end. “Community Service Day is pretty much the last thing we do as a class,” senior Cecily Miller said. “It’s pretty exciting that we’re almost done, but at the same time, you can’t help feeling sad knowing your time at Blue Valley High School is coming to an end.” Chess club members including: First Row-junior Steven Wallace, sophomore Mike Liu, sophomore Brandon Mikel, eighth grader Scott Tan; Back Row- junior Kyong Kim, junior TJ Nigus, senior Austin Proll, senior Derek Huston, freshman Cam McCallie and sponsor Richard Gill. They pose with their trophy outside the van after returning from Nashville, Tenn. Monday. Photo by Kyle Rogers.
Front page edited by Kyle Rogers
Senior countdown: days