Issue 3

Clarion The

InsideNow

“A Clear Call Summons All”

Online

November 26, 2013

Opinion

Feature

Sports

- p4 Garet Bailey profile

- p2 Hunting pro/con - p6 Marathon men

- p5 Hunting season - p4 No-Shave November

Connersville High School • 1100 Spartan Drive • Connersville, IN 47331 • www.chsclarion.com • Volume 100 • Issue 3

National parades feature Spartanettes Dancers to perform in both Macy’s, Disney holiday parades Seth Winstead

F

Managing Editor

or most people, the holidays are a time spent with family, eating, watching ball games and conversing, but 12 Spartanettes will spend their upcoming holidays either in New York or Florida.

Seven dancers will travel to New York for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and five will go to Florida in December for the Disney Christmas Parade.

This is the first year Spartanettes have been in the Macy’s parade. “For any of the seniors, [they gain] leadership. [The trip] is available for all my seniors for their leadership,” Spartanettes coach Sandee Toschlog said.

While the dancers didn’t have to apply to go, they did have to audition, and the process was selective. “To be chosen, you had to be an All-American, All-American Nominee or a senior,” senior Bri Harvey said.

“You earn the All-American awards at our NDA (National Dance Alliance) camp, which the whole team attends in the summer at Ball State,” Harvey said.

While the participants have been accepted to go, the trips weren’t free.

The approximate cost for each trip was $1,600 to $1,800 per person.

“For the trip, we have had donations made, held a boot-drive, had a carwash, a kickball tournament [and] a day for little kids to dress up as a ‘Princess-for-a-Day,’” Harvey said.

During the trips, the dancers’ agen-

“

I want to enjoy the warm weather, see Mickey and Minnie and spend quality time with my teammates and my cousin. Haleigh Poe, junior

”

das are pretty full. “At the Macy’s parade we will be dancing, and there are a lot of activities planned for us through the week,” senior Kayla McKinney said. When they’re not dancing, the Spartanettes shop, see a Broadway show and visit the Statue of Liberty.

The Macy’s dancers will leave for New York, Friday, Nov. 22 and return Friday, Nov. 29. The parade will be broadcast on Thanksgiving on CBS from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

At Disney, their week is busy, as well. “On Thursday we rehearse the dance,” sophomore Brittany Novack said. “Friday will be the first taping of the dance routine, and Saturday will be the second taping of the routine.”

The Disney dancers will leave Dec. 4 and return Dec. 8. The parade will be shown on ABC on Christmas morning.

Dancers from each trip have plans for their free time. “While in New York, I want to go shopping, sight-seeing and have fun with all the seniors going,” Harvey said. In Florida, they plan to explore Disney World.

Spartanettes going on the Macy’s trip are Harvey, McKinney, Erica Taylor, Michaela O’Brien, Katlyn Bottomley, Samantha Girot and Kaelynn Langen. Spartenettes going on the Disney trip are Poe, Novack, Angelee Rude, Miranda Levi and Brianna Gabriel.

Senior Spartanettes Kayla McKinney, Samantha Girot, Kaelynn Langen, Erica Taylor, Michaela O’Brien, Katlyn Bottomley and Bri Harvey will perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Becky Myers Photography

Taylor marches at Macy’s Seth Winstead

Managing Editor

Not only are the Spartanettes heading to New York, band drum major and senior Brayton Taylor will be marching in the Macy’s parade, as well. Taylor will be the only CHS band member attending.

To be able to go, Taylor had to attend a camp over summer and submit an application he received while there.

In New York, Taylor will march and play saxophone in the Macy’s Great American Marching Band, made up of high school musicians from all 50 states.

Like the Spartanettes, he had to be able to raise funds for his trip. The approximate cost for the trip was $2,000. Taylor raised almost 50% of it himself. The rest came from family, friends and businesses.

Although Taylor has practiced and has the funds to attend, he is nervous about going on the trip. “I’ve never been on a plane before, and I get to hang out with people I don’t know for a week,” he said.

The week will be busy. “We’re going to have practices throughout the week, but we get to see Matilda on Broadway, visit Ground Zero, and we get free time in Times Square,” he said.

Brayton Taylor, 12

Choir members perform Madrigal Dinner Tickets on sale now at bookstore

Sierra Briner

Staff Writer

Dragons will be slain, dinner will be devoured and a jester will be crack-

ing out the jokes Dec. 6 and 7 at 6:30 p.m at the choir’s tenth annual Madrigal Dinner held at the Expo Hall.

The Madrigal Dinner is a choir performance that has

Participating in last year’s Madrigal dinner, royal court King Eli Atkinson and Queen Destiny Russell watch the performance. The evening is set up as a medieval feast to entertain the royalty. Destiny Tevis photo

a medieval theme. Approximately 100 advanced choir students will serve the audience dinner and will perform musical selections, as well as a play.

Students and adults can buy their tickets for $15 at the bookstore or at Reidman Motors. Only 300 tickets are sold per night and both shows sell out.

The jester will welcome the crowd and then singers begin the night with five a capella songs.

The whole evening is set up to entertain the king and queen and their table of royalty at the front of the hall. Events lead up to the traditional wassail toast. As the boar’s head is brought out, dinner begins.

Attendees will be served chicken, green beans, scalloped potatoes, corn and

dessert. The dessert course begins as the cast brings in the traditional English flaming pudding. Dinner is followed by a play and a concert.

The profits for the dinner go to next year’s Madrigal Dinner sets and costumes.

“It’s not really a fundraiser, as such, because it’s more of a cultural event for the community,” music director Roger Tyler said.

Most of the musical selections for Madrigal Dinner are a capella, which means they are vocal with no accompanying music.

The choir tries to mix up the dinner in a different way every year. “There is different music for the concert part and there is always a different play,” Tyler said. The seniors have the opportunity to pick out

what the play is about.

The play is called Fools Fall in Love. It’s about a jester who falls in love with a girl who dresses up like a jester. “Then there’s this whole mismatched love circle and triangle thing going on,” senior Micheal Klein said.

The important parts are the Jester, Robin, Decradle, Discordio, Harmonia and Ovtula. “I chose the people with the most energy and the ones that fit the parts the best way,” Director Suzi Brown said.

Tyler and the seniors began planning for this dinner in January. Student auditions were in September, and the cast was announced Oct. 7.

Madrigal continued on page 3

page 2 ‹ Clarion

Hunting:

Opinion

helpful or hurtful?

Hunting benefits people, environment Keely Gill

D

November 26, 2013

Hunting harms animals, creates potential for violence Sierra Briner

H

Staff Writer

espite what some may think, hunting is beneficial for the hunters, their families and the environment.

Hunting has been a natural way to get food for the human race for centuries. People didn’t have Kroger, Walmart or Mainstreet Market back in the 1800s, so people had to get food on their own. That’s when the man of the family went out into the natural world with a weapon and brought down a wild game animal for his family’s dinner.

Hunting is a hobby that hunters may depend on to help keep peace in their lives and as an escape from everyday stress. In the woods, there is no rush, no schedule and no deadlines; nature moves at its own pace. Hunting also offers a unique opportunity to interact with the natural world that is not possible through any other means.

When hunters bring an animal down, their families use the meat if their own family doesn’t use it, they can donate it to help feed the hungry. Some would be surprised at how many families survive because of generous hunters making donations.

Hunting also helps balance the wild game populations and increases the ecological balance in wooded areas.

Hunting is great for all these reasons, and it isn’t wrong to shoot an animal, as long as it is done legally.

The estimated 28.1 million people who have hunted and been successful in the past five years in the U.S. also think that hunting is a benefit to people, the deer population and the wilderness.

Pro

Staff Writer

unting can be a good way of controlling the populations, but it does have its drawbacks. The drawbacks include hunting accidents, accuracy issues, our future generation’s principles and causing dangerous animals to come out of hiding.

The idea of hunting is a tragic way of existence. There are 1,000 hunting accidents every hunting season. To do that much damage to the human race just to lower the population of deer seems to be as idiotic as shooting your own foot.

Not everyone has 100% accuracy, so sometimes you wound the deer instead. The deer then runs off and dies; then we just have a dead deer stinking up the entire forest.

It’s cruel and wrong to kill for fun. The real problem isn’t that we are murdering animals, it’s that we’re raising children to murder animals. When you raise a child to murder animals, they may think it’s okay to murder innocent things, such as other children, house pets or even people.

People probably don’t use every part of the deer. So after the hunters have skinned and taken the meat off the deer, what do they do with the bones and extra skin?

Some people may be responsible enough to properly dispose of the leftovers, but some would prefer just dumping them somewhere. Then we have the issue of dead animal carcasses laying around, causing the coyotes to come out.

Whether you hunt daily or not, these facts will make you think twice before you pull that trigger.

Con

Black Friday brings out worst This holiday, shoppers should promote giving instead of greed

T

Katie Bailey

Online Editor

hanksgiving is a time of year where the American people celebrate all that they have and are thankful for. Yet a holiday that is typically known for people being grateful is followed by a “holiday” made for the greedy: Black Friday.

It is called Black Friday because it is supposed to put retailers “in the black” with sales high enough to make up for any losses earlier in the year.

So the day after people are grateful for what they have, retailers encourage people to go out and buy a bunch of things that they do not need.

According to statisticbrain.com, in 2011 consumers spent around $52.4 billion on Black Friday weekend. The site also noted around 40% of people who buy gifts for others on

Clarion The

Connersville High School 1100 Spartan Drive Connersville, IN 47331 www.chsclarion.com

Black Friday end up buying something for themselves, as well.

Businesses set out a competition of sorts for their customers by only offering a small number of really desirable items, making it a first-come, firstserve process. This tactic is called a bait-and-switch, because when stores run out of these cheap items, retailers steer customers to more expensive items.

Although this may be good for business, it tends to create a cutthroat environment for shoppers.

Every year there are thousands of people who fight over items. On the news one even sees cases where people are trampled just getting into the store.

Thanksgiving is the beginning of the holiday season, a time when people should be selfless. Yet the shopping season opens with what is the most selfish event, one where peo-

ple fight, push and bite their way into getting the best deals.

It would be a radical idea to just completely stop shopping on this day. This movement is called Buy Nothing Day, and it is celebrated in over 40 countries. Here in America it is celebrated on Black Friday.

According to theguardian. com, Kalle Lasn founded Buy Nothing Day in 1993.

Not buying anything might not be practical, and it might hurt businesses, yet there is something that students can do to help deter Black Friday violence.

Just be patient and kind to each other: this would help lessen the amount of potential violence.

So remember this Black Friday, the deals will be there tomorrow. There’s no need to sink to a low level just to buy material things.

There’s no need to fight or attack over an item that can always be bought tomorrow.

“A Clear Call Summons All” The Clarion is a student publication serving as open forum for student expression at Connersville High School, where it is distributed to all students, faculty and staff. While the staff aims to provide a balanced account of news, opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of faculty, staff, administration or school board. The editor is solely responsible for the content.

Editor in Chief

Becca Seeley Managing Editor

Seth Winstead

Online Editor

Katie Bailey

Design Editor

Riley Masters

Josey Allen illustration

Staff

Sierra Briner Keely Gill Jordan Harris Ali Hostetler Stephanie Lane Megan McNally Emmett Sandoval

Copy Editors

John Isaacs Nikk Lainhart

Principal

Randal Judd

Adviser

Lisa Morris

News

November 26, 2013

Clarion › page 3

Hamm visits Nashville, works on guitar skills Nikk Lainhart & Katie Bailey

G

Copy Editor & Online Editor

uitar Club gained a new addition, when guidance department chairperson Jaime Hamm stepped in as the new sponsor.

Jumping into a new position can give anyone a scare; however, Hamm feels right at home in the Guitar Club.

“Sharing a love of music has helped me the most in Guitar Club. It is a really great feeling to be around students who love music just as much as I do,” Hamm said.

In preparation to take on the club, Hamm received a Lilly grant and traveled to

Nashville, TN. “I applied for the grant last November and was notified that I was one of the recipients on Feb. 20,” Hamm said. “The application process consisted of writing a proposal and timeline of what I intended to do, making a budget and gathering letters of recommendation.”

This summer, Hamm visited the music capital of the world to learn a thing or two about the guitar.

“During my time in Nashville I learned to play guitar and a little bit of banjo. I was also able to explore the musical history in Tennessee,” Hamm said.

“I went to shows at the ‘mother church of country music,’ the Ryman Auditorium. I saw Alison Krauss at the Grand Ole Opry and went backstage before the

show. I visited Graceland, saw Loretta Lynn perform at her own home and explored Dollywood and Pigeon Forge.”

Hamm holds high hopes for the future of the club.

“The Guitar Club is relatively new to me, but I hope to bring together different guitar players and maybe even form a student-led band in the future,” Hamm said. “I enjoy interacting with the students, talking about songs and learning from each other, as we all have different skill levels.”

A group jam session may be in the works. “Once we start bringing in our instruments, we will probably go over any group songs we may be learning together and just jam,” Hamm said.

As of now, only 11 students have attended the SRT meetings. Hamm encour-

ages more people to join.

“My goal for the meetings is to foster a sense of community among the students while they learn from each other about different guitar styles, techniques, maintenance, rhythm, song structure, band structure and playing with different

musicians,” Hamm said.

“For our meetings, students are encouraged to bring in any sheet music, tabs or magazines to trade, lend, borrow or jam on in the club,” Hamm said.

The club’s next meeting is Dec. 12 in the Lecture Hall during SRT.



Grant inspires Guitar Club leader

On stage at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, Jaime Hamm, Kathy Caldwell Megan Chandler and Christina McDonald enjoy a tour of the building. Later they attended Bluegrass Night. photo courtesy of Jaime Hamm

Winter band concert approaches Becca Seeley Editor in Chief

At the Sept. 17 pep rally, sophomore Tanner Dalrymple, freshman Donovan Parker, sophomore Noah Bevington, sophomore Taylor Fudge and freshman Jessica Arthur perform with the pep band. Morgan Koons photo

excited about with the upcoming concert. “I am looking forward to showing off not only my talents, but the whole band’s talents,” junior Advanced Band member Justin Newhall said. “We have an excellent group, and I think we will perform very well. I am also looking forward to the audience’s reaction to our performance.”

Some students are happy to help others with the concert. “I am looking forward to hopefully making everyone’s Christmas season a little brighter,” junior Ashley Rader said.

Choral concert Dec. 15

Madrigal

Continued from page 1

“The singing and the acting were completely separate, so [in auditions] we just focused on the reading of the scripts,” Brown said.

The choir classes as well as the cast are working to memorize songs for the Madrigal.

“We use some of the music for a lot of different things. Some of the music we will also use in the Christmas concert,” Tyler said. “Some of the music we even use for contest.”

With the Brass Fanfare, a community band, playing with the choir and with the majority of the crowd being community members, this dinner is a community event.

“A lot of people come to the Madrigal that don’t even have a connection to the school,” Tyler said.

Band will host its annual winter concert Dec. 2, in the Robert E. Wise Center at 7 p.m.

This concert will feature 256 band members in grades 6-12.

“I think that since we are including all of the other bands it will be a memorable performance for the younger kids because they will get to see how the older kids perform and it will give them something to aspire to,” band director Stephen McKean said.

Each band will perform three selections.

Advanced Band is performing “Sleigh Ride,” “Hallelujah Chorus” and “Christmas Auld Lang Syne.” Concert Band selections include “Scenes from The Nutcracker” and “Jubilant Christmas.”

The band prepares for the concert by doing a lot of run-throughs of the songs. McKean began handing out music to band members in September. “We practice a lot in class,” McKean said. “We rehearse quite a bit.”

There are some things that band members are

CHS and St. Gabriel’s students join, perform with chamber orchestra

Becca Seeley

T

Practicing for the upcoming holiday concert, sophomores Taylor

Fudge and Ash Ripberger sing the soprano part of “Masters in this Hall.” Katie Bailey photo

Editor in Chief

he annual winter choral concert Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. in the Wise Center. Four choirs, seven soloists and three barbershop quartets will perform 20 selections.

All the choir students, about 140 of them, will combine for the last four numbers. Tickets will be $4 at the door.

The choir works daily to ensure a successful performance. They begin learning the pieces in mid-October.

“Lots of practicing helps us prepare for our concerts,” choir director Roger Tyler said. “They begin with the less seasonal pieces because no one wants to sing ‘Jingle Bells’ in October. But

“

My confidence has changed. So many people are more willing to sing on solo days. Lexi Isaacs, junior

”

November goes by quickly, so we have to start early to avoid stress,” he added.

A full orchestra, the East Central Chamber Orchestra, will play on the four final choir pieces, which are two selections from Handel’s Messiah and two medleys of holiday music.

St. Gabriel’s choir will join in on “Let There Be Joy.” “It is a pretty involved piece,” Tyler said. “It will

involve all choir members, St. Gabriel’s choir members, two soloists and the full orchestra.”

Choir students have high hopes for the concert.

“For the upcoming Christmas concert, I am looking forward to more singing and less dancing,” junior Lexi Isaacs said. “I’m also looking forward to our mass choir singing with the orchestra.”

Choir has been modified over the years. “A lot has changed from the beginning of my choir career,” Isaacs said. “My confidence has changed. So many people are more willing to sing on solo days.”

“Encouragement has improved,” Isaacs added.

“More people have more positive things to say.”

page 4 ‹ Clarion

Feature

November 26, 2013

Garet Bailey : taking it step by step “ ” After surgery, student continues on path of progress

S

Stephanie Lane

Staff Writer

Kara Dye photo illustration

ome students may find it difficult to run in gym, but they don’t realize how hard it is for some people to even walk. For a student at this school, just getting ready in the morning is a more challenging task than it is for the vast majority.

However, freshman Garet Bailey, who had his lower leg amputated in March, doesn’t let this get him down. He is always looking at his situation in positive light.

In 2006, at the age of seven, Bailey was diagnosed with recurrent tumors in his leg.

He never lived with the same tumors for long. “It started off as just one tumor that when found was the size of an ostrich egg, and then when removed was the size of a small loaf of bread,” Bailey said.

From then on, Bailey grew more and more tumors. “The tumors didn’t really present any problems, but I had them removed before they could become a problem,” Bailey said.

Although the tumors hadn’t yet posed a problem, there was the possibility of them wrapping around a

nerve or a bone which could cause a lot of damage.

“We tried several treatments to try to fix it, but it was decided it would be best to amputate to give me a better quality of life,” Bailey said.

Most people might find it hard to come to terms with this, but the decision to amputate was Bailey’s call. “I decided to go with [the amputation] because I was never going to be able to be able to live happily if I kept the leg,” he said.

Bailey had a lot of support from friends and family. “All of my family celebrates when something goes right, and my friends are all happy for me if something goes my way,” he said.

Not only has Bailey received support from loved ones, he has also received it from students.

“A lot of students have been positive and supportive about the whole thing; most of them will ask me questions. No one is negative towards me,” he said.

Seven months after the amputation, Bailey received his prosthetic leg.

“I’m really strengthening the muscles I never really got to use, and I’m getting the chance to actually walk correctly,” Bailey said. With the prosthetic, Bailey is able to walk normally, without crutches.

While he initially used a cane for balance, once he is used to the pros-

I want people to know that if you have something going wrong in your life, just be thankful that it isn’t worse, because everything can be worse. Garet Bailey, freshman

thetic, he says he will be able to walk and eventually run.

While he has stayed positive, he did note some negatives. “The hardest part of the process is just getting used to never really being able to do all that other stuff everybody else can do because either you’re in a wheelchair, on crutches or recovering from an amputation,” Bailey said.

Bailey is inspired by his doctor, Mo Kenney, because he, like Bailey, is a lower leg amputee. Kenney owns Kenney Orthopedics, which is where Bailey got his prosthetic.

“He inspires me because he shows [that] an amputee can go on to do great things, such as starting your own business,” Bailey said.

As a final thought, Bailey said, “Stuff happens, and you just have to get over any obstacles that life throws at you. I want people to know that if you have something going wrong in your life, just be thankful that it isn’t worse, because everything can be worse.”

In November, say goodbye to razors No-shave challenge gains followers Sierra Briner Staff Writer

It’s that time of year where people say hello to to the snow and goodbye to their razors. That’s right: it’s No-Shave November, a whole month when people don’t shave.

There are many reasons why people participate in No-Shave November. Some do it to show school pride or spirit. “I do it for football Sectionals,” junior Mitchell Jordan said.

Some participate in NoShave November simply

because they can. “I found out last year that I can grow a beard, so this year I decided to do it,” junior Brayton Johns said.

Some people are more competitive. “I grow my beard to beat Gabe Nobbe,” social studies teacher Shawn Curtis said.

Agriculture teacher Gabe Nobbe doubted Curtis could beat him. “Curtis has no hair compared to me. I’m a hairy woolly mammoth compared to him,” Nobbe said.

The No-Shave November event started as a fundraiser for cancer awareness.

“The goal of No-Shave November is to grow

Question&Answer “We stuff our faces at my grandma’s then watch football and nap.“ Kelsey Colter, freshman

awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free,” according to the American Cancer Society’s www.noshavenovember.com website.

Ag teacher Gabe Nobbe has his own take on the month. He says the month is really “No-Shave Nobbevember” and it happens because November is his birth month.

He feels that everyone should celebrate his birthday by not shaving.

Still others take part by not taking part. “I’m not participating; I’m just not shaving,” joked English teacher Aaron Chester.

Question&Answer Why you participating in No-Shave November?

“Since November is the month of my birthday, I don’t do anything this month, and that includes shaving.“ Stephan Mills, senior

“Everyone, including my sister Rustina Raines, wanted to know what I would look like with a beard, so I decided to try.”

Darren Pass, senior

“Paul Bunyan is my idol, so I wanted to try to look like a lumberjack.”

John Thomas, senior

“It was a challenge between my friends and me to see who could grow the thickest beard.“ Andrew Murray, junior

What are your Thanksgiving traditions?

“I go to both my grandmas’ houses and eat a big dinner with my mom and dad’s sides of the family.“ Alden Griffin, sophomore

“I usually go to New Jersey to visit family, and we go to our annual football game.“ Scott Brunell, junior

“We usually go to my Grandma Jennings’ house, and she makes all the food.

Then we tell stories about the family and watch TV.“ Jessica Jennings, senior

Feature

November 26, 2013

Clarion › page 5

Pantry provides food, clothes Food pantry helps local families in time for the holidays

Katie Bailey & John Isaacs Online Editor & Copy Editor

W

hen most think about Thanksgiving, they think of spending time with family and enjoying a holiday meal. The holiday meal for some is made a little better thanks to the work of the CHS Food Pantry.

The Food Pantry, located in Jennings 111, helps about 70 families each month. This year the food pantry is open on the second Thursday of each month from 4-6 p.m.

Having a food pantry inside a high school is unusual. Pantry Coordinator Holly Dunn thinks Gleaners food bank only operates three high school-based food pantries in the state.

The pantry wouldn’t be here without its parent company Gleaners. Founded in 1980, Gleaners helps people across Indiana.

Gleaners also provides food for homeless shelters, nursing homes and soup kitchens.

Last year the Food Pantry served almost 10% of the student population.

“On average, each food

Volunteer jobs abound at Pantry & in community At the Food Pantry student volunteers help unload food, stock shelves, fold clothing and distribute both food and clothing to local families.

Some students volunteer once or twice, but many return month after month. Junior Kat Gillis has been volunteering since January. She finds working at the food pantry rewarding, but it has had an added, unexpected benefit.

“For Speech Team I’m doing an original oratory, which is basically a persuasive essay. My experiences with the Food Pantry will be a part of that,” Gillis said.

pantry day has [around] 100 people,” Dunn said.

Receiving Food Pantry supplies is simple. There is no waiver or permission slip needed. All students need to do is to arrive on the distribution day, sign a sheet with the number of family members at home and Dunn will help them with the rest of the process.

The amount of food families can receive is based on the number of people in the household. With one to two people, a family can get 15 items. If a household has three to five people, they can get 20 items, and families of six or more receive up to 25 items.

“Additionally we let families choose four nonfood items like shampoo, toiletries, and diapers for babies,” Dunn said.

Senior Morgan King started working at the food pantry in the fall and this month sorted clothes and helped people make selections. “I wanted to do something for the community before I went to college. It felt good knowing you’re helping someone else,” King said.

Students who would like to volunteer should see Pantry Coordinator Holly Dunn. She can set them up with volunteer opportunities. “Depending on your interests, there are always ways to give back to the community. I love helping students find ways to contribute,” Dunn said.

The Food Pantry is also home to the Clothes Closet, where students can get clean “gently-used” clothing items. “We have everything you can think of --shirts, pants, hoodies, coats, shoes, dress clothes and so forth,” Dunn said.

Students can fill out a counselor request form explaining their needs, and then Dunn calls students down individually to pick out clothes.

Dunn encourages students to stop by. “What people need to understand is students stop in daily to pick up Clothes Closet items. There is no stigma attached,” Dunn said The next Food Pantry pick up day is Dec. 12. Students who have questions should contact Dunn in her office in lower Jennings.

Shelving food items, junior Kat Gillis helps clean up after the November Food Pantry pick-up night. Clarion photo First time volunteer, senior Kelsey Rader works Nov. 14 at the Clothes Closet sorting and distributing items. Clarion photo

Hunting season starts with a bang Family, love of nature and tradition inform student hunting choices

Keely Gill

W

Staff Writer

hile some hunting seasons are already finished,

opportunities still exist for students and staff to put on camouflage and go out in the woods to bring down a whitetail deer.

Three hunting seasons

After bringing down a 70-pound button buck as her first deer in 2008, Keely Gill pauses for a photo. Gill, now a junior, has been hunting for five years. photo courtesy of Keely Gill

occur during the fall and throughout early winter, and some young hunters like to take on the challenge of all three. “[I like] bow, shotgun and muzzle loader,” junior Mitchell Jordan said. “Bow is a challenge, and you have youth seasons for the other two.”

Other hunters just take on one of the hunting types. “[I like] firearm because I don’t bow hunt,” sophomore Bailey Blades said.

Hunting is both a sport and a hobby, but for some it’s become more than that.

“It’s a tradition and family time for my dad and me,” Blades said.

“Hunting is what has brought us closer over the years. Seeing my dad go [hunting] used to make me want to go, and finally he took me when I was six,” Blades said.

While some improve archery skills through hunting, others like senior Sierra Lephew, come at it from the opposite direction. “I like bow hunting because I like archery,” Lephew said. “I got into archery first and

“

It’s a fun sport, and it keeps the deer population regulated. Mitchell Jordan, junior

”

then added bow hunting.”

“My dad taught me how to shoot,” Lephew said.

“The weirdest thing I ever shot was a reindeer. When my dad was first teaching me to shoot, I hit one by mistake.”

For others, the love of the woods has them hooked.

“My grandpa first took me and just the atmosphere, smell and sounds of the woods has kept me coming back,” Jordan said.

Some wonder why hunters get up so early to head out into the woods, but there are things that motivate them to spend their time in nature. “I love the adrenaline rush when you see a deer,” Blades said.

For others it’s more simple. “It’s a fun sport and it keeps the deer population

regulated,” Jordan said.

While some people are against hunting, these student hunters stand up for their chosen sport. “I support it because hunting helps control the population that causes problems for our farm ground,” Blades said.

Students aren’t the only ones around here who take part in hunting. Assistant Principal Scott West and his son Grant also enjoy the sport.

“I like hunting because the outdoors is a peaceful place to be, and I enjoy the challenge of hunting deer,” Scott West said.

Hunting is sometimes thought to be a hobby for men, but that’s not always the case.

Agriculture teacher Michelle Rexing enjoys time in the woods, where she hunts doves and rabbits in the fall and winter.

“When I was a little girl, my dad would take my siblings and me hunting with our dogs,” Rexing said.

“Those are some of my best childhood memories.”

Sports

page 6 ‹ Clarion

November 26, 2013

Marathon men master miles Teachers Cooley and Tyler take on New York Marathon

Seth Winstead

R

Managing Editor

unning. The word makes some people cringe. For many students, running in gym is enough to make them despise the activity, but for physical education

teacher Jeff Cooley and music teacher Roger Tyler running is a big part of their lives.

Nearly every day after school, the two teachers make a concerted effort to take on multiple miles, whether it be on the loop or across town. Both

After completing the New York Marathon, P.E. teacher Jeff Cooley and Choir Director Roger Tyler show off their medals. Photo

run year-round and both recently competed in the New York Marathon, where Cooley finished in the top 10%, or 5,786th place out of 50,000 runners.

Tyler runs approximately 20 races a year, and Cooley has run around 150 races over his running career.

Both Cooley and Tyler have something that inspired them to want to take on this challenge.

For Tyler, the reason was rather emotional. “I started running in 2006,” he said. “My father died and I found out about the Marine Corps Marathon, [in which I ran] because my dad was a Marine.”

Cooley also started running in 2006, but in his case, his reason was more health-oriented. “I needed to lose weight,” he said. “I was at 240 pounds and [as a gym teacher], I was not a role model.”

Both runners are competitive: the two work together to train for various marathons. To be able to finish a 26.2 mile race, they follow a strict regimen.

“We have a 16-week training schedule when we do marathons, [in which] we get up to 20-mile runs,” Cooley said.

Not only has the copious amount of running been physically rewarding to the men, but they have also benefitted in other ways.

Running has been a mentally rewarding experience for both men. “It’s a relief every day from school; it’s a freedom thing for about an hour,” Ty-

ler said. “It’s given me more mental stamina--a mind-over-matter thing.”

For Cooley, it has been a learning experience. “It’s taught me to be disciplined and patient,” he said.

Not only has running been beneficial to the two teachers, but it’s been helpful to their families. “It’s been a positive thing [for my family],” Tyler said. “Two of my sons are runners, and my youngest son and wife are starting to run.”

Both runners have something that drives them to want to keep running and racing. “It’s the challenge--knowing the job you have to do and doing it,” Tyler said. For Cooley, his drive is a bit more competitive. “I want the medal,” he said.

Both Cooley and Tyler plan to continue racing, but they’ve set another goal. “[We’ve] applied for a grant to run six half-marathons in six different states,” Cooley said. While the grant money will be very helpful, the journey the men will go on will be more spiritual. “The grant is for teachers to renew creativity and spirit and to enrich their experiences,” Cooley said.

Once the men find out in February if they receive the grant, they hope to form a running and music club for students and staff.

The two have logged approximately 1,700 miles this year, and they plan to keep racking up the miles and doing what they enjoy every day.

Girls basketball sets season goals

courtesy of Roger Tyler

Team faces challenges, changes as they move into the season Ali Hostetler

Staff writer

Girls basketball is underway. With a scrimmage and three games completed, the girls basketball team is ready for their next game tonight at Batesville. The JV game starts at 6 p.m and varsity starts at 7:30 p.m.

With all the changes happening this year, it’s sure to be different. “We have new JV coaches this year, Coach [Julie] Bell and Coach [Jaime] Hamm,” sophomore Kelsey Barrett said. That’s not the only

change, though. “We lost three seniors last year: Tierra Huntsman, Kenzie Weston and Ashlee Wiley,” sophomore Ashley Coker said.

But when the old players leave, new players come in. “There’s a lot of new people trying out this year, so we’re working through that,” sophomore Amanda Cobb said.

The girls plan to achieve their coaches’ goals. “Our goals would be we want to compete to try to run for Conference championship and Sectional championship,” head varsity coach Michael Thompson said.

The coaches’ goals aren’t the only goals the girls have in mind, however.

“[My goals for this season] are to score points and win games, so we’ve been practicing every day,” Barrett said.

However, scoring goals and winning games isn’t the only thing players aim to achieve. “[My goal for this season] is to improve my game by going as hard as I can in practice,” Coker said.

Their coach has set higher standards for them, though. “We’ve been working hard to prepare for this season, and we’ve been doing a lot of conditioning,” Barrett said.

“We did a lot of stair laps, a ton of mileage and sprints to get in shape,” junior Preet Kaur said.

The girls went above and beyond to condition for their season even before the season started.

“We started conditioning a little before the season, during soccer season, too,” Kaur said. “[During conditioning] we had a lot of away tournaments in Richmond against a couple of different teams. We’d play two or three games every couple of days,” Kaur said.

“We ran miles around the park and we’d come up to the school and run.”

“We have open gym all during the spring, summer and fall, and we just work, hopefully, hard every day in practice,” Thompson said.

Girls basketball player junior Destiny Ruch practices after school as she prepares for the upcoming game. Ali Hostetler photo

Gymnasts plan for upcoming season Team’s Preview Night set for Dec. 17 Megan McNally

W

Staff Writer

ith a Sectional win last year and all seniors returning, the gymnastics team expects to have a successful season. Last year the team placed third at Regional with a season high score.

The team went on to qual-

ify three gymnasts for the State meet.

“This year we have Presley Fohl, Sarah Schutt and Sydney Huber back, along with Emily Stine, who could be a strong competitor for us,” Head Coach Joann Borders said.

The girls hope to accomplish great things. “[My goals] are to win as many meets as we can and make it to Regionals as a team again,” Fohl said.

Others have high indi-

“

My goals are to win beam at Sectional and go on and place at State. Sydney Huber, junior

”

vidual goals. “My goals individually are to try and win beam at Sectional and go on and place at State,” Huber said.

The team will have

many returning faces along with a few new ones. “I’m looking forward to getting our team back together to compete with the team,” Huber said. “We’re like a family.”

Look for the girls to be in action Dec. 17 at Preview Night at home at 7 p.m.

In the middle of her floor routine, senior

Sarah Schutt adds a dance element to demonstrate her style for the judges at one of last year’s home meets. Schutt and Presley Fohl will be the two seniors returning to varsity this season. Their Preview Night will be Dec. 17, and the first meet will be Jan. 14 at home. Kenda McFarland photo

Sports

November 26, 2013

Clarion › page 7

Swimmers build on success “

Can we get our less experienced swimmers to score when it matters?

”

Darren Ridenour, head coach

Jordan Harris

G

Staff Writer

irls swimming and diving season has just begun. The team has been recruiting new members, and they are ready for the season.

“The girls hope to go undefeated and win Sectional. This will be equally difficult because we don’t have the same depth of experience,” Coach Darren Ridenour said.

“However, our strong swimmers are extremely good, and our new swimmers this year are showing much better skills than I anticipated, so I think we have a shot at reaching these lofty goals,”he added.

Talent for the team sets expectations high. “The girls have tremendous talent, led by our seniors Paxtyn Drew, Bailie Weiler and Kerrigan Baker. The question will be, ‘Can we

get our less experienced swimmers to score when it matters?’ Based on our first week of practice, I am confident that it is possible,” Ridenour said.

The team’s individual goals consist of winning the Sectional, both individually and as a team, according to Drew.

“My goals for this season are to achieve our first Conference win and to repeat our Sectional title,” sophomore Riece Drew said.

Weiler, too, set individual goals for the season.

She hopes to break the 50free record because she has been trying to break that since her sophomore year and to achieve her personal best times in each of her events. She hopes to make it to State individually in the 50-free. The team is excited for the season, and they are looking forward to many things.

“I’m looking forward to competing in our first Con-

Participating in an after school practice, senior Paxtyn Drew performs the freestyle while doing laps. Jordan Harris photo ference win. I’m looking forward to another great season and hoping that we win Sectionals,” Riece Drew said.

Paxtyn Drew looks forward to “having a team that is really close and having a lot of fun to make my

last year good.”

Weiler looks forward to getting close with all her teammates and hopes that they all get along.

“We will work extremely hard on our swimming and race skills in order to meet our goals. It requires

a great deal of commitment to be a great athlete and to become a great team. I believe our swimming and diving teams have that commitment. I look forward to a fun, exciting and successful season,” Ridenour said.

Wrestlers grapple with new season Megan McNally

Staff Writer

This season the wrestling team will be looking to overcome the loss of four senior wrestlers in the last four weight classes. The wrestling team has five returning seniors.

Although the team will be looking for freshmen and sophomores to step up and bring home wins in the upper weight classes, the team is hoping to have a successful season.

“Our goal this season is to win 20 duals [and to be]

Sectional and Conference Champs,” Head Coach Mike Bottomley said.

Seniors Cody Steele and Will O’Farrow are team captains. The coach expects Steele, Caleb Day, Colton Gonzalez and Dylan Shirkey to play a large role and bring home wins in the 152, 160, 171 and 182-pound weight classes. “[I’m looking forward] to working really hard and trying to improve and to learning new moves,” freshman Jacob Hendrickson said.

Others are excited for what the season will bring.

“I’m looking forward to the end of the season when we have Sectional and Regional championship matches,” Gonzalez said. Gonzalez is hoping the team wins the Sectional and has Semistate and State qualifiers.

The team’s next match is a six-way tournament at Randolph Southern, Nov. 30 at 9 a.m. The JV team will compete at home Dec. 2, and the next varsity home meet is Dec. 4 vs. Milan High School.

Boy swimmers dive into schedule

Practicing after school, senior Cody Steele attempts to pin his partner junior Dylan Shirkey. Megan McNally photo

Jordan Harris

S

After school, swimmer junior Alan Volz works on his breaststroke during a CAST practice. Jordan Harris photo

Staff Writer

wimming and diving for the guys has just began. The team’s expectations are high and they can’t wait for the Sectional to begin.

Sophomore Terry Flowers, sophomore Cole Barricklow and senior Sam Gragg are excited for the season and for the Sectional. The team has been preparing for the season by having evening practices along with some morning practices which are “dry land,” when they run and lift weights.

“This will be our first year in the EIAC [Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference] and we feel we have a pretty good chance at winning the Conference title.

Last year we won Sectional by four points, and our Sec-

tional is getting stronger, so we will have to really rise to the occasion this year in order to repeat,” Coach Darren Ridenour said.

High team expectations

“

Our boys team has a great advantage in depth of talent. Darren Ridenour, head coach

”

make for good team goals.

“The boys team was four points from an undefeated season last year.

So one goal is to be undefeated in dual meets,” Ridenour said.

“The boys are also highly motivated to win Sectional, which will be extremely difficult because of a very strong Greenfield-

Central team. Though, if we improve through the season like I think we can, we should be able to compete nose-to-nose with them,” Ridenour added.

“Our boys team has a great advantage in depth of talent. We are led by five experienced athletes in Andrew Bernzott, Daniel Beckner, Alec Metcalfe, Sam Gragg and Cory Rufin. They are backed up by a solid group of underclassmen.

For most teams we swim against, we will be an overwhelming opponent,” Ridenour said.

The team members all have individual goals.

“My goals for this season: I just want to improve my own times and I’d love for both teams to win Sectionals,” Gragg said.

Flowers wants to drop time in his events and have a successful season.

Opinion

page 8 ‹ Clarion

Pass the popcorn Six movies released for the holidays

John Isaacs & Katie Bailey Copy Editor & Online Editor

This year has been a great year for movies. Countless blockbusters have littered the cinema such as Iron Man 3, Pacific Rim and Star Trek: Into Darkness.

With the last stretch of the year upon us, the cinema may not be dead.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Following up 2012’s award-winning blockbuster The Hunger Games may sound impossible, but the team over at Lionsgate isn’t slowing down anytime soon. With Catching Fire, heroine Katniss Everdeen participates once more in the deadly Hunger Games.

Release: Nov. 22

Justin Bieber’s Believe 3D

“Beliebers” get a special Christmas present this year with a new Justin Beiber movie.

This is the Canadian’s second movie, and it is expected to be similar to 2011’s Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never.

Release: Dec. 25

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

A sequel to 2004’s Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy has been in development for nearly five years now.

Luckily for Will Ferrell fans, the wait is finally over. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues follows the Burgundy as he and his crew become part of a 24-hour news station. Release: Dec. 20

The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug

Peter Jackson’s award winning trilogy continues with The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug. Picking up where 2012’s An Unexpected Journey left off, Bilbo’s band of travelers continues their quest to reclaim their home from the dragon of legend, Smaug.

Release: Dec. 13

Delivery Man

In a new Dreamworks comedy, Vince Vaughn stars as an aging slacker and former sperm donor, who has fathered 533 kids. Now 142 of these kids have filed a lawsuit to find out his identity.

Currently this unwitting dad is in debt to the mob and is hated by his pregnant girl friend. Once he learns of the lawsuit, however, he thinks about letting the truth be known.

Release: Nov. 22

Frozen

Frozen is another seasonal Walt Disney animated feature.

Anna, voiced by Kristen Bell, is off on an epic adventure with a rugged mountain man, Kristof, voiced by Jonathan Groff, and his loyal reindeer Sven to find her sister Elsa, voiced by Idina Menzel. While encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a comic snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom.

Release: Nov. 27

While Catching Fire and The Delivery Man have already opened in theaters, Frozen will open Nov. 27. December brings more

movies for the masses with The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug opening Dec. 13, Anchorman 2 filling theaters on Dec. 20, and Justin Bieber’s Believe 3D offering a Christmas Day diversion, Dec. 25.

Writers’Corner Thankful

by Writer’s Club

Thinking about the future Holding on to what is now Appreciating myself Never forgetting who I am Keeping my eyes on the prize Finding the good in everything Understanding those around me Loving every minute of life

Thanksgiving

by Megan Watts

Thank you for accepting me.

Having me in your life.

Advising me of what is good.

Not hurting me, or my heart.

Kindness is all I want to receive.

So thanks for showing me you care.

Going the distance for others.

Ignoring what others are saying.

Visit me and say hi and talk.

Invite me into your arms and thoughts.

Never give up and move on.

Giving a thank you is all it takes.

November 26, 2013

Question&Answer

Can I make this disappear?

Do I really want to?

by Destiny Russell How can I lift the haze And let in the light Despite everything I try My heart is so unclear Don’t look at me today I cannot change your mind When I myself cannot think And the decision is unmade I’ve lost myself in the dark Freedom that seems so boundless Surrounds you like a sunbeam But I cannot reach you No matter how hard I push I feel you pull away Rejection isn’t an option So I will watch from a distance And hope this will fade And you will disappear in the haze.

To submit to Writer’s Corner students should attend Writers’ Club meetings in Paula Shouse’s room in W165.

To read additional student work visit chsclarion.com or scan this QR code with a QR reader app, like ScanLife, for your smart phone or tablet.

This Thanksgiving, what are you thankful for and why?

“I am thankful that my grandfather made it through to another Thanksgiving.”

-Autumn Mengedoht, junior “I am most thankful for all of my family for still being around and to be there to make my Thanksgiving happy.”

-Elizabeth Corn, senior “I am most thankful for friends and family because without them I wouldn’t be who I am.”

-Michael Edwards, sophomore “[I’m thankful for] family. Without family life would stink.”

-Adam Smith, senior “As I get older I’m more appreciative of my family, friends and health! Nothing is more important or gives me more happiness.”

-Mark Beard, social studies “I’m thankful for everything! My family, my friends, health and our freedom. Why? Because other people or countries may not have it.”

- Josh Herrell, freshman “I am most thankful for Skyrim because it keeps me entertained, and I love slaying dragons.”

-Gill McDonald, freshman “I am thankful for my family and the fellowship we have because I do not get to see them a whole lot.”

-Tanner Steele, senior

“I’m most thankful for school. Sometimes I don’t want to go, but without it, I would be bored. I would also be lonely without my friends.”

-Tyler Schuck, sophomore “I’m most thankful for my family for supporting me through everything I do.”

-Cody James, senior “This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the chance to assemble with my family and the chance to see the ones we don’t usually see.”

- Seth Winstead, senior “I’m thankful for a healthy wife and a healthy baby on the way.”

- Devin Hornsby, social studies “This Thanksgiving season, I’m thankful for my wonderful family.”

- Kamaray Hammonds, sophomore “This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for my family, food and the animals put on Earth.”

-Austin Trumble, sophomore “I’m thankful for my family, friends and great music.”

-Jessica Jennings, senior “I am most thankful for life.”

-Tom Tomlin, sophomore “I’m thankful that I’m getting to go to Cincinnati to see my family.”

-Brad McGuire, sophomore