December 2010

Page 1

Teen Pregnancy

“Having Maxton has changed my life 100 percent.�

Raising their newborn, together Page 6 and 7

Summer Lambert Junior

Vol. 87, Iss. 4 December 17, 2010

www.chspylon.com Salina High School Central

January calendar

Tuesday 4 4:00 9th grade boys’ and girls’ basketball vs. Maize 5:45 JV boys’ basketball vs. Maize 6:00 V girls’ basketball vs. Maize 7:30 V boys’ and JV girls’ basketball vs. Maize Thursday 6 1:30 V diving at South pool 1:30 Making It Count (seniors) in Auditorium 3:30 Boys’ swimming Central Inv. 6:00 JV/V wrestling vs. Campus Thursday 13 1:30 V boys’ diving at South pool 3:30 V boys’ swimming Central Inv. Monday 17-Saturday 22 S.I.T. at Bicentennial Center Tuesday 25 1:30 Spring portraits in Gym 2 Thursday 27 7:00 Musical in Auditorium Friday 28 4:00 9th grade boys’ and girls’ basketball vs. Maize 5:45 JV boys’ basketball vs. Maize 6:00 V girls’ basketball vs. Maize 7:00 Musical in Auditorium 7:30 V boys’ and JV girls’ basketball vs. Maize

04

days until

Winter break

End of the world Mayan calendar predicts the world will end in December 2012 By Thatcher Keast Co-Student Life Editor

Some say zombie apocalypses and Morgan Freeman are going to take over the world in 2012. According to the Mayan calendar, all human civilizations will come to an end on December 21, 2012. The sun, earth and the Milky Way will align and FDXVH WKH VXQ WR H[SORGH DQG HQJXOI WKH HDUWK LQ D GHDWKO\ EDOO RI Č´ UH $FFRUG ing to the Mayan calendar, December 21 is the end of the last 260 day cycle. 7KLV FDOHQGDU KDV DFFXUDWHO\ SUHGLFWHG VHYHUDO QDWXUDO GLVDVWHUV VXFK DV KXU ricane Katrina and Pompeii, according to Wikipedia. According to senior Devin Reese, the world is going to be taken over by

Editorial debate: 2012 Page 9 Photo spread: Year in review / Pages 10, 11

zombie Mayans. “Alright, well basically we don’t know what happened to the Mayans, and they were the ones who came up with the calendar that people interpret as the end of the world. Basically, it marks the return of the Mayans after being abducted by aliens, and they will come back as zombies, starting a zombie apocalypse,� Reese said. Junior Alexa Sharp sees anything but zombies taking over the world, but instead Morgan Freeman. “Morgan Freeman has played several roles as God in movies, and now I believe he is God,� Sharp said. “People of the modern day world start to worship him and soon there are 34 churches of the Freeman. Mr. Freeman

See 2012 / Page 12

Illegal downloading

Limewire version 5.5.11 is blocked

By Thatcher Keast Co-Student Life Editor

The music industry is losing its once powerful sound. On October 26, Judge Kimba Wood, a US federal court judge, issued an injunction

Inside Battling cancer /Page 2

Photo illustration by Miranda Higle / The Pylon

TIMELINE2010

Presented by The Pylon, “Timeline 2010� is an overview of the past year. This list of events was compiled from information by Wikipedia.

forcing LimeWire to stop the GRZQORDG ing of all forms of media. On September 30, LimeWire was RÉš FLDOO\ EORFNHG 9HUVLRQ WKH QHZ est update has been blocked from all users. However, all versions under 5.5.11 are still up and running. FrostWire, a

J a n

jan4 The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest manmade structure, opens.

“I have used LimeWire for about 2 years and downloaded around 200 songs� Juan Espino Junior

fork of LimeWire, is free and features several aspects of the paid version of LimeWire. According to the Boston Globe, a Boston University *UDGXDWH VWXGHQW ZDV Č´ QHG IRU LOOHJDOO\ GRZQ ORDGLQJ VRQJV DQG SURFHHG ing to share them online. “I have used LimeWire for about 2 years and downloaded around 200 songs,â€? junior Juan Espino said. “I’m not worried about getting caught, it’s not a

See LIMEWIRE / Page 12

jan19 An election is held in Massachusetts to replace Senator Ted Kennedy’s seat.

jan13 Google is the target of a cyber attack from China. This causes Google to pull out of China.

jan28-30 The theatre department performs “Beauty and the Beast.�

jan23 Central boys’ basketball team wins S.I.T. for the third straight year.

Page 2

Student Life

12.17.10

Battling cancer Student’s cancerous tumor not going to stop her By Stacie Burnett Co-Editor

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Dylan Grammer / The Pylon

Marissa Lopez has had to adjust to using a wheelchair.

Playing the guitar without making any noise Senior Kaumans spends time at Little Caesars jammin’ on his cardboard guitar By Tom Reed

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Go to for more photos, videos and stories

F e b

feb1 President Obama proposes a 3.1 trillion dollar budget. feb7 The New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts 3117 to win Super Bowl XLIV.

feb14 2010 Winter Olympics begin.

feb27 An 8.8 magnitude earthquake rocks Chile. feb24 General Motors announces they will stop producing Hummers.

12.17.10

Student Life

Page 3 narrative

Starting a slow clap By David Weiner Staff Reporter

Tyler Walker/ The Pylon

Christmas wish Sophomore Michael Frazer makes move to be with parents By David Weiner Staff Reporter

Christmas is a holiday where children spend time with their families, making cookies, wrapping and unwrapping presents and decorating a tall Christmas pine tree. “All I want for Christmas is for my parents to succeed,� sophomore Michael Frazer said. Sitting on the an old wooden chair, hands neatly folded in his lap, Frazer tells the journey of his life. The holes in his jeans, in a way, metaphorically represent the holes in his life. Having grown up with the knowledge that money is hard to come by, Frazer quickly learned his role in his family is not that of a normal child, but an extra parent. Taking care of his brother,

M a r

Nicholas while his parents search for work in Liberal, Frazer has grown more mature DQG VHOI VXÉšFLHQW Born in California, where the

“All I want for Christmas is for my parents to succeed.� Michael Frazer Sophomore

price of living far surpasses that of Salina, Frazer and his family decided to move, leaving Frazer with his grandmother in Alabama while his mother and step

father searched for stability. “I never had a father,� Frazer said. Like a family, Frazer’s church has helped shape Frazer’ life and provided this family with aid to help pay for bills and groceries. Frazer and his brother have been living with the Fennenbach’s while his parents have searched for work for the past four weeks. “They make me feel like I’m actually part of their family,� Frazer said. “Kyle (son of the Fennenbach’s) is like a brother to me.� Now living in Liberal, Kansas in a homeless shelter much like Salina’s Ashby House, Frazer’s mom and step-dad have found steady jobs and are able to bring their sons with them to their new home in Liberal.

mar3 The shortest living person, He Pingping, dies in Rome due to unknown complications at age 21. mar5 “Alice in Wonderland� hits 3,728 theaters.

The drowning wash of sound enveloping the cave-like room came to a complete stall leaving everyone in a silent statuesque state. Waiting for the awkward silence to cease, the throng of people held their form. One clap was heard, reverberating off the walls as if it were a racket ball swatted by a full grown man. The creases LQ P\ SDOPV EHJDQ WR ČľRZ with sweat and my triumphant smile began to succumb to gravity. The second hand on the clock seemed to slow, but I held my upright position and proceeded to clap once more. A foreign body off in the shadows rose out of its seat and called back to me with a thunderous clap almost to reassure me that I had chosen the perfect moment to start the coveted “slow clap.â€? One by one, people I had never seen before in my entire life slid back their lunchroom chairs trying not to create even the slightest of squeaks in attempts to preserve the epic moment. A wave of synchronized applause like a tiny rippled current began to take shape starting at a hushed pianissimo. The tiny current grew and began to gradually crescendo into an all-encompassing tsunami of sound. Like any other storm the ovation ceased to last more than a short minute, bringing the weary bodies back to their comfortable seated positions. In movies I often see scenes where the unpopular guy in school gets the prize girl or where the meager sports team ends up winning the long-shot state title. In all of these scenes WKHUH LV RQH WKLQJ , Č´QG P\VHOI always recognizing, a “slow clap.â€? Starting with one brave soul and perfect timing, the slow

clap has the potential to go either horribly wrong, leaving that individual humiliated and full of regret, or in my case it FDQ JR DEVROXWHO\ ȾDZOHVV As if it was a watering hole on the South African plains all of the kids attending UNT’s FDPSV ȾRFNHG WR LW HDJHUO\ DQticipating the home-style meals and mouth-watering soft serve ice cream. It was noon and a line had already taken shape, weaving in every direction into the cafeteria. The room was UDSLGO\ EHFRPLQJ D ȴUH KD]DUG DV LW EHJDQ WR ȴOO EXW , FRQWLQued to press forward. I searched for a table surrounded by familiar faces and made my way over careful not to spill my provisions. I proceeded to indulge myself in the abundance of beans, grilled chicken and steamed vegetables, until across the room I saw her. A thin girl weighing at most 90 pounds slowly plodded atop WKH WLOH ȾRRU WR WKH VRGD IRXQtain with her tray piled high with plates full of mashed potatoes, pizza and other various foods wobbling in her skinny arms. Safely she made it to the soda fountain gently setting down her tray. She un-stacked three cups from the wash area DQG ȴOOHG WKHP WR WKH EULP then manipulated the plates on her tray making room for her drinks. In an almost apprehensive manner she lifted the tray and began to inch her way to her seat. Almost as if planned the heavy plates began to skate to and fro on top one another leaving the tray and crashing into hundreds of miniscule pieces on the tile. $OO H\HV ȴ[DWHG RQ WKH JLUO frozen in shock, surrounded by heaps of food. Not a single person was within a 10ft radius of her and the clamor of the lunchroom halted. It was my time, that one perfect moment and I was the one brave soul.

mar17 President Barack Obama proposes sweeping changes to education law which would rework the No Child Left Behind program. mar24 Football player, Elijah Alexander passes away.

Page 4

Sports

Basketball fashion Headband- $10

It’s almost 2011. To play like a baller, you must look like a baller and warm-up like a baller. Here are the essentials: New girls’ jerseys- $5000 ($180-200 a player)

Head phones- $50 iPod- $200

Shooting sleeve- $30 Nike shooting shirts- $20 a player Sleeveless Under Armour- $40 Compression shorts- $30

Bracelets- $1-$5

The better you look, the better you feel. The better you feel, the better you play. The better you play, the better they pay. And in this day and age, pretty boy swag is priceless.

Nike Flight socks- $10 Shoes- $100

In case you missed it Wichita State begins season 7-2, both losses coming at the hand of teams a combined 19-0

The best Christmas presents any sports fan could ask for in 2010

1

Fathead Dry-Erase Fantasy Draft Board-$119.99 www.fathead.com

2 3 4 5

ESPN 30 for 30 Limited Edition Gift Set- $74.99 www.espnshop.com

6

Pangea ProToast Team Toasters- $34.99 www.modells.com

FIFA Soccer 11 (360,PS3)$49.96 www.walmart.com Vuvuzela- $7.99 www.worldsoccershop.com NFL Red Zone channel$39.99 per season www.redzonetv.nfl.com

Xbox Kinect- $149.99 www.bestbuy.com P90X Fitness Program$139.80 www.amazon.com Power Balance bracelet$29.95 www.powerbalance.com

10

Warm-up Jordan jumpsuits- $95 a player

Chiefs start season 8-5, lead the AFC West by 1 game with 3 weeks left

The holiday gift guide

7 8 9

Knee brace- $80

K-State earns Pinstripe Bowl bid; will face Syracuse December 30 at Yankee Stadium in New York City

12.17.10

K-State is 9-1; only blemish is loss to top-ranked Duke

Framed Sports Illustrated Cover- $19.95 www.si.com/vault

KU extends Allen Fieldhouse winning streak to 64 games on controversial call, starts season 9-0 The Pylon’s top 5 bowl games 5. MAACO Las Vegas Bowl #10 Boise State vs. #19 Utah 4. Discover Orange Bowl #4 Stanford vs. #19 Virginia Tech 3. Capital One Bowl

#9 Michigan State vs. # 16 Alabama

2. Rose Bowl #3 TCU vs. #5 Wisconsin 1. BCS National Championship #1 Auburn vs. #2 Oregon

A p r

apr14 Volcanic ash from one of several eruptions beneath Eyjafjallajökull, an ice cap in Iceland, begins to disrupt air traffic across northern and western Europe. apr13 A 6.9-magnitude earthquake occurs in Qinghai, China, killing at least 2,000 and injuring over 10,000.

apr23 Arizona governor Jan Brewer signs the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act, the broadest and strictest anti-illegal immigration measure in decades.

apr20 An explosion occurs at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, killing 11 workers, causing the rig to sink two days later and initiating a massive ongoing offshore oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico; this environmental disaster is now considered the largest in U.S. history.

apr The Mustang robotics’ team competes at internationals in Atlanta.

12.17.10

Sports

Overhauling the S.I.T.

New tournament format schedules girls’ and boys’ games at same time Boys’ Bracket

Seeds are tenative and times are to be determined.

(1) Clay Center Game 1: winner to Game 5, loser to 7 Game 6: Winner to 5th place, loser to 7th place

5th place

(8) Concordia (4) Central

Game 5: Winner to Championship, loser to 3rd place

Game 1: winner to Game 5, loser to 7 Game 6: Winner to 5th place, loser to 7th place

(8) Concordia (4) Central

Game 2: winner to Game 5, loser to 7

Game 2: winner to Game 5, loser to 7

(5) Smoky Valley (3) Sacred Heart

(5) Smoky Valley (3) Sacred Heart

S.I.T. Champion

Game 3: winner to Game 6, loser to 8

(6) South (2) Abilene

Game 8: Winner to 5th place, loser to 7th place

Game 6: Winner to Championship, loser to 3rd place

5th place

(7) Andover

By Trent Bigler Guest Reporter

The Bicentennial Center will welcome eight new teams to their annual S.I.T. this year. “This is a new tournament and there will be a new trophy; so why not have our names on LW ȴ UVW"ȋ JLUOVȇ EDVNHWEDOO KHDG coach Geoff Andrews said in regards to the girls being a part of the Salina Invitational Tournament. The new S.I.T. will feature a

Athletes in the mix

Treyton Hines Boys’ Basketball

Devin Reese Boys’ Swimming Joyce Parker Girls’ Basketball Spencer Ingermanson

Wrestling

M a y

Game 5: Winner to Championship, loser to 3rd place

S.I.T. Champion

Game 3: winner to Game 6, loser to 8 Game 8: Winner to 5th place, loser to 7th place

Game 1: winner to Game 6, loser to 8

7th place

Girls’ Bracket

(1) Clay Center

(6) South (2) Abilene

Game 6: Winner to Championship, loser to 3rd place

Game 1: winner to Game 6, loser to 8

3rd place

7th place

(7) Andover

3rd place

girls tournament with the same format as the boys tournament and take place during the same week. “It will be a great way to not only get people to Salina, but to watch some great basketball,” Andrews said. The boys’ basketball team has won three consecutive S.I.T. titles. The girls will look to accomplish the same. Ȋ,W LV GHȴ QLWHO\ D PDMRU JRDO of ours this year; I think we can win three straight like the boys,” senior guard Bailey Counts said.

The coaches are not the only ones excited about the changes to the tournament. Ȋ,W ZLOO MXVW PDNH WKH tournament even more important. Most tournaments that I have been to in high school have had both boys’ and girls’ teams playing,” senior guard/ forward Shay Wooten said. The new tournament format gives the girls a chance to play in front of the student body. Ȋ,W LV MXVW OLNH DQRWKHU WKUHH home games for us,” Andrews says. “It also is another potential

If I were Harry Potter I would...

I would advise Brett Favre to...

My mind shuts off when people talk about...

“Get some type of lotion to cover up the scar.”

“Retire because he’s too old to keep playing.”

“What they did over the weekend.”

“Get with Hermione.”

“Retire.”

“Physics.”

“Do whatever because I was Harry Potter.”

“Get a hobby.”

“Just when people start talking.”

“Retire.”

“When people talk about what they eat on Friday (weigh-in).”

On the Spot

“Fly on my broomstick.”

may1 Times Square is evacuated and sealed off due to a car bomb discovery and the bomb is deactivated. may6 The “flash crash” occurs at the NYSE taking 1,000 points off the Dow Jones.

South-Central match up.” The teams for the girls’ tournament will be the same as the boys. Last year’s teams will remain the same for this year’s tournament except for newcomer Andover who replaces Shawnee Mission. “Finally the girls are getting some recognition in Salina,” senior forward Bre Bennett said. Ȋ1RZ LWȇV WLPH WR MXVW JHW WR ZRUN and show Salina that they did not make a mistake.”

Page 5 Grant’s Gameplan Grant Martens Co-Sports Editor

No more holiday NBA ’Twas the night before Christmas when all through the tower, not a creature was stirring, not even Dwight Howard. He needed his sleep so he’d be ready to play Paul Pierce and the Celtics on Christmas Day. The Celtics-Magic game is RQH RI ȴ YH &KULVWPDV 'D\ JDPHV this year, tied for the most ever. The NBA on Christmas Day has become a tradition across the country, and the league basks in the spotlight while it rakes in millions of dollars generated on December 25. Last year, Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy spoke out against playing on the holiday. “I actually feel sorry for people who have nothing to do on Christmas Day other than watch an NBA game,” Van Gundy said. And frankly, I agree with him. The Magic played on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Easter last year, and have a rematch of last year’s Christmas day match up against Boston this Christmas. Let the players spend the day with their families. The NBA on Christmas ritual began when the league was founded in the late 1940s, but it didn’t become a popular VSHFWDFOH XQWLO WKH ȴ UVW JDPHV were televised in 1983. I understand it’s a tradition, and if I don’t want to watch, I don’t have to. But I echo the words of Van Gundy when he says: “I think we get a little carried away with ourselves with sports, thinking we’re more important than everything else. Obviously basketball is very important to me, but there are some days of the year where it’s got to take a backseat to something.” There are others that disagree with me. “I think it’s entertaining for families that come together and want to watch something entertaining on TV,” senior Haushun Norwood said. “I understand the players are away, but so are the fans.” Senior Seth Tramble likes it as an alternative to the routine Christmas television “It’s something to watch during Christmas dinner instead of Christmas movies,” Tramble said. However, there’s a reason nothing else is on TV: people would rather be celebrating the birth of Jesus with their families. Obviously, expecting the NBA to stop scheduling games on Christmas is unrealistic, simply wishful thinking. Play more games on Christmas Eve--there’s zero this year--and give the players Christmas day off.

may9 BP’s containment chamber fails and prolongs Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

may22 13-year-old Jordan Romero becomes the youngest person to reach Mount Everest summit.

may9 Oakland A’s pitcher Dallas Braden completes the 19th perfect game in MLB history.

may Forensics team wins its fourth straight state championship and girls’ soccer and baseball teams qualify for state.

Page 6

Feature

Teen pregnancy A life for her daughter By Gabby Briggs Copy Editor

Monday morning: wake up, make a snack, wake Isabella up, feed her, change her, put her down with her toys in the NLWFKHQ WR SOD\ Č´ QLVK JHWWLQJ ready, take her to the daycare, go to school. The start to a typical day for sophomore Lauren DeWitt consists not only of getting herself ready, but also preparing her baby for the day. After school: pick her up from the daycare, if it’s nice go to the park, maybe get some ice FUHDP OHW ,VDEHOOD SOD\ Č´ QLVK homework, feed her dinner, bathe her, put her to bed, do anything else, then go to bed. Tuesday: do it all over. “I lost freedom and going out,â€? sophomore Lauren DeWitt said. DeWitt is a mother of a 17 month old baby who plans to still live out her aspirations. For DeWitt her daughter Isabella is a force pushing her WR VXFFHHG LQ OLIH )URP Č´ QLVK ing high school, to college and getting a job DeWitt strives to do well for her daughter. “I’m still planning on doing everything I planned. Isabella helps me through school,â€? De-

“Don’t miss out on it (the baby’s life), because you’ll never get it back.� Lauren DeWitt Sophomore

Witt said. Becoming pregnant at 14 was not her plan, but she doesn’t regret Isabella. Through family support she is able to raise and provide for her baby. DeWitt’s grandmother helps her out with the care of her child. Her grandmother will babysit her child if she has to go out, gives her money to support Isabella, gives her advice and makes it so that she does not have to be doing this all alone. If there’s any advice she offers to future parents or students that are presently parents is, “Don’t miss out on it (the baby’s life) because you’ll never get it back.�

J u n

Calub Emery/The Pylon

Senior Krysta Rick made the choice of giving up her daughter to an adoptive family. Although the choice was difficult, Rick believes it was in her daughter’s best interest.

Adoption provides senior with different outlook on life By Stacie Burnett Co-Editor

Her eyes scanned each page of the scrapbook FDUHIXOO\ $V VKH Čľ LSSHG WKURXJK WKH SDJHV VKH VFUXWLQL]HG HYHU\ GHWDLO 7KLV ZDV DQ LPSRUWDQW decision and she was not going to let any factor go unnoticed—she was going to be cautious about the family she chose. “I was critiquing everything—their pictures, what their house looked like, what their names

ZHUH ,W ZDV FUD]\ Č‹ VHQLRU .U\VWD 5LFN VDLG Rick was choosing an adoptive family to raise her daughter. Her mom helped her choose the famLO\ DQG Č´ QG DQ DJHQF\ Rick’s mom searched ‘Alabama adoption agenFLHVȇ RQ *RRJOH DQG FKRVH WKH Č´ UVW OLQN Ȇ$ $QJHO Adoptions.’ Once at the agency, Rick and her mother were able to choose the family they wanted. “There were six scrapbooks that we had to look through and I gave three to my mom and three to

PH DQG WKH Č´ UVW RQH P\ PRP RSHQHG ZDV DFWXDOO\ the couple we ended up choosing,â€? Rick said. They were able to meet the family who’s scrapERRN WKH\ FKRVH EHIRUH PDNLQJ WKH Č´ QDO GHFLVLRQ After meeting the family, Rick and her mother decided that was the family they were going to choose. Rick’s adventure began on January 11, when she IRXQG RXW VKH ZDV SUHJQDQW 6KH KDG QHYHU HYHQ expected to be pregnant and just took the test to prove to her friend Valerie she wasn’t. “One day [Valerie] just looked at me and was OLNH Ȇ<RXȇUH SUHJQDQWȇ DQG , ZDV OLNH Ȇ1R ,ȇP QRW 1R ,ȇP QRW DW DOO ȇ DQG VKH JRHV Ȇ<HDK \RX DUH ȇ and so I went to go prove her wrong and I was the wrong one,â€? Rick said. After Rick found out, she was nervous but more VFDUHG 6KH NQHZ VKH QHHGHG WR WHOO KHU SDUHQWV “I was laying in bed and I was like, ‘You just QHHG WR WHOO 'DG KHȇOO Č´ QG RXW VRRQHU RU ODWHU \RX FDQȇW KLGH LW ȇ 6R , MXVW WXUQHG RII WKH 79 DQG ZDV like ‘Dad, I need to talk to you.’ He was like, ‘About what?’ He though it was about bad grades and I VDLG Ȇ1R VRPHWKLQJ D OLWWOH PRUH LPSRUWDQW WKDQ that, and I told him I was pregnant,â€? said Rick. “He was really quiet for awhile and then he goes, ‘Well, I think you need to tell your mom.’ “Then my dad went to his room and I was just sitting in the front room by myself all sad and went and gave him a hug and he started crying—he wouldn’t let me look at him though,â€? Rick said. Rick called her mom, who lives in Alabama, next. Her mom started crying and told Rick she wanted her to come live with her so she could help her daughter. 5LFN VDLG WKDW ZDV KHU Č´ UVW WKRXJKW WRR WR OLYH with her mom. ČŠ7KDW ZDV P\ Č´ UVW LQVWLQFW WR KDYH P\ PRP help me,â€? Rick said.

Page 7

Teenagers share their pregnancy stories and how their lives have changed

During her pregnancy, from February to Octo5LFNȇV EDE\ ZDV ERUQ RQ 6HSWHPEHU DQG WKH ber, Rick moved in with her mom in Alabama and DGRSWLYH IDPLO\ QDPHG KHU 6RSKLH went to school there. The family and Rick decided on an open adopRick decided to give her daughter up for adoption so if Rick chooses, she can arrange to meet WLRQ ZKHQ VKH Č´ UVW IRXQG RXW DQG ZKHQ VKH Č´ UVW WKHP WR VHH 6RSKLH talked to her mom. ČŠ, JHW SLFWXUHV HYHU\ WZR PRQWKV IRU WKH Č´ UVW “I didn’t have a job or a car and I knew that if year and I have their cell phone numbers, and I I wanted my daughter to make choices that were talk to them all the time and they give me updates,â€? right and if she wanted to go try out for something, Rick said. I wouldn’t have the money for it,â€? Rick said. Rick said she has found support through her Rick’s mother had an abortion before her and family and herself throughout the pregnancy and her sister were born. Abortion was not an option the adoption process, but it hasn’t always been for Rick. easy. “It’s always been “I’ve had people something I’ve tell me, you know, “I’ve had people tell me, you know, ‘You’re ‘You’re a horlooked down upon,â€? Rick said. rible mother, you a horrible mother, you shouldn’t do that Rick’s family was shouldn’t do that really supportive of and she’s not going to love you.’ I was like, and she’s not goher choice of adoping to love you.’ I ‘Actually, she’s going to love me more tion, including her was like, ‘Actually, sister. she’s going to love knowing I wanted more opportunities ČŠ6KH >P\ VLVWHU@ me more knowfor her.’â€? was shocked [about ing I wanted more me being pregnant] opportunities for and worried and her,â€? Rick Krysta Rick wanted me to do said. Senior what I wanted to do and what I thought was the EHVW FKRLFH Č‹ 5LFN VDLG ČŠ6KH ZDV WRWDOO\ EHKLQG PH for the adoption.â€? Rick said she likes the family she chose. Read the full story at “The dad himself was actually adopted so she’s not going to try to be the rebellious teenager like ‘You don’t know what I’m going through’ and the PRP VKH FRXOGQȇW KDYH NLGV VR WKH Č´ UVW WKLQJ WKH\ thought was adoption,â€? Rick said. “They remind me so much of my parents.â€?

Raising their newborn son, together By Kaleigh Parker Co-Editor

$IWHU IRXU DW KRPH WHVWV DQG RQH RÉš FLDO WHVW DW WKH 3UHJQDQF\ 6HUYLFH &HQWHU MXQLRU 6XPPHU /DPEHUW UHDOL]HG WKLV ZDV IRU UHDO 1RW PXFK longer would she be just another high school student; soon, she would be D PRWKHU 6KH ZDV DOUHDG\ WKUHH PRQWKV DORQJ “I was very nervous. I was mostly scared about how I was going to tell my dad,â€? Lambert said. “My pregnancy went extremely well. I miss being pregnant to be honest. The only bad part was all the judging stares. I felt a lot of pressure from the public; I could read their reactions.â€? Unlike some teenage pregnancies, Lambert’s boyfriend, senior ChanGOHU 3HUH] ZDV ZLWK KHU WKURXJKRXW WKH ZKROH H[SHULHQFH +H FRQWLQXHV to be a father to their son Maxton, a combination of the names “Maxâ€? DQG ČŠ-DFNVRQ Č‹ QRZ RQH PRQWK DQG HOHYHQ GD\V ROG 3HUH] VDLG /DPEHUW was emotional at times, but he was always there to help her out. $OWKRXJK 3HUH] QHYHU WKRXJKW KH ZRXOG EH D IDWKHU LQ KLJK VFKRRO ČŠ>&ROOLQ@ 5LQJOH DQG &DOH >6KDUS@ PDGH D EHW WKDW , ZRXOG EH Č‹ 3HUH] VDLG “I really didn’t think I would be. I was shocked [when I found out], but I didn’t really know what to think.â€? For Lambert, Maxton has changed her life completely. “Every day I wake up, my time, money, feelings, thoughts and worries revolve around Maxton,â€? Lambert said. “I also have a love for him you cannot feel for just anyone. It’s different and so strong. Maxton is now my whole life.â€? 3HUH] DJUHHV WKDW 0D[WRQ LV QRZ WKH FHQWHU RI KLV OLIH “I can’t think about myself all the time anymore,â€? he said. “I have to WKLQN DERXW KLP DQG , KDYH WR WKLQN DERXW 6XPPHU D ORW PDNH VXUH VKHȇV okay.â€? $V D \RXQJ FRXSOH ZLWK D EDE\ /DPEHUW DQG 3HUH] KDYH DOVR JURZQ closer. Both admit they have their ups and downs, but they still “get

june3 The song “California Gurls� by Katy Perry featuring Snood Dogg hits #1 and stays for the rest of June and part of July.

along great.â€? And even though Maxton means the world to both of them, life is far from perfect. “I’m worried I won’t be able WR SURYLGH IRU KLP Č´ QDQFLDOO\ Č‹ Lambert said. “I know money is something I’m already worried about, and I think every day about how I’m going to be able to get a good enough job to provide for a family.â€? 3HUH] DJUHHV WKDW KH DQG /DP bert are very young to be starting a family. ČŠ, ZRXOG JR EDFN DQG ZDLW Č´ YH or six years, because I don’t think I’m exactly ready, but that’s life,â€? 3HUH] VDLG ČŠ,ȇP VFDUHG RI WKH future, but I’m happy because he [Maxton] is here. Whatever happens, happens.â€? Even though Lambert thinks people have changed the way they look at her, a lot of people tell her WKH\ DUH SURXG RI KHU 1RZ WKDW she’s had some time to get used to Junior Summer Lambert and senior Chandler Perez watch their newborn son, Maxton. being a mother, she loves it, even though it’s not easy. he’s still breathing. I just want him to be okay. “The hardest thing about being a The only thing easy about being a mom is lovmom is worrying all the time if Maxton is okay,â€? Lambert said. “Even ing him. It is so easy to love him.â€? when I have time to sleep, I’m waking up to check on him to make sure

june21-27 Sixteen members of the Thespian Troupe travel to Nebraska to perform their one act at International Thespian Festival.

june11 The 2010 FIFA World Cup is held in South Africa, and is won by Spain.

june30 The third movie of the Twilight saga, “Eclipse,� is released in theaters.

june22-24 American John Isner beats French qualifier Nicolas Mahut in the longest tennis match in history at the British Open, which lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes over 3 days.

J u l

Making the best of a tough situation By Dylan Grammer Staff Reporter

Rachel Norris/The Pylon

Read the full story at

On January 4, senior “I’m not sure what I’m going to do after Felicia Dimaplas’s life will high school,� she said. “It just depends change forever. Dimaplas is on how everything goes. I would like to going to make the leap from a go to college, but I’m just not sure right teenager with little now.� worries to a mother “My boyfriend and I who has to raise a child. plan on moving in togeth“I have matured “I found out I was preger after I graduate. It’s goa lot since I’ve nant during the summer, in ing to get pretty stressful June,� Dimaplas said. gotten pregnant, because of this baby, but “My dad wouldn’t speak we are looking forward but I know I still to me and my mom was just to it,� Dimaplas said. “I really disappointed in me but have some room to have a lot more responafter a while they got used sibilities now, and it is mature.� WR WKH LGHD 1RZ WKH\ DUH only going to get harder. I excited,� Dimaplas said. have matured a lot since “I am glad they are okay I’ve gotten pregnant, but Felicia Dimaplas with it because I know I know I still have some Senior we will need their help room to mature.� raising this child.� With a new found maWith a new turity, Dimaplas is ready to child on the way, Dimaplas take this challenge life has thrown at her is still unsure about her and make the best of it. future education.

july8 The first 24-hour flight by a solar powered plane is completed by the Solar Impulse. july7 Moko, a New Zealand dolphin, is beached and dies at the age of four.

july22 The song “Love the Way You Lie� by Eminem featuring Rihanna hits #1 on the charts.

july15 The BP oil spill is stopped for the first time, 86 days after oil started leaking into the Gulf of Mexico.

july25 Wikileaks leaks to the public over 90,000 internal reports about the United States-led involvement in the War in Afghanistan from 2004-2010.

Page 6

Feature

Teen pregnancy A life for her daughter By Gabby Briggs Copy Editor

Monday morning: wake up, make a snack, wake Isabella up, feed her, change her, put her down with her toys in the NLWFKHQ WR SOD\ Č´ QLVK JHWWLQJ ready, take her to the daycare, go to school. The start to a typical day for sophomore Lauren DeWitt consists not only of getting herself ready, but also preparing her baby for the day. After school: pick her up from the daycare, if it’s nice go to the park, maybe get some ice FUHDP OHW ,VDEHOOD SOD\ Č´ QLVK homework, feed her dinner, bathe her, put her to bed, do anything else, then go to bed. Tuesday: do it all over. “I lost freedom and going out,â€? sophomore Lauren DeWitt said. DeWitt is a mother of a 17 month old baby who plans to still live out her aspirations. For DeWitt her daughter Isabella is a force pushing her WR VXFFHHG LQ OLIH )URP Č´ QLVK ing high school, to college and getting a job DeWitt strives to do well for her daughter. “I’m still planning on doing everything I planned. Isabella helps me through school,â€? De-

“Don’t miss out on it (the baby’s life), because you’ll never get it back.� Lauren DeWitt Sophomore

Witt said. Becoming pregnant at 14 was not her plan, but she doesn’t regret Isabella. Through family support she is able to raise and provide for her baby. DeWitt’s grandmother helps her out with the care of her child. Her grandmother will babysit her child if she has to go out, gives her money to support Isabella, gives her advice and makes it so that she does not have to be doing this all alone. If there’s any advice she offers to future parents or students that are presently parents is, “Don’t miss out on it (the baby’s life) because you’ll never get it back.�

J u n

Calub Emery/The Pylon

Senior Krysta Rick made the choice of giving up her daughter to an adoptive family. Although the choice was difficult, Rick believes it was in her daughter’s best interest.

Adoption provides senior with different outlook on life By Stacie Burnett Co-Editor

Her eyes scanned each page of the scrapbook FDUHIXOO\ $V VKH Čľ LSSHG WKURXJK WKH SDJHV VKH VFUXWLQL]HG HYHU\ GHWDLO 7KLV ZDV DQ LPSRUWDQW decision and she was not going to let any factor go unnoticed—she was going to be cautious about the family she chose. “I was critiquing everything—their pictures, what their house looked like, what their names

ZHUH ,W ZDV FUD]\ Č‹ VHQLRU .U\VWD 5LFN VDLG Rick was choosing an adoptive family to raise her daughter. Her mom helped her choose the famLO\ DQG Č´ QG DQ DJHQF\ Rick’s mom searched ‘Alabama adoption agenFLHVȇ RQ *RRJOH DQG FKRVH WKH Č´ UVW OLQN Ȇ$ $QJHO Adoptions.’ Once at the agency, Rick and her mother were able to choose the family they wanted. “There were six scrapbooks that we had to look through and I gave three to my mom and three to

PH DQG WKH Č´ UVW RQH P\ PRP RSHQHG ZDV DFWXDOO\ the couple we ended up choosing,â€? Rick said. They were able to meet the family who’s scrapERRN WKH\ FKRVH EHIRUH PDNLQJ WKH Č´ QDO GHFLVLRQ After meeting the family, Rick and her mother decided that was the family they were going to choose. Rick’s adventure began on January 11, when she IRXQG RXW VKH ZDV SUHJQDQW 6KH KDG QHYHU HYHQ expected to be pregnant and just took the test to prove to her friend Valerie she wasn’t. “One day [Valerie] just looked at me and was OLNH Ȇ<RXȇUH SUHJQDQWȇ DQG , ZDV OLNH Ȇ1R ,ȇP QRW 1R ,ȇP QRW DW DOO ȇ DQG VKH JRHV Ȇ<HDK \RX DUH ȇ and so I went to go prove her wrong and I was the wrong one,â€? Rick said. After Rick found out, she was nervous but more VFDUHG 6KH NQHZ VKH QHHGHG WR WHOO KHU SDUHQWV “I was laying in bed and I was like, ‘You just QHHG WR WHOO 'DG KHȇOO Č´ QG RXW VRRQHU RU ODWHU \RX FDQȇW KLGH LW ȇ 6R , MXVW WXUQHG RII WKH 79 DQG ZDV like ‘Dad, I need to talk to you.’ He was like, ‘About what?’ He though it was about bad grades and I VDLG Ȇ1R VRPHWKLQJ D OLWWOH PRUH LPSRUWDQW WKDQ that, and I told him I was pregnant,â€? said Rick. “He was really quiet for awhile and then he goes, ‘Well, I think you need to tell your mom.’ “Then my dad went to his room and I was just sitting in the front room by myself all sad and went and gave him a hug and he started crying—he wouldn’t let me look at him though,â€? Rick said. Rick called her mom, who lives in Alabama, next. Her mom started crying and told Rick she wanted her to come live with her so she could help her daughter. 5LFN VDLG WKDW ZDV KHU Č´ UVW WKRXJKW WRR WR OLYH with her mom. ČŠ7KDW ZDV P\ Č´ UVW LQVWLQFW WR KDYH P\ PRP help me,â€? Rick said.

Page 7

Teenagers share their pregnancy stories and how their lives have changed

During her pregnancy, from February to Octo5LFNȇV EDE\ ZDV ERUQ RQ 6HSWHPEHU DQG WKH ber, Rick moved in with her mom in Alabama and DGRSWLYH IDPLO\ QDPHG KHU 6RSKLH went to school there. The family and Rick decided on an open adopRick decided to give her daughter up for adoption so if Rick chooses, she can arrange to meet WLRQ ZKHQ VKH Č´ UVW IRXQG RXW DQG ZKHQ VKH Č´ UVW WKHP WR VHH 6RSKLH talked to her mom. ČŠ, JHW SLFWXUHV HYHU\ WZR PRQWKV IRU WKH Č´ UVW “I didn’t have a job or a car and I knew that if year and I have their cell phone numbers, and I I wanted my daughter to make choices that were talk to them all the time and they give me updates,â€? right and if she wanted to go try out for something, Rick said. I wouldn’t have the money for it,â€? Rick said. Rick said she has found support through her Rick’s mother had an abortion before her and family and herself throughout the pregnancy and her sister were born. Abortion was not an option the adoption process, but it hasn’t always been for Rick. easy. “It’s always been “I’ve had people something I’ve tell me, you know, “I’ve had people tell me, you know, ‘You’re ‘You’re a horlooked down upon,â€? Rick said. rible mother, you a horrible mother, you shouldn’t do that Rick’s family was shouldn’t do that really supportive of and she’s not going to love you.’ I was like, and she’s not goher choice of adoping to love you.’ I ‘Actually, she’s going to love me more tion, including her was like, ‘Actually, sister. she’s going to love knowing I wanted more opportunities ČŠ6KH >P\ VLVWHU@ me more knowfor her.’â€? was shocked [about ing I wanted more me being pregnant] opportunities for and worried and her,â€? Rick Krysta Rick wanted me to do said. Senior what I wanted to do and what I thought was the EHVW FKRLFH Č‹ 5LFN VDLG ČŠ6KH ZDV WRWDOO\ EHKLQG PH for the adoption.â€? Rick said she likes the family she chose. Read the full story at “The dad himself was actually adopted so she’s not going to try to be the rebellious teenager like ‘You don’t know what I’m going through’ and the PRP VKH FRXOGQȇW KDYH NLGV VR WKH Č´ UVW WKLQJ WKH\ thought was adoption,â€? Rick said. “They remind me so much of my parents.â€?

Raising their newborn son, together By Kaleigh Parker Co-Editor

$IWHU IRXU DW KRPH WHVWV DQG RQH RÉš FLDO WHVW DW WKH 3UHJQDQF\ 6HUYLFH &HQWHU MXQLRU 6XPPHU /DPEHUW UHDOL]HG WKLV ZDV IRU UHDO 1RW PXFK longer would she be just another high school student; soon, she would be D PRWKHU 6KH ZDV DOUHDG\ WKUHH PRQWKV DORQJ “I was very nervous. I was mostly scared about how I was going to tell my dad,â€? Lambert said. “My pregnancy went extremely well. I miss being pregnant to be honest. The only bad part was all the judging stares. I felt a lot of pressure from the public; I could read their reactions.â€? Unlike some teenage pregnancies, Lambert’s boyfriend, senior ChanGOHU 3HUH] ZDV ZLWK KHU WKURXJKRXW WKH ZKROH H[SHULHQFH +H FRQWLQXHV to be a father to their son Maxton, a combination of the names “Maxâ€? DQG ČŠ-DFNVRQ Č‹ QRZ RQH PRQWK DQG HOHYHQ GD\V ROG 3HUH] VDLG /DPEHUW was emotional at times, but he was always there to help her out. $OWKRXJK 3HUH] QHYHU WKRXJKW KH ZRXOG EH D IDWKHU LQ KLJK VFKRRO ČŠ>&ROOLQ@ 5LQJOH DQG &DOH >6KDUS@ PDGH D EHW WKDW , ZRXOG EH Č‹ 3HUH] VDLG “I really didn’t think I would be. I was shocked [when I found out], but I didn’t really know what to think.â€? For Lambert, Maxton has changed her life completely. “Every day I wake up, my time, money, feelings, thoughts and worries revolve around Maxton,â€? Lambert said. “I also have a love for him you cannot feel for just anyone. It’s different and so strong. Maxton is now my whole life.â€? 3HUH] DJUHHV WKDW 0D[WRQ LV QRZ WKH FHQWHU RI KLV OLIH “I can’t think about myself all the time anymore,â€? he said. “I have to WKLQN DERXW KLP DQG , KDYH WR WKLQN DERXW 6XPPHU D ORW PDNH VXUH VKHȇV okay.â€? $V D \RXQJ FRXSOH ZLWK D EDE\ /DPEHUW DQG 3HUH] KDYH DOVR JURZQ closer. Both admit they have their ups and downs, but they still “get

june3 The song “California Gurls� by Katy Perry featuring Snood Dogg hits #1 and stays for the rest of June and part of July.

along great.â€? And even though Maxton means the world to both of them, life is far from perfect. “I’m worried I won’t be able WR SURYLGH IRU KLP Č´ QDQFLDOO\ Č‹ Lambert said. “I know money is something I’m already worried about, and I think every day about how I’m going to be able to get a good enough job to provide for a family.â€? 3HUH] DJUHHV WKDW KH DQG /DP bert are very young to be starting a family. ČŠ, ZRXOG JR EDFN DQG ZDLW Č´ YH or six years, because I don’t think I’m exactly ready, but that’s life,â€? 3HUH] VDLG ČŠ,ȇP VFDUHG RI WKH future, but I’m happy because he [Maxton] is here. Whatever happens, happens.â€? Even though Lambert thinks people have changed the way they look at her, a lot of people tell her WKH\ DUH SURXG RI KHU 1RZ WKDW she’s had some time to get used to Junior Summer Lambert and senior Chandler Perez watch their newborn son, Maxton. being a mother, she loves it, even though it’s not easy. he’s still breathing. I just want him to be okay. “The hardest thing about being a The only thing easy about being a mom is lovmom is worrying all the time if Maxton is okay,â€? Lambert said. “Even ing him. It is so easy to love him.â€? when I have time to sleep, I’m waking up to check on him to make sure

june21-27 Sixteen members of the Thespian Troupe travel to Nebraska to perform their one act at International Thespian Festival.

june11 The 2010 FIFA World Cup is held in South Africa, and is won by Spain.

june30 The third movie of the Twilight saga, “Eclipse,� is released in theaters.

june22-24 American John Isner beats French qualifier Nicolas Mahut in the longest tennis match in history at the British Open, which lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes over 3 days.

J u l

Making the best of a tough situation By Dylan Grammer Staff Reporter

Rachel Norris/The Pylon

Read the full story at

On January 4, senior “I’m not sure what I’m going to do after Felicia Dimaplas’s life will high school,� she said. “It just depends change forever. Dimaplas is on how everything goes. I would like to going to make the leap from a go to college, but I’m just not sure right teenager with little now.� worries to a mother “My boyfriend and I who has to raise a child. plan on moving in togeth“I have matured “I found out I was preger after I graduate. It’s goa lot since I’ve nant during the summer, in ing to get pretty stressful June,� Dimaplas said. gotten pregnant, because of this baby, but “My dad wouldn’t speak we are looking forward but I know I still to me and my mom was just to it,� Dimaplas said. “I really disappointed in me but have some room to have a lot more responafter a while they got used sibilities now, and it is mature.� WR WKH LGHD 1RZ WKH\ DUH only going to get harder. I excited,� Dimaplas said. have matured a lot since “I am glad they are okay I’ve gotten pregnant, but Felicia Dimaplas with it because I know I know I still have some Senior we will need their help room to mature.� raising this child.� With a new found maWith a new turity, Dimaplas is ready to child on the way, Dimaplas take this challenge life has thrown at her is still unsure about her and make the best of it. future education.

july8 The first 24-hour flight by a solar powered plane is completed by the Solar Impulse. july7 Moko, a New Zealand dolphin, is beached and dies at the age of four.

july22 The song “Love the Way You Lie� by Eminem featuring Rihanna hits #1 on the charts.

july15 The BP oil spill is stopped for the first time, 86 days after oil started leaking into the Gulf of Mexico.

july25 Wikileaks leaks to the public over 90,000 internal reports about the United States-led involvement in the War in Afghanistan from 2004-2010.

Page 8

Entertainment

12.17.10

Manga makers

Three students plan to create a book of manga By Brooke Wakefield

the characters and pages. They named the manga “Weapons of Choice.” It’s about an antisocial freshman and his twin Freshman Malik Grassity, brother. Semaj Smith and Noah Well“We can really relate to brock-Talley plan on becoming them because we’re freshmen famous by writing a manga. A in high school,” Smith said. manga is a book that is read The brothers know a homefrom right to left other than less man left to right. who ends up It originated training them in Japan and Anyone interested in to become is based on Rasvergars, ȴ FWLRQDO -DSD becoming a member which are nese characof the “Weapons people who ters. have four dif“We of Choice” team ferent forms eventually should contact Noah of powers. want to get it The manga published and Wellbrock-Talley. should be show people ȴ QLVKHG VRPH what we can time during do,” Grassity summer break. said. The “Weapons of Choice” Grassity is the writer of creators are looking for the manga; he has already another member. Contact handwritten over 150 pages of dialogue. Smith comes up with Wellbrock-Talley if you have any artistic ability and would the ideas of the story just like like to join. a producer, and WellbrockTalley draws the pictures of

Tyler Walker/The Pylon

Connect the dots

Reality Check, Ink.

Opinion Editor

Courtesy images

The “Weapons of Choice” team members drew these to portray the characters in their Manga.

For more news, photos, videos visit

Miranda Higle/The Pylon

eyeDENTIFY Can you name whose eyes these are?

Visit—

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A u g

aug1 The movie “Vampires Suck” opens in 3,233 theaters.

aug10 The World Health Organization declares the H1N1 influenza pandemic over, saying worldwide flu activity has returned to typical seasonal patterns.

aug5 “Love the Way You Lie” by Eminem, featuring Rihanna, continues to be #1 on the charts throughout the month.

aug26 South Korea offers emergency aid to North Korea after massive floods.

aug16 Summer break ends and school starts back up.

12.17.10

Opinion

Page 9

VERSUS-Mayan end of world prediction End of the world unlikely

6RODU Ⱦ DUHV FRQVXPLQJ RXU ZRUOG LQ ȴ HU\ GHVWUXFWLRQ HDUWKTXDNHV HQJXOȴ QJ HQWLUH cities, or planets aligning creating a disruption to our magnetic core; these are all theories of what will happen on December 21, 2012. If this were to be our fate, that would mean that besides the senior class, the rest of us would be spending the last of our few precious years in high school. Sorry class of 2013 and 2014, but I don’t love you that much. Fortunately, it is rather easy

Bite-Sized Philosephette Sammy Jordan Staff Reporter

to prove that these events of a catastrophic chaos toppling our planet are unfounded. These myths of our planet’s destruction derived from a story that a planet called Nibiru, supposedly discovered by the Sumerians, will collide with Earth, causing our planet to explode into a billion pieces, destroying all life on planet Earth. This is

Future members of society will end the world No matter how unlikely it may seem, no matter how ludicrous you think it is, the world is going to come to a close in the year 2012. I’m not saying that the Mayan sun god

The Bodacious Brosky Max Wellbrock-Talley Guest Reporter

will rise up and devour the HDUWK RU WKDW VRODU Čľ DUHV ZLOO render all technology useless, but I think something far worse than that will happen: The

Student Life Thatcher Keast and Gabby Briggs, editors

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Features Kaleigh Parker, editor

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Cartoons Tyler Walker, cartoonist

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The Pylon is the official student newspaper of Salina High School Central. It is produced entirely by students of the newspaper production class daily on chsPylon.com and monthly in print.

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S e p

before my peers and I successfully cause the destruction of the human race. This could be through the presidential elections that year (because we’ll all be able to vote, after all), joining with the military (now SLFWXUH XV ZLWK ELJ ULȾ HV RU EH ing responsible for maintaining children’s facilities. Whatever way the wind blows, mark my words, not a single one of us is making it to 2013.

This takes maybe an hour, each string of beads has to be equally apart from the other one, and they have to twirl up the tree in a perfect spiral. In a typical Christmas movie on $%& )DPLO\ RU 'LVQH\ &KDQQHO families are always laughing, dancing, and singing to their favorite Christmas tunes while eating Christmas cookies, and candy canes. When I watch those movies, I think, “Why can’t my family be like theirs?â€? Okay, so this might be a little bit of an exaggeration, but what I just described isn’t too far from the truth. :KHQ WKH WUHH LV Č´ QLVKHG and the outside of our house LV JORZLQJ , Č´ QDOO\ VWHS back and realize that my family does a pretty good job decorating for Christmas, even through all the little DUJXPHQWV DQG Č´ JKWLQJ

The Pylon wants to hear your opinion! Email your letters, preferably limited to 500 words, to editor@chspylon.com. Submissions must contain a full name for inclusion, and we will contact you to confirm that you are the author of your letter. Letters may be edited for clarity.

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sep2 Hurricane Earl hits the East Coast of the United States.

WHDFKHU SDVVHG $PHULFDQ History with a C. It’s a scary thing actually knowing the people who make society work; you know exactly how they were before they were deemed “responsible.â€? Trust me, people my age are GHČ´ QLWHO\ QRW UHDG\ IRU WKH outside world, at least in general, that is. I give us all about six or so months after 2012 graduation

Putting up the Christmas tree at my house is like death. I dread the thought of putting up the Christmas tree or decorating the outside of the house with lights. My mother and I bicker back and forth about where the Christmas tree looks best, how each bulb should hang and whether we should use the angel or the star Christmas tree topper. Each bulb is painfully placed, hoping that it is in a perfect spot that will impress my mother. When my little brothers try to help, the bulbs are either stuck almost on top of each other or they are accidentally dropped, DQG VKDWWHU DOO RYHU WKH Ⱦ RRU When every bulb is in it’s perfect spot, we start stringing the beads around the tree.

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Sports Tom Reed and Grant Martens, editors

graduating class of 2012 will be functioning members of society. If anything scares you, this should be it. Think of all of the doctors, soldiers, engineers, mechanics that you know, and then replace that person with one of my fellow juniors. Imagine having your taxes done by that kid you know QHDUO\ Ⱦ XQNHG RXW RI $OJHEUD II, or discovering that your future child’s new social studies

Opinion Editor

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entertainment@chspylon.com

two years, there is no proof to the theory that this will result in the earth’s destruction. Solar storms are a regular occurrence and peak every 11 years or so but the next climax in solar activity is predicted for 2015. But just to be sure, live every day as the last, cherish moments with friends and family, live without regrets, drop out of high school... just kidding (but not really), and all those other cheesy facebook statuses because despite the monumental amount of evidence that disproves the theories of the world ending, we can never be sure.

By Brooke Wakefield

editor@chspylon.com

Opinion Brooke Wakefield, editor

go past December 21, 2012. Just because they stopped predicting, does not mean the world is coming to an end. Theories such as death through polar shifts, planetary alignment, or solar storms are also found to be invalid myths. There is no such proof that the earth’s crust will VKLIW D VLJQLȴ FDQW DPRXQW WR cause any sort of catastrophic earthquake that will kill the population of Earth. Yes, we do see small shifts in the earth’s crust, but any VLJQLȴ FDQW FKDQJH WDNHV SODFH over millions of years. The next planetary alignment isn’t due for a few decades, but even if it were in the next

Christmas decorating can lead to arguments

Stacie Burnett and Kaleigh Parker, Editors in Chief

Entertainment Dustin Shannon, editor

about as likely as the chance of Mr. Morris smiling, Mr. 2ZHQ ȴ WWLQJ KLV KXJH FDOYHV into Kiefer Lawson’s skinny jeans or hair growing on Mr. $QGUHZVȇV KHDG 7KHUH DUH MXVW WRR PDQ\ Ⱦ DZV LQ WKH fable of the collision; there is no such planet and the date of the supposed collision was set for May 2003 but when May of 2003 came and left, supporters of the theory set the date back further to December of 2012, seeing as it FRQYHQLHQWO\ ȴ W LQWR WKH HQG of the Mayan Calendar. Just as my Chuck Norris calendar hanging on my wall does not go past December 31, 2010, the Mayan Calendar does not

sep14 Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints gives up his Heisman Trophy due to receiving improper payments.

sep12 Lady Gaga wins eight MTV music video awards.

What is your favorite iPod application? “Youtube� Taylor Rumsey Senior

“Snake� Amilio Hernandez Junior

“Doodle Jump� Tierra Harrison Sophomore

“Any games� Ian Korinek Freshman

sep28 The Cincinatti Reds win the National League Central in Major League Baseball.

sep20 Kenny McKinley, a wide receiver for the Denver Broncos is found dead.

Then...

Phresh Step dances at Oakdale Park.

we ran

Photo by Kate Martens

Later on...

Cross country runner junior Mitchel Wilson during a meet.

12.17.10

we retreated

At first...

Students brainstorm ideas on how to improve the school.

we battled

Photo by Michelle Hanschu

Drumline performed post-game show to fundraise for new equipment.

After that...

we stepped

Photo Story

DOWN

18 Page 10

we acted

Photo by Stephen Lamer

While...

Drama students perform “The Nerd.”

we modeled

Photo by Michelle Hanschu

In time...

Senior Aaron Davis models his Greek project for his literature class.

Photo by Michelle Hanschu Photo by Deb Shetlar

O c t

oct 13 Thirty-three miners near Copiapó, Chile, trapped 700 meters underground in a mining accident in San José Mine, are brought back to the surface after surviving for a record 69 days.

oct 29 President Barack Obama confirms two packages sent to the US from Yemen were filled with explosives.

oct 26 A US federal judge orders Limewire to be shut down after a ruling that the website’s ability to share music for free was illegal and violated copyright laws.

12.17.10

Photo Story

we won

we built

Eventually...

The football team celebrates their victory over South.

Photo by Stephen Lamer

Meanwhile...

Senior Elias Grant paddles his team’s boat during the cardboard boat races.

we pinned

we performed

Next...

Freshman Sam Allen puts his opponent in a cradel.

Photo by Kate Martens

we swam

Soon after...

Junior Keifer Lawson and freshman Joe McMahan perform in the winter One Acts.

Photo by Tori Happel

Sophmore Eli Beery swims in the first swim meet.

Then...

we danced

18

Photo by Stephen Lamer

Photo by Michelle Hanschu

Finally...

Sophmore Joe McKenna and junior Hannah Hadnot boogie at the Winter Dance.

Photo by Stephen Lamer

N o v

Page 11

TO GO

nov 8 What appears to be a missile is seen lifting off in the setting sun over Los Angeles. The Pentagon has stated it can not explain the missile launch. All Air Force bases in the area have stated they did not shoot off the missile. The Pentagon is continuing investigations.

nov 10 Washington and Michigan ban the alcoholic energy drink Four Loko.

nov 9 The San Francisco, California Board of Supervisors bans Happy Meal toys, served by McDonald’s on obesity concerns.

Page 12

The Pylon

12.17.10

2012 / Mayan calendar prediction brings a plethora of theories Continued from page 1 assembles an army of free men and launch a advanced

missile system at the sun, which explodes and Mr. Morgan Freeman will live happily on the moon.”

Non-believers seem to think differently. In 2000, the world was supposed to end because all of the computers were

going to blow up. It obviously didn’t, and biology teacher Mrs. Shafer thinks the same about 2012.

“No way, the world is not ending any time soon,” Shafer said. “The only way the world is going to end is if we destroy our environment to the point to where we can not adapt.”

LIMEWIRE / Music site is shut down Continued from page 1 big deal to me, and I have never bought songs on iTunes.” However, senior Marie Stoss is worry-free when it comes to buying music. “Yeah, I buy CDs at the store; it’s safe and not illegal. I have been tempted to download music illegally but it is not worth the risk,” Stoss said. Although LimeWire is a free music site, it has many problems. Viruses are a common occurrance and can completely ruin a computer. The music quality of iTunes is unmatched, something that LimeWire cannot compete with. People that use iTunes are supporting the music industry. While illegal downloading is free, it’s slowly diminishing the music industry.

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D e c

dec3 Basketball teams do not play Dodge City in the home opener for the first time since 1991.

dec7 Elizabeth Edwards dies after fighting a battle with breast cancer.

dec6 President Obama reaches a deal with Republicans to extend Bush-era tax cuts.

dec12 The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome roof sinks after heavy snows.

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