The Hilight: Fall Edition 2022

the hilight.

by The Southerner

& Olivia Britton

The Best Halloween Movies

Skating Into Cullman

Teenagers beware: scary and family friendly Drew Williamson, Staff Writer

A closer look at the new park

After a long period of waiting, Cullman’s new skate park is fi nally open to the public. Since it was announced that Cullman was building one last December, local skaters have been eagerly await ing the opening. Cullman Parks & Recreation has stated that even in the month before the park official ly opened, they have observed an increased interest in the sport. They believe that having a skate park of this quality will continue to drive interest for people of all ages. The design for the park was inspired by a similar skatepark in Dublin, OH,

as well as feedback from local skat ers. Parks & Recreation has also said that although there are no current plans for expansion, they are leaving room for further expansion down the line. With the amount of people the skate park has brought in before it’s even opened, it’s very likely the park will be added on to eventually. Many skaters around Cullman have expressed satisfaction with finally being able to have somewhere to skate, and it’s certain that many people will be introduced to skat ing and maybe even develop a new hobby.

Moon-To-Mars Project

The Unexpected Agreeance

Alecia Scott, Staff Writer

On July 16 1969, history was made. It was the day that man landed on the moon. Since that time it has appeared that we didn’t need to go back, until now.

In January of 2022, the Moon-toMars mission was finally funded by the Senate. Ten billion dollars has been offered to NASA over the next 5 to 10 years. The mission entails getting to the moon by 2024, having a settlement there by 2033, and getting to Mars in the following years.

Over the years, many Presidents and politicians have had varied ideas of NASA and its space missions. Trump, during his presidency, created the Space Force. During Obama’s presidency, he was much more focused on getting straight to Mars. This new take on the space issue mixes the neces sity of returning to the moon, as well as the urgency of getting there.

What is so shocking about this funding is the approval of it. It was endorsed by both the Republicans and the Democrats. It is rare for that kind of agreement to take place.

This agreement emphasizes the great importance of the mission. Get ting to Mars can lead to a great deal of resources, as well as a possible solution to global warming. Going to the moon again and setting up a settlement is the first step towards living on Mars. It is a monumental movement if they can prove that human life can exist on other planets or moons.

The Moon-to-Mars mission is a

multi-step process. The first step, of course, is getting to the moon. The rocket that should be sending the first woman and the next man to the moon is Artemis. Artemis I is already in orbit of the moon to check the stability of the spacecraft. Artemis II will hopeful ly get the two American astronauts to the moon safely. Following this phase, they will have the astronauts return and send them along with robots to continue scientific research on the moon on Artemis III.

Barbarian(2022) R

Beetlejuice (1988) PG

Coraline(2009) PG

Freddy vs. Jason (2003) R

Halloween Ends (2022) R

Halloweentown 2 (2001) G

LittleMonsters(1989) PG

Smile (2022) R

HocusPocus(1993) PG

MonsterHouse (2006) PG

Alecia Scott, Staff Writer

FEATURES

How School Spirit Has Shaped Our School Best student sec tion in the south

Anna Beth Burleson, Staff Writer

What is a Friday night football game without its student section? Boring! Luckily, Cullman High School’s stu dent section never disappoints. Wheth er it’s the homecoming game, a big ri val or anything in between, our school spirit always shows up and shows out. During the 2021-2022 basketball season our varsity boys team won the 6A State Championship. However, they weren’t the only ones to win something. Our student section also won “Best in the South” for their outpouring support for our school and Cullman Athletics. It doesn’t matter if you’re a freshman or a senior, we all love to support our team. During homecoming week, CHS stu dents showed their pride by dressing up for each themed day. Each grade level participated and did an awesome job in the lip sync battle, jeopardy and all other homecoming activities. It is so fun to watch all of the students come together as a community to show their Bearcat pride. There is truly nothing like a pep rally, a night in the student section, and singing the Alma Mater all together.

Homecoming Hilights

Some of the best costumes from homecoming Olivia Britton, Mimi Lunsford, and Drew Williamson, Staff Writers

We Are Very Thankful Neighbors How CHS is showing thanks

Alecia Scott, Staff Writer

Every year the Cullman National Honor Society gives the high school’s neighbors gifts as a thank you from the school for putting up with the loud bells, congested traffic, and all of the things that come with high school lifestyles.

This year Mrs. Caroline Lunsford is the supervisor of the NHS since Mrs. Hartline left last year. Prior to this, Ms. Calahan was the leader of the NHS. For the past eight years the neighborhood has been receiving thank you gifts from CHS.

Eight years ago, the former Advisor of NHS, Ms. Calahan, was a recipient of the Thankful Neighbor Project. She lives in Fairview, near the school. They gave her a gift, and she had decided that our school should do the same. The houses in Fairview are not as close to the schools as ours, so our neighbors definitely deserve to feel the gratitude of our school.

Even during the pandemic, NHS still did the Thankful Neighbor Proj ect. They had given out personalized thank you notes, pre-packaged cookie mix, a kitchen towel and a spatula. In the prior years they have always been different; prior to that year they

had given local honey, biscuit mix, wrapping paper, and hot cocoa. These treats are given to around two dozen neighborhood residents. The Cullman Daily did an article about this exact thing. Ms. Calahan quotes in this arti cle, “The school day traffic and ringing bells are a daily thing, of course, and these families deal with noise and traf fic on many occasions being so close to the school. Our school is almost always active with sporting events, band events, theatre events, and other activities at nights and weekends. Even during the summer, there are prac tices and meetings of all kinds on our campus. We want the families who live nearby to know that we are thankful for them and the tolerance, kindness, and support they demonstrate to Cullman High School.”

As of the publishing of this edition of the newspaper, the National Honor Society has not come up with a definite gift, but they have many creative ideas to thank the neighbors of Cullman High this year. They will be delivered the week before Thanksgiving.

The students in this school are rowdy and can be annoying to deal with, especially so early in the morn

Cool Clubs on Campus

Hilight highlights clubs around campus

Jonah Jarett & Juan Fuentez, Staff Writers

Our school has a large variety of clubs around campus. But there’s one club that seems to have been missing. Many schools have a chess club, but Cullman High School does not. Recently, however, an email was sent out to see if there was enough interest in the chess club for one to be created. Yippee! If the chess club is created, Coach Bryan Patrick will be the sponsor for the chess club. On the other hand, some clubs around campus exist, but are relatively obscure. The book club, for instance, does not seem to be very well known. Around half of the people we have asked said that they did not know we had a book club. We didn’t even know we had a book club, to be honest, until one of our friends told us it existed. The book club, hosted by Mrs. Boyd, meets on scheduled club days (around once a month) to talk about what books they have read since the last meeting. For people who like to read and review books, the book club is a great place to meet others with the same interests. Occasionally, multiple members will all check out the same book from the library and talk about the book as a group after reading it. The book club is a great way to increase the number of different

opportunities students have to connect with other students. The book club can help foster a will to read for pleasure in students, and if you read our last paper you would know that reading for pleasure has been on the decline. The book club can also serve to replace elementary school “library time,” allowing students to go and check out books during school time instead of having to find time before or after school.

Another exciting club around campus is NAHS, or National Art Honors Society. NAHS does various art projects that the school asks them to like face painting at football games to raise money, and making and selling things, such as ornaments around Christmastime. All proceeds go to their charity of the year, which for this year is Victim Services of Cullman. All club activities are outside of school. All you need to join the club is an A average in an art class, a B average in other classes, a modest 10 community service hours a year, and to be able to pay a 15-dollar fee. If you aren’t in an art class, don’t worry. NAHS accepts anyone with interest in art, as long as you have a portfolio you can show to prove it. NAHS allows art students to be more involved with their community

ing. This act by the school’s NHS keeps us in the good grace’s of our neighbors. Mrs. Lunsford says,”The Thankful Neighbor Project is a great and important NHS tradition that we want to continue. The neighbors of Cullman High School are patient and understanding of all the activities that go on at the school, even when they may be inconvenienced. This project is an opportunity for us to acknowledge their generosity and say ‘thank you.” This project by the NHS is a great way for students to get involved with the community, as well as teach them to creatively show appreciation. It also encourages students to give back to the people who need/deserve it. We are thankful for our neighbors, so we very well should show it.

and helps to show them that they can give back to their community through art. This is shown through their motto, “Art With a Purpose.” To join, talk to Mrs. Morris in the J building.

Another new and exciting addition that may be coming to campus is a debate team. After a student reached out to administration about the possibility of starting a debate team, Mrs. Tankersley said that she would sponsor the club if enough students are interested. The debate team coming to campus is very far back in the works, and there is still a lot up in the air as to if the club can exist or not. If the club were to exist, it would be a great opportunity for students to learn to hash it out in a professional way. Many people have a hard time talking to others without arguments turning offensive, ignorant, rude, or even violent. As Aristotle once said, “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” Additionally, Ms. Tankersley would not be new if she were to host a debate team. She has hosted HOSA Biomedical Debate for 7 years now, and she knows a thing or two about debating. The HOSA Biomedical Team has gone to state multiple times and Ms. Tankersley is excited to use

the tactics used by the Biomedical Debate Team in a traditional debate team. If Mrs. Tankersley were to host an independent debate club, her expertise would reach even greater amounts of students. Yippee!

An example of what the gifts have looked like

In Full Swing

2022 Gatsby Party

Drew Williamson, Staff Writer

The Great Gatsby party is an annual tradition done by Mrs. Lunsford for her AP Lang classes. For those who don’t know, the story is centered around the life of Jay Gatsby, a mysteri ous man who lives a lavish lifestyle and throws extravagant parties. As they fin ish reading F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, students are assigned tasks such as bringing food, decorating tables, pick ing music, etc. The catch is, everything has to be related to the 1920s. The result is a magical experience that feels straight out of one of Gatsby’s parties from the book. For many students, this event is the highlight of the entire class. Here’s some highlights from the event!

Back In My Day... Homecoming: Then vs. Now

Mack Rudder & Destiny-Faith White, Staff Writers

We asked teachers around cam pus (who were former students at Cullman High School) how home coming was back when they were in school. Here are their responses:

Questions

What was your best homecoming memory from high school?

What was your favorite homecoming activity when you were in high school?

What high school tra ditions have stayed the same since you were in high school?

Mr.Cook, Drama Instructor, Class of 1985:

“The homecoming dance after the game. Everyone in the band went and got all dressed and ready together. It was always late in the fall and was very fun.”

“My favorite activity was defi nitely the bonfire. It used to be a lot bigger than it is now. We also didn’t do powderpuff so the bonfire lasted way longer and was a bigger deal than it is now. During our home coming game our homecoming court got to be driven around the track in nice cars, similar to what they do in parades.”

“Homecoming is the same spirit wise but everything else is different. We still have class competitions, but we don’t do goalpost banners like when I was in school. We don’t go overboard on floats and hall decorations. Instead, we do pomp ing and smaller activities now compared to what we did.”

Mrs. Evans, Biology Teacher, Class of 1988:

“The Homecoming dance in the lunchroom was really fun.”

“Mega relay or the comparative to what we call a mega relay now. We did a lot of fun mega relay activi ties, but one of the things we had to do was pass around an orange which was difficult.” (Orange: 1, Evans: 0)

“Bonfire is the same, dressup days are the same, we still did pomping. We got to decorate the halls. There was no powderpuff, but the bonfire was huge at night and at the game the majorettes actually twirled batons that were on fire!”

“Home coming dance. Hoco is a week of festivities, I didn’t get to do many of the activities since I was a football player, but I still got to experience the buzz around homecoming week that built up to the football game. Then after the game, getting to blow off some steam after winning the game at the homecoming dance was really nice.”

“Dress up days, Camo Day spe cifically. I loved wearing my camo. Our senior shirts were also camo that year.”

“When I was in high school, we decorated the hallways and seniors got to decorate the lunchroom since it was the big gest spot to get it ready for home coming. Our theme this year was Welcome to the Jungle; Where the bearcat is king. We made a throne and decorated it with real vines and we actually stuffed the old bearcat costume to sit on the throne to make him the king of the jungle.”

“I loved dressing up for the dress up days. It was fun to come up with outfits since it wasn’t some thing we normally got to do.”

“Pep rallies and dress-up days have been very consistent but they’re more elaborate now. Coin drop was still big and we still had the bill rule. A lot has changed but the feeling of exhaustion at the end of the week definitely stayed the same.”

“We don’t have the homecom ing dance anymore but nowadays, things revolve more around social media, like making sure you post pictures in your outfits and mak ing sure people know you’re doing these activities. Back then it was more about hanging out, while now it’s all about clout. It’s still about football though and it’s nice to see all the oldtimers come home. I loved watching the band perform their show after the game and that was really nice because the football team never got to watch it during halftime. Overall, the kids are the same. They’re no different than I was, or my dad, or grandma, or people from the 1700s. Kids are always kids.

Mr. Smith, Director of Bands, Class of 1996:

“I really enjoyed the bonfire. We did the pep rally and field day at the stadium.”

“Pajama day! We got to wear pajamas on pajama day…so pajama day.”

“Pretty much the same, the activities are different but overall, they’re the same.”

Ms. Bishop-Hollis, Guidance Coun selor, Class of 1993:

Coach Morris, Environmental Sci ence Teacher, Asst. Football coach, Class of 2005:

Diving Deeper

A deeper look at what being on the swim and dive team means.

Mack Rudder, Staff Writer

A closer look at what being on the swim and dive team means to our 2022 CHS team.

The literal definition of a swim and dive team is, “a group of swimmers who train and compete together.”

When asked the definition of what the swim and dive team was to students on the Cullman High swim team, they had deeper definitions.

Ruby Hudson, Senior.

When asked what the swim and dive team meant to Ruby she replied, “It means putting in hard work every day even when we don’t want to. It means supporting and pushing each other as a team.”

This year Ruby mainly focused on competing in the 200-yard freestyle, the 100-yard breaststroke, and the 50-yard, and 100-yard freestyle.

backstroke, 200-yard medley relay, and 200-yard freestyle relay.

results of that is great.”

This year Hilson has mainly focused on the 100-yard freestyle and the 500yard freestyle.

Kampbelle Gentry, Sophomore.

Kampbelle described that being on swim and dive to her meant, “Team work, goodwill, and encouraging.”

This year Kampbelle has swum the 50-yard freestyle, 50-yard breast stroke, 50-yard backstroke, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle relay, and 200-yard medley relay.

Hilson Cole, Sophomore.

FK Krueger, Sophomore.

To Fk being on the swim and dive team means, “Sportsmanship, friend ship, and community.”

This year FK has swum the 100 IM, 50-yard freestyle, 50-yard, and 100-yard

Soccer vs Football Comparing kickers from each team

Juan Fuentes, Staff Writer

Soccer and football are two of the most popular sports today, with soccer being the most popular sport worldwide (except for in the US) and football being the most popular sport in the United States. Today, we’re going to see which sport can kick and throw the farthest. Starting off with throwing, we had Ryan Skinner up against Jayce Johnston. For the throw ing portion of this competition Ryan Skinner threw his football for 65 yards compared to Jayce’s 56 yards. How ever, take nothing away from Jayce as he was throwing the ball with a cast on and 56 yards is more than some can

throw a ball. When it came to the two kickers, both had impressive numbers. Nate Zills managed to land the ball in the back of the endzone from the 60 yard line, making it a total of 70 yards. However, Ramses Martinez crushed his ball for a total of 105 yards, kicking it from endzone to endzone.

When asked what the swim and dive team meant to Hilson he replied, “It’s great exercise and the competition aspect is great. Besides that, I would say the main thing is the competition aspect and being able to get out there and do it and win. Accomplishing it is amazing and you go to these practices and work and then getting to see the

Performance Preparations How band prepares for performances

John Mark Johnson, Staff Writer

In preparation for football games, CHS band has their own pre-game rituals much like many others. Listed here are some of the band’s rituals which are performed before halftime and games. Though these rituals may seem strange to some, to the members of the band, they are vital to a superior performance.

Firstly, before games, the band will crown one freshman to be freshman of the week. Said freshman is usually decided by the band’s leadership team. Once selected, the freshman will be “knighted” with a foam sword by the band president and given a paper crown (which is usually from Burger King).

In addition, one upperclassmen band member will be selected (once again by the leadership team) to be bandsman of the week. Much like the freshman, the upperclassmen selected to be bandsman of the week is also “knighted” by the band president. The upperclassmen is given a paper crown well.

After the crowning of the freshman of the week and bandsman of the week, the band president usually appoints an upperclassmen to give a speech to the rest of the band. The band direc tor may give a speech as well. These speeches can be about any topic, but are usually inspirational. These speech es are to lift the morale of the band and give some last minute inspiration.

While the band starts warm-ups,

it is tradition that the band’s brass and woodwind players play “Blue Devils,” which gets its name from the renowned Drum and Bugle Corps of the same name and creates a powerful wave of sound when properly played.

“Blue Devils” is a good warmup to build intonation and practice the balance of sound between the different instruments.

Finally, before the band goes on the field, the brass and woodwind players all surround Mr. Smith forming in his words a “hype huddle” where he gives a short speech and sometimes call and response chanting to hype up the band before their halftime performance.

These are only a few of the traditions and rituals the members of the band perform before games.

Though some of these may seem a bit odd, they are an essential part of the Marching Band experience.

Bearcat Basketball New Season and Expectations

Ruby Hudson, Staff Writer

The last season of Bearcats Men’s Basketball was one of the most mem orable events in school history. Ev eryone can remember attending the Round 1 game at Wallace State, which began as an excuse to leave school early. But, when the Bearcats defeated Hazel Green 57-48, the student body instantly became invested in support ing the team. In the next round against Scottsboro, hundreds of students attended, wishing for another victory so the Bearcats could have a chance to go to the Semi-Finals. A huge victory of 75-58 took the Bearcats to a game against Park Crossing in the Semi-Finals at the BJCC in Birming ham. Despite the further distance to travel, the student body showed up decked out in neon green CHAOS t-shirts. Rallying together, the Cullman CHAOS cheered the Bearcats toward a seemingly impossible victory over Park Crossing of 71-55. Attending the championship game was a must, and not only students, but families from all over Cullman came to support the team. The suspense and anxiety during the Championship game against Huff man was blocked out by the excited cheering of the vast student section as the Bearcats slowly but surely pulled ahead. When the clock counted down to zero, the stadium erupted with the cheers of Cullmanites as the Bearcats defeated Huffman 58-50 to win the first state championship in student history. The last time the Bearcats played in the state championship game was in 1932 against Geraldine, but they lost 23-18. Now, 90 years later, the Bearcats returned to the championship game, but this time, they came out with the win.

But that was last season. Going into the new season with a new combina tion of players, students at Cullman High School have been wondering about what the new season will look like. Lots of rumors have been going around that the team will be worse than last season, or even that they will be better than last season, but I wanted to find out the facts. I interviewed seniors Tucker Cagle and Garrison Sharpe, and this is what I learned about the team.

The team has been practicing Mon day through Friday since the second week of school and they have been con stantly preparing to take on the new season. According to senior Tucker Cagle, the team has been building their skills in offense, especially shooting and handling the ball, but they have also been focusing on their relationships between teammates.

It is clear that the team spends a lot of time together during practice, and also in their free time, creating strong relationships between all the players. Garrison Sharpe expressed

how close the teammates are to each other and how they “feel like a family”. Even though the team lost seniors Tucker Gambrill, Jamar Kay, Tucker Apel, and Max Gambrill, four crucial players, Tucker Cagle said that he still feels confident going into the new season. The team has gained three new players, and Cagle believes that their skills will help balance the team to help them do just as good as last season, or even better.

Since the team last season per formed so well, I was curious about what the coaches expected from this year’s team. When asked about the coaches’ expectations, Cagle said they want the team “To get better everyday without thinking about winning or los ing, and just reaching our potential and playing our best.” Garrison Sharpe also said that the coaches want them to reach their potential, but to also not try to be last year’s team. As for Sharpe, he believes that their experiences in the last season have made the team more mentally into the game. Going into the new season now, he said that the team is smarter and knows what to expect. But, even with their new experiences, Sharpe said, “The new season is gonna be tough, but we can do it again. We just have to stick to what we do and how we play. We just have to be us.” As for the players, Tucker Cagle wants to play the best he can in the new season, without putting too much pressure on himself. Sharpe hopes that the past year has given him experience to help him do better in the new season.

We all know that the students love the basketball team because of their success in the last season and, of course, because of Coach Stu, but I was curious to hear from the players why they love being on the basket ball team. Cagle said he loved how basketball helped him make lasting relationships with his teammates. Evan Wilson, a sophomore, smiled when asked this question, and said, “ I love how hard we work, and how many games we win.” Colton Echols simply said, “The brotherhood.” When asked what he loved about being on the team, Sharpe had to take a moment to think, but then said, “All of it. The whole experience, trusting and playing with each other, and winning.”

The success of the basketball team last season has opened up more opportunities for the team, including a trip to Disney World. They will play against teams from across the nation in the KSA Events Classic Tournament at the Orange County Convention Center, one of the most premier ath letic venues in the Nation. The team is flying down in December on Sun day the 18th, and they will play in the mornings from Tuesday to Thursday. In the afternoons, they will get to enjoy

the parks and spend time with each other. After speaking with some of the team members, I could tell that they have worked hard for their success and have been humbled by it, and I wish them well in their new season. The first game of the season is Monday, Novem ber 7 against Calera at Cullman High School.

Photos taken by Ruby Hudson

Karmas’ Review

The staff reviews items from Karmas

Elley Atchison, Staff Writer

I love Karma’s Coffee House! Not only does it hold amazing coffee, and get involved in city events, but it also allows me to support locally. I have been a customer at Karmas for quite some time now, and the day has finally come when I, and other Hilight mem bers, review some of their drinks and food. I know you are all beaming with joy right now.

I really enjoy their cappuccinos. They are not too bitter and not too milky. I do wish there was more foam on top though. A major plus in getting a cappuccino in the shop is that they give you a little Biscoff cookie to go with it- how cute!

caramel in it (Anna Beth should be a food critic).

Miss Maulden gave her beverage a 7/10 because it was a bit bitter for her liking. She then came back to state that it got better as she drank it.

The homecoming queen herself humbly obliged to rate a drink. She got the Yang frappe and gave it a 7/10, say ing it was very good and she “loved it.” Miss Lunsford said it was very creamy but very much on the sweeter side.

Miss Olivia rated her hot chocolate an 8.5/10, stating it was wonderfully chocolatey and sweet. She did add that she wished it was a bit more creamy.

Costumes on a Budget

Five last minute costumes when on a budget

Destiny-Faith White, Staff Writer

One thing no one tells you is that finding a last minute halloween cos tume is HARD. How many times have you frantically ran to Walmart and raided the last remenents of what used to be a costume isle? Well raid no fur ther! Here’ s a list of easy, last minute, Halloween costumes that you can put together on a budget! All it takes it a quick rummage through your closet and maybe a trip to the dollar store!

Mummy: Wrap yourself in some toilet paper/bandag es and you’re good to go!

Alecia sadly does not like white chocolate; however, she said she en joyed this drink. Alecia rated her drink a 6.75/10. She also added that she does not enjoy hot drinks, but this was not too shabby.

This was amazing and every person must try this sandwich. It had pesto, tomatoes, mozzarella, and was panini pressed. There is nothing more I need to say about this sandwich. You need it.

Anna Beth loved this cookie! She said it had the perfect amount of salt and

This drink was too sweet for my liking. I like a much stronger beverage when I’m having a cup of coffee(or tea in this case). However, if you like sweet drinks, this just might be the thing for you.

Praiseworthy Podcasts

Podcasts you should listen to

Elley Atchison, Staff Writer

Stuff You Should Know with Josh and Chuck Josh and Chuck never cease to amaze me with their intellect. They are exceedingly educated on the topics they discuss. In “Stuff You Should Know,” they talk about subjects that both teach you and pique your inter est. This podcast is definitely worth a listen.

One of my favorite episodes: “Behold, National Parks!”

ly interesting. Episodes come out every morning, updating you on the import ant news of the day.

One of my favorite episodes: “The Fall of Afghanistan”

der. This story is told several years later after the conviction was made. The verdict was that Hae Min Lee’s high school boyfriend, Adnan Syed, killed her and he was sentenced to life in prison. This podcast tells every detail of the murder, and reveals that Adnan may not be the killer…

The Popcast with Knox and Jamie

Scarecrow: For this one, you can find all of these items in your closet! Grab some overalls, a flannel shirt, a straw hat, and some boots. Paint on a stitched mouth, a nose, and some rosy cheeks and there you have yourself a scarecrow! (If a scarecrow isn’t your thing, you can easily turn this into a cowboy/girl.)

Ghost: One of the easiest costumes you could ever do. Just get a white sheet, cut some eye holes, and BOOm! You’ re a ghost.

“No Costume” Costume: If you’re really trying to ball on a budget, this one’s for you! My dad had a hilarious idea one year to get a plain white t-shirt and write “Error 404: Costume Not Found” on it. Everyone loved it and it cost him absolutely nothing!

If you’re tired of watching the news but still want to be informed on the current politics, definitely check out “The Daily.” These episodes are rough ly 30 minutes long and they are straight to the point while also being immense

Emma Chamberlain’s calm, raspy voice alone is a reason to listen to this podcast. She discusses various topics ranging from social issues to personal advice and fashion tips. Emma Cham berlain can cheer you up in 50 minutes with one of her thoughtful episodes. One of my favorite episodes: “failure (part one: failing as a human being)”

“Serial: Season One”

If you’re interested in true crime stories, you must listen to this. Season one breaks down the events that led to a high school girl Hae Min Lee’s mur

This podcast is very dear to me. I mean it when I tell you it is one of the best things you will listen to. The Pop cast discusses all things pop-culture related. They give insight into things like movies, t.v shows, relationships, and so much more that are not only hilarious but insightful as well.

One of my favorite episodes: [The NOs of Thanksgiving]

Cat: This one’ s basic but still cute! Dress in all black, paint some whiskers on your face, and get you some cat ears.

Minion: Get some blue overalls, a yellow shirt. Pair them with some goggles, black gloves, and black shoes! You can also carry around a teddy bear or maybe some bananas for extra points!

Cappuccino: Reviewer- Me

Golden Yang Mocha: Reviewer- Alecia Scott

The Godfather Sandwhich Reviewer- Me

Salted caramel cookie: Reviewer- Anna Beth Maulden

Iced vanilla latte with oat milk Reviewer- Anna Beth Maulden

An iced vanilla chai with strawberry Reviewer- Me

Yang frappe Reviewer- Mimi Lunsford Hot chocolate Reviewer- Olivia Britton

The Daily by The New York Times

Anything Goes by Emma Chamber lain

EDITORIALS10

Nate Zills - “So everyday the night before I would be like ‘I really am gonna dress up to morrow’ and then in the morn ing I’d be like ‘I’m too lazy to do this’ so I just wore regular clothes.”

Bennett Cabri“Yeah same… I wasn’t really prepared enough for the week”

Cole Peetz- “The reason I did not dress up is be cause I was too dripped out to wear a costume and I wanted everyone to see my drip, I’m too cool for it.”

Gavin Golden- “Honestly I didn’t even know what day it was I just wore col ors I liked.”

D23 Expo Disney, Marvel, and Pixar announce ments

Reilly Johnson, Staff Writer

1. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Ironheart

Ant-man and The Wasp: Quantu

Fantastic Four

Echo (series)

Daredevil: Born Again (series)

Captain America: New World Order

Thunderbolts

The Marvels

Peter Pan & Wendy

Mufasa: The Lion King

Snow White (live-action)

Inside Out 2

Elio

Elemental

Win or Lose (series)

Iwájú (series)

Zootopia+ (series)

Strange World

Haunted Mansion

Hocus Pocus 2

Disenchanted

The Little Mermaid (live-action)

2 Cool 4 School Students and teachers who were to cool to dress up during Homecoming week!!

Olivia Britton & Mimi Lunsford, Staff Writers

Cooper Loftin- “I dressed up every other day.. I don’t really listen to music or anything like that.”

Josue- “Because i’m a pimp and because I jus gotta be different… ya know what i’m sayin… I jus gotta stand out”

Blakely Brannon“That HOCO day wasn’t good enough for me to dress up”

Lilybeth Jean- “ I literally dressed up ev eryday except the day they took my photo…”

Coach Dingler- “I wasn’t too cool I forgot that day”

Braylon Adcock“Because I don’t bleed black and gold”

Roselina - “I didn’t have anything to dress up in”

Coach Kyle Morris -”The lion does not concern itself with the opinion of the sheep”

Madelyn Cain-”Because I’m just tryna graduate”

Romine- “Because I’ve been teaching for 23 years”

Mrs. Lunsford-”For the record I dressed up everyday except for that one day and I dressed up for the Gatsby party. So I did not feel like looking like a slob like Adam Sandlar dresses so that was my rationale.”

Garrett Hall- “When you’re custom made you’re not made to fit in.”

EDITORIALS

Is It Really Worth It?

Mimi Lunsford, Staff Writer

The Advanced Placement program allows students to take college courses and exams while they are still in high school. At the end of the course, an exam is given and if a passing score is made then students will receive credit as if it were a college class. These courses are often cheaper than if they were taken at the college level. Cullman High also gives students an option to dual enroll with our local community college, Wallace State. Dual enrollment costs a bit more mon ey, but it guarantees that you will re ceive college credit for the course that you are going to take. If you choose not to dual enroll or do not pass the exam, AP courses often prepare you for and better your chances of passing the class when you take it in college. Another advantage of the AP program is that you can go ahead and lighten your college workload while you are still in high school. This is the motivation of many students. Additionally, another incentive to take these challenging classes is the extra weighted points

that will be added to your GPA. Here at Cullman, 10 extra points are added to your grade in an AP class when it is calculated into your GPA. Many take these advanced classes to boost their class rank or maybe even to raise their GPA to get into the college they want to attend. And I know you are proba bly thinking this appears to be perfect. You will have a reduced workload, save money, and get weighted credit on your GPA. Sounds absolutely flawless! Sadly, it is quite flawed. Since AP classes are located at the college level, the workloads are too. And this is exactly how it should be, but in college students normally take an average of 3-4 classes at a time. While in high school, students can take anywhere from 4-7 classes at a time and possibly more. Juggling normal classes along with college classes is tremendously overwhelming. Many students who sign up for these challenging classes are very bright and hardworking. Yet, many of them become overwhelmed and overworked, pulling all-nighters

The Loss of a Leader

The Life and Reign of Queen Elizabeth II

John Mark Johnson, Staff Writer

On September 18, 2022, Queen Eliz abeth II passed away at the age of nine ty six at Balmoral Castle in Scottland. Elizabeth II had the longest reign of any British monarch, with a reign of seventy years and 214 days.How did she get here? How did she become the iconic world leader we knew her to be?

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born April 21, 1926 as the eldest child of Prince Albert, duke of York , and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Her father took the throne in 1936 after the abdication of his brother King Edward VIII, making Elizabeth the presumptive heir. Her only sibling, Princess Margaret, was born in 1938. Her education was supervised by her mother, who assigned governess Marion Crawford to the education of Elizabeth and her sister. These lessons focused on history, language, litera ture and music. Crawford would later publish a biography of Elizabeth and Margaret’s years of childhood, much to the dismay of the royal family. During World War II, Elizabeth and Marga ret were separated from their parents, staying in Balmoral Castle in Scotland, safely away from the London Blitz. Elizabeth would meet her future husband, Prince Phillip of Greece and Denmark, in 1934 and again in 1937. The two were second cousins once removed via King Christian IX of Den mark and third cousins through Queen Victoria. Their engagement was officially announced on July 9, 1947,

which sparked some controversy. The problem was Phillip had no financial standing, was foreign-born (though he had served in the Royal Navy during WWII), and had sisters who married German nobleman who had Nazi links. Phillip had also renounced his Greek and Danish titles and officially converted from Greek Orthodoxy to Anglicanism.

Shortly before the marriage, he was creat ed Duke of Edinburgh and took the style His Royal Highness. Elizabeth and Phillip were officially married on No vember 20, 1947 in Westminster Abbey recieving 2,500 wedding gifts from around the world. Elizabeth would give birth to her first child, Prince Charles, on November 14, 1948 and her second child, Princess Anne, on August 15, 1950.

In the summer of 1951 the health of King George VI started to decline, with Elizabeth standing in for him at public events. While on a tour of Australia and New Zealand with her husband by way of the British colony of

and giving up free time just to finish the load that is bearing down on them. This can add to a major problem that many American teenagers are fighting against right now: mental health. The strain and stress that is felt by teens can be attributed to school, extracur ricular, and many other things. AP classes exclusively add to this distress. In an already struggling generation, is a little college credit actually beneficial? Another downside of these strenuous classes is the idea that they might not pay off. At the end of every AP course, an exam is given to assess students and see if they have truly obtained the knowledge that they have learned over the past school year. This exam not only costs money, but it is very chal lenging to pass. All exams are scored on a 5-point scale and to pass the exam you must score at least a 3. Imagine working hard all year, only to miss passing the exam by a point or two. And even if you do pass the exam, it might not count. What I mean by this is that only certain colleges will even

think about taking AP credit, but even if they do, many require you to make a specific score on the exam. With AP classes there are many advantages and disadvantages. Now the question pops up: Are these classes useful or not? Well, I believe it is 100% a case-bycase situation. Although for some, AP classes are not even in their realm of consideration. Others may say that they are glad they have/are taking these classes. And so it is up to you. Do you think AP classes are worth it?

Kenya, Phillip would break the news to Elizabeth of the death of George VI, Elizabeth’s accession to the throne taking immediate effect. Elizabeth was coronated on June 2, 1953, despite the death of Queen Mary on March 24, and was held in Westminster Abbey, as Mary had requested before she died. This was the first time a coronation cer emony was televised.

On her acces sion, Eliza beth’s son, Prince Charles, became her heir, being named prince of Wales on July

Queen Elizabeth seemed increasingly aware of the monarchy’s modern role, for instance, allowing the royal family’s home life to be televised in 1970 and the formal dissolution of her sister’s marriage in 1978. However, the 1990s would bring a number of challenges for the royal family. 1992 is the year that Elizabeth would refer to as the royal family’s “annus horribilis,” or “horrible year,”

with Prince Charles separating from his wife Diana, princess of Wales. Prince Andrew, and his wife, Sarah, princess of York would also separate. The separation of Charles and Diana would corrode the popularity of the royal family. This criticism would further escalate after Diana’s death in 1997, with Elizabeth’s refusal to fly the national flag at half-mast over Bucking ham Palace.

With her modernization of the mon archy, Elizabeth would try to present a less traditional and pompous image of the monarchy, however, these attempts would be met with little success.

Elizabeth was known to favour simplicity in court life and had a serious and knowledgable interest in govern ment business. Aside from her tradi tional duties, she became a passionate horsewoman; privately keeping racehorses, frequently going to races, and visiting the Kentucky stud farms in the United States. She was also one of the world’s richest women, with a net worth of $500 million due to her financial and property holdings. The death of Queen Elizabeth II has had a great impact of the United Kingdom, as well as the entire world. Elizabeth has a great influence on the lives of many, becoming one of the most iconic world leaders in the modern world.

AP classes are all the rage, but in the end, are they worth it?

ENTERTAINMENT

CatWalking

Bearcats who got caught walking around CHS!

Olivia Britton, Staff Writer

a nickname, but a handful of years ago they called me Cail lou.

If you were sent to the principal’s office what would it be for? Not turning in lesson plans on time.

What’s the craziest rumor you’ve heard that wasn’t true? George W. Bush is a lizard

If life was a video game what would a cheat code be? Saving money from day one.

Ally Branham

Is cereal soup? Technically.. Itcould be but you would nev-er think of cereal as soupbecause it’s not.

What’s the best WiFi name you’ve ever seen? Probably theLunsford’s… It’s called 8ise nough

Who is the funniest person in your math class? Literally no one becauseeveryone is boring

What’s the funniest fact you’ve ever heard? The longest hotdog car is 838 feet

How many chickens does it take to kill an elephant? 300

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen at someone else’s house? Jessie’s Cat What’s the weirdest nickname you’ve ever been called? Gingy

If you were sent to the principal’s of fice what would it be for? Cussing someone out

What’s the craziest rumor you’ve heard that wasn’t true? Someone said that I like to eat paint onthe weekends but that’s NOT true I promise!

If life was a video game what would a cheat code be? You’re not al lowed to see, no vison.

Is cereal soup? No

What’s the best WiFi name you’ve ever seen? Batcave

Who is the funniest person in your math class? Coach Avery What’s the funniest fact you’ve ever heard? Elephant’s milk is pink

How many chickens does it take to kill an elephant? 1 million

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen at someone else’s house? A chicken in their house

What’s the weirdest nickname you’ve ever been called? Babygirl… I hate it

If you were sent to the principal’s office what would it be for? Dresscode

What’s the craziest rumor you’ve heard that wasn’t true? One of my friends was pregnant

If life was a video game what would a cheat code be? It’s cheating if you don’t care what other people think.

ever been called? Snookie

If you were sent to the principal’s office what would it be for? Ditchin’

What’s the craziest rumor you’ve heard that wasn’t true? Sam Adkins died

If life was a video game what would a cheat code be? Death

that wasn’t true? That people were hooking up in the parking lot

If life was a video game what would a cheat code be? CTRL- ALT- DELETE

Coach Johnsey Is cereal soup? No

What’s the best WiFi name you’ve ever seen? FBI surveillance Van Who is the funniest person in your classes? Me

What’s the funniest fact you’ve ever heard? Vatican City in Rome is the smallest Country in the world. How many chickens does it take to kill an elephant? All of them… I don’t think you can have enough. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen at someone else’s house? A stand alone statue of liberty just sitting in the corner but not facing out, it was facing the corner.

What’s the weirdest nickname you’ve ever been called? It wasn’t really

Lily West

Is cereal soup? no

What’s the best WiFi name you’ve ever seen? Mimi’s. It’s called 8ise noug

Who is the funniest person in your math class? me

What’s the funniest fact you’ve ever heard? You can get arrested for having an ice cream cone in your pocket on the train tracks. How many chickens does it take to kill an elephant? 4

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen at someone else’s house? One thousand cabbage patch kids dolls

What’s the weirdest nickname you’ve

Is cereal soup? Yes

What’s the best WiFi name you’ve ever seen? Spectrum

Who is the funniest person in your math class? Christian, I don’t know his last name

What’s the funniest fact you’ve ever heard? At the end everything will be al right and if it’s not alright then it’s not the end.

How many chickens does it take to kill an elephant? Billions

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen at someone else’s house? They had socks on the windows for some reason What’s the weirdest nickname you’ve ever been called? It’s not weird but I re ally hate it. They call me Carlos.

If you were sent to the principal’s office what would it be for? Using my phone

What’s the craziest rumor you’ve heard that wasn’t true? That someone found a snake in my car… First of all I don’t even have a car.

Is cereal soup? No

What’s the best WiFi name you’ve ever seen? Yomamashouse2.0

Who is the funniest person in your math class? Slade Turbyfill

How many chickens does it take to kill an elephant? At least 200

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen at someone else’s house?

I once saw a dog that was on top of a table and he was doing something to a banana that… I um…it was a little weird.

What’s the weirdest nickname you’ve ever been called? Chewy

If you were sent to the principal’s office what would it be for? I probably accidentally stole very secure documents… accidently

What’s the craziest rumor you’ve heard that wasn’t true? I once heard a rumor that at a cabin some body was walking around with no pants on and running up and down the halls butt-naked

If life was a video game what would a cheat code be? Up up down down left right left right A B

JC Ellerbee

Is cereal soup? No

What’s the best WiFi name you’ve ever seen? Homeisnunyabusiness or text#####forwifipassword

Who is the funniest person in your math class? Garret Mobley

What’s the funniest fact you’ve ever heard? You can’t sleep on a refrigera tor in Massachusetts

How many chickens does it take to kill an elephant? 2025

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen at someone else’s house? My mother What’s the weirdest nickname you’ve ever been called? KP

If you were sent to the principal’s office what would it be for? My legs What’s the craziest rumor you’ve heard

Is cereal soup? Yes i think so because it’s like stuff in like a liquid broth but like the broth is milk

What’s the best WiFi name you’ve ever seen? We recently got a new WiFi box and we called it snatchel1 because that’s the name of my cat.

Who is the funniest person in your math class? Christian Churape

How many chickens does it take to kill an elephant? Around 3 with the power of friendship.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen at someone else’s house? One of my friends’ houses since the 6th grade and it just has like the biggest bump on its head and he’s had it for so long and i just think it’s so neat.

Riley Brewer

Marcos Tejeda

Alexander Renteria

Lauren Chapin

Lauren continued:

What’s the weirdest nickname you’ve ever been called? Chapstick… thanks John Weston I hate it

If you were sent to the prin cipal’s office what would it be for? Definitely for a video i’ve taken in theatre

What’s the craziest rumor you’ve heard that wasn’t true? During the “yikyak era” as I like to call it, somebody made a rumor that Mrs. Hall and Mr. Sparks have like a dungeon in their basement.

If life was a video game what would a cheat code be? Time travel

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen at someone else’s house? A chicken as a chandelier

What’s the weirdest nickname you’ve ever been called? carrot

If you were sent to the principal’s office what would it be for? I prob ably cheated on a test

What’s the craziest rumor you’ve heard that wasn’t true? Landon Mccolch’s ex was a dude

I life was a video game what would a cheat code be? The gym

been called? foot

If you were sent to the principal’s office what would it be for? I would get caught giving Garrett the answers to the test

What’s the craziest rumor you’ve heard that wasn’t true? George brought a weap on on campus

If life was a video game what would a cheat code be? Being over 6 ft tall

Sweather Weather Songs to add to your fall playlist

Is cereal soup? no

What’s the best WiFi name you’ve ever seen? AFTAHV35ZR=%

Who is the funniest person in your math class? There’s no one funny What’s the funniest fact you’ve ever heard? That there are 76 genders

How many chickens does it take to kill an elephant? Like 20,000

Is cereal soup? no

What’s the best WiFi name you’ve ever seen? NetGear

Who is the funniest person in your math class? Probably a combination. When Nate Zills and Ryan Skin ner get together.

What’s the funniest fact you’ve ever heard? Cows have more than one stomach How many chickens does it take to kill an elephant? At least 4

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen at someone else’s house? A bedroom ded icated to dolls

What’s the weirdest nickname you’ve ever

Is cereal soup? yes

What’s the best WiFi name you’ve ever seen? Hufflepuffhouse

Who is the funniest person in your math class? Probably Josue

What’s the funniest fact you’ve ever heard? Otters give rocks to their soulmates How many chickens does it take to kill an elephant? 1

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen at someone else’s house? Probably a chest full of… nothing

What’s the weirdest nickname you’ve ever been called? Lucy

If you were sent to the principal’s office what would it be for? Being outspoken

If life was a video game what would a cheat code be? CTRL- ALT- DELETE

The Strange Getting Stranger Super fans’ predictions for the Stranger Things Season 5

Mimi Lunsford, Staff Writer

Number 1: Will’s Hidden Identity

As revealed in the first couple of seasons, we all know Vecna goes by many names: Vecna, 001, and Hen ry Creel. But could there possibly be one more? Many Stranger Things fans have expressed their concern that Will could secretly be Vecna. I mean let’s think about it. Will has not been able to catch a break, he’s been kidnapped, possessed, and exiled, and the poor kid has been through it all. Will has always been connected to Vecna and the Upside Down in some odd way. Even in the last episode, Will felt it when Vecna entered his reality. Will is the perfect living host for Vecna. Many believe that Vecna will transfer to Will in the real world and use him to take over the world. The next season might give these stranger things conspiracists the answer they are looking for.

Number 2: Life is Just a Game

Perception is a funny thing. Our minds can be treated and twist ed in many ways. Are the Duffer Brothers just playing a joke on millions of people? Some spectators

have begun to worry about this. Stranger Things started with the 4 boys playing a board game called Dungeons and Dragons, they might still be playing the game. What if the entire show was just a real-life reenactment of the board game that the boys are playing? This would mean that all the beloved and hated characters of the show might just be pawns in a game. It would all just be a massive trick.

Number 3: Duh! A Dragon!

In season 4, Will paints Mike a picture of the 4 boys fighting a mighty, red dragon. We established early that Will has a psychological connection to Vecna and Upside Down. Some super fans have come to the conclusion that this is a prediction for the upcoming season. They believe the next monster to be fought will be this drawn dragon. This theory also falls in line with the game Dungeons and Dragons where the dragon is an even greater threat than Vecna. Watch out as it seems that the next season might possibly become more intense than the first 4!

Number 4: Dude, I Forgot About Her!

In season 2, the brothers intro duced the viewers to Kali, num

ber 8. Kali is El’s sister from the Hawkins Lab. Just as El did, Kali escaped from Papa. Kali has the power to induce mental halluci nations and convince people they are seeing things that are not truly there. A few fans hypothesize that these powers will play a major role in the ultimate defeat of Vecna and the Upside Down. Whether in sea son 5 or another season to come we do not know. I guess time will tell.

Number 5: “Our dead are never really dead to us un til we have forgotten them” -George Eliot

In season 4, Eddie Munson is at tacked and killed by demobats after he sacrifices himself to help the rest of the group. Many fans were dis traught over his death and immedi ately started coming up with possi ble situations in which Eddie is not really dead. One of these includes Eddie getting resurrected and becoming Vecna’s sidekick, Vas the Bloody-Handed. In Dungeons and Dragons, Vas is the leader of the demo bats and vampire lieutenant of Vecna. Fans have expressed their concern about this theory coming true in Season 5.

Garrett Rester

Evan Johnson

Leah Hunt

Anna Beth Mauldin, Editor-in-Chief

We Found Eacho ther in the Dark City and Colour

Visions Loving

Live Well Palace

From Eden Hozier

Blackbird

The Beatles

Caroline Colter Wall

cardigan Taylor Swift

Fade Into You Mazzy Star

Witches

Alice Phoebe Lou

I Think I Like When It Rains WILLIS

Sound & Color Alabama Shakes

Love My Way

The Psychedelic Furs

Texas Sun Khruangbin & Leon Bridges

1. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling- A young boy learns that he is a wizard and attends a mag ical school, where he encounters magic, fun, peril, and everything in between. This series is a must-read as it contains a captivating story and has become part of our culture.

2. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee- This 1960 novel follows Scout, a young girl, and tells her coming-of-age story as she encounters the roots of racial prejudices and forms her own opin ion against the normal mindset of the time. This book is a fun classic, but also addresses the coexistence of good and evil in the world and is an eye-opener to some of the greater problems that our society once faced.

3. The Perks of Being a Wall flower by Stephen Chbosky- This 1999 novel is a beautiful coming of age story that follows a troubled freshman through his first year of high school. As he slowly makes new friends he comes to some dis turbing realizations. This story is a great perspective on relationships, intimacy, and trauma.

4. No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai- This 1948 Japanese novel tells the story of a young man from childhood to adulthood through

his many troubles and hardships. Osamu Dazai addresses mental illness and culture in a unique way through the troubled main charac ter in this novel.

5. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie- De tective Hercule Poirot must find a mur derer on the Orient Ex press, but all trails seem to lead to a dead end.

The plot continues to build until the end takes you by complete surprise.

6. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank- The diary provides a vivid glimpse into the life of a 13-year old Jewish girl living in Nazi occu pied Holland. It provides a vital glimpse into the Holocaust, and helps preserve the memory of this tragic event, which should never be forgotten.

7. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis- This fantasy novel follows the Pevensie

Local Haunts Haunted places near Cullman Mack Rudder, Staff Writer

While most people will describe Cullman, Alabama using words like “joyful” and “beautiful,” others might describe it as spooky, dark, and some times even haunted. To celebrate the Halloween season, here are some sup posed haunted places in and around Cullman.

Supposedly, the most haunted place in Cullman is The Sanctuary at the

up and down the halls, leaving anyone in the area with chills.

siblings as they discover a hidden world in the back of a wardrobe, and must work together to save it from the White Witch, who wants to take control of that world. The plot contains a captivating fairy tale, but also has a message of right and wrong and explores human nature, alluding to the Bible throughout.

8. The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins- These dystopian novels about a game where the last one standing gains incredible riches has an unparalleled storyline and keeps the reader on edge, with suspense and peril throughout. The unique story these books tell draws in any audience and takes them on an adventure.

9. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott- This is a classic story about sisters who grow up, find love, and find their place in the world. The book, as well as the movie, give a refreshing story as you look into the realistically-portrayed lives of the four March sisters.

10. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry- This 1943 novella follows a young boy as he travels through space to different planets with different rulers. While most ly lighthearted, this tale teaches about the responsibilities of friend

ships, relationships, family, and love. While mostly for children, this novel still teaches an important lesson of not growing up too fast

11. The Princess Bride by William Goldman- This 1973 novel is a classic fairy tale adventure with romance, humor, and adventure. Even though it is considered a clas sic, the story is timeless, and any reader will love this book as it takes you on an unforgettable adventure.

12. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut- Slaughterhouse-Five, or, The Children’s Crusade: A Du ty-Dance with Death is a semi-au tobiographical novel written in 1969. The narrator is a veteran from WW2 who was held as a cap tive by the Ger mans in Dresden. This novel provides an inter esting perspec tive on WW2 and veterans’ lives after war.

Woodlands. It was purchased in 2009 by Regional Medical and turned into a geriatric psych ward, but before that, it was just Woodlands Hospital. Old patients and employees claim a ghost named Homer roams the halls of the building. They say Homer would turn lights on and off, flush toilets, operate the ice machine by himself, and walk

Cry Baby Hollow is another haunted place near Cullman, Alabama. Located near Hartselle, Alabama, there are many haunted tales surround ing this area. This main story revolves around the Cry Baby Hollow bridge on Kayo Road. The bridge is small, being only one lane and 12 feet across, and is described as unkempt and desolate. There are multiple different versions of this particular story. One goes that in the 1800s, a buggy contain ing a family with a young baby tipped over into the creek below the bridge, and the baby drowned, while another goes along the lines that a mother was unable to care for her baby, and so she threw him into the creek below the bridge, and he drowned. One thing all the tales seem to have in common is that they center around a young child drowning. Supposedly, if you go to this bridge now and turn your head lights off, leave a chocolate bar on the hood of your car, and walk away, you’ll hear a baby crying, and when you turn back around, a bite will be missing from the chocolate bar.

In Vinemont, the Crooked Creek Civil War museum is said to be haunt

ed by soldiers killed there in battle. This museum sits on 40 acres of land that was used in battle during the Civil War. Many artifacts from this time have been uncovered on this land, as well as Confederate soldiers’ graves. Reportedly, this museum is haunted by the ghosts of the many soldiers who lost their lives there. Some visitors have claimed to see the ghost of a Con federate soldier begging for help, and others have claimed to see the ghost of a Union soldier strolling the grounds with his rifle.

Book Recomendations Books to read even if you hate reading

Ruby Hudson & Mack Rudder, Staff Writers

Historical Meanings Behind Classic Nursery Rhymes

Ruby Hudson, Staff Writer

“Jack and Jill”

Jack and Jill went up a hill

To fetch a pail of water Jack fell down and broke his crown And Jill came tumbling after Everyone has heard this nursery rhyme, but its origins are said to be based on the French Revolution. At this time, France’s involvement in the American Revolution and King Louis XVI’s extravagant spending left France on the brink of bankruptcy. Several years of poor harvests, drought, and disease caused the price of bread to skyrocket. As if it wasn’t enough, the people were also taxed heavily. Upon hearing that the people had no bread, legend goes that Marie Antoinette said the famous, “Let them eat cake!” This obviously angered the French people, and they arrested the king and queen for treason since they failed to address France’s financial problems. King Louis XVI was executed by behead ing first, hence the line in the nursery rhyme “Jack fell down and broke his crown…” and later Marie Antoinette was executed the same way, leading to the line, “and Jill came tumbling after.”

“Muffin Man “

Do you know the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man?

Do you know the muffin man

Who lives on Drury Lane?

Even though the legend behind this nursery rhyme has not been proven true, it has an interesting, if slightly disturbing backstory. The nursery rhyme supposedly originated as a caution to children in 16th century England, warning them to beware of a baker-turned-serial killer. Suppos edly, this man’s name was Frederick Thomas Lynwood, and he lured away children with a muffin tied to a string. Many articles claim this to be true and even have a specific body count, but the story has been told and retold so many times that the true origins may have been lost. Another English version of the rhyme substitutes “Drury Lane” for “Dorset Lane” which had the reputa tion of “the worst street in London,” marking the site of the 1888 murder site of Mary Jane Kelly-- the youngest of Jack the Ripper’s victims. Whether the history is true or not, the main lesson is: don’t follow muffins on strings.

“Ring Around the Rosie”

Ring around the rosie

A pocket full of posies

Ashes, ashes

We all fall down

This nursery rhyme has one of the most infamous backstories with the claim that it refers to the Great Plague of London in 1665, which was the last major outbreak of the bubonic plague in England. The “rosie” is supposed ly the rash that covered the infected people, the smell of which they tried to cover up with “a pocket full of posies”. This outbreak killed roughly 15 to 20 percent of London’s population, mak ing the last part-- “Ashes, ashes, we all fall down,”-- self explanatory.

“Mary, Mary Quite Contrary”

Mary, Mary, quite contrary

How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells And pretty maids all in a row

This rhyme is about Queen Mary I of England, who became queen after the death of the only surviving male heir, Edward VI. She was a de voted Roman Catholic and attempted to reverse the English Reformation, which was when the Church of En gland broke away from the authority of the pope and the Catholic Church in the 1530s. “Contrary” is one way to describe a murderous psychopath, and her reign was marked by the persecu tion of Protestants, which which led to hundreds of executions.

“Humpty Dumpty”

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men, Couldn’t put Humpty together again.

This is one of the most classic, yet puzzling nursery rhymes. As kids we always wondered what was up with Humpty Dumpty and why he was sitting on that wall in the first

place. However, after researching, the story of Humpty Dumpty could easily represent King Richard III of England’s reign and fall. The “wall” that Humpty Dumpty sat on could represent King Richard’s precarious position as king, which he gained through two coups. When the king, Edward IV died, his eldest son, Edward V, a boy of 12 became king. In his first coup, Richard seized Edward V, dismissed his household, and swore his loyalty to Edward. In doing this, Richard became the head of government. In his second coup, Richard had Lord Hastings, the manager of the monarch’s household, executed, allegedly for treasonable conspiracy, but prob ably to get rid of Edward’s most devoted supporter. Hastings was the former chamberlain, who was a person who managed the house hold of the monarch. After gaining control of the heirs of the throne, Richard publicly declared his claim to the throne, and on June June 26, he usurped it. His reign was based on reformation and committing to justice and morality, but it lasted only two years and was faced with much opposition. His only heir and his queen died, and propaganda was being spread that he was a murderer like King Herod, a betrayer like Judas Iscariot, and a tyrant. Later, King Richard III was unhorsed and killed in the Battle of Bosworth Field, leading to the line “Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,” and his army melted away, leading to the last two lines of the nursery rhyme.

They’re not as cute as you think

This or That: Fall Edition Which would you rather do?

Anna Beth Burleson, Staff Writer

Pumpkin Spice Latte Hot ChocolateOR

Halloween OR Thanksgiving

Scary Movie Haunted HouseOR

Bonfire Movie NightOR

Carmel Apples OR S’mores

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