The Hilight: Valentine Edition, 2021

Volume LXXXVI February 12, 2021 Issue III 510 13th St. Cullman, AL 35055

The Valentine’s Day Edition 67 School Days Until Graduation!

Spring Playlist Sounds of spring

Rom-Com v.s. Real Life The media’s effect on love Ava Burns, Staff Writer

1. “Walking on Sunshine” -Katrina and the Waves

Love letters, talking on the landline, and going to a drivein-movie are all things of the past. When you think of love now, you think of texting and dating apps. It seems almost impossible to stay married for thirty, forty, and even more years in this day and age. Not too long ago, this was the normal. In our grandparents time, people would get married at 18 and stay together for the rest of their lives. So what has changed? What has made even 10-year relationships extremely rare? Relationships just have not adapted to technology.

Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook are all bear traps when you are walking in the woods of love.

2. “What a Wonderful World” -Louis Armstrong 3. “Here Comes the Sun” -The Beatles 4. “Fool for Love” -Lord Huron 5. “Mr. Blue Sky” -Electric Light Orchestra 6. “My Type” -Saint Motel 7. “Spring is Here” -Ella Fitzgerald 8. “Shrike” -Hozier 9. “Beautiful Day” -U2 10. “Kyoto” -Phoebe Bridgers 11. “Girl from Ipanema” -Oscar Peterson Trio 12. “Flume” -Bon Iver 13. “Wildflowers” -The Wailin’ Jennys 14. “Poison and Wine” -The Civil Wars 15. “creature” -half·alive

Copy this link for playlist access:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5aF3rxTRnc3i1RmBTdko05?si=afc8cf3954e44054

Features: 1-5

Technology has completely changed the way we communicate. Before social media you had to wait to send letters back and forth or use the house phone, there was no instant access to communication that is prevalent today. Now, we can get on Instagram and message someone from across the globe in the blink of an eye. Many people see this as an improvement because it allows us to send and receive large amounts of information from anywhere in the world in the blink of an eye. But, this can actually destroy relationships. Cheating has been a huge issue in the tech age. Let’s say that day-today life starts getting boring,

Campus News: 6-9

even if you have your loving partner to spend time with. You might start spending more time online, and come across someone who is new and exciting.

You start talking to them and before you know it, you start sneaking out of the house to go see this new guy/girl, and you leave your partner completely alone because you have lost feelings for them. When things start to feel boring to you, it is best to communicate with your partner and tell them you want to spice things up. You could try going on more dates or planning a vacation. They say that you should never stop doing the little things. Just talking to your partner about these feelings and working them out can get the honeymoon or thrilling feeling back in your relationship without the cheating and lying.

Spending too much time on social media looking at “perfect” couples on Instagram can have the same effect. You see how seemingly flawless this other couple is and look at pictures of them going on romantic getaways to other countries, but those couples are just as flawed as anyone else.

They spend their time together taking pictures and videos, never simply enjoying each other’s company. Online you don’t get to see all the normal things that happen in a relationship, just the perfect things. High standards are not a good thing, despite the Instagram mentality behind cutting people off for the tiniest things. Getting and keeping a partner will be harder for you if your standards are unreachable. Couples fight, it’s a normal thing. When you expect perfection, those little fights can be the deciding factor

Opinion: 10-12

for you to break up with your significant other. This should not be the case. Whatever fights you might get into shouldn’t be blasted on social media, either. I see way too much of that these days. Handle these things in private, and I guarantee your relationship will be better. Devoting your free time to looking at all of this on social media can also harm your confidence and lead to body image issues or more serious conditions. Just remember, not everyone you date is going to be a hopeless romantic that will heed to your beck and call. We are all just human, and you should always keep that in mind. No one is perfect, not even you!

Without a doubt, love was easier back in our grandparents’ time. Getting to meet so many new people and getting to contact your loved ones quickly is such a great tool that we now have at our disposal.

If your screen time is balanced with time with your partner, then true love will prevail!

Just try to put down the phone every once in a while and give your full attention to him/her, or you could try kicking it old school and exchanging love letters for a great keepsake in the future. Instead of texting all night, call them or go see them in person. Not everything has to be done online, a world exists outside of these tiny boxes!

Entertainment: 13-20

2F e a t u r e s Women’s Black History Month

Celebrating our history’s most influential black women

Isabella Phillips, Staff Writer With Black History Month and Women’s History Month right around the corner, what better way to acknowledge the most influential black figures and also celebrate our most influential women by combining them into a list of our history’s most impactful black women.

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Marsha P. Johnson Ida B. Wells Third on the list is MarSecond on the list is Ida sha P. Johnson, an activist and B. Wells, an established jourself-identified drag queen. nalist and feminist. Ida was Martha was a prominent born into slavery but was later figure in the Stonewall riots educated at Rust University, in 1969, and also in the trans a freedman’s school in her community. Martha was hometown in Mississippi. At born in 1945 and educated age 14, Ida began to teach in at Thomas A. Edison High a country school and continSchool before enrolling in the ued to teach after moving to Navy for a brief time. Martha Sojourner Truth Nashville in 1884 and attendthen relocated to Greenwhich Starting off the list strong, ing summer sessions at Fisk Village in New York where Sojourner Truth was an aboUniversity. While attending she got involved with proslitionist and women’s rights school in Nashville, the Tentitution in order to survive. activist. Born from two slaves nessee Supreme Court ruled During her time in New York, in 1797, Sojourner was origagainst Ida for bringing a she was originally referred to inally named Isabella by her case against the railroads for as Malcom before taking on parents and didn’t change her being forcibly removed the name Martha P. Johnson, her name until later in 1843. from her seat. After her case, the “P” standing for “Pay It She belonged to a series of she wrote an article in the No Mind” which she used slave owners in her early life, newspaper under the pen as a line when questioned staying with one family for name “Iola” and thus began about her gender. Martha approximately 17 years until her path to journalism. After quickly rose to prominence as their migration in 1849. In three of her friends had been an influential member of the 1815, Isabella married another lynched in a mob, Ida later be- LGBTQ community, serving slave by the name of Thomas came a huge influential icon as as a mother figure for many and had 5 children together she began editorial campaigns struggling and homeless before she left him after their against the lynching that was LGBTQ youth. Martha’s outemancipation. When a memoccuring across the country. ward and caring nature led ber of Isabella’s past slave She continued her anti-lynch- her to speak out about her owner’s family sold one of her ing campaign first as a writer injustices. Martha co-founded sons into slavery in Alabama, for The New York Age, and the Street Transvestite Action she took a momentual step later as a lecturer and organiz- Revolutionaries (STAR) which and went to court to succesful- er. Ida B. Wells will forever be helped to aid LGBTQ people ly sue for her sons return. This remembered for the impactful in several major cities. Sadly, makes Sojourner Truth a huge work she created against the on July 6, 1992 Martha’s body historical figure for both black lynching of black people, and was found in the Hudson history and women’s histofor her work in the journalism river and was ruled as suicide, ry as she was the first black field. despite the people closest to woman to ever win a case her stating she had no such against a white man. intentions. Her case was reopened, 25 years later.

Tarana Burke Last on this list is Tarana Burke, a more recent women’s activist who has accomplished much in the past decade. Tarana is most known for creating the “Me Too” movement, the Me Too hashtag being used over 19 million times on just Twitter alone. Since then, Tarana’s work in women’s rights have been more widely recognized, earning her the spot as the Person of the Year by Time Magazine in 2017. Starting as a teenager, Taranan led multiple campaigns and brought issues such as housing inequalities, racial discrimination, and economic injustice to light. Fueled by her passion for solving inequality, Tarana attended the University of Alabama where she later became involved with the organization, 21st Century. It was here when Burke encountered many women of color who were survivors of sexual harassment and abuse. This began her path down aiding young sexual abuse survivors and her work later lead to her most influential “Me Too” movement.

FEATURES Loving Through Difficult Times

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Ways to give and recieve love in tough times Bella Cottingham, Staff Writer Coming out of 2020, many people have faced struggle after struggle; sadness and negativity are much more prevalent in our world right now. Although, even before the difficult year of 2020, people have struggled and gone through hard times and it’s not always easy to show love and compassion or even receive it. Here are some important ways to give or receive love when you or someone you know is going through a tough time.

tions to show interest such as “what does that feel like?” or “what has been on your mind?” helps communicate that you genuinely care about what they are feeling.

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It can be hard to know what to say to a person who you know is going through a rough patch, and that’s okay. A good thing to do is simply ask how they are feeling and just listen to them. From my experience, when people have personal problems going on and you get them to open up to you (or they do it by choice) they don’t want you to try to fix their problems; they just want someone to talk to who will listen and show sympathy. Don’t interrupt and don’t immediately offer them solutions or advice. Asking ques-

When we feel like we are not equipped to support loved ones through a hard time, our discomfort can compel us to point out a bright side or offer a simple solution, which may come across as dismissive. It’s very easy to say “everything will be okay,” “it could be worse,” or “you can’t think like that.” Phrases like these can often lead someone to feel ashamed or regretful for expressing their feelings. It’s good to rather reassure them realistically. You can say things like “you’re not alone, i’m here for you,” or ask “what can I do to help you?” And of course, remind people that their feelings are valid and they matter.

On the other hand, when you are the one going through something, it can be really difficult to open up to people or receive their efforts to comfort you. It can often feel like

nothing anybody says makes you feel better or reassured. It can be helpful to keep an open mind; there are people that care. You aren’t a burden, and neither are your problems. You deserve support and help so try not to push it away. It’s good to remember that vulnerability is not a bad thing. When someone tries to help you, be mindful, and even if they don’t make you feel better it’s good to appreciate their efforts. Let people know if possible how they can better care for you, but try not to criticize their current efforts. It’s okay to ask for what you want and to speak up if something is bothering you. Communication is one of the most important things in being able to understand one another.

A little disclaimer- every person is different; some ways might work for someone but won’t work for others. Interacting with someone who is going through a tough time, may it be family matters or mental illness, can be really difficult. There

is no perfect thing to say to someone in this type of situation. Another thing to keep in mind is tone. If you want to show someone care and compassion, speak to them kindly without judgement or frustration.

4FEATURES COVID-19 Vaccine Myth vs. Fact Debunking the most prevalent vaccine myths Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief With the entire world decimated by COVID-19 for the past year, the promised vaccine seems like a light at the end of the tunnel. While this is extremely good news, there are many people who are anti-vax that oppose getting the vaccine because of baseless conspiracy theories. In this article, I will be examining the myths, debunking them, and explaining the importance of this vaccine.

Myth 1: The COVID-19 Vaccine is not safe because it was rapidly developed and tested.

Fact: While typical vaccines take years to develop and test, many pharmaceutical companies chose to drop what they were previously working on and chose to invest significant resources into quickly developing a vaccine for COVID-19. While the pandemic warranted an emergency response, the developing companies did not bypass safety protocols and performed adequate testing of this vaccine. The FDA has authorized the vaccine for emergency use. To gain this, the pharmaceutical manufacturer had to follow at least half of the study participants for at least two months after completing the vaccination series. This allows for the vaccine to be deemed safe and effective.

Myth 2: I already had COVID and recovered, so I do not need to get a vaccine when it is available.

Fact: YES YOU DO! At this point in time, there is not enough research to determine a time frame for immunity from the virus, or if this is even something that occurs. Early evidence suggests that the natural immunity you get from having the virus does not last long; more research and study is needed to determine if this is true. Even if you have had COVID, it is recommended that you get the vaccine; however, if you have tested positive for the virus, delay vaccination for 90 days from your diagnosis.

Myth 3: There are severe side effects of the vaccine.

Fact: While there can be shortterm and mild side effects, these resolve without complication or injury. This vaccine has been proven to be safe. Around 50% of those vaccinated developed systemic reactions that were primarily headache, chills, fatigue, or muscle pain that lasted only a day or two. These mild cold symptoms pale in comparison to a nasty COVID case. Keep in mind that these side effects are indicators that your immune system is responding to the vaccine, and that this is a GOOD thing.

Myth 4: I won’t need to wear a mask after I receive the vaccine.

Fact: It will take a good bit of time for everyone who wants a COVID-19 vaccine to get one.

While the vaccine may prevent you from getting sick, it is still unknown if you can carry and transmit the virus to others. Until more is understood, it is important to continue the mask-wearing and physical distancing to protect those around you who may be in a higher risk group.

Myth 5: More people will die as a result of a negative side effect from the vaccine than would die from the actual virus.

Fact: Circulating on social media is the claim that COVID-19’s mortality rate is 1-2% and that people should not be vaccinated against a virus with a high survival rate. This 1% mortality rate is 10 times higher than the seasonal flu. Plus, most hospitals in the United States are still at maximum capacity, or they are exceeding it. There are also a wide variety of factors that affect mortality rates that have not yet been fully explored. It is vitally important to remember that getting vaccinated is not just about your own survival rate from the virus. It is also about preventing the spread to others and the avoidance of the long-term negative health effects.

Myth 6: The vaccine was developed to control the general population through microchips.

Fact: This vaccine does not have a microchip in it. There is no way for it to track people and gather personal information. If you are

truly worried about that, you probably should not own a cell phone or live on the grid. The United States, and anyone else for that matter, does not have the technology to pull something like this off. This is not currently possible and raises lots of ethical issues in general. This is not something that is even feasible.

Myth 7: The vaccine will cause infertility.

Fact: There has been no link between the vaccine and infertility.

This is disinformation that has been circulating online that has been pushed by a former scientist who held anti-vax views.

This view is not scientifically plausible, and the virus has not been linked to infertility. No viral infection and vaccination-inducing immunity has ever caused infertility. If COVID-19 affected fertility, there would already be an increase in miscarriage rates in women infected with COVID-19, and this has not happened.

Myth 8: I am allergic to eggs so I should not get the vaccine.

Fact: The vaccines produced by both Pfizer and Moderna do not contain eggs, nor were eggs used in the development or production of the vaccine. Those with severe allergic reactions are required to stay for observation after being vaccinated for safety precautions.

All in all, do something good for the betterment of the world and get vaccinated!

Source: The Mayo Clinic

Entertainment A Spring Forward

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The fascinating history behind daylight saving time Isabella Phillips, Staff Writer Ever wonder why Americans push back their clocks an hour in November only to change them back in March? The answer actually has a lot of history and science behind it! Daylight savings time actually was invented by Benjamin Franklin.

The concept of changing our clocks was an idea by him used in order to conserve energy. By moving your clock forward, people could take advantage of more daylight hours rather than wasting energy on lighting and lamps once it gets dark. At the time, Benjamin Franklin was the ambassador of France, and even sent a letter to France rejoicing over his own discovery. Even though Daylight Savings Time had been invented decades prior, it was not widely used until around 1916 when Germany adopted the idea, and the rest of Europe shortly fo lowed.

During 1918 when the United States first adopted DST, farmer’s rejected the idea since it would cause them to lose an hour of morning light. DST was most popularized in war time, so Woodrew Wilson abolished the idea until the next war, which would be WWII when President Roosevelt Franklin readopted the idea, calling it “War Time.”

After the war had ended, the United States made it optional for states to reassume the concept of DST, which ultimately led to chaos. Congress then enacted the “Uniform Time Act,” which meant that all states had to follow a uniform protocol in which DST would occur first in April and then end in October.

In 2007, The Energy Policy Act of 2005 revamped the Daylight Saving Time into what we still use present day.

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News

ACT Tips For Juniors

Some helpful ways to prepare yourself Christen Sorrow, Staff Writer With us juniors being seniors next year and having to take the ACT for college, I know how tough it can be to study for the ACT because we don’t exactly know what’s going to be on it.

Here are some tips and tricks to improve your score on the ACT.

Tip 1: If you go to the ACT website, they have free study sets and other resources to look at while studying.

Tip 2: Time management is instrumental on the ACT because you don’t want to stay on

one question for too long. If you don’t know the answer, then move on to the easier questions.

Tip 3: Find and take practice tests. These will help you prepare for the kinds of questions being asked, along with testing how well you can work through the questions.

Tip 4: When taking the test, make sure to mark out obvious answers you know are incorrect.

Tip 5: When taking the English section, go ahead and skim through the essay. Then, once you are done skimming, move on to the questions and reference back to the text to asnwer them.

Tip 6: While taking the Math section, be sure to look through the questions carefully and don’t overthink anything. Work it out, and be sure to use your calculator to check and make sure you are doing it correctly.

Tip 7: There are some great videos to watch on Youtube. Along with this, Khan Academy has some stellar videos with tips to help you prepare and practice.

Tip 8: Cullman High School offers free ACT preparation videos through ontocollege.com. This opportunity will help you raise your ACT score. Check your student email for more information.

CAMPUS NEWS

Bright Star in Review

A glimpse into the shining stars of the theatre department Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief Bright Star was a smash hit!

Inspired by a true story, Bright Star tells a tale of love and redemption set in the American South in the 20s and 40s. When literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Haunted by their unique connection, Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past—and what she finds has the power to transform both of their lives. With beautiful melodies and powerfully moving characters, the story unfolds as a rich tapestry of deep emotion. An uplifting theatrical journey that holds you tightly in its grasp, Bright Star is as refreshingly genuine as it is daringly hopeful.

Celebrity Sighting!

John Baylor visits CHS

Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief

Mrs. Putman works through John Baylor’s program with her junior English class to help them earn scholarship money. She is a huge fan!

Logan Holley showing off the 7 points he raised his score after completing John Baylor’s program.

John Baylor was invited to speak to the 10th and 11th graders about his ACT prep program. He discussed different strategies to approaching the ACT and how to best prepare for test day. Overall, his speech was very effective and inspired students to study harder and to reach for their goals! Visit ontocollege.com and use your student email and Bearcats1 to see what this program can do for you.

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8Sports

Serving Into Senior Season

Interviews with senior members on the CHS tennis team Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor

Emma Murphree 1.) My favorite memory from being on the CHS tennis team is either beating West Point’s #2 varsity girl in a close match my freshman year or beating Albertville in a sectional doubles match at the end of the 2019 season.

2.) I will definitely miss the family dynamic we have been able to create on the team by going through good and bad times together. I will also miss my friends and spending so much time with them during the season.

3.) I enjoy being on the team and could never quit because of all of the memories we have made together.

4.) Winning the state Sportsmanship Award in 2018 and winning sectionals in 2019, which led to the State Tournament.

1.) What is your favorite memory from being on the CHS tennis team?

2.) What will you miss most about being on the tennis team?

3.) Why have you kept playing tennis throughout high school?

4.) What tennis accomplishment are you most proud of?

5.) Which school do you most look forward to playing during the tennis season?

6.) What motivates you during your tennis matches?

7.) What’s the best advice that you would give to the younger members on the CHS tennis team?

5.) Albertville.

persevere through it.

6.) I like to believe that I do well under pressure, but my teammates cheering me on definitely help me gain the confidence to win a match.

Lanie Townson

7.) Never give up. If somethingdoes not go your way, in tennis or in life, keep your head up and

BaskeBall Cats Wrap-Up

A recap of another great basketball season

Isabella Phillips, Staff Writer This year has been full of great games for both our Lady Cats and Boys Basketball team.

The season started off great with a win from our boys basketball team over Arab, making them the Champions of the 64th Annual Holly Pond Thanksgiving Tournament! We also saw many wins from our Lady Cats this season, knocking teams like Mortimer Jordan, Grissom, and Brewer out of the park right at the start of the season.

This season we also saw many great plays from our JV basketball teams; the JV lady cats playing great games against Hartselle and Muscle Shoals and our JV boys playing nail biters against Decatur. Amazing season this year from our basketball team! Go Cats!

To see sports schedules for all CHS sporting teams, copy and paste the following link into a new window: https://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/cullman-bearcats-(cullman,al)/home.htm

1.) Spending time with all the girls and winning.

2.) The girls and playing matches.

3.) I got super close to the team and didn’t want to lose that.

4.) Being most improved.

5.) Hartselle.

6.) My coaches and getting the dub.

7.) Keep pushing and try your hardest and not give up.

Sprinting Into a New Season

Sports

A look into what the track season holds

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Christen Sorrow, Staff Writer With spring rolling around the corner that means track will begin soon. The track team is gearing up for a new season...and, of course, you guessed it, COVID style. With COVID still being around the team is going to of course mask up. But the good thing is that track is an outdoor sport meaning it will be easy to social distance. I asked Coach Dean about what the year will look like due to COVID, when track meets are, if we will still be hosting the meet in May and also if they’re set to go to the state meet.

theCOVID-19 guidelines and safe practices. The other aspect that will change more than anything else are the procedures and guidelines for spectators. Our administration has done an excellent job of that all year long with the Fall and Winter sports so our coaching staff and booster officers will work with them to make sure we operate in a safe manner this Spring.”

A little bit about how this year will be due to COVID-19,according to Coach Dean: “Track and Field competitions are already very organized events so it inherently divides and separates athletes and competitions within the meet. Therefore, we just have to make some adjustments to the way things are facilitated and executed in order to account for

When are the track meets, and where they’ll be?

Varsity Track and Field Schedule 3/6 Helena 3/13 Vestavia 3/20 Cullman 3/25 Intrasquad Meet 4/3 Scottsboro 4/9-10 Mountain Brook 4/17 Huntsville 4/23-24 6A Section 5 Meet 4/29-5/1 6A State Meet 5/7 Special NOALA (North Alabama) Twilight 1600 event at Cullman

We host the track meet in May. We will be hosting our varsity home meet on March 20th as well as two junior high meets in the NOALA Jr. High Circuit on March 9th and April 6th.

State meet.

Plans are in place for CHS to be in Gulf Shores for the State Meet the first weekend in May, as usual.

Kicking Off The Season

Getting a glimpse of the 2021 soccer season Presley Lafon, Staff Writer I interviewed two soccer seniors to get to know a little about them as they are entering their last season of high school soccer. Here is what they had to say.

Eli Borden:

1.) What is your favorite memory from your high school soccer career?

Bailey Gooch:

2.) Who is your biggest soccer inspiration?

3.) What is your least favorite part of training for the season?

4.) Do you have any pre-game rituals?

5.) Do you prefer home or away games?

6.) Where do you plan on going to college and do you plan on playing soccer there?

1.) The time I got a PK called on me for taking out somebody and then saving the PK. (Penalty Kick) 2.) Coach Pat’s bald spot 3.) Gauntlets (an awful running exercise) 4.) I always punch the crossbar right before kickoff.

5.) I prefer home because it’s familiar, but the bus rides to away games are always fun.

6.) Auburn and possibly

1.) My favorite memory was definitely the Gatlinburg trip we took my 10th grade year.

2.) My sister Laney 3.) Running hills...the pain lasts for days.

4.) Yes, one of my teammates brings Gatorade gummies, and we eat them before every game because it gives us “special energy”.

5.) Home games are the best.

6.) I plan on going to Wallace State.

They don’t have a soccer program there, so I don’t plan on playing in college.

10 o p i n i o n Quarantine: The Sequel

Should America go into a full lockdown?

Ava Burns, Staff Writer

COVID-19: the virus that has infected and killed thousands in its time here in the United States. It is contracted through droplets in the air that are released from the infected. With peoples refusal to follow health official’s advice, it has run rampant in America.

Those with pre-existing conditions are affected the hardest by this virus, which can cause the affected to experience horrible symptoms. Loss of smell, loss of taste, struggling to breathe to the point of needing a ventilator, runny nose, coughing, and fever are just the beginning. Now that almost a year has passed since this pandemic started and there has been no lowering of infection rates, the question on people’s minds is should we have gone into a full lockdown at the beginning? What would a full lock down do to our country, and is it worth it?

At the beginning of the pandemic, some countries, like Germany, did an exceptional job controlling their infection rates. Germany had many successes that led to their low COVID-19 numbers, namely their access to COVID tests as soon as the first patients began to show symptoms. Their ability to do widespread tests and treat people quickly and calmly, greatly helped their country and their education on the new virus.

to pay their employees. Many Americans, however, believe that Biden should enforce a full lockdown at the beginning of his presidency. Here is his plan based on his website.

Biden wants to provide emergency paid leave for those with Covid, widespread, free testing, and to break down the cost barriors of treatment.

Photo: Germany was consistantly low with confirmed COVID-19 cases at the beginning of the pandemic. Source: European CDC

They talked with leaders of nearby countries who were also seeing the new strand and gathered information on how they were dealing with it. Germany decided to close down public places that were sources of spreading before other countries around them did, and when they allowed them to reopen, they kept in constant contact with the industries. weather. Many people are still denying that the pandemic is real and social media is filled with videos of people refusing to wear masks or follow social distancing guidelines. Those same people that have the opportunity to take the vaccine, which is in very high demand, are refusing to take it. Some say that the vaccine is just an excuse to inject a microchip into you.

Our delayed response also caused a shortage in medical equipment for hospitals, and many nurses and doctors contracted COVID because they did not have enough PPE. Hospitals all over the country ran out of beds and respirators for those that needed them, causing even more death. Also in the middle of the pandemic, our president threatened to pull funding from the schools that refused to go back to in

2020. The class of 2021 have had their senior year stripped away from them because of the lack of real action from the government. If our government would have taken the necessary early steps to prevent the spread, like Germany, then we would be better off now and our lives may have been back to normal.

In March, there was a lockdown, but not extensive or enforced enough to actually stop the spread. The only real thing the lockdown did was hurt the economy. Some experts say that with the market where it is, it hasn’t been this bad since the great depression.

Global GDP has lost over 9 trillion dollars so far in 20202021. The U.S. Stock Market hit -30% as well. Income per capita is also expected to go down in 170 countries, leaving no country untouched by the economic disaster. Unemployment numbers went through the roof, and with as little stimulus money as the government, lots of families still can’t pay for groceries or bills.

Most of the pressure to lift the first lockdown came from those families who were let go due to their work not being able to follow the guidelines or not having enough money

On a different note, the senior class of 2021 are not even sure they are going to get a normal graduation or prom.

This year we were unable to have a real pep rally. Four years of waiting to graduate and when we finally make it, it may be socially distanced again due to this deadly virus.

Many think we should initiate lockdown now and get it over with, after all another one seems inevitable. This way we can slow infection down and maybe go back to normal life after the majority recieve the vaccine. While Biden does not plan on enforcing a full lockdown the tables might eventually turn and we will be forced to go back into one. But let’s all pray that does not happen, at least until after graduation.

- Australian Bushfires: Australia faced terrible fires that began in December 2019 and carried on into 2020

- COVID-19 Pandemic: The World Health Organization announced that the deadly coronavirus had struck Wuhan,China.

- Kobe Bryant’s Death: The legend Kobe Bryant passed away along side his daughter and seven other passangers.

- Impeachment of President Donald Trump: Former President Trump faced the Impeachement from charges for asking Ukraine to investigate Biden’s son Hunter.

- Stock Market Crash 2020: Due to the Pandemic, the Dow Jones suffered a single-day point drop ever on March 9th.

- Black Lives Matter: Police-involved killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor sparked protest to advocate for innocent black lives taken by the hands of police.

- Biden becomes Democratic presidential nominee: In June, Joe Biden announced he would be running for presidet.

- Beirut Explosion: On August 4th, an accidental explosion at Beiruts port killed 190 and injured thousands.

Opinion

2020 Review & Hopes for 2021 A recap of 2020 and hopefulness for 2021 Christen Sorrow, Staff Writer

We all know that 2020 has been one of the worst years ever! Let’s start at the beginning of 2020.As the time passed until midnight everyone around the world was so excited to see a new year and the beginning of a new decade. I, for one, was very excited to go into the new decade, considering big things were going to be going on in that decade. When the clock struck 12, and it had become a new year everyone was so happy and so excited for what this year would hold.

At the beginning of the year everything was normal.Everyone had heard of the terrible virus in China. Thinking it would never come to the US we had our first case in February, and everything had gone downhill then. Everyone started to get sick and did not know we needed to wear a mask in order to slow the spread as the cases grew rapidly.

As Spring Break rolled around we, of course got out for a week, but a week turned into two weeks and then the rest of the school year.

So as summer rolled around we saw the terrible death of George Floyd.

Just when we thought this year couldn’t get any worse our black brothers and sisters were treated terribly and they deserve their justice.

In the year 2021 I hope that this world can come together as one and not be so divided. I hope that our country will survive this terrible virus and that we can all have a somewhat normal life again . I really hope that high school can be normal especially for my class since it will be our senior year. Hopefully, we’ll get to have a normal homecoming, key club, prom as well as so much more. And hopefully by May, the class of 2021 can have the graduation ceremony they’ve thought about for so long.

In 2021 I want the education to be good to make up for all the cur

riculum most students have missed this year since most teachers are not able to teach without a full class. I hope that we look at all the lessons 2020 taught us and I hope we can apply them to the new year and try to not make those mistakes again.

I hope that as we go into this year that people will be responsible for taking care of ourselves as well as loved ones and people around us. I hope that the people can take note of how much this virus has affected our country and see all the loved ones people have lost and just wear a mask. But most importantly, I hope that our new President, Joe Biden, will do what is best for this country and hopefully bring us together and not have us so divided and hateful to one another. I have confidence that he will listen to the American people no matter what party they’re in and do what's right.

I anticipate 2021 to be one of the best years for our nation because our country needs to overcome these obstacles we’ve faced over the past year. I believe that everyone wants it to be that way considering what we’ve all been through this past year. To losing loved ones from the virus and having to stay inside for months and isolate ourselves for so long. Let’s see the hope 2021 offers.

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- Kamala Harris chosen as Democratic VP candidate: On August 11th, Biden announced he would have California Senator Kamala Harris as the first women Vice President.

- Chadwick Boseman’s death: On August 28th Marvel Fans were shocked to hear about the death of Black Panthers’s Chadwick Boseman.

- West Coast wildfires: Deadly wildfires stuck California and Washington state burning many acers.

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death: The US was shocked to hear about the death of RBG.

- Trump tests positive for COVID-19: On October 2nd The former President announced he as well as his wife Mellania had tested positive for COVID. - Joe Biden becomes President-Elect: Joe Biden became the 46th President of the United States on November 7th.

- COVID-19 vaccine rollout: On December 14th, some US residents had gotten the first round of the vaccine after it had been approved the US Food and Drug Administration.

12 O p i n i o n Trumpageddon

The final days of Trump’s presidency

Ava Burns, Staff Writer

The American people have spoken, and Donald Trump will be our first one term president in 28 years. After a long four years of controversy, Trump lost to Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

Many people believed the 2016 election results would happen all over again, especially seeing how dedicated his supporters are now. But voter turnout last year was higher than in the last 120 years, giving Biden 81,283,485 votes and Trump only 74,223,744.

For comparison, in 2016, Hillary Clinton received 65,853,516 votes and Trump received 62,984,825.

This turnout was most likely due to some of the outrageous events that took place during Trump’s presidency, and many are hoping for a return to normalcy during Biden’s term. So while we hope for only the best during Biden’s first term, let’s take a look at Trump’s first, and most likely last, term ever.

During Trump’s final days, a string of events took place that are absolutely once in a lifetime.

It all started with the fight for the election and the great divide between Democrats and Republicans. During his four years, President Trump was known for his use of social media, particularly Twitter. He took to the platform to speak on all kinds of subjects and to fan the flames of the already dividing country. He has been said to lie to the American people, with many news sites claiming he has told over 20,000 lies so far and averaging about 52 lies or misleading claims per day!

Many of these claims normalized distrust in news outlets, incited violence, and led with a hateful agenda. During the election, he continued a baseless claim about how mail-in ballots

Editor in Chief: Olivia Wood Co-Editors: Isabella Cottingham Maggie Lunsford

were not safe and that the Democrats were trying to steal the election, but voter fraud has been proven to be rare with mail-in ballots. In fact, most of the deceit in the election came from Republicans themselves. In California, there were fake mail-in ballot drop boxes put up by the Californian Republican Party. Some Republicans also tried to break into ballot counting buildings while chanting “stop the vote,” which were all instigated by Trump and his tweets claiming that there was voting fraud. Afterwards, he contested election results for weeks, calling for several recounts and even going as far as trying to convince Georgia’s Secretary of State to ‘find’ him votes. This was only one attack on our democracy, however, and Trump’s words were proven to be quite powerful on January 6th, 2021.

On this particular day, Donald Trump told his supporters to march to the Capitol and “show strength.” They marched down 6th avenue and pushed through police entering the Capitol to stop the Senate vote for the Presidency. Senate members were rushed to safety and the vote was halted. These terrorists, as they have been called, had pipe bombs, and they also stole items from the building and even beat a police officer to death with a fire extinguisher. One man took it as far as breaking into Nancy Pelosi’s office and stealing documents from her desk.

Another took shoes from AOC’s desk. Eventually the rioters were escorted out of the building and the vote resumed, but only after President Trump was pressured to give a statement. He said to his supporters that he loved them and they were special but

Staff Writers: Ava Burns Presley Lafon Isabella Phillips Christen Sorrow Sponsor: Ms. Calahan

that they had to go home. Even though the vote was able to be completed, that does not pardon any of the rioters or Trump, who attempted a coup and committed a terrorist attack. No sitting president should stoop so low as to tell his supporters to stop our democracy and attack our senators.

Our government finally took matters into their own hands, starting a second impeachment trial to try and remove Trump from office and bar him from ever holding public office again.

The second impeachment trial was started to charge Trump with “incitement of insurrection.” He was voted to be impeached by the House of Representatives just before Biden’s inauguration. He still faces trials in the Senate. This made him the first president to ever be impeached twice and really made an impact on the Republican Party. During the first impeachment trials, only one senator voted to impeach, which was Mitt Romney. During the second trials, ten Republicans voted to impeach.

Not only has Trump divided the two parties, but he has also divided his own party. Towards the final week, many Republicans called for a peaceful transfer of power and spoke out against Trump’s action on January 6th.

Trump was not able to use his favorite app, Twitter, or any of his other social media platforms to speak, seeing as he was banned.

Furthermore, topics concerning him were banned or restricted from Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Twitch, Instagram, Reddit, Pinterest, Snapchat, Discord, and others. He still had the option to do a televised statement but refused to do so. Despite this, his supporters still spread rumors of armed protesting during

Opinions expressed in The Hilight do not necessarily reflect that views of the faculty, staff, or admission, of Cullman High School or Cullman City Schools.

the inauguration in all states.

Road signs and new outlets in a few states warned against going to DC on the 20th of January due to these rumors. Even the FBI issued a warning about unrest in all 50 states. At the inauguration there was a National Guard presence, but a peaceful transfer of power was achieved.

During the last few weeks of his presidency, Trump finally agreed to a peaceful transfer of power, but he decided to skip Biden’s inauguration. This was another historic event. Trump was the first president to not attend the inauguration by choice since Andrew Johnson, which happened 152 years ago. I doubt many people would want to see him there after his chaotic presidency, but his not attending just diminished his character in the eyes of the American people even further. In an official statement, Trump finally condemned the Capitol rioters saying that they do not represent our country and that the ones who committed crimes will be punished.

With a new presidency, hopefully, comes peace between the two political parties and the healing of our nation. These events have been a disgrace to our country and our people, and we must strive to do better over the next four years.

The Hilight Cullman High School 510 Street NE Cullma, Al 35055 256-734-3923 Ext. 2045

Entertainment The Tragedy of the Valentine’s Day Massacre

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Mama I’m in love with a criminal Presley Lafon, Staff Writer

The Valentine’s Day Massacre, known as one of the most horrendous shootings in Mob history, shook Chicago’s North Side and opened the eyes of the United States to the reality of mob violence. An ongoing battle for the command of all smuggling and trafficking operations drove a wedge between Al Capone and George “Bugs” Moran.

This tension reached its peak on February 14, 1929 when a commercial garage on North Clark Street was abruptly invaded.

Seven gang members associated with George “Bugs” Moran’s

bootlegging gang were shot and killed by four men dressed as police officers; these men were believed to be disguised hit men working for Al Capone.

The Valentine’s Day Massacre was officially labeled an unsolved crime, but most of the world recognizes Al Capone as the perpetrator for the horrible murders that took place that day.

In 1931, Al Capone was thrown into prison when he pled guilty to tax evasion and prohibition charges, and eventually died while serving time in Alcatraz.

Chief Gangster Al Capone is considered to be the prime suspect for the Valentine’s Day Massacre.

George “Bugs” Moran, a career criminal who operated Chicago’s North Side during the 1920s.

Iconic Connections

Popular T.V. and movie couples Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor

1.) Sandy and Danny The movie Grease was released in 1978 and focused on characters like Sandy Olsson, the typical good girl, and Danny Zuko, the high school bad boy. The two fell in love over summer vacation when Sandy’s family visited from Australia.

After the summer ended, however, the couple parted ways. But when Sandy’s family moves to the U.S. permanently, Sandy and Danny must navigate their relationship through the school year at Rydell High School, where their friends do not support their relationship. Ultimately, they end up together. This movie and these characters show that a relationship only works if both parties are truthful and honest with each other, and portray the idea that you cannot be afraid to be yourself.

2.) Rose and Jack The world was first introduced to Rose and Jack in the 1997 movie Titanic. This movie follows Rose, a rich socialite who follows everything her mother says, and Jack, a poor wanderer who wins a ticket on the Titanic by gambling.

Once again, Rose and Jack come from completely different worlds but they fall in love. Jack pushes

Rose to be more adventurous and brave; Rose pushes Jack to want more for his life than working small jobs and gambling his money away. However, at the peak of their relationship, the Titanic sinks and Jack dies. Although this story has a sad ending, it shows us that love is meant to be scary and sometimes uncomfortable.

3.) Romeo and Juliet

Although this movie is not an extremely well-known romantic comedy, it brings us a modern take on one of the most romantic couples in history. Everyone knows the story of Romeo and Juliet; they come from rival families, fall in love, and ultimately give their lives for love. Although their tale is tragic, it gives us all a feeling of peace knowing that love is out there if we look for it. Sometimes it may come from the most unexpected places.

Their storyline has been recreated and modified again and again, but Romeo and Juliet truly are the standard for love stories throughout history.

4.) Sally and Harry Sally and Harry are from the movie When Harry Met Sally, which came out in 1989. It was one of the first films to ponder the question, “can men and women really be just friends?” In Harry and Sally’s case, the answer was no. The couple starts out as good friends, but by the end of the movie they realize that they love each other and they get married. The film is a perfect mix of romance and comedy. It proves that friendship is one of the best foundations for romantic relationships.

5.) Jim and Pam Jim and Pam are one of the most iconic TV couples from the past few years. After years of Jim pining for Pam, fans watched their friendship finally grow into romance on the popular show The Office. Their workplace romance captured a realistic romance that experiences both good and bad times. Their entire relationship was played out on screen from friendship, to dating, to engagement, to marriage, to children. Jim and Pam gave viewers a glimpse into a modern love story and taught us to never give up on love.

6.) Han and Leia Han and Leia’s story began in 1977 with the first Star Wars trilogy.

At first, Han and Leia hated each other; they fought often and rarely got along. Both are very feisty and stubborn and it seems like they can’t agree on anything. But in the fifth movie, their hate for each other turns to love. They get married and have a son. We see the ups and downs of their relationship from the early years until Han’s death in the seventh episode. At the time of Han’s death, he and Leia were divorced. However, their story shows us that love is more than romance.

It is also a strong and lasting friendship.

7.) Ross and Rachel Although their relationship was nothing short of tumultuous and complicated, Ross and Rachel’s relationship is yet another success story about waiting for love. There were numerous occasions where the couple broke up and got back together soon after. For a majority

of the well-known show Friends, the couple was not together and both Ross and Rachel dated other people. But they somehow found their way back to each other in the end.

They proved that if love is real, it can never really die.

8.) Troy and Gabriella Although the High School Musical franchise is fairly new compared to others on this list, Troy and Gabriella’s relationship is definitely an iconic time from many of our childhoods. Troy and Gabriella were from different ends of the popularity spectrum at East High. Troy was the captain of the basketball team while Gabriella was a part of the Scholastic Decathlon team. Once again, teens from two different worlds fall for each other.

Throughout the series, we see how their relationship changes and how they try to adjust. Ultimately, Troy and Gabriella are granted a happy ending. We don’t know how their relationship turned out after high school, but they made us believe that love is real even when you’re young.

14 E N T E R T A I N M E N T Handmade Love

Easy handmade Valentine’s gifts Bella Cottingham, Staff Writer

Everybody loves getting handmade gifts. Receiving a gift that someone took time out of their day to create for them makes people feel special. So here are some easy and sweet handmade gift ideas for Valentine’s Day!

1. Coffee Mug Mixers This would be a great gift for mom or dad. Add some heart — and sugary sweetness — to their morning coffee with these custom mix-ins. Pour melted chocolate (or caramel) onto silver or plastic spoons, and top with mini chocolate chips, nuts, peppermints, and other flavor-packed garnishes.

really love getting cards that were made especially for them. I do this all the time for birthdays and people love them. You can print out pictures to decorate the card or draw if you want.

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2. Lavender Sachets If you’re good at sewing, this would be a great gift for you to make, if not- it might be a bit of a challenge, but it’s definitely doable!

Pick a fabric that suits their style, fill it with fresh herbs, and sew accordingly. Cut two pieces of fabric the same shape, a heart or square maybe, and before sewing it completely, fill with scented herbs!

3. Custom Candy Box This is a great way to put a creative twist on giving someone candy for Valentine’s Day. Fill a plastic organizer with your loved one’s favorite candy and chocolates for a super cute personalized candy box.

5. Strawberry Sugar Scrub Finely crush one cup of frozen strawberries and combine with one cup of cane sugar, ¾ cup of room temperature coconut oil, and one tablespoon of vanilla extract to make a fruity exfoliating sugar scrub.

4. Handmade Cards This idea is so easy, and people

Extravagant Affection

Celebrity Valentine’s Day celebrations Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor Most people want to surprise their significant other with a special gift on Valentine’s Day. Whether that gift be candy, flowers, or a special trip, Valentine’s Day is meant to be a day of flattery and spoiling without really worrying about money. But over the years, some celebrity couples have totally disregarded prices and gone over the top to woo their significant other. Although some of these couples may not still be together, here is a quick snapshot of a few very elaborate celebrity Valentine’s Day gifts from the past few years.

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian Both Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are known for their lavish lifestyles, so it’s no surprise that the couple goes all out for Valentine’s Day. Kanye West has bought Kim Kardashian several expensive jewelry pieces for

different occasions such as their anniversary, Christmas, and her birthday, but the rapper tends to throw in extra effort for Valentine’s Day. In 2014, West had 1,000 roses delivered to Kim. In 2017, he took it a step further with a flower wall made of roses and orchids. But in 2019, Kanye West once again out did himself by filling the living room with roses and serenading Kim with live music from famous saxophonist Kenny G.

Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner Another member of the Kardashian/Jenner family, Kylie, was also surprised with an extravagant flower display back in 2019. Travis Scott filled the entryway to Jenner’s mansion with a tunnel of red roses in the shape of hearts that lead to a giant neon red heart sign.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Back in 2010, Angeline Jolie

bought Brad Pitt a very interesting and very expensive gift for Valentine’s Day. She surprised Pitt with a new olive tree to add to their $60 million estate in the South of France. And the tree only costs another $18,500.

Katy Perry and Russell Brand The same year the Angeline Jolie purchased the $18,500 olive tree, Katy Perry decided to buy her then husband Russel Brand a new car for Valentine’s Day. But this was no ordinary car. Perry purchased a $341, 000 Bentley Brooklands car for Brands’s Valentine’s Day gift that year.

Courtney Cox and David Arquette The former Friends actress, Courtney Cox, also wanted to think outside the box for her Valentine’s Day gift in 2010. Cox purchased a

$45,000 antique carousel horse to give her husband David Arquette.

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend In 2015, the famous singer John Legend whisked his wife, Chrissy Teigen, away for a private vacation on Valentine’s Day. So, they loaded up their private jet, and Legend gave Teigen the choice to travel anywhere she wanted.

Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber Although they were very young when they dated, Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber were one of the most famous celebrity couples a few years ago. Back in 2014, Bieber bought every flower in stock at a florist in Los Angeles, California, and sent them to Gomez’s house.

The excessive arrangement was estimated to cost at least $10,000.

Entertainment

Baked With Love

Valentine’s Day cookie recipes

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Presley Lafon, Staff Writer These chocolate chip heart shaped cookie bars are the perfect treat for chocolate lovers!

Equipment 3 inch heart-shaped cookie cutter Ingredients • 1/2 cup salted butter melted and cooled • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar • 1/3 cup granulated sugar • 1 large egg • 1 egg yolk • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1 1/4 cups flour • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder • 1/4 cup chocolate chips • 1/4 cup Valentine M&M’s Instructions • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a 9×9 baking dish with foil. Spray with non-stick cooking spray.

• Combine the melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla.

• Slowly fold in the flour and baking powder.

• Add in the chocolate chips and Valentine M&M’s.

• Pour the cookie dough into the prepared baking dish and press a few extra chocolate chips and Valentine M&M’s on top.

• Bake for 25-30 minutes.

• Remove from the oven and let

cool completely before cutting into heart shapes.

• Once the cookie bars have cooled, gently lift them from the baking dish using the foil.

• Use the Heart cookie cutter to cut out the cookie bars and close together as possible alternating the cookie cutter up and down.

These adorable frosted cookies make great gifts for friends, families, or even yourself!

Equipment 3 inch heart-shaped cookie cutter Ingredients • 3 cups all-purpose flour • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1 cup butter softened (2 sticks) • 1 cup granulated sugar • 2 large egg yolks (see note 1) • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1/3 cup milk • For the Royal Icing:

• 3 ounces pasteurized egg whites • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 4 cups powdered sugar Instructions To make the cookie dough: • In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.

Set aside.

• In a standing mixer with the paddle attachment on medium speed, or with an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla.

• Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add flour mixture and milk until just incorporated.

Scrape dough on to a floured work surface, shape into a ball, and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill at least 2 hours or up to 2 days in advance.

To bake the cookies: • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

• On a floured surface, roll chilled dough between parchment paper or wax paper to 1/8inch thickness. Cut with heartshaped cookie cutters. Transfer to prepared baking sheets with an offset spatula.

• Repeat with the remaining dough. Scrape all remnants together and re-roll. If the dough becomes too soft or sticky,

refrigerate an additional 10 minutes.

• Bake until the edges are lightly browned, about 8 to 10 minutes (if thicker than ⅛ inch, they may take 10 to 15 minutes).

Transfer to wire racks and cool completely before decorating with frosting (recipe follows).

To make the royal icing: • In a standing mixer fit with the whisk attachment on mediumhigh speed, add the egg whites and vanilla and beat until foamy.

• Reduce mixer speed to low and add the powdered sugar until just incorporated and shiny.

Beat on high for 5 to 7 minutes or until the mixture is thick and glossy with stiff peaks.

• Add food coloring if desired, then transfer to piping bags or spread with a spatula. If using sprinkles or sugar, add quickly before the frosting hardens.

• To make in advance, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Celebrate Love

Valentine’s Day date ideas Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief No matter how long you and your partner have been together, it is no secret that forming a great Valentine’s Day plan can be stressful. This is especially true with the added uncertainty of the pandemic.

While the way that you celebrate may look different this year, you can still find ways to make your special someone feel special.

Go to a local bookstore. If you and your partner both love to read, head to a local bookstore and pick out a book for the other to read.

You can demonstrate how well you know the person and you could even pick out a book to read together!

Watch a Valentine’s Day movie.

Whip up some themed snacks, choose a good Valentine’s Day movie, decorate the space accordingly, and settle in to watch the movie together and enjoy each other’s company from the comfort of your own home!

Cook dinner together. Rather than going out, you could choose some ingredients and cook dinner together! Research some Valentine’s Day themed recipes, or make up your own. Get all of the supplies you need from the grocery store, set everything up, and let the memory making commence. (Just try not to burn anything.) You could make it even more memorable by attempting a “cook-off”. Follow the same recipe (with your own creative twist), find a judge, and see who has the superior cooking skills.

Have a picnic in your living room.

If it is too cold to get outdoors, you could always have a picnic inside.

Find a quiet spot, set up a blanket and some fairy lights, grab some of your favorite foods, and let the picnicking commence. This allows the fun of a picnic, but from the comfort of your own home (especially if it is chilly out).

Go on a hike. There are a great number of local hiking trails that are top notch! Hurricane Creek, Duck River, Monte Sano, and Red Mountain are just a few of the awesome hikes that are only an hour or less outside of Cullman. If you and your date enjoy the outdoors, put on some warm clothes, lace up your boots, and head to a local spot to have fun hiking and talking. Bonus points if you bring some grub and set up a picnic with a beautiful view!

16 E N T E R T A I N M E N T Words of Love

Short collection of famous love poems and quotes 1. ”How Do I Love Thee” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace.

I love thee to the level of every day’s Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right.

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.”

2. ”One Hundred Love Sonnets” by Pablo Neruda I don’t love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz, or arrow of carnations that propagate fire: I love you as one loves certain obscure things, secretly, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that doesn’t bloom but carries the light of those flowers, hidden, within itself, and thanks to your love the tight aroma that arose from the earth lives dimly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where, I love you directly without problems or pride: I love you like this because I don’t know any other way to love, except in this form in which I am not nor are you, so close that your hand upon my

chest is mine, so close that your eyes close with my dreams.

3. ”Annabelle Lee” by Edgar Allen Poe It was many and many a year ago, In a kingdom by the sea, That a maiden there lived whom you may know By the name of Annabel Lee; And this maiden she lived with no other thought Than to love and be loved by me.

I was a child and she was a child, In this kingdom by the sea, But we loved with a love that was more than love— I and my Annabel Lee— With a love that the wingèd seraphs of Heaven Coveted her and me.

And this was the reason that, long ago, In this kingdom by the sea, A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling My beautiful Annabel Lee; So that her highborn kinsmen came And bore her away from me, To shut her up in a sepulchre In this kingdom by the sea.

The angels, not half so happy in Heaven, Went envying her and me— Yes!—that was the reason (as all men know, In this kingdom by the sea) That the wind came out of the cloud by night, Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee. But our love it was stronger by far than the love Of those who were older than we— Of many far wiser than we— And neither the angels in Heaven above Nor the demons down under the sea Can ever dissever my soul from the soul Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;

For the moon never beams, without bringing me dreams Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And the stars never rise, but I feel the bright eyes Of the beautiful Annabel Lee; And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side Of my darling—my darling— my life and my bride, In her sepulchre there by the sea— In her tomb by the sounding sea.

4. ”The Definition of Love” by Andrew Marvell My love is of a birth as rare As ’tis for object strange and high; It was begotten by Despair Upon Impossibility.

Themselves in every angle greet; But ours so truly parallel, Though infinite, can never meet.

Therefore the love which us doth bind, But Fate so enviously debars, Is the conjunction of the mind, And opposition of the stars.

Quotes: 5. “I didn’t love you to seek revenge, I didn’t love you out of loneliness or unhappiness, I didn’t love you for any of the misguided reasons that time might convince you I did. I just loved you because you’re you.”

-Ranata Suzuki 6. “If I could give you one thing in life, I would give you the ability to see yourself through my eyes, only then would you realize how special you are to me.” -unknown

Magnanimous Despair alone Could show me so divine a thing Where feeble Hope could ne’er 7. “To love is to be vulnerable” have flown, -C.S Lewis But vainly flapp’d its tinsel wing.

8. “Love me or hate me, both are in my favor… If you love me, I’ll And yet I quickly might arrive always be in your heart… If you Where my extended soul is fixt, hate me, I’ll always be in your But Fate does iron wedges drive, mind.” -William Shakespeare And always crowds itself betwixt.

For Fate with jealous eye does see Two perfect loves, nor lets them close; Their union would her ruin be, And her tyrannic pow’r depose.

And therefore her decrees of steel Us as the distant poles have plac’d, (Though love’s whole world on us doth wheel) Not by themselves to be embrac’d; Unless the giddy heaven fall, And earth some new convulsion tear; And, us to join, the world should all Be cramp’d into a planisphere.

As lines, so loves oblique may well

Entertainment Incognito Love

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Anonymous Valentine’s messages Presley Lafon, Staff Writer To Eglantine Desnoes: Every little thing you do is magic.

keeper, but an even better boyfriend.

From Anonymous: Ms. Calahan is my favorite!

To Lauren Smith: Every now and then I get a little bit terrified but then I see the look in your eyes... and I’m still terrified.

To Emily Newman: I love you so much.

To Beckett: Happy Valentine’s Day! I love you.

To Beckett Calvert: I love you!

You’re the most amazing person in the world.

To Sam Mayhair: Thanks for being my best friend :)

To Holli Rowan: I love you!

To Matthew Sears: Happy Valentine’s Day! Ily!!

To Abella Skipper: I love you!

Thank you for being my best friend.

To Ty Patterson: Happy Valentines Day! To Merit Carmichael: I love you so much... notice me senpai.

From Anonymous: Christen is so funny!

To Loren Tielking: I love you!

You’re the best!

To Aysia H.: Happy Valentine’s Day! Love you!

To Eli Borden: Hey, your determination and perseverance are charming. You are such an amazing

From Anonymous: Happy Valentine’s Day, Presley! You’re a great friend! I love you!

To Ty Patterson: Happy Valentines Day!

To Devon Campbell: You’re a firework in my heart.

To Natalie Lindsey: Happy Valentine’s Day! I love you!

To Maggie Lunsford: You are the the best!

To Avery Heis: You da best and I love you!

To Mrs. Burroughs: You are loved!

To Buy or Not to Buy

Homemade vs. purchased gift ideas Olivia Wood, Editor in Chief Whether you plan to purchase a gift, or make it by yourself, make sure it is something your special someone will love! Here is a gift guide for purchased and homemade, along with gifts for friends.

Purchased: A Custom Couple PortraitIf you and your significant other enjoy art, why not get some made of yourselves? This is a great way to support a struggling artist or a small business and get some awesome artwork made of the two of you. The price range on this varies widely depending solely upon the quality of the portrait you want and how much you want to pay. You could commission a friend that is an artist if you wanted. This is a great gift if you plan to buy this Valentine’s Day. A Stuffed AnimalEveryone loves a good stuffed animal. There are many awesome brands out there such as Bellzi, Jellycat, and Build a Bear.

If you are looking for something Valentine’s Day Themed, Squishmallow makes the cutest animals with adorable notes on them.

Pair this with some chocolate and some flowers, and you have the classic Valentine’s Day gift.

Self Care TreatsGet your significant other the things they enjoy so that they can take care of themselves. These items include candles, face masks, lotion, bubble bath, and anything else you think that they would enjoy! If you think that they will like it, then they probably will!

Homemade: Date Night Bucket List TrackerOne homemade idea is to write down adventurous date ideas on popsicle sticks and put them in an enclosed container. If you and your S.O. are wanting to have a date night, just pull one of the sticks for a fun and never before seen date night idea.

Reasons Why I Love You BookGo out and buy a blank notebook or sketchbook. Decorate it with your favorite washi tape, stickers, drawings, and pictures of the two of you and fill it with every single reason you can think of about why you love your person. This is a super personal and meaningful gift, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time and a solid plan to make this one happen.

A Memory JarFind an empty mason jar and fill it with love notes, memorabilia from your relationship, and other nostalgic items. Looking through everything you did together when you were younger will give you a wonderful trip down memory lane later on in life.

Friend: Cards!Draw up some cards for your friends and remind them of how much you appreciate them. This sentiment is especially important

this year as we all feel isolated and can feel alone at times. Drawing a cute design and writing something meaningful can go quite a long way.

Bake SomethingThere is nothing better than a home baked treat. Valentine’s Day treats are no different. Put on an apron, pick out a recipe, grab some ingredients, and get to baking! Muffins, decorated cookies, and brownies make the perfect treat wrapped up in a cute box.

Self Care PackagePick out some self-care items that your friends would enjoy and make them their own customized care package. This could include socks, candles, soaps, chapstick, their favorite snacks, scrunchies, etc. - whatever you think they would like. This is sure to put a smile on their faces and make them feel appreciated and loved this Valentine’s Day!

18 E n t e r t a i n m e n t The Best Love Movies

Money can’t buy you love, but it can buy Netflix!

Ava Burns, Staff Writer

After Christmas, stores are packed full of Valentine’s Day candy, stuffed animals, and roses. Another important part of Valentine’s Day is the entertainment movies about love.

Love movies today, however, just can’t beat those 80’s and 90’s classics.

Here’s a list of a few of my favorites for your Valentine’s Day dates!

over-achieving girl. The only things standing between them are Diane’s overbearing father and her going to England for school. This is the movie where the guy stands outside the girls window with a boombox blasting “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel, a scene that has been made into several parodies over the years.

1. Can’t Buy Me Love

3. 10 Things I Hate About You

Grey’s Anatomy fans, you’ll be happy to know that McDreamy is the heartthrob of this 80’s love story.

A nerdy boy and a popular girl find love when Cindy spills wine on her mother’s dress and agrees to make Ronald popular by pretending they are dating in exchange for money to get the red wine out. But Ronald transforms into a popular kid and loses who he truly is. He finds his way back after breaking Cindy’s heart and losing all of his former friends and his new popular ones.

Finally, Ronald gets the girl back by showing his true nerdy self.

10 Things I Hate About You is a pretty well-known movie, particularly for the poem reading scene.

Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles), the goodie two shoes straight A student falls in love with a not-so-good boy, Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger). But Kat soon finds out the only reason Patrick wanted to be with her is a deal he had with her sister.

4. The Princess Bride

But they are separated by her father and an arranged marriage.

Westley’s journey to find his love takes him through danger, newly found friends, and the avenging of Inigo Montoya’s late father. When the characters reunite, they have to flee from danger and rekindle their love.

5. Romeo and Juliet (1996)

This is honestly the best redition of Shakespeare’s play, and if he were a live today I believe he would fall in love with Leonardo DiCaprio too.

Leonardo plays Romeo and Claire danes as Juliet in a more modern version of Romeo and Juliet. Set in the post-modern town of Verona Beach, the two children of fueding families meet at the masquerade and fall in love.

But she gets the boy and goes to prom, only to realize her best friend Duckie has been after her from the beginning. Duckie is the true hero of this story to me, and I actually began to hate Andie towards the end. Justice for Duckie!

7. Grease

If you haven’t seen Grease, you’ve been living under a rock. Seriously, if you weren’t shown this at home, you’ve definitely seen it in a class.

A guy and a girl from two different cliques fall in love and must overcome their differences. Grease is one of the most successful musicals of all time.

8. Dirty Dancing

6. Pretty In Pink

2. Say Anything

John Cusack plays Lloyd, an underachieving high school senior that tries to win the heart of an

As you wish, Cary Elwes (Westely) and Robin Wright ( Buttercup) star in a medieval love story. Buttercup, a rich farm girl, falls in love with her poor farm hand.

If you remember one actor from the 80’s, it’s Molly Ringwald. She stars in almost every love movie made back then, but Pretty In Pink is a classic. She’s in love with Jake Ryan, the popular boy who doesn’t even know she exists.

A girl, nicknamed Baby, goes to a summer resort with her parents.

Patrick Swayze, as Johnny Castle, teaches Baby (Jennifer Grey) to dance despite her parents’ wishes. They fall in love while learning the big dance of the summer and their performance shocks the crowd.

Entertainment Hollywood Hiatus

19

Movies of 2020 and hopefully 2021 Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor Like most things in 2020, movie theaters across the world shut down due to the pandemic, and nearly every movie set to premiere last year was moved or cancelled. Widely anticipated films like Black Widow, Fast and Furious Nine, A Quiet Place II, and In the Heights were all supposed to premiere just as the pandemic hit. All of these films are now scheduled to come out in the spring and summer of 2021.

But, the movie industry tried to make the best of the situation by changing the way that viewers could watch.

Several movies such as Scoob, Trolls World Tour, Mulan, Soul, and Wonder Woman 1984 were released via streaming services like Amazon, Disney+, and Hulu for a small fee. However, most theaters began reopening in August despite the fact that there were hardly any movies scheduled for release until Thanksgiving.

Movie viewer turnout still remains low since many people now have the option to stay safe and healthy by watching movies at home. One survey said that only twenty-two per-

Hopping Into Spring Spring calendar

Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor - February 15th, President’s Day Holiday - February 23rd, Big Band Concert at 7:00 pm - February 25th, Shooting Team Swamp John’s Dinner at the CHS Parking Lot - March 8th-12th, Volleyball Tryouts - March 9th, Junior ACT - March 11th, MPA Concert - March 13th, Prom - March 14th, Daylight Savings - March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day - March 21st, NHS Induction - March 24th, Visual Ensemble and Drum Major Auditions - March 26th, Paradise Lost Trials - March 29th-April 2nd, Spring Break - April 2nd, Good Friday - April 4th, Easter - April 17th, Fair Queen and Southerner Pageants - April 26th, Into the Woods Begins - May 9th, Mother’s Day

cent of moviegoers feel comfortable returning to theaters, regardless of new safety measures and mask requirements.

Revenue rates for major movie theaters like AMC, Cinemark, and IMAX have plummeted by thirty to seventy percent of their usual yearly rates. Revenue rates are not expected to increase until the Covid-19 vaccine can be widely distributed which will not likely happen until at least April 2021.

Many businesses are hoping for change during this new year, especially the movie industry. New films this year include West Side Story, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, Godzilla vs. Kong, and Minions: The Rise of Gru. These movies and the releases of Black Widow and The Fast and Furious Nine can hopefully pull movie theaters and the rest of the entertainment industry out of their financial troubles that still loom from 2020.

20 E n t e r t a i n m e n t Valentine’s Candy

Love can be like a box of chocolates

Christen Sorrow, Staff Writer If you’re like me, then you like Valentine’s day solely for the candies and for the flowers.

So if you’re thinking of getting someone chocolate or candy, you’ve come to the right place to see what’s going to put a smile on your Valentine’s face!! Here are the top seven favorite candies for Valentine’s Day!

1.) Conversation Hearts: Coming in at number one we have the classic heart shaped candy. These literally are a sweet treat and have cute messages on them too!!

2.) Heart-shaped Boxes of Chocolate: These have to be everyone’s favorite gift for Valentines, because you get to try so many different chocolates without having to buy a whole bag with just one flavor!

3.)Hershey’s Kisses: Even though you can have these all year round they’re still a good treat to give to your valentine!

4.)Dove Truffles: Dove is one of the best chocolate brands out there so these definitely make the list!

5.) Reese’s Peanut Butter Hearts: Reese’s always has the best seasonal chocolates, and my favorites would have to be the hearts! Before you give it to someone, please make sure they don’t have a peanut allergy!

6.) Valentines M&M’s: These are so basic yet so good!! I love how cute they look, too!!

7.) Lindt Lindor Chocolates: Lindor chocolates are the best!! Especially the valentines edition! They come in different chocolates: white, dark, milk, etc.

Blooming with Love

The most popular Valentine’s Day flowers Maggie Lunsford, Co-Editor The long-standing tradition of giving flowers on Valentine’s Day dates back to the late seventeenth century. It all started when King Charles II of Sweden was exposed to the art of communicating through flowers. He assigned different types of flowers to different meanings, and the trend grew from there. People now see Valentine’s Day flowers as a sign of love, fertility, marriage and romance.

Ultimately, flowers are a sweet and simple way to express love to another person; they are also an easy gift to buy and they definitely offer tons of variety. But, if you’re having trouble finding that perfect bouquet, consider this list of the top five most popular flowers to give this Valentine’s Day.

1.) Roses Coming in at number one is roses. Although there are many

different colors of roses, red roses are without a doubt the most common flower. For years, they have been given as a sign of love and affection. They are very simple and classy, and they’re definitely one of the easiest flowers to find since they are so popular. If you’re looking for a beautiful and elegant flower for your Valentine this year, roses are definitely the way to go.

2.) Tulips Another flower that offers tons of variety is tulips. Tulips are very bright and beautiful. Tulips look lovely by themselves, but they also make great additions to bouquets.

They are often combined with carnations or lilies to make big and colorful bouquets. If you’re looking for large showy flowers for your Valentine, tulips are a great choice.

3.) Orchids Orchids are some of the most beautiful and dainty flowers. They are often given as individual flowers since they are very vine-like.

However, their gorgeous colors and pleasant fragrance constantly draw people in. Orchids are typically more expensive than other flowers, but they are worth the extra money.

They offer a combination of unique appearances, patterns, and shapes.

So, if you want to buy your Valentine a unique and exotic flower, think about getting an orchid.

4.) Carnations

Carnations symbolize fascination, distinction, and love. Their blooms are very full and billowy.

Carnations are a very inexpensive, durable, and long-lasting flower.

They come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Their fluffy petals make great add-ons for bouquets, but they also look very pretty by themselves. If you need a fun flower for a low price, go all out with carnations.

5.) Daisies The typical daisy is a simple, white flower that has an effortless beauty to it. Daisies are bright and cheerful flowers that are usually very easy to grow. Because they are grown all around the world, daisies are a very inexpensive flower to buy, and they come in a vast array of colors. If your Valentine likes small, delicate flowers, buy them some daisies this year.