The Pow Wow|Vol. 74|Issue 4

The Pow Wow

Bonner Spring High School Bonner Springs, Kansas Vol. 74, Issue 4 Feb. 4, 2011 www.bshsnews.com

9 11

Check out Super Bowl XLV preview on

With intense expression, sophomore Sydney Turner and junior Jordan Carter cheer at the “Pink Crush” game on Jan. 14. For more coverage, see

6&7 Photo/Riley Mortensen

NEWS

Bits and Pieces Crispito Countdown Spice up your lunch life and fall in love all over again on Valentine’s Day! Let crispitos be your Valentine on Monday, Feb. 14.

Courtwarming The Courtwarming royalty will be announced tonight during halftime of the basketball game against Bishop Ward. The winners will also be presented at the dance Saturday evening.

King: Brian Callahan Camron Callahan Kyle Day Austin Epp Lucas Isaacs

Queen:

Alexis Clark Angelica Harris Erin Mills Emily Pyles Erica Smith

Chris Cakes Make plans to support the Booster Club’s Pancake Supper and Silent Auction to benefit the athletic program tonight in the cafeteria from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

An all-you-can-eat admission is $5.

Upcoming Events Feb. 5 Courtwarming Dance Feb. 10 Choral Festival Feb. 12 ACT Testing Feb. 17-18 No School, Conferences Feb. 21 No School, Presidents’ Day

Kansas by the Numbers 150

years Kansas has been a state

2,853,118

people living in Kansas

7,200

people in Bonner Springs

50

Wichita’s rank among the most populous U.S cities.

4

U.S. House Representatives for Kansas Take our poll on superheroes at www.bshsnews.com

February 4, 2011

Student saves mom from burning car

by Persephone Hart News Editor With courage and quick-thinking, freshman Johnathan Carter saved himself and his mother, Lorna Simms-Carter, after their car caught fire on New Year’s Eve. The amazing part is that SimmsCarter requires the aid of a walker and has trouble getting in and out of a car.

Simms-Carter had taken Johnathan to Children’s Mercy Hospital to see if he had strep throat. While they were driving on Interstate 435, sparks started flying out of the hood.

By the time Simms-Carter pulled over to the shoulder near the Quivira exit, the car was engulfed in smoke.

Simms-Carter remembers thinking, “Oh my God, what is

happening?”

That’s when Johnathan calmly got out his mother’s walker from the trunk and helped her out of the car.

“I was very afraid of not being able to get out of the car,” SimmsCarter said. “He had a little trouble getting me out of the front seat, and by the time he got me out the car was starting to be engulfed by flames.”

A few motorists pulled over to provide assistance, so Carter then helped his mother to a nearby car.

“He was really concerned about the car exploding,” Simms-Carter recalled.

By the time the Overland Park Fire Department arrived, the fire had spread to the rear of the car. By the time the fire was put out, the car was rubble.

by Persephone Hart News Editor After a decade of vicious fighting with their “Beecher Bibles,” the Jayhawkers saw Kansas join the Union as a free state on Jan. 29, 1861. Last weekend marked the 150th anniversary of that occasion. Unfortunately, Kansas isn’t getting much of an official birthday.

Instead of a big celebration, local areas are hosting small celebrations and events. The Kansas Museum of History is trying its best to put together an 11-month exhibit, but is having difficulties due to a short

staff and a lack of state funding.

One local celebration was created

by English teacher Jeff Fouquet and his wife, Shannon. The celebration was an art show called “Postcards from Home.”

The Fouquets made postcards with images of 12 different places in Kansas on the front and poems on the back.

“I wrote the poems to basically help people be there,” Fouquet said.

The postcards were displayed at a Topeka studio with other Kansasinspired art at a celebration showing that the state is more than it appears.

Freshman Johnathan Carter “I was amazed,” Simms-Carter said.

Although he’s very modest about his heroics, Carter has received a lot

of attention for his actions.

“A lot of people have said he [Johnathan] is a hero,” SimmsCarter said.

“It’s a lot more diverse than people think,” Fouquet said.

There will also be 150 events about Kansas throughout the year.

Most are workshops or lectures about events, people, or movies in Kansas history.

For more information, go to: http://ks150.kansas.gov/Pages/Calendar.aspx

2. What are Beecher Bibles? a. Bibles b. A type of sunflower c. Rifles d. A series of castles

Kansas celebrates sesquicentennial

Test your knowledge with this Kansas Quiz 1. What is the state motto of Kansas? a. Hic Jacet Draconis b. Ad Astra per Aspera c. Ua mau ke ea o ka aina I ka pono d. Salus populi suprema lex estow

3. What is the enemy of a jayhawker? a. A lion b. A tiger c. A bear d. A bushwhacker 4. How many counties does Kansas have? a. 105 b. 75 c. 23 d. 42 Answers: 1-b,2-c, 3.-d, 4.-a,

2

Clubbin’ Academic Decathlon:

On Jan. 22 and Jan. 23, the Academic Decathlon traveled to Kansas State University to compete in the state competition.

They took third place in division two. Overall, they brought home 28 medals.

Freshmen medalists included Paul Dykes with two medals, Dakota Nason with six, Tre Scott with one, and Rebekah Thompson with nine.

Sierra Seacat was the only sophomore medalist, winning five, while Jeffrey Lynch was the only senior to win two medals.

“I think we really surprised ourselve this year,” coach Sarabeth Morgan.

Drama:

The winter play has now become the spring play, or at least it has for this for this year. This year’s production is titled “Drac’s Back.”

Tryouts will be held in March.

Freshman Demetri Hart works diligently on the Science Olympiad team’s “Sumo Bot.” He was hard at work preparing the “Bot” for a battle at St. James Academy.

Forensics:

The forensics team started its season last Saturday at Lansing.

Although only two members showed up for the meet, freshman Nathan Schaber and sophomore Stephanie Rose, coach Dan Streit says the two squad newcomers show promise.

“Out of the 28 performers in Poetry, Nathan finished around 14th while Stephanie was around 23th,” Streit said.

Science Olympiad:

Science Olympians kicked off its season with the first meet of the year at St. James Academy on Jan. 15.

The Science Olympiad team had to build a tower, a “Sumo Bot” and a mousetrap vehicle before competing at the tournament.

Other events included chemistry, physics, remote sensing, ecology, anatomy, astronomy, and dynamic planet. The team’s highest finish was

eighth place in Write it/Do it by Olympians (and siblings) Demetri and Persephone Hart.

Freshmen Daniel Mejia and Tre Scott took eleventh place in Optics while the “Sumo Bot” took

twelfth places with Demetri Hart maneuvering it.

The team is preparing for regionals on Feb. 26, which will be held at Johnson County Community College.

February 4, 2011

Changes in the works

NEWS

3

Students to enroll online for next year’s classes

by Sydney Shepherd and Courtney Wheeler News Staff You might have noticed teachers inquiring about which classes you were planning to take next year and wondered what was going on.

The answer: the administration and the counseling department are trying to gather some approximate numbers on what classes students might want to take.

Sometime soon, students will pre-enroll for classes like they do every year, only this year the administration is looking at doing things differently.

The new method they are planning to implement will be more efficient in creating and meeting the needs of student schedules, according to counselor Brett Misse.

The plan is that an informative video will be shown to students during Projects Time and then approximately a week later the actual pre-enrollment process will begin.

The biggest change is that students will now select their courses online through Power School instead of an arena enrollment process.

Misse said that by doing it this way it will make things easier on the administrative end.

“Students will choose their

classes online, along with alternates, but will not select the hour they might want that class,” Misse said.

A good thing about the online pre-enrollment process is that it will force students to focus solely on the classes they want to take and not the classes their friends are taking, Misse said.

The administration is also in the process of trying to add new classes to next year’s list of options.

No core classes will be changed, and there aren’t plans for changes in the future.

The potential new classes would consist of social studies electives, including Contemporary World Issues and particular topics in history such as World War II studies, U.S. law and criminal justice, and U.S. history in the 1960s.

None of these classes can be taken in place of a required social studies class and will not be offered for college credit. They will count as a social studies elective credit and will be taught by teachers in the social studies department.

However, the social studies requirements for each grade level will remain the same.

Misse said the business department and the Family and Consumer Sciences department are being restructured. Classes will be broken down into more specific subjects

with different names as part of various career “pathways.”

Eventually, all Career and Technical Education courses will be restructured to better fit the changing career choices available outside of high school.

“Pathways” are groups of classes that students can take that pertain to a specific career choice. This way, students can be better informed on whether that career choice is the right one for them.

Fees are a topic of concern when it comes to enrollment. With future budget cuts in question, people might be wondering if the price for enrolling will increase.

“They [all fees] will not go up,” said Joe Hornback, principal.

But, Hornback also wanted students to know that prices probably won’t go down either.

Hornback said the district has planned ahead for any potential new budget cuts.

“We have pre-budgeted in preparation for exactly this case,” he said. “The hope was that the budget would go down next year and then go back up the year after that.”

Administrators are trying to make enrollment as easy as possible while still meeting the needs of each student in the process. In Mr. Misse’s words, “Nothing about enrollment is concrete just yet.”

Saturday night dance fever Above: Anthony “AJ” Howell and his mother, Carmen Jackmon, prepare to get their groove on at the Mother-Son, Father-Daughter Dance on Saturday, Jan. 15.

Right: Special education teacher Jim Mitchell and the Johnny Dollar Band perform at the dance. Photos

by Riley Mortensen

Humanity will prevail

by Courtney Wheeler

Your checking account.

Made to order.

In Egypt there are protests and riots in the streets of major cities throughout the country. Why are these citizens protesting?

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free non-Union Bank ATM transactions a month

First order of checks

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One overdraft fee

2500 Waiver Rewards Points

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ubt.com MyStyle Checking available to persons age 16 to 25 and requires enrollment in e-statements. If selected, receive $50 after using your debit card 10 times; $50 is deposited within 30 days of the month end of your 10th debit card transaction.

If selected, 2500 Reward Points credited to your account within 60 days. No minimum deposit requirement. $50 Cash and First Order of Checks Free are available to new checking account relationships only. Limit of one account per person. Member FDIC

Got Pictures? We do. Check it out: www.bshsnews.com

Egyptian president Hosni Murbarak has pushed the citizens to their limit, and they are now demanding an end to the “Murbarak Regime.”

For years, Egyptians have been oppressed by the authoritarian government and now they are taking to the streets to show that they will take it no longer.

Rioting often follows protests, and this case is no different.

Looters and thieves are taking full advantage of the rampant chaos...

Check the rest of this story out on Courtney’s blog, “Through the Eyes of a Modern-Day Hippie,” at:

www.bshsnews.com

4 The Pow Wow Staff Editor-In-Chief Riley Mortensen Business Manager Erin Mills News Editor Persephone Hart Features Editor Angelica Harris Arts & Lifestyle Editor Amelia Sheldon Sports Editor Austin Epp Photo Editor Samantha Ricci-Weller Staff Writers Mandy Ballou Jessica Brown Devyn Hayes Taylor Hunt Tyreka Johnson Miranda McCullough Sydney Shepherd Logan Terrell Dalton Vitt Courtney Wheeler Adviser Jill Holder

Editorial Policy The Pow Wow is published monthly by the fourth-hour publications staff at Bonner Springs High School. Editorials reflect the consensus of the staff; the commentaries reflect the individual writer’s opinion. These pieces may not reflect the opinion of the administration or the USD 204 board of education.

Letters to the Editor The Pow Wow is a public forum designed to serve as the voice of BSHS. Thus, letters-to-the-editor are accepted. The Pow Wow will not print letters that are libelous, irresponsible or advocate illegal acts. All letters should be submitted to Room 101 and are subjected to editing.

Contact Us Bonner Springs High School Pow Wow Newspaper 100 McDanield Bonner Springs, KS 66012 913-422-51212, ext. 4330 www.bshsnews.com Have a question or suggestion?

Would you like your voice to be heard?

Contact editor-in-chief Riley Mortensen by email at rileymortensen@usd204. net or adviser Jill Holder at holderj@ usd204.net.

OPINIONS

February 4, 2011

A bit of education motivation

Dear Governor Brownback, First, we would like to congratulate you on your new position. Your years of service in Washington will serve you well as our governor. We would, however, like to inquire about a little thing called public education. You see, this directly affects us as students, and we hear that you are proposing to make a few changes—changes we are not sure are in the best interest of your constituents.

Under your new proposed budget, our Superintendent Robert VanMaren, and other members of the school board, will be forced to cut $230,000 from the budget by the end of this year. That equals approximately $75 dollars per student and really adds up, considering that every student in the United States of America needs a quality education.

Speaking of quality, we’d like to remind you that there have been cuts to the budget every year since we were in middle school. In the words of Dr. VanMaren, “We’re sick of it.”

We feel that this proposed cut to school budgets is atrocious. As President Barack Obama said in his state of the union address a week ago: “We need to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.” How will this be remotely possible when each year our lawmakers take a little bit more and keep twisting the knife in our wounds?

Cuts to the education system may seem like a quick and easy fix now, but down the road they’re only going to hurt us. A pothole today shouldn’t cost us our future. Because that’s what students are... the future.

“The bottom line in most school districts is that [the cuts are] going to result in increased class sizes and a reduction of programs. I think that’s fair to say,” Dr. VanMaren said.

We cordially invite you to sit in a class of 30 plus students all fighting for a seat not to mention the teacher’s attention and assistance.

Unlike the nation’s wealthiest, some families can’t afford to send their kids to private school and by the looks of things soon, they won’t be able to send them to public school either. Parents cannot continue to make up for what should have been funded in the first place through increasing enrollment and athletic fees and other charges.

It’s in times of crisis that we must hold onto what’s important, and we would like to think that you consider education important. We were under the impression that you were a man of your word and that when you said after you were elected that you were going to leave education funding alone that you meant it.

You may think that we are blowing this out of proportion, but this is all we have. Education is the foundation of everything. Without a strong support system and educated youth to take your place some day, our country will crumble.

In the words of Allan Bloom, “Education is the movement from darkness to light.”

Don’t make the future dark for all of us.

—Riley Mortensen and Courtney Wheeler for the Pow Wow staff

Finding freedom from fear In my life, a short 16 years, I have indirectly Courtney Wheeler witnessed far too many shootings in this country, and a few weeks ago the shooting and slaughter in Tucson, Arizona, made the list.

Questions of why the shooter, 22-year-old Jared Loughner, did what he did are still in the air. When tragedy strikes, we frantically As I See It scramble for answers, and when those question go unanswered, the blame game begins. People are pointing fingers at anyone they can think of. In this tragedy, blame has fallen on talk show hosts spewing angry rhetoric and certain politicians.

Some have even been so broad in their accusations to blame the media for spreading this hateful speech. There are those who say we should make laws stating that if you use symbols or language that might invoke violence that you could be fined or even jailed. The only problem with that logic is that each individual person might perceive different symbols to mean different things—not to mention that the last thing we need is to limit the First Amendment.

The tragic story began three weeks ago when U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords was bringing Washington home by hosting a “Congress On Your Corner” event at the local Safeway. It was supposed to be a gathering to inspire, when constituents had their chance to be heard. But then Jared Lee Loughner pulled out a nine-millimeter glock and shot Giffords in the head, also firing at 18 others. Before he was wrestled to the ground, Laughner had killed six and injured 13, including Giffords.

What troubles me the most is that one of the people slain by the gunman’s bullets was a nine-year-old girl, Christina Green. She had just been elected to her school’s Student Council, so one of her mother’s friend suggested that Christina attend Giffords’ meeting to see government in action. Green was enthused to meet Giffords as politics was one of her many passions, which also included dance, gymnastics, and volunteering for a charity to help other kids.

Christina was born on Sept. 11, 2001. As she entered the world on that tragic day, she brought joy to her family who at the time lived in

Pennsylvania. Because of her birth date, Green was one of 50 children selected to be a “Face of Hope,” and her picture was put in a book which a portion of the proceeds go to a 9/11 charity.

Even now, after her death, Christina is helping others. Her father announced on Jan. 16 that her organs would be donated to a Boston girl in need.

In her short life, Christina brought hope to so many. As I watched and read about this girl, I felt an immense wave of both confusion and sadness wash over me. Why did a girl who was trying to make the world a better place have to die? Furthermore, why do we allow it? Why can someone who is not considered sane enough to attend a community college (Laughner) buy a military-grade gun?

There has been an outpouring of sympathy and concern for Christina Green and the other victims of this tragedy, as well there should be. But we can’t stop there. We have to honor their lives by doing something to prevent more tragedies. We can’t allow this to be just another horrible incident.

We owe it to all victims of gun crimes and their families to tighten gun control. Our country has lasted a long time, and we owe a big part of that to the Constitution. I am an avid Constitutionalist, but when the Founding Fathers wrote the Second Amendment in the 1780s, they didn’t envision citizens carrying around nine-millimeter guns, with clips containing 30-plus bullets.

As the saying goes, “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” While this may be true, why should we make guns so accessible, allowing people to so easily end someone else’s life?

Finally, we owe it to the victims of this heartbreaking event to start really listening to one another and to respond with civility. Don’t be so quick to reach for hate, or a gun for that matter, when respect and kindness will work.

In the words of President Barack Obama, “At this time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized— at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who think differently than we do— it’s important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds.”

February 4, 2011

OPINIONS

e-Reader is a book eater My whole life I have been an Angelica Harris avid reader and could read several books a week. Books are my life, and I could never picture them not existing.

That was until… the e-Readers came into existence. To be honest, As I See It I thought that this compact, electronic reading device would be a complete failure. Who would ever want to read a book on a computer screen? Computer screens give me a huge headache.

But to my surprise, they turned out more successful than I thought. Barnes and Noble Inc. said its line of Nook e-reading devices were the company’s best-selling item in the company’s history, selling nearly one million on Christmas Day. Barnes and Noble says it now “sells more digital books than physical books on its web site.”

According to The Huffington Post, Forrester Research expects U.S. e-book sales to total $2.8 billion in 2015, up from nearly 1 billion in 2010. The research firms predicts that the number of “e-readers and tablets in the U.S. will soar from more than 15 million in 2010 to nearly 60 million in 2015.”

It’s almost like these electronic readers are making “real” books disappear. Personally, I have had the chance to see and touch these reading devices. I must say they were pretty amazing, and the books are also a lot cheaper to buy. If you’re a person who likes to read more than one book at a time, then this would be the device for you. Sure, they’re cute and compact, but that doesn’t change my opinion on “real” books.

In addition to Barnes and Noble’s Nook, Amazon has the Kindle. They are both bestsellers, the Macs of the book world.

Yet these eReaders can get pricey, depending on whether you want WiFi or a 3G carrier.

Kindles prices range from $139 to $379 on amazon.com.

The Kindle has a selection of 540,00 books to choose from in their store if you are interested. The Nook ranges from $149 to $249. You can pick between a regular Nook or one that has a colored screen.

You can buy e-books for half or even a third of the price of a hard-copy book. Preferably, I would rather buy that expensive book if it means that it will be a collector’s item one day.

I love the feeling of holding paper and turning the pages to see the fate of my favorite characters. I love flopping down on the couch and letting a good book take me to faraway place, and I love the “smell” of a new book and the cracking sound the pages make as I open them for the very first time.

The popularity of e-Readers may some day mean the extinction of “real” books. What would the world be like without them? I don’t mean to be bitter about this, but I do not want to see real books vanish before my eyes. Yet that is what I fear in the next few years. It scares me more than anything to think that my future grandchildren may never know the joy of holding a beloved book in their hands or going to a library to search the shelves to find their next story.

Books are that one thing that haven’t really changed over time. They have basically been here from the beginning of time.

Why get rid of them now?

While I normally love new gadgets (I have to have a new phone every year), I’m going to resist this fad. For now I’m going to treasure my “real” books as it sounds like they may be collector’s items some day.

Happy reading, everyone.

When you reach the glorious Riley Mortensen age of 18 years old, the world suddenly has new meaning. You are now an active citizen of your country and allowed to purchase products that you were previously too immature to handle (I say As I See It that with a hint of sarcasm in my voice). But perhaps the greatest power I was now able to seize as an official adult came in my particular area of expertise, making sandwiches of course.

When you reach 18 at Mr. Goodcents, you are then legally able to slice sandwiches and take deliveries to eager customers.

I was forced to suffer through almost two years of watching the older members of our crew slice all the subs and drive off into the abyss with freshly made orders, but now my time had come.

Little did I know that slicing sandwiches and most of all taking deliveries could be so hectic. They made it look so simple and now I was in for a long month of learning the hard way that when life gives you lemons sometimes you have to somehow make orange juice.

In an attempt to better the relationship between all Mr. Goodcents employees across the midwest, and you, the customer, I have taken it upon myself to list common, or what should be common, rules of delivery courtesy.

Let me take you to the night of Jan. 11. The temperatures were frigid and the wind was wreaking havoc on those caught outdoors. A blanket of darkness had been pulled across the land as the time approached 6 o’clock.

As the night unfolded, we received our first call for a delivery. A house in Basehor of course. “No problem, I got this,” I thought to myself. We made the sandwiches, and I headed out with Mapquest directions in hand.

Roughly half an hour later I was still looking for this house and calling the customer in a frantic attempt to get them their

food. The first rule of common delivery courtesy: if you order take-out, please leave your phone on so the driver can call you if they are lost.

After wasting an entire quarter tank of gas, I was forced to pull over while one of our other employees (who was not on the clock) was forced to come and lead me to the house. (It didn’t help that Mapquest gave me the wrong directions, but still LEAVE YOUR PHONE ON.) The second rule of common delivery courtesy: please have your house number posted on your house in large and clearly readable numbers from the road. You may have given me your address, but it’s no good if I can’t read your house number.

Delivery drivers are not mind readers.

Frustrated with my bad luck, I high-tailed it on back to home base only to find two more deliveries waiting for me. Oh, joy.

“Second chance. Take a deep breath, you can do this,” I said as a pep talk to myself.

Luckily, they were both in Bonner, with which I am fairly familiar. I turned onto Garfield to bring Mr. Finley his sandwich, pulling into the driveway with a feeling of satisfaction. I jumped out of my car and scurried to the door, ringing the doorbell and waiting for a response. I waited for a good two minutes before I began to hear a metal pounding coming from the inside of the door.

I began to back away slowly, turned quickly and ran straight for my car. I dialed Mr. Finley and told him I was outside of his house only to find that the address on the ticket was incorrect and his house was actually a bit up the road.

Whose house I was actually at I will never know, but I do know I will not be going back their anytime soon.

At the end of the night, little old Mr. Finley’s smile made it all worth while.

All in all, remember my rules and tip your driver’s well.

There’s a world of things that can go wrong that you may never know, but patience and a warm smile will make up for it all.

Good(sense) at Mr. Goodcents

5 SUPER HERO MONDAY:

Batman vs.

Superman

TAYLOR HUNT To honor Superhero Monday this ATMAN Spirit Week, I’d like to settle this issue once and for all: Batman is and always will be better than Superman.

First and foremost, the Dark Knight is a man…with no superpowers. Although he may have a higher threshold of pain, he has limits. Batman, like us, can be mortally wounded.

Bullets bounce off of Superman because he is immortal.

Wolverine can heal himself. But Batman doesn’t have those luxuries. He will one day be too old to carry out his sense of justice. He will die just like you or me. And because of those human vulnerabilities, he is a master tactician and is prepared for almost every contingency.

If you look at Batman’s abilities, you’d discover that they are attainable provided a person had the time and dedication.

Batman is the prime example of what a human can become.

His mission is simple: to stop the criminal elements and remove the politically corrupt local government officials. He will not take a life, and that is the difference between who he is and who he hunts.

The worlds of Superman and Batman are vastly different.

Superman is really symbolic of a demigod, a mythic expression of the hope that many people have of a savior who will come to the rescue of the weak in the name of justice. Batman, on the other hand, is wrongly portrayed as a villain in the eyes of many.

Unlike Superman, Batman is a mortal with morals. That is what makes him a hero. A super-duper hero.

B

COURTNEY WHEELER

Is it a bird, is it a plane, no it’s SUPERMAN! Who would you rather save you, a big, strong, muscular newspaper MAN, or do you want to have a loony BAT to save you. There’s a reason people say blind as a bat.

Number one: He’s fashionable. His color scheme is far better than the dreary black and gold. The “S” on his chest represents the start of this victorious vigilante.

Number two: He’s buff. Come on, girls, you could wash and dry your clothes on that stomach. Yeah, he’s just that hot.

Now onto birdman. Whoops, I mean Batman. It’s not like it matters whether he’s a bird or a bat; he relies on his money and toys to keep up with Superman.

In the classic struggle of nerd versus jock, Superman is neither. He’s the sweet, Smallville farm boy—a man that you’d be proud to bring home to your mother.

The only thing bigger than his muscles is his heart. His love for Lois Lane is stronger than any dose of Kryptonite and has much more disastrous effects.

You will not find a superhero, let alone a man, like Clark Kent on this planet. His attributes are truly out of this world.

His sole purpose is save humanity, though he does come with flaws. This goodie two shoes super hero is guilty of stealing…a generation of young girl’s hearts.

SUPERMAN

6

FEATU

February 4, 2011

C

Surviving the

Word Peggy Callahan gives her speech.

A sea of pink overtakes the usual orange crowd.

Cure game is another success

by Miranda McCullough & Angelica Harris Features Staff Normally, when you walk in to the district Physical Education Center gym on a Friday evening, you would dive into a sea of orange, but on Jan. 14 the orange ocean became a vast pink pool when the Braves battled the Turner Bears.

This was the scene for the third annual “Coming Together for a Cure” game, a joint effort by BSHS and Turner High School.The tudent councils at both schools sold an array of pink merchandise throughout the week to aise money for the local chapter of the Susan G.

Komen foundation for breast cancer research.

The halftime entertainment was provided by the BSHS and THS cheerleading and dance teams in a dual-school performance. Following the show, Peggy Callahan, this year’s breast cancer ambassador, gave a prevention speech.

The “Coming Together for a Cure” tradition was started three years ago by former boys basketball coach Ryan Hull, who said the inspiration for the idea came from his wife’s family history of breast cancer that started with her mother.

“I just thought it would be something small,”

Hull said. “We would put the players in pink T-shirts and have the cheerleaders carry buckets to collect donations for the cause, but Adie Law and Jen Schlicht wanted to make it better, and I never dreamed the event would get this big.”

Law, the Stuco sponsor, and Schlicht, a former cheerleading coach, have been the event organizers for the game since its first year. Law said approximately $3,500 was raised this year, and more than $5,000 has been raised since the event started. From the boys’ basketball team’s pink socks to the pink T-shirts worn by the capacity crowd, the event was another success.

Loren Bergstrom waits for the game to begin.

Learning not to take things for granted

by Mandy Ballou Features Writer “I think the hardest thing was the realization hat seeing my mom the way she was could be my last memory of her.”

This was one of the first thoughts that raced hrough senior Kelsey Leatherbury’s mind when he was told that her mother had cancer.

Every detail of that August day would be tched in her mind forever.

It was 2006 when Kelsey walked into her iving room and saw her mom crying, her dad blinking back the tears, and her older sister Morgan sitting on the couch, her face expresionless.

“They told me as soon as I walked in that mom had cancer,” Kelsey said. “The news was heartbreaking.”

Jeanette Leatherbury, Kelsey’s mother, was diagnosed with Stage IV non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in August 2006. The disease has four tages, hitting Stage Four means the cancer has

spread throughout the body.

Jeanette’s cancer had spread to the abdomen, pelvic, blood, bone marrow, and the lymph nodes. She went through many rounds of chemotherapy and was declared to be cancer-free in May 2007.

“There are so many difficult parts of chemotherapy,” Jeanette said. “I lost all my hair about two weeks after the first chemotherapy treatment and had no hair at all for almost seven months.”

The disease took a toll on the whole family.

“I hated seeing my mom the way she was,” Kelsey said. “She just looked miserable and was never really herself.”

However, Kelsey believes that there is a lot to learn when someone you love survives cancer.

“You never know what tomorrow has for you so live your life to the fullest,” Kelsey said. “You have to take in every memory whether it’s a small detail or a huge impact on your life.”

Cancer taught Jeanette many things as well.

She knows that when death comes close it makes

The Facts: 789,620 Estimated cancer deaths of men in 2010

you appreciate everything you have.

“I learned to be more thankful for life itself and to cherish time spent with my family and friends, especially my wonderful daughters,” Jeanette said. “ We take so many thing in life for granted.”

Jeanette was fortunate enough to have extended family pitch in during the rough times.

“My family and friends were very supportive.

They would cook meals and bring them to our home after my treatments,” Jeanette said. “They also said a lot of prayers, as well as being a big source of strength and encouragement for me during the most difficult of days.”

After watching her mom battle cancer, Kelsey has a new perspective on life.

“I don’t take my mom for granted any more, and I’ve learned to appreciate the little things my mom does like watching TV with me or going out shopping and to a movie,” Kelsey said. “You can’t replace the little things, just like you can’t replace the big things.

739,940 Estimated cancer deaths of women in 2010

Senior Kelsey Leatherbury and her mother, Jeanette

157,300 39,840

Breast cancer deaths among women in the United States in 2010

Approximate lung cancer deaths in the U.S. for 2010

URES

February 4, 2011

Hannah Hunt chants at the game.

Brenna Hoch sells a pink sucker to willing buyers.

7

Erica Smith and Zachary Reed start the night off with spirit.

Positive attitude keeps Schaber strong

by Sydney Shepherd News Writer There is a hero among us, according to cafeteria manager Frances Schaber. Who, you may ask, is this person of incredible caliber?

It’s her son, Nathan. You may have noticed that Nathan, a freshman, is an amputee, but you may not have realized that he lost his left leg because of a crippling cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma.

In February of 2007, Nathan was a normal fifth-grader, doing all the things that kids that age do. He was somewhat shy, and he absolutely loved motocross. But that month is the one that changed his life forever.

After discovering a bump on his left heel that “just seemed to pop up one morning,” Nathan was sent to a chain of different doctors to find out exactly what was wrong. The bump was ultimately diagnosed as a tumor, and Nathan was directed to Children’s Mercy Hospital, where a biopsy done and he was diagnosed with a type of cancer known as Ewing’s Sarcoma.

Not much is known about Ewing’s Sarcoma.

Some of the only known facts are that you must be born with it, it’s genetic, and it is dormant and then surfaces after it is aggravated or disturbed. Also, it spreads quickly.

Frances suspects that the tumor surfaced after Nathan’s foot was run over in a motocross accident. The tight fit of his motocross riding boot aggravated the heel area and caused the tumor to finally surface.

By March, Nathan was immersed in a string of different treatments.

“He had to go one week on, which consisted of four days of five different treatments= and then two weeks off,” Frances said.

The treatments totaled 12 rounds of radiation on his lungs and 32 on his foot. These treatments, unfortunately, did not affect the tumor on Nathan’s heel, only the spots in his lungs.

“The scariest part of the whole thing was when we found out that it [the cancer] was Stage Four,” Frances said. Stage Four is the most advanced cancer stage and the hardest to eradicate.

Because the doctors could not do a limb salvage procedure due to the fact that a right artificial heel bone does not exist, Nathan’s only option was amputation and his foot and leg had to be amputated up to the middle of his tibia and fibula (the calf bones).

After the amputation, Nathan’s attitude was one to be marveled at, according to his mother.

“He said he wanted to move on, he didn’t want to stay stuck on the cancer. He just said ‘forget about it,’ ” Frances recalled.

Just because Nathan said he wanted to get past the cancer, doesn’t mean he forgot about it.

“The scariest moment I remember is when I had to get a blood transfusion and I passed out,” Nathan said. “I woke up some time later and I didn’t know where I was or what was going on.”

Fortunately, he remembers the better things. too.

“I found out that my family was there for me way more than I ever expected,” Nathan said.

“Also, I learned to look to the future more.”

One way that Nathan stays focused on the future is by working to achieve his goal of becoming the first motocross professional who is also an amputee.

“Motocross is what got me through the rough times. I just wanted to be back on my bike,” said Nathan.

Although he has learned to adapt, Nathan does face some unique challenges on his bike.

“It’s not necessarily harder, but I definitely have to think more about what I am doing on the track because I have no feeling on my left leg. There’s no second to spare. I have to think about what I’m doing at all times,” Nathan said.

Though Nathan wants the future to be bright, he knows that may not be the case.

“I’m not afraid of much that has to do with the cancer except for the problems that could affect me in the future,” Nathan said.

One of those potential problems includes kidney disease, which Nathan developed as a result of his cancer treatments.

It’s situations like these that make Nathan feel just a bit different from fellow students.

“I do feel different but not because I had cancer,” he said. “I feel different because I was made different by it. I’m different because of my leg.”

Overall, Nathan reports that this lifechanging experience did teach him one thing.

“I am more positive when it comes to life in general, now. Before, I was pretty negative,” he said.

Nathan’s positive attitude is still strong three years after he was diagnosed with this disease, and he plans to keep it that way until he can officially say he is cancer free in four more years.

Even if that isn’t the case, he still plans to keep his spirits high.

“There is definitely always a thought in the back of your mind that it might come back, but if it does, I won’t be scared. I know I’ll be ready to fight it again,” Nathan said.

“He’s a strong, fearless kid,” say Frances admittedly proudly, “And that’s what makes my son my hero.”

1 in 8

1 in 6 13,550 Estimated cancer cases Kansas in 2010

Men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime

1 in 56

Women will develop breast cancer

Freshman Nathan Schaber

1 in 90 Men will develop oral cancer

Women will develop melanoma Source: The American Cancer Society

ARTS & LIFESTYLE

8

The iPod

February 4, 2011

App (noun) - Abbreviation of application; any standalone software for a computer, phone, or other platform such as an iPod.

Generation

Top 10 Downloaded Songs Ever

On Aug. 16, 1995, Internet Explorer was released to the public. On Oct. 23, 2001, the first generation iPod was released to the public.

For our generation, it’s amazing to see these dates laid out, because technology is something we take for granted. We are so attached to technology that being without it is something completely unfathomable.

Multiple times a year, companies spew out new gadgets that we cling to, amazed that we ever lived without them.

Touch technology, the newest trend in mechanical (or not so mechanical) developments, is sweeping the markets, taking the world by storm.

Everyone and their mother seems to have an iPod Touch these days. If they didn’t have one already, that’s what they got for Christmas. According to the Washington Post, iPhone sales increased 70 percent in the fourth quarter of last year.

The world has seen a lot of change in the past two decades and there is still much more to come.

—Amelia Sheldon

1. Black Eyed Peas - “I Gotta Feeling” 2. Lady Gaga - “Poker Face” 3. Black Eyed Peas - “Boom Boom Bow” 4. Jason Mraz - “I’m Yours” 5. Coldplay - “Viva la Vida” 6. Lady Gaga - “Just Dance” 7. Flo Ride - “Low” 8. Taylor Swift - “Love Story” 9. Leona Lewis - “Bleeding Love” 10. Kesha - “Tik Tok”

Top Three Free Apps: 1. Ping Pong 2. iLockScreen Maker 3. Farm Story: Valentine’s Day 1,000,000,000 Apps downloaded.

Top Three Paid Apps:

$10,000 iTune’s gift card given to the10 billionth app downloader.

1. Angry Birds 2. Fruit Ninja 3. Cut the Rope

110 million more iPhone and iPad users than in 2009.

(All stats as of Jan. 22, 2011.)

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ARTS & LIFESTYLE

February 4, 2011

Dear Buzzkill, This is a letter especially for you. I know, you’re so shocked because you’ve never gotten a Valentine before, but make no mistake, this is for your eyes only.

I’m writing this to you because you’ve annoyed me for the last time.

Everybody knows who you are, the one kid who starts whining a week before Valentine’s Day about what a horrible holiday it is because you’re always alone, because it brainwashes people into spending money, or because you’re annoyed by everyone talking about how great it is, etcetera etcetera. Well, I have some words for you.

Have you ever considered that you’re always alone on Valentine’s Day because you complain all the time? Just a thought. Maybe if you weren’t so depressing, people would want to hang out with you. Quit crying in a corner about how much your life sucks because you don’t have a significant other and try to be happy for once.

Regarding the argument about how Valentine’s Day “brainwashes” people into spending money: You’re only brainwashed if you let yourself be brainwashed. Does everyone run to the diamond store just because “every kiss begins with K”? I don’t think so. People choose what they spend their money on.

Furthermore, why are you concerned with what people buy for Valentine’s Day? It’s not like you’ve ever bought anything for anyone since, again, you’re wallowing in your own dramatic self-loathing.

Just some advice; Don’t hate your life just because there’s one holiday out of the year that celebrates romance. At 16 years old, you don’t need to be tying the existence of your happiness to sweaty hand-holding and awkward make-out sessions in the hallway. I’m not a big fan of the big hype that hits around Feb.14 either, but I don’t get depressed about it. Go out and buy somebody some chocolates. Get happy.

Forget about the boy or girl that you think is your “one true love” and start having a positive attitude! No one wants to hang around a Negative Nancy. I promise: Start at least trying to find the good in things, and people will start to feel comfortable around you.

Yours Truly, Valentine’s Day Realist: Taylor Hunt

  

  







 





 



   





E? GO T

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Valentine’s Day by the Numbers One billion

valentines are sent each year

85 percent

of all valentines are bought by women

40,000

people are employed at chocolate factories

904

dating services nationwide

58 million

pounds of chocolate purchased in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day

73 percent

of flowers purchased on Valentine’s Day are bought by men

1,000

Letters to Juliet are sent to Verona, Italy, every year on Feb.14.

—Compiled by Devyn Hayes

Dr. John Williamson, DDS





9

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SPORTS

10

Wrestling team continues dominance as post-season nears Logan Terrell Sports Writer The Bonner Braves wrestling team is having a successful season, with at least two placers in each tournament this year.

Junior Mark Hobson has come out strong, taking first in two tournaments. Sophomore Aaron Puckett and senior Caleb Seaton have also won two tournaments and have each placed in the top three at least once. The 2010 state runnerup, sophomore Jonathan Blackwell, has also been a major asset to the team, winning one tournament and taking runner-up twice. Blackwell is currently ranked No. 2 in the state.

“I can’t explain how ready I am for the state tournament, and I am really hoping to win state this year,” Blackwell said.

The Braves had two dual matches at home against Santa Fe Trail and Osawatomie last Thursday. The first dual was not their best outing, according to head coach Brandon Jobe.

Bonner came out strong in their second dual, wrestling much better

The Grid Iron

Brave Briefs Boys Basketball After winning the Baldwin tournament, the Braves traveled to Independence, Mo., to take on William Chrisman and their all-too-familiar Grinnell offense. The Braves jumped on top early and never looked back, winning, 78-49 and pushing their record to 8-2.

“I was a little nervous going into the game because of the Grinnell offense, but we did a good job of executing our game plan, which was to play just as fast, or even faster than them, without getting out of control,” head coach Andy Price said.

Girls Basketball

Sophomore Jonathan Blackwell holds opponent Zack Litvack of GardnerEdgerton. Blackwell won the match 3-0 and is currently 28-5 on the year. and tougher.

“I didn’t wrestle my best the first match but the second match I did a lot better,” Blackwell said. “The first dual the team did not wrestle like they usually do, but after that the team stepped up and got tougher.”

As the Braves come down the back stretch, Jobe has confidence

that Blackwell, Caleb Seaton, Aaron Puckett, Mark Hobson, Jared Clements, Justus Seaton, and Josiah Seaton all have a good shot at doing well in state competition.

“We have had a good year, but we’re still improving,” Jobe said. “We have things to work on still, including getting tougher as a team.”

The Lady Braves traveled to Wellsville last week to play the Top Gun Tournament. The Braves played well, bringing home third place out of eight teams.

In the third-place game, the Lady Braves beat St. Mary’s 56-55 in overtime. Sophomore Anna Deegan was awarded all-tournament team.

This is the first time the Lady Braves have finished better than sixth place in this tournament.

“We are playing good with a 6-3 record and are currently ranked No. 1 in our sub-state,” head coach Clay Oakes said.

Swimming On Thursday, Jan. 27, the Braves swim team competed in the Wyandotte County Invitational. The boys took second overall in the meet, beating Washington but suffering defeat to the Turner Bears.

Although the team fell short, there were several strong performances, including two first-place finishes in relays.

“We ended up with some pretty good times,” said junior Blaine Edmondson. “Tyler Dubin and I each got first in an individual race and Ryan Cook took third.”

Up next for the Braves is the Inter-League Championship meets, set for next Wednesday at Turner.

Superfans Senior Erica Smith Basketball

Junior Ryan Cook Swimming

Favorite Food

Chinese

Sushi

Crispitos

Chinese

Favorite T.V. Show

One Tree Hill

South Park

Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Tosh.0

Jayhawks, Wildcats, or Tigers?

Jayhawks

Wildcats

Shaun White

Wildcats

Favorite YouTube Video

Kool-Aid Hair

Scooter goes through elevator

Anything by Logan Terrell

Charlie the Unicorn

Fictional Character I Resemble

February 4, 2011

Pam from The Office

Eric Cartman

Sophomore Freshman Jared Clements Jordan Jackson Wrestling Basketball

John Thatcher from A Knights Tale

Scooby Doo

A superfan can be described Next, the guys will get their as a loud and obnoxious, as well hands on a program, so they can as a knowledgeable and dedicated begin to learn the names of the supporter of his or her sports team. opposing players in order to ‘‘get in We decided to sit down their heads.’’ with juniors Gary Knight Sports have always Superfan Favorites and Jordan Carter to been a part of the Favorite sport discover a little bit about devoted duo’s lives, both to watch their fan-lyness. saying that they have JC- Basketball Our superfans have always grown up being GK- Basketball a very specific pre-game passionate about sports Favorite Player JC- Jordan Jackson ritual before every Braves with each other and GK- JJ Jackson home basketball game. their families. Although Favorite Cheer After school, the two go he has many favorite JC- We Can’t hear you. teams, Knight says he to Taco Bell and eat with GK- Get out of Dodge.

Bonner’s own, JJ Jackson, definitely bleeds orange Idols and then go back to and black: “I was born JC- Michael Jordan Knight’s house to play and raised in Bonner GK- Kobe Bryant “Call of Duty” before Springs. This is my alma Favorite Sports heading to the YMCA to mater.”

Team support the Braves.

JC- Kansas Jayhawks —By Austin Epp GK- Kansas City Chiefs “We like to get their Sports Editor early so we can grab front row seats for both the guys’ and girls’ game,” Carter said.

Junior Gary Knight and Jordan Carter do “the chop” as the Braves get ready to take on Turner in the third annual “Coming Together” for a Cure game.

SPORTS

February 4, 2011

College hoops top dog: Big XII versus Big East

Super Bowl XLV Preview

By Austin Epp Sports Editor Two of the most historical football franchises, with a combined total of nine Super Bowl titles, are at it again.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, after defeating the New York Jets 24-19 in the AFC Championship game, and the Green Bay Packers, after defeating the Chicago Bears 21-14 on the road in the NFC Championship game, are headed to Dallas for one last game and the rights to the Lombardi Trophy.

After a first-round bye, the Steelers hosted their longtime rivals the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round of the playoffs. Their hopes at going to their eighth Super Bowl looked to be fading after trailing 21-7 at halftime.

However, the Steelers put up two touchdowns in the third

quarter to deadlock the game at 21 all.

After trading a couple field goals early in the fourth quarter, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger led his team down the field to grab the game-winning touchdown with 1:33 on the clock.

In their next game against the Jets, the Steelers came out firing, taking a 24-3 lead at the half. Although the Jets held the Steelers to zero second-half points, they weren’t able to dig themselves out of the 21-point deficit and failed to win the AFC Championship game for the second straight year.

Unlike the Steelers, who played all of their playoff games at home, the Packers had to take their talents to the road to earn their trip to Dallas. Their first stop was in Philadelphia to face MVP

candidate Michael Vick and the Eagles in the wild card round.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Packers held a 21-16 lead, when Vick took the field with one last chance at a game winning touchdown.

The Eagles were threatening to take the lead when the Packers’ Tramon Williams intercepted a Vick pass in the end zone to seal the win.

Next, the Packers traveled to play the No. 1-seeded Atlanta Flacons. Somebody forgot to mention that to the sixth-seeded Packers, who marched into the Georgia Dome and came out with a commanding 48-21 victory, setting up a match up with their division rival the Chicago Bears.

Again the Cheese Heads came out firing and took a 14-0 lead into the fourth

quarter. The Packer defense was able to hold off a late surge from the Bears to earn their fifth Super Bowl trip.

Both teams will be playing in front of the most fans to ever watch the Super Bowl, as the game will be held in new Cowboys Stadium, which is currently the biggest stadium in the NFL. The key match-up in this game has to be between the Packers’ high-powered offense, led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and the Steelers classic hard-nosed defense. Whoever gains the upper hand in this battle should come out on top.

Mr. Streit

Señorita Hammond

Austin Lucas

Steve Williams

Winner- Steelers 27-23 Why?- Defense too much for Green Bay. MVP- Ben Roethlisberger

Winner- Steelers 28-17 Why?- They are black and yellow, like the song.

MVP- Ben Roethlisberger

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Winner- Steelers 17-10 Why?- Defense too tough.

MVP- James Harrison

Sports Guy’s Picks Epp’s Pick- Packers 24-21 Vitt’s Pick- Packers 27-17 Terrell’s Pick- Packers 28-24

Winner- Steelers 31-24 Why?- Defense wins championships.

MVP- Ben Roethlisberger

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11

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One of the biggest DALTON VITT questions the past two years in college basketball has been a simple one, with only a pair of answers to pick from. What is the best conference, the Big 12 or the Big East? Although As I See It the answer choices are simple, the arguments aren’t. Some of the most popular ones include the depth of each conference, number of tournament bids from each side, and who has the best overall team. Understanding all of these arguments, I put them together to pick a real winner.

If you want some hard evidence, we can look at the amount of tournament bids last year from each conference.

The only problem with this case is that it is a thing of the past. Last year was last year, and doesn’t have any real effect on which side is better this season. Nevertheless, it gives sports fans something else to blabber about. The final result for last season was eight teams from the Big East and seven from the Big 12. ADVANTAGE: BIG EAST Let’s continue with the best overall team, which is one of the weaker claims in this debate. The contestants come down to Kansas from the Big 12 and Pittsburgh from the Big East. Although the current rankings don’t show it, the slight edge at this point goes to the Jayhawks from the Big 12, mainly because of their depth in the backcourt and experience in the frontcourt. Even with the best guard of the two teams in Ashton Gibbs, the Panthers wouldn’t have enough firepower to take down the Hawks. ADVANTAGE: BIG 12 To judge the depth of each conference, I compared the 7th, 8th, and 9th best teams of each division against one another. I used Nebraska, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State from the Big 12 and pitted them against West Virginia, Georgetown, and Marquette. Unless you know anything that I don’t, this isn’t even a contest. All three of the Big East teams would dismantle the Big 12 trio. ADVANTAGE: BIG EAST After tallying the scores, the winner of my bracket is the Big East, 2-1. However, this is just one sports fan’s opinion.

Let the arguing begin.

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12

PEOPLE

Local artist captures everything from live performance art to original pieces

By Riley Mortensen Editor-in-Chief

The art work of Bonner Springs resident Michael Potts can take many forms. He has done celebrity portraits of Carrie Underwood, Willie Nelson, and Darius Rucker.

His original artwork includes everything from elaborate sketches to misty acrylics. Other specialities include blackand-white photography and corporate paintings.

A native of Wichita, Potts settled in Bonner Springs in 2008 to launch a career as a full-time artist. Potts was drawn in by the charm and authenticity of our city. We caught up with him while he was traveling to Colorado to deliver some paintings and ski with friends.

February 4, 2011

Fillin’ the frame with Mike Potts Q: When did you first start drawing?

A: I started drawing as far back as I can remember; it always felt very natural. My parents got divorced when I was very young, and I always remember spending time waiting at the court buildings while they battled it out in front of a judge. I spent almost all this time drawing various things, mostly trees and raccoons. I was obsessed with trees and raccoons.

Q: When did you know you wanted to be an artist?

A: About four years ago I decided to go at it 100 percent versus just doing stuff on the side. I had always painted and drawn portraits of animals or kids on the side while maintaining a “real job,” but it was never enough; I was never really happy. Finally, the time came where I knew I had to go at it all or nothing. I took every chance imaginable. I had to sacrifice everything and risk it all. I packed up and headed west. I did lots of free shows and gave my card to anybody I could. I did a lot of sleeping on people’s couches and moving from place to place.

Q: What is your background schooling?

A: I was born in Evanston, Illinois, but raised in Wichita. I went to high school and college there. I graduated from Wichita State in 2001 with a field major that combined sociology, psychology and art to mimic the concepts of art therapy.

Q: At what moment did you say to yourself, “Hey, I’m kind of good at this?”

A: I don’t know. You’re always your own worst critic. You don’t really look at yourself any different you just learn to deal with people saying things like, “Oh, you’re a really great artist, I’m a big fan.” Getting lots of compliments is always nice to hear, it’s just hard to accept sometimes — I’m not sure you ever get used to it. I guess the one pivotal moment where I really took a good hard look at the way my life was changing was when I was on stage in Nashville doing a show with Josh Turner. I didn’t really know much about the guy (or at least I thought), but then he started playing this song I really liked and had heard over and over. I froze for just a second, looked over at him singing away, and thought, “Okay, I’m must be pretty good at this.”

Q: When you were starting did you have other jobs on the side?

A: Man, I’ve done everything. I’ve had four or five jobs at once and averaged probably eight jobs a year for over 10 years! I’ve worked in the restaurants as a server. I’ve been a bartender, roofer, fiber optic installer, sheet rocker, army medic, and worked with kids a lot in various counselor roles. I started an art component at a summer camp in Colorado and have done that the last four summers alongside my doing shows as a live painter. It was an art program where we had every art outlet possible for kids to explore their own creativity: jewelry, wood working, ceramics, and photography. Pretty much anything you could think of.

Q: What stars have you done portraits of?

A: Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Josh Turner, Brooks and Dunn, Hugh Hefner, Richard Petty and others from NASCAR. Q: How did you get your name out there?

A: Almost every time I did a show at some concert or charity event someone else who was attending that event as a guest would ask me if I was interested in doing an event that THEY were sponsoring. I did almost every show for free the first year, and I went through tons of business cards. Also, timing is everything—just being in the right place at the right time. It wasn’t easy, but I worked my butt off and then one day I noticed the phone just consistently rang… my name was out there.

Q: Where is your studio?

A: I operate a studio on Oak Street in Bonner Springs. It’s right across from Miller’s Pharmacy. I have some art in the windows, so you can’t miss it.

Q: What do your parents think of this?

A: I have lived on my own since I was 15, so I experienced a lot without them. My dad has always been out of the picture, but my mom is absolutely thrilled (at least I think so). She’s an artist as well, and I learned a lot from watching her paint when I was a kid. She was always proud of me and always very supportive financially when I was growing up, and of any educational or professional quest I put before myself even when I didn’t have results. I think it makes her really happy to know all her faith in me paid off.

Q: Do you feel art fulfills your life?

A: I feel it has definitely been therapeutic. I feel very strongly that there is more I need to do in life and that the success I have had in art might be a way of helping me get there.

Q: Any advice to aspiring artists?

A: It’s not an easy road. If you really want to be an artist, you have to be proud to say it regardless of if you make money at it. No matter what job I had at the time, or whatever I was doing to get by, if I was asked, “What do you do?” my answer would always be, “I’m an artist.” Something inside told me unless I was willing to accept this first myself, no one else would ever have any reason to.

Pausing for a picture, Potts stands with country music superstar Carrie Underwood at her concert three years ago in Wichita. For more of our interview with Potts visit www.bshsnews.com and www.pottsgallery.com to view more photos of his work.

Q: What is your favorite part of your job?

A: Being an inspiration to others.