October 2018 by Lee's Summit HS Hi-Life Magazine

26 October 2018 | Volume 94 | Issue 2

ON THE COVER |

HAUNTED MISSOURI

OF WEIGHING Talk | BTS Voice | FOOTLOOSE THE WASTE Take a behind the scenes look at the upcoming fall musical, Footloose.

Investigate the recycling process the school uses and the waste it creates.

whats inside

CASUAL SPORTS

06 23

BTS

FOOTLOOSE

Take a behind the scenes look at the upcoming and FALL RECIPES Relaxing is good enthusiastically STIGMATIZING for the soul, dive The fall season comes anticipate fall into the benefits SOCIOPATHY musical: with treats that are Investigate easy and fun to make of yoga and other Footloose with a personality disorders, casual sports for with friends and few of its’ and take a quiz to the less ambitious family. main actors identify it in you. athlete. and actresses.

HAUNTED pg.12 MISSOURI

Investigate the haunted world of Missouri with editor-in-chief Makenzie Kraxberger, managing editor Audrey Badgerow, assistant photo editor Makayla Holmberg and design editor Tyler Williams.

THE GAME

Connect with us | @jlabmag

hilife.jlabmag.com

from the editor

think one of the best parts about journalism of any form is the ability to expand to all sorts of different topics and really choose your own adventure. Through my high school journalism career and other opportunities, I have been able to pick and choose my assignments and do things other kids my age would not even dream to do, at least legally. The first investigative assignment I pursued revolved around the infamous Unity Village, and my job was to determine if their following was or was not a cult. Assignments like these were some of the highlights of my entire high school experience, because the story itself became my story. This issue became another memorable one for my editors and I. We were given the opportunity to investigate the Elms Hotel, and even though everything seemed to go terribly wrong, that is how it ended up terribly right. For starters, our tour guide and interviewee did not show up, but the desk manager was able to improvise and gave us first-hand accounts and a phenomenal interview. In addition, because the tour guide did not show up we did not really have anyone to show us through the hotel, however that turned out to be probably the best part. I think one of the best things about journalism is being given

opportunities and access to people’s truths, locked doors, and even haunted hotels. My design editor and I were given keys to the haunted suites, and were told that we could roam the entire hotel, and go in any unlocked door, and that made all the difference. I think it was more about the story of the hotel and the people in it, than the story of one individual reciting a rehearsed script. I hope to inspire my staff to seek out stories like this, and turn unideal situations into perfect opportunities, and I think they arew off to a great start. This issue we

investigated the schools waste and recycling system, unveiled some common misconceptions about antisocial personality disorders and of course dived headfirst into the supernatural side of Missouri. I truly believe journalism is all about breaking boundaries and challenging the truth by whatever means possible, and I think we are well on our way to that thought process.

Makenzie Kraxberger Editor in Chief

STAFF Editor-In-Chief Makenzie Kraxberger

Managing Editor Audrey Badgerow

Managing Editor Design Editor Tyler Williams

Photo Editor

Renee Haskell

Sports Director Clayton Couch

Content Editor Jordan Turner

Jr. Sports Director Mike Smith

Reporters

Max Almaguer, Amari Childs, Megan Curless, Izzy DeMarco, Chloe Doak, Leah Haskell, Micaela Helvey, Mackenzie Henks, Makayla Holmberg, Tommy Hicks, Cheyanne Kennedy, Blake Lemon, Alana Makowski, Lilian Mann, Katie McKitterick, Jaeden Miller, Faith Roach, Alana Rogers, Cesar Rutiaga, Daltyn Schafer, Samantha Schierholz, Rachel Schouten, Camera Schulenberg, Bianca Stewart, Abbie Thurman, Maggie Tuck, Veta Wareing, Emma Wesseldine, Lyric Westley, Ava Whitney, Jordan Wilson, Kenna Witske Advisor: Mr. Marc Russell

What we Think

Thoughts from the staff.

I’d agree that people will definitely pick and choose what suits their audience, but I also don’t think every ghost story is false. It’s a fine line,” senior Tommy Hicks said. Paranormal rumors are closer to home than staff members often think, as Lee’s Summit is

“

I definitely believe in ghosts, If ghosts aren’t real then I’ve wasted countless hours of my life being afraid to go get a snack at three in the morning,

“

alloween inevitably brings stories of all things paranormal. The only controversy surrounding haunting, spirits, ghosts and all the other umbrella terms for the supernatural lies in its validity. “I definitely believe in ghosts, if ghosts aren’t real then I’ve wasted countless hours of my life being afraid to go get a snack at three in the morning,” sport editor Clayton Couch said. However, not everyone is convinced, non-believers credit the seemingly unexplainable to all sorts of plausible causes, even fraud. “I think a lot of the time people take something really small and run with it and create a story that entertains, or sells,” freshman Katie McKitterick said. Though not all haunted buildings will outwardly advertise their supernatural accusations, they tend to market to whatever audience they are after. Sometimes, this means being a plain historical museum, but maybe on friday nights in October the building is in fact a haunted attraction. “I don’t think every ghost story is necessarily true, and

well known for it’s downtown supernatural dilemmas. “Yes, I think Lee’s Summit could definitely be haunted, I’ve seen some strange things driving around and Lee’s Summit is full of history,” Couch said. Again, not everyone is nearly as convinced.

Do you believe in the supernatural?

“I think Lee’s Summit is the least likely place to be haunted in Missouri. It’s really not all that old, and I think that people may be using the paranormal stuff to sell tours and entertain, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I don’t really believe any of it,” McKitterick said. The morality behind faking hauntings, editing apparitions into photos, and exaggerating the story might need to be called into question. 83% of staff members said yes “I don’t think it’s that harmful to exaggerate hauntings to entertain people, 17% of staff members said no after all it wouldn’t be very 43 staff members were polled fun to go on a ghost tour with a tour guide who just talks about things falling over sometimes. I think people want to be entertained and afraid in the Halloween season, and that’s what these businesses do,” Couch said. To believe or not to believe seems to be the age old question in regards to the supernatural, and the truth behind it seems to be just as unknown as the cause.

Written by: Makenzie Kraxberger Photographed by: Makenzie Kraxberger Designed by: Makenzie Kraxberger

4 TALK | OCTOBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM

Tommy Hicks (far left), Katie McKitterick (middle), Clayton Couch (far right),

THREE STUDENTS, THREE STORIES

oaming through the halls, glancing at the faces. Some may be familiar but other are stranger but what would you do if you saw a stranger sobbing on the ground, mourning the loss of a loved one. Would you stop and care for the student, knowing you would be late or would pass by never noticing the whimpering sound in the noisy hallway. Being student of the month requires care for others and the knowledge of putting other above yourself. Stacy Landis took a stranger’s needs of care and attention before his need to go to class. “I just let him cry and told him it’s okay. I just let him cry in my arms,” Landis said. The thought of getting student of the month never passed his mind. “You are alive you should be happy. I’m one of the people. I’m an optimist,” Landis said. The kindness that Landis showed struck English teacher Kevin Hoffman so much he could not recognize Stacy for student of the month because he knew he would start breaking into tears. “ I was kind of blown away by what he did, all of the compassion that he showed for another student. It made me feel very proud to be here at Lee’s Summit with students that would do that. I told Dr. Faulkenberry that I couldn’t even be up

STUNNING STUDENTS

there when they presented it because I would probably tear up cause I was so proud of Stacy,” Hoffman said. Hoffman knew that not a lot of people would take the time to help a stranger out. “A lot of people would feel embarrassed in that situation or worry that they would embarrass the person even more, like if you see someone having a tough time, crying or something you would think oh they need their alone time or whatever. But you know that he was smart enough, wise enough to say that person needs some help or needs some attention,” Hoffman said. Destiny Whittington took a story up, above and over the mountain top when all she needed was to find the main idea. “Well I thought that she deserves some recognition simply on the fact that she came out of her shell and took a lesson personally,” teacher Kevin White said. Whittington seems like an outgoing character that is always ready for a moment to show her opinion but that is just an assumption. “She did something that was above and beyond just a simple assignment, she kinda took it personally, she is kind of a shy student but she didn’t show anything shy about this subject,” White said.

The subject being none other than the popular game: Fortnite. “She read an editorial about Fortnite and what was the minimum age you should play fortnite. The person that wrote was ten years old and said that they should be able to play it and she said no that is ridiculous,” White said The next student’s story is something that took teacher Chris Reichart’s breath away. Freshman Christy Distefano, believes that no matter who you are or what you look like, you should always be happy and be able to have friends. Distefano earned student of the month because she cared for a student when nobody else would. “I was nice to this kid with because people in my class are mean to him and it is really sad and I knew him personally. It hurt my heart,” Distefano said. Striving for perfection is what most people believe is the only way to achieve anything or get any award but reading these stories should show many that if anyone gives out their heart and shows care and attention to many, greatness will come.

Written by: KENNA WITZKE Photographed by: EMMA WESSELDINE Written by: TYLER WILLIAMS

CULTURE | SEPTEMBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM 5

EVERYBODY CUT,

CHOCOLATE and CARAMEL APPLES

FOOTLOOSE

4 apples

Sweet and Salty Pumpkin Seeds

A glimpse into the fall musical, Footloose, opening in two weeks.

he stage lights are set, the part is rehearsed, and students stand on the stage ready for what they have practiced for. Time to knock the socks off the directors and show them they deserved that part. It happens every year, young actors and actresses come to try out for the school play. This year the directors have come together with the play Footloose for our annual musical. “Ever since I started doing theater, I have always come in with high energy and I want to give the audience the best show. They deserve the best show because they are paying to watch you,” lead actor Joey Ferguson said. During the choreography process

Worth it! : Junior Avery Beavers (above), the lead in this year’s fall musical, shares how she really feels behind the scenes. “Rehearsals can be a little stressful just because there is always so much going on. The cast is able to have fun, but also crack down and get to work,” Beavers said. She loves being able to connect with the character she is playing and the other characters around her.

friendships are made and their theater family is brought even closer together. The musical is on the way to creating a great cast and an upbeat play. “The musical, I believe is going well, we’ve got it all staged for the most part, we’ve done our blocking rehearsals and we’re in the midst of doing our choreography,” play director Micah Hensley said. The casting selection is a common misconception for some schools, but this theater group takes their parts up to a whole other level. Everyone there puts in everything to help this cast work like a team and not just strangers on stage. “At our school at least, I feel like everybody goes in with the preconceived notion of who they think is going to get a part, but I think the casting selection at our school is really fair because a lot of people will step up their game,” Ferguson said. The students are away working hard at getting everything they need ready for the soon to be in action in Footloose. Time will only tell.

Family time! Senior Joey Ferguson always looks forward to musical rehearsal. “If I had to sum up what rehearsal feels like, it would be: one giant family coming together to build, mold, and finish a project. Imagine being with your best friends for four hours every day,” said Ferguson. He has the privilege to express himself and throw away all his worries to focus on achieving the best show possible.

6 TALK | OCTOBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM

Written by: EMMA WESSELDINE Photographed by: MACKENZIE HENKS Designed by:AUDREY BADGEROW

Chocolate and Caramel Apples

Pumpkin Rice Crispy

SEASONAL SPECIALTIES

Ingredients

1/2 tbsp coconut oil 11 oz caramel melts 8 oz chocolate melts popsicle sticks

Directions:

1: Star boiling water in a small pot, once boiling, use a double boiler to melt your chocolate with coconut oil. Once the chocolate has melted, keep on a low heat and stir occasionally. 2: Add caramel to a small pot and melt. Once melted, keep on a bow heat and stir occasionally. 3: Get an apple and put the popsicle stick through the core. 4: Put parchment paper down on a plate, then dip your apple into the caramel and coat 2⁄3 of the apple. Set on parchment paper to dry. 5: Once hard, dip apple in chocolate and coat 1⁄3 of the apple. Set on parchment paper to harden.

Fall season comes with snacks PUMPKIN that are easy and fun to make RICE CRISPY with friends and family. frosting Ingredients SWEET AND SALTY PUMPKIN SEEDS Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups raw pumpkin seeds 2 tsp melted butter pinch of salt 1 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp sugar Written by: LEAH HASKELL Photographed by: RENEE HASKELL Designed by: JORDAN TURNER

Directions: 1:Pre heat oven to 325°F 2: Mix together in a bowl pumpkin seeds, melted butter, salt, sugar, and brown sugar. 3: Lay put on a cooking tray lined with parchment paper. 3:Cook in oven for 30 minutes. 4: Let cool for 10 minutes.

small Reeses cups Orange food coloring 2 tbsp butter 11oz marshmallows 6 cups of rice krispies

Directions:

1: Melt butter into pot, add marshmallows and food coloring, mix on a low heat until fully melted. 2: Once melted, turn off heat and add rice krispies, stir until fully mixed. 3: Spray your hands with non-stick spray and get a handful of mix and roll it into a ball the size of your palm. Place on parchment paper. 4: Lightly press on the ball and add a reese’s butter cup on top. Add frosting to look like a vine.

FEATURES | OCTOBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM 7

Walmart $9.00 These light tan with geometric lines all around it comes with an adjustable belt.

8 CULTURE | SEPTEMBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM

CRAZY? CRAZY? CRAZY? CRAZY? ARE YOUCRAZY? START

Do you take risks for others?

Written by: JORDAN WILSON Photographed by: RENEE HASKELL Designed by: MAKENZIE KRAXBERGER

A BC

How often do you lie to get what you want?

Take this quiz to find out,

You would describe C yourself as... B A

Yes

Cargo Shorts

the general population is diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, however less than one percent of the general population is diagnosed with psychopathy.” The stigma around antipersonality disorder can be linked back to our culture as a whole villainizing mental illness and shaming those who try to get help. “There continues to be a pattern in this current society to stigmatize individuals working through a variety of mental illness, from anxiety to personality disorders. Antisocial personality disorder is a collection of symptoms that can be very difficult to pinpoint and often does not lead to any severe actions from the person affected.

Never

This shirt is a rich purple maroon from a soft cotton fabric.

Melander said. The main difference in sociopaths and psychopaths is that sociopaths are motivated by short term success and winning, while psychopaths are usually more detailed in planning their actions. “Sociopaths are motivated by what is happening in the moment with the desire to win or conquer. Where as a psychopath may be more detailed in planning their actions, and may desire more gratification from the criminal activities as opposed to gratification from winning,” Melander said. This condition may be more common than some people believe. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, “1-4% of

lack of remorse for their actions and the impact on others,” school psychologist Kat Melander said. The only people who can truly diagnose someone with antisocial personality disorder are trained professionals. Speculating that someone has antisocial personality disorder off of similar tendencies is not an accurate way to label someone. “There is no absolute characteristic or trait that will automatically get you the diagnosis of anti-personality disorder, but a mental health professional can review the range of characteristics and the impact of those characteristics in the individual’s school, work, relationships, etc,”

Always

$3.00

he low rumble of everyone surrounding is overwhelming when it is hard enough to try to find the correct emotion to exhibit. This is how people with antisocial personality disorder feel when they are in a stressful situation and must try to find the desired emotion to imitate. Antisocial personality disorder can be used as a synonym for sociopathy and psychopathy and is an umbrella term. The inability to feel remorse is a common trait for people diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. “Both sociopathy and psychopathy are considered to fall under antisocial personality disorder as both display a

Both

Walmart

Personality disorders come with new sets of problems.

Shy Loud

Purpleish Top

isgust makes its way to the victim’s face as the culprit walks by, unbeknownst of their crime. Their boots make that weird rubber sound when they are wet and their boots scrunch the pants up at the top because they are not wide enough to go over the boot, but not small enough to go inside. Some clothing styles we can bring back and they are cute, sometimes we even call them vintage, but there are also fashion styles that should not come back, or even still be sold in stores. Cargo shorts, for example, are disgusting. What is their purpose? What do they go with? Why do guys still wear them? They do not properly fit and they are always an ugly khaki color. What do you even pair them with? What can you pair them with? Nothing because they are gross. Sorry to anyone who wears them. Instead maybe try shorts that are more fitted, look better, and make an actual outfit. Another thing that is gross are shoulder pads. I understand clothing that empowers, but shoulder pads are not the way. Only The Heathers can pull them off, so stop trying to incorporate them into business wear. Suits are fine without them. Bootcut jeans, are something that should not be a thing anymore. We as a society have evolved. They were okay in the early 2000’s, but now we have skinny jeans, bell bottom jeans, or any other type of jean. They are just a half efforted bell bottoms. Another awful trend are plastic shoes. They are gross, socks are not an option for those or it defeats the whole purpose of the shoe. Your feet sweat and then your boots fog up and it looks like a sweaty, foggy mess. Gross. They cause blisters because the plastic is not a good shoe material and it rubs against your heel then all of the sudden your ankle is blistered and scabbed and it is disgusting. The point is, plastic is bad. It is just shoes though. Honestly the plastic backpack is cute. The clear raincoats are also cute, it protects you from the rain, but still shows the outfit.

Never

Written by: VETA WAREING Photographed by: RENEE HASKELL Designed by: MAKENZIE KRAXBERGER

VOGUE

Sometimes

A fashion column by Veta Wareing.

STIGMATIZING SOCIOPATHS

Often

VETA’S

If you got mostly...

You Cannot Self-Diagnose

FEATURES | OCTOBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM 9

SHOW SHOW ME ME

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY PARANORMAL PARANORMAL ACTIVITY ACTIVITY PARANORMAL PARANORMAL PARANORMAL PARANORMAL ACTIVITY ACTIVITY ACTIVITY ACTIVITY PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

LEE’S SUMMIT LEE’S LEE’SSUMMIT SUMMIT LS LS HISTORY HISTORY MUSEUM MUSEUM

ow serving as a beacon for local history, the Lee’s Summit History Museum was formerly home to the first post office in Lee’s Summit. Built in 1939, this was an area that was bustling with never failing movement and foot traffic. “I have spent many hours in our local history museum and have felt the presence of others there. The building was built in 1939, at a time when the economy was in a very sad state, so mid-depression. The troubled souls who came to the post office received letters

Pinpointing local sites of haunts and the paranormal.

ootsteps patter without explanation, floorboards creak when they should not, objects moved unaided, and shadows sneak and wcreep around corners. Speculations regarding anything paranormal plagued human history for ages, often limited to the accounts and stories of the witnesses; the question has always been to believe or to not believe and the answer may be closer than you think. “Any city with as much history as Lee’s Summit is bound to have lots of ghosts and stories that go with them,” Lee’s Summit historian Kathy Smith said. The great debate

surrounding the supernatural has prospered throughout the ages. However, one’s previously held allegiances and understanding of the subject itself may begin to stray from its roots after visiting certain haunted hotspots. “If you really pay attention to the buildings as you walk down the street, you can feel the presence of generations of people who have lived and worked in Lee’s Summit,” Smith said. Lee’s Summit, more specifically downtown, is an area that is rich in both common and unorthodox history, ranging from the everyday to what could be perceived as the supernatural.

Throughout downtown Lee’s Summit and neighboring cities, apparitions of a depression-era doctor, a victorian age woman, a Quantrill raider dressed in black, and civil war soldiers have been reported. Stories and hauntings range in severity. “There was a morning tour and these people came early, when we were still closed. But then left, and came back again. The woman said that she had thought we were open because they had seen a face looking through the window at them as they walked up to the house,” John Wornall House historian Sarah Bader-King said. Having a building’s identity be defined by

FROM LSHS....

hauntings can have both its benefits and its disadvantages. “It does get a lot of people to come in the house that would maybe never be here otherwise. Occasionally, we will have people when we are closed come in and tromp around on the property to go peek in windows and rattle doors,” Bader-King said. Though every city is bound to have it’s own ghost stories and Lee’s Summit is no exception, Missouri itself seems to be a hotspot for the unexplainable. Written by: MAKENZIE KRAXBERGER and AUDREY BADGEROW Photographed by: MAKAYLA HOLMBERG and TYLER WILLIAMS Designed by: MAKENZIE KRAXBERGER

HOW CLOSE ARE THE GHOSTS? K D’S BOOKS

5 min.

WORNALL HOUSE

24 min.

45 min.

THE ELMS

according to USAtoday

45% of people

OLD OLD COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL HOTEL HOTEL

believe that ghosts or spirits can come back

he Old Commercial Hotel was said by the former tenants to be haunted by a victorian-age woman who would do nothing, but pace around. “Others say that it is haunted by a cowboy of some sort, whose spurs can be heard,” Smith said. The building has been many things in its time; it has been a railroad hotel, which burned down, and in 1888 was established as Bank of Lee’s Summit.

Sources: USAtoday, Google Maps, Canva

K D’S 241 SE MAIN ST 64063 WORNALL 6115 WORNAL RD 64113 ELMS 401 REGENT ST 64024

K D’S D’S BOOKS BOOKS K

or years, the tenants of KD’s Books have joked about a Mr. Boggs who haunted the building. “We like to laugh and say, if there is a book on the floor, that, ‘Oh, that was Mr. Boggs’”, KD’s Books owner Cheryl Collier said. Despite the jokes, Mr. Boggs was very real. According to historian Kathy Smith, he was a Quantrill raider and Justice of the Peace.

from family members telling the sad news of the loss of a loved one. This business would certainly leave its mark on the historic building,” Smith said. Scrambling to finish the museum in time for opening, Smith spent many long hours alone at the building. “Yes, all buildings creak, but I have seen flashes of people in the corner of my eye. I would not say that I believe in all that, but I have seen it and I am always open to those things because you have to be,” Smith said.

THE ELMS A ll buildings have their stories, ones that illustrate the lives of those who have lived there, worked there, visited there, and some cases - - died there. “There have been some tragic incidents here. (at The Elms). “A gentleman in the late 1800’s was hung on the back end of the property in the late 1800’s, and then in the seventies, one of the tour managers fell off of the third floor fire escape. Articles that you will read on the incident will question whether it was in fact an accident,” front desk manager John Mormino said. Mormino has worked at the hotel for eight years, it being his first job out of high school. During his time there, he has heard many stories from coworkers who find that they have been victim to the paranormal inhabitants of The Elms. “ An employee was in the room and the door slammed shut, he said

The Elms Hotel is a monument to Excelsior springs and contributes through it’s many pools and fountains to the healing qualities of the waters.

NOT EVERYBODY WHO CHECKS IN, CHECKS OUT.

that he felt the entire room chill in temperature. When he went over to try and open the door from the inside, he could not. He started banging on the door in panic, until finally other employees came. He continued to work here after that, but he still refused to go inside room 505,” Mormino said. This employee was not the only one to feel a presence inside the hotel.

“For the most part, a lot of what you see is paranormal activity in the spa area or the lap pool area, which goes back to the healing aspect of the waters in Excelsior Springs, and also the fifth floor in general has a lot of activity. The lap pool only had one entrance; multiple people have said that they hear children’s laughter and splashing when there is no one else there,” Mormino said.

As for visible haunts, one is more prominent than the rest “A lot of indivuals talk about how they see 1940’s or 1950’s gowned people walking and wandering throughout the hotel,” Mormino said. These claims have received much spotlight, more specifically from professionals. “Several investigations have been done over the property. Ghost Hunters did an episode

on it, and a few other people have brought up their own paranormal investigations,” Mormino said. In addition to having such a rich paranormal following, the hotel is also home to some very rich history. “What you find a lot now is that they are used as service tunnels or something to that nature. Our biggest department uses them for anything from doing work underneath the pool area, outside, pumps, those types

of things, and then they also use them as a way to pass through one area to the other underneath the hotel you could be on one side of the hotel by the laundry department and drop down the tunnel walk about 100 ft and you would end up in the european lap pool. That was all a part of the history of the hotel. ,” Mormino said. The service tunnels are also supposedly home to haunts “There are some service

tunnels underneath the hotel grounds that the maintenance staff uses to pass from one side of the hotel to the other. They say that the tunnels would have catered to the notorious side and helped aid gangsters through the hotel,” Mormino said The Elms, with all of his history and its haunts is an excellent addition to haunted Halloween bucket list.

The fire escape, picture far right, is one of the locations in the hotel in which people died.

MORE LOCAL 9 SE 3RD ST.

r. Ragsdale came to Lee’s Summit from Lone Jack to make his way as a psychian, like his father who had been an attending physician in the Battle of Lone Jack. Eventually, he had established the first hospital in Lee’s Summit, while also working as an innovator of sorts. However, by 1935, he had committed suicide by ingesting chloroform. Before he died, he had called his friend, Dr. Cliff Miller. He had not made it in time to save Dr. Ragsdale, who is said to haunt the building. “One woman used to have his studio, and she said she would hear unexplainable movements and footsteps,” Smith said.

ONLY YOU CAN’T EXPLAIN THESE

owntown Lee’s Summit has been housing to a realm of several large fires, which may magnify this theory of the local supernatural. The commercial district had originally been built out of wood, since it was the cheapest, while also being the style at the time. The fire of 1885 was caused at a photography studio next to the Dew Drop Inn, because at the time cameras needed a spark. Unfortunately, the dry air did not mesh well with a spark, which ultimately made the joined buildings on both sides burn. “This left essentially no downtown

FIRES FIRES FIRES

left, “ Smith said. They rebuilt with brick in 1888. Then, on the block between Bricks and Bike America, there was a fire that burned down the very first jail in Lee’s Summit. “ Someone was burned to the point of being mummified. No one ever knew who he or she was,” Smith said. In 1988, there was large fire at a car dealership, that burned the back off of Blue Heron.

KANSAS CITY KANSAS KANSAS KANSAS CITY CITY CITY KANSAS KANSASCITY CITY B

uilt in 1858 by farmer John Wornall, this building was used most famously as a field hospital in the Battle of Westport in the civil war. Many died and suffered at the house, due to it being a hospital, creating more of an outlet for the supernatural to appear. Most stories detail apparitions of uncomfortable soldiers, more specifically in the dining room. This room was used the operating room, and the dining room table was where soldiers were worked on. “The very most common story is when people come into the room, they feel sick or nauseous, or dizzy, and then feel totally normal when they step outside of the room, other stories have to do with

RELIABLE RIDES RIDES

family members, since pretty much every single member of the family died in this house,” John Wornall House historian Sarah Bader-King said. The house is also supposedly haunted by Wornall’s last two wives, Eliza and Roma.

he driver does not see the other car as he plows into it. The sound of smashing metal and breaking glass fill the air as the airbags violently deploy, keeping everyone alive inside the vehicle. It is important for teenagers to have a car, but when looking for a reliable car, it is important to keep in mind things like safety ratings, crash tests, fuel economy, cost of fixing, cost of insurance, and how long they last. Sports cars usually get less miles per gallon when it comes to gas, and coupes and convertibles have higher insurance rates. Some cars can run until they reach over 300,000 miles, but beware of cars that start to have expensive problems before they reach 200,000 miles. “An important point to remember is that our vehicles can only do so much for us when it comes to keeping us safe and preventing crashes,” Missouri Highway Patrol Sergeant Scott White said. All different Honda vehicles have been reliable cars for decades. Coming in coupe version or sedan version, the Honda Accord gets

Honda Accord

$6,100-$10,000

Written by: SAM SCHIERHOLZ Photographed by: FAITH ROACH Designed by: CHEYANNE KENNEDY

Assessing trustworthy first cars. 22 city and 32 highway miles per gallon. Insurance can be higher on the 2-door coupe version. Hondas are known to last up to 300,000 miles or more, and be especially cheap to fix when it comes to parts and labor for working on them. Accords are front-wheel drive, and while most include 4 cylinder engines, some Accords have a v6 engine. “Many of the vehicles on this list have lane detection systems, which means if someone starts to go over a painted lane marker, the cars tells you by beeping or vibrating the steering wheel. Other features include forward collision warnings, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot warnings,” White said. Getting 28/38 miles per gallon, the Subaru Impreza is a good choice for someone who wants to save on gas money. Subaru has won safety awards for each of their models, including the Impreza. Subaru won Kelley Blue Book’s most trusted brand in 2018. An Impreza can go anywhere from $5,800-$17,000, depending on the condition. These cars come equipped with an all wheel drive drivetrain system, which makes driving in snow or sleet safer, and a

Ford Focus

$4,700-$13,300

2.0 liter, 4 cylinder engine. “Electronic stability control is AUTO SHOPS NEAR BY not brand new technology, but it helps us to maintain control of our cars in bad weather,” White 7am-6pm VALUE AUTO said. mon-fri CLINIC With either a higher priced Located on Blue sporty hatchback or a normal sedan, a Ford Focus is a 4 cylinder Parkway. There is even a coupon on car comes in two turbocharged editions or a non-turbo edition and their website for new customers. 8amgets 30/40 mpg. 5:30pm PERFECT “Today, safety goes beyond seat CONNECTION mon-fri belts, anti-lock brakes and front Off 291 South, on airbags,” White said. market street. For students who want something sportier, Ford Mustangs are known to reliable and still get good fuel economy, depending on what kind of engine it has. A 8am-5pm GENUINE mon-fri v6 Mustang can get 18/27 mpg. AUTO Remember that insurance will be a Located on third lot more expensive on a sports car. street. Cool old cars Cars are important parts of inside. $88 hourly people’s lives. A vehicle is necessary rate. 8am-6pm to get to places like school, work, mon-fri DIAMOND after school activities, and events 8am-12pm with friends. Safety is an important MUFFLER sat feature of cars. There are a lot of Right next to options of cars that are fair priced LSHS. but still reliable, that teens will want to drive.

Ford Mustang

$3,900 and up.

Subaru Impreza

$5,800-$17,000

CULTURE | OCTOBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM

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The unsung heroes of the special education department.

he snack cart during 4th hour rolls down the hallway, providing a little bit of ease to the hungry students before lunch. The special education students smile as they offer the snacks for sale. However, the teachers behind this program usually go unnoticed with their efforts to help and assist, and overall run the entire program. There are 15 teachers that help out with the SPED program currently. Special education teacher Chris Reichert, gives an outlook on the program with its benefits and difficulties, as well as what it takes to help out with the Special Education program. “I worked for juvenile correcting in college, and later I wanted to help with students who needed help and work.” Reichert said. The SPED field always needs more instructors and paras, however this job is not one that is always considered, and takes a lot to pursue. “You would probably need to be certified in another subject, as well as Special Education and a lot of

patience and flexibility. No day is the same and no year is the same,” Reichert said. Reichert also believes the job is rewarding, helping students out, and the overall flexibility and variety of the job keeps him up. The SPED program instructors each do different things for each of the students they teach, but there are some everyday things they have to help the students with. “We mostly level out the playing field for them and help them with catching up with their classes,” Reichert said. As well as helping out the special education students, he also says that there are always other students that help out with SPED as well as each other. “There’s always support out there to help other students as well as teachers.” Reichert said. Although the job may not get much attention from everyday students, it is no doubt that the SPED teacher jobs are crucial and important in the overall staff, as well as the class system.

16 CULTURE | OCTOBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.

Claudia's

Active Achievers: Students in room B115

begin their work for the day. Students in that class prepared to contribute to their community. “I want them to believe they are hard workers and they can achieve anything anybody else can achieve,” special education teacher Kevin White said.

Steadfast Humor: Special education teacher

Kevin White chats and giggles with students. It was early first hour and White had a full day ahead of him, but that did not put a damper on his mood. “All special education teachers need to have grace, patience, and a sense of humor. They need to have all three of those,” White said.

Written by: MICHAELA HELVEY Photographed by: FAITH ROACH Designed by: JORDAN TURNER

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give back while you shop! 816-482-2854 3801 S State Route 291, Lees Summit, Missouri 64082 (Next to Lamar’s off 150) Wednesday - Friday: 10am - 6pm Saturday: 10am-3pm Sunday: Closed

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I TONEED YOU REGISTER TO VOTE STUDENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE UPCOMING MIDTERM ELECTIONS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. encounter bits of stories that we’ll use to fuel our arguments. However, these fragmented pieces of news will only result in a discussion solely based on opinionated narratives that lack a real political motivation. The necessity of knowing a full story before presenting your argument can help you avoid using your personal biases as facts. “I heard something, or saw it on Facebook instead of doing fact checking, I’m just going to repost because it sounds good. I could agree or disagree with that, and say it’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard. But I didn’t bother to check the validity of the information.,” Smith said. “The less attention you pay to the bombardment of news, the better off you are. If we can maintain focus on important subjects, the conversation could thrive,” Smith said. Taking in news like a daily pill can give you an overdose

of unnecessary information. Following the political path your passion leads you down is important when introducing yourself to the ongoing conversation. In the beginning, following subjects driven by a strong desire introduces you to the political world with a confident gusto. However, allowing your involvement to end there is not ideal. Can the verbal scars of this battle heal, or will the wound lie open, forever leaking its morbid poison into

“

The less attention you pay to the bombardment of news, the better off you are. If we can maintain focus on important subjects, the conversation could thrive

“

rowned out in the verocious roars of opinions, and suffocated by the pressure of conversation, political discussions are overexposed by the bombastic explosions of thoughtless debates. In an age where discussions transcend distance and the flow of opinions floods our lives; we seem to divide ourselves more and more, making any meaningful conversation into a violent debacle of opinions. The verbal bullets that speckle this political battlefield have fossilized, and the generations of today have begun to reload their artillery. “Stop watching the news; stay informed,” said debate teacher Nate Smith said. There is a severe drought of education drying out the conversation, and the only way to quench this strangling thirst is to conduct your own thorough research. Far too often we’ll

18 VOICE | OCTOBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM

FACT CHECK STUDENTS REGISTERED TO VOTE IN 2016

48%

WERE REGISTERED

52%

WERE NOT REGISTERED

10/10

Senators are up for re-election in 2018, including twenty-three Democrats, two Independents, and eight Republicans.

Was the last day to register to vote. You can register if you at least seventeen and a half years old and will be eighteen by the day of election.

11/06 Is the day of the 2018 Midterm Elections.

Written by: MAX ALMAGUER Photographed by: KENZIE HENKS Designed by: TYLER WILLIAMS

T VO

VOTE

VOICE | OCTOBER 2018 | HLIFE.JLABMAG.COM

WEIGHING THE

WASTE

A look into the recycling, reusing, and waste and how it relates to the school.

he boy finished his cold and refreshing drink, then he walks over to the trash area. Nearby, a dark green recycling bin sits empty and abandoned. Undecided, he holds the smooth plastic bottle in his hand, and chooses to throw it into the trash. He walks away, unaware of how that small plastic bottle could greatly impact the environment. “Recycling stops landfills from filling up so much, and instead it gets sent to recycling

This process is known as centers. Then it goes photodegradation. from there to the product “Ever year we get more they’re going to make it and more students, and out of again,” building that will increase the manager Wes Harbit said. amount of trash.” Harbit Plastic bottles take at least said. 450 years to decompose. In 2013, Americans Most plastic bottles and containers are made with a produced 254 million tons of trash, and only about plastic called polyethylene 34 percent of this trash terephthalate. Organic was recycled. Plastic can materials like foods, woods, and other scraps are harm the environment in different ways. It can broken down by bacteria clog streams, rivers, and under a process known landfills. It can release as biodegradation. With polyethylene terephthalate, toxins into bodies of waters, poisoning animals it cannot be broken down by bacteria at all, but rather 11 million by UV rays, or sunlight. tons of

1 American consumes roughly two trees annually in paper products.

recyclable clothing ends up in landfills.

who have habitats near or located inside the bodies of waters. Humans than fish or hunt them, putting these unsafe toxins into our own blood. Plastic can also have a negative effect on land, also it can make the soil less fertile, decreasing chances of successful crops. Plastic can also release dangerous chemicals into groundwater, which can than be very unsafe for the water to be drinked. Some water bottles

are biodegradable, but that does not mean they are still safe for the environment. The breakdown of these bottles can release gases like methane which contributes to global warming. “If we do have some leftovers, we normally take it to the social services, or we let The lunch ladies eat some.” assistant manager of cafeteria Sandy Dimnier said. Instead of throwing things in the trash, check the item to see if it has a recyle sign to know if it is safe to recycle. When plastic is recycled, it is carried to a recycling plant where it is sorted. After it is sorted, it is then shredded and rid of its impurities like paper or ink. The shreds are then melted, forming pelts, that can be used to make other products like

20 new aluminum cans from recycled material using the same amount of energy that it takes to make 1 brand new can.

traffic cones, trashbags, and countertops. There are many positives that recycling has on our community. Recycling limits the amounts of waste sent to landfills, which lowers the amount of methane gas produced contributing to global warming. Recycling also helps affects air quality in a positive way since less unsafe chemicals would be released into the air, and bodies of water would be cleaner. Save money by buying recycled goods over new ones. Instead of throwing his plastic water bottle into the trash, he chooses the smarter option, and recycles his empty bottle. By recycling the bottle, which might have a small, yet his act still has value.

The average person generates 4 lbs. of trash a day.

The U.S. generates 21.5 million tons of food waste yearly.

40% of U.S. food waste is never eaten.

9/10 of solid waste in U.S. does not get recycled.

info: dosomething.org

20 VOICE | OCTOBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.COM

Written by: AMARI CHILDS Designed by:AUDREY BADGEROW

VOICE | OCTOBER 2018 | HLIFE.JLABMAG.COM

LIFE

Yoga can be both mentally and physically benefitial, while also being relaxing.

he girl correlates her breathing with her movement to the soothing music that plays a calming rhythm in the background as she positions into the first yoga position. “Yoga is a connection with the mind, body and spirit,” yoga instructor, Ruthann Zentner said. “Some people come to yoga for the asanas which is posture but then they discover as there’s a lot more to it with mind and body,” Zentner said. Yoga is not something most people consider a sport, but it also helps tone the whole body. It also helps with learning, balance, and posture. “Breathing, moving, balance, stretching, and shavasana find that relaxation but it doesn’t have to be that. It could be waking up and just getting that even 5 minutes meditation to clear your head, 10 minutes of a relaxing posture at night just to get things to kind of settle it doesn’t have to be a ton of movement it could just be one sun salutation,” Zentner said. If the whole meditation part of yoga is not appealing that is okay. There are eight basic limbs of yoga, which means there are other ways to practice it. The eight limbs are Yama, Niyama, Asana,

Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi. Whether it is just the meditation or it is just the stretching, toning and balancing part it is all yoga and is beneficial mentally and physically. “Physically it tones your body from head to toe because you use everything when you practice yoga. It’s not just your biceps, triceps, or your legs. You use the entire body and then mentally shavasana what you did tonight you felt your body actively relax and just focused on the breath instead of 25 other things going on in the brain,” Zentner said. Yoga is beneficial mentally, it helps process the thoughts out and relaxes the brain while clearing the head. Yoga does not have to be this long practice where every move in the book is done. It could be just working on having a calming and steady breathing routine or just stretching in the morning, before school.

REVERSE WARRIOR: The class is doing the Reverse Warrior pose. The Reverse Warrior pose improves flexibility in the spine, inner thighs, ankles, and chest. It also strengthens and stretches the legs, hips, groins, the sides of the torso, and the waist. For those that have scoliosis (a curved spine), this pose is amazing for correcting the spine and for strengthening your back muscles. “I have scoliosis and I have definitely felt relief by doing yoga,” said yoga instructor and owner of Core Balance Yoga, Leah Morgan.

22 PASTIME | OCTOBER 2018 | HILIFE.JLABMAG.

Written by: VETA WAREING Photographed by:CHLOE DOAK Designed by:TYLER WILLIAMS

TATTEREDTIGERS TIGERS Athletes struggle to make the crucial decision that their health depends on.

he cold wind blows onto the soccer field on a cool October night. After a poor slide, senior Caleb Ranney lays on the cold turf grasping his knee, not knowing he might never step on the field again. “My worst fear was that I was going to be done, and I would never be able to walk straight again,” Ranney said. Athletic trainer Angela Oswald has seen athletes put themselves through pain playing through gruesome injuries. “Athletes usually play through a fracture. Either they know it is fractured, and they choose to play through it with their parents consent, or it is an unknown fracture,” Oswald said. Junior linebacker Tyler Terrance suffered a bone bruise in his foot early in the first quarter game against St. Joseph Central, but his pride trumped his health. “I didn’t talk to the trainer when I got injured, because it would be a sign of weakness. It would be a sign that I could not handle playing through pain, or I did not have any mental toughness,” Terrance said. The culture of toughness and resilience has proven to be a hindrance in Terrance’s season. Due to his lack of precaution on an injury he suffered during a game he may not be able to play for a crucial rivalry game. “I did not come out of the game because I knew that my teammates needed me. I regret

staying in the game, because North is way more important than St Joe, and now I might not get to play against Lee’s Summit North,” Terrance said. Hindsight is 20/20, but Terrance was not thinking about future consequences when he made his crucial decision. “I feel pressure to stay in the game from my family, because I do not want to disappoint them, they mean the world to me,”

“

My worst fear was that I was going to be done, and I would never be able to walk straight again

Written by: CLAYTON COUCH Photographed by: CLAYTON COUCH Designed by: CHEYANNE KENNEDY

“

BALANCING

Terrance said. Giving the athlete the accountability to tell the trainer about his health could prove costly to prideful athletes. Ranney suffered a season ending knee injury in his junior year, and he still had some second thoughts about his availability. “At first I did not even think I was injured, even though I heard a pop, I thought I just tweaked something. When I came off the field the trainer said something was wrong and I was seriously hurt. If she would have said I could go out and play I definitely

would have,” Ranney said. Oswald and her staff’s protocol was able to save Ranney’s career by holding him out for the rest of the season. “We first determine the severity of the injury and decide if it is life threatening or non life threatening, and then we do a quick on field assessment so we can keep the game going,” Oswald said. Caleb’s injury brought multiple challenges and pressures with it. Pressure from his peers made him desperate to come back quickly. “I felt like everybody was counting on me to be back on a certain day. People kept asking me when I was going to be back, and they kept saying how they missed seeing me out there. I felt as though I was letting people down even though it was not on purpose,” Ranney said. Fortunately, Ranney has been able to find some positives from his terrible injury. Being injured has helped Ranney become a smarter player all together. “I look at the game differently. I think I go into tackles and slides smarter now, I protect myself better now. I would rather miss one tackle than miss the whole season again,” Ranney said. 11 months later Ranney stepped onto the field on a cool September evening, with his injury behind him, and a roaring crowd in front of him. He entered the stadium to finish what he had starting nearly a year ago.

PASTIME | OCTOBER 2018 | JLABMAG.COM 23

PINK KEEPING UP TRADITION:

Senior Grace SERENADING SOLO: Junior Eghosa Stephenson gives her mother a medal for their help throughout high school with band. “My mom and dad would Obheveon performs a solo at the pink out game. spend so much time driving me to band, bringing me dinner, “Performing a solo is kind of scary because you don’t want to mess up in front of people” and just simple things that would really help out!”

CHEER ON: Junior Sophie Penland cheers on

the tiger football team as they rush the field for the big game. “It’s always super fun to see the guys come out and be pumped to win!”

BLOWN AWAY: Junior Gabby Byers preforms

for their last home game of this year. “I love getting to perform with the band because it gives me a sense of pride being in our new uniforms.”

Photographed by: MAKAYLA HOLMBERG Designed by: AUDREY BADGEROW

NO SMILES:

Senior Tyler Williams protects his voice before a singing competition, “I was anxious for districts, but still wanted to support the team,” Williams said.

OUT OUT