MAKE IT COUNT Millennials and their influence on the 2016 elections Editorial on Page 7
Tiffani Branch / THE FLARE
Early voting began in Texas on Tuesday.
The Flare
Friday, February 19, 2016 Vol. 79 No. 15 Serving Kilgore College since 1936
KC student embraces spotlight by acting, modeling MEAGHAN MORTON Managing Editor
T
ransitioning from stage to photoshoot to catwalk may seem like the life of an A-list celebrity, not one of a KC student; but if one was to dig a little deeper within the theatre department of KC, they would find someone who has done all of those things. Theatre major and KC sophomore, Trevor Newlin, is that student. Newlin began working with the Actors, Models, and Talents for Christ Company when he was 18 years old. “It’s a Christian acting, model and dance company that does auditions all over the country,” he said. “It’s basically a training process you go through and at the end of the process you go to Orlando, Florida, either in the summer or in December, and you audition in front of VIP’s and major modeling companies.” Newlin has also been given amazing opportunities while working with AMTC. “I’ve done a professional shoot with a photographer named Leo Marshall for AMTC,” he said. “He has shot a lot of famous celebrities so that was really cool to work with him. He did my editorials which was really awesome.” Newlin explains that an editorial is more dedicated to fashion and model requirements, and are very important. “You have to have a specific height, specific weight, I mean, for women, it’s a lot of different things, but for guys it’s height, weight and suit size,” Newlin said. He went on to explain what commercial modeling is as well as how it contrasts with editorial. “Everybody can be a commercial model, but not everybody can be an editorial model,” Newlin said. “Editorial models are very unique and fit in a certain guideline. They do a lot more of runway and things like that.” Because Newlin is 6’7”, it is not hard for him to find himself fitting in the editorial market, but he has once been too tall for a job. “After I went and talked to the agencies, I didn’t have a modeling callback; which I didn’t expect to because I read up on [the job] more,” Newlin said. “I talked to an agency from Dallas and they said, ‘You’re perfect for modeling but you’re too tall for our companies.’” Newlin is not with an agency right now because he currently works with the KC Theatre Department and attends classes, but he does have plans to pursue more of an education in the acting and modeling realm after KC. “I received a scholarship to the New York Film Academy for a three-year bachelor’s degree,” Newlin said.
“Get experience, make connections and practice your craft over and over.”
Model Behavior
Tiffani Branch / THE FLARE
See MODEL, Page 3
INSIDE THIS ISSUE n Face in the Crowd Page 2 n “A Walk in Her Shoes” Page 2 n 1098T’s mailed Page 2 n Police Academy graduates Page 3 n New featured art exhibit Page 3 n Relay Rangers potato bake Page 3
n Sports news and photos Pages 4 -5 n Country musician Billy Dean Q&A Page 6 n Winter choir concert Page 6 n Your View/Our View Page 7 n “Our Town” review and photos Page 8
Tina Marie Reed / THE FLARE
KC President Dr. Brenda Kays and her husband Dennis Kays (left) greet Randy Lewellen and Nate Whitten (above), during her college-sponsored reception held Wednesday. At right: Dr. Kays laughs with Chris Gore.
Victoria Gilchrist / THE FLARE
Raising awareness in high heels “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event educates East Texas community on sex trafficking crisis LUCY LOPEZ Staff Writer Walking a mile in high heels does not seem fun, let alone comfortable, but the community of Longview will be doing just that for a worthy cause. The third annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” charity walk will be held Saturday, Feb. 27 at the First Baptist Church at 209 E. South St, “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” is an event that is held worldwide. It is a mile long march to raise awareness of and to stop sex trafficking, rape, sexual assault and gender violence. “We want to encourage people to walk in other people’s shoes, such as the ones of
women who are caught in sex trafficking,” said Sekettia Brantley, coordinator. “You’ll see men struggling to walk in heels, but it’s a fun event and feeling the pain allows us to try to understand the struggle.” It was created by Frank Baird in 2001. According to the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes website, he created the march for people “to publicly demonstrate their courage and commitment to preventing sexualized violence. It gives the community the opportunity to celebrate men’s commitment, and it encourages the community to talk about these very important concerns. We share the world. I’m glad there’s room for all of us to participate in this march and in this cause.”
The event is presented by the East Texas Anti-Trafficking Team and the Zonta Club of Longview Prom Boutique. There will be a limited number of shoes available, so attendees are encouraged to bring their own high-heeled shoes. The documentary “Chosen” will also be shown at the event. It is the story of two teenage girls who became lured and got caught in sex trafficking. The documentary reveals the warning signs and consequences of sex trafficking. It aims to equip teens to protect themselves and others from being trapped in the sex industry. Businesses can help show support and bring awareness by carrying a banner with their company logo during the walk.
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20
nJohn
Glenn became the first American launched into space on Feb. 20, 1962.
Sponsorship levels include: Gold level: 3’ x 6’ banner (White, Black, Red) and four complimentary T-shirts with company logo Silver level: 2’ x 4’ banner (White) and two complimentary T-shirts with company logo Bronze level: 2’ x 4’ Banner (White) with company logo T-shirts will be available for purchase. Youth sizes are $8, adult sizes are $10 and adult XL sizes are $12. Registration is at 8 a.m. and the walk will begin at 9 a.m. For more information, contact Sekettia Brantley at 903-237-2729. -Kathryn Agee contributed to this article
THE FLARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016
180
nThe
Battle of the Alamo took place 180 years ago on Feb. 23, 1836.
1966
For the fifth week in a row, Stevie Wonder was first on the R&B charts with the song “Uptight (Everything’s Alright” in 1966. n
Check theflareonline.com for a full calendar of activities, or go to twitter.com/theflareonline for live updates
1098Ts ready for filing
FACE IN THE CROWD
MAX CERVANTES Staff Writer Income tax season has arrived, which means IRS 1098T forms are now available to KC students online at www.1098T.com. Paper forms were also mailed out Friday from the KC Business Office. “Because we had to pull information from two different systems to complete the processing of these forms, we will be unable to provide further documentation to you, but these forms are being submitted to the IRS and are what will be required to file your returns,” stated the KC Business Office staff in a campus wide email. They also apologized for any inconvenience caused by the delays as KC’s business software transitions. Students will only receive a 1098T if they have out of pocket payments, whether paid by the student or with a loan, for “qualified educational expenses.” IRS publication 970 defines “qualified educational expenses” as tuition, fees and books. Students will not receive a 1098T on the portion of tuition paid with tax-free educational assistance. Per IRS guidelines: If you pay qualified educational expenses with certain tax free funds, you cannot claim a credit for those amounts. Students must reduce the qualified education expenses by the amount of any tax-free educational assistance and refunds received. A 1098T is not issued for the portion of tuition paid with tax-free educational assistance including: the tax-free part of scholarships and fellowships, Pell grants, employer-provided educational assistance, veterans’ educational assistance or any other nontaxable (tax-free) payments received.
Safety class ready to educate LUCY LOPEZ Staff Writer
Sherry Huerta What is your major? My major is nursing.
Lacey Bunn / THE FLARE
Hometown: Kilgore Age: 20 Classification: Sophomore
Why did you decide to attend KC? I wanted to stay close to home and receive my prerequisites.
Netflix and going to the movies, hanging out with my friends, supporting my boyfriend with his band and sleeping.
What do you enjoy about working in the registrar’s office? I enjoy working with the other student workers and annoying Falecia Halton because she’s like my work mom!
What are some of your favorite memories you have made while attending KC? Meeting my current best friend Angelina, being in the Ranger Ambassador organization and the endless hours of studying for finals.
What career would you like to have? I would love to be a pediatric or psychiatric nurse. Who are some of your favorite faculty members at KC? All of the ladies at the registrar’s office; Judy DeRouen, Trey Hattaway, Officer Wagner, Eloise Ashley, Laura Mulanax, Kasey Nisbett, Terri York and Micah Goodding. Do you plan on transferring to another college after finishing at KC? Yes, I plan on going to UT Tyler. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I like going to the gym, running at Synergy Park, I love watching
What are your favorite TV shows? I enjoy watching Criminal Minds, Grey’s Anatomy, Breaking Bad, Dexter and The Walking Dead. What kind of music do you like? I like all kinds of music, from Sam Hunt to the Pretty Reckless. Plus, I love going to music festivals! What advice would you give a new KC student on succeeding here? Make friends in class so y’all can study together and compare notes. Actually, use all the materials the teachers give to study for a test. Most importantly, don’t procrastinate.
Women in East Texas are encouraged to attend the annual Women’s Safety Seminar taught by the Longview Police Department April 18 to 23. The seminar is held in order to help women learn more about how to protect themselves and their family members. “After completing the class, they will be more aware of their surroundings and will be able to be safer when shopping, traveling, or while at home,” said Kristie Brain, LPD spokesperson. “They will also be more aware of firearms and how to use them.” Longview Police Detective Debra Stiles said they have recently received reports of concern related to possible human trafficking in our area. “It is difficult to say exactly how big this problem is in our area,” Stiles said. “Generally victims do not realize they’re victims and are either too scared or choose not to cooperate with investigations. Once you learn the signs, it is easy to see that this type of crime has the potential to happen anywhere.” The Women’s Safety Seminar is free, but seats are limited and the class fills up quickly. For more information or to download a registration form, visit the City of Longview website or contact LPD at 903237-1199.
SPRING PEP RALLY SGA is sponsoring the spring pep rally, which will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24. Because this event was not on the calendar before the start of the semester, classes will not be dismissed. Instructors may use their own discretion to dismiss classes if their schedule allows.
NEWS
THE FLARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016
Police Academy graduates 17 today
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Life cycle explored in new art exhibit Rachel Gardner’s art expresses battle between primitive and modern world
JAMES SHREWSBURY Staff Writer The East Texas Police Academy (ETPA) will hold their graduation at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 19, in the auditorium of the Bert E. Woodruff Adult Education Center. Seventeen KC students have completed the Basic Peace Officer Course (BPOC) and will make up the 296th class to go through the ETPA since its start in 1966. The BPOC is an 18 week, 720-hour course for cadets who meet the eligibility requirements set by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). According to Joseph Cassin, ETPA Director, the course will soon be extended to 19 weeks to keep up with new mandates set out by the state and TCOLE. TCOLE’s current eligibility requirements are that each cadet be a citizen of the United States, be 21 years of age and have a high school diploma or general education development (GED), 18 with an associate degree from an accredited college or university or an honorable discharge from the military with a minimum of two years active duty. Cadets must also complete a thorough background check, including fingerprints, to receive clearance directly from TCOLE. Physical and psychological testing by a state licensed medical doctor are all required along with a drug test. Those who served in the military must provide a copy of their DD 214, and those who have previous been licensed by TCOLE must not currently have suspended licenses or had them revoked. The ETPA requires that all cadets have sponsoring agencies who ensure that the students are eligible to attend the course and who may employ them after they get their Peace Officers licenses. Sponsors of cadets in the class include: Corrigan Police Department (PD), East Mountain PD, Gregg County Sheriff ’s Office (SO), Hallsville PD, Harrison County SO, Jacksonville PD, Longview PD, Marshall PD and constables from both Cherokee and Upshur Counties. Members of Class 296 include: Lucrecia Allen, Spencer Anderson, Austin Bass, Kaleb Brisendine, Stephen Cagle, Angela Cotty, Heath DeGarmo, Syndi Howell, Austin McCracken, Rodney Reynolds, Tim Sipes, Justin Sledge, Larry Solomon, Jacob Travis, Janice Vanover, Dina Wilde and Jonathan Wolf. The guest speaker for this graduation will be Sergeant Kevin Reser of the San Antonio PD. Reser is the supervisor of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) unit.
Tiffani Branch / THE FLARE
Rachel Gardner’s artwork is currently on display in the Anne Dean Turk Fine Arts Center.
MODEL: KC theatre student has sights set on New York Film Academy FROM PAGE 1 “The university is located right next to Universal Studios, so for all of the projects and everything we do, I’ll be using Universal Studios’ back lot, which is really exciting.” Newlin’s career goal is to be a voice actor for animated films and video games and to also do modeling on the side. He believes that acting and modeling are not very different from each other. “To be a model, you basically have to be able to act,” he said. “If you did an ad for a clothing campaign and they want you to be happy, you have to know how to be happy; really, in modeling you will have to be conveying different emotions too. It goes hand in hand.” Newlin said he shares an equal love for both acting and modeling. “I feel like this because of how I’ve worked with both of them and the processes that each one has and how they tie into each other,” he said. Newlin said is very grateful for
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the support he has. “I have to say that Micah Goodding has helped me a lot. He presented me with a scholarship to be a theatre major that basically paid for everything, which I am very grateful for,” Newlin said. “My parents are really big supporters of me and they help me. My dad and mom are the ones that took me to the audition for AMTC and they took me all around [for auditions].” Newlin said that when meeting with new agencies for auditions that the most important thing to do is to remember to thank everyone you come in contact with. “You could have the perfect look or be an absolutely phenomenal actor, but if you’re not a responsible and diligent person in your work, no agent will want to work with you.” Other advice from Newlin could be used in anything you pursue in your life or career. “Networking is key in both acting and modeling,” he said. “Get experience, make connections and practice your craft over and over.”
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KC Relay Rangers Potato Bake February 26, 2016
Deliveries will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Includes baked potato, fixins and dessert. Tickets are $8 with a minimum of five tickets per off campus location. Deadline for ticket purchase is noon Monday, Feb. 22. All proceeds benefit Relay for Life. To purchase tickets, email jbutler@kilgore.edu or call Jeannie Butler - 903-983-8191 Jackie Fout - 903-987-3903
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THE FLARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016
SPORTS
Rangers drop double-header in Tyler RICHARD NGUYEN Sports Editor The KC Ranger softball team dropped two games in a double-header against the UT Tyler JV team. KC dropped the first game 12-2 followed by an 11-0 shut out. In their first matchup KC struggled from the rubber with Haley Varva surrendering eight runs in four innings. Varva walked six batters while striking out three. UT Tyler was able to smack three homeruns, two of which came in the fifth inning. The Rangers kept the ball game close through the first three innings, trailing by one run as they entered the fourth inning. From there UT Tyler didn’t look back, scoring nine runs in the last two innings. The Rangers got on the board twice in the top of the third inning when Hayley McCullers knocked in Hallee Carter with an RBI double. KC’s Alicia Davila
brought McCullers home on a sacrifice fly; the inning ended with Varva striking out. UT Tyler continued their defensive dominance in the second game shutting the Rangers out and holding them to just two hits. KC sent Cheyenne Phillips to the circle for the second game. Phillips struggled mightily, surrendering 11 runs in four innings, walking four and failing to strike out any batters. The Rangers’ two hits came from Carter and Manda Wilmoth. Their only other base runner was Kristen Terry who reached on a UT Tyler error. KC has dropped its last four games after winning three straight at home. The two losses to UT Tyler bring the Ranger record to 5-10 overall. KC returns home this weekend with the Rangers scheduled for five matchups starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at Stream-Flo Field.
Richard Nguyen / THE FLARE
KC Rangers Angelica Gonzalez makes contact with a pitch. Gonzalez is batting .410 on the season with two home runs.
KC RangeRs softball sChedule Saturday, Feb. 20 - Ranger Invitational vs Indy Community College Kilgore - 9 a.m. The 2015 KC Ranger football team received their championship rings on Feb. 13. The ceremony recognized more than 25 donors and was opened with speeches from athletic director Jimmy Rieves and head coach JJ Eckert.
Saturday, Feb. 20 - Ranger Invitational vs Eastern Oklahoma College Kilgore - 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 - Ranger Invitational vs Connors State College Kilgore - 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21 - Independence Community College - Kilgore - 9 a.m.
LEFT: Running back Martinez Syria flashes his 2015 championship ring. Each player’s name is engraved in the center
Sunday, Feb. 21 - Grayson College - Kilgore - 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26 - Murray State College - Region 14 Tournament - 4 p.m. Richard Nguyen / THE FLARE
Friday, Feb. 26 - Blinn College - Lear Park, Longview - 6 p.m.
SPORTS
THE FLARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016
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Rangers secure playoff bid on the road Moore helps team maintain winning streak AJANI MCCOY Sports Writer The Rangers dominated the Panola Ponies 89-78 in conference play Wednesday night. The KC men started strong, outscoring the home team 50-37 in the first half. Cheikh Diallo and Alassane Kah dominated from the three-point line with four and three finding the net, respectively. Seven of the nine who played scored at least two buckets, with Kah, Diallo and Jaleel Wheeler shooting five. Antonio Moore finished with six field goals. The Rangers were coming
Tina Marie Reed / THE FLARE
Jordan Martin, Lithonia, Georgia freshman, reverses underneath the rim as he finishes a fast break score against Bossier Parish Community College. The Rangers handily defeated the Cavaliers 74-48 at home.
off a home victory against Paris Junior College, 8565, over the weekend. It was a nice start for the Rangers, shooting full clips of 3 pointers with Wheeler shooting three back-to-back 3 pointers in the first five minutes. The Rangers had a successful rebounding game in the first half, crashing the boards. Ndene Gueye Senegal, Africa, freshman ended the game with 7 rebounds. KC men got into foul trouble, making them lose momentum in the game. They found themselves in a jam and were down six points at the end of the second half.
However, they came out in the second half gunning for a lead and playing excellent defense by contesting every shot the Dragons throw up. The Rangers also came away with some strong blocks, thanks to Gueye, who had three blocks in the game and also two steals. It was an excellent shooting night for the Rangers as they put up some smart shots that connected with the net. The Rangers shot 54 percent from the field and 48 percent from the 3-point line. Wheeler, the top scorer, ended the day with 31 points, and continues to climb the ladder in leading scorers in the country.
Tiffany Johnson / THE FLARE
Antonio Moore, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania sophomore, sails past a Panola College defender. KC outscored the Dragons in an 89-78 shootout in Masters Gymnasium last Saturday, Feb. 13.
Lady Rangers move up in conference Panola College breaks KC win streak with 71-70 heart breaker in Carthage. AJANI MCCOY Sports Writer As the regular season games are coming to an end the postseason for the Lady Rangers is quickly approaching. The Lady Rangers were coming off back-to-back wins against Paris and Bossier Colleges before their heart-breaking loss to Panola College Wednesday night. The Lady Rangers fell 71-70 in the last seconds of the Carthage game, due to a lane violation
while shooting free throws. The Lady Rangers trailed most of the game against Panola College which put them in a tough jam at the end. Big scorers in the game were Adrianna Edwards with 13 points and Dominique Thomas with 11 points, which helped keep the game close. Last Saturday the Lady Rangers defeated the Paris Junior College Dragons 74-60 at home. The Lady Rangers distributed the ball well, but were down in the first half.
They overcame the shooting drought and won the game. The top scorer was Lauren Carroll with 22 points. A win at Bossier Parish last Saturday kicked off the start of the two-game winning streak that gave the Lady Rangers their spot in the regional tournament. Lady Rangers showed true dominance in the rebounding game grabbing a game total of 43 rebounds and winning 71-67.
KC Lady RangeRs BasKetBaLL sCheduLe Saturday, Feb. 20 - vs. San Jacinto College – North (Guns vs Hoses Game) - Kilgore - 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24 - vs. Tyler Junior College - Kilgore - 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27 - vs. Jacksonville College - Kilgore - 2 p.m.
Tiffany Johnson / THE FLARE
Keke Barber, Gainesville, Florida freshman, goes for a short range jump shot in traffic in the Lady Rangers 74-60 victory over Paris Junior College last week.
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THE FLARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
Q&A with Billy Dean KATHRYN AGEE Executive Editor
Country music artist Billy Dean will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, in Dodson Auditorium as part of the Kilgore Community Concert series. He will be accompanied by Marvin Goldstein, acclaimed pianist and performer. Tickets are $30 and are available at the door. KC and KISD students are free. Dean is currently on a road show that has him traveling through six states. His songs include 11 top ten singles and five number 1 hits. Before Dean’s arrival in Kilgore, he gave The Flare an exclusive interview from his tour bus. Q: How are you? A: I’m going really good, it’s just really windy out here! Q: Why did you decide to go on tour this year? A: Well, I have two kids in college whose education I have to pay for... (laughs) I’m just joking, my kids are grown. Well, I love the live on stage tour. Being out touring helps promote the arts, and it helps keep old theaters funded for repairs and restoration. It’s fun to play at small, intimate venues - I actually prefer them over the bigger places I’ve performed. I gave a good time getting out and getting to see my fans all over the country since I’ve been in Branson for so long. Q: What is your favorite song you’ve written and why? A: “Let Them Be Little” might be my favorite because I’ve learned so much from my kids while being a
Photo provided by Billy Dean
parent. I think the song has made parents slow down and learn to have more patience with their kids. I’ve had fans tell me that it’s meant a lot to their families and young parents. I think it’s my favorite because of the message. From an industry standard, I’d have to say “Somewhere in My Broken Heart” because of the credibility it brought me and the awards it received. Q: What is your favorite part about going on tour? A: I love seeing the country and meeting different people from all walks of life. I was a terrible history student - I learn better when I see things, touch things, experience things - so I enjoy being able to learn about different places I go to first hand. I’m actually driving my own vintage tour bus right now on this tour - I don’t have someone driving for me. I like to see the country from the driver’s seat. I got really tired of
airports, so it’s refreshing to me to be on the bus. I enjoy getting food and spending money in each little community we stop in. I feel like an old cowboy in the Old West - like an old cowboy going on the cattle drive! If I had one way to describe it, it would be pure adventure. Q: When did you first become interested in music? A: I first became interested in music at a very early age, in about first or second grade. Some of my earliest memories are of my dad. He had a band for 28 years that would rehearse at our house. The equipment and instruments were a toyland to me. I just wanted to be around it for the rest of my life. Q: Who are your biggest country music influences? A: I’m a really big fan of the “outlaw country” movement, which had musicians like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell and Kenny
Rogers - I love “The Gambler.” Merle Haggard is probably my biggest country music influence, though. Just as a musician as a whole, I love James Taylor. I love the way he plays guitar, and I wanted to mirror how he played. I also love The Eagles. I feel like my influences are a good blend of country and folk rock.
Q: What are your plans for the future? A: I have a couple of big projects I’m currently working on that I want to finish before I get too old (laughs). I want to work on one big album project I’ve always wanted to complete and write music and lyrics for, record and play all of the instruments on an album with absolutely no outside influences at all. I’m also working on a special program for PBS call “Peace With Music” whose goal is to bring together musicians and music from different cultures.
“I love seeing the country and meeting people from all walks of life.”
Q: Have you always wanted to be a country music singer or did you have other interests growing up? A: I really like farming, I enjoy scratching the dirt (laughs). I love the outdoors - we just sold our farm in Tennessee. Farming’s about the only other thing I was ever interested in besides music and sports!
Image from Facebook
Mardi Gras music fest KATHRYN AGEE Executive Editor
Chorale concert features variety of favorite tunes NICK SHELLEY Copy Editor The sounds of the winter season can be heard at the Winter Chorale Concert, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, at the Van Cliburn Auditorium. Admission is free. The concert will last between 45 minutes to an hour. The chorale is composed of 27 people, both music and non-music majors. The first portion of the concert will be a mixture of acapella English love songs and madrigals with the chorale. About four songs will be played for the first segment. Two of the songs are madrigals. A madrigal, as defined
by Dictionary.com, is “a secular part song without instrumental accompaniment, usually for four to six voices.” The Camerata Singers, the women’s ensemble, will perform the second part of the concert. Four songs in all will be performed in the segment. Songs will include a Spanish song “with lots of flair;” a macabre, or death, song with text by Shakespeare; an up-tempo swing version of the traditional lullaby, “Are You Sleeping?” followed by medley of songs by The Beatles. According to Study. com, a “camerata” is defined as “a small singing group.” The third part of the concert
will be the chorale singing jazz hits by Frank Sinatra and others. They will be accompanied by a jazz quartet and this segment will be three songs long. Both the chorale and the Camerata Singers are directed by Dr. Jim Taylor, director of choral activities. Bill Bane is the chorale accompanist; and Ronda Howe, KC chemistry instructor, will accompany the Camerata Singers. Refreshments will not be served afterward. There is also no dress code for attendees, so students are welcome to come as they please. “I really think the students will love it!” Taylor said.
UPCOMING SHOWS AT THE BACK PORCH n DARRIN MORRIS BAND - 8 p.m. Fri., Feb. 19
n DALE SULLIVAN - 6:30 p.m. Wed., Mar. 9
n ABBY VENABLE BAND - 8 p.m. Sat., Feb. 20
n DAVID ALLEN, THE DRIFTING OUTLAW - 7 p.m. Thurs., Mar. 10
n COLE ALLEN - 7 p.m. Wed., Feb. 24 n DOCTOR DOCTOR - 8 p.m. Fri., Feb. 26 n CAPTAIN JOE BAND - 8 p.m. Sat., Feb. 27 n JEN AND RIO - 7 p.m. Wed., Mar. 2 n DARRIN MORRIS - 7 p.m. Thurs., Mar. 3 n LANDRY & CO. - 8 p.m. Fri., Mar. 4 n TEAZUR - 8 p.m. Sat., Mar. 5
n THE RICHARD STUART BAND - 8 p.m. Friday, Mar. 11 n DALE SULLIVAN BAND -8 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 12 n 2ND CHILDHOOD - 6:30 p.m. Wed., Mar. 16 n LEAP OF FAITH - 7 p.m. Thurs., Mar. 17 n DIXIE BENT - 8 p.m. Fri., Mar. 18 n THE DAGNABBIT BAND - 8 p.m. Sat., Mar. 19
Mardi Gras isn’t over just yet get ready for round two of drinks, food and fun. The Cajun Steamer restaurant in Longview will host its second Mardi Gras music festival from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20. The schedule of bands playing includes: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m: Darrin Morris 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Dagnabbit Band
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Casey Martin 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: Low D Jam Band 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Lady Chazz & the Tramps The Cajun Steamer opened its Longview location in June 2014. The restaurant is known for its Lousiana based, Cajun style steamed and grilled seafood, po boys, crawfish and more. The Cajun Steamer is located at 3094 N. Eastman Road. The event is free to the public. For more information, call 903-230-0070.
OPINION Supernatural experiences can be life-changing
THE FLARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016
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t’s weirdness that makes us who we are. I can definitely attest to this fact, as I have had quite a few strange and haunting experiences throughout the years. My odd experiences are something most people would dismiss as unrealistic, but let me be real with you here: I believe in ghosts. Ghosts are creepy and go bump in the night. NICK Right before I became SHELLEY a Christian, I was on my Copy Editor computer listening to some music. Suddenly, I felt a presence and my hair stood on end. I looked behind me, expecting to see my dad or sister. Instead, what I saw was a black mass floating in the air. It seemed as if it were conscious, that it knew that I was there and staring at it. Horrified, I watched the mass for a few seconds. It disappeared into my computer, which immediately crashed. Terrified, I ran into the next room. I then had an odd supernatural experience staying at my church during a week-long prayer vigil. The night started out fine, as a friend and I ate dinner, walked around and hung out. Later on, the recorded music playing over the building’s loud-speakers became a creepy anthem, making my hair stand on end. I felt like I was being watched. My body quaked with fear at what may have been present. I walked away from my friend down the hall. I was terrified and felt like there was someone beside me. I told my friend about it and he told me to pray. I did, which helped a bit, but I could still feel a presence next to me. My youth leader also came and we talked about it. I don’t remember our conversation, but I do remember that the man who came in after our shift told me a story to comfort me. I went to sleep for a bit, but I didn’t sleep much that night. Fast forward a few years. At one of the trips I went on with my youth group, I talked to a friend about a ghost that was at his old church. He told me a ghost had haunted one of the youth interns there, talking to him and turning on a computer at the church. We arrived at a different church that afternoon and went to bed after a long day of travel. That night, I woke up shaking, horrified that something may be watching us. I jumped across the room as the air conditioner turned on, thinking it was a ghost. I woke one of my friends up, who told me to sing worship songs in my head. It helped, and I fell back asleep to the tune of “How He Loves Us” by John Mark McMillan. What I have learned from my odd experiences is to expect the unexpected in life. Things that we think are fake are sometimes real and can change us forever.
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The next generation of voters and their influence on American politics
Tina Marie Reed / THE FLARE
YOUR VIEW Do you think your vote counts? Why or why not?
“Yes. While it does not tell who will be chosen, it helps my representative know who I want.”
“Yes, because we have a choice to choose whoever we vote for. For example in other countries they can not”
Justin Bechard Redmond, Oregon sophomore
Linda Allen Longview freshman
“Yes, I believe every form of voting counts.”
“No, one vote won’t make a difference.”
Kevin Francisco Henderson freshman
Leo Perez Longview freshman
Photographs by Victoria Gilchrist / THE FLARE
The Flare
M
illennials are predicted to be taking over voting booths and casting ballots in larger numbers than previous election years. The fact that politicians are employing this tactic to gain the youth vote is evidence enough that the millennial vote matters. Politicians have been employing new tactics to advertise and advance their platforms to gain younger voters’ attention. Democratic contestant Hillary Clinton has a strong social media presence with the “yas” hashtag and she continues to speak in internet memes. Republican Donald Trump shook the masses with and rattled his opponents by buying Jeb Bush’s internet domain name, causing any internet surfer that types in jebbush. com to be redirected to Trump’s website. Not only can younger voters decide presidential nominees, they can also decide the political fate of their town or state by participating in local elections. According to University of Wisconsin researchers, the voter turnout for local elections is plummeting and does not seem to be improving. Whether or not
VOL. 79, NO.14 n Friday, February 19, 2016 Copyright 2016, The Flare. All rights reserved.
2014 Sweepstakes Winner, Texas Intercollegiate Press Association • 2015 Sweepstakes Winner, Texas Community College Journalism Association Spring 2012 Gold Crown, Columbia Scholastic Press Association • 2012 First Place, Texas Associated Press Managing Editors
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kathryn Agee MANAGING EDITOR Meaghan Morton SPORTS EDITOR Richard Nguyen COPY EDITOR NIck Shelley
CARTOONIST Sarah Hooten PHOTO ADVISER O. Rufus Lovett ADVISER Rachel Stallard CONSULTANT Jamie Maldonado
ADVERTISING MANAGER Kayla Terrazas STAFF WRITERS Elijah Banks, Max Cervantes, Lucy Lopez, Ajani McCoy, Nick Shelley, James Shrewsbury, Taylor Stewart, Tarea Westbrook PHOTOGRAPHERS Ramona Barryer, Tiffani Branch, Lacey Bunn, Jessica Carrington, Rain Cohn, Jodi Dosier, Victoria Gilchrist, Tiffany Johnson, Richard Nguyen, Tina Marie Reed, Baylor Roberson, Sam Rodriguez, Kiana Rose
you have potholes on your street depends on you, and more specifically, whom you vote for during local elections. As an American citizen, it is your right to vote. As Americans, we can decide who runs our country and what the important issues are. Many college students have recently reached voting age, and should take the opportunity to use the right to vote. Millennials are opinionated in social matters such as ecological topics, same-sex marriage and legalization of marijuana. Their vote can make a huge impact. By choosing to vote for a favorite candidate, whether local or national, you are indirectly deciding on the issues that are important to you based on the candidates’ platform. This is why every vote counts. As the younger generation inherits the world’s politics, our voices will matter more and the world will rely on our decisions. To find a local place to vote, contact your county’s courthouse and ask. Voting is a great power to have, and with great power comes great responsibility.
LETTERS THE FLARE welcomes any letter to the editor and encourages all readers to use this as a sounding board to express thoughts and opinions on current campus-related topics. We also welcome news or feature ideas. Due to space limitations, letters should be as concise as possible and may still be edited for space. Letters must be signed and include an address and telephone number so that we can verify their authenticity. Letters should be delivered to the newsroom in Communications-Automotive Building, Room 125, mailed to The Flare, 1100 Broadway, Kilgore TX 75662 or emailed to: kc_flare@yahoo.com
DISCLAIMER THE FLARE is the student newspaper of Kilgore College and is published every Friday by the journalism department, except during examination periods and vacations. First copy is free, subsequent copies are available for 50 cents. THE FLARE is a member of the Texas Community College Journalism Association and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association. All people holding editorial staff positions are Kilgore College journalism students. Comments and views expressed in THE FLARE reflect the thoughts of the individual writers, and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or opinions of other students, staff members, faculty members, administrative officers or the Board of Trustees.
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8
THE FLARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016
F E AT U R E
OUR TOWN
Tina Marie Reed / THE FLARE
A young George, played by Colton Askew, and Emily, played by Kami Pack, talk about school during Act 1 of ‘Our Town.’
KC theatre’s production of ‘Our Town’ provides heartfelt, emotional glimpse of humanity MEAGHAN MORTON Managing Editor
A
fter getting the chance to see an early performance of “Our Town” put on by the KC Theatre Department, I am speechless. After walking out of the theatre, I felt like I looked like an idiot from crying so much. This play made me think about the life we as humans live. Beforehand, I spoke with Colton Askew, the actor who plays one of the main characters, George, and asked
him what he thought about the play. He told me that the play was about living the life that you have now, and living in the moment. It wasn’t until the very end of the play that I realized what he meant when he said that. One actor and crew member who did an especially great job would have to be Leisa Jenkins, who played the role of Rebecca. Jenkins’ character was very relatable as the bratty and low-maintenance little sister. She had a “sploshion” of personality and made me laugh every time she took the stage.
Another great role was that of the narrator, played by Trevor Newlin. He wasn’t just the narrator as he took on many parts during the play, almost as if he were more of a presence. I could compare it to something maybe ghost-like in a way. Two people I believe need special recognition are stage managers Brittney Crane and Judah Armour. These two crew members have important jobs providing the sound effects to a play where few props are used. For this play to work, timing and precision is very important.
Speaking of the use of, or not the use of props, a raked stage is used in this production. A raked stage is a stage that is sloped. The closer to the audience the shorter it is, and the farther away it is, the higher it is. This created a diorama feel to the play, showing the audience more of the set and what is going on. I have never seen a show on a raked stage, but I truly enjoyed it. Learning about the lives of the characters who lived in little Grover’s Corners and the way it was portrayed as time going by was beautiful and
heart-breaking. As I am sitting here writing this, I am tearing up a little. I highly recommend seeing this play directed by Micah Goodding and Kaitlin de Graffenried. Hard work and so much time has been put into this show, and you can tell just by watching it. Take the time this weekend to support your local theatre and witness an amazing and quite normal story being told on stage. For more information on the KC Theatre department, go to www.kilgore.edu/theatre.
Tina Marie Reed / THE FLARE
Tiffany Johnson / THE FLARE
ABOVE: Trevor Newlin, Kilgore sophomore, and Jacob Johnson, Longview sophomore, present statistical information about the town Grover’s Corners. TOP RIGHT: Citizens of Grover’s Corners send off a newly married couple. BOTTOM RIGHT: Annalise Wisdom, Kilgore sophomore, Leisa Jenkins, Emory freshman and Colton Askew, Gladewater freshman, sit at the dinner table before school one morning. Tiffany Johnson / THE FLARE