The Paw Print December Issue

Lonoke High School

December 2010 Volume 4, Issue 2

The Paw Print

Merry Christmas And a Happy New Year

Content

What’s New?

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2010 - 2011 Staff: EDITOR IN CHIEF: Megan Palmer DESIGN EDITOR: Kailee Griffis DESIGN EDITOR: Raegan Pack DESIGN EDITOR ASSISTANT: Brianna Brown DESIGN EDITOR ASSISTANT: Kaitlyn Tate STORY EDITOR: Cheyenne Lee BACK PAGE EDITOR: Persephone Harris COPY EDITOR: Joelle Tackett SPORTS EDITOR: Jessalyn Tackett PHOTO EDITOR: Shelbi Raysor PHOTO EDITOR: Sydney Wheat ASSISTANT: Lydia Evans REPORTERS: Rebecca Barger Daniel Brown Kaleigh Huff Brent Powell

Semester Test Schedule Wednesday, December 15 1st period test -- 8:00-9:30 2nd period test -- 9:40-11:10 Lunch 11:15-11:55 rd 3 period test -- 12:00-1:30 Thursday, December 16 4th period test -- 8:00-9:30 5th period test -- 9:40-11:10 Lunch 11:15-11:55 th 6 period test -- 12:00-1:30 Friday, December 17 7 period test -- 8:00-9:30 th

S

L

SPEAK OUT

04 Discover the New Year’s resolutions of classmates in YOUR grade

LIFE STYLE

06 Junior Dallas Martin tells us HIS story 07 How YOU can find

entertainment for those cold winter days

P

G

PLAY HARD

10 Golden Winners of Special Olympics

GET INFORMED

Big Money For YOU

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No More Space Shuttles

14

Scott Smith

Your PAPER. PAPER. Your STORY STORY..

Your MEMORIES MEMORIES..

Submit all ideas and comments to lonokepawprint@gmail.com lonokepawprint@gmail.co m

What’s New?

Angel Tree Gives Back for Christmas By: Sydney Wheat

Clothes, bicycles, and baby dolls are a few items that Angel Tree recipients will see under their tree this Christmas.

In 1975, Angel Tree began as only a community service project for the West Knoxville Business and Professional Women’s Club (BPW) of Tennessee. However, Angel Tree did not end in the community. BPW eventually dissolved, however a few committed volunteers kept the program alive under The Boys and Girls Clubs of Knoxville. In 1994, Angel Tree became a nonprofit organization.

Lonoke has a few who are willing to give a helping hand.

The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) try to have a community service project each month; Angel Tree is the project

for December. “I just know that if we didn’t do this, 20 kids wouldn’t get gifts. It’s a good feeling,” said business teacher Angela McCallie.

Senior Vice President of First State Bank, Beth Wright, has been working with Angel Tree for more than 20 years. “We have a lot of customers in and out of the bank who have a lot of big hearts, and I knew they would help out,” said Wright.

To spread the word, the bank puts articles in the local paper and speaks at different civic organizations. 600 county-wide families need help, and 200 in Lonoke alone.

“It’s a worthwhile project, and Photo by Sydney Wheat I hope it continues on for many, The Angel Tree at First State Bank in many years,” said Wright.

Lonoke is hosting one of the many sites to donate to underprivileged children.

To Donate FIRST: Go to First State Bank.

SECOND: Pick an ornament off their tree.

THIRD: Pick out the gifts to buy off the childrens wish list.

FOURTH: Bring the presents back to the bank, unwrapped.

Wrapping paper may be brought separately.

Photo Courtesy of Jacob Brown

“Christmas is about giving and this is only one example for student council to show that.”

-Senior Heather Pitts

(http://www.angeltree.info/history.html)

Visit us in color at www.issuu.com

02

Speak Out 03

Speak Out:

Where your Ideas ignite the World.

Speak Out

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What WAS your New Year’s resolution for 2010?

What IS your New Year’s resolution for 2011? n

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40 0 to 45% of Americans make New Year’s resoluti resolutions each year. loss, ear. The most common resolutions are weight los exercise, smoking. e, debt management/reduction, and to stop smokin Research shows that making New Year’s resolutions is useful.

After the first week of January, 75% of people keep their New Year’s resolution. After six months, 46% of people maintain their resolutions.

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By: Kaityln Tate Photos by Shelbi Raysor & Sydney Wheat

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Life Style 05 Cara Neighbors & Keylon Walker

Life Style: The story of your play , your tragedy, ...your life.

Photo by Sydney Wheat

Life Style

Up in Flames By: Megan Palmer

It was 6:48 a.m. on October 30, 2010. He woke up to someone running through his house. “Hurry!

Start filling up pots and pans with water!” He jumped out of bed and began to do what his brother told him. But this fire wasn’t that serious, so he thought.

It was too late. The flames began to touch the ceiling. Once the two boys realized they could not stop the fire, they quickly made sure their loved ones were out, and followed behind.

It only took two minutes for the entire house to catch on fire. “They couldn’t find what happened,” said junior Dallas Martin. “I wouldn’t want it to happen to anyone.”

Most of the Martin’s belongings were lost because of this fire. “I had no hope at all,” said Martin.

Members of the community helped by donating items such as money and clothes. Martin and his family are currently living with his grandmother who only lives two houses down.

There were 25 fires in Lonoke during the month of October. “Most of the fires were grass fires,” said Lonoke’s Fire Chief, George Rich. They were enhanced by the lack of rain. But the most common way for a house to catch fire is “inexperienced cooking, especially by young children,” said Rich.

Although the cause of Martin’s fire was not known, a fire team “can always find the general area” of where the fire started, said Rich. The Martin’s fire started in one of the bedrooms and eventually took over the entire house.

Fire prevention is very important, but maintenance is the easiest way to prevent one. Checking smoke alarms every six months and replacing the devices each year is an important safety precaution. “Keep your electric system up and hot water heaters checked,” said Rich.

“The house is not worth your life. The house can be replaced; they can build a new one. But there is only one you,” said Rich.

Do not endanger other’s lives. Prevent the fire, before it starts.

Photo Courtesy of Dallas Martin

Junior Dallas Martin’s house after the October 30th fire.

The fire destroyed almost everything the Martin’s had.

No one was harmed in the house fire.

Fire Safety Tips By: Lydia Evans

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Check for working smoke alarms and change the batteries every time the clocks change.

Purchase smoke alarms at home improvement stores or discount stores.

Have a fire extinguisher handy.

Keep all flammable objects away from open flames.

Have space heaters checked to make sure they operate correctly, and keep flammable objects away from them.

Do not overload circuits with plug-ins.

Do not light candles around Christmas decorations, especially Christmas trees.

If away from home over the holidays, make sure everything electrical is turned off.

When creating a yard fire, rake all leaves away from the house to keep any fire from spreading.

Know the numbers to the local fire department and police station.

Have a plan of escape. Make sure everyone knows how to get out of the house and knows where to go.

“Don’t worry about junk; junk can be replaced,” said volunteer for the Lonoke Fire Department, Darrell Park.

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Life Style

ENTERTAINMENT FOR Can’t figure out Here are a

Freshman

*Snowball fights *Invite friends over for hot chocolate

Pho

to b y Sy dne y Wh eat

Snowball fights!

Kaylee Chambers

*Make cookies

or other holiday treats

By: Brianna Brown

Hot cocoa party!

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Ice-skating!

Freshman Kaylee Chambers invites her best friends over to play in the snow on winter days. Chambers also enjoys playing in the snow, rather than staying inside.

Life Style

COLD WINTER DAYS... what to do? few ideas: *Ice skating

Senior

*Watch

W he at

parks

ey Sydn

*Decorate local

Watch movies! o by Phot

Christmas movies with family

Jacob Brown Decorate the tree!

Senior Jacob Brown enjoys going to his girlfriend’s grandmother’s house and riding four-wheelers.

Brown’s favorite snack in the wintertime is strawberry shortcake.

Make cookies!

08

Play Hard

Play Hard:

The every day stories of athletes rising above.

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Photo s on pg 9 & 10 Courtesy of Mr. Ponder

Play Hard Special Olympians Compete for more than Gold By: Jessalyn Tackett

For Coach Anthony Ponder, the Special Olympics is not about him; “it is all about the kids.”

Ponder, head of the Lonoke Special Olympics, gets very absorbed in the program. The 35 students competing, train and practice for the events that are held a few times a month. There are 21 sports including bowling, aquatics, floor hockey, flag football, basketball, and track and field.

Ponder started helping with Special Olympics when he was about 14 years old; however, he has been active in Lonoke’s Special Olympics for five years, and said he was encouraged by the students to continue the activity this year. The best part about the Special Olympics is “seeing the kids excel and seeing the thrill the kids get in the games,” said Ponder.

Senior Hope Moore has supported the program since her freshman year. Moore has over 100 community service hours and half of them are from Special Olympics. Moore said she feels great knowing she is helping the students have fun.

“I love working with the kids because every moment is a memorable moment,” said Moore.

While Moore is there to help the students, most

seem able to do activities by themselves.

Ponder said the Special Olympics gives students chances “to do things that they may not otherwise have a chance to do.” The athletes get “to meet new people and develop new friendships through the program,” said Ponder. Sometimes the kids get to stay in hotels when they travel for competitions.

“The Special Olympics gets Lonoke out there,” said Ponder. Lonoke has been recognized for its involvement in the program, and the students have been recognized by the state for their performance in the competitions. Ponder hopes to get Lonoke Special Olympics involved in Unified Sports. This program allows volunteers to participate in games with competitors in the Special Olympics.

Both Ponder and Moore recommend that the community become a part of the Special Olympics program. “Anybody can help,” said Ponder.

Students should participate because they get “community service and learning experiences,” said Moore. Those who wish to volunteer for Special Olympics can visit the office or Mrs. Rye to contact Mr. Ponder.

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Get Informed

ARKANSAS SCHOLARSHIPS By: Rebecca Barger

It is not hard to find out about scholarships. It only takes a few moments. “The money is out there. You just have to go get it,” said Counselor Carrie Holt. To find out more information contact the counselors to set up a meeting, grab flyers in the high school foyer, or go to counselors’ link at www.lonokeschools.org.

Arkansas Minority Teacher Scholars Program Eligibility Requirements: The applicant must be a minority resident of Arkansas who is enrolled full-time in a four year public or independent college, university, or technical institution. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, be a junior or senior in an approved teacher certification program.

Must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. And be willing to teach in an Arkansas public school for at least five years after completion of their teaching certificate.

Contact: Financial Aid Division 114 East Capitol Avenue Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-3818 (501) 371-2000

American Legion Arkansas Scholarship Intended Use: For undergraduate study.

Eligibility Requirements: The applicant or parent must be a member or participant of the American Legion. Must reside in Arkansas and be a child, grandchild of an American Legion member.

Contact: P.O. Box 3280 Little Rock, Arkansas 72203 (501) 375-1104

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Second Effort Scholarship Intended Use: For full-time undergraduate study at post-secondary institution.

Eligibility Requirements: The applicant must have received awards for Outstanding Arkansas high school senior with a 3.6 GPA or higher.

Must be a U.S. citizen. Must be an Arkansas resident and enrolled in a two or four year Arkansas college or university.

Amount of Award: $4,000-$5,000 Application Deadline: February 1st Number of Awards: 375 Contact: Financial Aid Division 114 East Capitol Avenue Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-3818 (501) 371-2000

Get Informed Tyson Foods Intern Program

Military Department Scholarship Program

Intended Use: For full time student in undergraduate program at an accredited two year or four year college, university, or technical institution Eligiblility Requirements: The applicant must demonstate high academic achievements and major in a field of computer science, food science, agriculture, or engineering. Submit application on Tyson foods website.

Contact: 2210 West Oaklawn Drive (CP 425) Springdale, Arkansas 72762-6999 www.tysonfoodsinc.com

Intended Use: For full-time undergraduate to study at vocational, 2-year, or 4-year institution in the U.S. Eligibility Requirements: The applicant must be a high school senior. Must be a U.S. citizen residing in Arkansas. Must be dependent of POW/MIA who served in the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Reserves/ National Guard. The parent/spouse may have been killed in action or ordinance delivery. And the parent/spouse must have been an Arkansas resident at the time of enlistment.

Additional Information: Award for tuition, fees, room, and board. Renewable up to four years. Applicant must maintain 2.0 GPA. Amount of Award: Full tuition.

Application Deadline: August 1st through December 1st Contact: Arkansas Dept. of Higher Education 114 East Capitol Avenue Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-3818 PH: (800) 547-8839

Arkansas Lottery Scholarship Eligibility Requirements: The applicant will be eligible for a lottery scholarship if they graduated from an Arkansas high school with a 2.5 gradepoint average, or scored a 19 or higher on the ACT or equivalent college entrance exam, or completed at least 12 semester hours at a two-year or fouryear college with a 2.5 grade-point average or higher. (The lottery-funded scholarship is formally titled the Academic Challenge.)

Amount: $5,000 annually for students in fouryear colleges and $2,500 annually for students in two-year colleges.

Contact: The Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) Apply online at www.adhe.edu. Click on the Arkansas YOUniversal Scholarship Application link.

ADHE financial aid at 1-800-54-STUDY.

Photo by Sydney Wheat

Senior John Hobbs has high hopes to receive a full ride to Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.

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Get Informed 13

Get Informed: Stories to give you knowledge.

Get Informed

Up, Up, And Away!

By: Brent Powell

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is planning to send off its final shuttle, perhaps the last one in NASA history. NASA is ending the shuttle program for multiple reasons, including excessive cost, expensive training, previous deaths and accidents, and safety issues, which would only leave very small chances of escape in case of an accident for the crew.

In the end, there will have only been 133 known shuttle missions in the history of NASA, due to cost. Biology teacher, Boaz Cotton, said he wishes funding would continue, but believes that the current space shuttles are based on old models. Cotton said his thoughts on current NASA progression mainly revolve around the good in the many educational programs, but he said NASA needs an increase in efficiency.

Cotton currently hopes that the final lift-off will have a massive impact, and motivate further space exploration, leading to unstoppable future space progression. There is a possibility of space progression being funded and controlled by private businesses in the near future.

The White House plans to call for private businesses to develop rockets capable of carrying astronauts to the space station and creating next-generation rockets. Cotton said he thinks

space exploration should not be a private industry.

Cotton said that the government should not rely solely on business.

The currently unknown reasons for the cancellation of the live broadcast of the last launch in history make Cotton uneasy.

The attempted shuttle launch attracted numerous VIPs, a billionaire, a Google co-founder, and a man in a dog suit. Whether or not the dog suit was really necessary for a successful launch is currently unknown.

Did you know that it costs an average of $450 million just to prepare for a shuttle launch?

Did you know that it only takes about eight minutes for a space shuttle to accelerate to a speed of more than 17,000 miles an hour?

Science Club Experiments of Slime and Fire on Display

Mr. Cotton, Biology Teacher

By: Cheyenne Lee

On November 4th, Science Club held the first annual Science Night. Science Club members were given the opportunity to show a variety of experiments to parents during Parent Teacher Conference.

Some of the experiments displayed included a flame test, where metal solutions, when heated, changed the color of a flame, and the slime experiment, where a combination of food coloring and other ingredients combined together to make slime. A second Science Night will be held in February, along with a Science Day, a Science Fair, and a sponsored blood drive.

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FUN

Back Page Favorite Christmas Songs

Christmas Jokes Q: How do sheep in Mexico say Merry Christmas?

“jingle bells” -kaley dozier 9 Q: What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus?

“This Christmas by Chris Brown” -Mrs. Hunter

Q: What is the difference between the Christmas alphabet and the ordinary alphabet?

“I’ll Have a Blue Christmas without You by Elvis Presley” -Mrs. Lucas “12 Days of Christmas” -Jessica Thomas 11

Answers: 1)Fleece Navidad! 2) Claustrophobic 3) The Christmas alphabet has No L!

“merry christmas, happy holidays by n’sync” -mrs. harness

Rockin’ Reindeer Run

“Frosty the Snowman” -Mrs. Evans “Mary Did You Know” -Ms. Holt “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” -Mrs. Fletcher “noel and rockin’ around the christmas tree” -officer stivers

“All I Want for Christmas by Mariah Carey”-Mrs. Hope

By: Persephone Harris

By: Sophomore, Tyler McGee

Artwork

donner vixen prancer

dasher comet rudolph

Comic Strip

By: Cheyenne Lee

It‛s so great that Santa Hey! I got to see Santa takes time to come down at the mall yesterday! It from the North pole every was so awesome! year to see me at the mall!

What? You still see mall Santas?

dancer cupid blitzen

No it‛s not. Although he was looking a little ratty this year. Maybe his elves have gone on strike or his reindeer forgot how to fly.

You do know that‛s just a I‛m seriously gonna get you guy in a costume, right? an IQ test for Christmas.